Botswana Defence Force Deck

A deck based on the Botswana Defence Force, using NATO units, covering the period 1977-1997.

Introduction

In creating the BDF in Red Dragon, some sacrifices had to be made for gameplay but every effort has been made to attain accuracy and realism in building the deck. As with all decks, I would argue, this has been skewed somewhat toward my playstyle. I have included options to try and include how other people may play.

The BDF was formed in 1977 and - initially at least - scavenged equipment from wherever it could. As the country's economy improved, better equipment was sourced from Austria, Canada, France, Indonesia, Israel, Spain, Switzerland, UK, USA (a major partner whom also provide training to the BDF to the present day) and the USSR. This had led to a fairly eclectic Table of Equipment.

I have a lot of fun playing as the BDF in full-point and tactical games. Included are some of the unit combinations and strategies I've used with success in games. Don't expect to hold off the might of the Soviet Union 1 on 1 but with a little practice, you'll score some impressive successes against all-comers.

The Deck

Deck Code: @HsEKUYMFqPW7R7zMGC0wWR62egtkCYfsSgc4cRB7gDC1goQgYLBjRfKnVFXjX4nONeTDgnTRIzDgW+RHZR83pt6Zb4nSKCqM+jPkZiQq

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Faction: BLUFOR
National/Coalition Deck: All (no bonus)
Deck Type: Motorized
Era: All (no bonus)

Unit (Nation) – Role – Number, Training (Cost)
Unit names with links were or are in service with the BDF
Any (*) asterisked entries lead to notes on why that unit was selected or links to RL units they represent.

Logistic
M325 Pikud[en.wikipedia.org] (Israel) – Command Post – 6, Trained (110)
FOB (UK) – FOB – 1, N/A (75)
AB-204B Vracht (Netherlands) – Air Resupply – 8, Trained (25)*
Unimog Cargo (Denmark) – Ground Resupply – 14, Trained (10)**

*Representing BDF Air Wing Bell 412[en.wikipedia.org] helicopters
**Representing various trucks in service

Infantry
Grenadiers + YP-408 PWI* (Netherlands) – Regular Infantry – 16, Veteran (10+10)
MAW[en.wikipedia.org] + Grizzly* (Canada) – Assault Infantry – 12, Veteran (10+10)
Javelin[en.wikipedia.org] G/L + Grizzly (Canada) – SAM Infantry – 6, Veteran (15+10)
Givati + Anafa (Israel) – Commando/Airborne Infantry – 8, Elite (25+15)**
Milan + VAB (France) - ATGM Infantry - 10, Veteran (10+10)

*YP-408, Grizzly and VAB represents BTR-60[en.wikipedia.org] or V-150 or VBL in all cases.
**Galil Rifle[en.wikipedia.org] in service with BDF, Anafa represents BDF Air Wing Bell 412

Support
PzMrs HS.30 (West Germany) – Mortar 120mm – 8 in 2 cards of 4, Veteran (30)*
K-136 Kooryong (South Korea) – Rocket Artillery/Counterbattery – 3, Trained (80)**
VAB VDAA (France) – AAA – 8, Hardened (30)***

*Covering 81mm,120mm Mortars in Service
**Aerostar SA APRA-40[en.wikipedia.org]
***M167 VADS[en.wikipedia.org][/i] The VAB VDAA is used to represent the BDF's method of mounting the VADS on a V-150 for mobility.

I've removed 105 Artillery and not included 155 Artillery as for those available; their rate of fire is too low, in my opinion, to be useful. I've also removed 60mm as they are not effective enough.

Tank
AMX-13 FL-15 (Netherlands) – Tank – 16, Hardened (35)*

*SK-105 Kürassier[en.wikipedia.org]

Recon
FV101 Scorpion[en.wikipedia.org] (UK) – Armoured Recce – 16 in 2 Cards of 8, Veteran (20)
Green Jackets + FV103 Spartan - Armoured Recce with Infantry - 6 , Veteran (35)
AS. 350[en.wikipedia.org] (Norway) – Airborne Recce – 6, Hardened (55)
M325 Patrol (Israel) – Long Range Recce – 6, Hardened (30)
Rangers + V-150[en.wikipedia.org] (USA) - Short Range Recce with Infantry Scout** - 8, Veteran (25)
Bedouins + RAM Recce[en.wikipedia.org] (Israel) – Infantry Scout – 6, Hardened (15+15)**

*Shorland Armoured Car[en.wikipedia.org]
**Representing Tracker units within the BDF, RAM and V-150 are in service

Vehicle
LARO TOW-2 (Netherlands) – ATGM – 14 in 2 cards of 7, Veteran (40)*

*V-100 mounted with TOW launchers

Helo
Fennec TOW-2 (Denmark) - ATGM - 6, Hardened (55)*

*Probably one of the bigger liberties taken with the deck - the BDF Air Wing does operate Fennecs but there is no evidence they ever armed them with TOW-2 missiles. In the interest of balancing and increasing the deck's survivability, I included them as a 'what-if'.

