Soviet Heavy Tracked Recce Company vs West German Panzergrenadier Company, West Germany, 1989

This was a meeting engagement on the Central Front between two sides of similar strength in points. This was our second game astride the weekend and it allowed us to try out some refinements in the morale and cohesion parts of the rules.

The West German Force (Morale - Regular, Training - Trained)

Company HQ - 2 Marders, 4 x Rifle Groups, one is the 1 Commander.

1st Platoon - 3 Marders, 6 x Rifle Groups.

2nd Platoon - 3 Marders, 6 x Rifle Groups.

3rd Platoon - 3 Marders, 6 x Rifle Groups.

Divisional Artillery Battery - 6 x M109A1, 1 x AOO in M113AOP.

The Soviet Force (Morale - Regular, Training - Trained)

Company HQ - 2 x BRDM2U carrying 1 x AOO and 1 Commander rifle Group.

1st Platoon - 3 x BMP1M each carrying 2 x Rifle Groups.

2nd Platoon - 3 x BMP1M each carrying 2 x Rifle Groups.

3rd Platoon - 3 x T64BV.

Regimental Artillery Battery - 6 x SAU122.

Here is the table from the west (the German entry edge) before any units have entered:

The woods were dense so prevented vehicle movement and the ploughed fields counted as broken ground.

Turn 1

The Soviets entered first. The 1st platoon rushed to grab the wood in the south while the 2nd platoon dashed to the village. The tanks advanced in the north aiming to swing round the German left flanks. The CHQ took cover behind the eatern end of the low ridge.

The West Germans massed to the south aiming to seize the village and overwhelm the Soviet left flank.

Turn 2

The BMPs of the Soviet 2nd platoon fired at the advancing Marders but all missed their targets. Then they advanced to dismount their infantry at the edge of the village.

The Soviet 1st platoon reached the edge of the wood and the infantry dismounted. A tank topped the ridge and fired at a Marder moving toward the village form the west but missed; the other tanks advanced north of the ridge.

The Marders of 3rd platoon fired at the BMPs of the Soviet 2nd platoon destroying one. They and the 2nd platoon continued their move south of the village toward the wood. The 1st platoon reached the edge of the village and the infantry left the Marders to contest the buildings.

Turn 3

The loss of the BMP was quickly avanged as 2 Marders from 1st platoon were destroyed by BMPs.

The Germans retailiated by destroying the remaining the remaining BMPs in the Soviet 2nd platoon which reduced the Soviet unit's morale to Uncertain.

Turn 4

A firefight commenced in the village with the Soviet 2nd platoon firing at the German 1st platoon. The tanks continued their thrust around the base of the ridge

The German 2nd and 3rd platoons fired at the Soviet 1st platoon in the wood, causing no casualties amongst the infantry although a BMP was lost to a Panzerfaust. The subsequent morale test saw 2 fails and the Soviet unit became unable to advance further. On the German left, the leading T64 had carelessly exposed its side and was knocked out by a Milan from a Marder of 1st platoon. The shock of this loss lowered the remaining tanks' morale to Uncertain.

Turn 5

Firefights continued in the village and the wood with the Germans losing a rifle group in former. The tanks passed their motivation test so advanced to fire at the Marders behind the village but missed. The German AOO called in artillery on the tanks. It arrived on target bu succeeded in only suppressing one of the heavy AFVs although the barrage would prevent their morale recovering for a turn at least..

Turn 6

In the firefight around the wood both the German 2nd and 3rd platoons suffered losses. The former's morale fell to Halt and as it had lost over 50% of its starting strength it could not be rallied so would be unable to advance any further in the game.

The tanks hit and destroyed a Marder, which reduced the 1st platoon's morale to Halt, before passing their motivation test and advancing out of the artillery fire zone.

The Soviet 1st platoon suffered 2 kills but its morale held. The Soviet AOO from a vantage point on a hill had his third request for fire granted and brought a barrage west of the wood to influence the firefight. The German 2nd platoon suffered a loss but passed it morale test on a roll of 10.

Turn 7

The T64s destroyed the last 2 Marders in 1st platoon but failed their motivations and halted for the turn.

A desperte attempt by the German AOO to bring artillery in on the Soviet tanks threatening to rampage around the German rear failed to get approval. Amazing shooting from German 1st platoon and CHQ inflicted 4 kills on the Soviet 2nd platoon causing it to rout. This was repeated in the wood when 1st platoon lost a rifle group that tripped it over the edge. At this point the Soviet commander ordered a withdrawal leaving the table to the West Germans.

Verdict

A win to the Bundeswehr! It was a close one though and better intervention from the tanks could have been decisive in the fight in the village and altered the result. After the initial quick advances by both sides the game descended into a pair of firefights with the Germans having more firepower due to larger number of Marders. Neither side was able to use their artillery effectively due to the close proximity of the enemy and the guns having nothing more lethal than HE.

The new rules worked well. We went away with a few notes to look at including the points cost of artillery and a refinement to the company morale test.

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