The Commander Series Forum

I would like to set up and run a campaign similar to the (excellent) Portbury Knights campaign. Participants don’t have to be in my area (reading) to join- just post your AAR's and they will be included.

Scenarios and overall strategic situation will be based on a game of Red Storm Rising (a board game) that will run alongside it. For example if Nato gain strategic superiority in the north then you will get a positive modifier when deciding air superiority in game. Likewise, the results of certain important battles will be decided by a CWC game.

Thanks for your support

Patrick

Background

NEWFLASH:
1st March 1985

Mikhail Gorbachev, posed to become the next general secretary of the Soviet union, has been gunned down outside his Moscow apartment by a group of masked men. What seemed to be an easy and painless change of soviet leadership is now cast into doubt and uncertainty by this tragedy. Gorbachev's rule promised reforms in the soviet system and possibly a thaw in icy east-west relations.



19th March 1985

Early this morning the soviet government confirmed rumours that Mikail Pretenkov was to succeed Konstantin Cherenkov as general secretary of the Soviet Union. Until recently Petrenkov has been reasonably unknown. However his recent calls for a return to "traditional socialism" and "stronger measures" in Afghanistan have cast him into the spotlight. The US has issued a statement saying it hoped this change in government could bring about "a new dawn for east-west relations."


21st May 1985

In a shocking move, Petrenkov has ordered the use of nuclear and chemical arms against Mujahedeen concentrations and weapons depots. It is well know that Petrenkov is angry and frustrated at the lack of progress in Afghanistan, it was not known that he was prepared to go this far. Governments around the world have condemned this "inhuman" act and the US has requested an emergency meeting at the UN


June 10th 1985

Last night the UN approved trade sanctions against the Soviet Union in response to their use of nuclear and chemical weapons in Afghanistan..... embargoed items include the shipment of grain and oil from the US that the Soviet Union periodically relies on. In one of the great mysteries of modern politics, Petrenkov did not Veto the act as was his right as a member of the Security Council, but instead withdrew from the UN, condemning this "act of western aggression against the Soviet people"

TWO YEARS LATER

January 15th 1987

A second poor harvest has cast the Soviet economy into ruins as the people struggle to feed themselves and their families. However the continued use of chemical weapons in Afghanistan, which is now mostly pacified, has prevented any chance of a lifting of trade embargoes. Despite this, defence spending has reached an all time high as the Red army continues its extended exercises in East Germany.
Through a comprehensive propaganda campaign, Petrenkov has been largely successful in diverting the anger of the Soviet people away from him and his government, towards the west. Average Ivan feels betrayed and many want revenge.


February 6th 1987

Demands by the Soviet Union for a return to "full and normal" trade relations have been denied by the UN "unless this is followed by a withdrawal from Afghanistan a reparations to the Afghan people". Petrenkov maintains that this is not on the table.

February 9th 1987

The Soviet Union has admitted that they have sunk the submarine USS Asheville in what they described as an "unfortunate training accident". Incensed the US promised "limited retaliation" but expressed their desire that this should not be the catalyst for WW3. The Soviet Union responded by saying that any attacks on their armed forces would be taken "most seriously"

February 11th

Fighters and strike aircraft from the USS America have attacked and destroyed 2 Kresta class ASW cruisers and a Krivak class destroyer in the North Atlantic in retaliation for the sinking of the USS Asheville. The Soviet Union has responded by mobilising some of their B class reserve units and promising revenge denouncing America as a nation of “war-mongering capitalist dogs” but maintaining their desire for world peace. Emergency peace talks are underway


March 10th

Tensions have been heightened by a skirmish between Soviet and American fighters near Japan. Reports say that casualties include 2 F-15 Eagles and 14 of the older Mig 21s. We are lucky today in that we have FLT Dave Thompson, an F-15 pilot who shot down 6 Migs in the dramatic air battle, with us in the studio today

"The [Mig]-21's had been probing aggressively for several days before finally crossing into our air space. We lockrd on with our radars hoping to spook them off but they just kept coming... there were only 4 of us and 'bout 20 of them so we decided to launch our sparrows at long range while we still had the advantage. The first volley splashed 7 and damaged 2 more enough that they had to go home.... I got 3. They still didn't turn so we were authorised to shoot again but before we could the Migs caught us in a mesh. We had better airplanes and training but they had numbers and could turn tighter that we could... what followed was real top-gun stuff: turn and burn, spray and pray, shoot and scoot. We killed another 6 but lost an eagle to a missile and another to guns. Neither pilot got out. After about a minute and a half the action died down and they went to 'burner and broke contact. We loosed a pair of missiles at them and splashed another before the got out of range."

