World War 3 - BAOR Day 2 am

The morning of Day 2 of World War 3 in northern Europe. The BAOR's defences are just managing to hold but in some sectors a hasty counter attack is required to shut down Soviet breakthroughs. Captain Suvorov's sector is one of those. He has to hold the bridge until the second echelon arrives that afternoon.

Captain Suvorov's forces consist of two T62's, four BTR's and five sections of infantry.  He hopes the British don't attack! But here they come, four Chieftain tanks, two Scimitar recon tanks and a company of infantry. They have ten turns to take the bridge before Captain Bagration arrives with his mechanised rifle company and supporting tanks.

No air support is available for either side.

The British infantry company deploys with two platoons up and one in support. All the armour is on the left.

End of turn one - The British advance and the Soviets go on overwatch.

End of turn two - A British section advancing in the open gets suppressed. The armour continues down the left flank.

End of turn three - The two recon tanks explode - they have found the Soviets! The British infantry caught in the open are destroyed and the remaining British infantry deploy into the woods.

End of turn four - The Chieftains exact revenge by destroying a T62. A BTR 60 is hit by a Carl Gustav light ATW and suppressive fire from British SAW's hit a Soviet section in the woods. But it is not all the Brit's way, a section deploying in the woods has been destroyed on the right.

End of turn five - A Chieftain explodes but so does the remaining T62. The Soviet's manage to supress the British infantry in the central woods but on the left they are being overwhelmed.

End of turn six - The central woods are clear of British as the Soviet fire forces them out. But the BTR60's retreat while Soviet infantry try to manoeuvre  to get a flank shot of the Chieftains.

End of turn seven - another two BTR60's lose the game of hide and seek. The Soviet infantry on the right embark in the remaining BTR60 and are going to make a break for it. The rest have no option but to surrender. They have no where to hide or run to.

Another fun game and the Soviet steam roller is stopped for now. I am not sure what will come next. A set piece attack by the Soviets to get back the bridge, a very silly West German counter attack, a jump into the future with city fighting in Minsk, or a US Marine beach assault or 1st Cavalry air landing.

I have decided that my changes to the FUBAR rules have not really worked fairly and have impacted the infantry too much. While I have been using elements for the infantry I have not changed the Anti-Personnel fire factors for heavy weapons. This means that the machine guns in tanks and APC's are much more effective than before.  I am going to think how best to correct this. Also the extra suppression does not really help the defenders, while they don't die, they can't do much either.

World War 3 - BAOR Day 1 pm

 The afternoon of Day 1 of World War 3 in Northern Europe. The BAOR's defences are scrambling to stop the Soviet breakthroughs.

Captain Suvorov's next objective is a vital bridge over a canal. Soviet tanks and APC's cannot use their fording ability without engineering assistance to cross canals due to the steep edges. To keep the assault continuing Suvorov must capture the bridge. 

A scratch force of the BAOR has been assembled to defend the bridge. The infantry company has been battered by Soviet airstrikes and only five sections, two light mortars, and a Milan ATGM remain. They also have a recon group of 2 Scimitar light tanks.

Suvorov's remaining Soviet forces are seven BTR60s, one BRDM-2 recce vehicles, three T62 tanks. All that is left from this morning's attack. No other support is available as all air and artillery have taken heavy losses and the remainder is employed elsewhere.

The Soviet forces moving down the road. The canal and bridge at the top of the photo.

End of turn one. The BAOR waits. Suvorov thinks "maybe the bridge is undefended"

End of turn two - Suvorov gets his hopes up.

End of turn three - "oh no - there goes the BRDM!" 

End of turn four - Suvorov is not trying to blast his way through. Dismount the infantry and attack down both sides of the road.

End of turn five - A T62 is hit by a Milan and two BTRs are hit by mortar fire. But the infantry begins its attack.

End of turn six. On the right the Soviet infantry push forward. On the left, both T62s have laid down suppressive fire on the BOAR defenders. The Scimitar tanks load their recon elements and start moving to attack the Soviets from behind.

End of turn seven - from the BAOR side of the battlefield. The Soviet attack on the left is pushing forward and overwhelming the British infantry. On the right the Milan and its section of infantry has been destroyed. Only an infantry section remains - no threat to the T62s.

End of turn seven from the Soviet side.

End of turn eight - On the right another BTR goes up in flames but the BAOR infantry are destroyed, the T62's carefully move up. In the rear the Scimitars have been left behind and will have no impact on the battle. The Soviet advance has been too fast.

 

End of turn nine - the BAOR commander tells all to break off and run or surrender. Suvorov has captured the bridge!

Suvorov reviews his remaining force. Two T62's, four BTR's and five sections of infantry. Enough the hold the bridge against any BAOR remnants  retreating from battles further east, but not enough to advance. Hopefully reinforcements will arrive early on day 2 of WW3.

Another fun game. It all seemed to work OK. I tried different tactics for the Soviets this time. I will have to see how it works with the Soviets on the defence.