The following is an After Action Report from a Modern Spearhead game. A ground scale of 1" to 125m with the game played on a table measuring 1.8m x 1.2m.

In the Russian centre the dominant feature was a two sector town (A), This was around 1500m from the Russian base line. Extending towards the British baseline were a series of woods and fields that broke visibility. Typically line of site was around 600m except on occasion where ranges extended out to 1500m. To the right two ridges ran almost across the battlefield from one side to the other, one long ridge continued by the other. They effectively split the centre of the battlefield from the extreme right flank. A stream meandered through both the Russian and British sectors. Two spot heights, one on each ridge, dominated the two bridges across the stream and the associated road network. These spot heights were thus objectives (B & C), the former being closest to the Russian table edge. On the Russian left flank a river curved around the table, this river could only be crossed at bridges or by amphibious vehicles. The river flowed on to the table from the extreme left flank before turning 90 degrees and flowing west to the British table edge. There were two bridges, one about 1200m from the Russian start line (D), which was defined as an objective, and one on the right some 1000m from the British base line. The later bridge directly connected to a two sector town (E). This town was not an objective but was a key feature in the battle. This town was dominated by the last objective which was a large hill (F). This hill also dominated the fields west of the centre town (A).

The British battle group was comprised of two battalion sized formations. One was a tank regiment composed of Chieftain Vs and the second a mechanised battalion transported in FV432s. Both battalions were supported by recon and ATGW teams. Off-table artillery was not available to the British. The battle group was therefore reliant on the integral 81mm mortars. However, an Air Ground Controller (AGC) was allocated to the battle group to direct limited air support provided by Harriers. The British commander, cross attached some of his fighting companies to create a tank heavy battalion and an infantry heavy battle group.

The Russians commanders, of which their were two, had available a BMP motor rifle regiment. The BMPs were a mix of BMP-1s and BMP-2s and the tank battalion comprised T-64B tanks. To supplement the 120mm mortars of the three BMP battalions were towed 122mm artillery deployed off table. The division attack helicopter squadron of Hind helicopters was also available as was a random air strike from Su-7 Fitters.

The Battle:

The British plan was straight forward. With two objectives on the British side of the table one battalion was directed to seize each. With a superior ability to react and change orders the British commander determined to use these battalions as on-table reserves and the secured objectives as pivot points in the ensuing battle. His plan would therefore be re-evaluated as the battle progressed.

Therefore, the tank heavy battle group cautiously advanced to secure the main hill (F) on the British right flank. The infantry company of this battalion would secure the town (E) on the banks of the river. On the British left flank the infantry heavy battalion would move cautiously forward advancing along one of the long ridges to secure the other objective near to the British start line (C). 

Soviet BRDM-3s with Spandrel of the Regimental AT company deployed for action.

Due to the Russian inability to change orders freely, especially while subjected to British electronic warfare including radio jamming,  exhaustive planning was undertaken by the Soviet staff. The resulting plan can be summarised as follows. At 0900 the advance would begin. On the Russian right flank one reinforced BMP battalion would advance and secure two objectives before deploying to defend them. The left most BMP company of the battalion would secure the town (A) in the centre. The woods to the right of this would be held by another BMP company. Finally the long ridge in the right (B) would be secured by the remaining BMP company (BMP-2). In support of this company was the regiment's ATGW company (BRDM-3 Spandrel). The regimental recon company would probe forward of this feature.

On the Russian left flank the second BMP battalion would advance rapidly forward and cross the river at the first bridge (D). The battalion was then to continue forward and eventually turn 90 degrees and cross the river again and move into the town (E), if possible. 

This was a flanking move and designed to hit the British defences, if any, in the flank. The combination of the river and town created a blind spot as the buildings here ran down to the river edge and thus limited the abilities of any troops to fire from the town. The regimental HQ was attached to this battalion to increase it's abilities to change orders. Such changes could include crossing the river using the BMP's inherent amphibious abilities.

To support this move, Hind gunships were to fly on to the battlefield and take up positions around 1040 as part of pre-planned mission. Their target area was over the main hill (F) that dominated the town (E) and much of the battlefield. It was presumed that this feature would likely be the location of much British armour. Any armour here need to be neutralised as this dominated the area that the remaining BMP battalion and tank battalion would cross. Initially, these last two battalions were held off table in reserve. Once committed they would drive directly on the hill (F) and town (E) from the front. It was hoped that British forces in this sector would be overwhelmed by Soviet ground troops, some three battalions, and helicopters.

