Hell's Crossroad - 12 Armd Brigade

[MikeJ19]

I'm moving onto another Medium sized scenario, this time as the Brigade commander of a small two unit brigade.

Here is the battlefield.

[MikeJ19]

A look at the victory conditions

[MikeJ19]

I will be facing a Guards Motor Rifle Division.

[MikeJ19]

Soviet Option 1

[MikeJ19]

Soviet Option 2

[MikeJ19]

Soviet Option 3

[MikeJ19]

Soviet – Thoughts/Deductions

Most likely – Option 1
Least likely – Option 3

I have to remember that the Soviets are going to arrive fast and with lots of firepower right away.

I need to be able to cover three different approaches or I could just accept that I can not hold all three approaches and concentrate on the key areas


Friendly Forces – 12 Armd Brigade

4 Royal Tank Regiment (RTR)
4 tank companies of 4 Tk Pl each (with 3 Chieftan Mk 11 each)
1 Recce pl with 3 recce sections (with 2 Scorpions each)
1 Rapier (AD) section

1st Royal Green Jackets (RGJ)
3 Inf companies of 4 FV432 platoons and a mortar section
1 support company with:
2 Mortar pl
4 Milan AT sections
2 Spartan MCT (SP Milan AT)
1 Recce pl with 3 sections of 2 Scimitar
1 Rapier (AD) section

4th Field Regiment Royal Artillery (arrives between 0830-0910)
3 Batteries of 2 pls of 4 M109s each

3 Armed Gazelle (AH) helicopters (arrives at 0909)
2 Tornado (Close Air Support) (arrives at 1110)

[MikeJ19]

Thoughts

I do not get to start set up, my forces have to move into defensive locations, therefore may need/want to have a screening force to but some time for me to defend. This force could also help me identify where the Soviets are coming from.

The key terrain is the area around the 3000 VP location to the 1000 VP location along the A30 and the 1000 VP location in the main urban area. Holding these three locations would likely give me a good chance to win.

I want to put some AT resources in sheltered locations to engage the Soviets on their flanks

The M109s do not arrive for a long time, hopefully I will have enough forces left when they arrive to make a difference.

I have not tried regrouping forces much, but this time I will add some of the elements from the Support Company to the Infantry companies – especially the AT systems.

Look at attaching a company of tanks to the RGJ.

Think about a reserve – a company of tanks…

For the Armed Gazelles to have success, I need to strip the Soviet AD systems.

Also, if I can take out Soviet HQs this will be very helpful and will slow down their advance.

[MikeJ19]

Option 2

[MikeJ19]

Option 3

[MikeJ19]

Thoughts

The key terrain is around the crossroads and into the urban area, thus I want to keep my forces focused on this area. Thus, I’m going to go with Option 3.


I will push at least a tank company forward initially to screen the RGJ moving into their defensive positions. If I think I can get away with two Tk companies forward, then I will try that – although they will have to work hard at not becoming fully engaged with the Soviets.

Also, I will push recon elements forward from both the RTR and the RGJ.

The morale of my forces is almost constant at 70% - except for 4 Fd Regt, which is at 90%. The readiness levels vary from a low around 73% to a high around 90%. I should watch this as I deploy my forces to ensure that I have the highest readiness units in the key locations.

A and C Companies of the RGJ have the highest readiness levels for the Inf Bn
A and B Squadrons have the highest readiness levels for the 4 RTR

I think that I want to assign my Spartan MCTs to Inf companies – because otherwise they need to be within 5 hexes of the RGJ Bn HQ – which may not always be feasible. I’ve never tried to reassign units, so this will be interesting.

The four Milan sections can work at long range from the RGJ Bn HQ, so I do not need to group them with a company.

I’m not usually good with details, so I will have to take my time when I start plotting the initial movement of my forces so that I get the right units in the right locations.

On my second try, I was able to assign a Spartan MCT section to A and C Companies.

[Panzer_Leader]

Nice write-up so far MikeJ19. I'm just over 50% through this scenario, playing as BAOR, as of last night so will be interested to follow your AAR and maybe compare notes at the end, to avoid spoilers.

[MikeJ19]

Panzer_Leader,

Thanks, it will be very interesting to see how our battles differ. I enjoy looking at how other players tackle the same scenario. Good luck and I hope that the BAOR stands proud!

Mike

[Ardi]

Ah, had some of the best PBEM games playing this scenario! Good stuff to play from both sides, I wish you handle it well.

[MikeJ19]

Ardi,

Thanks. I'm looking forward to getting at it.

Have a good day,

Mike

[MikeJ19]

The Royal Green Jackets deployment plan...

[Panzer_Leader]

ORIGINAL: MikeJ19

The morale of my forces is almost constant at 70% - except for 4 Fd Regt, which is at 90%. The readiness levels vary from a low around 73% to a high around 90%. I should watch this as I deploy my forces to ensure that I have the highest readiness units in the key locations.

A and C Companies of the RGJ have the highest readiness levels for the Inf Bn
A and B Squadrons have the highest readiness levels for the 4 RTR

Assessing unit readiness during pre-deployment is actually a good tip and not something I've consciously done before, usually basing it on unit / capabilities alone. It's especially useful with British battlegroups, which are usually more "square" with two tank squadrons (companies) and two armoured infantry companies, so you can choose between two units of same or similar capabilities.

[MikeJ19]

Panzer_Leader,

This is the first time I looked at unit readiness as it is the first time I really noticed any differences.

I thought about turning the Brits into two Battlegroups - and would have done it if the RGJ had 4 Inf companies. As it is, I'm still trying to decide if I should assign A sqn from the 4 RTR to the RGJ. I think I will not do that, although they will end up in the RGJ area...

Here is the planned deployment for the 4 RTR

[MikeJ19]

Thoughts

I’m not overly comfortable with my plan. Not sure what it is bugging me about it, time will tell.

The next thing to sort out is the order of movement. I have lot of units that need to move into location quickly. I need to get A Sqn out fast, and then the Milans and the RGJ into location.

As visibility improves, I may discover that I have to tweak some of my deployments.

My main fire support resources do not arrive for a while – over 99 minutes. So, I will not be able to do any CB until that time. Hopefully, the Soviet guns are not too powerful….

[IronMikeGolf]

Have you done time/distance numbers on your and enemy forces?