The British were supposed to perform a left hook against the northernmost enemy spearhead; however they missed the main body and ran into another Soviet force that was moving into support the offensive as follow-up reinforcements. This miscue presented NATO with its best opportunity yet to achieve a victory during the early part of the war.
The scenario is a conversion from the original game Flashpoint Germany. In this incarnation I will be playing as the Warsaw Pact commander. Click here for my NATO AAR from the original game for this mission.
Game Options
Everything is unchecked except for FSCC control (which allows subordinate AI to utilize indirect fire support during turn resolution) and LOS checks (which allows the human player to evaluate the tactical feasibility of a specific hex).
Friendly Forces
21 Recce, 95 Tank, 45 APC, 45 Inf, 3 AT, 22 HQ, 8 AD, 18 SPArty, 12 Arty, 25 Utility.
Enemy Forces
As the Soviet player I have scant information concerning the British units operating in my area. Even worse the 12th Guards Tank Division insists that the route is clear of enemy forces, however I have received reports from the lead elements that NATO reconnaissance units have been spotted just north of my position.
Critical Units
The T-80U [m] Main Battle Tank features a 125mm 2A46 smoothbore cannon as well as the AT-11 Sniper guided anti-tank missile. I will have 95 of these units at 101 Victory Points each for a total of 9,595 points (all units are available from the start of the scenario).
The BMP-2 [m*] Tracked APC features a 30mm 2A42 autocannon, the AT-5 Spandrell anti-tank guided missile, as well as the 7.62mm PKT machine gun. I will have 45 of these units at 17 Victory Points each for a total of 765 points (all units are available from the start of the scenario).
* These vehicles also contain the following embarked units: 9 X Mechanized Rifle/2 X 30mm AGS GL/4 X Heavy MG/1 X AT-5 Spandrell/1 X HQ.
The 2S1 Gvozdika (Self Propelled Artillery) features the 122mm D-30 round and is capable of firing the three primary fire missions (Harassing, Suppression, and Neutralizing), as well as Smoke (minelets are not available during this scenario). I will have 18 of these units (formed into three separate companies) located on map at 18 Victory Points each for a total of 108 points (all units are available from the start of the scenario).
The interesting thing about this mission is that the Soviet player has all available forces on the map at the beginning. There are no reinforcements during a later cycle which makes planning from the outset more critical than in other scenarios (as there is no “cavalry” arriving to save the day).
Pregame Setup Phase One
The Soviet deployment area is located in the middle lower right corner of the map, with the forces in a line of march posture along the A4 autobahn. The scenario designer appears to have used the overall premise of the mission to create one of the more restrictive setup boundaries in the game with the area stretching across a good portion of the road and then trailing south to where the support units are.
Objectives (Victory Points)
There are a total of four Victory Point locations worth 11,000 total points. The Soviets start with control of three of them (two of which are unguarded at the start), while the British control a single objective to the north.
Strategy & Tactics
This is a new separate header for my after-action reports (in the past this information was blended into the setup phase process).
In my humble gaming opinion this scenario is a no win for the Soviets. They face a numerically superior British force, start at a significant force disposition advantage, have no reinforcements at all, and are presented with four objectives that are stretched far apart from one end of the map to the other.
Now I am speaking this way from experience as I have played this mission several times already and have lost badly as the Warsaw Pact. While this is a bit of a spoiler for those reading these installments, attacking the objectives does not work, and sitting in place does not work. In short, you move you die, and if you sit you die as well.
Perhaps that is oversimplifying the horrifying reality that this scenario presents to the Soviet player, but with the amount of British units on the map and their later cycle air reinforcements there essentially is no light at the end of the tunnel.
Therefore my strategy is this: I will arrange my forces in such a way to blow bridges to delay the enemies advance and then engage them from well dug in positions. If NATO wants these objectives, they can bleed for them.
Pregame Setup Phase Two
I have recon units to the west and east blowing bridges, and two tank brigades deployed around Vordeberg to blow bridges and defend the 3,000 Victory Point objective in hex 3021. A third tank brigade is deployed to the west along the A4.
With this arrangement I am completely ignoring the 4,000 objective to the west at hex 0528 and the 3,000 point objective to the north at hex 3409. The 1,000 point objective to the east at hex 3918 remains unguarded at the moment, however I plan on slipping a single reconnaissance unit over there once they are done blowing a bridge and the coast is clear.
