US Campaign CA1 - The Steinbeck Gap

[IronMikeGolf]

Please also see this thread

US Campaign, first scenario CA1 Hunting Bears

This sector is where I expect the Soviet main effort. West of the city, terrain favors armored maneuver and there are high speed avenues of approach to key river crossing to the southwest. The Soviets also have the option to attack to the northwest and important bridges at Hollenstedt. If the Soviets break out of this gap, US defense gets very complicated and much more difficult. A little to the north is autobahn A1. It goes through restrictive terrain (a forested ridge line).

We can expect a tank regiment to attack along each of these axes. That leaves an MRR and it could attack either the gap or Holm-Seppensen or sit to see where success is and then move to exploit that.

Forces available are 3-41 IN. The three mech companies are on map and it's tank company arrives in an hour. The tank company will defend the autobahn assisted by some FASCAM. The three mech companies will defend the gap. A scout plt will conduct counter recon from the town of Eversen-Heide, looking for anything coming down the northernmost highway.

[IronMikeGolf]

Here is the 3-41 IN setup. A Company defends from high ground north of the gap. B Co from the town at the west side of the gap, and C Co from the high ground south of the gap.

A and C companies will be able to see and engage enemy as the approach and transit Bucholz. I am planning a FASCAM minefield on the southeast outskirts of Steinbeck. This is to protect C Co and will hopefully make the enemy bypass around it to the north. I'll have to destroy the unit that discovers the minefield so it doesn't get breached. There will be lots of weapons covering it.

If enemy tanks can close to 1000 meters or less, a mech company evaporates pretty quick. Smoke will help a lot. Smoke will also help a lot against indirect fires. I expect the high ground battle positions to get hammered.

[IronMikeGolf]

See above map.

There are 2 elements of 552 MI. These guys have the task of confirm/deny reinforcement of the center tank regiment by either the MRR or the neighboring tank regiment. The would be events on the Bde Cdr's Decision Support Template. The HMMWV unit will hide in Bucholz and the M113 unit will nose around the edge of the forest northwest of Steinbeck.

[IronMikeGolf]

Now, for the autobahn.

I am planning a minefield where A1 crosses the ridge line. I expect that to be discovered by a Combat Recon Patrol. This could cause the enemy to issue orders to bypass, but I think the lead tank company will probably enter the minefield. If I can kill the recon element before they can breach, so much the better.

By the time the enemy gets there, it will be daylight. If it's not raining (big if), then tanks on highlighted hex and the neighboring "43" to the southeast can cover the minefield and the ridge line just north and south of the minefield with direct fire. Smoke on the defending tanks will prevent unacceptable casualties. If I can get D/3-41 there in time, I think they can stall a tank regiment.

[IronMikeGolf]

0554 hrs.

Bridges in Steinbeck blown. Forces in position (2 tanks plts are 1 hex away from their defensive position). MInefields placed. I adjusted the minefield vicinity Steinbeck to be right on the edge of town to give a little more standoff range. I added a second minefield on A! on the far side of the ridge, so all of D/3-41 IN could have time to get to hull down before engaging the tank regiment cresting the ridge. Looks like I did not need the smoke for when they rolled into position there.

Edited to add:
Recon assets in Bucholz destroyed. Before they died, they confirmed the main body of the 248 Gds MRR moving into Bucholz from the southeast. Tank Bn leading that.

OH-58 northwest of Steinbeck spotted a tank bn moving toward Steinbeck from the northeast.

I expect the north side of the gap to get hit first and the south side 30-60 later. I don't know if anything is following the tank bn in coing from the north.

There is one more MRB from the 248 Gds MRR. I think an MRC was destroy in their assembly area the first half hour of the battle. That is just north of Luellau. Don't know where the rest are. Gueesing following the tk bn and MRB moving to Bucholz.

Ordered 3 x Neutralizing arty on the eastern minefield along A1. I delayed it an additional 7 minutes. Maybe a second tank company will get into the minefield by then.

C3 cycle is me 28 min and him 40 min. Enemy casualties are 116 tk/57 mech/27 inf

[IronMikeGolf]

0650 hrs

A tank bn is coming out of Steinbeck on the north side. 1 company destroyed. 2 full strength companies by the river.

2 plts of C/3-41 IN did a survivability move southwest of Steinbeck. They are reoccupying their defensive positions under smoke.

First minefield breached on the autobahn. D/3-41 IN in position to welcome the regiment.

Sct/2-66 AR moving up to overwatch highway N3 between the gap and the autobahn

A/4-41 moving to occupy the town of Sproetze.

Cycle time is 27 min/53 min. Enemy casualties are 126/110/70. He's got a lot of tanks left, but his infantry is down to around 30%. I need a good effort on the autobahn and the fight in the gap itself is about to heat up.

[IronMikeGolf]

0717 hrs

Tk bn northwest of Steinbeck has been destroyed. Another tk bn is entering the gap southwest of Stein beck 2 tk companies are stopped in the minefield. 3 volleys of ICM are on the way. There another 2 tank companies here somewhere and an MRB.

On the autobahn, the lead tk company has been destroyed. 2 tk companies are in the minefield, Another tk company is in the breached minefield. There should be 2 more tk companies east of that one. 3 volleys of ICM ordered for the minefield. Terrain and obstacles are forcing him to attack piecemeal.

The north road is quiet. I've ordered a recon my OH-58s to locate and identify any enemy units on that road.

