Cuban Crisis - Norway

[Suhiir]

Well I can't definitively speak for the Russians because I've never been in the Soviet/Russian Army. But the general intent was:
1) Screen of light/recon units slightly ahead of the main body on either side of the roads scouting for ambushes.
2) Main body with mine clearing units in the lead traveling down roads (keep in mind this is Norway in October... off-road movement is VERY difficult).
3) On contact with the enemy a company size Mech Infantry formation attacks to either a) clear small ambushes b) locate enemy defensive positions.
4) If #3 is unsuccessful a tank company assaults hoping to smash thru any resistance (keep in mind Norwegian anti-armor assets rather limited and T-62s are damn nice tanks in their day).
5) If #4 is unsuccessful a dismounted infantry assault supported by armor assaults.

Soviet tactics emphasize Blitzkrieg type warfare, even tho the terrain in Norway isn't really suited to it, that's what their trained for so that's what they try to do.

If anyone can show me documentation that that this isn't pretty much how the Soviets would attempt an invasion of Norway in 1962 (remember helicopter warfare is in it's infancy so is not an option, and Airborne forces will be saved/used for major objectives not "Blocking Position" battles in the middle of nowhere) I'll be more then happy to revise the scenario.

[Airborne Rifles]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Glad to hear you found it interesting. Have you gotten to the main infantry assault yet?

Yeah I initially tried a non-linear defense but given line-of-sight issues there was no way to do so without creating unacceptable gaps in the fields of fire.

I haven't played it to the assault on the MLR, but the Russian infantry with artillery support did overrun one of the infantry platoons I'd sent forward in their AMTRACs to support the AT assets.

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by Airborne Rifles

I haven't played it to the assault on the MLR, but the Russian infantry with artillery support did overrun one of the infantry platoons I'd sent forward in their AMTRACs to support the AT assets.

Happen to recall what game turn you are up to?

[Airborne Rifles]

Turn 26.

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by Airborne Rifles

Turn 26.

Oh ... you're not even half way
I assure you it gets MUCH more interesting.

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Oh ... you're not even half way
I assure you it gets MUCH more interesting.

Yes indeed, it gets a whole lot more interesting. I wonder, would not the river, with the several "Ford" markings on the map, serve as a natural line of battle acting as a separator between forces?

I fought the scenario destroying the bridges, bringing up my 90mm RC rifles, and committing my mounted company to fighting positions to cover the many river fording areas. And, it was working until those nasty Ruskies managed to end up unscathed West of the river. My forward units, East of the river were only tasked to watch, but take out mine clearing units if the opportunity presented itself (filtered armor and ranged out to 5 hexes). The other units high tailed back to the West side (not thinking Dr. Dre here) of the river to setup FPs covering river fording hexes.

Is it possible, for a large force of vehicles and men to traverse a swamp or motor down a paved road without detection, I think not, especially with those little Huskies in the sky doing a marvelous job of spotting.

I like playing Suhiir scenarios. They are large, complicated and require a lot of management. There's no "but" coming, I liked the scenario up to the point where the reinforcement turn placed large formations West of the river and behind and intermixed with my forces.

I can feel it credible if the reinforcement turn placed them, the Russians as follow up troops advancing from East of the river, not West of blown bridges.

That's my two bits now where is the coffee!

[Suhiir]

I honestly didn't think anyone could hold the northern bridge long enough for those reinforcements west of the stream to appear intermixed with player units.

WELL DONE!

The problem is the AI REALLY can't manage to cross the stream with vehicles (and barely manages infantry) so in my tests I determined about how long I thought a player could hold and added 4 turns before the reinforcements arrived.

The main reason the MLR isn't on the stream is the very limited fields of fire AND that's where the Soviets would expect the MLR to be so by placing it further west they have better fields of fire and are not where the Soviet artillery/rocket concentrations are likely to impact.

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

The problem is the AI REALLY can't manage to cross the stream with vehicles (and barely manages infantry) so in my tests I determined about how long I thought a player could hold and added 4 turns before the reinforcements arrived.

Hmm, when I looked at the map, I thought the bridges were critical to the Russians, and that by destroying them, I could use the terrain to help me kill them as they slumbered to cross at the river fording areas. Once, they managed to break through my first lines, and they would, the static defense line of well dug in troops in fighting positions would finish them off.

So, if I were a Russian commander, actually Soviet in 1962, I would want a Spetsnaz force to hold the bridges until I could bring up my armor and mechanized troops. And, I would want river crossing bridges as well. I guess in a PBEM game, this would be my most pressing task: to secure and cross the several river bridges with sufficient force to assault the dug-in Americans or else just go home, have a vodka and await my deportation to some Siberian gulag.

Thanks Suhiir.

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by shahadi

Hmm, when I looked at the map, I thought the bridges were critical to the Russians, and that by destroying them, I could use the terrain to help me kill them as they slumbered to cross at the river fording areas. Once, they managed to break through my first lines, and they would, the static defense line of well dug in troops in fighting positions would finish them off.

So, if I were a Russian commander, actually Soviet in 1962, I would want a Spetsnaz force to hold the bridges until I could bring up my armor and mechanized troops. And, I would want river crossing bridges as well. I guess in a PBEM game, this would be my most pressing task: to secure and cross the several river bridges with sufficient force to assault the dug-in Americans or else just go home, have a vodka and await my deportation to some Siberian gulag.

Thanks Suhiir.

The thing is this is NOT a "river" just one of the many, many streams that exist everywhere in Norway. I totally agree about Spetsnaz (and probably airborne troops) at a major river crossing, and so did the Norwegian/Marine commanders ... why the blocking position is here in the middle of nowhere.

Actually those bridges are not that large/important and as you point out many fords exist. I have zero issues with the Soviets knowing where they are, no doubt Soviet "tourists" have been fishing these streams for years and know them as well as the locals.

[Suhiir]

Oh ... by the way ...
Committing your mobile forces early to block the bridges may just hurt you later as it's entirely possible the Soviets may try to outflank your position and send some forces around that might appear behind your MLR.
Just saying