Combat Action
Cycle 1 (28 minutes): The British streamed down the A4 through Luthorst running smack into the 3/48th Guards Tanks dug in around the objective and paid a severe price as a result. A similar thrust came along the N248 through Eimen and it as well hit a giant red brick wall in the 2/48th Guards Tanks. When that foray tried to work around the blockage by moving to a side road further west, they fell right into trap set by the 1/48th Guards Tanks.
The 1,000 Victory Point objective at hex 3918 turned to NATO control during the cycle. While I intend to move a recon unit on that side of the water obstacle into the area to check it out, I want to wait a bit longer to allow the bulk of whatever force that is moving there to pass through.
Losses: Warsaw Pact 19/4 (Fallen Out/Destroyed), NATO 71
Additional Orders: There are 10 orders available to me this cycle.
- RC/48 GTR (3 X BRM-1 K) to Move - Hasty to hex 1821 and Hold (the intention is for them to blow the bridge in that hex should they survive the trip).
- 1/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hexes 2321, 2322, and 3119.
- 2/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to change from an existing scoot action to On Call firing mode.
- 3/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to change from an existing scoot action to On Call firing mode, and then to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hex 2503 (a suspected enemy HQ location). This costs two orders as I had to stop the unit from moving before I could issue the barrage order.
- Mtr/3/48 GTR (6 X 2B9 Vasilek) to deploy a Smoke Screen at hex 2820 (to provide some concealment for 1/2/18th GTR which has lost four of its 10 T-80U [m] tanks).
This will leave four orders not issued this cycle.
Cycle 2 (30 minutes): 1/48 GT (T-80U [m]) started the cycle with its full complement of 30 tanks, but the British have put up a much stiffer fight there than I had anticipated in eliminating 11 tanks and reducing their force to 19 remaining amongst the frontline companies.
My air defense capability has been significantly reduced with the loss of two 2S6 Tunguska’s with no kill claims as of yet to show for it.
Losses: Warsaw Pact 32/16, NATO 114
Additional Orders: There are 10 orders available to me this cycle.
- 1/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hex 2502 (a suspected enemy HQ location).
- 2/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to change from an existing scoot action to On Call firing mode, and then to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hexes 2221 and 2421 (to support the 1/48th GT).
- 3/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to change from an existing scoot action to On Call firing mode.
- Mtr/2/48 GTR (6 X 2B9 Vasilek) to Move - Hasty to hex 3224 and go into On Call firing mode (this will allow them to fire on enemy positions currently outside of their range).
- 3/RC/48 GTR (4 X BRDM-2 [g]) to Move - Deliberate to hexes 3918, 4018, and 4020 and Screen (this is a very short route that will place them at the 1,000 Victory Point objective hex to the east that is presently controlled by NATO).
This will leave four orders not issued this cycle.
Cycle 3 (32 minutes): This cycle was a poor trade-off in kill claims, with the Warsaw Pact losing 14 units to just three for NATO. The reconnaissance platoon that I had dispatched to the 1,000 VP in the east was eliminated rather quickly, so not only did I lose those units but I also lost visibility to that area of the map.
Losses: Warsaw Pact 42/20, NATO 117
Additional Orders: There are 10 orders available to me this cycle.
- 1/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hex 2401 (a suspected enemy HQ location).
- 2/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hex 2401 as well.
- 3/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to change from an existing scoot action to On Call firing mode.
- 1/4/48 GTR (10 X BMP-2[m]) to Assault to hex 2022 and Hold (this is only one hex north of their current position, but improves their cover rating from 30 to 90).
- 1-2/2/48 GTR (20 X T-80U [m] is set to Resupply status (they are not actively engaged and are showing 29% and 24% ammunition respectively at the moment).
- 2-3/3/48 GTR (20 X T-80U [m] is set to Resupply status (they are not actively engaged and are showing 43% and 58% ammunition respectively at the moment).
This will leave two orders not issued this cycle.
Cycle 4 (32 minutes): Several tanks were lost due to artillery fire and a NATO airstrike was apparently aborted due to my air defense units, although there were no air kill claims. While sitting in place is not ideal, I do not have the force necessary to move out and engage the enemy without facing total destruction. My play here is to simply stay put and manage the most agreeable loss outcome possible.