The UK, France and Germany issued a united statement condemning Soviet aggression and vowing to stand by their ally and friend the US. In response the Soviet union withdrew for the peace talks and began full mobilisation. The US initiated REFORGER and West Germany started an emergency call up of reserves


March 20th 1987

Several Skirmishes erupted along the east and West German border as US continues REFORGER and Russia mobilises. War seems imminent and neither government is willing to back down. Warsaw pact nations stood by Russia and reaffirmed their treaty commitments assist the Soviet Unions in the event of war


March 27th 1987

West German border police have apprehended a group of Spetsnaz commandoes trying to cross the border with "irrefutable evidence" that a soviet attack was to take place within the next few days. Can war be avoided?


March 30th 1987

The world is at war. Soviet and Warsaw pact troops rolled into West Germany with the stated aim of forcible re-unification. As of yet, no nuclear weapons have been used but it safe to say that the fate of the world hangs on a knifes edge.....
Reports on who has the upper hand so far and sketchy, with both sides claiming total victory, but we will try to bring you more news soon

This is Newsflash reporting live from West Germany

Here is where you discuss and sign up

http://www.blitzkrieg-commander.com/Content/For...

Turn1

Scenarios

1: Counter attack at Woflenbuttel

Sitrep:
A soviet and an East German tank division have broken through Allied lines and are advancing toward Hanover. Nato troops from 4 nations scramble to counter attack and drive them back

"Counter Attack" scenario from book

US(Cav)/ Brit (Armoured)/ West German(Panzer)/ Dutch (Mech) vs Soviet (Tank)/ East German (Tank)

Large amounts of Nato air power has been committed to the battle giving Nato Partial Air Superiority. In addition they get 1 US Apache free added to their points list

Warsaw Pact forces are almost as numerous as their foes giving them +1 points modifier.

Terrain:
Small town Salzgitter at NATO board Edge. Large town Wulfenbuttel at WP edge. Large forest below Wulfenbuttel field and rolling hills in the centre. Smaller forest north centre

2: 4CMBG's stand

Sitrep:
The Soviet 47 Guard Tank division have overwhelmed and routed belgian forces at the border and are racing into Germany. The Only force worthy of not between them and the Wieser in the 4th Canadian Mechanised Brigade. If they fail the Soviets will be across the wieser by the end of the week and will be in a perfect position to flank Kassel.

Exploitation scenario from the book

Canadian (Mech) Vs Soviet (Tank)

This is the focus of the soviet advance and air available air support has been allocated here giving Soviets Total Air Superiority

The Soviets have overwhelming superiority in numbers give the +1 points modifier and the Canadians -1 points modifier.

The Canadian know that this action is extremely important and are determined to make their country proud as a result they have normal Tactical Doctrine but get +1 to their breakpoint per 1000 points as if they were rigid tactical doctrine.

The Canadians know the area and may schedule up to 3 ambushes for free

Terrain:
Heavily forested with the small town of Adelebsen in the middle and large hills at the Canadian map edge

3: The second battle of Fulda

Sitrep:
Despite being pushed out of Fulda, the US 11th ACR remains relatively intact and immediately prepared a counter attack, supported heavily by the West German 7th panzer division. This task force will try to regain forward positions at the town of Fulda. However Soviet forces got word of their advance and under the age old principle that the best defence is a good offense advance. What follows is a classic meeting engagement

Encounter scenario from the book

US(Cav)/ West German(Tank) Vs Soviet(tank)/ Soviet (motor rifle)

Nato has Partial Air Superiority

to represent the lack of intel both sides use hidden deployment.

the town of Fulda holds huge symbolic value and as such gives +2 vp's to the player who hold itat the end of the game

the soviets have reached Fulda first and may deploy up to 25% of their force their at the start of the game

Terrain:
the Town of Fulda lies in the centre with Soviets approaching from the East and Nato from the west. The map is heavily forested and low hills are scattered around. Several roads converge around Fulda.

Scenario 3 AAR

Fulda had once been a proud town. There was not much left of it now. The United States Air Force had seen to that.

Taking cover by a large ruin were a pair of Abrams tanks. Another was about 20 metres away and had a group of men huddled around it, presumably discussing the outcome of their most recent battle. One tank was missing from this platoon of 4. Its burned out hulk was about half a click to the west, the charred remains of its crew still inside.

