DAR: Moscow Region

[RERomine]

US vs. Russia

Mission: Meeting Engagement, Moscow Region, 6/2009 - scattered objectives.

Enemy: Reinforced Battalion - 1-2 Armor Co, 2-3 Mech Infantry Co, 4-6 Artillery Btry, plus SAM, AAA, ATGM, etc. Average force experience, ~70.

Terrain: Map = 100x100. Moderately wooded terrain with 33% of the map having trees and the other 67% composed of clear area, fields and tall grass. The wooded areas are composed of some large clusters and some tree lines. There are a lot of small to moderate sized hills all over the map but none really dominate the terrain and aren’t high enough to allow vision over the trees. There is one stream that extends across the map on the north-south axis. It starts in the top middle of the map extending to the southwest until it reaches my deployment line before turning south, meandering back and forth across my deployment line. There is one East-West road one 50 meters north of the bottom edge of the map. Visibility = 10.

Troops: Battalion sized Task Force - 1 NG Armor Co. (14xM1A2), 3 Mech Infantry Co. (NG Infantry in M113A3 APCs), 3 Artillery Btry (On board, 8xM109A6s and 4xM1129s), 2 SP-SAM sections, 2 SPAA sections, 2 AH-64D attack helos, plus recon, ammo supply and a few other assorted HHC units. Average force experience, ~70 (base 80, but most units are National Guard which is a -10 penalty).

Time: 17 Turns

Analysis

There are two major factors that will impact this battle. The first is the low visibility. Infantry and the APCs will be groping around in the dark, especially my M113A3 relics being used.

The other factor will be the stream. Any vehicle crossing it is at risk of getting mired. There are a few locations were I can deploy units to the east of the stream to avoid that problem. On the northern third of the map, I can use the stream from a defensive perspective. It will slow any enemy units that advance in that sector.

One lesser factor will be the battle duration. There really isn’t a lot of time to take all of the objects. Being that this is an MBT game and most units are quite pricey, it might be better to set up ambushes and score points with kills rather than rush forward and allow the enemy to do the same to me.

There are so many hills on the map that most don’t offer any significant advantage over another short of there being a plethora of covered routes to places. One hill (Hill 1) is attracting my attention, however. It is located in the south central portion of the map just north of a large east-west wooded stretch (South Woods). The woods are over 2,000m long and roughly 250m wide. This could offer a nice covered, yet slow avenue of approach. The hill would work out well as a point covering the flank of the woods, over-watch several objectives a few hundred meters north and it could serve as a possible jumping off point to five objectives to the northeast.

Plan

My plan is very general at this point. I’ve already decided to use one infantry company as a blocking force up north. There is a line of trees that parallels the stream about 500m to the west. I will deploy some infantry in there and in a small section of woods to the south. There is a hill just west of the stream as well. I will get some scouts with night vision up there. Hopefully, they can find a spot that has some decent visibility.

Further south, there are two areas just east of the stream yet still in my deployment zone where the remaining two infantry companies will go. One will advance to the Hill 1 while the other advances through the South Woods. To assist them with their night vision problems while on the move, each will be supported by one tank platoon. From those positions, the infantry will try to determine the enemy’s main line of approach and set up some ambushes. The infantry in the woods will be in a nice position to turn on the road just to the south if the enemy chooses to use it extensively. I will push some scouts out along the road as eyes for my units in the woods.

The reserve will be thin. I will only have the tank company HQ and one platoon. They will be positioned to the south where they could support the either the infantry on the hill or in the woods. If nothing of consequence develops in those areas, they will move up to Hill 1 and with the infantry and the other tank platoon, try to push to the northeast and capture the objectives there.

The overall intent is to rack up points by destroying enemy units. If it appears their force is broken, units advanced in the southern region will push towards objectives in the enemy deployment zone and capture them.

I've attached a map with my basic plan outlined on it.

[RERomine]

Turn 0 (Prep Fire)

Lots of Russian prep fire, but didn't hit anything. It was spooky when the rockets with cluster munition started landing around my tank reserve and artillery positions.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Zero.

[RERomine]

Turn 1

A little more Russian artillery, but anything that was close to the impact zones already bugged out. That includes my armor reserve. Seems crossing the LD was safer for them than staying put.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Zero.

[RERomine]

Turn 2

Five enemy BRDM-2s spotted just east of the stream up north. My holding force is just starting to get into position there. I'm going to move my two gunships up to support in case it is needed.

Two southern columns advancing unopposed to their positions.

Scouts moving east down the road report no contact.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: Zero.

[RERomine]

Turn 3

Enemy force in company strength approaching northern holding force. One enemy BRDM-2 destroyed. Five more west of the stream. Two more BRDM-2s and seven BMP-2s on the east side. Gunships are in position to engage next turn.

Friendly force on west slope of Hill 1 and advancing.

Friendly force still advancing east through the South Woods.

Recon on road still reports no activity.

Casualties

Friendly: One casualty.