Losses: Warsaw Pact 46/27, NATO 130
Additional Orders: There are 10 orders available to me this cycle.
- 1/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hex 2401 (a suspected enemy HQ location).
- 2/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hexes 0426, 0527, and 0627 (this is the road running north of the 4,000 Victory Point objective in the west controlled by NATO).
This will leave eight orders not issued this cycle.
Cycle 5 (32 minutes): Attack helicopters came from the southwest and eliminated the remaining SA-6 Gainful SAM units (which managed a lowly single kill claim to this point, which is one more than what the 2S6 Tunguska units can say for the moment).
Losses: Warsaw Pact 56/34, NATO 133
Additional Orders: There are 10 orders available to me this cycle.
- Mtr/3/48 GTR (4 X 2B9 Vasilek) to deploy a Smoke Screen at hexes 2122, 2222, and 2323 (this is the closest line of tanks to the attack helicopters and perhaps in vain I am hoping that the smoke will obscure them to the gunner).
- Mtr/2/48 GTR (6 X 2B9 Vasilek) to deploy a Smoke Screen at hexes 2222 and 2323 (it is one hex out of range from covering the same tanks as above, but in a reverse firing pattern).
- 2/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to barrage with Suppression Fire at hexes 1725 and 2025 (this is a one hex lead to the indicated path of the attack helicopters, and my hope here is that some artillery rounds may strike gold).
This will leave seven orders not issued this cycle.
Cycle 6 (32 minutes): The artillery salvo fired at the attack helicopters fell harmlessly in front of them as the birds did not budge until the end of the cycle. There are some fierce face-to-face battles going on, with a British infantry unit standing in the same hex 3019 as a T-80U [m] unit that is unfortunately in low ammo status and has shifted to Resupply mode.
Losses: Warsaw Pact 60/34, NATO 148
Additional Orders: There are eight orders available to me this cycle.
- 2/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to change from an existing scoot action to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hexes 1825 and 1926 (this is directly on top of the attack helicopter counters).
- 3/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to change from an existing scoot action to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hexes 2518 and 2616 (these are enemy tank counters near the N248 in the middle of the map).
- 2/2/48 GTR (10 X T-80U [m] is set to Resupply status (they are not actively engaged and are showing low ammunition at the moment).
- 2/3/48 GTR (7 X T-80U [m] is set to Resupply status (they are not actively engaged and are showing low ammunition at the moment).
This will leave seven orders not issued this cycle.
Cycle 7 (33 minutes): While I picked up several kills during the cycle, it is not enough (even if sustained the duration of the scenario) to force the British to under 30% and a battlefield declaration option to end the conflict.
Losses: Warsaw Pact 70/34, NATO 153
Additional Orders: There are eight orders available to me this cycle.
- 2-AA/14 NVA (2 X 2S6 Tunguska) is ordered to go into Resupply mode. Although they have a 91% Readiness and a 96% Ammo rating, their Morale is critically low at 24% and they have not a single kill claim (while two attack helicopters have been parked within their firing range for a number of cycles). If this does not get them to fire I may move them closer during a later cycle.
- 2-3/3/48 GTR (15 X T-80U [m] is set to Resupply status (they are not actively engaged and are showing 21% and 18% ammunition respectively at the moment).
- Mtr/3/48 GTR (4 X 2B9 Vasilek) to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hexes 1825 and 1926 (this is directly on top of the attack helicopter counters).
- 1/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hex 2302 (a suspected enemy HQ location).
This will leave three orders not issued this cycle.
Cycle 8 (32 minutes): Several of the tank companies deployed in the center of the map became fully resupplied during the cycle. However two airstrikes by Tornado aircraft destroyed a total of eight tanks, four each from 2/2/48 and 3/2/48 which are both now down to six T-80U [m] apiece.
Losses: Warsaw Pact 85/36, NATO 157
Additional Orders: There are eight orders available to me this cycle.
- 2-AA/14 NVA (2 X 2S6 Tunguska) to Assault to hex 2526 and Screen (this is a forested area of heavy concealment at a 90 rating that I am hoping will bring them closer to the two attack helicopters that have been sitting in the same place for several cycles).