A civilian emerged from what was left of her house with a Picher of water and a bowl of cookies. The soldiers smiled and thanked her. A young boy followed her out and was given a bar of chocolate. To Lt Carlos "Charlie" Sanchez it seemed impossible that, barely 3 hours after the fighting had died down, they were giving chocolate to children in a village they had ordered bombed. Apart from the unfortunate civilian casualties the mission had been a resounding success. 2 companies had destroyed most a soviet regiment and retaken a strategically important town. Or at least its rubble.

Orders were to capture Fulda and with it forward defensive positions at the east-west German border. The 7th Panzer, Rommel’s old "Ghost" division made concurrent attack along axis’ to the north and south but for symbolic reasons the 11th Cav was tasked with the actual assault on the town, their old barracks.

The battle started well for the Americans. D and B troops advanced swiftly towards Fulda and inflicted heavy casualties of the Motor-Rifle battalion stationed there. Un-fortunately A troop got lost and did not take up covering positions on the hill to the west for some time. C troop was held in Reserve.

Soon the Cav assaulted the village and gained a foothold there, inflicting 75% casualties on the Russians without loss. However the Russian forward HQ in the village had urgently called for re-enforcements and soon a battalion of T-80 tanks rolled forward and pushed the Americans out, destroying all of B troops Bradleys (with the infantry mercifully outside).

The whole might of Soviet artilery spoke in one terrible voice as 6 batteries were called down on the retreating Americans. In the resulting confusion the Russians snuck a company of tanks into a hull down position along a ridge enfelading the American line. If nothing was done they could break up the whole US attack. Reacting fast the American CO called down everything at his disposal: Apaches, A-10's, Artilery and mortars, but ultimately it was the superb gunnery of the Abrams that did the damage. The Flanking Company died. As did another company on the edge of the village. In half an hour the Americans hand destroyed 2/3rd's of a Tank battalion.

Enraged, the Soviet commander called forward the Second tank battalion. Hoping to make a solid wall of guns on the edge of the village and blow the Americans away. To do this the Tanks had to clump together... A young USAF FAC saw this and excitedly radioed for an air strike. Minutes later a pair of A-10s appeared on the horizon. Their effect was immediate and devastating. The softball sized submuntions caused havoc, destroying men and vehicle alike. Despite greater than 50% losses the Soviets continued forward, engaging the M1's in a close range gun duel. Again the Americans outstanding gunnery told the tale and despite high casualties on both sides, the soviets broke first and withdrew the tattered remains of their battle group. Fulda had been liberated

The link in the fourth post leads to another thread with a link that brings you back to this post. The description for both links say "This is where you discuss and sign up

Sorry for not being clear. The thread in general discussion is for discussing and signing up. This thread is for scenarios and AAR's

Thanks for showing interest

I have done the Canadian game, will be up ASAP

After action report for Task force Maples engagements against Soviet forces on May 3rd 1987

At 0930 Forward Soviet reconnaissance element began to approach the MLR in some numbers. Main gun fire from the Leopards drove them off but not before they called in indirect fire, causing light casualties to our accompanying infantry. Following the loss of their reconnaissance assets the Soviets pushed forward their armour in at least battalion strength. As they approached our forward ambush point the Leopards opened fire from the woods. Unfortunately the gunners were excited and casualties were light. Return fire from the Soviets was devastating and soon the ambushing company was totally destroyed.

A second battalion of soviet armour took positions on the ridge overlooking Adelebsen and began to fire from a hull down position. This time however, our return fire was accurate and several t-80 platoons fell before our guns. The Tanks which had defeated our forward position raced to exploit their success but the speed of the advance must have caused confusion as there were several cases of Red-on-red fratricide. An accompanying Soviet mechanised battalion foolishly tried to advance without the supporting tanks and were gunned down by the reserve company of Leopards, apparently with their infantry still inside the transports.

Frustrated the Soviets advanced into the woods, trying to advance towards Adelebsen and put accurate fire into the village from cover. However the gallant action of 3rd and 4th platoons from A company 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Light Infantry, using their Carl Gustav RR's and AT grenades delayed the Russians for a crucial hour, allowing the battlegroup to redeploy. When the Soviets did reach the edge of the forest we were ready and managed to inflict a favourable cost-exchange ratio, despite having weaker armour and guns on our tanks. The Soviets withdrew.

Running out of assets the Soviet commander gave the order to bypass our defences and race for the Wieser. However just as the Tanks started to reach cover they halted, perhaps a misunderstood order? Delighted we pour fire into their flanks at long range. Tank after tank fell before our guns. Totally defeated the Soviets withdrew and with them withdrew the threat to Nato's flank. For now.

