D+3 23 July 1989, 04:00 - 10:00 | Netherlands vs. Soviet Union @ Soltau, West-Germany
Length: 6 hours
Side: Warsaw Pact
Opponent: budikah
Scenario background:
The Dutch 41st Armored Brigade is thrown back into the fight as the Soviets commit the fresh 16th Tank Division from the 2nd Guards Tank Army’s reserves. Fresh from assembly areas around the massive Munster training grounds, the Soviet division is driving hard west along the A7 autobahn, aiming to keep the pressure on NORTHAG. After a short breather to refit, the Dutch rush into position to meet them head-on in the patchwork terrain of the Lüneburg Heath.
This stretch of country is vital. The A7 is a fast north-south highway that both sides need for feeding in heavy columns and supplies. A Soviet breakthrough here would threaten to roll up NATO l i nes, open the road to key ports, and exploit the classic tank country of the North German Plain. The huge Truppenübungsplatz areas around Munster also offer ready-made logistics hubs and jumping-off points, making control of Soltau and the surrounding road network a serious prize
Our Forces:
USSR 16th Guards Tank Division
I won’t be going into much details due to unit quantities
On map:
65th Guards Tank Regiment which consist of:
1x Recon Company; 3x Tank Battalions; 1x Eng Company and 1x Artillery Battalion (SPA)
60th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment which consists of:
1x Motorized Recon Company; 1x MR Battalion airlifted; 2x MR Battalions on BMP-2s; 1x AT company on BRDM-2 (Konkurs); 1x Eng Company; 1x Artillery Battalion (SPA)
72nd Guards Artillery Regiment which consists of:
3x SPA Companies and 1x SPRL Company
Lift: 6x Mi-8TV with 1x MR Battalion on-board; Scheduled to withdraw in 2hrs.
1x 1st Separate Combat Helicopter Regiment; Scheduled to withdraw in 2hrs.
1x 2nd Separate Combat Helicopter Regiment; Scheduled to arrive in 2hrs and withdraw in 4hrs
Enemy Forces:
Intel has identified the Dutch 13 Painfbattalion stretched thin covering the brigade’s retreat. Further west, elements of the Dutch 41 Pansterbrigade have been identified near Soltau and could be in position to oppose our renewed offensive. Intel reports indicate that local enemy forces may contain over 80 Recce, over 80 Tank, 70 to 80 APC, over 80 I nf, 10 to 20 SP AT, 20 to 20 AT, 70 to 80 HQ, 20 to 20 Eng, 10 to 20 SPArty, 10 to 20 Arty and over 80 Utility subunits.
Objectives:
Our offensive against the Nederland I Corps has continued its drive west after breaching the defensive line along the Elbe-Seiten Kanal. The previous day’s fighting saw us seize control of Munster before nightfall. Overnight the division finished moving into its assembly area around Munster. The remnants of the Dutch 11th Armored Infantry Brigade are spread out in hasty defensive positions just west of Munster. More Dutch forces are reported assembling near Soltau
Weather:
*After Alamo at Soest I’m checking the weather, it almost cost me a victory last time.
In general for the whole scenario it will be overcast with cloud ceiling 920m and NW 3mph wind, visibility 1500-10000 m.
Artillery: Reduced effectiveness of smart munitions due to low cloud ceilings. - not good, we have lot of DP ICM
Helicopters: Restricted nap-of-earth flying due to low cloud ceilings. Restricted close-air-support due to poor visibility and for the first 2 hours restricted night time target acquisition due to low cloud ceilings. - Not ideal but it is what it is.
AD: Reduced detection and identification of aircraft due to low cloud ceilings and poor visibility. - The enemy doesn’t have an air force, I don’t know about helicopters.
NBC Operations: Reduced effectiveness of chemical agents due to lack of wind limiting dispersal. - not applicable.
Initial Situation, my assessment and plan:
*Playing this scenario for the first time, as well as my opponent.
The enemy is dug-in east of Soltau, roughly till the center of the map on the west bank of the river.
We also have a FO unit with ground based radar, so if I can sneak it close enough I can be in a really good position for CB. I’ll try to hide it in the north woods.
Giving how much AA I have I expect the enemy to have helicopters and/or strike aircraft.
