I was a little suprised to recieve a request for an autobiography of me by Simulation and Gaming Journal. This academic journal is the premier journal on the study of simulations and games.
The request was on the grounds of my contribution to simulations and gaming e.g. through the History of Wargaming Project. This will be the third one they have done in the magazines history.
Actually, I can suggest many other names who, to me, have made a far larger contribution.
Monday, 20 August 2012
Friday, 10 August 2012
Surprise Battalion Parachute Drop on Belarus
On the 4th of July 2012, a Swedish public
relations firm dropped 879 toy teddy-bears by parachute on the town of Ivenets
near Minsk in Belarus. This was a pro-democracy protest against Europe’s last
dictatorship, with each teddy-bear carrying a suitable slogan.
Belarus is former Soviet state that has been ruled by President
Alexander Lukashenko since democratic elections in 1994. Since the first free
election, the state has become progressively more autocratic and has seen a
clampdown on press freedom. The European Union has an asset free and travel
restrictions on 200 Belarus officials for alleged human right abuses. If any of
these people travel in the rest of Europe, they will be detained.
The incident has wider interest than merely highlighting the
excesses of one ex-soviet regime.
Belarus is part of the air defence network of Russia and
although the light aircraft managed to enter Belarus airspace from Sweden, Andrei
Savinykh, the spokesman for Belarus' Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the
intruded was detected ‘but the air defence did nothing. They didn’t
consider the aircraft as a military threat because it was a small aircraft and
usually the air defence system is focusing on high-speed heavy crafts.’
This incident raises questions about the effectiveness of
the Russian air defence umbrella.
In the days of potential air attack by suicide terrorists,
the wider question is how to react to such suspicious civilian aircraft? There
are dangers to over-reaction; in September 1983, the Soviets shot down a
civilian Korean Airline Flight 007 over the Sea of Japan by a Su-15. America
shot down civilian flight Iran air flight 655 in July 1988 over the straits of
Hormuz.
Belarus is quite clear about their reaction to a further
incident. Their spokesman said any further unauthorised aircraft would be
treated as a threat. Belarus air space will not be a good place to stray from
one’s registered flight plan.
Monday, 6 August 2012
Connections conference on game design in US
There is an excellent write up of the Connections Conference about game design. Write up on paxsims
The conference is the American equivilent of the UK Wargame Development's Conference of Wargamers (COW). The Connections conference looked very structured in the traditional way e.g. with key note speakers. The UK COW conference is a post-modernism conference, disorgranised, parallel sessions and much of the important insights are developed in informal discussions between sessions.
The conference is the American equivilent of the UK Wargame Development's Conference of Wargamers (COW). The Connections conference looked very structured in the traditional way e.g. with key note speakers. The UK COW conference is a post-modernism conference, disorgranised, parallel sessions and much of the important insights are developed in informal discussions between sessions.
Friday, 3 August 2012
John Keegan historian passes away
Sir John Keegan, well-known tactical military historian, aged 78 has just passed away.
To me, his best books were the Face of Battle and Six Armies in Normandy. The latter tried to imagine what it was like to be in a battle and was a contrast to most books examining the commander's perspective. He also wrote for the Telegraphy Newspaper, with articles trying to explain military realities to the lay reader.
He was one of the fellow lecturers of Paddy Griffith and David Chandler at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurt, but unlike them, he did not place much value on the use of wargames to help understanding of military history. I have some classic unpublished correspondence between John Keegan and Paddy Griffith, demonstrating both had strong feelings. One day I might get it to print.
For further information see Obituary.
To me, his best books were the Face of Battle and Six Armies in Normandy. The latter tried to imagine what it was like to be in a battle and was a contrast to most books examining the commander's perspective. He also wrote for the Telegraphy Newspaper, with articles trying to explain military realities to the lay reader.
He was one of the fellow lecturers of Paddy Griffith and David Chandler at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurt, but unlike them, he did not place much value on the use of wargames to help understanding of military history. I have some classic unpublished correspondence between John Keegan and Paddy Griffith, demonstrating both had strong feelings. One day I might get it to print.
For further information see Obituary.
Friday, 20 July 2012
George Gush Quote
George Gush and Andrew Finch's "A Guide to Wargaming"
"...the wargame general's skill, like that of his real counterpart, should lie not in guaranteeing victory, but in committing his men with all the advantages possible, and ensuring that defeat for his force will not be disastrous for their own side, while their success 'will' be disastrous for the enemy." (p.133)
"...the wargame general's skill, like that of his real counterpart, should lie not in guaranteeing victory, but in committing his men with all the advantages possible, and ensuring that defeat for his force will not be disastrous for their own side, while their success 'will' be disastrous for the enemy." (p.133)
Saturday, 14 July 2012
Brits in Basra v Northern Ireland
I have been working on a simulation of urban counter insurgency. I noted in difference in troop numbers between the British occupation of Basra and West Belfast in Ireland.
General Shirreff noted in the Chilcott Inquiry that a single battalion command was responsible for Basra, a city of 1.3 million people. He could put no more thatn 13 half platoons, less than 200 soldiers. In the summer of 1972, the British Army had 28,000 soldiers most of them infantry or in the infantry role in Northern Ireland. During operation Motorman which was to seize back control of the no-go areas in West Belfast from the IRA, the army put 10,000 soldiers into the city. This was day and night.
Britain won in Northern Ireland and lost in Basra....
General Shirreff noted in the Chilcott Inquiry that a single battalion command was responsible for Basra, a city of 1.3 million people. He could put no more thatn 13 half platoons, less than 200 soldiers. In the summer of 1972, the British Army had 28,000 soldiers most of them infantry or in the infantry role in Northern Ireland. During operation Motorman which was to seize back control of the no-go areas in West Belfast from the IRA, the army put 10,000 soldiers into the city. This was day and night.
Britain won in Northern Ireland and lost in Basra....
Monday, 9 July 2012
Connections Wargaming Conference in USA
In the USA there is a relatively new conference that discusses all aspects of wargame design
http://connections-wargaming.com/
Based in Washington, 23-26th of July 2012. It has much in common with the Conference of Wargamers.
I note that many of big and some of the smaller names of wargaming will be there.
http://connections-wargaming.com/
Based in Washington, 23-26th of July 2012. It has much in common with the Conference of Wargamers.
I note that many of big and some of the smaller names of wargaming will be there.
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