Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
From: nzt1939@dsacg3.dsac.dla.mil (William M. Aldo)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: FLEETEX
Message-ID: <1990Jul31.023128.20234@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 31 Jul 90 02:31:28 GMT
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From: nzt1939@dsacg3.dsac.dla.mil (William M. Aldo)
>From: apctrc!crx34!zrra07@uunet.UU.NET (Randall R. Appleton)
>
>I have a question for all who might know.  What are the miltary exercises
>like?  How good are they, and to what extent can one make observations
>about real warfare from them?  How do they determine if someone is 
>'hit', and what happens to him?
>
>For example, if I notice that in exercises I tend to loose 70% of my tanks
>per engagement, should I expect a similar number in real combat?
>
>Also, what are they like?
>
>Randy

I can't speak on all military exercises; however, in general, I do know
that they try to make them as realistic as possible. There are usually
referees/umpires throughout 'battle-sites' to grade/gauge the units
involved.

For your example (no flames intended), LOOSE 70% OF YOUR TANKS.....;-)
While it's definitely possible over time, or for a specific battle, per
engagement is unrealistic.....unless your intelligence data that you're
working with is piss-poor or the individual(s) is totally ignorant of
tank warfare. Of course, there is always the chance of ambush or the
ever-present anti-tank missile (shoulder-fired or otherwise) to con-
tend with, but 70%.......whoa! If you loose tanks at this rate, you
shouldn't be in real combat. I'm not a combat-vet, but I am a veteran
tank commander.....and it has been awhile since I participated in
military exercises/wargames.

--

Mark