All,
It's 0545 on 1 August 1986, and (for whatever reason, make up your own) the Soviets/Warsaw Pact has decided to launch an invasion of Western Europe. Battalion Task Force 4-11 (fictional 4th Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment) receives the call to arms, moves from barracks to assembly area to defensive positions in the Fulda Gap, awaiting the onslaught of the Red horde.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IYP03jNnuNE/VeosPnWUAoI/AAAAAAAAPD4/t34_iIii8Sc/s1600/Enemy%2BCOA%2B5.jpg)
Here's the overlay of the table, with each side's plan, with north being left.
US Order of Battle
India Company: Captain Phillips (M-577)
1st Mechanized Platoon: 1Lt Eirserbe
2nd Mechanized Platoon: 1Lt Ensmith
3rd Mechanized Platoon: 2Lt Teigner
1st Tank Platoon: 1Lt Dillon (only two of his tanks made it to the area in time)
Elements of Weapons Company (4 x TOW, HMG, 4 x M-113)
Elements of 10th Special Forces Group (2 x ODA)
Elements of 399th Attack Aviation Company (1 x AH-64)
Elements of 999th Tactical Fighter Squadron (1 x A-10)
Soviet Order of Battle
Tank 1 is 6 T-72s
Tank 2 is 6 T-72s
Tank 3 is 4 T-72s (coming on Turn 2)
Mech 1, 2, and 3 are 6 BMPs and 6 rifle teams each
The Hind and SOF are marked where they will insert, and the ZSU-23-4 is with Tank 3.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rLi2AzcT7eg/Veuq6NK3keI/AAAAAAAAPGk/yknWdgUmTls/s1600/IMG_2491.JPG)
Looking west to east at the village of Heffe, the Soviet Mech 1 pushes into the urban area while the Mi-24 Hind dashes forward to deliver two teams of Spetznaz...
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tkj-6fm5X4A/VeurCAgRRxI/AAAAAAAAPGs/iCrVsH_goN4/s1600/IMG_2493.JPG)
And runs into some problems coming out of Heineken.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SBxpnS3E-qA/VeurwE56SAI/AAAAAAAAPH0/OW5YB3k043Q/s1600/IMG_2500.JPG)
And then, from the US far right, the TOW 2nd Section opens up on Mech 1 moving into Heffe.
The fight was epic, with vicious fighting in Weisse, and absolutely legendary fighting in Heffe and atop Hill 23, real bare-knuckle brawling. But the TOWs, the TOWs were magnificent. To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/09/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-1.html
Six hours, that's how long this fight took, so please forgive me for how long the batrep is. But the table is set for fight number two, and I'm on my way upstairs, so stay tuned.
V/R,
Jack
Top report Jack!
I'm going to have to read this in 'chunks' ! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
What I've read so far is top notch, Jack.
Cheers - Phil
Started reading the background and got as far as the plans...so far so good.
Very good indeed
Take care
Andy
Well. That hurt. The "Fighting 11" might well be compelled to fall back, but that lack of an advance and heavy casualties leaves a nice wide gap for them to finagle some fighting recce into a painful place for the Soviets!
Good stuff.
IanS
Hey, thanks everyone, I appreciate it.
I've played the second game and gotten most of written up, probably post it tomorrow night. The campaign is ten fights total.
Toxicpixie - The next scenario is extracting two SF deep-reconnaissance teams that located 8th Guards Tank Army. It's a US Mech Inf platoon against a dismounted infantry platoon, a mech infantry platoon, a tank platoon, and a Hind with two Spetznaz teams. All you gotta do is find the SF teams (at the start, neither side knows where they are) and get them off your table edge. :-SS :-SS
V/R,
Jack
That sounds like unhelpful odds... good luck :'(
Great read :D
Absolutely love the Lego flight bases - superb idea :-bd
Cheers!
Meirion
TP - "That sounds like unhelpful odds..."
To say the least. It's a bloodbath, and I'll post tonight.
Meirion - Thanks, I appreciate it. The Lego bases were an idea I stole off someone on TMP a few years ago. Not the best looking I suppose, but they work for me.
V/R,
Jack
"Hey, we held their attack! Lets drive those Russkies back to Moscow!"
"Uh, Sir, it's D+an hour, we may want to wait a few..."
"Never! Charge!"
"argh, aiee, explodes"
"(yes, a capital 'V')"
:-bd
TP - Yeah man, let's go get'em. Followed by the mushroom cloud...
Ronan - Hey buddy, glad you got to take a look, looks like you liked it 8) 8)
Next one on the way.
V/R,
Jack
All,
It's 1300 on 2 August 1986, and the Soviets have broken through the entire NATO front in numerous places, pouring armored columns through the giant gaps. This is true maneuver warfare, with Soviet formations seeking out gaps and NATO seeking to find and seal them. Battlefield reconnaissance takes on a role of huge import, with 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (11th ACR) at the fore, with attached deep reconnaissance elements of 10th Special Forces Group (10th SFG) providing support.
An SF element of 10th SFG, comprising two SF fireteams, was inserted yesterday evening into the town of Bad Stulz and began reporting, but has missed its last two communications windows (didn't report in via radio). There's been a lot of Soviet electronic warfare jamming going on, so Brigade is optimistic the SF teams are still alive, just unable to communicate. From Team Whiskey's India Company, the sole remaining intact platoon, Lieutenant Teigner's 3rd Mechanized Platoon, is dispatched to find and recover the SF teams, in order to bring back their intelligence information. Failing that, 3rd Mech Plt must make contact the Soviet 8th Guards Tank Army and provide that information to the Brigade Intelligence Section.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4JTaIvB6wY0/Ve30iZ67f9I/AAAAAAAAPZA/Q6OUw3b9wdw/s1600/IMG_2634.JPG)
The US force: these are actually two separate forces, the two 10th SFG teams at top left, then Lt Teigner's 3rd Mech Plt of the command section, four rifle teams, and five Bradleys. The Platoon Commander's (PC's) command section has a single Stinger surface to air missile (SAM).
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5-vI1zlIgIc/Ve30dXqYruI/AAAAAAAAPY4/GxuT75E9IcQ/s1600/IMG_2635.JPG)
The Soviet force: an infantry platoon of command section, two MGs, an Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM, in this case an AT-5 Spandrel); a mechanized platoon of a command section, four rifle squads, and five BMPs; a tank platoon of four T-72s; a Spetznaz squad of two fireteams; and an Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter, which is also transporting the two Spetznaz teams.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0KV_ILDt1m0/Ve31AkSGcQI/AAAAAAAAPZY/DE7UDqPUao0/s1600/IMG_2636.JPG)
A look at the table, from south to north from behind the US baseline, and you can actually see the Bradleys of 3rd Mech Plt spread across the bottom. The Soviet infantry platoons are scattered across the top of the map. To recap, the US force is charged with going in an finding the two SF teams, and getting at least one of them secured and off the map (back to their own baseline in the south), while the Soviets want to prevent this, and actually are looking to destroy the entire US force.
And here's the kicker: neither side knows where the two SF teams are! The Soviets aren't the only ones who have to push into Bad Stulz to find the SF teams, the US does too because of the EW jamming is preventing link-up via VHF/HF comms (I'm guessing Bradleys can go HF? For sure Brigade HQ can).
So, the way I'm handling this peculiar situation is this: there are two SF teams in the center of the table, so I placed four 'blinds' (which are purple beads) spread across the center of the map, with both sides having to advance and 'spot' the SF teams (admittedly, I'll be making the spotting easier for the US 3rd Mech Plt as I assume the SF teams want to be found by friendly troops). Despite them being on blinds, I will allow the blinds to move south each turn, albeit very slowly as they are trying to remain unseen. So each turn the blinds are out there, I will move the them four inches towards the southern baseline, and once they are correctly spotted, I will remove the dummies and place the SF teams.
Which brings up activation: I am still using Ivan's excellent "5Core Company Command," but I am using cards to determine when each unit activates. So, at the start of the game there is a card for the SF blinds, a card for the US 3rd Mech Plt, a card for the Soviet foot infantry platoon, and a card for the Soviet mech infantry platoon. Once the tanks come on (Turn 2), they will have a card in the deck. once the Hind comes on (also Turn 2), it will have a card in the deck. And once the Spetznaz are off-loaded from the Hind, they will have a card in the deck.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TutvipM8c44/Ve4wwNYJrVI/AAAAAAAAPpg/15z5FCIKKzQ/s1600/SOF%2BPositions.jpg)
This is looking west to east at the center of town. The red circles show the four 'blinds' representing the two SF teams. The southern baseline is to right, where 3rd Mech Plt's vehicles are off camera.
