Operation Able Sentry

[Tazak]

Thanks Zumwalt, a well thought out defence making full use of the terrain there

The 17 lost tanks, do you know the breakdown of fallen/destroyed

[Tcao]

Just played through Orange Comet with a Marginal Win (likely higher than that if the Immenrode objective had reverted back to NATO control due to no enemy units on the objective and significant RTR presence overwatching the objective). Screenshot below:
op_orange_comet_final.JPG

My concept of operations was to maintain the sector assignments specified in the briefing (2RGJ defending in the north, 1RTR defending in the south). I identified three main axes of attack going through the three intermediate objectives and made my deployments accordingly:
- in the north: one RGJ company in the north, one in the center, and one in reserve defending Alt Wallmoden
- in the south: one RTR squadron defending the approaches to Waddingen, one in the center near Liebenburg, one forward of Jurgenohl, and one in reserve to the rear

The first enemy probe consisted largely of reconnaissance units and was swiftly neutralized. The first main attack wave was directed against Salzgitter Bad and Waddingen; both efforts were contained and destroyed with negligible losses to NATO. A second wave then assaulted towards Heimerode and Waddingen (again); this wave was similarly annihilated, but losses and low ammunition (especially among my RTR units) now began to make themselves felt. The third attack wave converged on the southern portion of the line and finally broke through my forward RTR squadron; however, the squadron at Jurgenohl maintained a steady defense and destroyed any units that broke through the line. No further attempts were made in the north, while the northern prong of the third wave was similarly destroyed.

I strategically positioned a forward observer unit with radar in the north and was thus able to locate and destroy large quantities of the WP artillery with my off-map artillery support. Several preparatory barrages were made prior to the first assault, but these largely (though not entirely) failed to do damage to my units, as they largely struck empty hexes.

Overall, this scenario definitely rewards careful advance planning; the terrain is highly favorable to the defender, which means that thoughtful positioning of units can make a huge difference in the outcome. In my case, ensuring that the approaches to each obstacle/minefield were covered meant that the enemy began taking losses well before reaching the main line of resistance, meaning that in most cases the assaults reached their culminating point before reaching the MLR. I look forward to the second scenario in this series, as it seems to have a different focus than this one.

op_orange_comet_butchersbill.JPG

I have gone through 2/3rd of this scenario , same result here, it is like a turkey shot.
Not impressed by the EG's attack. I was expected a more fierce attack, a chemical attack followed by waves of air strike then Mi-24 sweep through my formation.