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Patriot Dawn: Battle Diagrams

I was talking to a gentleman over the weekend, who has read Patriot Dawn. Although he gave me very good feedback, it brought home to me that I will never be free of the grammar, in particular the comma, Nazis. He also mentioned that he would’ve liked some diagrams to explain some of the battles better.

My reaction is it my prose is perfect LOL!

Patriot Dawn: The Resistance Rises

Anyway, back in the real world, I have decided to do an updated edition of Patriot Dawn. As far as the use of English English, rather than American English, and the complaints about Britmill terminology go: to hell with that! But I am doing another edit, because in a book mistakes are hard to eliminate in their entirety.

I’m also adding some diagrams. I have just done four diagrams for the battle of Zulu Delta. I would’ve uploaded them to this post but I’m currently having technical issues with photograph uploads to the blog, hopefully to be resolved soon. I will post the images.

I would like to get some feedback about which battles people feel they would’ve benefited from having diagrams in the book. I’m not going to detail every one, but I’m considering also doing the raid on the Apache base and a schematic on the Battle of Harrisonburg. These maps are just schematic’s, pretty similar to the ones I produced for Contact. If you have any ideas, please put them in comments.

This will of course lead to calls for some sort of magical download/patch for those who’ve already purchased the books. That just doesn’t happen. What I will do is put the diagrams up in a blog post. If you want the diagrams in the paperback or Kindle format, you’ll have to support my bottom line by buying another copy ;-)

This is all going on as I’m writing the sequel to Patriot Dawn. Give me a couple of months, and I will be finished.

Live Hard.

Die Free.

Max

21 responses to “Patriot Dawn: Battle Diagrams”

  1. A couple of months?? Geez, what are you doing, just sitting around and writing when you feel like it??

    I actually had a customer accuse me of doing that once…. He’s no longer a customer, by my hand.

    Sounds good all the way around. I’d personally be more than willing to buy a new updated copy. I guess I can live with the Queens English if I MUST… yeesh.

  2. Max,

    If you’re interested, I’d be willing to help with your drawings/diagrams. I work in architecture and also have experience in graphic design. It would be my pleasure to help. You can contact me at the email I used to post this with.

  4. I think I am going to stick with 4 diagrams showing the development of the Zulu-Delta battle, and one showing the patrol base contact that happens to the ambush patrol early in the book. I_ think the other set-pieces are fairly self-explanatory, such as the Apache FOB attack and the Harrisonburg battle. Anyone?

    • I think those are the main ones that would serve as the best training aid. Perhaps they could be broken down into multiple diagrams of each phase of the battle?

  5. A simple map of main engagement areas might be helpful for some.

    Maybe it’s a difference between military and non-military backgrounds?

    I thought your narrations to be quite detailed.

    Although a multi pack DVD set with full after action debriefs and included handbook would be nice!

    Keep us informed. 

  6. I think you should draw the pictures in the margins so we could flip through and view them like animation, flip book style. No?

  7. Just about everyone i recommended the book to shared the same observation about the attack on he Apache base being confusing, along with a few other battles I dont remember outwardly.. They were just lost in the description of the battle in words..i think it was about 4-5 folks in all were scratching their heads, but all liked the story over all..

    Bergmann

  10. Zulu Delta IMO finest description of a small battle scene I have ever read. The Apache base the second time I read it I got the directions straight in my head.

  12. Max,
    Having lived in VA for 11 years and having traveled through the Harrisonburg area it was not difficult to envision how everything unfolded. The main take away was the careful planning of the operation and the entire “buy-in” of the resistance operators on all of the missions proposed. That being a crucial part of all of it’s success.

    Now to piddle on the parade, a diagram for those of us who are learning is important, but “T.M.I.” for the enemy to use (read current regime) against us must be a huge consideration here. Patton defeated Rommel in the desert due to Rommel writing a book on tank warfare TTP’s in the desert, and Patton’s intimate knowledge of the area from reading the battles of the “Old Testament”!

    I am sure you get the hint now!

    So in terms of getting the point across fine, but if it provokes any reader to get a chart/map of an area described in a scenario to understand the logistics involved and the operational planning, then you have done your job by getting that lazy SOB out of the Lazy Boy and hunkered down at the dining room table. You won’t appreciate the education until you have to work for it!! Same goes for the “meat-and-potatoes” texts Contact and Rapid Fire for understanding the use of terrain features whether springing an attack or breaking contact. Just my .02 worth!

    • Not exactly. Rommel published Infanterie Greift An (Infantry Attacks) in 1937. The book recounted Rommel’s experiences in WWI and is still considered a master piece and must-read for US Infantry Officers.

      Patton’s success in North Africa was due to his change in training and leadership of II US Corps and to the weakened condition of the Afrika Korps from illness due largely to poor hygiene. The Afrika Korps ran at about 50% strength.

      Patton, while a man of action, was an intellectual and student of warfare. He knew his enemy and he knew himself. Sun Tzu says that is a sure recipe for victory.

      The diagrams do not give anything away. The aggressor force is a professional force and well educated. They can draw the diagrams from the write up, so, Max did not give them anything they do not already have.

      If you have the opportunity to read Infantry Attacks and have not, please do so. Rommel understood the value of leader reconnaissance and it’s importance to the successful execution of a plan. So much of what he accomplished in WWI can be directly attributed to his personal actions. His description of his actions should be emulated by all SUT leaders.

      • Thomas,
        Thank you for the correction and the direction as you have taught me something that I did not know until reading your response. Your point on the professional aggressor is also well taken. My only concern was putting out detail that could possibly bite any patriot squad in the arse should the operation be noted by an intelligent enemy. Ergo my reference to Patton and Rommel.
        However, I shall take your suggestion on the Infantry Attacks read. Anything that can increase my knowledge on infantry TTP’s is golden. Feedback like yours is like money in the bank! Hopefully this year will be the time for at least the CRCD if not the combined course Max is offering. Thanks Thomas!
        Mark, CFI

      • I read “Infantry Attacks” a few years ago.
        Maybe a re-reading is in order.

        On the other hand I will go so far as to say that in 30 years Max’s CONTACT may have achieved a similar cult status for civilian 1st defenders.

        • Thank you: but I think it is because, as I have noticed with a few of my regular blog readers, who each have a depth of knowledge themselves: they have not actually read my books! But it’s not compulsory, including for the upcoming forum.

        • Both of Max’s books are first rate training material. He demonstrates an ability to synthesize information and adapt it for alternative use. That, like the ability to read terrain, is a gift that many never receive. Max is a first rate infantryman. I appreciate the opportunity he provides this community.