First clash at Veve

[DSwain]

Hi

New to COTA and loving it! Am attempting my biggest scenario so far - First Clash at Veve. I love reading other people's AARs, so thought I'd give it a whirl.


PLANNING

There are a number of objectives in this scenario – I’ve listed them in order of importance:

1) Exit Greek forces
2) Exit Commonwealth forces
3) Hold ground
4) Destroy the enemy

3 & 4 are far below 1 & 2.

The safe exit of Greek forces is paramount. If the scenario ends without Greek forces firing a single shot, I’ll be well pleased. Mobility and time will be the key to objectives 1 & 2; CW forces have a level of mobility that the Greeks lack. The Greeks will need lots of time to exit the map. Therefore, orders will be issued for Greek forces on both flanks to commence their withdrawal during the night of D1 into the AM of D2. I’m banking that the enemy will attempt to force the pass before trying to negotiate the difficult terrain on the left and right flanks.

My fighting force in this scenario is UK 1st Armoured Brigade, the two Australian battalions along with attached MG, engineer and artillery units. I anticipate this force will be outnumbered and outgunned several fold as the scenario develops. However, for the initial 48 hours, I see the CW force as having a good opportunity to bloody the enemy nose while covering the Greeks before making good their own escape.

Deployment, D1 1600

- 1st Arm’d Bde, deploying in and around the pass
1/KRRC will form the bulk of the defence in the pass itself, reinforced with 155 LAA battery and one of the 2pdr portee units.
3rd Royal Tank Regiment is the force reserve, (to be reinforced by 4th Hussars)
The second 2pdr portee unit, with one of the NZ MG coys attached, will form a delaying force in Veve.

- 19th Australian Bde
2/4 Bn will stay in position; it’s well placed to cover the pass and no need for unnecessary movement, I need these chaps well rested for when they need to redeploy later.
2/8 Bn will move up to form a defensive backstop, just south of the pass, acting as support for 1/KRRC and able to react to any incursions on the left or right flanks.

- 20th Greek Div, 21st Greek Bde
In situ and readying for an early withdrawal order.

- Engineers will prime river crossings for demolition, arty will concentrate into three firebases (planning to rotate one base into direct fire support, leaving two resting to conserve ammunition)


Planned timeline

1600, D1 – 2200, D3
- Effect the Greek withdrawal (2200, D1 onwards)
- Withdraw the Veve garrison (2300, D1 onwards) - redeploy portees to the pass, MG to the right flank to cover the withdrawal of 6th Greek Regt.
- Re-deploy 2/4 Bn (2300, D2) to cover the river crossings
- Hold enemy advance in the pass

Late, D3 – 1400, D4
- Night of D3, start to withdraw all CW from the pass to south of the river; 1/KRRC
as rearguard with support from 3RTR / 4H; 2/4 and 2/8 pulling back further south
to prepare defensive positions at Perdika and Ptolemais

Afternoon, D4 – end of scenario
Using the pass withdrawal as model, effect a withdrawal by echelon; 1/KRRC
forming bulk of rearguard, using positions prepared by 2/4 & 2/8 battalions who continue to prepare further defences further south along the highway.
Maintain 3RTR/4H as force reserve to support the rearguard and to counter any enemy attempts to flank and interdict the highway

Well, that's the plan.....!

Below is the situation with troops deploying in their final positions at D1, 1900 - just as first contact has occurred with the enemy.

[sterckxe]

ORIGINAL: DSwain
Below is the situation with troops deploying in their final positions at D1, 1900 - just as first contact has occurred with the enemy.

