Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

Gao Cheng laughed and said, "The instructor is right, but these are matters for the higher-ups. We should focus on training. Let's continue with this tactical simulation. Xiao Qi knows a lot about it, so tell us more."

Goodness, we've been working together for over half a year, and it's rare to see Gao Cheng humbly asking for advice.

Zhang Anbang smiled with satisfaction. "The tactical simulation phase can expose tactical loopholes in advance, such as delayed fire support and disjointed squad coordination."

After simulation, we can make corrections in advance before conducting live-fire exercises, which greatly reduces the risk of accidental injury and equipment damage during live-fire drills.

It can improve the scientific nature of tactical plans and enhance the decision-making ability of commanders. Pure live-fire exercises are limited by venue and time, making it difficult to test multiple plans in a short period of time.

However, computer simulations can be rapidly iterated, allowing for the comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of different tactics.

"That's right. With computer tactical simulation, we can repeatedly adjust troop deployments in the simulation and provide quantitative assessments through software data calculations, helping us to make more scientific decisions, which is more accurate than simply relying on experience."

The more Gao Cheng talked about the simulation, the more he agreed with it.

Hong Xingguo followed the same line of thought and began to say, "This computer simulation can also simulate extreme battlefield situations, such as being ambushed, communication being interrupted, and an increase in the number of wounded."

This kind of situation, which is unlikely to occur in live-fire exercises, allows us to practice emergency response without any pressure, and then verify the strategies we came up with during the live-fire exercises.

This truly combines theory with practice.

"Well said! The more you talk about it, the more I can't hold back anymore. Xiao Qi, hurry up and get this simulated tactics system working so we can get started as soon as possible. There's room for improvement in our Seventh Company's combat effectiveness."

Gao Cheng became anxious as he spoke.

"Company Commander, urging me won't help. You need to hurry up and get a computer from the regimental headquarters. Without a computer, there's nothing I can do. You can't cook without rice."

"Yes, yes, you've finished the electronic ledger too. Tomorrow, you stay in the company and keep an eye on everything. The political instructor and I will go to the regimental headquarters tomorrow and try to bring the computer back. By the way, was it troublesome to do this tactical simulation?"

As soon as Zhang Anbang spoke, Gao Cheng became anxious. He didn't even have a computer yet, and he was already thinking about when the product would be ready.

Zhang Anbang thought for a moment, "This thing isn't difficult. It's just a small DOS program with very little code and a simple interface. I estimate it only takes up a few megabytes of memory."

While pondering, Zhang Anbang began to explain the general idea: "Actually, this thing is very simple. It's about using a computer to load preset terrain, such as mountains, towns, or the positions of the red and blue teams."

Then the commander uses the mouse or keyboard to plot the troop deployment and movement routes on the computer.

Finally, the software will calculate the outcome based on pre-set tactical rules, such as fire range, mobility, and speed, or print out the simulation results for multiple people to review and analyze.

Gao Cheng looked on in disbelief, "It's that simple?"

"It's that simple. As for the specifics of how to do it, even if I explain which codes to type, you wouldn't understand, would you?" Zhang An's tone was very soft.

"You, you,"

Gao Cheng and Hong Xingguo both felt that although Zhang Anbang's words made a lot of sense, the impudence in them was hard to hide. They hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn't bring themselves to say it.

"Well, you can decide for yourself," he said, then the two waved and went back to their rooms.

……

Beep, beep, beep!

On the first day Zhang Anbang took over the company's training again, he blew the assembly whistle at five o'clock.

"I heard the soldiers from the 3rd Company next door are already up. How can our 7th Company still be lying around? Hurry up, let's go find them and see who's faster!"

The soldiers of the Seventh Steel Company were furious. The Third Company's camp was four or five miles away from theirs. Now that they were all up, if the Third Company's men really got up, they would definitely be able to hear them shouting slogans.

Bah, smiling tiger! If you want them to get up early, just say so. They're not raw recruits anymore. Only a raw recruit would believe such an absurd reason.

This ridiculous excuse is even worse than the company commander's: "We received an emergency report that there is enemy activity ten kilometers away. Our superiors have ordered our unit to proceed on foot at the fastest speed."

At least this reason sounds somewhat exciting.

However, they had no other choice and dared not say it aloud, since no one in the company could escape being kicked in the butt by the deputy platoon leader.

All they could do was stare with pitiful eyes as the deputy company commander huffed and puffed as he ran off.

Unlike the recruit training company or other companies in the 702nd Regiment, whose morning exercises were only three kilometers long, the morning exercises of the Steel Seventh Company were never less than five kilometers long.

To be precise, it wasn't that there were times when the distance was less than five kilometers, but only when fully armed and the company commander or deputy company commander was in a good mood would we be allowed to run three kilometers.

