CENTAG, August 1985 : BC Campaign Game 1

Started my campaign Saturday and got two games in!  First some background.

I will be following the fictional 2nd Brigade, 6th Armored Division.  The division forms part of the US V Corps, and is in the process of completing implementation of the Division '86 reorganization. All subordinate units have reorganized to the new H series MTOE, but only 2 of the 4 infantry battalions have upgraded from M-113 to M-2 Bradley's.

The Warsaw Pact has launched a short notice assault across the Inter-German border, after a few weeks of escalating tensions for the stated purpose of liberating the FRG from fascism.  The Soviets have announced that they will not use chemical or nuclear weapons and they intend to stop at the Rhine River.

At the outbreak of hostilities, the division's front is covered by elements of the Corps Armored Cavalry Regiment.

2nd Brigade consists of:

• 1/44 Armor
• 3/44 Armor
• 2/93 Infantry (Mech)
• 1/198 Artillery (direct support from DIVARTY)

2/93 is equipped with M-113, the two armor battalions with M-1's (105mm)

As the Brigade scrambles to roll out of their motor pools, the ACR if engaging lead elements of the 205th Motor Rifle Division...

Game 1: Screening Mission

3/44 Armor has been given the mission to rush to meet the Soviet spearhead and act as a screening force to give time for the rest of the Brigade to form up.  They are to perform a mobile defense / delay in sector.  They have two flights of AH-1 Cobras from the division Aviation Brigade as well as some close air support and 1/198 FA firing in direct support. (Click photos to enlarge)

Here we see 3/44 Armor forming up.

The lead elements of the 205th Motor Rifle Division have rushed passed the Armored Cavalry units on the border and are moving towards 3/44 Armor's position.  Their orders are to identify enemy position, and bypass resistance encountered.  f they are unable to bypass, they will hold in place and wait for the rest of the lead Motor Rifle Regiment to arrive and perform a regimental attack.

The Soviet forces consist of the Division Forward Detachment (at top of photo) consisting of the Division recon battalion, 1 tank company, and 1 Motor Rifle Company (BMP), reinforced with a platoon of ZSU-23-4.  Immediately behind the lead battalion of the motor rifle regiment.  They are reinforced by a battalion of 122mm guns in direct support, Front Aviation close sir support, and Radio Electronic Combat support (jammers.)

Lead elements forming up for the attack.

Here we have the initial dispositions.

And the Soviets rolled a "Scurry" on their first turn.

The 3/44 calls in an airstrike (A-10 is not painted yet!) seriously disrupting the MRB.

Meanwhile the division forward detachment presses on, and drives one M-1 Company out of it's position.

Accurate Fire from the M-1's destroy the lead company.

And after some exchange of fire, the Cobras swoop in and destroy the rest of the division forward detachment.

At this point the Division Forward detachment was in shambles and the lead MRB was significantly disrupted and disorgamized.  The Regimental commander radioed forward for the battalion to reorganize in place while the rest of the regiment moved up in order to launch an attack from the march.

Meanwhile the rest of 2nd Brigade was pulling into position, 3/44 had accomplished its mission.

This game took 30 minutes, which left me time to play the next game, which I will post soon.

In the photos, you can see the asset cards I made with MS Word, printed, and mounted on floor tiles.

Next time, the full Motor Rifle Regiment assault on the Brigade's sector!