Well, you certainly know how to build up the suspense - stopped just at the right moment - what happens after the commercial break ? [;)]

Greetz,

Eddy Sterckx

[DSwain]

D2, 0600

- The withdrawal of Greek forces well under way, no enemy contact on the flanks
- Veve garrison withdrawn by 0100, D2; slightly sticky due to enemy assault guns blocking entry to the pass, but Veve garrison with arty support managed to brush them aside. Veve portees safely redeployed in the pass while NZ MG coy withdrew east to cover the withdrawal of the Dodacenese Regiment.
- 1/KRRC battlegroup attacked in the pass from 0200, D2. Probes of reinforced battalion strength replused and by 0600, the pass is becoming quiet.
- Arty ammunition reasonably healthy; 2 x rgts on 100%, 1 on 60%, 1 on 40%, 2 on 20%.
- Priming of lower river bridges continuing

[DSwain]

D2, 1300

- First attack proper at the pass; approximately two battalions in strength with supporting armour and arty. 1/KRRC hard pushed by 1100, with lead companies losing cohesion but thankfully few casualties. Orders to battalion to amend their positions improves the situation and by 1300, the attack is breaking up.
- 2/4 units spot enemy recon units with armour moving along the minor road east to west, seemingly trying to find a road to cross the rough terrain in order to flank the pass. I order 4H with a portee unit to Phlamporon - the most likely axis of advance - to block them and to provide possible support to the planned withdrawal of the 2/4 later today. It's a timely move as 4 Hussars reach the town and meet an enemy recon column about to drive through; a sharp firefight ensues and, incredibly, the Vickers MkVI tanks of 4H see off the enemy column (for now at least).
- Arty ammunition / supply holding up well

[DSwain]

D2, 2000

- Attacks continuing at the pass but 1/KRRC holding up very well; the attacks are poorly coordinated and not aggressively pursued, suggesting that the enemy is regrouping for a significant attack during the night or is redeploying forces to the flanks. I'm confident that if he tries the flanks then he won't be able to launch any significant attack until the early part of D4 - by which time we will have withdrawn from the pass anyway.
- Enemy units routing into the rough ground to the left of the pass; one enemy mortar unit has surrendered
- Concerned about enemy movements on the left flank around the positions of 4H; periodic sightings of individual units suggest that the enemy is relatively few in number on the left and the units are very fatigued so am happy that the defences at the pass are not in danger of being flanked just yet. Have detached a coy from 2/4 Bn to support 4 Hussars.
- Withdrawal of Greek forces going well
- 2/4 Bn issued with orders to withdraw to positions around Xenon Neron before moving to cover the river crossings
- Arty ammunition levels lower than I'd like them but no crisis - 1 regt on 100%, 1 on 50%, 2 on 20% and 2 on 10%

[DSwain]

D3, 0600
- Increasing pressure on 1/KRRC - armour and a lot of arty. 'A' coy routed and broke but later rallied. I think we should be able to hold out until evening but am making contingencies for an earlier withdrawal.
- 2/4 Bn began its withdrawal overnight; I'm dissapointed that it wasn't completed by daybreak, with coys spread out over the rough and now bedding down; this will be a definite problem if the enemy probes already detected around the left flank develop into something more significant. Still, some of the Aussies and Kiwis are in place and are positioned to shore up that left flank. 4 Hussars have pulled back but I've detached a squadron to act as backstop on the main cross-country road.
- Greek withdrawal really gathering pace, with most units well south now; just HQ and supply units bringing up the rear.
- Restricted arty support overnight to bolster the ammunition stocks, so we're now on 5 rgts x 100%, 1 on 40%
- The next 24 hours will be crucial - withdrawal of 19 Brigade south, disengagement at the pass and withdrawal of 1st Arm'd Brigade south of the river.

[DSwain]

D3, 1400

- Heavy enemy attacks on 1/KRRC battlegroup at the pass, from 0700 onwards. The weight of the attack - approximately a reinforced regiment with armour and arty - has pushed 1/KRRC to breaking point. This required additional arty support. Worried that the lead companies might be cut off at the bend should the enemy drive on Kleidi so at 1300, I issued orders for 1/KRRC battlegroup to redeploy around Kleidi itself, abandoning the bend. This should also mean that 1/KRRC can expect increased direct fire support from 2/8 Australian battalion.
- Enemy recon elements spotted on the right flank, to the right of the lake; NZ MG coy dug in and deployed ahead of them.
- Continuning reports of enemy recon on the left along the cross-country road; still no sign of any significant enemy force, however. From the weight of the attack at the pass I estimate that any moves on the flanks are probes (hope I'm right!)
- Australian arty batteries have redeployed south of the river.
- Greek withdrawal continues.
- I'm still aiming for an overnight disengagement and withdrawal from the pass.




