Engagement at Einbeck:  2nd August 1982

The following is a fictional scenario set in the North West Germany during during 1982. It is designed for use with the "Modern Spearhead" miniatures rule system. 

The table required for this scenario measures 1.8m by 1.2m. The alternate ground scale of 1" = 125m has been used for this scenario.

Background:

Continuing the massive assaults begun on the 1st August WARPAC forces continue to advance across northern sectors of the West German plain. In the last 24 hours several divisional strength attacks have resulted in major breaches of the BAOR forward defensive positions. 


Soviet reconnaissance vehicles in the form of BRDM-2 and BRM-1, along with dismounted infantry, prepare to assault a village held by British infantry.

Yesterday, elements of the British 4th Armoured Division were locked in intense combat with the Soviet 2nd Guards Army. The 16th Guards Tank Division was badly mauled and late in the day was being reinforced by advanced by elements of the 207th Motor Rifle Division. As the situation deteriorates refugees clog the roads leading across Germany. These refugees and continuing Soviet air attacks are resulting in major disruption to NATO efforts of redeployment.

During the night NATO has made some progress to plug one of the many gaps. The British 11th Armoured Brigade is tasked with one such gap near Einbeck. The situation is so critical that BAOR reserves have already been deployed in to the line. Elements of 1st Gordon Highlanders, from 6th Airmobile Brigade, have been deployed late on the 1st August by helicopter. Casualties have however been high with several helicopters lost. The remaining elements of 1GH have had sufficient time to entrench. They, along with retiring elements of 1st Armoured Division, are now deployed to halt the Russian advance. 11th Armoured Brigade is to link up with these elements.

Soviet forces are expected to launch a hasty attack during at daylight. Artillery fire is expected following Soviet reconnaissance probes during the night. However, significant pre-planned artillery fire will slow the momentum of the breakthrough and is thus unlikely. 

Air superiority in the area of the battlefield remains contested. Both WARPAC & NATO helicopters are known to be operating in support of ground troops. WARPAC are conducting limited fixed wing direct air-support missions.

British Order of Battle:

The 1st Gordon Highlanders (1GH) and one battalion of 4th Armoured Division start deployed on table. The battalion HQs are placed on the table before the Soviet player completes his orders. All British stands of these battalions, excluding up to three stands which may be hidden in cover are placed and the game begins. 1GH may start the game in light entrenchments. British troops may not start closer than 300mm from the Russian table edge. Each battalion may drop off up to one company of fighting stands, reinforced with support stands as required. 6th Airmobile helicopters are allocated to the direct support of 1GH.


A flight of Soviet Hind Attack helicopters move forward to support advancing Soviet forces.

Two additional British battalions enter on the west table edge, the point at which each battalion will arrive is noted before the game. Each battalion has a die rolled for it in the order phase of a turn. One battalion may start rolling in the order phase of turn one, the other may start rolling in the order phase of turn three. Both battalions require a 4 to 6 for success each turn. This simulates potential delays caused by refugees clooging the roads. Once the die roll is successful the battalion can go in to off table reserve or may be committed immediately arriving next turn. One battalion has regular morale the other veteran, and this is allocated at the players discretion. Companies may be cross attached.

British M109 artillery has optionally one round of minelet fire which can be used to lay minefields. This can be pre-planned to fall before the game, or called in during the game. If used one normal fire mission is used. 

The British forces are as follows:

British 6th Airmobile Brigade (Elements)  
1-Infantry Battalion (1GH): (Veteran)
1-HQ stand
3-Infantry companies, each with:

2-Infantry stands

1-AT company with:

2-Milan stands
Brigade Assets:
1-Attack Helicopter Squadron

1 Flight of one Lynx Helicopter.

 

 

British 4th Armoured Division: (Elements)
Deployed on Table:
1-Mechanised Infantry Battalion:
(Regular)
1-HQ stand in FV432
Recce Plt:
1-Scimitar stand
3-Infantry Companies, each with:
2-FV432 Infantry Combat Teams
AT Platoon:
3-Milan teams in FV432 

Reinforcements:
1- Armoured Regiment:

1-HQ Chieftain IX stand
Recce Plt:

2-Scorpion stands
AT Plt:

2-FV438 stands
3-Armoured Squadrons, each with:

3-Chieftain IX stands
1-Mechanised Infantry Battalion:

1-HQ stand in Fv432
Mortar Plt:

2-FV432(m) stands
Recce Plt:

2-Scimitar stands
3-Infantry companies, each with:
3-FV432 Infantry Combat Teams
AT Platoon:

2-Milan teams in FV432

Divisional Assets:
1-Artillery Regiment:

1-FAO

6-Abbots (6 FM)
1- Artillery Regiment:

4-M109A2 stands (3 FM)

Air Defence Battery:

2-Blowpipe stands (attach by stand)

1-Divisional Reconnaissance Squadron

3-Scimitars stands
1-Striker stand
1-Attack Helicopter Squadron

1 Flight of two Lynx Helicopters.

 

BAOR Corps Assets:
1-Air Defence Battery:

1-Towed Rapier stand (off-table)

 

Russian Order of Battle:

The revised Russian TO&E as documented at the Modern Spearhead website should be used as the basis for Soviet forces. Minor modifications to these organisations are defined below. All Soviet battalions have regular morale.

207th Motor Rifle Division (elements)
1-BMP Motor Rifle Regiment:
As per TO&E except only two battalions. All companies reduced to two combat teams. Two stands in each battalion are BMP-2 all other with BMP-1(Fagot). The tank battalion equipped with ten T-64B tanks. Artillery is 2S1 (6FM) with one FAO.

1-BTR-60PB Motor Rifle Regiment:
As per TO&E. All companies reduced to two combat teams. ATGW is Fagot. The tank battalion equipped with seven T-62 tanks. Artillery is towed D-30 (6FM) with one FAO.

Divisional Assets:
1-Artillery Regiment:

1-FAO

4-2S3 (4 FM)

1-Divisional Reconnaissance Squadron
3-BRDM-2 (HQ)
3-BRDM-2
1-BRM combat team

1-Attack Helicopter Squadron
1 Flight of two Hind E Helicopters.

Fixed Wing Air Support
2-3 Sorties each of one SU-7 or Mig-23.

 

Up to three fire missions total and selected from any mix of Soviet artillery battalions may be pre-planned prior to the battle. 

Bridging equipment is limited to that contained within each Motor Rifle Regiment.

Scenario Rules:

The game lasts a maximum of 16 turns. 

Streams can be crossed anywhere and are considered 1" wide.

Soviet Air Support arrives randomly. The Soviet determines the weapon load prior to the battle. Each turn the Soviet player rolls one D6 and if a six is rolled one sortie of bomb armed SU-7 or Mig-23 aircraft arrives that turn. Up to maximum of three sorties of SU-7s or two sorties of Mig-23s may be used during the course of the battle. Aircraft attack a random British battalion, determined by a die roll.

Single sector towns are treated as villages, the two sector town is considered to have town sectors.

All artillery is limited to a maximum of two rounds of smoke ammunition. All special artillery rounds, excluding smoke count as two fire missions for ammunition supply purposes.

Both armies are limited to five Electronic Warfare Missions with a maxium of one per turn.

The Map:

The map is based on a 1.8m wide by 1.2m deep table. Each grid square is 12" across which equates to 1500m. Objectives are marked [A] - [F].

Victory Conditions:

Victory points are allocated as follows. The side with the higher number at the end of the engagement is deemed the winner.

  • +1VP is allocated to the British for each Soviet battalion, other than reconnaissance battalion, that is forced to test morale.
  • +1VP is allocated to the Soviets for each British battalion that initially contained 11 stands or less and is forced to test morale.
  • +2 VP is allocated to the Soviets for each British battalion that initially contained 12 stands or more and is forced to test morale.
  • +1VP for holding, at the end of the engagement, a marked objective. To be held no enemy stand can be within 1km (8") and be capable of bringing direct fire down on the objective. Objectives are marked on the map.
  • +3 VP for each Soviet battalion that exits the British base line and all if all the following apply:
    • The exiting battalion has not had to test morale.
    • The exiting battalion did not conduct a flank march or is a reconnaissance battalion.
    • The battalion exited the table within 12" of a road and the road can be traced back to the players base line with a corridor of 8" either side of the road that is clear of enemy stands at the end of the game.

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