Plane
CF-116 Freedom Fighter [en.wikipedia.org](Canada) – CAS Bombs – 3, Trained (70)*
F-5A Freedom Fighter (Norway) – CAS Rockets – 2, Veteran (50)
F-5A PUFF (Norway) – SEAD, Air-to-Air – 2, Hardened (80)
KF-5E Jegong-Ho (South Korea) – Air-to-Air – 3, Veteran (75)**

*The actual model sold to the BDF Air Wing in 1996
**The BDF considered upgrading their F-5As and Bs to E before selecting the Gripen. Here, they are included as a 'what-if' and to give this deck some pure Air-to-Air capability.

Naval*
Monitor Zippo (NATO) – River Gunboat – 6, Elite (30)
Monitor 105 (NATO) - River Gunboat - 4, Elite (50)
LCU 1610 (NATO) – Supply – 4, Trained (75)
MAW + Grizzly + LCU (Canada) - Assault Infantry - 12, Hardened (10+10+5)
M325 Pikud + LCU (Israel) – Command Post – 6, Trained (110+5)

BDF[en.wikipedia.org]
BDF Ground Force[en.wikipedia.org]
BDF Air Wing[en.wikipedia.org]

Some information gathered elsewhere through Google searches.

*Botswana is a land-locked country but does have rivers and a riverine unit within the BDF. I've put together a riverine fighting force that should model this unit and the anti-poaching units found in Chobe National Park and the fire support they could expect from the wider BDF.

The Deck '85

In order to better fit the BDF into period games, the following modification to the base deck restricts the BDF to equipment used (or possibly used) in 1985 or before. There's a little bit of fudging going on here too - in particular, the BDF used BN-2 Islander Defenders (a prop plane) for CAS, here represented by the Dragonfly and Strikemaster. Amusingly, the Air Wing did use the Strikemaster from about 1990-96.

BDF 1985 Deck Code: @HsCKUYMFqPW7R7zdo95mDBazBgtYHgYMDwMJAmBjgDBQwWR6YLBjRb4RxJ0hVYVcFvhHEg9RIyD0Ruo5pQWnpKCqgqhBM58R2UfA

Faction: BLUFOR
National/Coalition Deck: All (no bonus)
Deck Type: Motorized
Era: pre-1985

Logistic
M325 Pikud (Israel) – Command Post – 6, Trained (110)
FOB (UK) – FOB – 1, N/A (75)
Unimog Cargo (Denmark) – Ground Resupply – 28 in 2 cards, Trained (10)
Unimog Cargo (ANZAC) - Ground Resupply - 14, Trained (10)

The helicopters are removed, made up for by adding more trucks.

Infantry
Grenadiers + YP-408 PWI* (Netherlands) – Regular Infantry – 32 in 2 cards, Veteran (10+10)
MAW + Grizzly* (Canada) – Assault Infantry – 24 in 2 cards, Veteran (10+10)
Redeye + Stolly (ANZAC) – SAM Infantry – 12 in 2 cards, Veteran (10+10)
Givati + Hamer (Israel) – Commando – 10, Elite (25+10)

Doubled up on infantry; Redeye represents Strela-2, then in service; Commandos relegated to ground in absence of transport helicopters.

