Computer Technology

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Once again, not having my Into The Howling Wilderness book handy...

Were there blanket EMP attacks on TDM?

Here's why I ask: much was made of the idea behind the 5th Division's attack being an attempt to buy time to seize stuff from the Warsaw University, specifically the "analog CPU replacement" to help get US computer systems up and running again. Now, we have the hindsight of post-cold-war knowledge that one of the requirements for mil-spec computer systems is radiation and EMP hardening: indeed, I can go to the local computer thrift store and buy an ex-police/highway patrol/county sheriff PII or PIII ca. 1997 laptop inside a hardened, shock- and weather- and EMP-resistant case (the last being a byproduct of the case itself) made by Panasonic.

While I would certainly call such an item very rare, they do exist, and I think would be a hell of a lot easier to get than sacrifice a division to get.

I think, IMC, if I make the whole reason behind the 5th's attack a diversion to get something from the university I'll probably make it something other than a replacement for computer tech. Or maybe something that supplements it...YES - idea flash: a quicker and easier way under "dirty" conditions to create semiconductors and chips themselves.

Yeah, that's what I'll do.

[Legbreaker]

If you look closely at the published background material you'll find a specific reference in there somewhere about EMP being much more devastating than was ever expected.

This may not reflect reality, however it was specifically included to make the T2K world more chaotic.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

If you look closely at the published background material you'll find a specific reference in there somewhere about EMP being much more devastating than was ever expected.

This may not reflect reality, however it was specifically included to make the T2K world more chaotic.

That's fine. If that's the case I'll stick with canon then. "BECAUSE IT'S MORE FANTASTICAL." (for fans of Space Ghost Coast to Coast )

[HorseSoldier]

While I would certainly call such an item very rare, they do exist, and I think would be a hell of a lot easier to get than sacrifice a division to get.

They'd have been pretty rare. Twilight War hits just as MDC/MDT use in patrol cars was really starting to catch on (and I don't know if they were EMP hardened in all cases). At that point, most would have been lost when urban areas melted down.

As far as sacrificing a division -- 5th ID's mission was to screen the SF mission to get Op Reset prototypes and personnel out. That doesn't just get the technology into the hands of the US, it takes it out of the hands of the communist Polish (and by extension Soviet) governments.

[Legbreaker]

Originally Posted by HorseSoldier

As far as sacrificing a division -- 5th ID's mission was to screen the SF mission to get Op Reset prototypes and personnel out.

No, it wasn't.

If you read Free City of Krakow again you will see that the SF mission only took advantage of the chaos of the 5ths presence. In all likelihood reset was only thought of AFTER the 5th entered the area and it became know the prototype and papers were retrievable.

It's an (unfortunately) common misconception that the 5th was tasked as the screening force and willingly sacrificed, but logically can anyone say that one of the strongest divisions left in the US army would have been knowingly sent to their destruction just as a cover for a small SF mission? I think not!

[Webstral]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

It's an (unfortunately) common misconception that the 5th was tasked as the screening force and willingly sacrificed, but logically can anyone say that one of the strongest divisions left in the US army would have been knowingly sent to their destruction just as a cover for a small SF mission?

It depends on the prize. I acknowledge that the mission of 5th ID wasn't to provide cover for the SO mission; however, the use or sacrifice of a division depends on the goal being supported by said sacrifice in the mind of the CINC.


Webstral

[Legbreaker]

It still seems a huge waste of resources in my opinion. Even if the 5th remained in one piece as was obviously the intention from the beginning, the massive amount of fuel, parts, ammo, etc expended is just mind boggling for 2000.
They'd have been better off using one of the few planes and fuel left to parachute a team into the area, or use a helicopter or two - we know there were still some left, just look at the OOB for the 8th ID.

No, the Reset mission was essentially an afterthought to what was already happening.

[James Langham]

Originally Posted by Legbreaker

It still seems a huge waste of resources in my opinion. Even if the 5th remained in one piece as was obviously the intention from the beginning, the massive amount of fuel, parts, ammo, etc expended is just mind boggling for 2000.
They'd have been better off using one of the few planes and fuel left to parachute a team into the area, or use a helicopter or two - we know there were still some left, just look at the OOB for the 8th ID.

No, the Reset mission was essentially an afterthought to what was already happening.

In my background the theory that the 5th Division was sacrificed for Reset was made public in a book published in 2012 covering conspiracy theories from 1995 onwards. In the background I use these theories to suggest things (most of which are inaccurate) that keep my players (not the characters) paranoid.

The relevant extract from my history is:

2012
Publication of the book “Lies and Deceits: The secret history of the war” is published in the United States. It's author Morgan Pattison argues that many irrational events have a rational explanation. The US Government denies the stories in the book but many gain public acceptance as evidence is hard come by. When Lt Col Bernard McGough late of the 5th Mechanised Division claims that as per Pattison the unit was sacrificed to cover a secret mission his claims are given credence. Gradually these claims become more mainstream despite government denials until by 2018 the story will start to appear in mainstream histories as a possibility. No evidence of this however has ever been found.

[raketenjagdpanzer]

The description of Operation Reset at the beginning of Free City of Krakow makes it pretty clear that O:R was a happy coincidence with the NATO attempt to push through northern Poland, nothing else.