T2000: WHITEOUT (v2.2 PBP Campaign)

[M-Type]

Well, more like T1997.

I've been kicking around with my other thread about the tank campaign idea, and I feel that I've reached a crossroads. WHITEOUT is going to be a campaign taking place during the Twilight War, with the PCs in the shoes of 10th Infantry Division (Mountain) soldiers mobilized to Alaska to defend against the Soviet offensive there.

(I need to do some digging on the 10th, but my plan is to make the PCs part of a mechanized battalion, a squad with their M113. Mostly because I devoured that Field Manual )

I chose an Alaskan campaign (X US Corps) because I didn't come up with a lot of info while doing some digging, with the timeline ending with the US forces pushing towards Juneau in 1998. I feel it gives me a little wiggle-room to really sink my teeth into it and come up with something original.

It'll be using v2.2, with the PCs being US soldiers (it was still "early" in the war, no time for cross-nationality stuff yet) in the 10th. As long as the PC ends up in the Army before war breaks out, I'm happy (I know Enlisted/Mountain is one of the options, but I won't regulate that you choose it. It probably wouldn't hurt though )

My laptop is in the shop for fixing, so it won't be starting up yet, plenty of time for questions and (hopefully) answers!

ALSO: If anyone does have more information on the X US Corps and the war in Alaska in general, I'd be mighty grateful if you shared it.

[Legbreaker]

You might want to include Canadians as an option also since the Soviets wouldn't have been taking national boundaries between the US and Canadians too seriously. It's a sure thing Canadians would be in the region (especially since there are references to Canadian units slated for Korea being held back due to the Soviet landings).

It's worth noting the invasion of Alaska occurred shortly after nukes (tactical) were first used. It would appear the Soviets were banking on their nukes to do nasty things to the US ability to respond effectively and therefore it's likely the Soviets had been planning both the invasion and use of nukes for some time. As many have commented, an invasion of Alaska/Canada doesn't really seem logical and so the US and Canadian forces may have been caught napping. Could be an element you might consider integrating into your game?

[M-Type]

My idea for the beginning bit was utter boredom, I mean, you're stationed in Alaska! You don't even get decent TV reception! WTF!!

All the while they'd be getting snippets of news from Korea/Europe/CONUS...

Then there'd be reports of Spetsnaz units on the ground. Then maybe a raid or two...then BAM.

Tactical nukes start flying. Everyone discusses what could possible be going down on the other side of the world.

Then BAMAGAIN.

Soviet landing forces are seizing the coast and such.

It does note that Canadian units held their border, as the 47th got pushed back to said Canadian border.

"Outposts of 47th Infantry Division in Alaska are attacked by Soviet Spetznaz units followed by 2 arctic mechanized brigades; they are pushed southeast in heavy fighting over the Canadian border where they were reinforced by elements of the Canadian army."

It should be noted I'm using this timeline.

EDIT: I could switch it so the PCs are in the 207th Infantry Group AKA 2nd Infantry Brigade (Arctic). They get a piece of all the action in the "listed" campaign. They're also one of the first to come in contact with the Soviets.

And also, on the nuke thing, America hasn't been bombed yet, as it's only July 1997. I'd have to go re-check the timeline to see if nukes were used closer to that time in Asia/Europe. I'm pretty sure they were in Asia at least.

[M-Type]

Coincidentally enough, the one nuke target in Alaska just happens to be Elmensdorf AFB (from the v2.2 rules, I don't use the timeline, I just use the nuke targets). Which just happens to be abutting Anchorage. Which happens to be the city the 2nd Infantry Brigade is protecting in July 1997.

Maybe instead of abandoning Anchorage, some units manage to hold out 4 months instead?

[Cdnwolf]

Now to make it real fun... put the game in the middle of winter... guerrilla attacks in a raging snowstorm would be fun.

[M-Type]

Since the Soviets attack in June...the PCs will have to hold out a long time! And survive the Nuking of Anchorage (which I'm sure will be a huge part of this campaign) will be pretty key.

In looking at historical weather data of Kodiak Island (where I'm starting it), the average temp of June 1997 was 48.5 Fahrenheit.

There are huge gaps in the Arctic Campaign though, like from July-March '98, so I'm sure there'll be a place for Winterfest '97 in there somewhere.