My plan is:
Air assault and helicopters:
I will drop MR Battalion in 3 location:
3/1/60 GMRRR will be dropped off south of A7 S crossroads VP then they will secure the area and be on standby.
2/1/60 GMRRR will be dropped off at swamp area NW of Meinholz then they will advance north to cut off the road to the VP area.
1/1/60 GMRRR with the regiment's HQ and AA manpad platoon will drop off south of Soltau, blitz into the city and secure the southern area.
1/60 GMRRR objective is to secure crucial points behind enemy lines, hold and observe
Attack helicopters will escort Lift squadrons, leftovers will go north and then west to check open field and monitor enemy movements.
Helicopters after dropoff together with escorts will provide immediate support to air dropped troops if needed and then proceed behind enemy lines to recon and harass enemy troops.
After 1 pass behind enemy lines they’ll come back to the deployment zone for withdrawal.
2nd Separate Combat Helicopter Regiment will provide support to main forces as needed.
Ground forces:
Recon forces will rush along the roads until obstacles or first contact.
The engineer force will be trailing behind main forces, in case bridges are destroyed and there’s need for TLB or to clear minefields.
3 main directions of attack:
Southern direction. Handled by 3/60 GMRRR. Their objective is to cross the river, secure VP, link up with air assault troops behind enemy lines and provide support to the Central direction.
Central direction. Handled by 2/60 GMRRR & 1/65 GTR. Cross the river, ensure safety of bridges for tanks to cross, secure VP, act based on situation.
North direction. Handled by 1/60 GMRRR & 2/65 and 3/65 GTR. Secure northern crossroad VP on B209 road, advance along B71 and secure final VP at B71-B209 VP.
I expect to push in South and Central directions, while North would be more stationary.
Whereever possible rivers will be crossed on BMP-2s first to provide overwatch on bridges so we can move tanks fast.
Off-map artillery will provide smoke screens and harassing short artillery 5rnds-5mins smoke and suppression missions on suspected enemy positions.
0400-0500
In the first minutes the map lit up with electronic emissions from enemy radars I assume - about 5-7km north of Soltau and south of Soltau outskirts. I don’t mind the first part but the second part worries me. I have my helicopters coming from that direction and it could end in disaster.
Helicopters and air assault:
LZ-1 was clear, units were landed successfully and now moving to positions.
LZ-2 appears clear, units should land in the next few minutes.
LZ-3 is very questionable.
I messed up and did not attach an escort to the LZ-3 group, so I have a spare heli on the base, which will be used as air support for ground forces.
Ground Forces:
Southern direction: All clear - moving as planned, partially crossed the river.
Central direction: few skirmishes between our forces and enemy, contested.
Northern direction: Few skirmishes between our assault forces and enemy, resulting in our favour.
At 0430 I got a good opportunity to adjust my plan.
Unfortunately my on-map and off-map artillery besides SPRL cannot reach Electronic Emission markers.
I decided to take SPRL from CB to hit far 7 EE targets with ICM ammo. Only 1, closest is reachable by SPA. Hopefully it provides necessary results to cover helicopters.
Closer to the end of the hour all Air assault units successfully disembarked on their LZ points.
ICM barrages were effective but not totally destructive - So the enemy was able to use stingers - helicopters were decimated on their route after air assault units delivery.
A few Mi-8s passed between SAMs and spotted enemy HQs and artillery.
I f-up really bad - I did not check and assumed that Mi-8s carry S-8 or at least S-5 rockets, well these DO NOT.
Will follow up with SPRL on those positions ASAP.
Other ground units successfully reached their positions and destroyed any enemy resistance met.
3/65 GTR battalion successfully overran enemy mechanised infantry on the north and secured their positions.
0500-0600
Ground forces: Recon units will advance forward; Vanguard will crush remaining dug in enemies. Rearguard units finish crossing the river. All formations advance forward till contact or A7 autobahn.
Air assault: 3/1/60 GMRRR -almost fully destroyed in the city and counterattacking enemy armor formations. They met multiple armor and mechanized formations in the Soltau itself; 2/1/60 GMRRR - no resistance, will move further west till contact; 1/1/60 GMRRR - area secured, enemy counterattacking armor was successfully ambushed.
