It's no Shangri La in Korramshahr

The Iran-Iraq War began with a preemptive strike by Saddam Hussein in September 1980.  His plan was to destabilise the new government of Ayatollah Khomeini and precipitate a new friendlier regime in Iran.  It was all supposed to be over by Christmas (or Ramadan!).

Instead, like revolutionary France, an outside attack legitimised Khomeini's authority and galvanised Iranian patriotism against the Iraqi dictator.  The initial Iraqi blitzkrieg bogged down against determined Iranian defences and the war dragged on for eight years - the longest conventional war of the 20th century.

One of the most infamous early battlefields was the border city of Korromshahr which became a kind of Stalingrad.  A hodgepodge of Iranian civilians, revolutionary guards and regular troops held onto the ruined city for months against the Iraqi armoured sledgehammer.   Eventually, an Iranian counterattack retook the city and the event is now a firm part of Iranian revolutionary mythology.

Our game will represent an advancing Iraqi mech brigade attempting to secure the outskirts of the city.  The Iranians will deploy up to 2/3rds across the table and will be dug in.  There are 3 objective points on the table; in the picture below they are the three sections that make up the half nearest the chair.  Whoever holds undisputed ownership of the entire section at the end of the game secures the point. 

The Iraqi's enter from this table edge nearest the palm grove.  The Iranians deploy up to 3 foot from the other side. 

Each section of table has a general terrain aspect.  The half of the table on which the Iraqi's enter is open as is the intervening section before the power station.  Any sectors in these areas count as village sectors.  The section of table that runs along the highway is built up and counts as woods; all individual sectors in this area count as town sectors.  The highway is open, and of course, can be fired on from neighbouring town sectors.  The section of table with the power station counts as rough ground and any individual sectors in this area count as village sectors.

The table attempts to represent the area around Korramshahr - flat desert with small hamlets, a relatively dense urban sprawl and large industrial areas that provide some cover and obstacles.  There is 1 point for holding the city area through which the highway runs, 1 point for the industrial zone to its right and 1 point for the open area that adjoins both.

Iraqi Order of Battle

Iraq Mechanised Brigade (Warpac II)

Brig HQ (Reg)
1x BTR60, 1x BRDM 1 (recon)

1x Armoured Battalion (Reg)
1x HQ T55, 6 x T55, 1x ZSU57 AA

3x Mechanised Infantry (Green) each with;
1x HQ BTR60, 1x BRDM 2 sagger C (recon), 6 x BTR50

2x platoons of commandos (Reg) - attach out.

1x Battalion of (x4) D-130 122mm howitzers - off table with 6x fire missions.

1x Mig21 - 2x missions

Iranian Order of Battle

Revolutionary Guard (Third World)

Revolutionary Civil Defence Battalion (Minus Green)
1x HQ infantry, 1x 120mm mortar, 1x recoiless rifle, 9x infantry - all dug in.

Revolutionary Guard Martyrs Brigade (Plus Green)
1x HQ infantry, 1x recoiless rifle in jeep, 9x infantry.

Iranian Composite Army Brigade (Nato II)

Elements of local armoured division (Reg)
1x HQ M577, 1x Scorpion tank (recon), 1x M113 (recon), 3x Chieftain MkV, 1x Shilka AA

1x battalion of (x3) M109A1 - off table but counts towards brig morale - 6x fire missions.

1x AH1 Cobra - 2x missions

Special Rules

Iraqi Mechanised infantry always count in AFV regardless of terrain.
Iraqi Commandos can be attached to any fighting battalion.
Only 1x order change or commitment from reserve can be made each turn.
Iraqi Mechanised infantry can retire (with order) or break off (after one casualty)and go back into reserve off table.
Iraqi Brig Commander can step down and amalgamate depleted battalions - this counts as an order.
Neither side can cross attach units (except commandos).
Both sides can preplan bombardments (although the Iranians shouldn't need to) during the game - every half hour the commander submits his orders to the umpire for the following half hour.
The Minus Green morale unit tests morale as soon as it is fired on and then tests at 1/3, 1/2 and 2/3 casualties.
The Plus Green morale unit ignores 1/3 casualties but tests twice at 1/2 and once at 2/3 casualties.