Top Bunk Tester
4th Jul 2005, 16:31
AIR MOVEMENTS - a game for 500 or more players
Air Movements is a game of skill played between teams selected from two groups of players. The first team, entitled the Army, is normally represented by men of an infantry battalion. The second team, called the Air Force, may be drawn from any section of the RAF Movements organisation. The game is played on a four-dimensional board (to be purchased separately) and involves the movement of the first team by the second team from one corner, the departure airfield, to another, the destination. Progress across the board will be subject to a series of handicaps.
Play is initiated by an external agency referred to as The Central Staffs. The unit to be moved and its destination will be selected at random to achieve maximum surprise to both teams and, regardless of the notice actually available, the two teams are to be informed only at the last possible moment for the move to be just possible.
Following that signal to start play, each team then endeavours to score points off each other until either a destination is reached, the the Air Force runs out of serviceable aircraft, or the Army runs out of players, or troops. The Army may also resign from the game by adapting the exercise to Salisbury Plain Training Area.
Points are awarded at each development in the play.
During basic planning, the Army scores 50 points if it can persuade the Air Force to emplane the unit at an airfield anywhere within a convenient distance from the unit's barracks. The score is doubled if this airfield is devoid of facilities and normally restricted to operating only light aircraft. The Air Force may likewise gain 50 points if the Army is forced to leave from RAF Lyneham or Brize Norton, and this score is increased for each mile by which the road distance the the Army must travel exceeds that of the subsequent air move.
Discrepancies
The payload quoted by the Army in planning should in no way resemble the freight actually delivered to the aircraft for loading. The manifest should be so worded, however, that no formal reproach is possible subsequently between parenting headquarters. Should the Air Force be able to identify any such discrepancy it will gain 20 points, of 50 if the following correspondence reaches brigadier or air commodore level.
When allocating aircraft to the airlift, the Air Force gains 20 points for each Tristar or Hercules it is permitted to task in the full passenger role and a bonus is awarded for flights over six hours long. This total score may be doubled if a Hercules is overtaken in flight by a VC10 carrying the Army unit's freight, vehicles and any Air Force personnel travelling to the same destination brought along for the ride.
Both the Army and Air Forceformations may issue conflicting orders at any stage prior to departure. Twenty points will be awarded for any major amendment so timed that the other team's internal administration is held to blame for ignorance of change of time, day or airfield of departure.
Experienced players will appreciate that the time of arrival of the Army unit at the airfield and time of departure of the aircraft will bear minimal resemblance to any published information. The Army may claim one point per minute by which this time interval is shortened; the Air Force may claim one point per minute by which the Army have been made to arrive unnecessarily early. Either side may make full use of such phrases as "all times Alfa" or "all times Zulu" discretely hidden as footnotes in any annex to the movement orders or any other correspondence only vaguely related to the game in progress.
Relashing
The Army will be permitted to load freight onto aircraft but the Air Force may, at their discretion, apply a handicap by insisting on responsibility for supervision. The Army is awarded 50 points for each aircraft fully loaded on time and about the aircraft captain is unable to uphold any valid reason for demanding reloading or relashing. This eventuality is, of course, exceptional. The Air Force will normally allocate troops to individual aircraft and so ensure that no chalk is ever coincident with any recognisable sub-unit; they may also claim one point for each man separated from his company.
Each soldier is to be briefed at platoon, company and battalion level as to his individual baggage allowance and articles to be included in cargo, freight or baggage. This information is to be repeated by the ATLO, Duty Movements Officer and aircraft Loadmasters. Ten points will be awarded to each soldier who manages to exceed his baggage allowance by at least 20 per cent and a further 10 points may be claimed by any man reaching the aircraft steps while openly carrying electronic equipment with the batteries fitted, butane gas refill, inflammable aerosol, etc.
Penalties
In the event of the aircraft becoming unserviceable en route, the Air Force will be penalised for overnight delays anywhere inconvenient such as Goose Bay, Benbecula or Macrihanish. Points will be recouped, however, if a crew manages to declare an aircraft unserviceable in Singapore, Florida or Hawaii. The Air Force may seek bonus points if in such an event they can persuade the Army to remain in the movements lounge all day on the pretext of imminent aircraft fault rectification and departure. Should the aircraft finally become serviceable, points to the Air Force are doubled if insufficient crew duty time remains and a further crew rest period is justified.
Further opportunities for scoring may occur with overnight delays where the Army is forced to use transit accommodation. The Air Force gains one point for every man assigned to sleep in a room that exceeds its normal capacity. Twenty points are gained if the Army unit commander and his batman are allocated to the same room. The Air Force gains a further bonus if, simultaneously, the crew can arrange accommodation at a hotel in a city centre; scoring will be increased with the hotel's star rating, to a maximum of 50 points for the local Hilton. Most crews will, of course, gain maximum points on this element of the game.
On arrival at the destination, both teams have equal opportunities for scoring. A prompt arrival at the planned destination is valued exceptionally highly at 50 points for the Air Force. The Armymay reduce this figure by one point for each piece of baggage or freight mislaid: this has proved to be an appropriate weighting to achieve fairness in the game. The Air Force can nevertheless claim 10 points if it can justify announcing that the Army unit commander's luggage was offloaded at Benbecula. An extra 20 points is added to the Air Force score if this is true.
Defies Analysis
On arrival of the last chalk, aggregate points are compared. Should the Air Force win, they may commence the return play with a 200 point bonus. Should the Army win, they may opt for a return by sea. In any event, the game will prove to one of a series. It will be perceived that the game is open to infinite variation. It is a war game played throughout time of peace. It is, however, deserving of a final accolade: it complete defies operational analysis, team management or resolution by computer. Can anyone say fairer than that?
