SITUATION:
We are redeploying further east across the Alster river. A British task force-hastily assembled-is trying to seize the bridge near Alsterdorf in order to prevent our crossing there and force us to move further south.
MISSION:
The mission of 2nd Battalion, 13th MRR is to hold the bridge near Alsterdorf and deny the British the opportunity to drive us south. We are to be in position NLT 0630hrs local 29 AUG85
EXECUTION:
The 2 infantry companies(-) will dismount their foot elements and dig in south of the bridge. I am assigning a small infantry force ( 2 RPG teams and 4 Infantry teams to move forward with the 2 MBP-2 companies at first opportunity to create a cordon around the bridge. I will be located with this dismounted infantry element. The tanks will act as a mobile reserve to counter any British armor we may encounter. Artillery FO will be with the 2 BMP-2 companies, as will the storms.
COMMAND AND SIGNAL:
Current CEOI is in effect. Green star clusters will signal enemy armor spotted. Red star cluster signals withdrawal to secondary defensive position-see map overlay.
SERVICE AND SUPPORT:
We will have priority of fire from the 1st battery 121st Art. Regiment (Acacia) with Krasnopol projectiles. In addition, Division has assigned 2 Hinds to help support our mission.
65 points
Quick Mission-Seize the Bridge
British again roll as the attacker.
All British equipment will be proxy US equipment
British:
Harriers fail to show. Tanks and Infantry, mounted in FV432s begin to move ( this time he brought 2 platoons worth) The dismounted Milan teams (3) and Spartans (2) fire at BMP-2s on the bridge KIA 1 and bail 2. Artillery KIAs a T-72.
Soviet:
The BMP-2 company (now with 3 ) passes moral, both remount and both BMP-2 companies move at full speed toward the milan teams on the hill. The Storms move up as well. The T-72s move out into more open country to counter the expected Chieftain move.
British:
I think my move with the BMP-2s changed his plans because 1 FV432 platoon now heads toward the bridge while the other keeps moving toward the ford to the east. Mike moves his CO and Chieftain troop to engage the T-72s (he has 3 shots and misses them all) His milan teams are in a bad spot on TOP of the hill and cant see the BMP-2s at the bottom. The Spartans don't want to wait for the BMP-2s to close the range so they move back off the hill. Atry ranges in and KIAs another 1 T-72 and bails 1. His Harriers have arrived (4) 2 get shot down-but this time he has trouble ranging in-only doing so on his 3rd attempt. The planes only bail 1 T-72
Soviet:
The T-72 passes morale, 1 remounts. The T-72s KIA a FV432-killing the infantry team as well. The BMP-2s have moved to the hill and 1st company (3) fire at the dug in infantry (pinning them and killing 1 team) Arty fires at the milan team to no effect.
British:
No Harriers this turn.
The dismounted British infantry from the FV432 platoon (3) moves up, the milan team on the hill is unpinned-the 3 teams decide to stay and fire, killing 3 BMP-2s and eliminating a Soviet unit. The British CO pulls back into cover while the Chieftain troop KIAs another 2 T-72s and bailing 1. The dismounted British infantry fires at the Soviet infantry in cover near the bridge. Artillery is ineffective.
Soviet:
The T-72 passes morale.. The remounted T-72 KIAs a Chieftain. The storm bails another Chieftain (had a flank shot!!) A soviet dismounted infantry team and the BMP-2s (4 of 2nd company) fire at the milan teams-killing another team-the dismounted team rushes forward to assault and get cut to pieces. Arty hits the dismounted British infantry and eliminates 2 teams.
British:
Again no Harriers.
Chieftains fail morale. The CO bails another T-72. The infantry in FV432 is on the south side of the river and dismounts and heads for the town. 2 remaining milan teams fire at the BMP-2 company bailing 1. The dismounted British infantry remaining on the north side of the river fire at the 2 Soviet teams in the underbrush and pins them. Arty is ineffective against the BMP-2s on the hill. The British infantry assault the 2 Soviet teams-they lose 1 team while assaulting but eliminate the 2 Soviet teams and take their positions-they are only 6 inches from the bridge.
Soviet:
The last T-72 passes morale-fires at the British CO-he makes his armor save-the storm fires at the CO and misses. BMP-2 fire at the milan teams-no effect. Arty hits and KIAs yet another dismounted infantry team near the bridge. The BMP-2s assault and overrun the last 2 milan teams.
British:
The Harriers arrive!!!! The COs chieftain hits and bails a storm. The FVs north of the bridge KIA a soviet infantry team. The last 2 British infantry teams fire at a lone infantry team on the bridge-no effect. Spartans have 2 shots at the BMP-2s on the hill-they both miss. A carl gustav fire at the F.O. BMP-1 and also misses. Our SA8s shoot down another Harrier and it fires and hits the SA8s bailing both.
Soviet:
The T-72 fires at the British infantry on the south side of the river and KIAs 1 team. The lone soviet team on the bridge KIAs a British team. BMP-2s KIA 1 FV and bail 2 more. Arty eliminates the last British team on the north side of the bridge. Hinds are here-and 1 gets shot down by the Rapiers. The Hind shoots at the British infantry and do nothing.
British:
He rolls for the FVs, they pass morale but only 1 remounts-it KIAs another infantry team. And at this point Mike realizes that he cant win. His last team near the bridge was killed and his other platoon is at least 2 to 3 turns away. The game is over.
Mike and I looked at the table. He said he was surprised by my aggressive move with the 2 BMP-2 companies and the dismounts from one. He was expecting me to sit and await his attack. That's why he put his anti-armor assets on the hill and had originally planned to cross both infantry platoons further east at the ford. He had higher hopes for his Harriers as well. They did so much damage last game he thought they would do it again. He wants to play as the Germans again so I think I am done fighting the British for a while. Good thing too-their infantry is top notch and the Harriers ARE the best CAS option in the game.
Great report! Sad result…
I don’t have the hails, but we did a battle where we both had off board artillery and I did use them. The biggest problem is the low skill numbers even with an assigned observer.
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I have found the Hail to work best as Soviet artillery but I don’t have Acacias 2S3.
And by now both sides are running out of their top gear, which will make our reinforcements more powerful.
No problem, Red Alert, NATO is running out of Leo IIs and Abrams, and BMP1s can do for all the rest reliably.
Great report, Dave
Congratulations on a great victory comrade. Great report. Thanks for posting.
Fair-with the benefits it gave me-it eliminated 2 teams when I needed it most
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Out of interest, how did the Acacia work out?
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The BMP-2 are a battle winner, but usually sustain heavy losses,
I wonder how many would really be left by now?
Thanks for the win and an excellent report!
Well-detailed, active report! With a good outcome…