Brigade Nord: Opening Moves 2 (Stand at Neiden)
One more in my Brigade Nord series before I head out for vacation with the family.
This scenario is set on Day 2 of the Invasion. Russian forces crossed the border the day before but their advance was slow. Partially due to the weather (warmer weather than expected causing much of the ground to turn to mud...global warming), and partially due to planning, execution and logistical problems.
The limited ground forces at the border and in Kirkenes were too small to make a difference. The platoon of border guards holding Kirkenes surrendered late in the afternoon to avoid further civilian casualties. The Russian assault gained tempo until it reached the bridge near Monkbakken. Norwegian Army engineers had successfully blown the bridge and adjacent rock face causing a substantial blockage. The Russian Commander decided to call a halt to the advance to avoid ambush from the retreating Norwegian units.
You control elements of the Home Guard District 17 units 104 and 105. Your total forces at start comprise a reinforced company. Most of your units are in the typical Home Guard 4 man patrol/fireteams. You hold the village of Neiden, and the approaches on Route E6. You also hold the bridge on the ancillary route 353, north east of Neiden.
You have no ATGM's to start the game, only Carl Gustav's and LAW's. Your Air Defense is limited to MANPADS. HV 17's Rapid Reaction Force will reinforce you. Here, I've used some fictional license in providing them with APC's. They, however, are not new APC's, but the older NM135's and M113's, with a few TOW NM142's. I base this on the fact that although I cannot find sources indicating the NM135 is still in service as a reserve APC, I can't envision them not being so. Anyways, it adds something to the force balance for the scenario.
You also have Norwegian sappers who have retreated west from Monkbakken. They have set demolition charges to all of the bridges leading to Neiden (one on Rt. 353, and three on Rt. E6). To simulate these charges, you will find the explosives as IED's (from the Mujhadeen core forces, set captured). These explosive charges may or may not bring down the bridges (to add to that potential, I've made the bridges and approaches wooden, there was a lot of test and failure until I came up with a reasonable mix). They also may or may not be set off by oncoming Russian Units, or may or may not be compromised by infantry. You'll have to play to find out how it goes. In any event, you can set them off by firing the charges. If they go off in a chain, the bridge may fall. Keep your forces well away though, like an IED, the overpressure will have a wide kill range.
Your goal is to hold Neiden and the core victory points (in town and on E6 West), until game end. Also, saving units increases your score, so don't waste your units. Hit the Russians, fall back, reorganize, and wait for them again...if you can.
I've played this for a week and the best I've been able to do is obtain a marginal victory. If this would actually occur, a marginal victory would be just fine.
The Russian Commander has set forward mobile units. Heavy armor is coming, but they are stacked back to the Russian Border from Kirkenes due to the terrain and weather. He is anxious to exploit the remaining hours before twilight to gain a few more kilometers and keep the Norwegians from executing further delaying actions. He was wrong.
The Russians are also executing other offensive actions that may impact on your defense. Be alert.
The game is set to a maximum of 40 turns. It will go quickly, but as this depicts a Russian Advance along a single major axis of advance (and what basically amounts to a single road), the Russian advance takes time to develop.
This was a different scenario to develop. The Russians have the advantage. I've adjusted TO&E's for the Russians based on research for the units involved. Again, for play balance, current and projected inventories were adjusted to give both sides a chance. I'm used to tank v. tank engagements, but this one was a enjoyable diversion.
I hope you enjoy.
Grant1
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Linear Mode
