European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 23, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Village sleeps through raging Battle leaders move artillery soldiers in attack around  John Millar reformer team writer Heidenheim. West Germany a the people of Dinkels Briihl never knew what hit them. While most of the West German town s residents were asleep in their Beds the largest Man Euver brigade in the . Army was advancing on their Homes. Artillery barrages began Early in the morning. Air strikes and mortar bombardments were almost constant As thousands of troops in More than 100 tanks and other vehicles fought their Way in and around Dinkels Briihl. Such a Battle should have reduced the town to burning ruins said 1st it. Kevin Gregory Liaison officer for the 194th separate army brigade. Quot it would be a mess right now in Dinkels Briihl Quot he said. But because Gregory and other members of the 194th attacked on computer screens rather than on the ground the town s residents went about their business never hearing a single shot fired or artillery Shell explode. The Quot real Quot fighting was taking place in two tents about 20 Miles East of Dinkels Briihl on a German army Cavern near Heidenheim. One tent attached to a Row of tracked command vehicles parked under the protective roof of a tank motor Pool housed the brigade s tactical operations Center. Inside was a tangle of radios telephones Field desks officers and soldiers. Generator powered spotlights lit a series of four identical maps with different markings that were suspended along the length of one Side of the tent. To the men inside the Canvas covered tactical operations Center it was hard to realize there were no troops fighting in Dinkels Briihl. At one map. The brigade s operation Section was keeping track of the combat unit s actions and the current Battle situation. An intelligence officer followed the enemy on another map. Artillery experts and air Force officers fought their Battles Over yet another Dinkels Briihl map. Engineers at the fourth map monitored obstacles to be breached and logistics chiefs kept a handle on who had Beans bullets and fuel. Quot All of these people have different interests in the Battle Quot said it. Col. Dennis Long the i94th s Deputy commander. A fall Are seeing the same  each Section used information received by radio from their units to keep their maps up to Date. A we be been at this since four in the morning Quot Long said. A occasionally we have to remind ourselves that we re not actually out there mane vering. We re fighting like we actually would in a  Etc thing seemed real to him he said. A the reports on the radio arc just like you would normally get. You really feel the excitement w Hen the exercise is full up. This morning when the attack kicked off you could feel the adrenalin  Long said the Only difference Between real War and the simulation is that he and the commander would visit front line units from time to time. This would have been easy enough As the Forward units were about five blocks away in a Large Well lit heated tent called a Field simulation Center. Inside groups of officers and soldiers sent simulated tanks and troops into Battle using computers linked to the joint exercise support system. Gregory and another officer were playing the part of Man Euver commanders. Each could move combat units Over the Dinkels Briihl Battlefield by pushing a few buttons and waving the computer systems Quot mouse across a Board. Both worked for capt. William Oaks who was playing the part of about five unit commanders. When Battle orders were radioed in from the brigade or battalion tactical operations centers. Oaks said he and his team punched them into the computer. Quot the computer executes the order and provides them with the results or effects of carrying those orders out Quot said capt. Charles Henderson who headed the Field simulation Center for the 194th. For example the computer can be ordered to have units attack and size an objective. Quot after the request is processed the computer May signal that the Mission was a Success a he said. Quot perhaps they lost two tanks and destroyed five enemy tanks and left 10 enemy dead Quot Henderson said. Quot the computer spits All that  the results come in the form of computer printouts and graphic displays on a color Monitor. With this information. Oaks and his Crew relay what happened by radio to commanders at the tactical operations Center in the form of Battlefield reports. Commanders use the Battlefield reports to keep track of the operations and to decide what will be done next he said. Henderson said before the Battle began each unit s capabilities were plugged into the computer system. A so the computer recognizes the assets we have and. Of course w hat we Don t have. So if we try to do something based on assets we Don t have it won t let  enemy forces played by the German army s 13th army inf brigade were using the same system on the other Side of the Battlefield. Henderson said. The computers have advantages and drawbacks. The Field simulation Center is linked by Telephone to a larger system a the joint exercise simulation system. His Battle station was prone to freeze or crash w Hen the communications links got crowded or garbled. Oaks said. This meant the Battle raged on at other stations while Oaks and his men waited for the system to come Back on line. Quot this thing s kind of slow at times Quot lie said. Quot it s kind of like watching paint  although not in the Field Long said those operating the computer stations did get some training. Quot they see How combat Power is used. They can see the plan and How its implemented a what works and what does no to  to the commander and his Battlefield staff the simulated exercise was More realistic than a full fledged Field Man Euver Complete with real tanks and ground troops. Quot there s always something in a real refer Ger that slows you  Long said. During exercises such As c Centurion shield 90, concern Over Man Euver damage Means that troops can t Cut across autobahn and must Detour around Farmers Fields lie said. But the computer simulation lets them take straight Cross country routes to the enemy cutting across roads through Fields and towns As commanders Sec fit. Quot we would base had to drive Over 100 tanks though about 20 villages to get where we Are Iri the Battle  Long said about his brigade s Advance. But because of simulation villages like Din Kyls Briihl were none the worse for Wear. Col. Donald Smith left 194th separate army brigade commander listens to a radio report while looking at a map of the Battlefield. Tuesday january 23,1990 stars and stripes special editions amps Joriet a dlr to Page 7