Support
LAV-M (USA) – Mortar – 12 in 2 cards, Trained (35)
FV433 Abbot (UK) – Tube Artillery 105mm – 8 in 2 cards, Hardened (50)
LARS-2 (West Germany) – Rocket Artillery/Counterbattery – 3, Trained (70)

LAV-M to represent 81mm mortar; guns and MRLs unchanged, Vulcan removed as not delivered until 90s - BDF relied exclusively on MANPADs in this period

Tank
All removed, no armour until 90s

Recon
AS. 350 (Norway) – Airborne Recce – 6, Hardened (55)
Rover Pinky (UK) - Long Range Recce - 4, Hardened (45)
Laro C&V (Netherlands) - Long Range Recce - 4, Hardened (45)
M325 Patrol (Israel) – Long Range Recce – 12 in 2 cards, Hardened (30)
FV701 Ferret (UK) – Rear Area Security/Arty Spotter – 12, Hardened (10)*
Bedouins + M325 Nun-Nun (Israel) – Infantry Scout – 6, Hardened (15+5)**

Fennec remains; Rovers added to represent RL use and replace some lost recce as Scorpions removed; additional M325s; Bedouins lose their RAMs

Vehicle
Rover Wombat (UK) - Direct Fire Support - 12, Veteran (10)

Even the Wombat AT gun is probably a bit of a liberty. We know they were in service across the border in Zimbabwe.

Helo
All removed, nothing available in service until post-85

Plane
A-37B Dragonfly (South Korea) - CAS - 3, Trained (70)
BAC Strikemaster (UK) - CAS - 4, Trained (50)

As mentioned, these represent armed Islander aircraft in use with the Air Wing. Kenya would later sell Strikemasters to Botswana in 1990.

Naval*
Unchanged for Balancing

Final note: There are 10 unused Activation points within the deck, this left to keep the deck effective for AI games. If you find something I missed, add it in and let me know!

Organisation and Strategies

The BDF Deck is not a column or wall of death, flinging exotic missiles and shells at targets and shrugging off all incoming fire. The following unit organisation and application have proven most successful for me.

In general, the deck favours infantry action with tight fire support from transports, attached vehicles and planes; ambushes; trading terrain for time and raids. The following groups should be used in combination ideally, as described. They do *not* apply to the pre-'85 deck.

Armoured Group


3 Groups of 2 x AMX-13 FL-15 (Tank)
3 Groups of 2 x FV101 Scorpion (Armoured Recce)
2 Groups of 2 x Green Jackets in Spartans (Armoured Inf for holding Urban Areas)
3 x VAB VDAA (AAA)
2 x Unimog Cargo (Resupply) - Set to FUEL ONLY
1 x M325 Pikud (CP)

Support with 120mm Mortars or LARS, ideally both.

I use the Armoured Group to support Infantry Groups, to cover LZs for Commando Groups, to support other players' heavier armoured decks or to setup ambushes of enemy forces. Bypass urban areas where possible (or use GJs to hold them down) and always try to back them up with Fire Support Group (see below).

Infantry Group


8 x Grenadiers + YP-408 PWI (Regular Inf)
8 x MAW + Grizzly (Assault Inf)
4 x Milan + VAB (ATGM Inf) - Situational, see below, use in 2 pairs of 2 if possible.
2 x Javelin G/L + Grizzly (SAM Inf)
2 x Bedouin + RAM Recce (Inf Scouts)
1 x M325 Pikud (CP)

Support with 120mm Mortars or LARS, ideally both.

Infantry Group is obviously responsible for fighting in cluttered or urban terrain, with the foot units pinning the enemy, the vehicles pulling up to add their fire and the mortars smashing the target. It takes quite a bit of coordination but with practise, you can hit a location, do the damage, remount your vehicles and book out in good time.

In general, Pair Grenadiers with MAWs, with Grenadiers initiating contact, allowing MAWs to flank with HE. Vehicles can hold back or lend fire support depending on AT threat.

For forest fighting, lead with the MAWs, relying on Grenadiers to flank and vehicles to support. Consider including MILAN to defend cities or treelines from armour.

Javelins provide cover - consider doubling up on them or bringing in fighters if there is a significant jet threat.

When going into the attack, I use the Split command to help preserve individual morale. For easy pathfinding, regroup until you need to attack again.

Commando Group


8 x Givati + Anafa (Commando/Airborne Inf)
4 x Rangers + V-150 (Inf Scouts)

Support with LARS.

Commando Group is for deep strikes, quick reaction, raids or to create a LZ for follow-on troops (using the Anafas to airlift in regular troops from Infantry Group). V-150s provide amphibious transport for Rangers while the Givati are your Shock Troops.

Fire Support Group


1 x M325 Patrol (Spotter)
6 x LARO TOW-2 in 3 Pairs of 2 (ATGM vs Armour)
2 x Unimog Cargo (Resupply) - Set to AMMO ONLY

Support with 120mm Mortars or LARS, ideally both.

FSG is the 'hold the line' group, ideally backed up MRLs. I use this group as a default "starter" for CPU games to hold off their columns of death. Micro-managing for particular targets is a good idea.

