Getting Started

This document will help you get started with the Quang Tri '72 release of Touch Modern Campaigns. You can display this help file at any time by selecting the Getting Started option from the Help Menu. This help file assumes that you have played the initial free release of Panzer Campaigns which is a related game system and so are familiar with some of the basics of the interface.

As you have seen, you interact with the Main Map in the middle of the screen using these gestures:

• Press your finger on the screen and then move or swipe your finger to scroll the map.
• Press two fingers on the screen and then pinch or spread your fingers to zoom out or in.
• Tap your finger on a location on the map to display that hex in the Hex Information Area.
• Press your finger on a location, hold it (long press), then move your finger to another location and release it to give a movement order for the selected units to move to that location.
• Press your finger on a location on the map, hold it, then release it in the same hex to toggle between Movement Mode and Fire Mode. When you are in Fire Mode, tapping on an enemy location will cause the selected units to fire on the enemy.
• Double tap the screen and hold your finger on the screen (long press), then move your finger to a location and release it to give a column movement order. This differs from a normal movement order in that the program will move each unit individually in a column of units from the same division instead of moving the entire selected stack together.

You interact with the Hex Information Area at the bottom of the screen using these gestures:

• Press your finger on the screen and then move or swipe your finger to scroll the area.
• Press two fingers on the screen and then pinch or spread your fingers to zoom out or in.
• Tap your finger in the area to select or deselect a unit.
• Hold your finger down in the area (long press) to display alternative information about the units and terrain.

Finally, you can scroll the Toolbar at the top of the screen by pressing your finger on the toolbar and moving left or right to scroll the bar as well as pinching the toolbar to zoom in or out.

The Quang Tri '72 app looks at the fighting in the Quang Tri province of South Vietnam during the North Vietnam 1972 "Easter" offensive. In most scenarios, you will play the role of the North Vietnamese commander with the goal of defeating the South Vietnamese forces and occupying the provincial capital. In some scenarios you switch sides and command a hypothetical force of US Marines who have landed on shore to assist the South Vietnamese in their defense.

In the Getting Started scenario, you command a force of infantry and armor tasked with taking the three South Vietamese Marine outposts of Nui Ba Ho, Sarge, and Holcomb that you see before you on the map. The South Vietnamese Marines are the best forces the South Vietnamese have and so you should expect a tough fight. Also, they are known to have artillery support at Mai Loc behind their front lines. Since you are familiar with the basics of the interface, then you should find this Getting Started scenario a fairly standard attack scenario but notice the extreme terrain in this part of South Vietnam and so expect it to be slow going as you maneuver. Other scenarios will put you down on the flatter terrain nearer the coast and you will have more chance for maneuver. This help file will discuss the composition of your forces and give you some idea of what to expect in the scenarios.

Notice in this scenario that you have a couple of battalions of the Russian T-54 tank. The Easter Offensive was the first major commitment of North Vietnamese armor in the Vietnam War and helped the attack succeeed. You should be able to find effective ways of utilizing these tanks but be aware that the South Vietnamese have been equipped with American tanks and so you may be countered by them in some scenarios.

A second type of tank available to you in some scenarios is the Russian PT-76. While lighter than the T-54, this tank is amphibious can so can be used to cross otherwise impassible rivers. Since there are multiple rivers blocking your southward advance along the coast you might find opportunities to use them in those scenarios.

In additional to standard artillery, one of your most useful assets, you will find in some scenarios that you have long range 130mm artillery available. This artillery is intially deployed in the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) but will be advanced southward as the campaign progresses. The long range of this artillery will allow you to cause significant disruption to the South Vietnamese command structure behind their lines as was the case historically.

In the final scenarios another interesting asset to you will appear: the AT-3 "Sagger" guided anti-tank missile. This guided missile is particularly effective against enemy tanks and you can use it to block most any armor attack the enemy may attempt. Also keep in mind when you play the role of US Marine commander that you may be facing these weapons and be prepared for that.

Finally, when you are commanding US Marine forces, you will have a mixed infantry and armor force available to you with the M-48 Patton tank included. While not the most advanced tank in the US arsenal at the time, it was nonetheless employed effectively by the US Marines in multiple instances during the Vietnam War.

Also be aware that historically there were a number of US destroyers off the coast that provided significant fire support during the campaign. As US commander you will be able to utilize these in your scenario but also be aware as North Vietnamese commander that these will be opposing you in some scenarios. While their range is limited they will play a significant role in action near the coast.

Optional Rules in effect for MC: Quang Tri '72 are Alternate Assault Resolution, Artillery Set Up, Recon Spotting, Quality Fatigue Modifier, Night Fatigue, Low Visibility Air Effects, and Limited Air Recon. You should find the scenarios in the Quang Tri '72 app an interesting beginning dealing with topics in the Touch Modern Campaign series. In parallel with the PC-based releases, there will be multiple subsequent releases in this series that cover various campaigns, both historical and hypothetical, addressing warfare from the end of World War II to present day.