I can't imagine anyone did much fighting though . At least the Russians are used to it, and it won't be Eastern Front,1941-42.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by M-Type

Coincidentally enough, the one nuke target in Alaska just happens to be Elmensdorf AFB...

Remember, that's the one nuke target hit with .5mt or larger. As GM you can nuke almost any target not listed in the strike lists with a nuke strike of less than 500kt and still not be in conflict with published material.

[Medic]

Probably they would try and take over any major settlement ashore and what they can't take, they nuke. Any major road, they take it over. Once most of the transportation infrastructure is under their thumb, they'll send in airborne and airmobile units to capture the smaller settlements and take down rest of the resistance.

[weswood]

My first thought was I don't want to get involved in a game in Alaska. I'm a Texas boy, I don't know jack about snow. And for some reason bears freak me out. Kind of scared of them. A friend asked me "Hey, you know the best way to hunt bears?" From inside a Bradley with a 25 mm chaingun!

Then I thought this might be fun, good roleplaying in it.

[M-Type]

Awww, you know it'll be fun. I don't know jack about Alaska either. But hey, you won't have to worry about fuel!

[Targan]

Originally Posted by weswood

And for some reason bears freak me out. Kind of scared of them.

Hey, IMO that's a perfectly valid reaction. Bears scare me too. Even "normal" black bears and brown bears can kill you, but then you guys also have grizzlies and friggin' POLAR BEARS! (well, way up north anyways). And for a wild beast they're pretty darned smart, can outrun you, sniff out your hiding place, climb the tree you're hiding up or just tear the damned tree down. What's not to be terrified of that?

[boogiedowndonovan]

Where is Grimace? He is this board's resident Alaskan. Haven't seen him in awhile, but he may have relocated from Alaska.

BTW, and I don't mean to come off as one of those "c-a-a-n-n-n-n-o-o-o-n"-ites, but 1-501 was part of 6th ID (L) in RL Cold War and post cold war Army. In your game, I take it that 1-501 was assigned to 10th ID or to X Corps directly?

regardless, good luck with the game!

[M-Type]

Originally Posted by boogiedowndonovan

BTW, and I don't mean to come off as one of those "c-a-a-n-n-n-n-o-o-o-n"-ites, but 1-501 was part of 6th ID (L) in RL Cold War and post cold war Army. In your game, I take it that 1-501 was assigned to 10th ID or to X Corps directly?

Yeah, I knew it'd get mentioned eventually. In doing background trawling of the T2k timeline, it is established that the 6th ID (L) WERE stationed in Alaska.

47th Infantry Division (1st Minnesota NG, 34th Iowa NG and 66th Illinois NG Brigades) comes into federal service, and begins deployment by air and sea to Fort Richardson, Alaska, to replace the 6th Infantry Division (Light) of internal security duties.

This campaign starts on the (SPOILER ) eve of the initial invasion. So the 6th ID (L) are still around, but I figure they get routed or worse during the invasion, because they are never mentioned again. Gives me something to play with too I figure the survivors of the 6th ID will form into X Corps when the regrouping happens.

[M-Type]

I got all of the v2.2 vehicle books (American/Soviet/NATO/Nautical-Air), so I've got all the bases covered.

[Snake Eyes]

Originally Posted by boogiedowndonovan

Where is Grimace? He is this board's resident Alaskan. Haven't seen him in awhile, but he may have relocated from Alaska.

BTW, and I don't mean to come off as one of those "c-a-a-n-n-n-n-o-o-o-n"-ites, but 1-501 was part of 6th ID (L) in RL Cold War and post cold war Army. In your game, I take it that 1-501 was assigned to 10th ID or to X Corps directly?

regardless, good luck with the game!

I'm one of those token Alaskan types, too. I think Grimace relo'd a while back. I left in '89 myself. Nice place to visit, but winter gets old quick.

The 6th ID (L) was stationed at Richardson & Wainwright during that era. Canon has them airlifted to Norway early in the war and later withdrawing to Germany. Not that it matters.

As a resident of Anchorage at the time, I always thought it was goofy that the 6th's light fighters were deployed and defense of the Last Frontier was left to the Mountain troops and a bunch of Lower 48 weekend warriors, but whatever. Turns out I wasn't the one it had to make sense to.

