At What Cost? - A What Would Zhukov Do? After Action Report
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 5:08 am
Operational Method
All orders are issued at the HQ level. All AI plans are left to pan out, and no reactionary moves will be made. No artillery units are brought under my direct fire control. I am simply issuing high-level orders to the HQ’s, and letting the chits fall where they may.
Outline
The 51st (51st Armored Infantry Battalion HQ) and the 318th (1st Battalion HQ 318th Infantry Regiment) secure the crossing at Steinebruck with max aggression, rate of fire, and ammunition, with artillery direct support only chosen.
The 35th (35th Tank Battalion HQ) defends an over-watch position on the hill directly south of Steinebruck, set at a 315 degree facing with a frontage of 600 and a depth of 300.
The CCA4 (CCA 4th Armored Division Base) moves to the original starting position of the 318th.
Phase One Result
The Steinebruck crossing was initially secured at 10:27. At 12:00 when the Lommersweiler objective became active, I selected pause and issued the following orders:
Lommersweiler was initially secured at 14:30:
End of Day One – Success
Four enemy units surrendered during the day. Total kills were 4.2/33.3.
Phase Two Plan
The Breitfeld Crossroads becomes active at 3 AM. This drives my orders for all units available, including the 4th (4th Armored Division HQ) and the CCB4 (CCB4 Armored Division HQ), even though they become available at 1:55 and 2:00 respectively, before the new objective becomes active.
The 4th defends at Steinebruck, and the CCB4 attacks Breitfeld Crossroads, with max aggression, rate of fire, and ammunition and no rest selected.
At 4:15 I selected pause and issued the following orders:
The 318th to move from Steinebruck to defend at Lommersweiler, and order the 51st and the 35th to leave Lommersweiler and attack the Breitfeld Crossroads independently, with max aggression, rate of fire, and ammunition and no rest selected.
Phase Two Result
The Breitfeld Crossroads were initially secured at 06:27. At 15:45 I selected pause and had to issue new orders to the 318th as they were stopped outside of Steinebruck on their way to Lommersweiler, having missed several arrival times.
With the 51st and 35th vacating Lommersweiler for their attack on Breitfeld Crossroads, the Lommersweiler was lost and I began to take several transport columns at 100% losses.
In true Zhukov fashion, I ordered the 318th on a force march to Lommersweiler, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. If I lose them on the way or at Lommersweiler, so be it. Lommersweiler was secured by the 318th shortly after their do or die order package, at 16:26.
End of Day Two – Success
Five enemy units surrendered that day, and one was destroyed. Eleven transport columns were 100% losses. Total kills were 9.1/33.3.
Phase Three Plan
With the arrival of the CCR4 (CCR4 Armored Division HQ) at 07:05, the CCB4 and the 51st will perform a move to the clearing east of St. Vith behind the forest, to form-up a battle group to attack the final objective.
Phase Three Result
The situation as 14:00 when I gave the final attack order to the battle group consisting of 3,712 personnel, 536 AFV’s & 52 guns with an anti-personnel firepower rating of 3,056 and an anti-armor firepower rating of 6,925:
End of Day Three – Success
Five enemy units surrendered that day. Five transport columns were 100% losses, and two units disbanded and merged with another unit. Total kills were 17.8/33.3.
St. Vith was initially secured at 20:43. I had hoped to have a “major presence” in the area by the end of the day, so I may have underestimated the ability of the battle group that I had formed.
Phase Four Plan
With no additional reinforcements scheduled, and the final attack orders issued on Day Three (to a smashing successful outcome), my plan for Day Four is to simply maintain the status quo.
The battle group consisting of CCR4, CCB4 & 51st will hold St. Vith, the CCA4 will hold Steinebruck, the 35th will hold Breitfeld Crossroads, and the 318th will hold Lommersweiler.
Phase Four Result
The enemy made no effort to assault my forces holding Steinebruck, Lommersweiler & Breitfeld Crossroads. There was a bludgeoning in the southwest of St. Vith as they tried several times to break into the vise that my battle group had on the objective, to absolutely no avail.
This marked the third consecutive day that I had no airstrikes available due to poor weather conditions.
End of Day Four - Success
Five enemy units surrendered that day, and one was destroyed. No transport column losses were experienced. Total kills were 25.9/33.3.
I was expecting an offer of surrender, as early on as 18:00, but it never came. I wondered what Zhukov would do if offered one. I decided that if one were to be offered, it would be ignored and I would crush the enemy.
End of Scenario
No offer to surrender came, and no attack came against any of the objectives for the final six hours.
The final numbers show the blood bath that just occurred:
I think the singular key to victory was the push of the units, and the pivot made by the battle group to the east of St. Vith, as opposed to traversing the expected path.
This scenario was a lot of fun to play and writing up my first real AAR was fun as well, I hope you enjoyed reading it.
[:D]
All orders are issued at the HQ level. All AI plans are left to pan out, and no reactionary moves will be made. No artillery units are brought under my direct fire control. I am simply issuing high-level orders to the HQ’s, and letting the chits fall where they may.