From the Soviet perspective, they are actively and aggressively engaged in counter-reconnaissance, trying to keep NATO's prying eyes from locating their armored formations, and the electronic warfare (EW) jamming is actually being conducted in support of this effort. Soviet EW sections conducted signals intercepts and radio direction finding (RDF), which is how they became aware of the two US SF teams nearby. As they were preparing to dispatch forces to deal with the US SF teams, their signals intercept made them aware the US forces in the area had just sent additional forces (3rd Mech Plt) into the area as well. The Soviets don't know the size or composition of this new force, but absolutely want to keep them from linking up with the two SF teams, and ideally, both US forces would be destroyed entirely. The plan is for the two infantry platoons (one on foot, one in BMPs) to push into Bad Stulz from the north. Once contact with US forces has been made, and/or the infantry have pushed sufficiently into the urban area to help clear it of infantry anti-tank weapons, the tank platoon will dash into the town, straight down main street, as the Hind comes in and deposits the two Spetznaz teams on the southern end of the town to try to bottle the US forces in the center, preventing any escape.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2xkwCZ3Q2Ig/Ve35Wdvf7rI/AAAAAAAAPfY/Rl6UiOEzBwQ/s1600/IMG_2685.JPG)
An M3 Bradley looses a TOW at a T-72.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8PlS5ut4R74/Ve36tFiD0II/AAAAAAAAPhw/Rmbj-HlkvOg/s1600/IMG_2704.JPG)
Lt Teigner fires off a Stinger, looking to knock down the Hind.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lINHcdNZSGY/Ve38JpdPY7I/AAAAAAAAPkY/qmr-I-5OaAQ/s1600/IMG_2725.JPG)
But the Hind dodges and loops around to deliver a salvo of 57mm rockets.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfEyry3h4oA/Ve36BFrQLqI/AAAAAAAAPgg/V9SASFiKBwU/s1600/IMG_2695.JPG)
Even the dismounts get it in on the action, moving to point blank range to engage enemy tanks with LAWs. To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/09/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-2.html
Another fantastic fight, super intense and decided by a whisker. That's both games from this past weekend, I'm looking to get two more in this weekend, so stay tuned.
V/R,
Jack
Great job jack!
Looking excellent, Jack.
(I'm going to have to read that one in 'bits', too !... ;D ;D ;D)
Cheers - Phil
Another corker Jack, really thought you'd blown it until you nailed the Spatsnaz! 8)
Le Manchou - Thanks man, I appreciate it, good to 'see' you here!
Phil - Quit your belly-achin' and read faster ;)
Lemmey - Yeah man, I thought I'd lost too. The heartbreaker was when SF Tm 1, who could have just ran off the board, decided to be heroes to help their buddies out by foregoing the move to fire on advancing enemy troops, missed, then enemy guys returned fire and (against very steep odds) wiped them out. I was not a happy camper. And then SF Tm 2 kept getting pushed back by enemy fire, and I thought they'd actually get pushed off the map and I'd win, but then the other Spetznaz team ran over there, I thought it was all over. But the dice held, certainly wasn't my tactical decision making! ;D ;D
Thanks again fellas, hope you're enjoying them.
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 09 September 2015, 03:32:24 PM
Meirion - Thanks, I appreciate it. The Lego bases were an idea I stole off someone on TMP a few years ago. Not the best looking I suppose, but they work for me.
V/R,
Jack
Maybe it's because I'm a big Lego fan - I've been using Heroica figures with my Pendraken dungeon recently - AND like that kind of solution to a 'problem', but I think they look pretty neat.
The ability to change the foot colour makes it really useful should two forces or commands be fielding either identical or very similar looking kit.
Love the second report too, keep up the good work :-bd
Cheers again!
Meirion
These are both first class AAR's in both the description and the pictures. I, like others, was itching to find out what happened to the two SF Teams in the second AAR but was determined not to peek.
Bring on the next.
Quote from: bigjackmac on 10 September 2015, 03:24:05 PM
Phil - Quit your belly-achin' and read faster ;)
Shan't ! :P ;)
Cheers - Phil
All,
I've got a lot going on in real life, so I'm trying something I've never done before: I'm releasing a batrep in 'installments.' So please bear with me, this isn't permanent, but I hope it tides you over while I work on the rest.
It's 0930 on 3 August 1986, and the Soviet 8th Guards Army is taking an operational pause, i.e., going over to the defensive temporarily, due to heavy casualties laid on by 11th ACR and 3rd Armored Division. Of course, NATO forces are fairly beaten up as well, and air superiority, upon which so much of NATO's operational plans are dependent (to have close air support and middle-interdiction to off-set the Soviet advantage in men and material). V Corps decides to take a gamble in its sector to help get its air support back on track.
The Soviets, largely due to the traffic jam ensuing in the wake of an unplanned operational pause (and which they are working on clearing up), have wound up with considerable air defense assets pushed far forward in Team Whiskey's sector. And so V Corps has ordered Team Whiskey to conduct a local counterattack on 8th Guards Army forces, with the primary mission to identify and destroy Soviet air defense assets in the objective area, and the secondary mission being simply to punch Soviet armored elements in the mouth to help keep them off-balance.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQKiKphgEak/VfYnXOWNLtI/AAAAAAAAP-Y/IYzUw1YFtuw/s1600/IMG_2752.JPG)
The opposing forces, with US on the right and Soviets on the left. Being a counterattack, this is that rare game where the US outnumbers the Soviets. The US has two companies of Mechanized Infantry (in Bradleys), a tank platoon (M1s), four command stands in an M-577 and M-113s, a mortar platoon of 4 x 81mm tubes, two 10th SFG teams, and an AH-64 Apache. The Soviets have a reinforced tank platoon, eight rifle teams, four machine gun teams, four ATGMs (Spandrels), four 120mm mortars, four MANPAD SAMs, and four SA-9 Gaskin vehicle SAMs. The Soviet infantry begins the game dug-in.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L_bS7BprSro/VfYTYzxixwI/AAAAAAAAPsc/a8NksTwOP2U/s1600/IMG_2756.JPG)
The table, with north being up, the US baseline at left (west), and the Soviet baseline at right (east). You can see the Team Whiskey Mech Inf companies spread out at left, while the Soviets are spread across the board on the right. The US SF teams are in the forest at top center left.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-06BY5QjHcEQ/VfYXXcNqN_I/AAAAAAAAPxY/BKysYR3Gewg/s1600/IMG_2797.JPG)
The US force is getting beat up, but punches back. To see the whole thing, please check:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/09/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-3-part-i.html
More to come.
V/R,
Jack
That was an installment ? :o
Can see why it takes so much time, to write these up, Jack.
Great stuff ! 8)
Cheers - Phil
Feature length instalment!
But I get a tank company! Promotion! 8)
Means I'll be dead by the end of episode 2... :(
Thanks guys. But that's what you get for being such loyal followers of my campaigns; you're both now running companies!
And I won't make you wait, Lemmey: you and Captain "Phil'-lips both survived this encounter. One in better shape than the other ;)
V/R,
Jack
Sorry brother.
If it makes you feel better, I'll get you killed next time ;)
V/R,
Jack
Please don't! ;)
Quote from: mad lemmey on 16 September 2015, 08:51:01 PM
OI!
NO SPOILERS!
There's *survived* survived and then there's One by Metallica survived!
It's count the limbs sweepstake time! :d
Oh my! Don' worry Lemmey, I'll bring you a straw ;)
The finale is coming right up.
V/R,
Jack
All,
This is the second part of my third Fulda Gap fight, starting at Turn 3. When last we spoke, Team Whiskey had two Mechanized Infantry platoons on the board, and the supporting tank platoon had just come on. Regarding the Mech Inf platoons, Captain Phillips' India Company had lost a couple Bradleys and 1st Platoon's infantry has pretty much been wiped out, while Captain Keepers' Kilo Company got the stuffins knocked out of it, down to two Brads and a five rifle teams.
It's Turn 3, and so the US side is able to bring in its AH-64 Apache for rotary attack support, but, to be honest, I'm a bit scared to call it up as the Soviets still have quite a few surface to air missile (SAM) systems on the table.
