Al Busayyah, 26th February 1991

by parallels · August 30, 2015

Modern Spearhead scenario, Gulf war.
The real battle

Duration: suggested 16 turns (it was 8 in our game)
See map below. Scale is 1 Hex = 3 inches on table.
Iraqi may deploy up to 18 inches from BUAs or airport, US must start on the south edge, 36 inches from BUAs.

US troops

One mechanized battalion, attachments of one M1A1 Coy, two M109A2 batteries
Two M109 A3 batteries in direct support.
One electronics warfare Hummer (just to remind the US player)
One recovery vehicle (one try per destroyed vehicle when it stays for one turn close to the wreck, 1D6=6 means vehicle back to operational)

Iraqi Troops

One Corps HQ, commanding two 23/2 AA batteries, one 50mm AA battery, 4 HMG platoons
One commando battalion
One infantry battalion
4 Logistic centers (6×6 cm2)
One battalion D30 in divisional support
6 entrenchements
4 bunkers
6 obstacles ( 9cm long)

Special rules

When Corps HQ starts moving from initial position, all Battalion HQ may flee, test individually, flee with 1D6=1,2. As for Third World battalions without HQ rule (SV mod), all units are frozen in place, cannot rotate or move but may fight back.
All other Third world (SV mod) rules apply.

Victory conditions

Corps HQ exits northern map, 10 VP for Iraq.
Corps HQ captured or destroyed by US troops, 5 points
Every US unit eliminated, 1 point
US get 2 points per turn, if the capture all BUAs, all logistic centres.

Example

Assuming 3 US losses and Iraqi Corps exiting map:
- Iraqi = 10 + 3 = 13 points

US occupies all compound by 8th turn
- US = 8 x 2 = 16 points

US WIN

A cautious american, with no losses, with Corps exiting safely, may occupy all BUAs at turn 10 and still win.

The battle

The battle saw the american battalion rushing for the airfield, from SE wadi. No recce wa used in advance, nor the US troops had any mixing of M1 and Bradley. M1 coy was all concentrated on the right flank.
The result was that the battalion was ambushed by the T55 tank battalion and it lost 3 Bradley and 1 M1 (great Iraqi luck). After having despatched the T55s with M1 shells and TOWs the battalion continued its attack.