Catastrophic Kill:
Modern War

Battle of Ghazlani Scenario:
26 February 1991

by Pete Panzeri

On the night of 26 February 1991, during operation Desert Storm, Task Force 4-18 Infantry was ordered to close in with TF 4-8 CAV several kilometers to their right (south) front. As the entire battalion moved forward in the dark it rolled right in front of, and on top of, an Iraqi Armored Task Force in a well prepared reversed slope defense.

GHAZLANI TERRAIN/MAP

The hill slopes at Ghazlani were very gradual. The terrain was deceptively flat. A dug in vehicle could be concealed by dead space, but a vehicle moving might not. For gaming purposes use the following rule: Any spotter on the higher ground will see any vehicle not dug in anywhere. Dug in vehicles are concealed only if in a Dead Space equal to the spotting units distance from the contour line. Any intervening higher ground blocks all LOS (line of sight).

IRAQI INITIAL SETUP

All elements (except off-board artillery) placed with-in circles on map. Use map for hidden placement and movement. All positions dug-in/hull down with infantry positions between BMP positions. Iraqis are fully concealed (invisible) until "activated' or within 250m of U.S. Forces (LOS).

Each IRAQI Company must conduct "activation" rolls (pass morale) to start their engines and conduct any operations. When activated, vehicles will show up as THERMAL SIGHT "hot-spots" (if within LOS) until further spotted and identified.

U.S. INITIAL SET UP

All elements (except off-board artillery) in platoon wedges, company colunins, as marked on the map, the Combat Trains are in three long files.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

U.S. Strategic: No U.S. losses, greater than 90% Iraqi AFV's lost. (historical)
U.S. Operational: less than 2 AFV's lost, greater than 80% Iraqi AFVS lost.
U.S. Tactical: less than 4 AFV's lost, greater than 70% Iraqi AFV's lost.
U.S. Marginal: less than 6 AFV's lost, greater than 60% Iraqi AFV's lost.
Draw: Any combination not included as a clear victory is a draw
IRAQI Marginal: greater than 6 US AFV's lost, less than 60% Iraqi AFV's lost.
IRAQI Tactical: greater than 8 US AFV's lost, less than 50% Iraqi AFV's lost.
IRAQI Operational: greater than 12 US AFV's lost, less than 40% Iraqi AFV's lost.
IRAQI Strategic: greater than 24 US AFV's lost, less than 30% Iraqi AFV's lost.

a. Two U.S. Wheeled vehicle or inf. squads count as one AFV loss. IRAQI Squadqtrucks do not count for Iraqi losses. Recovery is important, unrecovered A FV's are counted lost for both.

b. IRAQI AFV's may only exat the board along the eastern road exit. (The road was the IRAQI MSR, and their only navigational aid.) The IRAQI Reserve (controlled by TAWKALNA Division) may only withdraw after greater than 60% of other IRAQI AFV's are withdrawn or lost.

Orders of Battle

IRAQI FORCES

    1/B BRIGADE, TAWAKALINA DIVISION
      TASK FORCE HEADQUARTERS
        2 T-72's, 1 MTLB`s, 2 ACRV's, 1 BRDM-2/GASKIN, t ZSU-2-33/4

      T-72 BATTALION

        32 T-72's; 3 BMP's; 2 MTLB's. (3 COMPANIES w/ 10 T-72's; HQ: 2 T-72 W/WHIPS)

      BMP BATTALION

        31 BMP-1's; 3 T-72's; 2 MTLB'S. (3 COMPANIES w/ 10 BMP-1's; HQ: 1 BMP-1)

      RESERVE FORCE

        32 T-72'S, 6 x 2S1 152mm SP ARTY, 3x 120mm MTR's. (3 COMPANIES OF 10 T-72's; HQ: 2 T-72 w/WHIPS)

U.S. FORCES

    TF 4-18 INFANTRY, 3RD ARMORED DIVISION
      TF HEADQUARTERS: 2 BIFV's, 2 M113s
      TOC: 1 BIFV, 2 M113s, 4 M-577's, 6 HMMWV's
      SCOUT PLT: 6 BFV's
      MORTAR PLT: 6 x 4.2" MORTARS, 6 M113's
      DIRECT FIRE SUPPORT: 6 x M 109 (155mm SP ARTILLERY)
      GENERAL SUPPORT: 6 x MLRS, 2 APACHE ATTACK HELICOPTERS (AFTER TURN #3xD6)

      A CO. 4-18 IN

        14 BIFVs(w/squads), 2 M113's, FISTV (THREE PLT OF 4, C.O./XO)

      TM B. 4-18 IN

        10 BIFV's (w/squads), 4 M1A1, FISTV

      C CO. 4-18 IN

        14 BIFV'S (w/squads) 2 M113, FISTV

      TM W, A/4-8 CAV

        10 M1A1's, 4 FV's (w/squads), FISTV, 2 M113s (with engineering squads), 2 CEVs

      A CO 4-30 ENG

        8 M113's (w/Eng squads), 4 CEV's, 4 AVLM's (AVLB w/MCLC), 4 ACE

      BN COMBAT TRAINS

        4 M-88 (RECOV), 4 M113's, 4 HEMMT-FUEL, 8 HEMMT-AMMO, 10 x 5 TON TRUCKS, 12 HMMWV's (MAINT, MED, CL I, III, V)

Map

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