But the Soviets have suffered to, with their tank platoon decimated (one T-72 left) and half their SAMs gone, but they still have the majority of their infantry, and their four ATGMs are still in play.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SGCW3l_J7sY/VfYb4n0l1JI/AAAAAAAAP4g/K-2h7P3DCBc/s1600/IMG_2854.JPG)
The AH-64 Apache zooms in just feet above the ground, slows to a hover, then pops up over the small knoll the US mortars (bottom center, at far left table edge) are sheltering behind.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M4VnfN6Cny0/VfYda54DEnI/AAAAAAAAP7A/JyuoxyO5D-I/s1600/IMG_2873.JPG)
India Company's 3rd Platoon, under 1Lt Macot, moves up and wreaks destruction. A TOW knocks out an SA-9 Gaskin (top right), while another Bradley fires its 25mm chain gun on an enemy MG in a building (far right). To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/09/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-3-part-ii.html
I'm really hoping to get two more fights in this weekend, but can only promise one, so stay tuned for more Team Whiskey action.
V/R,
Jack
Excellent stuff, again, Jack. 8)
Cheers - Phil.
Thanks, Cap'n. :D :D
V/R,
Jack
Great report!
This Lemmey chap is doing well ;)
"This Lemmey chap is doing well."
It's still early ;D ;D
More to come, may even have something written up by tonight (but probably not).
V/R,
Jack
All,
It's 0700 on 4 August 1986, and Team Whiskey, as part of the beat up 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, is in full retreat. But the Soviet 8th Guards Army, which had taken an operational pause and been counterattacked yesterday by 11th ACR, never halted its reconnaissance assets, and the Soviet recon assets quickly noted 11th ACR's withdrawal from its forward defensive positions in preparation for a speedy withdrawal to its next line of defense. The 8th Guards Army quickly switched over to the attack, flinging its armored formations forward in pursuit of the fleeing NATO forces.
In this, 11th ACR was quite fortunate. The Soviets, in their haste to turn an orderly withdrawal into a route, and without good prior route reconnaissance into unfamiliar terrain, had gaps appear between their advance guard and forward detachments. With aerial reconnaissance and surveillance alerting them to the Soviet armored thrusts, Lt Col Lacy quickly issued orders. Captain Sighe, formerly the the Battalion S-6 (Communications) but now running India Company's 1st Mechanized Infantry Platoon, already had his platoon dug-in in the West German village of Bad Stulz as Team Whiskey's rear guard.
Lt Col Lacy, Team Whiskey's Commanding Officer, quickly dispatched TOWs, machine guns, and the 81mm mortars of Weapons Company, as well as 1st Lt Roberts' 3rd Tank Platoon, which Charlie Company's Commanding Officer is accompanying. Due to current unit locations, Weapons Company will reach Captain Sighe's India Mech Co, 1st Platoon before Lt Roberts' tank platoon.
So, Captain Sighe's 1st Platoon, with Weapons Company MGs, TOWs, and mortars in direct support, is lying in wait, with a tank platoon on the way, as a Soviet armored column comes flying down the road, oblivious (due to the loss of contact with their reconnaissance) that US troops have filtered into the gap and are preparing to ambush them.
I only got one game in this weekend, and once again I've got a busy schedule at work, kids' schoolwork, and baseball, so I'm forced to again release my batrep in two parts.
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BJW1I1pZVro/Vf4Pln1rINI/AAAAAAAAQAY/pY7HzVxNfyE/s1600/IMG_2899.JPG)
The opposing forces, with US on the right and Soviets on the left. As you can see, the Soviets have quite a bit more troops than Team Whiskey. Neither side has air or arty in this engagement. The US force, with one Command Stand (Captain Sighe), four rifle teams, five TOWs, five MGs, a mortar platoon, and five M1 Abrams (the Company Commander, Captain Lemmey, and platoon commander 1st Lt Roberts).
The Soviet force, with two Command Stands (a Commanding Officer and an Executive Officer, in a BTR-50 and BMP-2, respectively), four platoons of tanks, and four platoons of BMPs with infantry.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LKvsmah8Lv8/Vf4P2IY0EwI/AAAAAAAAQAs/AOQ6p9gbJkU/s1600/IMG_2902.JPG)
The table, looking south to north, with the US baseline on left (west) and Soviet on right (east), with the US basically spread around the crossroads and the Soviets entering via the road at top right.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dU6GGicZw_E/Vf4QcQbwXCI/AAAAAAAAQB4/-NufmCs-LgI/s1600/IMG_2912.JPG)
Fight's on! TOWs open up on the Soviet armored column, wreaking havoc. To see the first part of the batrep, please visit the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/09/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-4-part-i.html
Stay with me, the conclusion is coming as soon as possible, and the fight is knock-down, drag-out once again.
V/R,
Jack
Good AAR as usual, Jack !
And a lovely terrain !
Ditto !! :-bd
Cheers - Phil
Superb game Jack!
I ain't dead -yet!
Thanks Ronan and Phil, glad you liked it. Should have the next one posted tomorrow night.
Ian - Court is adjourned, i.e., I think your auto-fill got you.
And regarding Lemmey, for what's it worth: anyone wishing to see Lemmey perish in the next batrep need only make a small donation to Jack's toy soldier collection ;D ;D :d :d
V/R,
Jack
All,
This is the second part of Scenario 4, Team Whiskey's desperate rear-guard action to cover the withdrawal of 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. To refresh your memory, in Turn 1 the Soviets came on the table with a large armored force (Soviet Mech 1 of 6 BMPs and infantry, Soviet Tank 1 of 6 T-72s, Soviet Mech 2 of 6 BMPs and infantry, and Soviet Tank 2 of 6 T-72s) travelling at speed down the road. I small US infantry detachment was dug-in in and around the village of Bad Stulz, and let rip with five TOW launchers, causing heavy casualties. In Turn 2, the Soviets were able to reform, begin pushing forward, causing quite a few casualties among the severely outnumbered US troops. But, just when things looked really dark, a platoon of M1 Abrams came on the board to even the odds a bit.
Back to the action, picking up at the start of Turn 3.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5HGXl0MkM1k/Vf8gYiCy83I/AAAAAAAAQLU/F4Hd7a2CkrQ/s1600/IMG_2987.JPG)
Captain Lemmey leads three Abrams forward on the right, where they exchange fire with BMPs at very close range.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8SO33PF1WNQ/Vf8gew2Kz3I/AAAAAAAAQLk/0YCwGwYf6Ms/s1600/IMG_2988.JPG)
The BMPs take the worst of it.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2Yx5bFkQg0k/Vf8hhDKHI_I/AAAAAAAAQNE/Zg7ZAHI2j84/s1600/IMG_3001.JPG)
Things get crazy in the village: I'm known for my missile shots, but this one is going the wrong way! A BMP launches a Spandrel at an M1. To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/09/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-4-part-ii.html
In the big picture, Team Whiskey re-formed and fell back with the rest of 11th ACR to its next defensive line near the major city of Frankfurt. The 11th ACR (hell, all of NATO probably) has taken hellacious casualties, and the Regiment Commander is in the process of re-organizing his force (consolidating Troops** that have taken too many casualties) when something terrible happens... Stay tuned!
**Am I screwing this up? I've been calling Team Whiskey "4th Troop," though it is battalion strength. But now it's seeming to me that cavalry units that are battalion-level should be Squadrons, not Troops. But I'm also using the term "Team," but I don't mean Company Team, I mean Battalion Team, if there is such a thing. I mean, I know you can cross-attach different companies to make battalion-level teams, I just don't know if they would then be called a 'Team.' I know I've heard the Army use the term "Battalion Task Force," so is that what I should be using? Certainly Team Whiskey sounds better than Battalion Task Force Whiskey. I hate the Army ;)
Anyway, more to come.
V/R,
Jack
Cool report!
And I still ain't dead! :P
The advantage of sitting in the best armoured box on the planet (barring the New Jersey!).
Good stuff Jack, high intensity combat really chews through men and materiel :(
Great stuff again, Jack. :)
Cheers - Phil.
Thanks fellas. The games have been great, and yes, the weapons of WWIII are turning out to be at least as capable as everyone thought they'd be ;) Bodies dropping like flies, hunks of twisted, burning metal littering the West German countryside.
More to follow!
V/R,
Jack
I need to know.....
Do I, (as Captain Phillips) need a sick note to get out of the last battle ?
Cheers - Worried of Wales. ;)
Only if it was signed by your mother-in-law!
