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The following is an After Action Report from a Modern Spearhead game. The game played on a table measuring 1.8m x 1.2m and used the alternate ground scale of 1" to 125m. Background: The game was an attack defence scenario generated by the Modern Spearhead Scenario Generation System. The game was set in Cold War Europe during 1982. |
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For the game the British brigade sized battle group was composed of two mixed battalions each
comprised of Chieftains and infantry transported in FV432s. One battalion was infantry heavy with only one Chieftain squadron
while the other
was armour heavy, this second battalion was further supported by additional support
units including FV438s. This second battalion was to be held off table in reserve. The battle group was further reinforced by a British territorial infantry battalion which had deployed from trucks
prior to the expected action. Other British support troops available included a small Lynx helicopter flight, a Harrier sortie and two off-table artillery battalions. The later comprising one battalion of Abbots and one battalion of M109A1s. Air defence was limited to two stands of on-table Blowpipes and a single off-table Rapier stand. The total amounting to 650 points along with a 60 point reinforcement. The
reinforcement option is defined further in the Scenario
Generation System
The Soviet commander's force was based on a BMP Regiment drawn from a
Motor Rifle Division. This consisted of the normal three BMP battalions.
This was in turn supported by a T-64 tank battalion at full strength. In addition the regimental reconnaissance company and ATGW company were available as
were the regiments own D-30 122mm artillery battalion.
Additional artillery support included a further D-30 battalion from division.
Division also provided a BM-21 battalion rocket launcher battalion.
Finally, division headquarters had allocated additional support in the form of a Hind attack helicopter squadron and assured the
regimental commander that tactical air support would be available,
probably in the form of SU-7s. Finally, a divisional reserve was available comprising a battalion of infantry of which more
will be mentioned later. The amounted to an 850 points base list reinforced by an Option B 120 point reinforcement.
The Battle:
As Soviet forces continue to push across Germany, over running NATO forces in many areas, the 21st Motor Rifle Division prepares to continue
the advance which had paused during the preceeding evening. Near the small town of Grossberden British radio chatter fills the air...
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shelldrake one this is niner seven request fire mission over shelldrake one ... go ahead over niner seven.. fire mission .. mechanised infantry... grid niner four seven six three over shot over shot out niner seven.. fire for effect over shelldrake one.. rounds on their way, out xray, this is niner seven.. sitrep over xray.. send your sitrep over niner seven, red forces probing defensive perimeter, engaged by three zero bravo, fire mission from shelldrake one, target destroyed, over xray.. roger that.. send enemy strength over niner seven .. company strength over xray ...roger...out three zero, this is niner seven.... send sitrep over three zero.. targets destroyed, request casevac figures three over niner seven roger.. on their way.. sit tight son, ironsides will romeo victor with you at zero two fifteen hours.. out |
The British were thin on the ground, but that was nothing new. Hardee Force,
which this assortment was now known as, was a melting pot of units assembled hastily to stop the Soviet advance in 1st Armoured
Division's sector. Unfortunately, much of 12th Armoured Brigade, which
consituted a significant portion of Hardee Force, was well below strength. Three days of fighting had seen to that.
While Hardee Force consisted of three battalions, two were battalions in name
only, despite the work of mechanics to keep vehicles operational.
These two battalions were mechanised with a mix of armour and mechanised infantry. The final battalion, and at effective strength, was the
2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, a territorial unit recently shipped to Europe. Hardee
Force was deployed to the rear of the battle area as follows.
One mechanised battalion was deployed to hold the British right and deployed around the small town Grossberden and associated high ground.
This battalion was infantry heavy. The 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment held a series of woods in the centre.
Some of the Yorkshire Regiment had managed to dig in. The reserve battalion,
which was tank heavy, was held in reserve on the British left flank. The British commander expected, and planned for, a sweeping attack from the Soviet right around via the woods into the British left. The reserve
British battalion, with the bulk of the armour, would attack the flank of this expected attack.
After all the Soviets would avoid a head on attack at all costs. Hardee
Force was deployed for battle.
