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The following is an After Action Report from a Modern Spearhead game written by Gerard Dale. The game was played on a table measuring 1.8m x 1.2m and used the alternate ground scale of 1" to 125m. Scenario:
The game was an "Advance to Contact" Scenario generated using the Modern Spearhead Scenario
Generation System. The game was set in Cold War Europe,
1984. US forces comprised troops equal to 925 points. No reinforcement
option was taken by the Americans (thus avoiding any victory point
penalty). The Soviet force comprised troops to the initial value of 925
points, supported by a further 70 point reinforcement option (this option
was allowed without any victory point penalty).
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Background:
The initial encounters had not gone quite a planned for the Soviets. While much ground had been covered in the initial Soviet advance, success was neither as uniform nor as decisive as Commander Ground Forces Europe had first planned or promised. Casualties and the consumption of material, were both much higher than expected. His NATO adversaries were proving resilient. Progress must be made. The orders were dictated and dispatched, "press home your attacks, keep up the pressure, a hole must be found or made in NATO’s lines and it must be exploited". New corps were committed to the effort.
The environs of Deetz were still securely held by a mechanized brigade of the American 8th Mechanised Division. This American Division had weathered the initial Soviet storm. They had taken everything that the Soviets could throw at them and had survived. The Soviet tempo of operations had recently dropped. It was time to take advantage of this. Time for some good ol’ payback to be dished out by the boyz.
The Forces:
The 666th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment advanced from the east towards Deetz. It comprised three motor rifle battalions (principally infantry in BTR-60s) each with a tank company (T-64Bs) in support, a reconnaissance company (all BDRMs) and a reinforced tank battalion from the 72nd Guards Tank Regiment (T-64Bs). Plenty of artillery support was available.
The American mechanised brigade was deployed just behind Deetz. It consisted of two battalions of mechanised infantry and one of armour, principally comprising M113 infantry combat teams and the deadly M1 Abrams tank. Three combined arms battalion combat teams were formed with the tanks were evenly split across all three battalions. A company of M901s was also in support. The brigade’s was supported by one M109A1artillery battalion but other divisional artillery had taking a pounding over the last few days and was not available. To compensate, two sorties of A-10s were made available for the advance.
Battle Space:
The battle space was relatively dense with woods and hills. One major stream ran in a gentle horseshoe shape from the north-east to the central eastern edge of the battle space. As you moved from south to north the frequency of hills increased. However, two significant hills dominated the entire battle space. The first, a great high ridge running from west to east in the southern third of the space. The second hill was of a more rounded shape and was located in the very top sixth of the northern space. Both hills provided long range (up to 2 km) views of their surrounds. Three small towns formed a triangle, with the first town at the tip of the most significant northern hill and the other two in the centre west and east respectively. Finally, the most significant feature was Deetz itself. This was a major town just to the east of the southern ridge and within two kilometres of eastern edge of the battle space. The eastern and southern environs of Deetz were heavily wooded. To the north of Deetz was a relatively open patch of rolling countryside about 1.5 km square.
The objectives were identified as Deetz and the great southern ridge near this town, a hill on the western central side of the battle space, the northern bridge over the stream and the most northern town at the foot of the large northern hill.
Initial Plans:
The Americans had already deployed one battalion on the southern ridge before the forces clashed. This battalion was to quickly advance into Deetz and hold the town and a wood 300m due south, largely blocking the southern third of the battle space and denying the centre to the Soviets. The Soviets would have to take Deetz to manoeuvre in the centre of the battle space or risk flanking fire. The second battalion, strengthened by a company of M901s, was to hold the northern third of the battle space centred around the northern town and major hill. The third battalion was held back as a reserve in the centre and outside the battle space.