Phil - It will help you to relax if you resign yourself to the fact none of us are going to make it out alive :P
Lemmey - His mother-in-law asked that we put him in every battle! ;D
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 24 September 2015, 04:45:02 PM
Lemmey - His mother-in-law asked that we put him in every battle! ;D
She can microwave her own bl**dy meals at lunchtime, then ! :P
Cheers - Phil. ;D (All praise to Wiltshire Farm Foods mini meals. )
Quote from: Techno on 24 September 2015, 07:23:40 PM
She can microwave her own bl**dy meals at lunchtime, then ! :P
Cheers - Phil. ;D (All praise to Wiltshire Farm Foods mini meals. )
Got to be better than MRE.
IanS
MREs aren't so bad, unless you're eating them for 6 months+.
Even Phil wouldn't do that to his poor old Mum-in-law :D
(that was me trying to sound British) ;D
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 25 September 2015, 01:13:34 PM
Even Phil wouldn't do that to his poor old Mum-in-law :D
Bets ? :P ;)
No...'Course I wouldn't.....It's hard enough to encourage her to eat her 'proper' meal from time to time.
Quote from: bigjackmac on 25 September 2015, 01:13:34 PM
(that was me trying to sound British) ;D
Not bad, Buddy. (That was
me trying to sound American. ;))
Cheers - Phil
Phil,
Sorry man, you're accent is way off, I can't tell by the fact you capitalized 'buddy' ;)
V/R,
Jack
;D ;D ;D ;D
Cheers - Phil
All,
And my above post should say "I can see...," not "I can't see..." :(
It's 1600 on 5 August 1986, and Team Whiskey, as part of 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, has successfully fought its rear-guard action to delay the Soviet advance, allowing it breathing space to fall back to its next defensive positions north of Frankfurt. 11th ACR is reforming and reorganizing, having suffered atrociously at the hands of the Soviets, who also know a thing or two about heavy losses. The Soviets have reorganized and pushed ahead, nipping at the heels of the retreating NATO troops.
Team (or, more appropriately, Task Force, but Team sounds cooler) Whiskey is in the process of reorganizing while serving as 11th ACR's reserve, when Soviet artillery begins falling on the NATO front lines. No one gave much attention to it, having become accustomed to the constant pounding of Soviet artillery, but then 11th ACR outposts began going off the air, and finally a mumbled, confused transmission was picked up that mentioned "...NBC-1..." which sent a chill down everyone's spine (an NBC-1 report is the initial alert sent out by a unit experiencing or witnessing a Nuclear, Biological, or Chemical attack; NBC-2 and 3 reports are typically put out by HQ or NBC units, providing further info friendly casualties, hot zone location, and type of agent, and an NBC-4 report is the 'final' report put out by the HQ NBC unit which consists of the survey of the hot zone).
Team Whiskey's CO, Lt Col Lacy, got off the radio, then turned to Captain Phillips, head of India Company. "The transmission that mentioned NBC-1 came from OP-3, but we can't raise them. Here's their grid," pointing at the map, as Lt Ensmith scribbled down the coordinates. "Get your company out there and figure out what the hell is going. Oh, and have have your men go to MOPP-2." (MOPP-2 is wearing chemical boots and overgarment, but not mask and gloves).
Captain Phillips acknowledged the order, then sprinted to his company and briefed them. "Mount up! And go to MOPP-4, Gas! Gas! Gas!"
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vw3d8pBYT1s/VgGvWniiVuI/AAAAAAAAQSI/mMOu2oQeyO8/s1600/IMG_3037.JPG)
The opposing forces: this is a smaller game, and the forces are identical (capability-wise). The big differentiation in the game will be random entry onto the table. Each side will start with their company commander (CC) on the table, but every other unit will have to roll to come on the table, with a 33% chance of success each turn.
For the US, this is Captain Phillips, the India Company commander, with Lt Ensmith's 2nd Platoon and Lt Macot's 3rd Platoon. Both sides have an APC (M-113 for US, BTR-50 for Soviet) carrying their CC's command team, six IFVs( Bradleys for US, BMPs for Soviets), six rifle teams, and an MG team (riding with the PC).
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTIP7A3WXo0/VgGvmkiGWLI/AAAAAAAAQSs/N4AdNs1mDaU/s1600/IMG_3041.JPG)
Overview of table, north is up, US baseline on left (west) and Soviet baseline on right (east). You can see the US M-113/CC at bottom left on the road, and the Soviet BTR-50/CC on the road at top right.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JyOnxIQIAk0/VgGxmqA8GLI/AAAAAAAAQWM/QikeQoqpxRI/s1600/IMG_3071.JPG)
The Soviets move up on the right side of the board, catching Lt Macot's Bradley all by its lonesome in the south. Distracted by the BMP at far right, a Soviet rifle team creeps up and launches an RPG. To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/09/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-5.html
That was a fun, quick, sharp fight, and so I was able to get another fight in. Stand by, I'm working on the batrep!
V/R,
Jack
Unfortunately Jack your efforts have been usurped on the northern flank, as forces of the DDR and 3rd Shock Army burst through West German and Dutch lines to capture Hanover. Just a small CWC game we ran over the weekend. (I had only one of the 6 Soviet Divisions involved.)
There will be more on the CWC forum I have no doubt.
IanS
Great report Jack, bad news from the north though. :-\
Is my medal in the post ?
Great report, Jack.
Can I have my sick note now, before I do something even more daft ! ;)
Cheers - Phil
Ian and Lemmey - Yeah, I heard the news: once again NATO forces have let down Team Whiskey, and we shall be falling back again... I can't wait to hear how my buddy (Andy, AKA "Sediment") did.
Phil - Yeah man, check's in the mail! :P "Can I have my sick note now..." I can't believe you're being such a sissy about this, Phil! What happened to the 'stiff upper lip,' etc? ;D ;D
Hell, I was trying to get you whacked this time, but somehow the bad guys kept missing :-[ ;)
I'm working on the next batrep, it'll be another two-parter though. Phil and Lemmey, be happy you weren't this company commander :o
V/R,
Jack
Jack - for what the rest of NATO has been up to, have a look here - http://coldwarcommanders.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/battle-for-hanover-aar-part-one.html (http://coldwarcommanders.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/battle-for-hanover-aar-part-one.html)
TP,
I'd seen the stuff on TMP/TWW, but hadn't looked at the blog. WOW!!!! Some great photos there, and I'm incredibly jealous. I vow to someday take part in such a grand wargaming event!
V/R,
Jack
Just wish I could swing a weekend extra free a year to go as well :'(
They're off for a dip in the Med next year!
It's 12 months away - so start planning now.
Possible armies - Greek, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, USMC, Russian, Bulgarian, Syrian, Egyptian, Lybian, and may be more.
There must flights from Texas to Manchester, or go the whole roasted hog and hire a busjet, fly into Broughton, we are on an airfield. For SWMBO there is Liverpool and Chester.....
IanS
Gutted the 10th Guards Tank Division got stuck in Southern Bavaria and couldn't make it :(
But I will try again next year.!
Regards
Sean
Sean - you would have got the Aunt Sally job, Hold the Brits, and Chefiy and Chally wall to wall with more guns than used on the Somme....
Andy Canham had a good time with his anyway. My ears are still ringing from the shells, much fun.
IanS
I don't know why I didn't think of simply chartering a plane :-[ :P
I would love to put some USMC together for a landing in the Aegean, that would be cool!
I'm glad you guys had a great time, and it looked amazing. I haven't seen Andy post anything on his blog yet, I suppose I need to go prod him ;)
V/R,
Jack
All,
It's 1230 on 6 August 1986, and Team Whiskey is in flux. The Soviets have sent multiple columns forward, with V Corps having a decidedly hard time in determining which represent the main Soviet effort, largely due to the fact the Soviets have continually pressed forward with very strong (by US standards) reconnaissance elements, degraded US battlefield intelligence (due to casualties, Electronic Warfare by the Soviets, and the NBC environment), and the NATO focus on getting the German populace away from the contaminated areas. To this end, the West German 5th Panzer Division charged and sacrificed itself, buying time for V Corps to rearrange its defenses and continue to evacuate the civilians. Amongst this mess of civilians, friendly, and enemy vehicles and troops, Team Whiskey ended up pushing elements forward into Frankfurt am Main to counter an enemy armored formation moving into the urban area, threatening the evacuation.