Turn 2

Scenario 1: Breakout

Sitrep: Elements of the 3rd Panzer division have been cut off in their forward positions at the IGB. ffrench airmobile troops have rappelled in to support the beleaguered Germans and assist in a breakthrough back to NATO lines. Russian units come under attack from behind in a crucial battle

Break-out from the book

French(airborne)/ West German (Panzer) vs Soviet (Tank) / Soviet (Motor-Rifle)

NATO units are cut off giving them -1 modifier for points.

Breaking out is the only way these soldiers will live to fight another day. They are determined and may add +2 to their breakpoint

Terrain: NATO starts in the centre occupying the town of Luneburg. Heavy forest and hills in all directions

Scenario 2: Take the Heights

Sitrep: The 10th Guards Tank division launches an attack to secure the Goslar heights from the defending British 4th Armoured division. As one of the only major terrain obstacles in the north German plains, it holds strategic significance for both sides

Deliberate Attack from the book.

UK (Armoured) vs Soviet (Tanks)/ Soviet (Motor-Rifle)

This is the focus of huge air battle and due to the massive presence of interceptors it is very difficult for strike aircraft to approach the field. Both sides count as if the other side had partial air superiority until turn 3, when you roll for it as normal.

Terrain: A massive ridge lies along the centre of the table so that the British can deploy hull down along it. Behind the ridge is the Village of Goslar. Trees are spread around sporadically

Scenario 1 AAR

NEWSFLASH
"Today we are lucky enough to have Colonel Mikail Arseniy with us in the studio. The Colonel was captured by federal German forces while leading his troops in the battle for Luneburg. Arseniy studied at Cambridge for two year and is fluent in English, German and French. He had retired from the army before being called up to lead a "class B" regiment during this war. So Mikail, tell us your story"

"Our regiment had been pulled of the main battle line to get some rest at Luneburg, a small German town. We had lost half our infantry battalion and a third of our tanks in an ill-fated assault against a British position on the sixth day of the war and morale was low, these were after all reservists and many of the men were in their 30's with a family to raise and a lot more to lose than the young men in a class "A" regiment.

We had been at Luneburg for about 3 hours before word from high command to expect heavy NATO attack from 2 directions within the hour. The men cursed with bitter resentment when I told them- clearly this was not to be the rest that we were promised.

I had re-organised to put all our remaining T-72's in one full battalion commanded by my best subordinate Grigory Alexandrov. The older T-64's were put in two smaller groups commanded by less able subordinates. I retained the infantry as my personal reserve.

Sure enough, west German armour was reported approaching from the east and west, trying to break out of the Llelzen pocket. We opened fire and inflicted limited casualties, but managed to suppress the Germans coming from the west. In the east I hoped to suck the Germans in towards the village and ambush them in the flank with a company of T-64's. My opposite number, however, saw through my plan and flanked the unfortunate would be ambushers. We lost the company.

In the west the T-72's fared little better and were pulled into a swirling armour battle with the better armed and armoured West German Leopard 2's. Alexandrov's men gave a good account of themselves but were unable to inflict a favourable ratio of casualties upon the enemy. The real killing blow came from the NATO air power, Gazelle helicopter, US F-4's and French Jaguars rain death upon my men. A flight of F-4's dropped a massive Fuel/air bomb on the Village and in seconds destroyed half a battalion of T-64's, from then on we could not win. 3 hours after the fighting had started I had left 12 operational tanks out of an original 65, half my infantry and no Bmps. For this we had destroyed 2/3rd of a battalion of Leopard 2's and about a company of elite French Para’s. My friend and Comrade Alexandrov was among the dead

Scenario 2 AAR

"Hello, I am Bob Bryson, BBC reporting live from the front in West Germany. Around me are the soldiers of 2nd squadron 4th armoured division who yesterday were engaged in particularly heavy fighting near Goslar. Despite being forced back a regimental sized attack the men are proud of the losses they inflicted and how long they had held at the IGB despite all expectations.

Here is Maj. Tom Ruddle who commanded 2nd troop in the battle and now commands the squadron due to the unfortunate capture of Cornel Long. Tell me about your battle"

"Thank you Bob, well we had spent the last few days digging in expectance of the attack but in the event we didn't expect quite so many Sovs. The Chieftain is an excellent tank but it doesn't have the new ERA armour that is on the Chally and Abrams so we went hull down on a big ridge dominating the battle field. Once the Ruskies were in gun range we simply drove up and started shooting. We knew that if we were in cannon range the Russians wouldn't fire their ATGMs because they were under orders to conserve ammo.

