Re: Scouts.....

>> their maps are not completely accurate
>
>Why not?  US forces now frequently use satellite
>imagery with a UTM gridline superimposed.  Accuracy is
>pretty much a given with modern mapping methods and/or
>even a handful of recon satellites.
>
>> have no idea where the enemy
>> is, apart from "somewhere over this line. We think."
>
>Again, both sat recon and UAVs in plenty make things a
>bit more precise.

Satellite Data is only as good as your last pass. If we're talking
current technology,
then decent cloud cover can bolix up most sats. And you may have data
several
hours or even days old. If you're using new technology, reconsats will
be a
prime target for super-stingers (the ones that can reach LEO).

UAVs are another matter: but require the opposition not to have air
defences
capable of KOing them. This is pretty much a given today, but may not be
so
in future.

In an ideal world, every map would be the latest, everyone would have
the right
map in their mapcase, everyone's GPS system would be working, everyone
would
have enough sleep, there would be one UAV tasked every 5 minutes for
every squad,
the weather would permit missions 24/7... and there'd be no more war.

But... the reason why the maps aren't accurate is to simulate the other
things
that go wrong. The bombardier who keys in the position of the spotter
rather
than the target for a GPS-guided blue-on-blue. "Charge for the Guns!".
"No,
your OTHER left!".
The GPS being on the fritz. The wrong map CDs being downloaded. A
clueless Lieutenant
who's a first-class leader but is functionally illiterate when it comes
to cartography.
A first sergeant who's still drunk after the wake for his best mate last
night.
The captain who got a "Dear Joan" letter last night and hasn't quite got
her
mind totally on the job.

And of course, Murphy.

NSTRH story:

In the recent little fracas in East Timor, there was a clash between
Australian
regulars and Indonesian Police on the border. The Indonesians thought
the Australians
were invading: the Australians thought the Indonesians were attacking.
Unfortunately
one Indonesian policeman was killed, and several Indonesians were
wounded.

The Indonesian forces were using an old Portugese colonial map over 40
years
old.
The Australians were using a brand-new map, the official map used by the
Indonesian
Army, just to avoid this very situation.

The old map was, of course, correct, and matched the Australian produced
maps
of the same area.

"War is the province of Friction" and all that.