Team Whiskey pushes forward Captain Keepers' Kilo Company, still under-strength, but only in existence due to the fact 11th ACR has collapsed 3rd and 4th Squadrons together to form one, retaining the name "Team Whiskey" as more of 4th Squadron's officers were still in the field. Only two of Kilo's three platoons were ready for the fight, and even then they had no vehicles, and were supported by tanks of Lt Sorenson's 4th Tank Platoon, though only a couple tanks were able to make it in time for the fight.
The NATO situation with regards to making up for combat losses, as well as keeping up logistics to support what little is left, has gotten desperate.
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RrtTIvUHEMI/VgMfxQvjHoI/AAAAAAAAQbo/oHTmnrBGGjo/s1600/IMG_3111.JPG)
The opposing forces, with Soviets on the left and US on the right. As usual, a whole lot against not quite enough ;) This is a positional defense game, with the US trying to block the Soviet axis of advance by retaining at least three of five key buildings, and the Soviets trying to take them.
The US force, centered around Kilo Company under Captain Keepers. They have 1st and 2nd Mech Inf platoons, under Lt Ditteaux and a transplant from 3rd Sqdn, 11th ACR: Lt Rownnan. The CO has an M577, while both platoon leaders have M-113s with .50 cal HMGs. Then there are eight rifle teams, two MG teams, two TOW ATGM teams, four 81mm mortar tubes, and an AH-64 Apache. Coming in a bit late will be two M1 Abrams of Lt Sorenson's 4th Tank Platoon.
The Soviets have four command teams with vehicles, 18 BMPs, 18 rifle teams, four T-72s, a ZSU-23/4 air defense vehicle, and three on-call fire missions from direct support 122mm SPGs (off table).
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yqZMzaNUbBM/VgRRx2K6NFI/AAAAAAAAQsU/Nsqc4_UfDXA/s1600/IMG_3114.JPG)
The table, looking south to north, with US forces spread across the center of the table from left to right (west to east), while the Soviets are spread across the top center and top right. The US defender is trying to cover the whole board, while the Soviet commander had put all his troops from north-south road at center to right (east).
The blue circles are the objective buildings, and the winner is the one who controls three of them by game's end. Each US platoon has a command stand, M-113, four rifle teams, an MG team, and a TOW. The CO is at center right, with 1st Platoon, while the US mortars are at bottom right. The Apache is in a low hover at bottom left.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-buMPKRVfY1k/VgMiA4pFztI/AAAAAAAAQfQ/EuX1lBvzz5c/s1600/IMG_3143.JPG)
A US TOW launcher fires a missile at Soviet BMPs. To see how the fight's going, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/09/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-6-part-i.html
Well, that's all for now kids, stay tuned for the stunning conclusion!
V/R,
Jack
Very good, again, Jack ! 8)
Cheers - Phil
Nice report Jack😎
Thanks guys, hoping to have Part II up tonight, though it may have to wait until tomorrow.
V/R,
Jack
Jack......You DO realise.........
That if my character gets splatted.....The chances of you getting your figure 'wants' done, at some stage in the future, will decrease significantly.
(Not that I'm trying to influence the outcome of the campaign, in any way.)
Cheers - Phil
Phil,
In that case, I must inform you that I recently purchased US Marines with M-14s in 15mm, as there were none available in 10mm. B)
So, the only leverage you have on me are the US Marines for Guadalcanal. So, I suggest you hurry, Mr. Techno :!!
Splatted, eh? There are fates worse than death, and I don't make idle threats :P ;D
Take care man, and hopefully I can get the next part up tonight.
V/R,
Jack
:P ;)
Cheers - Phil
All,
Here is the second part and finale of Batrep 6, fighting in the outskirts of Frankfurt-am Main. The quick refresher is this: the US right flank is crumbling, almost entirely gone, and the overall tactical commander, Captain Keepers (of Kilo Company), has gone down fighting. The US left flank, a Mech Infantry Platoon (under Lt Rownnan) and part of a tank platoon (under Lt Sorenson), is fending off attacks on its side, and preparing to counterattack to the right in order to kick the Soviets out of the objective buildings (there are five, and the winner is the one that has three, with the US down to two at this point).
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TuohOn8XESc/VgMlQl9n7iI/AAAAAAAAQlg/eNZpDMiCUK4/s1600/IMG_3193.JPG)
The 2nd Mech Plt TOW opens up on Soviet BMPs near the central crossroads.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nP0sN5b-OEU/VgMmvQXnzVI/AAAAAAAAQoc/dXBiwAqhsTY/s1600/IMG_3218.JPG)
While, from the opposite perspective, BMPs launch Spandrels at US M1 Abrams. To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/10/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-6-part-ii.html
We'll see if you guys are really reading these; if so, there should be plenty of comments ;)
V/R,
Jack
Your dice rolls need improving ? ;)
That was a bit of a one sided battle. (Says someone who doesn't understand the actual mechanics of the game. :-[)
I still enjoyed reading it though. :)
Cheers - Phil
Heck of a scrap! Nice one chap.
Hey, thanks guys.
And Phil, what is it you're having a hard time with? I'd love to see if I can clear it up for you. After all, if you're going to sculpt warriors from pre-history through now to the future, I would expect you need to be familiar with every facet of strategy and tactics for every single period of warfare ;)
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 04 October 2015, 04:09:32 AM
And Phil, I would expect you need to be familiar with every facet of strategy and tactics for every single period of warfare ;)
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
If only ! X_X
Cheers - Phil
Jack you have to remember Phil is WELSH. they only understand bits of bent wood with string attached, which they didn't invent.
IanS ;)
Phil - If you've been sleeping nights, you've had time study up on the martial arts ;)
Ian - I've been looking everywhere and can't find 'Welsh' on a map, so I think he's making that up too ;D ;D
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 05 October 2015, 02:45:51 AM
Ian - I've been looking everywhere and can't find 'Welsh' on a map, so I think he's making that up too ;D ;D
Colonials - sheesh Welsh as comes from Wales......
IanS ;D
Yes. Like the Royal Welch Fusiliers.
Ok - so foreigners cant spell - Vicky being German and naming that rgt.
IanS
"...Welsh as comes from Wales......"
Thanks, Captain! :D
I thought you Brits were known for your sense of humo(u)r? :P
V/R,
Jack
Welching out again Ian? ;)
Quote from: bigjackmac on 05 October 2015, 04:01:51 PM
"...Welsh as comes from Wales......"
I thought you Brits were known for your sense of humo(u)r? :P
What a sense of humor ?? - I never 'ad one ;)
IanS
"...I never 'ad one."
Me either, turns out Pendraken don't sell'em.
Lemmey will be happy to know I'm working on my latest account of the Russians roughing me up again this past weekend...
V/R,
Jack
Uh oh! :-SS :-SS
Yeah, Phil's not gonna like it. :-X
V/R,
Jack
X_X :-SS :-SS :-SS
Cheers - Phil
And just remember Phil, this had nothing to do with our little spat the other day :d :d
V/R,
Jack
Just kidding, neither Phil nor Lemmey feature in this next fight.
But it is ugly, gonna need more replacments...
V/R,
Jack
Next one will be posted this evening, so slip on your reading glasses!
V/R,
Jack
All,
It's 0130 on 7 August 1986, and Team Whiskey is in dire straits. Following the crushing defeat of Kilo Company yesterday in Frankfurt-Am Main, V Corps has been tossing ad-hoc units into the fray to stem the flow of blood as various NATO forces fall back and herd civilian refugees across the last bridge still standing (in the Frankfurt area). As dusk on the 6 Aug 1986 falls, the two sides retract from each other to lick their wounds and reorganize, with NATO stepping up its withdrawals to the south/west bank of the Main river.
However, by approximately 2130 on the 6th, deep reconnaissance noted Soviet armored elements forming up, and by 2300 they had broken through the thin outer line manned by West German Territorials. V Corps, in the midst of evacuating itself, as well as supervising the evacuation of various severely beaten NATO units as well as civilians from a number of European nations, is very disorganized. As a last ditch effort, 11th ACR's commander turned to Lt Col Lacy and begged him for units to stuff into the breach.
Lt Col Lacy immediately dispatched his Executive Officer, Major Kavscott, with Lt Lamanchew's 3rd Mechanized Infantry Platoon of Kilo Company, Captain Sighe's 1st Mechanized Infantry Platoon of India Company, and Lt Dillon's 1st Tank Platoon of Charlie Company. The Brigade also provided a single AH-64 Apache as air support. Lt Col Lacy's last words to his XO were "Major, every second you hold the bridge open is another soldier or civilian saved from the Red horde."