[Legbreaker]

Originally Posted by Snake Eyes

As a resident of Anchorage at the time, I always thought it was goofy that the 6th's light fighters were deployed and defence of the Last Frontier was left to the Mountain troops and a bunch of Lower 48 weekend warriors, but whatever. Turns out I wasn't the one it had to make sense to.

Alaska wasn't exactly on the front lines or at real risk of being invaded. Makes sense therefore for reservist troops to take over from a regular unit for garrison duties. Hindsight of course tells us Alaska would soon become yet another front for the US and it's allies (in this case Canada) to worry itself sick over.

[M-Type]

Speaking of Canada, does anyone have any TO&E information on them? Didn't see them represented in the NATO guide (can't say I looked hard ), and I know later in the Alaskan Campaign they team up with American stragglers to hold the border, so I can see them counter-attacking back into Alaska, full force.

Not that that information is needed now, but I was curious.

[Olefin]

There is a Challenge Magazine article I havent seen on Canada (Canada 2000 in issue 30) - does anyone have that?

Other than that there is only the one entry I have seen on Canada in Going Home with the unit that is stuck in Poland.

I know there are other mentions too in Challenge Magazine but I havent seen them either - i.e. Red Maple and Native Canadian Ranger Regiment

[Olefin]

Keep in mind that the US troops in Alaska were making attacks into Siberia before the Soviets invaded Alaska

if you look at the US Army Vehicle Guide those weekend warriors were pretty darn good troops

i.e.

1ST INFANTRY BRIGADE (Arctic Recon)
An Alaskan National Guard Brigade. The brigade came into
federal service on 7/3/96 and assumed responsibility for local
security and long range recon patrols along the Bering Straits.
Throughout the last half of 1996 and the first half of 1997, the
brigade mounted aggressive deep patrols across the Bering Strait
into Soviet territory and fought numerous small actions with
Soviet arctic forces.

In June of 1997 the brigade repulsed a
number of Soviet commando raids across the strait but was forced
to withdraw westward after Soviet arctic mechanized units
crossed to the U.S. side.

Now if you are talking about the weekend warriors of the 47th that is a different issue

i.e.

47TH INFANTRY DIVISION
A National Guard Division consisting of the 1st (Minnesota
NG), 34th (Iowa NG), and 66th (Illinois NG) Brigades. The division
came into federal service on 11/1/96 and began deploying
by air and sea to Fort Richardson, Alaska where it relieved the
6th Infantry Division (Light) of internal security duties. In July
of 1 997 outposts of the division were attacked by Soviet Spetznaz
units and shortly thereafter by elements of two arctic
mechanized brigades.

[boogiedowndonovan]

Originally Posted by Snake Eyes

I'm one of those token Alaskan types, too. I think Grimace relo'd a while back. I left in '89 myself. Nice place to visit, but winter gets old quick.

The 6th ID (L) was stationed at Richardson & Wainwright during that era. Canon has them airlifted to Norway early in the war and later withdrawing to Germany. Not that it matters.

As a resident of Anchorage at the time, I always thought it was goofy that the 6th's light fighters were deployed and defense of the Last Frontier was left to the Mountain troops and a bunch of Lower 48 weekend warriors, but whatever. Turns out I wasn't the one it had to make sense to.

Yeah, sending the 10th to Alaska/Canada instead of the 6th was one of the T2k things that had me scratching my head. I would think you'd want the 6th to go since they'd practically be in their own backyard. Easily fixed in my campaign though

Originally Posted by M-Type

Speaking of Canada, does anyone have any TO&E information on them? Didn't see them represented in the NATO guide (can't say I looked hard ), and I know later in the Alaskan Campaign they team up with American stragglers to hold the border, so I can see them counter-attacking back into Alaska, full force.

Not that that information is needed now, but I was curious.

It's in the 1st edition NATO Vehicle Guide. If memory serves correct, Canada was left out of the 2nd edition NATO guide. I don't know why though.

The Canadians on this board can provide much better info that what is in the 1st edition. It left out most of the Canadian militia (US National Guard/Reserve equivalent). There is also a Challenge T2k article floating around about Canadian Rangers, which is a reserve force that serves as guides and scouts when mobilized. A good number of Canadian Rangers are First Nation people (Native American/Indians in American speak).

Oh and the Anglo German brigade comprised of British and German units stationed in Canada.

-bdd