The Soviets aimed to take the three more southern objectives and planned accordingly. A covering force comprising one motor rifle battalion and all available reconnaissance assets was to advance from the north-eastern edge of the battle space to the northern town and major hill in that area. Its objective was to use the dense terrain of the area to contest the ground and slow any American advance over the northern half of the table. The second motor rifle battalion was tasked with the taking of a forest immediately to the east (and within 500m of) Deetz, Deetz itself and then advancing on the centre-west of the table. The third battalion was tasked with clearing the wood south of Deetz and taking the significant southern ridgeline. It was hoped that the second and third battalions were close enough to provide mutual support. However the barrier posed by Deetz, the forest just to its south and the significant ridge about 800m back from these features could form a formidable defensive barrier, one that the Americans were likely to take advantage of. Accordingly, the tank battalion drawn from the 72nd Guards Tank Regiment was ordered to undertake a deep flank march to the south to appear in the south-western edge of the battle space at any time after one hour from the commencement of the engagement. It was ordered to cut across the ridge and head for the centre west portion of the battle space.
Advance to Contact:
The initial turns went very much to plan for both sides.
In the south, the Americans immediately leapt forward from their occupied positions and dashed towards Deetz and its surrounding woods. However, the diesel fumes of the massed Soviet motor rifle battalions heading towards the same areas on the battlefield were eyed anxiously by the American brigade commander. Meanwhile in the north, both sides advanced towards the northernmost town, the Soviets taking a more circuitous and slower route around and through various woods. The wheeled BTRs made heavy work of the march.
Within the hour, the Soviets began to crawl through the woods to the east and south east of Deetz. A few Soviet tanks and artillery observers shortly achieved firing positions and glimpsed American infantry in their battle taxis speeding into Deetz and the wood to its south. Three platoons of T-64s very soon achieved firing positions on the edge of the woods and waited to see what may cross their sights in the next half hour or so. They were soon rewarded as two platoons of M1s crossed their guns. The opening shots rang out but were ineffective. Only misses and non-penetrating hits were scored. The return fire was more impressive! Radio contact was soon lost with two Soviet tank platoons.
The superiority of the M1s was quickly established and the remaining Soviet tanks preferred to manoeuvre and seek cover than commit to an engagement with them. After all there was plenty of infantry around to hunt down too.
The initial exchange of tank fire in the south was soon joined by Soviet artillery. Using the American armour as a reference point and suspecting a heavy infantry presence, a BM-21 rocket battalion was called upon to level the open ground and wood to the south of Deetz. No secondary explosions were recorded.
Behind this weight of fire the two southern Soviet motor rifle battalions advanced. The southern most motor rifle battalion began to move through the forest south of Deetz from the east. American infantry were entering the western edge of the same forest.
The battalion opposite Deetz massed for an assault into the now American occupied town from the nearby eastern wood. Suspecting heavy air support may be about, the Soviet regimental commander took great care in the positioning of his AAA in this sector.The Soviet tanks refused to break cover and engage the Abrams stationed between Deetz and the southern wood without artillery support. Unfortunately, most artillery was busy and not taking calls. It was left to the motor rifle battalions’ heavy motors to engage the behemoths. The mortars were more than up to the task. A succession of "lucky" shots soon rendered one Abrams platoon a smoking ruin! As heavier calibre artillery came on line, the American tanks were encouraged to seek cover in the nearby woods.
In the north, both armies’ northern battalions began to engage at long range. The Soviets scoring numerous hits and suppressing multiple platoons. However, while the return fire from the Americans was not as great, it was more deadly and Soviet losses were slowly mounting.
With the American tanks cleared from the south of Deetz, Soviet artillery shifted target and aimed at the eastern suburbs of Deetz itself. The Soviet motor rifle battalion tasked with clearing the town threw its support company to the north of Deetz as a flank guard and focused its infantry companies on the town itself.
The American’s called for final defensive fire artillery to break up the incoming assault but intense radio jamming interfered with communications. The US Army brigade commander, in the town himself and realising how crucial the fight for the town would be, now showed his ace. "Heads down boys we got A-10s inbound!"
| American A-10s begin their attack run on elements of a Soviet BTR battalion as it prepeares to enter Deetz. The US commander had two flights of A-10s available but selected to use one for the defence of Deetz. His last was to be retained for potential for future use. |  |
The Soviet infantry attacking Deetz didn’t so much see the first group of the "Devils Cross" as know they were coming as Soviet AAA went active. Black clouds erupted in the sky around Deetz but the A-10s came on, popping up over the nearby woods and lining themselves up for a north-south pass across the advancing motor rifle battalion. Soon the Soviet regimental commander could hear explosions. "Sir, second battalion reports support company deployed to the north of Deetz gone, two other companies have taken losses". "Tell him to press the attack home regardless".