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CR3jfor66AM/Vgc1tBK9EnI/AAAAAAAAQs4/ke1utXh9UhQ/s1600/IMG_3248.JPG)
The opposing forces, with Soviets on the left and US on the right. As usual, the Team Whiskey force is badly outnumbered. But this time the Soviets actually have the services of a MiG-23 armed for ground attack at their disposal.
The US has two Mech Inf platoons, 2 machine gun teams, four TOW missile launchers, a platoon of 81mm mortars, a platoon of M1 Abrams, and an Apache. Due to supply issues, each US rifle team is down to one LAW (vice their normal two). The Soviets, with six mechanized rifle platoons, 3 machine gun teams, a company of T-72s, a ZSU-23/4 anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) vehicle, the MiG-23 (making one bomb run), and six fire missions from two 2S1 122mm self-propelled howitzers.
I've got a bad feeling about this...
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uvwike_9RnU/Vgc15gKrw5I/AAAAAAAAQtA/WbLGozV44rs/s1600/IMG_3251.JPG)
Overview of table, north is up. The US force is occupying a line roughly from the top left corner to the bottom right corner. The Soviets are entering the table at top right, needing to exit off the board at bottom left. Tanks must use the bridge, but BMPs may swim. All of that gray mess is supposed to represent a paved slipway leading down to the river.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QOsKJcx4mec/VhHSqE9xCaI/AAAAAAAAQvk/7ErRXhEBBfo/s1600/IMG_3269.JPG)
Soviet BMPs return fire as TOWs come running in. To see how the fight is going, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/10/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-7-part-i.html
More to come, so stay tuned guys.
V/R,
Jack
I don't suppose you've ever seen 'Dad's Army', Jack.
There was a character in that, called private Fraser.
One of his oft repeated phrases was, "We're doomed."
Cheers - Phil.
Bad day at the office for the grunts? Time to send in the cooks and bottlewashers!
I think they did that two battles ago! It's not going well is it :S Better start practising my Russian...
Phil,
"I don't suppose you've ever seen 'Dad's Army', Jack."
Negative, only heard of it on wargames forums. If I recall correctly, there's actually some folks that created wargaming armies to play it out (I'm guessing Operationa Sealion?).
"One of his oft repeated phrases was, "We're doomed.""
Lately that's been one of my oft repeated phrases ;D ;D :'( :'(
Lemmey,
"Time to send in the cooks and bottlewashers!"
As Toxicpixie mentioned, that was done a few battles ago! And since then, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment has folded four squadrons down into two squadrons, due to losses. Not much gas left in the tank...
TP,
"It's not going well is it?"
Dammit, I'm doing the best I can!!! :P
To me it has a certain late-WWII Eastern Front feel. There's no denying the US has better kit and training, and they're punching well above their weight, but just being eaten alive by the constant swarm of ants.
I've always wondered why the US went with quality over quantity, after the US used Shermans and the Soviets used T-34s to stomp the crap out of the Germans with quantity over quality.
I've got to finish this one up, then I've got three more fights left in this campaign. I can see the finish line! Then I can get back to my smaller-scale fights; these have been exhausting! 8)
V/R,
Jack
The interesting question is whether your chaps are typical of NATO units, or doing much better or badly :S
The way I see it is that Team Whiskey's experiences are representative of what is happening in the war as a whole. Even in the first few fights, which were wins, NATO is taking very heavy casualties, and despite winning, is still giving ground.
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 07 October 2015, 02:03:23 PM
To me it has a certain late-WWII Eastern Front feel. There's no denying the US has better kit and training, and they're punching well above their weight, but just being eaten alive by the constant swarm of ants.
I've always wondered why the US went with quality over quantity, after the US used Shermans and the Soviets used T-34s to stomp the crap out of the Germans with quantity over quality.
Always fun to read your reports Jack. Time to nuke them from orbit? It's the only way to be sure :)
As to quality over quantity, seems to me NATO would actually have had both had it come to a hot war, though it would have taken a while to build up.
Western Allies didn't win their bit of WW2 with Shermans, no matter what the tankies might tell you, but with air-superiority and logistics. The German Tigers and Panthers were over-engineered and under-performing and scrap iron when the fuel ran out. The Shermans just delivered the coup de grace!
The Russians used quantity rather than quality for much of the war because it was all they had at the time and it cost them an estimated 32M casualties, military and civilian!
Kill rate for Tiger versus Sherman actually favours the Sherman - 1.1 Tiger lost to every Sherman! That's far better than Panther which suffered badly at the hands of Allied armour. Reasons are manifold and all work into "total war fighting" but essentially it's as you point out. Shermans work. They have fuel. Crews are trained and well supported.
That all leads essentially to the single overriding factor identified by all the nations analysis - he who fires first wins. Shermans routinely gained tactical position, got an effective first volley, then we're fighting a half beaten enemy whose combat shocked and stuffed already :)
That said tank on tank is a relatively light driver of losses compared to mines, infantry AT and finding the Russians have driven a Corps round the back and cut you off again :D
Ithoriel,
"Western Allies didn't win their bit of WW2 with Shermans, no matter what the tankies might tell you, but with air-superiority and logistics. The German Tigers and Panthers were over-engineered and under-performing and scrap iron when the fuel ran out. The Shermans just delivered the coup de grace!"
I'm with you regarding air and logistics, but the fact remains both the US and Soviets could have gone with a Tiger/Panther equivalent, but decided to go with an easier to manufacture, easier to transport, cheaper, more reliable, and more cost effective tank, knowing they could put between 4 and 10 tanks in the field for every enemy tank. I'm just saying, nobody on the winning side said 'we should go with this technically advanced tank, making fewer of them, and we'll win on the strength of our engineering prowess.' The winners decided to put as many tanks in the field as possible.
And post-war the Soviets decided to stick with that approach, while the Western world decided to make fewer but more capable troops/tanks/aircraft/ships/subs.
From TP: "That said tank on tank is a relatively light driver of losses compared to mines, infantry AT and finding the Russians have driven a Corps round the back and cut you off again."
And mostly the latter, I'd say. Because no matter how good your tanks and crews are, if they don't have fuel and ammo they're giant paperweights. To have a Corps cut you off, you have to have a reliable, plentiful equipment. Not a single battalion's worth of the world's finest tanks ;)
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 07 October 2015, 06:37:35 PM
I'm just saying, nobody on the winning side said 'we should go with this technically advanced tank, making fewer of them, and we'll win on the strength of our engineering prowess.' The winners decided to put as many tanks in the field as possible.
The German monsters - Tiger, Panther and their variants may have incorporated cutting edge technologies but the weren't technically advanced, they were unwieldy, unreliable, difficult to maintain and repair, expensive and largely unsuited for the war the Germans were fighting.
The Germans too planned to put as many tanks in the field as possible, they just didn't do it very well.
The Allies flooded the battlefields with constantly up-gunned, up-armoured, more reliable vehicles and seem to have realised that bigger was not always better.
Post war the US and UK had the industrial capacity to create hi-tech tanks and a political system that disincentivised casualties the Russians not so much.
Ith,
"...incorporated cutting edge technologies but the weren't technically advanced..."
From my point of view, technology isn't necessarily the issue, the idea of quality over quantity in this case means battleship-armored tanks with ridiculously large guns, vice a slew of less armored, less-ridiculously armed guns ;)
"The Germans too planned to put as many tanks in the field as possible, they just didn't do it very well."
Of course the Germans planned to put as many tanks in the field as possible, the number of what was possible was diminished by their choice in tanks. How many more Pz IVs could they have made if not a single Tiger or Panther was produced?
"The Allies flooded the battlefields with constantly up-gunned, up-armoured, more reliable vehicles and seem to have realised that bigger was not always better."
As opposed to putting into production a tank like the Tiger, which would have meant re-tooling industry, was more expensive, was less reliable, was much more difficult to get to the battlefield, etc.... That's what I'm saying, the WWII Allies chose to go with the tank they could make lots of, that had a gun and armor that was 'good enough,' as opposed to the 'top of the line.'
"Post war the US and UK had the industrial capacity to create hi-tech tanks and a political system that disincentivised casualties the Russians not so much."
I agree with the Western view of casualties having an effect on military doctrine. I'm just saying, it's kind of funny that we beat Germany using the 'quantity' method, but banked our civilization on flipping the script (even pulling in former WWII German General officers to teach us how to conduct fight severely outnumbered, a la Manstein's 'backhand blow').