Holm-Seppensen is now quiet. 2 MRCs crosssed the river and both have been destroyed. LOGPACs are moving forward there. OH-58 overflight of enemy assembly areas ordered.

Cycle time is 30/53. Enemy casualties are 192/134/78

[IronMikeGolf]

0747 hrs

On the autobahn, there remains half a tk company. Two full strength tk plts with half their ammo defend.

Half a tk company is in the gap. About a company's worth of Bradleys are covering the gap. A/4-41 IN has occupied Sproetze as a blocking force to keep the gap bottled up.

C3 Cycle time is 29/49. Enemy casualties are 236/138/78. I estimate he's got a regiment's worth of tanks and a company's worth of infantry.

[IronMikeGolf]

0803 hrs

Soviets reduced to 30% effective strength.

All enemy eliminated on the autobahn. Enemy recon elements localized on the north road. No enemy vicinity Holm-Seppensen

Another tank battalion entered the gap from Steinbeck and took 35% casualties. Enemy forces in Bucholz were in disarray and intermixed. In Bucholz, east of the Steinbeck River, the enemy had 1 fresh MRB and one fresh tank bn.

2-66 AR just entered the sector.

Enemy casualties: 265/139/78.

No victory locations west of Steinbeck were taken. I am not sure how to improve on this result. Perhaps a counter-recon fight by the scout section in Steinbeck might help. Better use of smoke, too.

[MikeAP]

Good AAR.

Excellent engagement area that you had on the northwest side of Steinbeck.

How did you deal with the enemy along A1? I remember playing this scenario and getting steamrolled along A1 because I left an economy of force defense to deal with it. It ended up being a point of penetration that resulted with an enemy armored battalion in my rear area.

[IronMikeGolf]

Thanks, Mike. The Gap is still tough, as there is not really enough standoff between the mech positions and the edge of Steinbeck. When I play this again in 2.04, I am going to try letting them come out further and even take a couple of VPs in the gap. Then use 2-66 AR to retake them in a counter attack.

As to the autobahn, I did a terrain analysis. You see D/3-41 IN sitting in the woods on high ground south of A1 and east of N3? They can cover the ridge to the east and a goodly bit of A1 as it cuts through the forest. I put a minefield where they can see it and a company of tanks will stop that attack. Sct/2-66 AR can take care of the leakers. That's the Bradleys east of Drestedt and and a couple clicks west of N3

[MikeAP]

ORIGINAL: Iron Mike Golf

Thanks, Mike. The Gap is still tough, as there is not really enough standoff between the mech positions and the edge of Steinbeck. When I play this again in 2.04, I am going to try letting them come out further and even take a couple of VPs in the gap. Then use 2-66 AR to retake them in a counter attack.

As to the autobahn, I did a terrain analysis. You see D/3-41 IN sitting in the woods on high ground south of A1 and east of N3? They can cover the ridge to the east and a goodly bit of A1 as it cuts through the forest. I put a minefield where they can see it and a company of tanks will stop that attack. Sct/2-66 AR can take care of the leakers. That's the Bradleys east of Drestedt and and a couple clicks west of N3

We must be playing different scenarios.

I wish I had recorded it.

I had an two companies defending along A1 and fought a formidable foe. I was out flanked in the north, which caused significant problems. I was also flanked in the south, which caused problems also. The flankers went so far as to capture make VPs in the rear. I didn't see you have that problem.

I established a defense in depth using my dismounts inside the city, defending the west side with tanks in the woods overwatching the western edge of town.

The result was horrible, and makes me wonder if there's something wrong with dismounts. The soviets went through my infantry like water. Infantry versus tanks in close terrain???? Realistically, the tanks should've been torn to pieces, but my infantry was quickly routed.

This is the kind of stuff that makes me very frustrated with this game.

[IronMikeGolf]

The AI ran a tank battalion up A1 on me. He was able to get a tank within 500 meters of the VP hex. The minefield really messed him up. First, it stopped the lead unit. AI gave orders for the other companies to bypass the mines. Orders delay slowed them. Getting off the autobahn and going uphill in the forest slowed them more. That gave D Co plenty of time to whittle them down.

[Enigma6584]

Again, just a superb AAR! Reads like a novel, looks like a movie. [&o]

[IronMikeGolf]

Thanks, RedCharlie65

[CapnDarwin]

Great read on this AAR too. Do you mind if I set a link to these two AARs from Grogheads and the OTS Facebook page?

Thanks. [&o]

[IronMikeGolf]

I'd be honored, Capn. Thanks!

[MikeAP]

ORIGINAL: Iron Mike Golf

The AI ran a tank battalion up A1 on me. He was able to get a tank within 500 meters of the VP hex. The minefield really messed him up. First, it stopped the lead unit. AI gave orders for the other companies to bypass the mines. Orders delay slowed them. Getting off the autobahn and going uphill in the forest slowed them more. That gave D Co plenty of time to whittle them down.

There was no Soviet flank move to the North or South?

Again, during my play through I was seriously outflanked

[WABAC]

I have always drawn a serious effort along the far northern road through the woods. Depending on my blocking force they head west towards the bridges or south towards the crossroads.

[IronMikeGolf]

I suspect that may be the AI reacting to how vigorously you defend Steinbeck and A1. The 62d Guards Tank Regt is positioned to be able to attack along any of 3 axes: Steinbeck, A1, or K52.