Air Movements is a game of skill played between teams selected from two groups of players. The first team, entitled the Army, is normally represented by men of an infantry battalion. The second team, called the Air Force, may be drawn from any section of the RAF Movements organisation. The game is played on a four-dimensional board (to be purchased separately) and involves the movement of the first team by the second team from one corner, the departure airfield, to another, the destination. Progress across the board will be subject to a series of handicaps.
Play is initiated by an external agency referred to as The Central Staffs. The unit to be moved and its destination will be selected at random to achieve maximum surprise to both teams and, regardless of the notice actually available, the two teams are to be informed only at the last possible moment for the move to be just possible.
Following that signal to start play, each team then endeavours to score points off each other until either a destination is reached, the the Air Force runs out of serviceable aircraft, or the Army runs out of players, or troops. The Army may also resign from the game by adapting the exercise to Salisbury Plain Training Area.
Points are awarded at each development in the play.
During basic planning, the Army scores 50 points if it can persuade the Air Force to emplane the unit at an airfield anywhere within a convenient distance from the unit's barracks. The score is doubled if this airfield is devoid of facilities and normally restricted to operating only light aircraft. The Air Force may likewise gain 50 points if the Army is forced to leave from RAF Lyneham or Brize Norton, and this score is increased for each mile by which the road distance the the Army must travel exceeds that of the subsequent air move.
Discrepancies
The payload quoted by the Army in planning should in no way resemble the freight actually delivered to the aircraft for loading. The manifest should be so worded, however, that no formal reproach is possible subsequently between parenting headquarters. Should the Air Force be able to identify any such discrepancy it will gain 20 points, of 50 if the following correspondence reaches brigadier or air commodore level.
When allocating aircraft to the airlift, the Air Force gains 20 points for each Tristar or Hercules it is permitted to task in the full passenger role and a bonus is awarded for flights over six hours long. This total score may be doubled if a Hercules is overtaken in flight by a VC10 carrying the Army unit's freight, vehicles and any Air Force personnel travelling to the same destination brought along for the ride.
Both the Army and Air Forceformations may issue conflicting orders at any stage prior to departure. Twenty points will be awarded for any major amendment so timed that the other team's internal administration is held to blame for ignorance of change of time, day or airfield of departure.
Experienced players will appreciate that the time of arrival of the Army unit at the airfield and time of departure of the aircraft will bear minimal resemblance to any published information. The Army may claim one point per minute by which this time interval is shortened; the Air Force may claim one point per minute by which the Army have been made to arrive unnecessarily early. Either side may make full use of such phrases as "all times Alfa" or "all times Zulu" discretely hidden as footnotes in any annex to the movement orders or any other correspondence only vaguely related to the game in progress.
Relashing
The Army will be permitted to load freight onto aircraft but the Air Force may, at their discretion, apply a handicap by insisting on responsibility for supervision. The Army is awarded 50 points for each aircraft fully loaded on time and about the aircraft captain is unable to uphold any valid reason for demanding reloading or relashing. This eventuality is, of course, exceptional. The Air Force will normally allocate troops to individual aircraft and so ensure that no chalk is ever coincident with any recognisable sub-unit; they may also claim one point for each man separated from his company.
Each soldier is to be briefed at platoon, company and battalion level as to his individual baggage allowance and articles to be included in cargo, freight or baggage. This information is to be repeated by the ATLO, Duty Movements Officer and aircraft Loadmasters. Ten points will be awarded to each soldier who manages to exceed his baggage allowance by at least 20 per cent and a further 10 points may be claimed by any man reaching the aircraft steps while openly carrying electronic equipment with the batteries fitted, butane gas refill, inflammable aerosol, etc.
Penalties
In the event of the aircraft becoming unserviceable en route, the Air Force will be penalised for overnight delays anywhere inconvenient such as Goose Bay, Benbecula or Macrihanish. Points will be recouped, however, if a crew manages to declare an aircraft unserviceable in Singapore, Florida or Hawaii. The Air Force may seek bonus points if in such an event they can persuade the Army to remain in the movements lounge all day on the pretext of imminent aircraft fault rectification and departure. Should the aircraft finally become serviceable, points to the Air Force are doubled if insufficient crew duty time remains and a further crew rest period is justified.
Further opportunities for scoring may occur with overnight delays where the Army is forced to use transit accommodation. The Air Force gains one point for every man assigned to sleep in a room that exceeds its normal capacity. Twenty points are gained if the Army unit commander and his batman are allocated to the same room. The Air Force gains a further bonus if, simultaneously, the crew can arrange accommodation at a hotel in a city centre; scoring will be increased with the hotel's star rating, to a maximum of 50 points for the local Hilton. Most crews will, of course, gain maximum points on this element of the game.
On arrival at the destination, both teams have equal opportunities for scoring. A prompt arrival at the planned destination is valued exceptionally highly at 50 points for the Air Force. The Armymay reduce this figure by one point for each piece of baggage or freight mislaid: this has proved to be an appropriate weighting to achieve fairness in the game. The Air Force can nevertheless claim 10 points if it can justify announcing that the Army unit commander's luggage was offloaded at Benbecula. An extra 20 points is added to the Air Force score if this is true.
Defies Analysis
On arrival of the last chalk, aggregate points are compared. Should the Air Force win, they may commence the return play with a 200 point bonus. Should the Army win, they may opt for a return by sea. In any event, the game will prove to one of a series. It will be perceived that the game is open to infinite variation. It is a war game played throughout time of peace. It is, however, deserving of a final accolade: it complete defies operational analysis, team management or resolution by computer. Can anyone say fairer than that?