Topic Actions

Topic Search

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 48 guests

Moving forward

This fascinating series is a combination of historical seafaring, swashbuckling adventure, and high technological science-fiction. Join us in a discussion!
Moving forward
Post by ChronicRder   » Wed Mar 11, 2015 10:02 am

ChronicRder
Lieutenant Commander

Posts: 108
Joined: Tue Feb 18, 2014 11:34 am
Location: Louisiana

I realize that in comparative terms, Safehold is now where we were in the early-mid stages of WW1, with some WW2 innovations (gotta love those Bouncing Betties). The next big fights are going to be knocking Dohlar out and luring the MHoGatA to a point where the Charisians and their allies can bring their full might to bear combining all their assets from the Army and Navy. Of course, BGV also has to deal with that annoying other CoGA army to his front, which he seems to be in a very good spot to do.
In the immortal words of Stonewall Jackon "hit them and they will break. Break them and they will run...they will run or we will destroy them!" This was said at his last meeting with General Lee.

Once that is done, I'm wondering how difficult it would be to place commando units or Corps/Division Combat Teams [CCTs] at various points around either Harchong or Howard simply to wreak havoc on supplies and keep them off balance. It would force Desnair to choose between continuing its sloop-campaign or protecting its industrial centers for one, prevent S. Harchong from doing anything meaningful, and prevent Zion was focusing on its Siddarmark with a potential CCT or two hitting main Harchong's industry and assembly/training areas.

I would not advise raiding the Hsing-Wu passage at this point or doing more than probing the Temple Lands because that may get the Go4 to do something sensible like creating a defense in depth strategy around Zion and the Temple. In OAR, LT CDR Alban remarked that the Temple's construction and defenses were already quite formidable even by Federation-era standards. Absurd, I think her word was and that was without the OBS sniping rebel industrialists and intellectuals with Kinetic bombardments from orbit.

Knock them off-balance and keep their attention everywhere but the Heartland itself. Clyntahn is a paranoid reactionary that would make Hitler proud. He'll also issue "defend every inch to the last" orders typical of that leadership style. Let him. It will force the CoGA to garrison tactically and strategically insignificant areas with troops that he is just barely able to scrap together (like the Volkssturm or Hitler Youth during WW2)
The ICN has to be willing to take casualties and inflict massive casualties during these ops for it to work. Then, when they are "strongly" reinforced/reinforcing everywhere hit the Temple and Zion with a surgical strike straight with a combined Fleet and 50-70,000 ICN ground troops while BGV throws his army, with RoS reinforcements, at the Border states in a final diversion. The adopt a seize and hold strategy before the Go4 initiate a coup against Clyntahn and sue for peace. Make them sue for peace on allied terms with the Temple in ICN hands.

Thoughts?
Top
Re: Moving forward
Post by Weird Harold   » Wed Mar 11, 2015 11:42 am

Weird Harold
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 4478
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:25 pm
Location: "Lost Wages", NV

ChronicRder wrote:I realize that in comparative terms, Safehold is now where we were in the early-mid stages of WW1, with some WW2 innovations (gotta love those Bouncing Betties).


Actually, I'd place Safehold at a Spanish-American War level with a few anomalous devices, like the bouncing betties. In many ways, Safehold is technologically similar to the American Civil War without railroads or telegraphs.

ChronicRder wrote:Once that is done, I'm wondering how difficult it would be to place commando units or Corps/Division Combat Teams [CCTs] at various points around either Harchong or Howard simply to wreak havoc on supplies and keep them off balance.


I'm not sure how useful back area disruption a la Merril's Marauders in Burma would be on Safehold. I can't think of any real world examples of the strategy having any major effect on the strategic deployments of either side.
.
.
.
Answers! I got lots of answers!

(Now if I could just find the right questions.)
Top
Re: Moving forward
Post by Dilandu   » Wed Mar 11, 2015 4:41 pm

Dilandu
Admiral

Posts: 2541
Joined: Sat May 07, 2011 1:44 pm
Location: Russia

Generally speaking, Safehold now is some freakish mess of Napoleonic Wars (almost completely sail navy), american civil war (confederacy-style river ironclads), Spanish-American war (breechloading guns and mass rifles, Harvey armour), Russo-Japanese war (advanced infantry weapon and tactics) and First World War (underwater demolition teams).

So, it's a typical technological mess, that appeared when someone with post-knowlege tampered with natural way of technological progress, and able to just put working factories out of thin air. :D
------------------------------

Oh well, if shortening the front is what the Germans crave,
Let's shorten it to very end - the length of Fuhrer's grave.

(Red Army lyrics from 1945)
Top
Re: Moving forward
Post by doug941   » Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:06 pm

doug941
Commander

Posts: 228
Joined: Sat May 03, 2014 6:21 pm

Weird Harold wrote:
ChronicRder wrote:I realize that in comparative terms, Safehold is now where we were in the early-mid stages of WW1, with some WW2 innovations (gotta love those Bouncing Betties).


Actually, I'd place Safehold at a Spanish-American War level with a few anomalous devices, like the bouncing betties. In many ways, Safehold is technologically similar to the American Civil War without railroads or telegraphs.

ChronicRder wrote:Once that is done, I'm wondering how difficult it would be to place commando units or Corps/Division Combat Teams [CCTs] at various points around either Harchong or Howard simply to wreak havoc on supplies and keep them off balance.


I'm not sure how useful back area disruption a la Merril's Marauders in Burma would be on Safehold. I can't think of any real world examples of the strategy having any major effect on the strategic deployments of either side.


Instead of thinking on Merril's Marauders, try thinking more along the lines of the WW2 Soviet Partisans. The Nazis expended vast amounts of men and material countering them. The Church's armies could easily spend divisions or even corps defending canal works, supply depots, etc.
Top
Re: Moving forward
Post by Weird Harold   » Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:57 pm

Weird Harold
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 4478
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:25 pm
Location: "Lost Wages", NV

doug941 wrote:Instead of thinking on Merril's Marauders, try thinking more along the lines of the WW2 Soviet Partisans. ...


Or we could go back to the original back area fighters, the Guerillas of the Napoleonic Peninsular Campaign -- Spanish, Basque, and Portuguese partisans.

Or we could study the French Maqui in WWII.

All made valuable contributions but didn't change the overall strategy of their conflicts.
.
.
.
Answers! I got lots of answers!

(Now if I could just find the right questions.)
Top

Return to Safehold