They soon started a 2 pronged assault sending a tank battalion to our left and an infantry battalion to our right. Anchored in a small hamlet in thire centre was a second tank battalion. We were defending along the heights with my troop in reserve. The tank column hit our flank to great effect. 1st troop was destroyed after having fought valiantly but there were still a lot of russian tanks coming. The centre was busy dealing with the BMP column and was taking casualties from the tanks battalion in the hamlet so I ordered my troop forward. It was risky committing our only reserve that early in the battle but if we hadn't that armoured column may have been able to roll unopposed to Goslar.

The Russian were taken totally by surprise and many tanks were destroyed without firing a shot. Our counter attack succeeded beyond all expectations and for only inconsequential loss we destroyed most of a battalion. Unfortunately the rest of the line met with less success, the Bmp column punched a hole through the PBI and almost reached their objective until tanks of 4th troop turned around and destroyed them. Sensing the line was weakened the Soviets sent their remaining tanks from the hamlet battalion in a frontal attack against the centre of our line. Resistance was spirited but overwhelming numbers shattered the depleted front and rolled on to Goslar. Cornel Long was off the air and if we stayed there much longer there would be no second squadron remaining so I gave the order to pull back

Turn 3
Scenario 1: The of Wurzburg

Sitrep: Heavy soviet pressure has forced the withdrawal of 2nd Squadron 11th ACR from forward positions at Dettelbach. CENTAG immediately orders a counter attack to stop the soviet advance and retake the town.

Counter Attack

US (CAV)vs Sov

Infiltration: the Sovs may place 3 spetnaz teams anywhere on the board before deployment (for free, W/Rpg-16, highly motivated)

Exhausted: the soviet player does not gain the +2 points modifier

interdiction: Before the game the sovs roll for each command, if it is a 6 they are attacked by a AH-64A apache

Terrain: Wurzburg is in the centre of the table with a large forest below it and a river running through it from north to south. Heavy forest to the west of the town and more open terrain to the east. Small town of Dettelbach at Sov edge

Scenario 2: Cross the Rhine!

Sitrep: Lead elements of the 27th Guards Motor-Rifle division have reached the Rhine! These brave proletariat soldiers know that a successful crossing will raise Warsaw pact sprits across the entire front and deal a crushing blow to NATO. The politburo has declared that the first soldier across the Rhine will be made Hero of the Soviet Union and be pulled of the line. Failure is not an option those whose incompetence leads to defeat will be an enemy of the soviet union and will be dealt with accordingly.

River Crossing

NATO (any) vs Sov

Go forward!: Soviet troops that are within 30 cm of the Rhine may roll a dice when they are suppressed. If it is a 5 or 6 they are not suppressed but instead take a extra hit

Retreat is not an option: The NATO force does not have a breakpoint.

Watch your back: 2 KGB barrage battalion units (HMG) are attached to the soviet Army. These are not controlled by the Soviets but by NATO. They may not fire unless a soviet unit falls back as a result of suppression. If so they fire on that unit as if they used opportunity fire. They can fire more than once if multiple units fall back.

Depleted: The NATO defenders are remnants of shattered units that have been pulled of the battlefield you should make the army lists accordingly

Scenario 3: Culture Clash

Sitrep: The as of yet unbloodied French 1st Armoured division attempts an ambitious attack to break through an East German division and capture Siegen. Doing so would cut lines of supply to Soviet force diving on the Rhine

Breakthrough attack

Frech (Armoured) vs East German

Surprised: The east German units are surprised and not ready for combat. For each unit roll a dice. On a 1, 2 or 3 they are caught off guard and count as suppressed for the first turn.

Unblooded: The French have not yet been in combat so get a +1 points modifier. However they have failed to recon the ground properly and the EG's get 3 free ambushes

Terrain: Siegen is in the final third of the table Controlled by the EG's. A large road runs through its scattered forest low rolling hills and hamlets dot the table.

CAMPAIGN OVERVERVIEW

Situation on D+21 (End of turn 3)

What started as a series of desperate battles had by the third week settled into a rolling meat grinder. Only in the centre around Kassel had NATO forces been decisively broken with that city falling on D+4 or the 2nd April. As the shattered forces of the West German III corps fell back, there was little NATO could do to stop the Soviets rolling towards the Rhine. What little resistance the frantically mustered reserves could attempt was generally swept aside. By D+19 the Soviets had 3 divisions on the Rhine in 2 different pockets. Unfortunately for the soviets, there were few divisions on had to exploit their stunning success and decisive NATO counter attacks left them in danger of being cut off.