Outline
- End of Day One – Steinebruck and Lommersweiler secured.
- End of Day Two – Breitfeld Crossroads secured.
- End of Day Three – Have a major presence in the St. Vith area.
- End of Day Four – Secure St. Vith and hold Steinebruck, Lommersweiler & Breitfeld Crossroads.
The 51st (51st Armored Infantry Battalion HQ) and the 318th (1st Battalion HQ 318th Infantry Regiment) secure the crossing at Steinebruck with max aggression, rate of fire, and ammunition, with artillery direct support only chosen.
The 35th (35th Tank Battalion HQ) defends an over-watch position on the hill directly south of Steinebruck, set at a 315 degree facing with a frontage of 600 and a depth of 300.
The CCA4 (CCA 4th Armored Division Base) moves to the original starting position of the 318th.
Phase One Result
The Steinebruck crossing was initially secured at 10:27. At 12:00 when the Lommersweiler objective became active, I selected pause and issued the following orders:
- The 51st and 35th to assault Lommersweiler with no rest selected.
- CCA4 to defend at Steinebruck, along with the 318th left in place.
Lommersweiler was initially secured at 14:30:
End of Day One – Success
Four enemy units surrendered during the day. Total kills were 4.2/33.3.
Phase Two Plan
The Breitfeld Crossroads becomes active at 3 AM. This drives my orders for all units available, including the 4th (4th Armored Division HQ) and the CCB4 (CCB4 Armored Division HQ), even though they become available at 1:55 and 2:00 respectively, before the new objective becomes active.
The 4th defends at Steinebruck, and the CCB4 attacks Breitfeld Crossroads, with max aggression, rate of fire, and ammunition and no rest selected.
At 4:15 I selected pause and issued the following orders:
The 318th to move from Steinebruck to defend at Lommersweiler, and order the 51st and the 35th to leave Lommersweiler and attack the Breitfeld Crossroads independently, with max aggression, rate of fire, and ammunition and no rest selected.
Phase Two Result
The Breitfeld Crossroads were initially secured at 06:27. At 15:45 I selected pause and had to issue new orders to the 318th as they were stopped outside of Steinebruck on their way to Lommersweiler, having missed several arrival times.
With the 51st and 35th vacating Lommersweiler for their attack on Breitfeld Crossroads, the Lommersweiler was lost and I began to take several transport columns at 100% losses.
In true Zhukov fashion, I ordered the 318th on a force march to Lommersweiler, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. If I lose them on the way or at Lommersweiler, so be it. Lommersweiler was secured by the 318th shortly after their do or die order package, at 16:26.
End of Day Two – Success
Five enemy units surrendered that day, and one was destroyed. Eleven transport columns were 100% losses. Total kills were 9.1/33.3.
Phase Three Plan
With the arrival of the CCR4 (CCR4 Armored Division HQ) at 07:05, the CCB4 and the 51st will perform a move to the clearing east of St. Vith behind the forest, to form-up a battle group to attack the final objective.
Phase Three Result
The situation as 14:00 when I gave the final attack order to the battle group consisting of 3,712 personnel, 536 AFV’s & 52 guns with an anti-personnel firepower rating of 3,056 and an anti-armor firepower rating of 6,925:
End of Day Three – Success
Five enemy units surrendered that day. Five transport columns were 100% losses, and two units disbanded and merged with another unit. Total kills were 17.8/33.3.
St. Vith was initially secured at 20:43. I had hoped to have a “major presence” in the area by the end of the day, so I may have underestimated the ability of the battle group that I had formed.
Phase Four Plan
With no additional reinforcements scheduled, and the final attack orders issued on Day Three (to a smashing successful outcome), my plan for Day Four is to simply maintain the status quo.
The battle group consisting of CCR4, CCB4 & 51st will hold St. Vith, the CCA4 will hold Steinebruck, the 35th will hold Breitfeld Crossroads, and the 318th will hold Lommersweiler.
Phase Four Result
The enemy made no effort to assault my forces holding Steinebruck, Lommersweiler & Breitfeld Crossroads. There was a bludgeoning in the southwest of St. Vith as they tried several times to break into the vise that my battle group had on the objective, to absolutely no avail.
This marked the third consecutive day that I had no airstrikes available due to poor weather conditions.
End of Day Four - Success
Five enemy units surrendered that day, and one was destroyed. No transport column losses were experienced. Total kills were 25.9/33.3.
I was expecting an offer of surrender, as early on as 18:00, but it never came. I wondered what Zhukov would do if offered one. I decided that if one were to be offered, it would be ignored and I would crush the enemy.
End of Scenario
No offer to surrender came, and no attack came against any of the objectives for the final six hours.
The final numbers show the blood bath that just occurred:
- Men – 3,533 to 472
- AFV – 132 to 49
- Gun – 81 to 3
I think the singular key to victory was the push of the units, and the pivot made by the battle group to the east of St. Vith, as opposed to traversing the expected path.
This scenario was a lot of fun to play and writing up my first real AAR was fun as well, I hope you enjoyed reading it.
[:D]