PBEM | Lions Roar
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2026 3:32 am
Scenario: Lions Roar
D+4 July 24 1989, 20:00 -03:00 | Netherlands vs. Soviet Union @ Schwarmstedt, FRG
Length: 7 hours
Side: Warsaw Pact
Opponent: budikah
Scenario background:
As the Soviet’s 3rd Shock Army’s 12th Guards Tank Division’s attack grinds to a halt at the confluence of the Leine and Aller Rivers, NORTHAG sees its chance. To its north, the Dutch have blunted the Soviet’s 2nd Guards Tank Army’s push across the Luneburg Heide. To split the two main Warsaw Pact armies and keep the Soviets from linking up, NORTHAG throws in its reserve into an offensive. The fresh West German 7th Panzer Division, alongside the battle-hardened Dutch 41st Armoured Brigade are ordered to crush the stalled Soviet force and drive a wedge between two Soviet armies.
Our Forces:
12th Guards Tank Division
200 GMRR which consist of:
1x Recon platoon.
200 GMRR 1st Battalion: 2x MRR companies; 1x AT Platoon; 1x AAA AD Platoon; 1x FO Squad
200 GMRR 2nd Battalion: 3x MRR companies; 1x AAA AD Platoon; 2x FO Squads
SPA/200 GMRR Battalion.
Off-map: 1/117 SPAR(2S3M), 2/117 SPAR(2S3M), 4/117 SPAR(BM-21)
Reinforcements: Armored units of 322 GTR
In 2 hours: SPA/322 GTR(2S1) - Off map artillery; 2/322 GTR Armored Battalion
In 2h30m: 1/322 GTR Armored Battalion and Regiment’s HQ
Enemy Forces:
Dutch 41st Armored Brigade - NE, From Soltau, around Truppenusungsplat Bergen
7th Panzer Division (NORTHAG's Reserve) - General West direction, moving towards the Leine River front.
Objectives:
The mission is to hold the hard won area around Schwarmstedt. The division commander has ordered the regiment to hold at all cost against any possible NATO counterattacks. The 322nd Guards Tank Regiment is nearby, nearly prepared to resume the division's advance.
Weather:
Light rain till 0000, then clear. Visibility 7500m-10000m
Initial Situation, my assessment and plan:
*Playing this scenario for the first time, as well as my opponent.
I expect the Dutch to attack from the NE, and later Germans from the west.
West Direction:
On the west I decided to position recon units further to alert when Germans show up.
2/1/200 and AT/1/200 will hold the defence line along the Leine river.
1/1/200 Will move forward into the woods - Will be used when needed.
East Direction:
2/200 will hold defence in the woods north of river Aller.
2/2/200 will move forward for the same reason as 1/1/200 and will be used when needed.
1/1/200 and 2/2/200 - I decided not to use smoke to cover their movement since it would 100% show where they are heading. Moving in the open is 50/50.
Lots of Artillery but don't have targets or possible avenues of approach .
322 GTR will be used when needed.
2000-2100
Aaaand the whole plan goes to trash in first minutes:
The opponent started with massive MLRS and SPA bombardment.
West:
German tanks were immediately spotted on B214, recon units got under fire.
ASAP 2/117 SPAR ICM and HE barrages, all ammo on enemy positions.
The Germans were able to sneak engineers and repaired the bridge at the lowest south point. And they put the temp bridge right by the FO team.
East:
2/2/200 point blank contact with Dutch main forces in and east of Hodenhagen.
More enemy armor showed up from NE, by Nord-kanal.
ASAP 4/117 SPAR HE area saturation barrages, all ammo on enemy positions, FASCAM between our and enemy positions.
1 FASCAM by Nord-kanal bridge.
Losses for the first hour: 48 fallen out and 5 destroyed
Inflicted casualties: 16 subunits reported.
2100-2200
1/1/200 has reached their designated position. They are out of effective comms range and have a command delay of 60 minutes. I’m still on the fence where to send them but giving that they have such a big delay, I decided to risk and send them further behind enemy lines and secure north bank of river Krelinger Bach
Dutch forces kept pressing from the north and closed the distance NE.