And at the pass

[DSwain]

D3, 1800

- Crisis at the pass; 1/KRRC battlegroup has been unable to redeploy defensively around Kleidi due to the pressure of the enemy attack, especially their heavy arty bombardment. So have issued Withdraw orders to the BG - with Kleidi as the first waypoint, then to proceed to the pass entrance south of 2/8 Bn.
- 3RTR being deployed from the reserve to reinforce 2/8 at the southern entrance of the pass and to cover the withdrawal of 1/KRRC
- Flanks still secure so am reassigning 4H to force reserve, on the road from the pass to the major road bridge.
- Due to the heavy fighting at the pass, I have been assigning individual emergency bombardment missions from the arty with the result that ammunition is perilously low; 3 regts on 20%, 2 on 10%, 1 on zero; however, I'm hoping for early evening resupply within the next few hours. It had better arrive.....
- 2/4 has almost completed its withdrawal to Xenon; once they've rested for a few hours, I shall redeploy them to cover the river crossings. My great fear is that under the cover of darkness, any enemy recon units that have crossed the flanks may infiltrate and snatch the bridges, obstructing the night withdrawal. This would be a disaster, 2/4 should forestall any such move.

[DSwain]

D4, 0100

- 1/KRRC battlegroup extracted from the pass. It's been given a severe mauling and is down to around 60% strength; I left them in the pass too long.
- Due to the battering that 1/KRRC has received, I've switched tasks for the Aussies. 2/8 is fresher so they're covering the river crossings - I anticipate an early enemy push from the pass to seize the crossings and am not confident that 1/KRRC can hold, even with support from 3RTR.
- 2/4 marching south on the highway to set up defensive positions at Perdika; their fatigue levels should hold up, allowing them a good spell of rest before the battle moves to them
- Some infiltration of enemy recon units to the south of the pass, offering no interference to our withdrawal yet
- 3RTR covering the withdrawal of 1/KRRC
- 4H remains in general reserve.
- Greek withdrawal continuing
- To effect the extraction of 1/KRRC, had to devote all arty assets to plastering the exit from the pass - supplies low but manageable - 1 on 80%, 1 on 70%, 1 on 50%, 2 on 40%, 1 on 30%

[DSwain]

D4, 1600

- Collapse of the position north of the river; an ordered withdrawal turns into a rout as 3RTR unable to disengage - several AFV's lost. Enemy recon units seized the main heavy road bridge at 1000 and had to be dislodged by 1/KRRC with support from 4H and assorted Australian units still in the vicinity; great risk at this moment of a chunk of 1st Arm'd Bde being cut off and captured. Thankfully, the enemy recon units routed, and not before time
- Four of the five primed crossings were seized by the enemy; only crossing to be blown was the northern most ferry.
- 1/KRRC battlegroup has now formed a roadblock 7km south of the river; they shall withdraw at nightfall. This will give time for the 2/4 and 2/8 to dig in further south and prevent any enemy mobile columns steaming down the highway.
- 3RTR and 4H forming blocking screens while 1/KRRC deploys
- 2/4 Bn digging in at Perdika; 2/8 Bn marching south to Ptolemais
- Elements of 4H (1 sqdn) and one of the NZ MG coys have routed to the north east; hoping to extract them with SAFEST route orders.
- About 2/3 of Greeks now off map

(apologies for small maps and now no maps, having problems at the moment with ImageShack)

[Arjuna]

DSwain,
 
Really enjoying your AAR.
 
