Engagement
at Einbeck: 2nd August 1982
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Brigade
Assets:
1-Attack Helicopter Squadron 1 Flight of one Lynx Helicopter.
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| 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
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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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