German forces finished deploying bridges. I expect imminent armored assault from the West over these bridges..
By half an hour 2 out of 3 MLRS reloaded, will put FASCAMs by freshly constructed bridges. Then saturate the area behind bridges and on the northern Dutch axis of attack.
Since it’s almost night, I’ll provide illumination throughout all directions of attack by On-Map artillery.
Enemy MLRS hitted my on-map artillery, destroying half of 2/SPA/200 company, second barrage destroyed half of 1/SPA/200.
For the last 2 hours the enemy was delivering minelets along with regular artillery and MLRS restricting my options for currently deployed forces as well as reinforcements.
2200-2300
First portion of 322 GTR Reinforcements arrived, I’ll keep there until remaining reinforcements arrive and will decide later - where they are needed.
Artillery did not stop for a second, its exchange of barrages, with 0 downtime.
By the end of the hour German forces were spotted crossing the southmost bridge.
Rest of reinforcements arrived, but my forces are surrounded and the only feasible way to use it was to meet Germans south-west in the open between woods and Dutch North-East while they cross the river.
2300-0000
0 downtime for artillery.
Recon units spotted Dutch armor NW, between main defence and 1/1/200 GMRR. I believe that my opponent changed direction of N attack and instead decided to strike from NW.
1/1/200 GMRR is very slow, I believe that they won’t make any contact with the enemy.
Dutch forces launch an assault along A7. Got ambushed my armor and infantry.
German in the south cross the river and move into my underbelly. 1/322 GTR is the only force on their way.
0000-0100
Few successful last minute FASCAM drops: W of bridge on our fortification, where the enemy dropped smoke. After mines fell there, I’ve seen a few explosions; South along the treelines, I think I dropped mines on someone's head too.
I tried to adjust orders for 1/1/200 but it would take an additional 60+ minutes. That unit is 99% won’t meet anyone.
0100-0200
Enemy Dutch Forces from the north direction positioned themselves along the tree line north of Aller river by the bridge and shelling AAA position. I’ll cover it with ICM as soon as I can.
From the same direction enemy engineers were spotted by the bridge, but were illuminated and engaged by 2/2/322 GTD
1/1/322 GTD got under enemy fire from woods 500 meters away. - The enemy is closer than I thought.
Closer to 0200 our forces were decapitated. Well placed artillery barrage wiped out 12 GTD HQ.
Under cover of smoke Dutch forces advanced inside Schwarmstedt. A lot of them concentrated in the center of town. I will cover that area with all available On-Call artillery units.
Finally 1/1/1/200 GTR engaged enemy scouts north of Hodenhagen.
0200-0300
Final enemy assault from southern woods in 2/1/322 GTD area.
Surprising amount of Dutch units spotted coming from Hadenstorf
Conclusion:
Sending the whole company so far into the woods at night was a big mistake. It took them hours to receive new orders and to get out of the woods. They would have better use on the west flank, west of Leine river or north-east in the woods between rivers Aller and Meise or holding Hadenstorf direction.
I was under constant pressure: 24/7 artillery; Initial push from almost all directions; southern defence breach followed by fast advance through the woods.
For every second, I felt like I was just a step behind events and did not have a single opportunity to fight on my terms. Well played!
Thank you!
D+4 July 24 1989, 20:00 -03:00 | Netherlands vs. Soviet Union @ Schwarmstedt, FRG
Length: 7 hours
Side: Warsaw Pact
Opponent: budikah
Scenario background:
As the Soviet’s 3rd Shock Army’s 12th Guards Tank Division’s attack grinds to a halt at the confluence of the Leine and Aller Rivers, NORTHAG sees its chance. To its north, the Dutch have blunted the Soviet’s 2nd Guards Tank Army’s push across the Luneburg Heide. To split the two main Warsaw Pact armies and keep the Soviets from linking up, NORTHAG throws in its reserve into an offensive. The fresh West German 7th Panzer Division, alongside the battle-hardened Dutch 41st Armoured Brigade are ordered to crush the stalled Soviet force and drive a wedge between two Soviet armies.