- 2/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) is set to Resupply status (they are not actively engaged and are showing 23% ammunition at the moment).
- 3/SPA/48 GTR (6 X 2S1 Gvozdika) to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at hex 2201 (a suspected enemy HQ location).
- CHQ RC/48 GTR (1 X BRDM-2 [g]) to Move - Hasty to hex 3621 and Screen (this will give them better line-of-sight to any units that may be threatening from the direction of the 1,000 Victory Point objective to the east).
- 2/2/48 GTR (6 X T-80U [m] is set to Resupply status (they are not actively engaged and are showing 23% ammunition at the moment).
This will leave three orders not issued this cycle.
Cycle 9 (31 minutes): The end is near: during the cycle I took some punishing losses due to heavy artillery fire, and for the first time all scenario my superior on map HQ has been shelled (dropping from 25 vehicles down to just 12). A large formation of NATO mechanized units have crossed a river and are threatening my weakening line to the east.
Losses: Warsaw Pact 99/41, NATO 164
Additional Orders: There are six orders available to me this cycle.
All available artillery units are ordered to barrage with Suppression Fire at the spotted British units in the east.
This will leave two orders not issued this cycle.
Cycle 10 (32 minutes): Numerous artillery strikes have chipped away at my units with the HQ counter taking another huge loss with five vehicles destroyed. British mechanized units are streaming up the N292 and have eliminated my Tunguska artillery unit as well as decimated one of my towed mortar units.
Losses: Warsaw Pact 114/45, NATO 178
Additional Orders: There are six orders available to me this cycle.
All available artillery units are ordered to barrage with Neutralizing Fire at the NATO units coming up from the southwest in an attempt to blunt their advance.
This will leave one order not issued this cycle.
Cycle 11 (36 minutes): At 16:43 I received notification that my force has fallen below 50%. I severely underestimated the speed at which the British forces coming from the southwest would achieve, as they smashed completely through my support units and then evaded the artillery barrages to race directly into the undefended Victory Point objective my armor is surrounding.
Losses: Warsaw Pact 119/126, NATO 203
Additional Orders: There are four orders available to me this cycle.
In an act of total desperation I select four units within close proximity to Assault to hex 3021 where NATO has just seized the final objective.
Unfortunately with only 10 minutes left in the scenario none of the Next Actions will occur before the end so I am effectively doomed.
Cycle 12 (10 minutes): The scenario ends at 17:00 with control of that Victory Point objective passing from NATO to the Warsaw Pact based upon unit influence.
After-action Reports
The Staff Summary Report tab indicates that the scenario ended with the Soviets suffering a 35% Tactical Loss outcome with forces at 47% of starting.
The final score was 14,045 to 7,675. Although I reclaimed a single Victory Point objective at the end for 3,000 additional points, it was an administrative measure at best as NATO had units stacked in the hex.
Note: In the Post-Battle Evaluation text the third sentence includes “[a user scenario]”. I believe this is caused by saving the mission at various points. Playing the scenario from start to finish in one session would not include that line on this panel.
The Reported Kills and Claims tab details the results of the battle in spreadsheet format. The Warsaw Pact ended with 116 Active, 129 Fallen Out, and 49 Destroyed units. NATO ended with 257 Active, 73 Fallen Out, and 139 Destroyed units for a total loss of 212 units.
The standout unit was 1/1/48 GTR (T-80U [m]) which accounted for 29 kill claims at the loss of two tanks fallen out, and four destroyed.
The Staff Summary Report tab for the British indicates their Tactical Success outcome at a 65% rating with forces at 59% of starting.
Review Final Situation
Full size image is available here.
NATO outnumbered the Warsaw Pact in this scenario 469 to 294. While both forces started on the map from the first cycle, the British enjoyed three separate reinforcement flights of Tornado aircraft to compliment the six Lynx attack helicopters they had from the outset.
On top of this the Soviets began with the disadvantage of being strung out across an autobahn and ill-prepared to attack and defend four Victory Point locations that were well separated from each other.
Had the British commander wanted to, he could have seriously pressed the issue early on and possibly eliminated my entire force before the end of the scenario.
This scenario was played on 3/27-4/1/16 on a Windows 10 machine and scheduled to be published on 4/4/16.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.