Enemy: One BRDM-2 destroyed and estimated two casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 4

Additional enemy units approaching the northern holding line. Things are getting hot there very quickly. I engaged the enemy with a few AT teams, destroying a couple BRDM-2s and one BMP-2. I pulled my remaining units behind the tree line in a kind of "reverse slope defense" concept. It worked out pretty well. Four BRDM-2s tried to push through, leaving three destroyed and one immobilized. A quick call for artillery destroyed three BMP-2s that moved to the west side of the stream. My gunships were able to account for a couple more enemy vehicles, but received a bit of infantry SAM fire in return. Finally, in the southern part of this line, another BRDM-2 poked through the woods and was immobilized. For all this, the enemy got one of my M113A3 taxis retreating from the FEBA, one AT team and a few other casualties. Enemy artillery started hitting the south end of the tree line.

Central force still pushing up Hill 1, but one platoon is moving into the gap between Hills 1 and 2 to capture some objectives.

No activity in the South Woods, but I started getting nervous having me tanks taking point. My M113s moved forward. They are in the woods afterall. Thermal imaging can't see through a tree.

Recon on road still reports no activity.

At this point, the whole enemy force seems to be up north. If that is the case, I should be able to push forward from Hill 1 and the South Woods and capture some objectives. The battle is short, so the northern force doesn't have to hold out forever and they seem to be doing just fine right now.

Casualties

Friendly: One M113A3 destroyed, estimated 5 casualties.

Enemy: Six BMP-2s and five BRDM-2s destroyed, estimated 30 enemy casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 5

After losing another five BMP-2s and one more BRDM-2 up north, the enemy attack is losing steam. Some infantry units are still alive, but if they are going to capture any objectives, they will do it on foot. My artillery will make it a rough walk. The enemy is starting to hit the tree line with more artillery, so it's probably time for me to pull back some. My gunships took out a few infantry SAM teams, mainly to keep them from shooting at them as the prepare to pull back next turn.

The central force is cresting Hill 1 and the platoon that headed towards the gap captured one objective there. No activity in the area.

One objective captured in the South Woods. Lead elements are about 750m from the eastern edge of the woods. Once I get close, I'll poke some infantry out to see if the coast is clear. No activity.

Recon still moving down the road with a MG team as an escort. No activity.

So far, the points aren't adding up. The enemy has to have a large force out there I haven't found yet. If I had to guess, I would say on the other side of Hill 1. Or I just goofed and set myself up a cake walk of a battle

Casualties

Friendly: Estimated 5 casualties.

Enemy: Five BMP-2s and one BRDM-2s destroyed, estimated 20 enemy casualties.

I'm done for tonight. Screen prints are attached to show progress and action, but not much interesting anywhere except up north.

[RERomine]

Turn 6

Things slowed down up north. Mostly artillery from both sides, but my forces opened with a little bit of small arms fire. Spotted one BMP-2 just south of the position, east of the stream. I don't really have anything there to get it. That's not really true, I guess. My two gunships pulled back so I'll move them in that direction.

The central force is pushing across the top of Hill 1. It's more of a plateau than a hill top. No activity in the area.

Still moving forward in the South Woods. No activity.

Recon still moving down the road with a MG team as an escort. No activity.

Fired some counter battery at some smoke puffs that turned out to be mortars. Capped a nearby Zeus by accident as well as one of the mortars.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: One ZSU-23 4M5 and one 82mm mortar destroyed, estimated 15 enemy casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 7

More Russian artillery up north against the tree line, but most of my units are out of the way. Some caught hits from rounds off target, but no casualties. A little bit of small arms fire between enemy scouts and my platoon in the woods south of the tree line. One surprise was a MG team capped that BMP-2 after it crossed the stream. I didn't know they had AT capability. Maybe I need to look at my own units a little more. My gunships engaged the BMP-2 before the MG team finished it off, getting one solid hit but not putting it out of action.

Infantry is moving down the eastern slope of Hill 1, while the platoon in the gap is moving on another objective. My armor reserve is moving to the hill since they aren't needed anywhere else. Nothing going on here.

South Woods infantry now a couple hundred meters from the east edge. They will dismount and move forward, while the armor holds back. Sector all quiet.

Recon unit is cresting a small hill, but still on the road. No enemy sighted.

My counter battery hit the enemy mortar again, but it's still there. I'll give it one more turn and then they have to move. Other artillery units have already relocated.

Overall, the enemy force is too thin. Something isn't right. I went in with about 22,000 points and have accounted for an estimated 5,000 enemy points. I've got enough eyes out there that I should catch sight of any large force sneaking around. At this point, I'm at a loss to explain where the enemy is. I double checked my preferences and nothing there explains what is going on.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: One BMP-2 destroyed, estimated 10 enemy casualties.

[RERomine]

Turn 8

Enemy artillery and my units firing at scouts accounted for most of the activity up north. The lone exception was an AT team fired at a distant Zeus moving on a hill without effect. It's still visible, so I'll try to finish it this turn.

Infantry on and around Hill 1 is moving forward unopposed.

AT teams dismounted 50m from east edge of South Woods. They will move forward since the have TI capability with their weapons. No activity.

Recon unit still moving forward on road. No activity.

Counter battery finished off enemy mortar and got a nearby BMP-2 in the woods. I might pound those woods to see if anything else is in there since I've picked off two vehicles that I didn't suspect where present.

Casualties

Friendly: Zero.

Enemy: One BMP-2 and one 82mm mortar destroyed, estimated 10 enemy casualties.