But you do realise you are going to have start over again with the new patch, don't you. It's just as well you've had this trial run as the Allies, cause those Germans are going to kick your but in the new patch. [;)]
 
Actually this sceanrio has been significantly revised in the patch. I took most of the Greek forces out of the scenario, leaving them just two inf Bns - one for each flank. So it's down to the Commonwealth boys to hold the pass and delay back through Perdika. I also added optional reinforcements to both sides. So if you choose favour Allies as the Allied player they receive an extra Inf Bde and if you choose favour Axis for the  Axis player they get the 7th Fgr Regt. There's multiple arrival locations for each, with the 7th Fgr all being behind allied lines. So it gets very interesting. Lots of options and plenty of replayability. [:)]

[DSwain]

Thanks Arjuna - I'll look forward to the patch in that case! Though my backside is pretty sore already from the pasting the Jerries have handed out

D5, 0100

- Difficult disengagement of 1st Armd Bde from south of the river, with units being held in place by heavy arty fire. Counter battery fire ineffective due to lack of spotting of enemy arty. However, once night fell at 2200, things improved considerably.
- Substantial enemy forces over the river and moving south; advance recon units interfering with withdrawal of 4H and 3RTR north of Perdika
- 1/KRRC battlegroup deployed at Perdika until 4H and 3RTR in position south of Perdika; once that has happened, will issue orders to withdraw to Ptolemais to join 2/8. Objective to have both Bns at Ptolemais around 0900.
- 2/8 Bn in position around Ptolemais. Once joined by 1/KRRC, will be ordered to withdraw south of the 2/4 at Proseidon.
- 2/4 Bn moving to take up positions around Proseidon, 4km SE of Ptolemais
- Once 3RTR and 4H disengage, they will provide a reserve to the south of Perdika, to support 1/KRRC but able to deploy further south to support 19th Bde if necessary.
- All six arty units have been engaged covering the withdrawl so ammunition situation mixed - 1 regt on 100%, 1 on 50%, rest on 20 - 30%

[DSwain]

D5, 1500

- Withdrawl of Commonwealth forces to area around and south of Ptolemais completed
- 1/KRRC battlegroup have garrisoned Ptolemais
- 2/8 Bn preparing positions at Proestalon
- 2/4 Bn digging in at Kristophorus; this deployment should block any enemy attempt to outflank the highway to the east
- NZ MG coy deployed to west of Ptolemais as delaying force if enemy attempt to outflank highway to west
- 3RTR and 4H form force reserve

- Enemy probe towards Ptolemais, from 1300 - 1500; approx battalion strength, now retreating. No sign of enemy armour nor enemy arty
- Current positions to be held until general withdrawal ordered for 2300, with 2/4 remaining in place but with 1/KRRC taking over the 2/8 positions at Proestalon and the 2/8 preparing defences between Mavropege and Komanos


(sorry, imageshack on the fritz again! no map)

[DSwain]

D5, 2003

- 1/KRRC given Withdraw order from Ptolemais, should take effect by 2200; will withdraw to south of Ptolemais before pulling to the former 2/8 positions at Prostelon
- 2/4 Bn dug in and engaged at Khristopheros
- 2/8 Bn withdrawing to Mavropege and Komanos
- 4H deployed to protect left flank of 1/KRRC withdrawal path, 3RTR right flank
- While Ptolemais is evacuated, 27th NZ MG coy will pull back from extreme left at Ardassa and form force reserve.
- Arty ammunition situation good; 2 x regts on 100%, 2 on 50 - 60%, 1 on 40%, 1 on 20%

- Enemy attack in force on Ptolemais following earlier probes; estimate regiment in strength, approximately 2,000 men. No armour, no arty. Enemy inf and recon units being held off
- Enemy attempting to infiltrate to the east; 2/4 Bn engaging advance recon units on Khristopheros road

[DSwain]

D6, 1400

- 1/KRRC has withdrawn to positions on the highway, 8km North of the Central exit point
- 2/8 Bn withdrawing to Pontomone, 4km N of the Central exit point
- 2/4 Bn withdrawing south, covering the east flank of the highway
- 3RTR making slow progress, disengaging south of Ptolemais
- 4H withdrawing to form force reserve with particular attention to the left flank (enemy recon units spotted)

- Withdrawal of 1/KRRC through the night from Ptolemais heavily contested by the enemy who had attempted to cut the highway between Ptolemais and 2/8 positions further south. 1/KRRC only successfully withdrew due to significant arty support and assistance from 3RTR
- Enemy recon units spotted east and west of the highway

- Planning to effect total force withdrawal over the next four hours as enemy pressure, particularly increasing arty presence, will make any later movement difficult.