In the south, US forces, quickly reinforced by the French had dealt sternly with the advancing Soviets and apart from a small but threatening salient towards Nuremburg, many units still held their positions along the IGB.

Further north British and US forces had stoutly defended Hannover and remained in firm possession of the City. However, Dutch and Danish forces were pushed back in good order by high Warsaw Pact pressure. On D+15 Hamburg fell and the Soviets consolidated along the Elbe River. A single surrounded Danish Regiment held Kiel.

Superior NATO AWACS capabilities and better trained pilots had lead to almost complete dominance in the air. By D+21 soviet frontal aviation had been smashed and was only able to provide sporadic support for the troops on the ground

In the Atlantic the war had gone badly for NATO. The Loss of the Carrier USS America to submarines and the French carrier Foch to stand-off missiles gave the soviets the imitative which they used to conduct long range strikes on NATO shipping and land marines to outflank "Fortress Norway" The Norwegians had no choice to withdraw and Bodo fell on D+11. Frantically mobilised reserve battalions halted the Soviet drive just outside the capital Oslo and in a attempt to break the deadlock the Russian Marines re-boarded their transports and sailed south, hoping to repeat their earlier success. Fortunately for NATO, the America's carrier air wing had survived and was able to render assistance to The USS Nimitz' counter attack. In the biggest naval battle since the Second World War the US carrier task force had managed to sink the Soviet carriers Minsk and Kremlin as well as Crippled the battle-cruiser Kirov and destroy the marine armada and a score of surface combatants. In return the soviets sunk the USS Iowa as well as a pair of destroyers and a frigate.

All credit goes to toxicpixie. He did the battle and wrote this report.

Done & dusted -

Sitrep, 2nd Squadron 11th ACR, Wurzburg

Heavy Warpac shelling followed by a direct attack by enemy tank forces estimated to be in regimental strength had driven 2nd Sqd. outposts from Wurzburg earlier in the day, before we could reinforce to hold the road junction there.

As such under direct orders from CENTAG we made a hasty counter attack with the remainder of the Squadrons combat assets, supported by initial fire from Apache gunships against Warpac logistics and troop concentrations. Intel from these strikes and previous patrols estimated enemy strength at a short battalion of dismounted infantry and two heavily damaged tank battalions at no more than 50% effectives.(0)

1st and 2nd Troop crested the wooded ridge behind the town, their Bradleys racing to deploy their dismounts into the town ASAP before Soviet forces could seize the river bridge and enable follow on tank forces to cross. They were supported by four platoons of Abrams M1A1, one in direct support with the Bradleys and the others in company strength along the wooded crest line to provide long range fire and cover the opposing side of the valley.

3rd Troop engaged in a flanking manoeuvre after crossing the river further south, and attempted a simultaneous drive to roll up the enemy flank on the opposite ridgeline.

Both attacks ran immediately into trouble. 3rd Troop ran into a well prepared anti-armour ambush in the woods, and was driven off in complete disarray as their supporting infantry made an APC mounted hasty attack into the teeth of heavy RPG firepower. They played no further part in this battle as they had to fall back and reconstitute someway south west of the battlefield. (1)

This forced the deployment of our reserve, a company of aero-rifles supported by a TOW ATGW platoon. Landing just to the south of the woods they disembarked and evicted the Soviet defenders at bayonet point as they tried to reposition for a new ambush. Interrogation of these prisoners showed them to be Spetznatz commandoes, and many veterans of Afghanistan. The Aero-rifles then moved to occupy the wood and bring their TOW launchers to bear along the ridge line where we expected the Warpac tank forces to be waiting in ambush.

1st & 2nd Troops assault into Wurzburg proper was also ambushed by what we estimate as a reinforced company. Although ineffective against the heavily armoured Abrams, their RPGs were devastating against the thinner skinned Bradleys. Combined with direct long range fire from supporting T-64s on the ridge across the river two platoons & their vehicles were lost before they could dismount, whilst the third Bradley platoon managed to dismount and bring the ambushers under fire before their Bradleys were targeted by overhead fire from RPGs.