FOB Protection
(For Tactical Games)
1 x Javelin in Grizzly (SAM Inf)
1 x VAB VDAA
Any amount Ferrets

Independent Units or Units that can also be used Independently

M325 Patrol (Long Range Recce)
Bedouin + RAM Recce
PzMrs HS.30 (Heavy Mortar)
LARS-2 (Rocket Artillery/Counterbattery)
Unimog Cargo (Resupply)
AB-204B Vracht (Air Resupply)
AS. 350 (Airborne Recce)
Fennec TOW-2
All Planes

References, Images and Videos

Wikipedia
BDF Website[www.gov.bw]
SIPRI[www.sipri.org]

Credit[images.fineartamerica.com]

Credits: 1. Grant Reed[africageographic.com] ; 2. Botswana Government ; 3. Alamy Stock Images ; 4. Bob Adams[www.flickr.com]

What if Eugen put Botswana in the Game?

What an idea! It would be wonderful but I'm under no illusion. Just in case, though:

Unit - Cost - Notes

Logistics
Tac HQ + M325 - 100 + 5 - FN, FN MAG (Regular)
Tac HQ + BTR-60PB - 100 + 15 -
Tac HQ + Piranha IIIC - 100 + 10 -
Tac HQ + Bell 412 - 100 + 20 -
M325 CP - 110 - Just like Israel's
Piranha IIICP - 120 - !Prototype!
SK-105 CV - 130 - Armoured Command Vehicle
Bell 412 CP - 110 - Airborne Command Vehicle
FOB - 75 - With that beautiful blue, white and black flag
M325 Cargo - 10 - 500L Cargo
Bell 412 Cargo - 25 - With 1000L of cargo

Infantry
Riflemen + BTR-60PB - 10 + 15 - FN FAL, RPG-7, FN MAG (Regular)
Riflemen + Piranha IIIC - 10+10 -
Riflemen + Bell 412 - 10 + 20 - Bell with 7.62mm MAG
Riflemen '85 + BTR-60PB - 15 + 15 - FN FAL, some sort of improved RPG-7, FN MAG (Regular)
Riflemen '85 + Piranha IIIC - 15+10 - As Above
Riflemen '85 + Bell 412 - 10 + 20 - Bell with 7.62mm MAG
Assault Pioneers + BTR-60PB - 10+10 - FN FAL, RPG-7 HE version (Regular)
Assault Pioneers + Piranha IIIC - 10+10 - ^^
Assault Pioneers + Bell 412 - 10 + 20 -
Strela 2 + BTR-60PB - 10 + 15 - AKM, Strela 2 SAM (Regular)
Strela 2 + FV103 Spartan - 10 + 15 -
Strela 2 + Piranha IIIC - 10 + 10 -
Strela 2 + Bell 412 - 10 + 20 -
Javelin G/L + BTR-60PB - 15 + 15 - AKM, Javelin SAM (Regular)
Javelin G/L + FV103 Spartan - 10 + 15
Javelin G/L + Piranha IIIC - 15 + 10 -
Javelin G/L + Bell 412 - 15 + 20 -
Commandos + M325 - 25 + 5 - Galil, Carl Gustav, FN MAG (Shock)
Commandos + BTR-60PB -
Commandos + Bell 412 -
Reservists + M325 - 5 + 5 - AK47 and cheap RPG (Militia) !Prototype!
Reservists + Shorland Armoured Car - 5 + 10 - AK47 and cheap RPG !Prototype!

Support
M325 81mm - 30 - Mortar Carrier
M325 SAMOVAR - 40 - 120mm Mortar Carrier
L118 Light Gun - 60 - 105mm Tube Arty (better than Melara?) [ Both might be hard to do as ]
OTO Melara 56 - 50 - 105mm Tube Arty [ neither are vehicle-mounted ]
APRA-40 - 75 - 122mm Rocket Arty
M325 Strela - 25 - Strela on a truck, can't find evidence of it but would fill a niche
M167 VADS - 25 - Mounted on V-150s

Tank
SK-105 Kürassier - 35 -
Leopard 1A3 - 40 - !Prototype! 50+ tanks were to be bought in the 90s but the sale wasn't completed.