The Soviet commander knew full well that speed was essential. But an
advance at full speed would end in disaster, of that he was sure. He
therefore opted for a probing
attack. Having reviewed his initial intelligence information he determined that he would push forward two of his battalions to seize ground before committing his reserves. To this end two
BMP battalions were ordered forward to probe the
British defences, one on each flank. The reserves, who would be held in the centre,
would then be allocated to either flank as circumstances required.
Meanwhile, the divisional reconnaissance battalion was to conduct a deep turning
movement on the Soviet extreme left flank. Of his six battalions three would remain,
initially, in reserve.
0800-0900: At 0800 the Soviet advance began. The 1st BMP Battalion advanced on the
extreme Russian right, while the 2nd BMP Battalion advanced on the
left.
The 1st BMP Battalion commander's objective was clear, though concerning. His battalion was to move forward and secured a hill which dominated the valley on the British left. Here it would deploy into defensive positions with BMPs and BRDM-3s, equipped with long range Spandrel ATGWs, covering the valley. This covered the route that the reserve British battalion would likely use if it come on. If no enemy were encountered the battalion would move into the valley, but for now the Russian commander sensed a trap. The attack was to go in silent and no pre-planned fire would be available. Worse, no artillery, other than the battalions own 120mm mortars would support it. However, by 0900 the battalion had achieved it's objective and deployed. Opposite him, but as yet unseen, was the British armoured heavy battalion.
The 2nd BMP battalion, along with the Regimental HQ advanced on the Soviet left flank. As planned Soviet D-30s conducted pre-planned fire on likely enemy positions. Unlike 1st Battalion, this advance was not to be silent. As 122mm artillery rained down on suspected British positions the battalion continued to advance without incident. By 0900 elements of the battalion had seized the first objective and like 1st BMP Battalion deployed to firing positions. From the high ground the regimental command post looked out across a small valley to a further ridge line and the small town of Grossberden in the distance. As planned the regimental BMP-R and BRDM-2 reconnaissance platoons now advanced down in to forward positions in the valley floor. Ahead lay another ridge and the British mechanised battalion's defence area.
| A
view of the battlefield showing the Soviet left flank around 0900.
In the left forground can be seen the first ridge recently secured
by the 2nd BMP battalion.
British positions can be seen on the second ridge line and the small spot height in the centre. The town of Grossberden is visible in the top centre. The 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment are deployed in the two woods top right. Some British stands, are hidden from view. Their positions marked on the British players map. |
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In the distance, beyond the next ridge, lay the expected arrival point of the divisional reconnaissance battalion.
As described earlier this unit had been ordered to conduct a deep flank march
with arrival planned for around 1000 hours. All in the regimental command BMP
now wondered if the battalion would indeed arrive, or if they would even
see the other side of the ridge themselves.
Only time would tell.
0900-0920: Like clockwork Hind attack helicopters now moved into the
battle area. Advancing over the 2nd BMP Battalion they swept across the valley. As they approached their way point, an area of fields in this small valley, they
located Chieftain tanks in hidden positions. These platoons had been
well hidden and even the
regimental reconnaissance had failed to locate them. As the Hinds,
travelling in two groups, prepared to engage the Chieftains they were themselves fired upon.
A tell-tale flash erupted from the hill opposite as the first of several
missiles belched skyward from British Blowpipes. One group of Hinds was forced back from accurate fire though evading the missiles in the process.
A Blowpipe team allocated to the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment was
less successful. Unaware they were being fired on the second group of Hinds engaged and suppressed a group of Chieftain now visible in the fields below.
Soon several Chieftains would be burning in the fields.
0920-1000: As planned further Soviet artillery fire began to fall on likely British positions on the
Soviet left flank. The fire was this time significant and comprised no less than three artillery battalions. One
battalion now firing was the BM-21 rocket launcher battalion which
had remained silent to this point. Additional fire came from the two D-30
battalions. The BM-21s flattened an area of enclosed fields in front of the Hinds, where
the British Chieftains were, by chance, located. Simultaneously,
some 36 122mm guns plastered the second ridge line. British infantry
headquarters and air defence sections were all subjected to
an intense barrage.