V/R,
Jack
I suspect we aimed to fight the wrong war - we were thinking we'd be the Prussiansin 1866 as Austro-Hungarians in the guise of WarPac threw thselves into our needlegun equivalents. I suspect it would actually have more like the Franco-Prussian as the technically superior armour is decisively out manouvered at the operational level.
Fortunately we never had to find out. And we're definitely not as benighted as Napoleon III's chances!
"Fortunately we never had to find out."
Amen brother!
And just to be clear my quantity vs quality remarks, I'm not one of the "oh, the Russkies would have whooped us up and down the street" guys. I believe the first part of the war would have gone down just like my campaign: NATO being beaten back, heavy casualties, but beating the stuffins out of the WarPac every step of the way. NATO would have won in the air and at sea, and reinforcements (REFORGER) would have arrived.
Then, either nukes get busted out, and everyone loses, or the Soviets fall back to their starting lines and we all pretend like this never happened. I don't believe NATO would have had the political will or military capability to push into Russia (not the Soviet Union, Russia), nor would NATO have wanted to test whether the Soviets would be willing to let NATO roll east without popping nukes.
V/R,
Jack
I don't know if they could have been carried thru effectively but NATOs plans did call for counter attacks deep into Eastern Europe. Hell, the West German Army nearly invaded off their own bat in '68 before the government regained control - four Panzer divisions were on attack-March within the last ten kilometres to crossing the border :S
German will was there, but yeah - not sure how many others wanted to die for the Reich, for a third time in the century!
All,
This is the finale of batrep #7. So, first off, please accept my humble apologies for the delay since my last post; real life has been kicking my butt. In any case, when we last spoke, NATO is trying to hold a bridge over the Main River for as long as possible, and while NATO has taken heavy casualties, they are also exacting an atrocious toll on the advancing Soviets. The fight is really on a knife's edge, where Team Whiskey physically can't stand to take any more casualties lest it cease to exist as a combat unit, whereas if the Soviets suffer any more casualties they won't have the strength to push across the river and hold until the bridgehead can be reinforced. So, this is about as tight as the fight can get.
The previous batrep showed Turns 1 through 3, so we pick up the action with Turn 4, and the Soviets activate first.
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CTAH_YQFfZ0/VhXOPhHDtwI/AAAAAAAARAM/igmHpDMX8Es/s1600/IMG_3392.JPG)
A TOW launches at a T-72, with enemy at all quarters, and close. To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/10/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-7-part-ii.html
So, stay tuned and I'll get fight number 8 posted ASAP, and I'll look to fight out scenario 9 this weekend and 10 next. Hope you guys are having a good time.
V/R,
Jack
Nice to see you back mate, good report.
Blending in with a herd of sheep ? ;)
Great report, Jack ! :)
Cheers - Phil
Hey, thanks guys, I appreciate it! And sorry it took so long, I've been pretty busy.
And Phil - apparently you're not familiar with the good Mr. Dillon, or you wouldn't be surprised by his ability to blend in with the sheep. I'd tell you how, but this is a family-friendly site ;)
V/R,
Jack
All,
Because I love you so much, and you've been so patient, I present a battle report in its entirety, not split into two parts. But the next one will be in two parts. Probably the last one too ;)
It's 1530 on 8 August 1986, and Team Whiskey has taken the better part of the day to recover survivors from the northern bank of the Main River and get reorganized while other elements of V Corps man the ramparts against the Red horde. However, by mid-afternoon the Soviets have broken through in several places. Team Whiskey is once again called upon to stem the bleeding. The Soviets are on the south/west bank of the Main River, in the face of Frankfurt. It quickly becomes evident the Soviets do not intend on entering the city, choosing instead to conduct a double envelopment to by-pass and cut off the Frankfurt en route to the Rhine.
Team Whiskey, with much of its armor remaining (none committed to the fight at the Main River bridge), rushes a powerful force to the suburbs of Frankfurt to blunt the enemy's northern thrust, with Whiskey's commanding officer, Lt Col Lacy, in personal command of the mission, leading both mechanized infantry companies and a platoon of his tanks into the fray. Both infantry companies are understrength (only two platoons each), with a company commander, platoon commander, and one platoon coming over from the recently disbanded (due to casualties/losses) 1st Squadron, 11th ACR. Additionally, the 81mm mortar platoon is out of the fight as they attempt scrounge new mortar tubes and ammo, having fired off all their ammo, spiked their tubes, then swam the Main River to get back to friendly lines in the last fight.
Captain Bronshtein's Kilo Company (with TOW, MG, and sniper attachments) arrived first, setting up in the southern sector, while Captain Phillips' India Company, still mounted in their Bradleys, swings further north, with Lt Travers' 2nd Tank Platoon swinging north further still.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DE1TzwHUf7c/Viqyw2zTfiI/AAAAAAAARaE/ZiXlwsMXvtE/s1600/IMG_3433.JPG)
Overview of the forces, with the usual overwhelming Soviet horde on the left, and the NATO troops on the right, though I must admit Team Whiskey has more than I'm used to, so this is gonna be interesting.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d5FUSy_xlM4/VhqxcwWxdYI/AAAAAAAARGY/iTCLbO0kT4g/s1600/IMG_3437.JPG)
The table, looking west to east from the US baseline. The tan line across the top is actually a rail line atop a raised embankment, and is key to this scenario. The embankment is impassable to vehicles EXCEPT in the northeast east (top left) corner. So the Soviets are kinda screwed in that they have a bunch of armor on hand, but it's all forced to come through a severe bottleneck. Capt Bronshtein and Kil Company are dug-in in and around the big, black-roofed building at center right, just below the treeline. Capt Phillips and India will be coming on the board in Bradleys at bottom center (they and Lt Travers' tank platoon are off table right now), and Lt Travers tank platoon will come on at bottom left.
The Soviet plan is shock and awe, to hit as hard and as fast as possible to try to get their vehicles through that damn bottleneck at to left. The Soviets are running their usual three Mech formations (7 BMPs, 1 command team, and 6 rifle teams each), and they are key to the opening phase. The infantry from two of the mech formations (2 x command team, 12 x rifle team) stand detached, visible at top right on the railroad tracks. The infantry from the third mech formation are dismounted at the bottleneck (top left), and all Soviet vehicles are stacked behind them. The plan is for all the Soviet infantry to move forward to spot and engage US infantry and anti-tank weapons, and for the armored vehicles (top left and top center) to move through the gap like they were shot out of a cannon, then spread out to provide fire support to the infantry and envelop the US positions.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dCg0CdA9otY/Vhq4FXvmW6I/AAAAAAAARSg/pNokLvcWxdE/s1600/IMG_3538.JPG)
US TOWs in action. To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/10/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-8.html
Several heroes identified in this one, I'm sure everyone but Ivan, Rod, and Kyote will like the result ;) On to fight number 9!
V/R,
Jack
Nice one Jack!
Seconded ! 8)
Cheers - Phil
Thanks guys, I appreciate it.
I'm almost ready to post part 1 of batrep 9.
V/R,
Jack
All,
It's 0730 on 9 August 1986, and Team Whiskey is again playing the role of fire brigade. Having moved to counter the northern pincer enveloping Frankfurt (and successfully turning back the Red horde in their sector), Team Whiskey was pulled back to see where the next blow would land. They didn't have to wait long.
Rhein-Main Airbase has been key to NATO evacuation of civilians in the region, serving as both a collection point and evacuation point. But evacuation operations concluded this morning with the Soviets once again striking the flightline, and with Soviet armored formations on the horizon, the decision was made that Rhein-Main had to abandoned. All day NATO troops have been packing up personnel and gear, and destroying what couldn't be taken. But these were lightly-armed rear echelon troops, and so with Soviet troops on the airfield's perimeter, Team Whiskey was flung into a hasty defense. But due to travel issues (military and civilian traffic blocking the way, dealing with Soviet interdiction airstrikes, and getting lost due to no time available for route reconnaissance), only Captain Bronshtein's Kilo Company makes it into position in time, where they link up with two teams from 10th Special Forces Group (10 SFG). And here comes the Soviet armor...
