Re: [DS2] Question About Spotting Mine Fields

--- Jakim Friant <jmodule@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I'm working on a scenario for DS which involves one
> side making a penetration attack through a mine
> field
> to take a crossing point on a river.	The mine field
> is represented by a 3:1 mix of mine and dummy
> counters.  According to the rules pre-laid mine
> counters should be placed face down and only turned
> over once an element comes within the 2 inches of
> the
> counter.

That's a really low density.  What's the depth?  A
disrupt minefield should have a PE of about .5.
 
> So the question is, should a unit be able to
> discover
> if the counter is a dummy marker (or not) without
> running through the minefield?

I'll say yes, BUT.
 
> How does it work in the Real World?  Is it possible
> for a non-specialist unit to discover a mine field
> before they start hitting mines?  Or is it possible
> for a VTOL to spot a minefield?

Sure.  Surface-laid mines are visible if you know what
you're looking for and get lucky.  Tilt-rod mines are
blindingly obvious.  And even buried mines have
indicators.  The problem comes in noticing those
indicators in combat.  The other problem comes in
telling whether it's a real mine or not.  I mean, are
those tilt-rods, or straightened coat hangers stuck in
the ground?

VTOLs might spot minefields, but they couldn't tell a
'dummy' field from a live one.	

It comes down to terrain, skill with which the mines
were camoflaged, emphasis put on counter-mine training
in the attacker's maneuver forces, exact type of mine,
and luck.

John

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