The regimental reconnaissance company, consisting of BRDM-2s and BMP-Rs, which as described earlier had been pushed
forward into the valley, now itself came under fire. Initially by light British
81mm mortars deployed behind Grossberden. This was soon supplemented by direct fire by British Chieftain tanks and Milan teams. The valley was indeed hot!
Unbelievably the fire was ineffective and the reconnaissance company continued to push
forward uncovering more British units in the process.
Meanwhile, the Hind helicopters, having finally destroyed the Chieftains in the fields now claimed another group of Chieftains on the ridge. With casualties rising the remaining Chieftains were pulled back. The British commander was determined to retain as much of the battalion as possible. Eventually, he reasoned the attack helicopters belching fire would move off. However, with the Chieftains retiring the 2nd BMP Battalion now slowly pushed forward fiing as the went now having clearly identified enemy positions on the ridge opposite.
| Additional Soviet battalions were now ordered forward from reserve.
First was the
regiment's T-64 tank battalion, a full strength battalion of some 40
T-64Bs. The battalions task was to breakthrough in support of the 2nd BMP battalion
about to be heavily engaged. The tanks were was reinforced by the Regiment's anti-aircraft
company in an effort to protect it from enemy air elements.
Simultaneously the 3rd BMP Battalion was also ordered forward. It was to take up a position in the centre of the battlefield. Here it would protect the advancing tanks which were now key to the second stage of the regiment's attack. |
The 2nd BMP Battalion continues the advance. Here Hind gunships cover the advancing BMPs. In the top left T-64 tanks can be seen advancing in support. |
1000-1040: As Soviet reserves moved forward the British forces around Grossberden
were clearly under pressure. The battalion command post was a hive of
activity located as it was only 200 metres from advancing Soviet forces! Contact was made with
division.
Air support was needed, and needed now, if the situation was to be recovered.
Coming in low and fast the grey and green Harriers were unmistakable. Their target was the BMP battalion in the
valley and directly ahead of the battalion HQ. The manpacked SA-14s, allocated to the 2nd BMP battalion fired. However, the Harriers stayed on target. With only seconds before they released rockets the Gaskin from the regimental
anti-aircraft company filled the sky with missiles. Fortunately for the BMPs, the Harrier flight was forced to break off under this stream of missiles. Disaster for the assaulting Russians was averted, at least temporarily.
With the Hinds soon having to retire for rearming, and with at least some of the British blowpipes finally destroyed, a gap existed in the fragile British air defences. The
Soviet Divisional HQ, deemed it timely to reinforce the attack. Order were issued for the use of the final reserve.
1040-1100: The valley now filled with the throb of transport helicopters as Mi-8s lumbered forward.
Carried within these large transports helicopters, that now darkened the
valley, was an air assault infantry battalion from
army reserve. Clutching their AK-47s the elite troops of the battalion knew their task was critical. Their landing zone was the rear of the British battalion position, behind Grossberden. Here they could move against the town after first neutralising a British mortar company deployed nearby. Screened by the Hinds the Mi-8s crossed the battlefield. Friend and foe looked up in awe as the giant helicopters swept
relentlessly forward.
| A
Soviet airborne assault battalion deploys from Mi-8 helicopters
while undergoing final assault training prior to the war.
Each Mi-8 transports three stands. Therefore, the small battalion of eight infantry stands requires three helicopters to lift it. Models by Navwar. |
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As the Mi-8s touched down and the giant beasts, testimony to the military strength of the Soviet Union, spilled their elite content onto the battlefield hard decisions were being made at Hardee Force forward command post. The British commander, realising his position was turned, issued orders for a break off. Rather than commit his remaining forces to uncoordinated counter attacks Hardee force would retire. Grossberden, like many other towns and cities across Germany had been lost, or from the Soviet perspective liberated.