Clearing the town took several hours, and considerable firepower – my troops were forced to combine auto cannon fire from the surviving Bradleys and main gun & MG rounds from the Abrams to suppress the defenders whilst the remaining dismounts cleared the town room by room and house by house, all the while exposed to murderous incoming RPG, small arms and tank fire. The Abrams cover fire was invaluable in destroying the supporting T-64s; their new 120mm cannons outranged the Soviet tanks by a considerable margin and allowed them to pick off any that revealed their positions without effective response.(2)

The losses incurred from 3rd Troops’ retreat and the heavy casualties caused by the fighting in the town meant the Medevac teams and aid stations were almost overwhelmed, and the Troop and Platoon commanders right down to the junior NCOs are to be commended in their sterling work to keep unit cohesion and remaining focused on the mission.(3)

Once the town was cleared and the river bridge open the way was open for a classic Cavalry attack into the remaining Soviet positions on the opposite ridgeline. Soviet artillery fire had been notable by its absence up to this point, but then proved almost decisive as a heavy set of barrages came down first on the advancing Abrams, and then tracking back into the town to hammer their supporting troops. Nearly the entire Troop was lost to thermobaric munitions followed by heavy RPG fire from the remaining Warpac infantry who made a dash from their positions in Dettelbach to bring them under enfilade.(4)

At this point the remaining Soviet tank forces sortied, attempting to first blast the Aero-rifles in the southern woods before over running the TOW team on the opposite edge, and then swing down onto our then exposed flank. Profligate use of the companies LAW antitank rockets combined with what supporting fires from Bradleys in Wurzburg could be mustered first stopped then destroyed this attack, allowing the TOW teams to continue their accurate fire into the flanks of the more northerly Soviet tanks engaging the suppressed Abrams in the centre.(5)

With this casualties to both sides had mounted heavily, and although we were in danger of losing unit cohesion and becoming combat ineffective we were able to cling onto our positions in the centre with a bridgehead across the river and a strong salient in the south extending across the ridgeline and reaching towards Dettelbach. The remaining Soviet forces broke at this point, and retreated under cover of smoke back through Dettelbach. We estimate they are in no more than Company strength, but do have significant anti-air and artillery support.(6)

Whilst we can hold position and secure Dettelbach against light opposition, we would be unable to hold significant enemy forces until we are considerably reinforced and resupplied; my few remaining Bradleys are out of TOWs, the two remaining tank platoons are light on ammunition and even with the Aero-rifles I have under two companies of dismounts to secure two urban areas and a mile wide front line.


(0) US forces were six Abrams, six Bradleys (no TOW, assumed shot them off before!), six dismounts with LAW & two Blackhawks with three infantry with LAW and a stand of TOW ATGW. No artillery or air – I assumed its either out of range or busy working over Sov rear areas. Soviet troops were six T64 ERA, two Shilka, six dismounts with RPG-16, plus the three ‘free’ Spetznatz. One battery of M1974 SPGs was tied to a FAO whilst three stands of 122mm arty was tied to a ‘spare’ HQ stand. The Spetznatz were great, the Apaches fairly useless – lots of suppressions but only one kill – a Shilka!
(1) Two Abrams and a Bradley platoon used flank deployment, intending to clear the woods and establish a position firing along the length of the easterly line of hills to enfilade Sov tanks suspected to be there. They ran straight into the Spetznatz and tried a hasty overrun. Should have worked, but it went disastrously wrong and the whole command fled off table! The reserve aero-rifles were then inserted behind the Russian special forces troopers, suppressed them with fire from the Blackhawks and made the command rolls to go in successfully with the bayonet!
(2) The Soviets had an ambush force in a tower block by the bridge, consisting of three infantry stands with RPG-16s. They killed three Bradleys and two infantry stands, and held up the Yanks advance for five turns! It took a *lot* of firepower to winkle them out, with good combine arms to suppress them and then the remaining infantry to assault. Support fire from the T-64s sited to cover the town from the opposite ridgeline was good while it lasted but the Abrams on the ridge forced them back or destroyed them. Long range duelling was out the question for the Sovs – either out of range entirely or couldn’t get past the six hits, three plus armour of the Yank battlewagons.
(3) The Americans were nearly broken on turn 1 (!), and had to make break checks from turn three onwards – which they successfully did for the remaining four turns! They must have really mad at being ambushed…
(4) I thought the Yanks were a sure thing at this point – the remaining T-64s were barely able to poke their noses out, Wurzburg was secure and the Abrams could ride out and pick off the remainder. The Soviet C in C was forced to deploy his reserve (three infantry with RPGs), but then used them to clobber the suppressed US tanks after hitting them thermobaric arty shells (whose call in was aided by a Spetznatz group nearly suicidally helping call them down almost on their heads!). ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ it wasn’t. Gotterdammerung it was…
(5) I’d expected the Soviets to use the reserves to support their remaining three T-64’s against the aero-rifles in the wood, but the tanks first turn of fire made that appear unnecessary. The Americans LAWs appeared quite wimpy after the six dice hits from the RPGs earlier, and the Sovs were over confidant. Flanking fire from an Abrams (just before the thermo-b’s hit!) took one down, and the other two then ended up suppressed before falling one by one to IATW combined with close assaults. The TOW team took a while to get into position (lousy activation rolls), but then proved its worth by shooting laterally along the width of the board, suppressing and killing the remainder of the north group of T-64s whilst covered from over run from the others by the aero-rifles LAWs.
(6) Despite needing to take three break tests before the Sovs reached theirs, the Yanks just clung on in and on turn seven the Sovs failed their second break test and fled. Not that they had much left by then – two Spetznatz, a Shilka and a couple of infantry platoons (plus their command & arty). The Yanks had two Abrams, the three aero-rifles plus TOW team, a couple of Bradleys and two platoons of dismounts.

