Every modern wargamer would probably find something of interest in THE ULTIMATE WEAPONRY by Paddy Griffith. I picked up my copy off the sales table at Walden Books for $14.95. There are 217 pages of text and great photos. The book discusses almost every aspect of the Modern Land Battle. Chapters include Command & Control, The Air War, Is the Tank Dead, Helicopters in Danger, The Artillery Battle, The Empty Battlefield (about infantry), Combat Engineering, and more. I especially enjoyed the artillery and helicopter chapters.
Of value to the gamer will be the two-page perspective spreads in each chapter detailing the structure of various aspects of the land battle from different unit types. These will be fertile ground for making realistic scenarios for modern smaller actions as well as giving campaign ideas. There is also much information given on some of the new weapon systems, smart munitions and communication defeating weapons. Lasers, railguns, body armor, stealth technology, even casualties and effects on civilians are written about. Systems to defeat the various communication technologies and other modern high tech electronic equipment could knock battlefield control and sighting back to WWII levels. The book gives one lots to think about in the cost of modern war. It brings out once again the endless capacity of man to devise counter measures to every new idea.
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© Copyright 1996 Hal Thinglum
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