A Thin Tan Line - Soviets

[MikeJ19]

After being defeated by the Germans, I'm back to try again this time against the Brits.

A quick look at the map and the location of the VPs, this looks a lot like a Soviet Tank Rush.

[MikeJ19]

The ground is very open for the most part with a major river going through the centre part of the AO. The major river (Rensen) is too wide to wade across, except (maybe) in a couple of narrow areas.

A hill dominates the Northern part of the AO and there are some roads moving East to West.

The city of Rensenbach is approachable only by a bridge.

Swampy, low level areas are in the southern part of the AO.

There are four possible crossing sites over the river, three are fording/bridging sites and one is the main bridge over the Rensen River. I have marked the crossing sites with blue stars.

[MikeJ19]

Here is my best guess at what the Brits have to fight me.

[MikeJ19]

A look at how the Brits might defend

[MikeJ19]

Second option

[MikeJ19]

Final option

[MikeJ19]

Here is a look at my formation

[MikeJ19]

My fire support

[MikeJ19]

My air defence

[MikeJ19]

A look at how victory is determined in this battle!

[MikeJ19]

Here is a look at my attack options

[MikeJ19]

The second option

[MikeJ19]

The last one

[StuccoFresco]

I'd go with Option 3 with an echeloned offensive. First you draw the Brit's attention to the North, where they expect you, then you make your move in the South. I'd assign at least an Hind to the South, too. If you manage to discover and engage their SPAs it would be awesome: artillery is too dangerous to let it fire all the time at your guys, and your own artillery must be used to suppress/kill the defenders at the crossings.

I see your T-72s have gun-launched ATGMs, so you can try and risk the long-range engagements outside the city. At more than 3000m you can have a distinct advantage, or at least it wouldn't be the usual slaughter for WP. At the same time, holy shit, that's 40-50 AT for them? If they are all long-range ATGMs your tanks have no hope to survive.

[MikeJ19]

Stucco,

That is my thinking too. The Brits have a ton of AT missiles, so that is going to cause me lots of trouble. I hope that my artillery can help make a difference. This is going to be fun.

All the best,

Mike

[MikeJ19]

Here is the plan

[MikeJ19]

I want my recce elements to find the initial British locations – so that I can start bringing them under artillery fire as soon as possible.

I have two BRM-1K Pl moving to positions along the hill. From there they can see into the edge of RENSENBACH.

The BRDM-2 Pl is moving into position to see the crossing site and the town of Poggenhagen. They will pause and if they see no enemy, they will move to establish the crossing site.

The Recce Coy HQ deploys in the middle, on the outskirts of SCHWANDORF.

[MikeJ19]

Game on.

[MikeJ19]

End of first command cycle

[StuccoFresco]

The Brits aren't taking any chance: they want to know what are you going to do. Unless it's a counterattack (i'd be grateful for that), if they spot your move south they can send something to "close" the southern crossing...