Just an observation

[Viper61]

Speaking for the 325th VFG as a whole we like the GV battles.  Not every week but we get them about once or twice a year and we love the battles.  Our turn outs tend to be high also for them.  I can say that the most intense fighting takes place in the GV battles from a minute vs. minute stand point of the FSO in general.  As an example we had the GV's for Frame 01 and it was none stop fighting for 30 minutes as we maneuvered and slugged it out in a small area.  Aireal battles "generally" last about 15 minutes at best with the first 5 minutes being coordinated.

The GV battles are not large nor do they take away from the frame in my opinion.  If the GV battle wasn't there all there would be is another airial objective.

I totally get some of the comments above and if you were on the receiving end of a bad GV battle that is unfortunate.  I have been in 4 to date with 3 out of the 4 being great missions.  Hand sore form gripping the joystick and voice horse from calling out orders for 60 minutes.

What makes or breaks the GV battles is the terrain, plan and coordination between the squads which is more critical than in a air battle.  The desert terrains or more wide open terrains are the best for tank battles otherwise you end up with hide and go seek in the trees and anyone can hit a tank at 100M like some of the first GV battle were.  Now the GV battles require good planning and coordination along with thought on base capture, recapture and re-recapture options.

CM's:  Keep the GV's battles we say.  Sprinkle them in on the scenario's with historical's ties as it makes sense like you have been doing.  Carefully choice terrain that provides for an even match up.  Select tanks and supporting vehicles that are evenly matched.  Keep the size of the battle at the same level.  In otherwords.....  Don't change a thing.

[Getback]

I got bored to tears last night, Couldn't play with my normal FSO squad, felt like a 5th wheel in the other squad, when I was killed in the tank, I sat in the tower for a while, made a grilled cheese sandwich, came back and logged. Didn't know what the goal of the plane mission was and felt there was no time to even develop the mission.

[APDrone]

Gotta admit, I had my apprehensions about driving GVs in FSO.

Knowing that I'll probably meet a swift demise at the hands of more qualified GV drivers, I figured it'd be a quick death.. about the same as me vs. anybody else in fighters.

So.. as there are those that absolutely despise bombers as they don't fly them or use them very often, so it is for GVs. 

Turns out it was pretty intense.  Can't expect to be a dominating force if one doesn't drive them regularly. Gives us something to practice anyway.

GVs accommodate another sub-culture of the AH community.  As more lessons are learned on how to use them in FSO, the better the experience will become.

Thanks for the opportunities!

 

[MAG1C]

I don't really agree with many of the previous posts.  Although I play Aces High for the airplanes and I'm not really of fan of GV battles, last night was fun.  I suspect that if my squad had been assigned to just GVs for last night's event, many who would have stayed away.  As it was we only spent half of the night in GVs and then flew a fighter sweep.  Thanks to planning by the squad COs in the ground attack people understood our objectives and the battle went well.  Those who died stayed around for the fighter sweep which evolved into a great dog fight.

I'm not saying that we should use GVs in every FSO event but I wouldn't mind seeing a few set up like last night's event a couple times a year.

[Big Rat]

The most fun FSO that I was ever involved in was the battle of the Bulge last year.  Why was it so fun, becouse after atacking my target with an A20 (I think it was an airfield), I got to rearm and help my buddies that got shot down, fighting in the GV battle.  I was very immersive in that I was flying supporting ground units calling in attacks from me, while I'm trying to keep an eye out and occasionally dodge a 109 or 190 either doing ground atack itself or trying to kill me.  Then trying to go back and rearm, without getiing vulched on the re-arm pad, in case you parked at a base too close.  Was great fun and a lot of squaddies agree with me on that scenario being one of the best as far as fun.

 
BigRat

[RSLQK186]

Yah,Big Rat
That was a wild ride. Had a P47 loaded to the gills myself.

[Getback]

After thinking it over today (We have Getback in lane 1 doing the backstroke) It wasn't bad. I should have taken it upon myself to better informed. I do thank the 325th for allowing me to join their squad. I sincerely appreciate it. 

[Viper61]

  Your very welcome sir.