The remainder of the motor rifle battalion began to enter Deetz. Fire from the town was ineffective. Close quarters combat began in earnest.
From Deetz to the woods south of the town one American mechanised battalion was now engaged with the better part of two motor rifle battalions. At close range in the town and woods losses were relatively even, but the American brigade commander had less to loose.
The Soviet regimental commander was both pleased and anxious. The battle was going well but the A-10s had removed his forces covering the centre and by extension the northern flank of his main attack. His flank march was still to appear and was now nearly three hours late. The American reserves were still to be committed.
To the north, the Soviet battalion commander sensed an opportunity to keep his American counterpart off balance and pushed hard for the northernmost town. Fierce but largely ineffective close range fighting ensued in the wood to the south east of this town and on the hills above it. The push may have been over eager as Soviet casualties mounted but the northern town became contested.
Three and a half hours after the engagement commenced and three hours late, the advanced battalion of the 72nd Guards Tank Regiment arrived. It immediately swung into action. As the battalion headed for the dominant southern ridge, it successfully engaged the rear echelons of the US Army battalion committed around Deetz. Although the American’s morale held they were now being encircled in Deetz and the wood to its south.
The American reserve was now committed. The battalion was promptly ordered into a blocking position in the centre west of the battle space. The loss of the south had been accepted and with it the fate of the US battalion (and the US brigade commander) around Deetz and the southern objectives sealed.
In the north, the US Army started to take its toll on the advancing Soviet battalion. Dragon, TOW and long rod from the M1s thinned the advancing Soviet ranks, but not quickly enough to force the issue in the time remaining.
The closing hour of the battle saw the Soviet northern battalion hanging on and contesting the northernmost town, but only just. In the south, the reminder of the second motor rifle battalion, now led from the front by its own battalion commander, cleared the town of Deetz.
In the woods further south the Americans fought tenaciously, their morale still holding, but with the encirclement nearly completed by the Soviet motor rifle battalion facing them, they were doomed. Only one platoon of the American battalion would survive. The US brigade commander was captured in Deetz.
The 72nd Guards Tank Regiment, together with the remainder of the second motor rifle battalion at Deetz were advancing to the centre west of the battle space with a view to taking the small hill that was an objective in that sector. The American reserve was taking up position in the town half a kilometre back from that objective.
"Comms, advise headquarters that we have opened a hole in the American lines at Deetz, I suggest the manoeuvre force be committed to exploit this success. My compliments to the battalion commanders... Now, I understand there was a BMW dealership in Deetz, shall we see if any stock survived?"
Conclusion:
Any potential advantage gained from the US forces initial, aggressive deployment to the south was lost as a result of American’s reluctance to decisively commit its reserve. The reserve was committed too late to make a difference to the encounter. Committing to a battle of attrition in Deetz was probably not desirable for a numerically smaller force. The flexibility of the American command and control system should have been utilized to out manoeuvre the numerically superior but slower reacting Soviets in the south.
The US should have concentrated its deadly M1s in one or two of its battalions to give them more punch rather than spreading them evenly over the three battalions. The A-10s represent awesome value for the points paid and can create absolute carnage.
Most things went right for the Soviets on this occasion. Perhaps the most important lesson worth remembering is when engaging the more modern NATO tanks, like the M1, use chemical smoke, apply overwhelming numbers or seek to out-manoeuvre them using cover and speed to gain flank shots. Alternatively, find some Hinds or Su-25s!
The victory points were as follows:
| Victory Points Summary | Soviet: | American: |
| Objectives held |
+4 |
+1 |
| Enemy battalions forced to test morale | +2 | +2 |
| Penalty for reinforcements options | 0 | 0 |
| Total: | 6 | 3 |