Blackhorse - 2 Sqn 11 ACR

[MikeJ19]

So, I've decided to take a crack at Blackhorse, a scenario involving the US 2 Sqn ACR and the Soviet 113 Reconnaissance Bn - although they seem to be heavily resourced...

I'm approaching this one like the other AARs I have done, I will post my planning thoughts and then screen hots from the battle itself.

I hope you enjoy this thread.

[MikeJ19]

As I have learned, I need to look at the victory conditions before starting to run the scenario...

[MikeJ19]

The soviet force is reported to be the 113th Reconnaissance Bn

[MikeJ19]

Option 1

[MikeJ19]

Option 2

[MikeJ19]

Option 3

[Jagger2002]

Really looking forward to this AAR. I played this one as the US and was massacred. Should be interesting to see a veteran teach those Russkies a lesson and I can learn too... [;)]

[MikeJ19]

Jagger2002,

I'm looking forward to this one. Actually, I'm very impressed with the variety of scenarios, it keeps the game fresh. I'm almost ready to move up to a larger scenario.

Hopefully, I will not get massacred and can teach the soviets a lesson and learn something myself too!

Have a good day,

Mike

[MikeJ19]

Deductions from my look at the soviets:

I expect that they will be arriving piecemeal over time like my forces.
They outnumber my about 4-1 in tanks and 5-1 in IFVs.
They will likely have a lot of firepower forward, so I need to move quickly to get into defensive positions.
I need to account for their helicopters

[MikeJ19]

Friendly Forces

A mixed bag from 11 ACR

Starting on the map

4 HQ HQ 4, 2nd Sqdn
HQ – 1 M1 and a M577
3 Recce sections each with 2 HMMWW
3 Recce sections each with 2 Bradleys

Rest of forces arrive as follows:
1639 – Blackhorse Arty Battery – 6 M109s at north west corner
1644 – HQ 2 2nd Sqdn – arrive north of Stedtlingen (east side of map)
HQ – 1 M1, 1 stinger and 1 M577
2 M1 Tank platoons (4 M1s each)
1 Bradley platoon (4 Bradleys)
1 Recce section (2 HMMWW)

1649 – Blackhorse HQ 1 M577 at north west corner
1654 – HQ 3/2 sqdn – 1 Bradley, 1 stinger and 2 M577 arrive north of Stedtlingen
1659 – HQ 4/2 sqdn – 1 Bradley, 1 stinger and 2 M577 arrive north west corner
1709 – 2/4/2 sqdn – 4 Bradleys arrives north west corner
1719 – HQ 1 / 2 sqdn –
HQ – 2 M1, stinger and 1 M577
2 M1 tk plattons (4 M1s each) – arrive in West

1739 – 1/4/2 sqdn – 4 Bradleys


So, overall I have :

4 M1 Platoons
3 Bradley platoons
6 Recce sections

Tasks
Stop soviet advance
Retain control of 285 and surrounding area

[MikeJ19]

Another way to look at my forces

In the west I have:
A recce platoon
An M109 Battery
The Blackhorse HQ
A 2 pl Inf Company
A Tank company

In the East I have:
A tank company with a pl Inf


Thoughts

This is going to be interesting. This is a more conventional force structure, although I find it hard making sense of the US orders of battle, I more used to the Canadian/British structures.

I’m going to be outnumbered, once again. Hopefully, I can get my forces into defensive locations before the arrival of too much soviet firepower.

Intel says that the soviets are advancing along the 285, I expect to see a bit of a delay between running into their recce forces and then their main body elements. In theory, they are advancing along a route and do not know that I’m about to get in their way. So, this will be a meeting engagement – although I need to turn it more into a defensive battle, where they are coming to get me out of the key locations.

A significant amount of this scenario will be at night. I looked it up and sunset is at 2118. This will be my first night scenario, so I’m not sure what to expect from that, other than reduced visibility. I’m hoping/thinking that my sensors are better than the soviet ones.

From the look at the ground, I think that Nordheim is a key location. If I control it, I make it really hard for the soviets to reinforce either side of the Streu. So, my options should all be based on getting forces into Nordheim before the soviets.

It would be very nice if I could catch the soviets by surprise – and just after one of their orders phases. This would be a significant advantage. Not sure I can do this…

It would be good if I can strip out the soviet recce forces, before they get too close to Nordheim – this is unlikely, but would be a big advantage.

I would love to set up an ambush, but I do not think it is really feasible, I do not have enough resources to really do a strike, let alone fix them in place. I also doubt if the soviets would cooperate…

Okay, so what do I need to do:

Find the enemy
Figure out what I am against, where he is and where he is going - Early task for the Recce Pl

Fix the enemy
If possible, get the enemy to stop moving or to bunch up - Tasks for the companies and M109s

Strike
If possible, hit the enemy hard, with quick powerful strikes. Task for the companies and M109s

I think the strike may be too much, I do not think I have the resources do this – I will look at putting this into the options, but we will see.

[MikeJ19]

Thoughts

I would like to shape the battlefield, but the resources at my disposal limit me in this.

I also would like to keep the soviets off balance, but that will be difficult in this scenario.

I need to keep eyes on the soviet advance, to ensure that I react timely to any changes they throw at me.

Option 2 provides a strong depth reserve that I could use to strike at the soviets, but I do not like the idea of having a tk company in Nordheim instead of the Inf.

Decision

I like option 3, as it gives me some more flexibility, while maintaining more balance. I’m going with option 3, but making some small tweaks.

The tk company in the east will leave an Inf Pl in Willmars when it moves south towards the 285 along the NES31. The Tk company will hopefully take some flank shots at the advancing soviets along the 285 and then fall back towards Willmars.

The recce pl Bradleys will not push farther south than Nordheim, unless it is very clear that the soviets are not going to get there before my Inf company can. Nordheim is very important to my defence. They will remain there until the Inf Company arrives to take over.

The tk company in the west will try to get farther south than Stetten, but this will depend on how quickly the soviets arrive – and with what type of force…

[MikeJ19]

So far it has been quiet

[MikeJ19]

And then it all went wrong....

[MikeJ19]

So what do I do?

1. I can stick to my plan. The recce sections try to hold the parts of Nordheim that I’m in – let the soviets come after me.
The tk company in the east would continue to move into Willmars and then, potentially south towards the 285
The weakness of this option is that I may get stuck in an ongoing battle for Nordheim, which is not likely a good idea.

2. I can take the Tk company and have it attack the soviets in Nordheim. Hopefully, I would retake Nordheim and destroy the soviets in the town. The problem with this option is it exposes my eastern flank, the soviets could easily bypass my forces through Willmars

3. I can hold off on a decision, move the tk company to Willmars and let the recce section heading down the NES31 to see what the soviets are up to. This can buy me some more time and get a better idea of the soviet deployment. I have seen no sign of soviet movement west of the Streu, which is a good thing.

I'm going to go with the last option - delaying a decision for another orders cycle.

[MikeJ19]

So, I delayed and am glad I did...

[MikeJ19]

Almost all my reinforcements have arrived. I wish that I could give units that are about to enter orders the order phase beforehand. It is hard to see them arrive and then sit for 20 minutes... Now, they will have a pause before acting on the orders I give them. Oh well.

[MikeJ19]

Well, this is getting interesting...

[MikeJ19]

The soviets have picked up some more VP locations in the west... Now, they lead.

[MikeJ19]

Well, retaking Nordheim is not really in the cards...