Helicopters: After my f-up with pods, Mi-8 were ordered to get back ASAP. M-24 in hunting mode providing support to air assault forces when applicable.Even after ICM bombardment enemy AD still strong and bite back.
Artillery: Mortars crossing the river where needed, to stay close to their element; On-Map SPA On-Call. MLRS Platoon firing on enemy HQ and artillery positions revealed west of Soltau.
I decided to move all on-map SPA further west so we can effectively provide CB and concentrate on Soltau.
So in general my forces successfully crossed half of the map with little to no resistance. Air assault results are so-so, I’ve lost a bunch of helicopters, almost the entire assault company and the remaining 2 are on foot and not much maneuverable. However visual intel provided by helicopter resulted in destroyed enemy artillery and HQ units.
I expected more fights between the river and A7.
It looks like my opponent prepared strong defensive positions along A7 and Soltau and planned a counter attack from the flanks.
As of 0600 we’ve lost 71 subunits and 26 withdrew: Mostly infantry, helicopters and tanks.
However, the enemy lost 191 subunits: Mostly transport, infantry and tanks as well as AD.
Looks like a good result for the attacking side.
0600-0700
I did not expect mines in the center-north area…
1st wave helicopters were recalled from the battlefield. - Lost visuals on enemy positions. The 2nd wave of Mi-24s arrived - sent hunting along the north section of A7.
Lots of engagements in the middle.
What surprised me is that there was round 2 on my southern front, an opponent sneaked Leopards through the woods on the north, which were hunted down by Hinds though.
And F-16 interdicted my mortars, mechanized infantry and armor on the move, AD were useless.
I have rocket artillery available again, will saturate with HE Soltau, North of Soltau and East of Soltau where I spotted multiple enemies with remaining vanguard of 2/1/60 GMRRR
The enemy left behind the main forces giving trouble and threatening artillery - more than I expected.
0700-0800
The first half an hour was rough - I’ve lost about 7% of the Starting Forces VP and the enemy keeps pressing on the left flank, and already overrun 3/1/60 GMRRR positions.
3/60 GMRRR rearguard sent to meet them, overstretching the left flank.
Leftovers of 1/1/60 GMRRR spotted more units moving from Soltau to crossroads, so many that they created traffic jams - perfect opportunity for artillery strike - Using all available on-map artillery.
All of the off-map 2S3M artillery became useless, max range ends roughly along the east side of A7 autobahn. Rocket artillery is rearming again.
Enemy scouts were spotted north of the 5/65 GTR position.
Enemy F-16 came back, luckily were deterred by SPAA fire.
Helicopters were called off and withdrew.
Closer to 0800 enemy units were spotted by the bridge south of Meinholz, 3/60 GMRRR were not able to get there on time.
Simultaneously to this - enemy armor attacked 3/60 GMRRR position from the left flank.
I was able to stop an enemy attack from the north, but that’s the only good news.
As of 0800 Enemy casualties: 501 subunits, Our casualties: 292 fallen out+destroyed and 29 withdrawn.
0800-0900
Change of plans:
For the rest of the operation I have to stop the enemy counter-attack, prevent any further attacks and hold what’s already secured on the east side of A7 autobahn. In short - I’m in defence now.
The best outcome would be to inflict enormous casualties which will result in enemy surrender.
Very eventful hour:
North: Enemy SPAA was spotted moving south and destroyed.
Center: Lots of smoke, effectively splitting my defensive lines so the backline cannot overwatch the frontline - I expect imminent assault. 1/2/60 GMRRR on the frontline surrendered.
South-Center: Enemy armor with mechanized infantry were able to pincer forward but were stopped by a backline of 3/60 and 2/60 GMRRR.
South: Enemy crossed the bridge and moved north under fire with high casualties. If they are able to move further they can easily attack 5/60 GMRRR SPA.
A lot of enemy HQs lit up and auto FSCC generated barrage requests. I see that the opponent's cycle jumped from 31 to 43 and now to 46 minutes.
At 0856 the match ended by inflicting catastrophic losses to the opponent.
Conclusion:
Hard scenario due to many options to play it from both sides.
This match was probably the most eventful I played so far.
I did not expect F-16s and FASCAMs.
Very good artillery work and later flank attacks almost turned the tides.
Thank you!