1. Kuwaiti Air Support:
Starting with the orders phase of turn 8 and each subsequent game turn, roll 1D10, any roll of "1" results in an airstrike by an A-4 Skyhawk. Each turn the plane does not arrive, add a +1 modifier to the airstrike number (for example the plane fails to arrive turn 8, on turn 9 a '2' or less will result in an airstrike). Every successful airstrike resets the modifiers to zero. There can be no more than two airstrikes in the course of a game. The A-4 operates under a general support mission and has orders to attack road columns moving east or south on main highways.
2. Iraqi Airmobile:
On turn 10 an Iraqi airmobile battalion of 7 Mi-8 Hips and 1 Mi-24 Hind-D will overfly the table. The airmobile enters at the NE table comer and flies SSW across the table. They are placed on the table by the referee at the start of the Movement Phase and should be placed in front of the Kuwait positions. They will not land and will only spot and return fire if fired upon. The helicopters leave the table during helicopter movement in the General Fire Phase.
3. Kuwaiti Misinformation:
Two turns before the lead brigade of Hammurabi division enters inform the Kuwait player(s) that "Gulf Cooperation Council" troops are moving up to support them on the Salmi road to the west. One turn before Hammurabi arrives inform the Kuwaiti player(s) that the troops are in fact a 'brigade, plus' of Iraqi troops.
4. Terrain:
There are several terrain types that may influence the course of the game. Jahra consists of a both stone and wooden buildings, though stone (concrete) should predominate. The ring road is a 6 lane highway on an embankment, with a concrete divider (wall) running down the center. The embankment blocks LOS for units on ground level. The bridges are class VI structures. The weigh station on the Salmi road is a wooden building. The ammunition camp is a series of bunkers (see CD 2 rules) except stands occupying these bunkers cannot fire. In addition, if a bunker takes damage I d6 hits are inflicted on the structure and any occupant (an ammo bunker is NOT good cover).
5. Weather:
The weather in the Gulf - chiefly the heat- produces some interesting physical effects that may influence the course of the battle. The severe midday heat creates a 'ground shimmer' that reduces the distance at which personnel on the same level can be detected. From the 0900 hours turn through the 1600 hours turn half the distance at which personnel can be detected.
6. Game Start
The game begins with the 0745 turn and lasts for 30 turns. Each turn is scaled at the standard time frame of I turn represents 15 minutes.
7. Victory Conditions
Each side has specific victory conditions that must be met in order to win. These victory conditions reflect the operational goals of each player and the strategic value of their units. The Kuwaitis seek to blunt the Iraqi spearheads while maintaining their combat troops for future operations. Iraqi is seeking to crush Kuwaiti opposition, but can't afford to expend one of its best divisions in the process. Note that it is entirely possible for both players to 'win' by meeting their victory conditions. If both players meet their victory conditions then the game is a draw. Likewise if both players fail to met their conditions the game is a draw.
- Kuwaiti:
Inflict at least 40 stands worth of casualties and maintain a 4:1 casualty ratio on the Iraqis while withdrawing at least 8 stands in the 35th Brigade's line battalions (7th, 8th, and 57th) off the southeast board edge.
Iraqi:
Inflict at least 75% casualties on the 35th Brigade, plus
clear the town of Jahra of Kuwaiti defenders.
Historical Outcome
The Iraqis advance was - to be kind- 'blind and dumb'. Medina and Hammurabi were advancing with the equivalent of travel march orders around the ring road at Jahra. The Iraqis had no flank scouts deployed and the first indication of Kuwait resistance was destruction of the lead portion of the road column by tank and AT missile fire. The dazed survivors cowered behind the embankment, though some troops did occupy the ammunition camp.
The depths of Iraqi incompetence followed as a column of trucks advanced down the road, oblivious to the firefight. The trucks were quickly disabled with the Iraqi soldiers taking shelter behind the embankment and showing no desire to take part in the battle.
The Medina brigade ceased to be an organized threat by 1000 hours and the Kuwaitis used the opportunity to reload some tank's magazines and regroup the troops. Shortly before 1100 reports of a possible Saudi reinforcement column were dashed when the column was identified as another Iraqi division- Hammurabi. The lead brigade of Hammurabi also advanced without scouts and made it to the main bridge before being cut apart by the Kuwaiti ambush. The survivors fled back to the weigh station, were they regrouped and joined the follow up mechanized brigade together with the divisional artillery for a prepared attack.
The Kuwaitis had recognized the risk and realized their position was untenable. Before Hammurabi could launch their attack, the 35th Brigade withdrew to the southeast, crossing the border into Saudi Arabia while towing their disabled vehicles. The 35th Brigade's veterans became the cadre for an expanded brigade that took part in the '100 hours war' of Desert Storm.
Scenario Options
Kuwaiti rearmament:
The 35th was slated to receive Yugoslav M-84 Main Battle Tanks in the near future (they arrived in Saudi Arabia to re-equip the 35th for the Desert Storm counterattack). You can explore the effects of the Kuwaiti purchase as a 'what if T scenario by replacing the Chieftain Mk 5 with M-84 MBT.
80th Brigade preparedness:
Historically, the Kuwaiti 80th Brigade was trapped in its garrison by the Medina division's encircling attack. As an option, add the following unit;
In Jahra, at least 8" from the Ring Road;
- Elements, 80th Brigade, with;
(Regular, morale 10)
- 1 Light Company, with;
- 1 command infantry
2 infantry stands
1 Saladin armored car
1 recon police patrol stand (SA only)
Additionally, modify the 35th Brigade's order of battle by assuming that the line units were able to recall and field more of their units, add the Chieftains of the 8th Tank Bn and the additional infantry companies and artillery batteries to their respective units.
Bibliography
Chadwick, Frank. Desert Shield Factbook, GDW, Bloomington, IL, 1991.
Nelson, MAJ Robert A. "The Battle of the Bridges: Kuwait's
35th Brigade on the 2nd of August 1990", in Armor September-October
1995.
Nilsen, Dave and Novak, Greg. "The 1991 Persian Gulf War:
On the Brink of the New World Order, Command Post Quarterly # 4,
GDW, Bloomington, IL, 1993.
Nilsen, Dave and Novak, Greg. "The 1991 Persian Gulf War:
On the Brink of the New World Order", Command Post Quarterly # 5,
GDW, Bloomington, IL, 1993.
Nilsen, Dave and Novak, Greg. "The 1991 Persian Gulf War:
On the Brink of the New World Order", Command Post Quarterly # 6,
GDW, Bloomington, IL, 1993.
Jahra Bridge The Kuwaiti 35th Brigade's Defense of Jahra August 2nd, 1990
Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly # 13
To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues
To MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 1997 by Greg Novak.
This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com