Overall a cracking, knife edge game. It looked initially all over for the Yanks as 3rd Troop fled and the anti-armour ambush claimed lots of troops before they could get out the Bradleys, but the lack of supporting arty (terrible rolls!) and some quick dismounting followed by application of massive firepower from the Abrams & Bradleys meant they couldn’t capitalize on the initial success and got ground down. In hindsight it might have been better to ignore the M1’s that crossed the river bridge, keep them pinned with the Therm-b’s and have used the reserve infantry to support the southern tank attack in clearing the aero-rifles out. They could then have swung the T-64s onto the Abrams flanks as intended… still, a cracking game, and a grim success for the A-Cav.

AAR Scenario 3

After action report for contact with Soviet Mechanised elements attempting to force a Rhine crossing on the 18th April 1987

Due to the speed at which the Soviets advanced and the need for an immediate defence, my battle group was a scratch tack force made up of elements from several different commands. As ranking officer I took charge and deployed as follows:

On the hills to the north and south of the highway bridge was the armour with my command- B Company 1/66th on the right (facing the Soviet advance) and the tanks of C troop 2/2nd A-CAV on the left. The centre was held by the infantry from C troop, as well as a Texas National Guard battalion- 1/44th, both were stationed in village domination the bridge. I also detached my 1st platoon to support them.

At 0635 hour, our recognisance elements made contact with Soviet advance forces- who were travelling at speed and had chosen to forgo any recognisance screen of their own. We identified 2 battalions of T-64’s + a motor rifle battalion in BMP-2’s. On the left the T-64’s let off a volley of At-11 Sniper ATGW’s at the Cav’s tanks, fortunately the smoke trails were spotted and both platoons manages the retire onto the reverse slope of the hill without loss.
As the soviets advanced, our accurate long range fire began to take a steady toll and by the time the 1st T-64 battalion reached the highway bridge it had lost about a company worth of tanks. Despite their losses, the Russians attempted to push through the village but were stopped cold by a determined defence from the infantry combined with devastating fire from our tanks heavy 120mm guns. The advancing battalion was virtually annihilated for the loss of only tank 13 from first platoon which took a stray main gun round just below the gun mantle that blew the turret off. We counted 16 burning T-64’s on the bridge alone. The time was 0900.
Despite this very favourable loss exchange rate, the taskforce was still outnumbered and knowing he could not win a standoff duel, the Soviet CO committed his remaining tank battalion and his infantry. Firing at close range with LAWs and Dragons our infantry managed to inflict high casualties but at least 2 company’s of BMP’s and 1 of tanks got across the river. An immediate and daring counter attack led by Lt Seth Parker from the Cav’s infantry repulsed the armour but the Soviet infantry overran the Cav’s M1A1’s and destroyed the with flamethrowers and demolition charges before being in turn destroyed by heavy artillery fire. By 1300 hours there were no combat effective Soviets elements across the Rhine.
The Soviets their remaining forces- a reinforced tanks company and a handful of infantry into on last desperate assault, it was smashed before it even got to the bridge. As they tried to surrender, the Russians were gunned down by machinegun fire to their rear.
In all, the taskforce lost 9 M1A1 MBT’s, 15 Bradley IFV’s and took about 150 casualties for this we destroyed 55 Russian tanks and about 20 other assorted vehicles. The Rhine bridge remains firmly in our hands

Excellent report! Hoping to do as well...
Have you an online site with the strategic maps, this would be even moreexciting!

I don't know how to post pictures online, but if you do I can email some photos to you to post iirc you have a website

*from the campaign maps

It will be a pleasure.
My email is

foxbat_1961[AT]yahoo[DOT]fr

it will have to be in about a week as I am still on holiday and don't have access to the map