At 0900 both British and Soviet troops began moving forward and by 1020 British forces had secured the main height and nearby town (F & E).

Records captured after the battle indicate that the British commander was perplexed that initial Soviet advances were devoid of armoured support. On the Soviet left flank for example the BMP battalion, devoid of tank support, was advancing rapidly and having secured the first crossing of the river (D) pushed forward. The use of tanks here would have prevented the crossing of the river except by bridges.

Likewise, Soviet forces quickly secured the central town (A) and high ground (B) on the right flank. Around 1020 however British recon and an advanced Chieftain platoon were located on the right flank. In a short fire fight an advanced Soviet recon platoon (BMP-R) was destroyed by fire from British Scimitars. However, in turn one Scimitar platoon and an advanced Chieftain platoon were destroyed by fire from BMP-2s and Spandrel ATGW deployed on high ground and firing at long range. This sector of the battlefield settled down with neither the British or Russians moving from defensive positions. At one stage the British mortars opened fire in support of the Scimitars. However, it was quickly realised that their firing would soon be detected by Russian counter-battery artillery observers so this fire was ceased.

The actions so far were also sufficient to allow the Russian reserves to be committed and at 1040 orders the third BMP battalion were ordered to push forward in the left centre. They were to be followed 20 minutes later by the tank battalion. The delay was required due to a bottle neck formed by woods that compressed both battalions routes of advance. Both formations were to advance on the hill (F) once free of the bottle neck. This hill, as described earlier, dominated much of the battlefield. Simultaneously as the BMPs lurched forward to cover the 3000m to the objective Hind gunships appeared and began to engage British armour deployed on the forward slopes of the hill (F). As the Hinds engaged forward elements the British battlegroup commander realised his mistake. He was already critically short of anti-aircraft weapons.

Hind Mi-24 attack helicopters advance to engage British Chieftains.

In fact the only weapons were the ineffective Blowpipes and only one platoon had been allocated to the entire British battle group of two battalions. While sensibly allocated to the tank heavy battalion it was now found that its arc of fire was masked by a spot height. In much frustration the Blowpipe team was forced to relocate.

By this stage British Chieftains were under a barrage of fire from the Hinds. Fortunately for the Chieftain crews the fire was less effective than the Soviets had hoped. However, after several turns no less than three platoons of Chieftains were destroyed as well as the blowpipe team which finally was redeployed.

Much of the other fighting was confused and records are lacking for the action. However, some of the highlights included well executed attack runs by Harriers on the 2nd BMP battalion. This battalion had advance to within 200m of the town on the British right flank (E). While some BMPs took up firing positions to engage British Chieftains, at ranges of 1500m, others prepared to cross the river. Here, a reserve company of Chieftains were facing the wrong way and risked being engaged on the flank. Things were at this stage looking bleak for the British. A soviet flanking move was causing significant issues, two further battalions were moving at speed towards their main position and that was being attacked by helicopter gunships!

However, the British AGC at this stage requested air support and sortie of grey and green camouflaged Harriers peeled off and dived in for a rocket attack. Evading shoulder launched SA-7 surface to air missiles the Harriers decimated an entire BMP company (some ten vehicles represented by two models) from the 2nd BMP battalion. These were the same BMPs were preparing to fire at the Chieftains! A cruel twist of fate. Some twenty minutes later another sortie Harriers came in, this time as additional BMPs prepared to fire. However, the second sortie of Harriers had to evade both the fire from the BMP battalions SA-7 but also the regiment's long range SA-9 Gaskins which had finally deployed to firing positions. A barrage of missiles were released and having dodged the missiles the Harriers completed their attack run. As they rose from the attack run and turned to their right for the return home another company of BMPs burned in the valley below.

Around noon the third BMP battalion and Soviet tank battalions had advanced to within 1000m of their main objective, the dominating hill on the left centre (F). Here they were engaged in a fire fight with the remaining Chieftains and an FV438 platoon of the tank heavy British battalion. The Hinds, having since broken off their attack, were no where to be seen. Now the ground elements would decide the issue.

However, due to time restraints at this point we had to call a halt to the engagement. Just as Soviet success was assured, perhaps...

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