Recon
FV101 Scorpion - 20 - Armoured Recce
AS. 350 - 55 - Air Recce
M325 Patrol - 30
V-150 20mm - 25
Shorland Armoured Car - 10
Trackers + M325 - 15 + 5 - Trackers with FN and RPG (Regular)
Trackers + V100 - 15 + 10 - V100 with 2 x FN MAG
Trackers + FV103 Spartan - 15 + 15
Trackers + RAM Recce - 15 + 15
Trackers + Bell 412 - 15 + 20
Special Forces + M325 - 30 + 5 - Sterling, superior RPG, Igla (Elite) !Prototype!
Special Forces + Bell 412 - 30 + 20 - Sterling, superior RPG, Igla !Prototype!
Special Forces '90 + M325 - 30 + 5 - MP5SD, excellent RPG, Igla (Elite) !Prototype!
Special Forces '90 + Bell 412 - 30 + 20 - MP5SD, excellent RPG, Igla !Prototype!

Vehicle
V-100 TOW - 30 -
V-150 90mm - 20 -
M325 - 5 - (Transport) Unarmed
V-100 - 10 - (Transport) 2 x FN MAG
Piranha IIIC - 10 - (Transport) HMG !Prototype! Not delivered until 2002
FV103 Spartan - 15 - (Transport) FN MAG
RAM Recce - 15 - (Transport) HMG
BTR-60PB - 15 - (Transport) KPVT
Shorland Armoured Car - 10 - (Transport) M1919

Helo
AS. 350 CAS - 25 - !Prototype! HMG Pod and 7rnd SNEB Rocket pod
AS. 350 20mm - 30 - !Prototype! [No evidence that the aircraft is equipped in these ways by ]
AS. 350 TOW - 55 - !Prototype! [the BDF Air Wing ]
Bell 412 - 20 - (Transport) FN MAG
AS. 350 HMG - 30 - (Transport) Twin HMG Pods !Prototype!

Plane
Gripen C - 150 - 4 AMRAAM, 2 Sidewinder, 27mm Cannon !Prototype!
Gripen D - 125 - 4 500kg Bombs, 2 Sidewinder, 27mm Cannon !Prototype!
F-5A - 50 - 8 x Mk24 Zuni, Twin 20mm Cannon
F-5A CAS - 70 - 3 x 500kg Bombs
F-5A SEAD - 80 - 4 x Shrike Missiles, 2 Sidewinder Twin 20mm Cannon
F-5B - 90 - 5 x Napalm, Twin 20mm Cannon
Strikemaster Mk 83 - 40 - 2 x 227kg bombs, Machine Gun 7.62
Strikemaster Mk 87 - 50 - 2 x Mk 77 Nplm, Machine Gun 7.62

I've left Naval out deliberately as the riverine unit mentioned elsewhere uses airboats and small whalers to get about, nothing special to add.

A few prototypes, what ifs and outright guesses up there. This is hypothetical, after all.

Updates

29/06/2021
Replaced LARS with Kooryong, more accurate representation.

01/10/2020
Removed Ferrets - they were representing Shorland Armoured Cars but no longer useful.
Added Green Jackets + FV103 Spartan - Still in Service and more useful in same role *and* extra Recce Firepower

09/09/2020
LARO Mortier added
NF-5 CAS Removed - I am reliably informed BDF has never and will never use Napalm.
+1 Unimog Cargo card

14/07/2020
Milan + VAB added
1 x LARS Card removed.
Updated Strategies.

17/06/2020
Recce and Vehicle Section was changed to better reflect BDF equipment.
The V-150 20mm was removed and replaced with V-150 + Rangers.
The V-150 90mm was removed and replaced with Rover Milan.
M163 Vulcan was removed and replaced with VAB VDAA. (While BTR is not in service, the BDF mount the Vulcan Air Defence System to V-150s. The VAB VDAA balances out better to fit this role.)

Flying Column Strategy Removed - Does not work :)

Deck Code Updated

29/05/2019
Naval Section was rebalanced to better reflect BDF's riverine and anti-poaching units in Chobe. As such, removed the larger 'marine infantry' presence and restricted it to small infantry units with BDF fire support simulated by Monitors.


Monitor Zippo (NATO) – River Gunboat – 6, Elite (30)
Monitor 105 (NATO) - River Gunboat - 4, Elite (50)
LCU 1610 (NATO) – Supply – 4, Trained (75)
MAW + Grizzly + LCU (Canada) - Assault Infantry - 12, Hardened (10+10+5)
M325 Pikud + LCU (Israel) – Command Post – 6, Trained (110+5)

Original and '85 Deck Codes Updated
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[Mainly.-]

Very nice :)