Zhang Anbang, who hadn't led training for a long time, was a bit wild today. Just after 11 o'clock, some soldiers were already complaining of hunger. Fortunately, the soldiers had all done very well in training, and in a great mood, Deputy Company Commander Zhang gave each of them a White Rabbit candy to tide them over.

"Xiao Qi, Xiao Qi, come quick, I've got your computer." Gao Chengren's voice came over even before he arrived.

"Platoon Leader Yun, continue leading the team in training. When it's time, take the team directly to the canteen for lunch."

"Yes."

……

"Company commander, you're pretty fast. But you must have a lot of connections. Computers are really hard to get, and you managed to get one in one trip."

These days, the funding for grassroots troops is mainly allocated to training ammunition, fuel, and barracks maintenance. Computers are considered non-essential equipment and are subject to strict allocation quotas. They are generally prioritized for departments such as regimental headquarters, communications section, and operations and training section.

Even elite companies like the Steel Seventh Company are not prioritized.

"Oh, oh. It's nothing, it's nothing. You don't need to worry about those things. Just tell me how long it will take to get it done." Gao Cheng quickly changed the subject.

Hong Xingguo smiled without saying a word, and besides, he never thought that Gao Cheng was doing something shameful by begging and pleading for a computer.

To get equipment and funding, it's a long-standing tradition to say nice things and beg for favors; the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

"Okay, I'll do it as soon as possible. The code isn't complicated at all. The main difficulty is to make accurate calculations that fit the actual combat, which requires the addition of tactical rules and experience corrections."

For example, the Type 81 squad automatic weapon is most effective at firing at a single target at a distance of 400 meters, and can effectively kill groups of targets within 600 meters and suppress enemy fire points.

Therefore, in simulation software, the firepower suppression effect needs to be adjusted according to the distance between the two sides, varying from 0 to 100%.

Zhang Anbang gave a brief explanation with an example.

"Time, I need time," Gao Cheng said, not caring about anything else, he just wanted a specific time.

"I need specific data for this. For example, when calculating the casualty rate, you need to consider the effects of distance, terrain, and weather at the same time."

In terms of terrain, it is necessary to distinguish whether it is mountainous or plain, and in terms of weather, it is even more important to consider whether it is sunny, rainy, or snowy.

The casualty rate = base casualty rate × terrain correction factor × weather correction factor, so I need the data, and I need an assistant.

"Okay, give me June 1st, and then transfer all the training reports from our Seventh Company under various weather conditions. I'll give you the results in a week, alright?"

"You don't need to worry about anything in the company. We'll have results in three days." Gao Cheng held up three fingers.

"Five days," Zhang Anbang also raised one hand.

"You two are buying groceries. To be fair, let's say it takes about four days to settle this." Hong Xingguo stepped in as a peacemaker.

……

A few days later, the computer room of the Seventh Steel Company was very noisy.

Gao Cheng and Zhang Anbang, along with the platoon leader and a group of squad leaders, were conducting a tactical simulation.

"Company Commander, the Blue Force's firepower is too strong. Our tanks don't have enough elevation angle, so we have to dismount and fight on foot," Platoon Leader Yun's voice rang out.

"Then let's get off the vehicles and fight on foot. Although our Steel Seventh Company is an armored reconnaissance company, we are still a reconnaissance company even without armored infantry fighting vehicles. Our infantry fighting capabilities are also elite. We will arrange for the machine gun team, led by Wu Liuyi, to provide suppression, while the infantry teams will maneuver around."

Gao Cheng's voice carried an unwavering resolve.

"Clerk, input the rocket launcher data: 20 Type 69 40mm rocket launchers and two Type 98 120mm rocket launchers, in conjunction with machine gun fire suppression, to destroy enemy firepower as much as possible," Zhang Anbang added.

"Deputy Company Commander, angle, 40mm gunners, pay attention to the angle. The elevation angle cannot exceed 15 degrees, otherwise the range will be unstable and will not reach 420 meters," Wu Liuyi added from the side.

"Document, pay attention to the input angle."

……

"How's it going? Have the calculation results come out yet?" Gao Cheng urged, holding up his cup.

With the creaking of the printer, the tactical simulation report was printed out.

"Company commander, flanking maneuvers reduce casualties by 17% compared to frontal pinning, and save half an hour in capturing the high ground."

"Hmm, this data is alright, not too different from the results we got from our previous soldier drills, but there's still a gap in reducing the casualty rate by 17%."

"Company Commander, is it because of the weather? It rained during our last exercise, so there's a difference between the actual combat capability and the computer settings."

"Let me adjust," Zhang Anbang said as he sat down in front of the computer.

……