#1: Marine Gazette article about CloseCombat by Major B.McBreen Author: Hetser, Location: rigaud quebec,canadaPosted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 5:17 am — “Close Combat” and Learning Infantry Tactics
I have learned more about small-unit infantry tactics from the “Close Combat” simulation than I
have from fourteen years of Marine Corps infantry experience.
“Close Combat” is a computer combat simulation published by Atomic Games. The focus of the
simulation is on infantry combat at the small-unit level. The series currently consists of five versions:
Close Combat I: Omaha Beach, II: A Bridge Too Far , III: The Russian Front, IV: Battle of the Bulge, and
V: Invasion Normandy.
I am an infantry major with fourteen years commissioned service, seven years with 5th Marines, three
years in schools, and three years as an infantry training officer with the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. I
have deployed overseas with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines four times. I have commanded two infantry
platoons and one rifle company. I have served as a battalion operations officer and regimental operations
officer. I am a student of tactics. I have taught NCOs and officers infantry tactics. I have participated and
led tactical decision training.
None of these activities or learning experiences can match the effective and focused tactical learning that
I have experienced through repetitive fighting of the small unit scenarios in “Close Combat.”
“Close Combat” permits a player to fight hundreds of scenarios, make thousands of tactical decisions,
experiment with different tactics, and learn from his mistakes. I would be a far more qualified platoon
commander now than I was twelve years ago. Through fighting the “Close Combat” simulation, I have
internalized significant platoon-level tactical lessons:
• Long unsupported assaults are deadly . Assault for short distances, against a lightly armed or
well-suppressed position. A single enemy soldier can destroy a squad across 100 meters of open
ground.
• A long covered approach is always better than a short open route. Be careful of covered
approaches that cannot be covered by an overwatching unit.
• Every unit needs obscuration. Smoke save lives. Every assault and every withdrawal should use
smoke.
• Fire and maneuver is the key tactic. Use the majority of your force to overwhelmingly suppress
the enemy, and a small assault unit to rapidly close on the objective.
(If you want more, and there are plenty of examples of basic tactics for the hard corps, let me know and I will try to post a link or the whole essay, space permitting. I would say that this throws a whole new validation- illumination on Close Combat.)
#2: Re: Marine Gazette article about CloseCombat by Major B.McBr Author: Hetser, Location: rigaud quebec,canadaPosted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 10:19 pm — Here is the URL to the Marine Gazette and the influence CC1,2,3,4,5 have had on training tactics.
