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Posted on Sep 10, 2008 in Armchair Reading

CDG Solution Winners #27: Farragut at Mobile Bay

Here are excerpts from the winning Reader Solutions to “Farragut at Mobile Bay, 1864" and a list of honorable mentions. Dale Malchow, Washington – “Battle plan must contain good intel and stress speed through the channel. It should be aggressive, simplistic and exercise command, control and communication. Farragut’s flagship in van of wooden ships to acquire situational awareness.” John Rusko, Ohio – “To heck with those underwater mines, let us move forward with all possible velocity. Our concentrated firepower on the Tennessee should sink her before she can do us any real damage. Acting as one cohesive unit instead of a piecemeal attack will serve our purpose better.” Maurits Wiuff, Denmark – “Farragut’s main advantage lies in his superior fleet strength — mobility and firepower. An attack must be aggressive and fast to keep the initiative.” Congratulations to our Armchair Generals! Dale Malchow, Washington John Rusko, Ohio Maurits Wiuff, Denmark They beat out some tough competition! HONORABLE MENTION William B. Allred, Texas Gavin Bowman, Canada Nick A. Chapman, Mich...

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Posted on Jul 18, 2008 in Armchair Reading

CDG Solution Winners #26: The Battle of Surigao Strait 1944

Nathaniel Eatwell St. James, MN COA 2 accomplishes 3 things: 1) Surprise, which can negate the American numerical advantage. 2) It pulls the Americans away from the beach leaving the invasion force vulnerable. 3) Once in the Mindanao sec. we will have more room for maneuver. Yamashiro (1) and Fuso (2) draw out the Americans where the battleships (4-7) ambush them, the Yamashiro (1), Fuso (2) and Mogami (3) also join the attack. Paul Penrod Bel Air, MD This one rivals the Alamo CDG! Outgunned 4 to 1 to an enemy with radar guided fire. Nishimuras only course would be to stay out of the Surigao Strait (of course, in reality he didn’t!) and try to draw some of the 7th fleet into an ambush. The Japanese had three things going for them, despite the odds—4 destroyers with long-range torpedoes, extensive training in night fighting sans radar, and the Fus and Yamashiro were faster than the modernized U.S. battleships of the U.S. 7th fleet, most of which were at...

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Posted on May 19, 2008 in Armchair Reading

CDG Solution Winners #25: Through a Deadly Iraqi Minefield, Gulf War, 1991

  Eric Hillerson Waupun, WI Breaching an enemy obstacle requires that the breaching force attack using the tenets of breaching: intelligence, breaching fundamentals, breaching organization, mass and synchronization. In order to best fit the fundamentals of breaching (suppress, obscure, secure, reduce and assault) and allow redundancy to ensure success of the entire operation, we must organize our breach teams according to COA 3. COA 3 allows us to have flexibility to quickly assault through the obstacles no matter what the composition of the obstacle. COA 3 allows us to quickly plow through the first obstacle with tanks who then become the support by fire for the AAVs to blast through the wires with a MCLC. Following the AAVs, the second set of plow tanks to breach the last mine belt following each breach team is the dozer tanks to widen the last breach lane, they become a support by fire while the assaulting force moves through the breach lanes. Stephen Duchaine La Junta, CO Course of Action 3 is...

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Posted on Mar 31, 2008 in Armchair Reading

CDG #24: Hitler’s Eagle in Hungary 1944

Fernando A. Franco St. Paul, MN Of all the tenants of war, “surprise” is the one that will put out of balance the enemy. I have chosen course of action 3 “Trojan Horse.” It is a simple plan that will strike the objective and will deny the enemy to react on time to mount an effective counterattack. On the other hand, it is intended to keep the Hungarian Army in our side and not alienate them against us. The glider assault has a very low chance to success, since first they have to land undetected in the middle of the city and fight their way into a heavily armed fortress. Route siege, doesn’t work, it will put the civilian population and the Hungarian army against us and there is not guaranteed the objective will be killed, captured or may escape with the “Trojan Horse” I will have the SS BN be ready to provide other security and facilitate the extraction of the unit doing the operation. If the “Trojan...

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Posted on Mar 31, 2008 in Armchair Reading

CDG Solution Winners #23: 1945, The Great Raid

Tom Willison Indianapolis, IN I see COA2 as best fulfilling the requirements for a successful commando raid, i.e., preparation, security, surprise and attack. Having neutralized the enemy, it gives the commandos ample time to gather up the prisoners, who in some cases might be confused and resisting the rescue effort. Covered by the Filipino Guerillas, the withdrawal will be swift and orderly.   Dale Malchow Edmonds, WA 1. COA2 replicates historical mission resulting in release of 511 of 512 POWs at the expense of 2 Ranger KIAs with 200 enemy losses and 4 tanks. 2. Alamo Scouts’ reconnaissance provided intel to develop a plan incorporating stealth, surprise, speed, and simplicity. 3. Unit Objectives: 2nd Platoon F Company Drop off section to destroy eastern guard towers Proceed to south gate and attack guards in barracks (signal for general attack) After guards eliminated, attack and pin down Japanese in western section of camp After extraction act as rear guard and exit north gate 1st Platoon C Company 1st section attacks pillboxes,...

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