Red Banner Slam AAR [Soviet]
Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2020 6:02 am
GloriousRuse & Secret's AAR was nice, so it's coincidental that I came back to write my own on RBS. I'm not well-versed in military life or terminology so my AARs are more abstract but hopefully still enjoyable. Had this one sitting on the backburner as I've been busy lately. With that out the way, here we go.
Initial Setup
The first task is to recon the positions which will be used to organize and consolidate the MRRs and TRs for the attack on Haaren. Securing the road net here is key, with the northwestern town of Lichtenau and the centrally located village of Atteln being immediate objectives. Haaren sits just south of the intersection of the A33 and A44 highways; any defending NATO forces must be destroyed to secure future Soviet advances.
The Altenau and Piepenbach rivers are crossed swiftly, with HQs settling in the wooded terrain between the two in confidence they'll be relatively safe. Recon move to scout the villages of Husen and Dalheim and race towards Lichtenau. The former are protected by a couple minefields but the BRDM-2s clear these with only a single casualty and Lichtenau is captured without resistance. Mi-8MTs buzz around the extreme north and south, trying to spot possible lines of reinforcement and vulnerable flanks. BRDM-2s, including those armed with 9K111 Fagots (AT-4 Spigots), reach the Sauer river and begin repairing the bridge to the plateau north of Atteln. Their orders are to scout it and see if they can get a few shots off at any vulnerable mechanized or motorized forces. A recon platoon also begins constructing a bridge over the Piepenbach river to Dalheim. The centerpieces of the recon effort are the PRP-4 NARDs (Figure 1) and the BRM-3K Rys' (Figure 2): both are equipped with thermal sights and a ground search radar, with the key difference between them being the Rys' 30mm 2A72 autocannon (the NARDs only have a 7.62mm MG). The PRP-4 NARD is thus the stealthier of the two, as Rys crews tend to try their luck. A further two platoons of BRM-1K Korshuns (Figure 3) will arrive shortly with the Guard TRs to act as feelers ahead of their movements. These also have ground radar but are armed with the 2А28 Grom (73mm smoothbore).
Figure 1: PRP-4 NARD with radar extended (source)
Figure 2: BRM-3K Rys with radar extended (source)
Figure 3: BRM-1K Korshun with radar extended (source)
It is soon determined, contrary to initial fears, that the way is clear for the reinforcing Soviet MRRs and TRs to arrive and prepare for the main assault. The territory between the Reingraben and Piepenbach rivers is completely occupied, and at the intersection of the L744 road and the A44 highway minefields and obstacles are slowly cleared to make way for an offensive thrust. This is accomplished in complete peace and it's assumed the enemy have barricaded themselves in and around Haaren; this soon proves accurate as the ground radar recon edges closer to enemy lines, supported by BRDM-2s. Meanwhile, along road L744 a T-80BV regiment with a BMP-1D regiment maneuver to attack Haaren from the south.
Initial Setup
The first task is to recon the positions which will be used to organize and consolidate the MRRs and TRs for the attack on Haaren. Securing the road net here is key, with the northwestern town of Lichtenau and the centrally located village of Atteln being immediate objectives. Haaren sits just south of the intersection of the A33 and A44 highways; any defending NATO forces must be destroyed to secure future Soviet advances.
The Altenau and Piepenbach rivers are crossed swiftly, with HQs settling in the wooded terrain between the two in confidence they'll be relatively safe. Recon move to scout the villages of Husen and Dalheim and race towards Lichtenau. The former are protected by a couple minefields but the BRDM-2s clear these with only a single casualty and Lichtenau is captured without resistance. Mi-8MTs buzz around the extreme north and south, trying to spot possible lines of reinforcement and vulnerable flanks. BRDM-2s, including those armed with 9K111 Fagots (AT-4 Spigots), reach the Sauer river and begin repairing the bridge to the plateau north of Atteln. Their orders are to scout it and see if they can get a few shots off at any vulnerable mechanized or motorized forces. A recon platoon also begins constructing a bridge over the Piepenbach river to Dalheim. The centerpieces of the recon effort are the PRP-4 NARDs (Figure 1) and the BRM-3K Rys' (Figure 2): both are equipped with thermal sights and a ground search radar, with the key difference between them being the Rys' 30mm 2A72 autocannon (the NARDs only have a 7.62mm MG). The PRP-4 NARD is thus the stealthier of the two, as Rys crews tend to try their luck. A further two platoons of BRM-1K Korshuns (Figure 3) will arrive shortly with the Guard TRs to act as feelers ahead of their movements. These also have ground radar but are armed with the 2А28 Grom (73mm smoothbore).
Figure 1: PRP-4 NARD with radar extended (source)
Figure 2: BRM-3K Rys with radar extended (source)
Figure 3: BRM-1K Korshun with radar extended (source)
It is soon determined, contrary to initial fears, that the way is clear for the reinforcing Soviet MRRs and TRs to arrive and prepare for the main assault. The territory between the Reingraben and Piepenbach rivers is completely occupied, and at the intersection of the L744 road and the A44 highway minefields and obstacles are slowly cleared to make way for an offensive thrust. This is accomplished in complete peace and it's assumed the enemy have barricaded themselves in and around Haaren; this soon proves accurate as the ground radar recon edges closer to enemy lines, supported by BRDM-2s. Meanwhile, along road L744 a T-80BV regiment with a BMP-1D regiment maneuver to attack Haaren from the south.