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_qZTMMYRYhY/ViwjSU9TGKI/AAAAAAAARcA/IfIf9qPCDWc/s1600/IMG_3586.JPG)
The opposing forces, with Soviets on the left and NATO on the right. If you're thinking there's quite a disparity between the two, you're correct ;)
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xQHDrQ2ML5E/ViwfoD6o-fI/AAAAAAAARbI/TkYBHmOOl_U/s1600/IMG_3589.JPG)
Overview of the map showing part of the Rein-Main flightline, north is down, east is left. The US force is emplaced in a line roughly running north/south (bottom to top) from the end of the road at the bottom up to the end of the taxi-way at top. The US does not have a lot to work with in terms of forces or terrain.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEFyKv_1ZFg/Vi0SgURWt_I/AAAAAAAAReE/ACfVxqV2fY0/s1600/IMG_3613.JPG)
I love this photo. Certainly my stuff isn't as pretty as most, but I do like the Hind hunting out in front of a wave of BMPs laying smoke to cover their tanks and dismounts, as TOWs fly out seeking steel.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jqpRjfUsuqg/Vi0TEVOANCI/AAAAAAAARfU/xOrceYd8fBo/s1600/IMG_3623.JPG)
The A-10 makes a run. To see how the fight's going, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/10/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-9-part-i.html
Part 2 is coming as quick as I can get it typed up, and the final fight of the campaign is happening this weekend.
V/R,
Jack
Terrific, Jack !
Cheers - Phil
"I do like the Hind hunting out in front of a wave of BMPs laying smoke to cover their tanks and dismounts, as TOWs fly out seeking steel."
Yes, indeed !
:)
Nice one Jack
Thanks guys, and good to see you Ronan!
I'm working on part 2.
V/R,
Jack
Still working on part 2, but I played out all of fight number 10 today.
The war is over, all but the paperwork... :P
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 01 November 2015, 01:29:36 AM
(...)
The war is over, all but the paperwork...
I hope this is not letters to the families..
;)
I don't want to read it, unless Captain Phillips survives.....So I expect spoilers from those who read it before me. ;)
Cheers - Phil
Ronan - Your family should've already received yours, you went down a few fights ago (I think #7?).
Phil - Don't worry you made it through this fight, but only because you weren't in it. I'm about to post the second part of 9, and I played 10 yesterday, working on the write-up (it's 173 photos!). Oh, and if you insist on being squeamish, don't read number 10 :P
Coming right up!
V/R,
Jack
All,
Okay, this is part two of the fight for Rhein-Main Airbase. We left off with a very small force from Team Whiskey (two infantry platoons from Kilo Company, two TOW sections, and a couple SF teams) trying to keep the Soviet armored horde from overrunning the airbase, and things weren't going so well, particularly given the fact the Soviets just shot down our air support...
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wac2_7cu7T0/VjK8lUMhcdI/AAAAAAAARow/-qxXLfMSLeA/s1600/IMG_3679.JPG)
A TOW fires into the flank of the lead enemy mecanixed elements.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7TkzWPUHHHY/VjK9QdTEiXI/AAAAAAAARs8/wSqZmLb2HRk/s1600/IMG_3714.JPG)
Fighting got up close and personal.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P5MM7THA9kI/VjK-BxzNy8I/AAAAAAAARx4/7NUNFZB7umc/s1600/IMG_3755.JPG)
US tank reinforcements came on, but didn't do so well, and then the Soviets pounded the US center with supporting fires. First came the 122mm shells, then came the 57mm rockets. To see the whole write-up, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/11/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-9-part-ii.html
The elements of Team Whiskey were able to put tremendously high casualties on their foes, but not enough to hold the position. The Soviets ran through them, easily taking Rhein-Main airbase, throwing area NATO forces into a headlong retreat for the Theodor-Heuss-Brücke, the last remaining bridge across the Rhine. Team Whiskey is now down to its commanding officer, LtCol Lacy, a single tank platoon under Lt Travers, India Company under Captain Phillips, which is down to two platoons (under Capt Sighe and Lt Ensmith), and a few attachments from Weapons Company. They are streaming towards the bridge, hoping to beat the Soviets there.
V/R,
Jack
Is it me, or is it a bit warm round here? :'( ^#(^ O:-)
:o X_X
Oh dear ! :(
Cheers - Phil
Famous last words of a certain, well-known tank company commander: "My biscuits are burning!!!"
This next batrep is huge, should be done by January 2019...
V/R,
Jack
All,
It's 1530 on 10 August 1986, and Team Whiskey is on the run. Warsaw Pact forces have overrun Rhein-Main Airbase, where Team Whiskey's 3rd Tank Platoon and Kilo Company made a gallant last stand, and now the enemy is in a pursuit/exploitation operation to reach Wiesbaden and its Theodor-Heuss-Brücke, the last bridge standing over the Rhine River. A small Bundeswehr contingent (all that is left of a Panzergrenadier Battalion) is holding the bridge open, though they are prepared to blow it should the enemy encroach. But right now that bridge is the only route of escape for Team Whiskey and the remaining forces of V Corps.
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aS_24JjMVbo/VjVgCD9qS8I/AAAAAAAASKA/FInFZOluYEM/s1600/IMG_3766.JPG)
The opposing forces, with Soviets on the left and NATO on the right.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8jW7IykxFMk/VjVKPHc-HMI/AAAAAAAAR0o/J6mZqk3Khmc/s1600/IMG_3769.JPG)
The map, looking west to east (north is left), with the Soviets entering from left and top left, and the NATO forces trying to withdraw via the bridge at bottom right. The Bundeswehr bridge force is at center right near the crossroads, while Col Lacy, Lt Ensmith's Mech Plt, and Lt Travers' tanks are entering the table via the road at top right, while Capt Phillips leads Capt Sighe's Mech Plt and the Wpns Co attachments entering the table via the road at bottom center.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tCdTstEhd-I/VjVLpYWKl_I/AAAAAAAAR9Y/djcVT6RUjqM/s1600/IMG_3842.JPG)
Bradleys of Lt Ensmith's 1st Platoon launch TOWs into the flank of advancing Soviet armor. To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/11/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-10-finale.html
Well, that's it folks! It's been a tremendous amount of fun; a lot of work, but definitely a labor of love, and I've very happy to have been able to be a part of the playtesting for this new scenario book. Ben Lacy of Britton Publishers has just released the book of ten scenarios, titled "Fulda Gap," available here: http://brittonpublishers.com/Skirmish_Scenarios.htmlf
Sorry to seem so 'commercial,' but if you've followed any of my batrep postings you'll know I've been quite a fan of Britton Publishers' scenario books for several years now, and I own about 15 of them. They've been a great resource for me, and I so I highly recommend them.
I hope you guys have enjoyed this as much as I have. I always am very appreciative of comments (here on the blog and/or on the various forums I post), and I'd really like to hear any thoughts on the campaign as a whole, now that it's finished.
I've got lots of new ideas/old ideas that need to be finished, so stay tuned, you know I'll be starting another campaign soon.
V/R,
Jack
(http://www.at7addak.com/data/news/2013/11/12/Shanklish/tablet/title-goes-here-GCNHT.jpg)
Splendid stuff!
Sort of...
Not reading it, due to being mostly dead!
Pah ! I didn't even make it to the bridge. :(
Hey, Ho. Wouldn't have helped if I had. (The cheats ! ;))
Great report, Jack.
Cheers - Phil
Thanks TP, and you two stop your whining!!!
Lemmey, stop acting like you're the only one, and Phil, you made it further than most!
The campaign was a whole lot of fun, and I'm glad there were some folks here that enjoyed it.
Now I've got to figure out what to do next...
V/R,
Jack
That battlereport is positively badass :D
Man what a read! My boss could have come in, fired me and I wouldn't even have noticed!
Excellent stuff...
Cheers,
Rob
Holy crap, where have you two been!!??
"badass," and willing to be fired just to read one of my batreps!!?? You guys are going to give me a complex! :-[ :-[ :P
I really appreciate the compliments, it feels good to know folks are out there enjoying these batreps, and it keeps me going sometimes when I don't feel like sitting down to upload and format pics, type from hastily-scrawled notes, update force rosters, etc...
Thanks again guys.
V/R,
Jack
For as far as I can remember I was at work :D
I mean, I get my job done, I don't bother any colleagues and I'm a happy co-worker! No reason for the boss to complain I'd say... if only those below me would do the same! ;)
Anyhow; keep up the good work; it's much appreciated!!!
Cheers,
Rob
And you tell your boss that will never complain about you reading my batreps at work! :D ;D :P
Thanks man, take care!
V/R,
Jack