Regulat Forward PBEM++

[haouai]

Here is an After action report of the game "Regular Forwad" in PBEM++ against Ough.

It's the continuation of the "Lesson of war" scenario I already played against him.

During this first scenario (July 20, 12pm to 4 pm) I played the West Germans who had to stop the advance of the 1/117 Mechanized Rifle Regiment of the 39 MRD and defend the crossroads east of Stadelhoffen (Konigsfeld map)

My forces were elements of the 102 Battalion of Pz Grenadier based at Hollfeld.

2 Company of PzGr
1 Platoon of Recce
1 Mortar Platoon

I was to expect to face the following units:

10-20 Tank
30-40 Armored Carrier
30-40 Infantery
20-40 Arty
1-10 Helicopter

My analysis was that I could not fight at long range because of the tanks. So I decided to ambush in the forest south of Stadelhoffen and send a Plattoon to the North-East of the map to attack his artillery from behind.

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It didn't work at all and I got run over

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INTRODUCTION

For the second scenario Regular Forward (July 20, 6pm to 1am) I play the Americans who have to counter-attack the elements of the 1/117 MRD who just took Stadelhoffen.
This takes place 2 hours after the 1st scenario on the same map.
My mission is to retake the Stadelhoffen area (1.250 VP).

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I lead the 3rd Brigade of the 1st US Armored Division based at Bamberg in the west of the map.

My Brigade consists of:

1 Mechanized Battalion :

• 3 Mechanized Infanterie Company

• 1 Mortar Company

• 1 Reconnaissance Platoon

1 Tank Battalion :

• 3 Tank Company

2 Support Company

• 1 Field Artillery Company

• 1 Attack Helicopter Company

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The first thing I do is look at :

- The mission briefing and the terrain (which I already know)

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- My troops and the supposed Eny troops.
As I have already fought the 1/117 MRR I know a bit what to expect and can compare their equipment with mine.

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5.6 M109.jpg (94.04 KiB) Viewed 985 times

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5.8 Stinger.jpg (152.5 KiB) Viewed 985 times

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- The weather and the situation of the Electronic Warefare

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My Analysis
I have to take 3 objectives : the city of Stadelhoffen, the crossroads in the north and the crossroads in the east

The electronic jamming of the Soviets will complicate my task a lot and I will be able to pass my orders only every 30min approximately whereas my opponent will be able to do it every 15-20 min.
He will be much more reactive than me.

I notice that the approach to Stadelhoffen by the east will be complicated because there are too many possible ambushes on the 3 roads that pass between the minefields laid by the Soviets

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I am supposed to have about as much Infantry and Armored Personnal Carrier as the Soviet but almost twice as many tanks as him.

I also note that night will fall in 2 hours.
The Eny troops and most of mine have effective Night Vision systems at 1.500m but my Abrams tanks and my M113 AT are the only ones to have effective Thermal Vision at 8.000m.

Conclusion:
I must therefore plan a simple stratégy (because I could not give many orders), which avoids the approach axes between the minefields, favor the long distance engagement with my Abrams and use the thermal vision advantage once the night falls.



I use this information to define my strategy which will be in 2 stages:



I: 7pm - 10pm

North and Center: I will advance carefully, staying at a distance from the objective and wait for the night.

South : Take Konigsfeld then advance by the south before going up north towards Azendorf.



II : 10pm - 1am

North and Center: I will assault Stadelhoffen from the north and center, covered by my Abrams which will be the only ones able to fire at long range at night.

South: Search and destroy the Russian artillery in the Azendorf area to prevent the enemy from firing on my troops launching the assault.




I divide my Brigade into 5 Groups

Note
Mech = Mechanized Infanterie Company
Tank = Tank company
Recce = Reconnaissance Squad
Mtr = Mortar Company
FA = Fiel Artillery (Off Map) Company

example
A. Tank = A Tank Company
1/B. Mech = 1st Platoon of B Mechanized Infantery Company
C. Recce = C Squad of the Recce Platoon

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Red Group (North):
A. Mech + B. Recce

Phase I: They will position themselves discreetly on the hill east of Wattendorf

Phase II: They will assault the northern crossroads of Stadelhoffen.


White Group (Center):
A. Tank (+ Stinger team of the C. Mech) + B. Tank + HQ. Recce

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Phase I: They will position themselves on the hill south of Grafenhausling and harass the Eny located on the objective from afar. During this phase they should give the Eny the impression that I will make a massive attack from the Center. This should fix my opponent's attention and force him to concentrate his troops on this front.

Phase II: They will then advance by night and position themselves on the hill east of Schederndorf to provide distant cover for the Red and Blue Group assault


Blue Group (Center):
C. Mech

Phase I: They will remain in reserve in case of unforeseen events.

Phase II: They will join the White Group and launch the assault on Stadelhoffen from the center.


Yellow Group (South):
The B. Mech + C. Tank + A. Recce

Phase I: They will launch the assault on Konigsfeld and then go discreetly east towards Hoffeld before going north towards Azendorf.

Phase II: They will search for the Eny artillery to destroy it.


Support Group (Rear):
Brigade HQ, Mech Battalion HQ, Tank Battalion HQ and 1. Mtr will remain in the rear.

The artillery (FA and Mrt) will be in "On Call" and FSSC "On".

Not armed enough and without IR or thermal systems, the Cobras will fly over the Konigsfeld area in reconnaissance while it is daylight.

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ORDERS FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE GAME

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Red Group

The B. Recce followed by the A. Mech will have to take Wattendorf.
The B. Recce will then advance on the hill to the east.

White Group

The HQ. Recce will have to go in the lead followed by the A. Tank to the hill south of Grafenhausling along the B505.

The B. Tank should head for Hohenhausling to cover the Yellow Group assault on Konigsfeld.

Blue Group

No orders: they are in reserve.

Yellow Group

The A. Recce and the B. Mech will have to go to Konigsfeld following the road Ba51. They will regroup in the forest 2km west of the city to prepare for the assault.

The C. Tank : it should be placed on the hill south of Huppendorf to cover the assault of the B. Mech.

Support

Cobras : they will have to fly over Konigsfeld until the B22 freeway and then go north west towards Steinfeld before returning to the FARP at Herzogenreuth.