Soviets absolutely tonked in "Modern Spearhead "

[Last Hussar]

#1 son wanted to do moderns yesterday so I dug out my 1:300 Soviets and put them up against my Dutch (the first army I ever bought!). I remember my first game with those, back in 88, the Soviet player being shocked that a) the Dutch had Leopard 2's, and b) the recce platoon had a tank in and c) that tank was faster than his BRDM's. (That was the old very complicated 1:1 set everyone seemed to use back then, might have been by Bruce Rea Taylor.

Anyway,  we played MSH yesterday. A trip down memory lane. Specifically the lane with no QRS in the rules.

Because I hadn't played them in 30 years I kept things simple. Dutch had 3 companies of Leopards,  1 of YPR765 ifv's. Soviets had 3 BATTALIONS of T72s, 1 of BMPs

Turn 1. I move on

Turn 2. 1 battalion moves into range of company on hill. 2 dead T72s. We find out that Leopards hit T72s on 2+, kill on a 3+. It is only automatic miss on a roll of 1 that saves me.

Turn 3. 2nd battalion moves into range of company in woods. More dead T72s. Tanks on hill score enough kills to force their target to make morale test: failed, battalion removed from game. Soviets bring on reserves to reinforce the attack that is happening.

Turn 4. Battalion advancing on town slows as now engaged so doesn't gave to move at least half speed.
Lots of searching trying to find out how moving affects shooting. It must as Leopards have a marker for gun stabilisation. More dead Russians, 2nd battalion runs away, with just 2 of 10 platoons remaining. Find that T72s v Leopards are firing at -1, so can't kill a Leopard platoon with one shot, needs them to have already put them in "confused " state, on a 5 or 6, then again before they can reform. Also learn the ATGW process, as I have accidentally included a couple of Janguar vehicles; obviously attached to the Dutch by the Federal Republic.



Turn 5. Now unopposed Leopards on northern flank decide to move forward to catch Soviets in a cross fire.

Turn 6. We call the game. Soviet kills; 1 tank unit. Dutch kills; dunno, lots (15ish?) with 2 battalions retreated.

Game takeaways.
1) needs a qrs.
2) Nato, outnumbered but very good.
3) my dice rolling is #@%£
4) needs a qrs.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Sounds a lot of fun, but annoying with no QRS.

[Last Hussar]

Fun? FUN?

I turn up, he kills me.

Rinse repeat!   

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

But that's out lot in life, to lose to offspring and Sunjester.

[flamingpig0]

. (That was the old very complicated 1:1 set everyone seemed to use back then, might have been by Bruce Rea Taylor.

Challenger- my friends insisted on playing it

[Last Hussar]

But that's our lot in life, to lose to offspring and Sunjester.

True... true. Usually I go easy on him. Yesterday I couldn't... 

Challenger- my friends insisted on playing it

That's the bunny!

[Orcs]

No worse than WRG Armored Warfare 1950-1985 -

[Last Hussar]

That is hardly an endorsement...

[paulr]

There are a few QRS out there, I'm guessing they moved to group.io when the Spearhead lists were moved.

If you want one PM me and I can send you SH and/or MSH QRS

One bit of advice for the Soviets, ARTILLERY

Moving direct fire happens after stationary direct fire. Units with stabilised weapons move 2/3 and still fire rather than 1/2

There is an optional morale system where units break on 1-2, retreats 2 moves on 3-4 & continues on 5-6. Slightly less brutal.

[Last Hussar]

Yes, I eventually found the 'moving fire' rules. I've PM'ed for the QRS, thanks.

There is DEFINATLY going to be Soviet artillery next time - this was just a first attempt in 30 years, so I wanted to keep it very simple. I like that moral system - is it just that, or is there anything further.

[Orcs]

That is hardly an endorsement...

Perhaps its time for you to but Cold War Commander 2

[paulr]

Yes, I eventually found the 'moving fire' rules. I've PM'ed for the QRS, thanks.

There is DEFINATLY going to be Soviet artillery next time - this was just a first attempt in 30 years, so I wanted to keep it very simple. I like that moral system - is it just that, or is there anything further.

QRS's sent

The optional morale is described at the end of the morale section in MSH (p34).

[flamingpig0]

True... true. Usually I go easy on him. Yesterday I couldn't... 
That's the bunny!

Back in the day someone organised a Challenger competition using the " Third world" army lists
Out of 12 competitors there ere 8 Israeli lists

It was a great spectacle if you  wanted to see   companies of Merkavas fighting it out.

[Last Hussar]

  

When I started everybody did Russia, US, UK or West Germany.  I did the Dutch just to have something different.  I didn't know they had Leopard 2s until after I bought them. Ah the pre Internet days before it was easy to research stuff. You just bought an army pack from the Guardroom...

[dylan]

Frontal assault on Leopard 2s in cover (hull down or in woods) with T-72s and no artillery is always going to end this way in MSH.

BTW, no T-72s in GSFG ever I'm afraid, so you must have been using East Germans in that battle :-)