Reminiscent of the US-Somalian episode, a force of Russian Mech Infantry, and Special Forces were cut off and surrounded attempting to secure the City of Grozny "Presidential Palace." All the relief forces were detained, a pounding from air and artillery hurt both sides [and civilians] and in the end over 735 Russians were "officially dead" (possibly more unofficially, if that mattered to the dead....) The map and order of battle are in the most recent COMMAND Magazine mentioned below, along with many other.

MINIATURES and Rules TO USE

Don't throw out all that modern micro Armour you stashed when the cold war thawed, it's coming now to a boil... those Soviet and NATO troops and APC's are just right for great big city fights or convoy ambushes of the grandest nature. The modern portions of Command decision work well. For smaller (19th Cent. Colonial Type) Battles there are a myriad of 20mm lead figures, and EXCELLENT plastic figures from ESCI, Ravell, and recast Arfix. Everything from Modern US Army, Russian Spetznatz, and modified German WWII DAK. There's plenty on hand. I'd recommend *BAPS* by Buck Surdu for accurate, fast moving skirmish rules.

SOURCES:

Aside from the obvious recent or current [and GOOD!] sources of TIME, NEWSWEEK, etc. there are numerous Military Interest Magazines and Newsletters publishing articles on the Bosnian and Chechnya Wars.

There's an excellent account on the battles in Chechnya and city fight for Grozny in the newest COMMAND Magazine. (NOV96 #40, cover: 1846 Mexican War). COMMAND has some good stuff with maps, political situations, and O. B. [order of battle] data even... check it out!! bloody good stuff... (Not to mention the entire Mexican War.)

Unclassified Government and U.S. Military Publications are the best sources in many cases. Check out any of the following general sources through your local ROTC, Recruiter, or National Guard/Reserve Center: ARMY (by the AUSA: Assoc. US Army); ARMY TRAINER; INFANTRY; ARMOR; ARTILLERY JOURNAL; MILITARY INTELLIGENCE JOURNAL..

One would be SURPRISED at the excellent data available, for example: The OPFOR professional bulletin, **RED Thrust Star** [Getting updates/analysis from FMSO at Fort Leavenworth and CSRC at Sandhurst.] is running an article: "Russian-manufactured Armored Vehicle Vulnerability in Urban Combat--the Chechnya Experience" by Les Grau (LTC, IN, Ret.) drawn from recent Russian articles.

BOOK: The Bear Went over the Mountain by Lt. Col. Les Grau (Retd.); National Defense University, Fort Leavenworth, KS; 1996 [through the Government Printing Office.]

The Bear is a collection of Afghanistan War tactical vignettes (from Frunze Academy after-action reports) described by the Soviet Commander or participant. It describes the Situation and outcome of each mission, along with comments from the Frunze Academy and Grau. Each vignette is a ready made wargame scenario!

Scenarios

Remember, I am hoping active duty military will get these scenarios together, get some guys together and play. [and gals? ... don't laugh my first Army girlfriend was with a cute WAC that came to my WARGAME club one Friday night at DLI/Monterey!!) eham... anyway, go get some folks to play, and even link them them up with a local club or HMGS etc.

And oh! write up your scenarios and send in, OK?