Brigade Nord: Delaying Actions 2 (Delay at Overbygd)
The following is my next scenario in my Brigade Nord (Norwegian Army) series. It depicts a delaying/holding action by elements of the Norwegian 2nd Battalion (Mechanized) at their Skjold Garrison near Overbygd, Troms, Norway.
I must note that this is a longer scenario. I’ve set it to 38 turns although the action may (or may not) be decided prior to that.
The underlying premise of this series is a hypothetical Russian Invasion of Northern Norway set in April, 2015. The theory of the Russian Invasion Plan is a major thrust towards Finnmark from their bases in the Kola Peninsula first across the Norwegian border towards Kirkennes, with a flanking movement through northern Finland. This scenario is set on day 7 of the invasion, and depicts movement of those Russian forces advancing from Northern Finland.
Your Norwegian forces are comprised of B Company, the Command and Support Company, and Home Guard units. C Company and the Recce Squadron are forward deployed off map. You start the scenario with the remnants of the Recce Squadron retreating through your front lines. Pass through those units to your rear and use them as you will as a ready reserve. Additionally, elements of CSS Coy are available as a reserve in the garrison. Three CV9030’s have been repaired from the maintenance facility to act as a reserve.
Facing you is a Russian Motorized Rifle Brigade. Incorporated in that Brigade are Russian MBT’s.
B Coy is deployed in a series of defensive lines east of Overbygd, and north of the Malseva River. Home Guard Units hold the south side of the River, where a newly constructed service road allows access westward.
Facing Russian MBT’s with the Norwegian IFV’s is folly. Your defense is in depth, use it. Being a garrison location with military stores and mechanical facilities, holding Skjold would be the highest priority. But loosing what may be the last of your only active duty mechanized battalion would give the Russians an easy road south to Oslo. Protect your IFV’s as best you can.
You have a large number of ATGM teams (Skjold has been designated as a military supply center). Also, you have hunter/killer teams with Gustavs. These units have been ordered to hold their fire until the Russians are either in close range, or have moved into kill boxes. Hit them, drop back, reorganize, and hit them again. These tactics have worked in the north before.
In addition to the MRB the Russians also will have helicopter gunships and air assets at their disposal. However, some of these units may not be immediately available. One MRB is advancing towards Overbygd, and another north on the E6 drawing resources from this AO. Your Russian opponent’s units may or may not be top line forces. The restructuring of the Russian Federation has not been kind to all of their forces, and many units have been deployed along the border to the Baltic States where a face-off with NATO is ongoing.
I hope you will find this scenario interesting.
Grant1
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