Our Forces:
12th Guards Tank Division
200 GMRR which consist of:
1x Recon platoon.
200 GMRR 1st Battalion: 2x MRR companies; 1x AT Platoon; 1x AAA AD Platoon; 1x FO Squad
200 GMRR 2nd Battalion: 3x MRR companies; 1x AAA AD Platoon; 2x FO Squads
SPA/200 GMRR Battalion.
Off-map: 1/117 SPAR(2S3M), 2/117 SPAR(2S3M), 4/117 SPAR(BM-21)
Reinforcements: Armored units of 322 GTR
In 2 hours: SPA/322 GTR(2S1) - Off map artillery; 2/322 GTR Armored Battalion
In 2h30m: 1/322 GTR Armored Battalion and Regiment’s HQ
Enemy Forces:
Dutch 41st Armored Brigade - NE, From Soltau, around Truppenusungsplat Bergen
7th Panzer Division (NORTHAG's Reserve) - General West direction, moving towards the Leine River front.
Objectives:
The mission is to hold the hard won area around Schwarmstedt. The division commander has ordered the regiment to hold at all cost against any possible NATO counterattacks. The 322nd Guards Tank Regiment is nearby, nearly prepared to resume the division's advance.
Weather:
Light rain till 0000, then clear. Visibility 7500m-10000m
Initial Situation, my assessment and plan:
*Playing this scenario for the first time, as well as my opponent.
I expect the Dutch to attack from the NE, and later Germans from the west.
West Direction:
On the west I decided to position recon units further to alert when Germans show up.
2/1/200 and AT/1/200 will hold the defence line along the Leine river.
1/1/200 Will move forward into the woods - Will be used when needed.
East Direction:
2/200 will hold defence in the woods north of river Aller.
2/2/200 will move forward for the same reason as 1/1/200 and will be used when needed.
1/1/200 and 2/2/200 - I decided not to use smoke to cover their movement since it would 100% show where they are heading. Moving in the open is 50/50.
Lots of Artillery but don't have targets or possible avenues of approach .
322 GTR will be used when needed.
2000-2100
Aaaand the whole plan goes to trash in first minutes:
The opponent started with massive MLRS and SPA bombardment.
West:
German tanks were immediately spotted on B214, recon units got under fire.
ASAP 2/117 SPAR ICM and HE barrages, all ammo on enemy positions.
The Germans were able to sneak engineers and repaired the bridge at the lowest south point. And they put the temp bridge right by the FO team.
East:
2/2/200 point blank contact with Dutch main forces in and east of Hodenhagen.
More enemy armor showed up from NE, by Nord-kanal.
ASAP 4/117 SPAR HE area saturation barrages, all ammo on enemy positions, FASCAM between our and enemy positions.
1 FASCAM by Nord-kanal bridge.
Losses for the first hour: 48 fallen out and 5 destroyed
Inflicted casualties: 16 subunits reported.
2100-2200
1/1/200 has reached their designated position. They are out of effective comms range and have a command delay of 60 minutes. I’m still on the fence where to send them but giving that they have such a big delay, I decided to risk and send them further behind enemy lines and secure north bank of river Krelinger Bach
Dutch forces kept pressing from the north and closed the distance NE.
German forces finished deploying bridges. I expect imminent armored assault from the West over these bridges..
By half an hour 2 out of 3 MLRS reloaded, will put FASCAMs by freshly constructed bridges. Then saturate the area behind bridges and on the northern Dutch axis of attack.
Since it’s almost night, I’ll provide illumination throughout all directions of attack by On-Map artillery.
Enemy MLRS hitted my on-map artillery, destroying half of 2/SPA/200 company, second barrage destroyed half of 1/SPA/200.
For the last 2 hours the enemy was delivering minelets along with regular artillery and MLRS restricting my options for currently deployed forces as well as reinforcements.
2200-2300
First portion of 322 GTR Reinforcements arrived, I’ll keep there until remaining reinforcements arrive and will decide later - where they are needed.
Artillery did not stop for a second, its exchange of barrages, with 0 downtime.
By the end of the hour German forces were spotted crossing the southmost bridge.
Rest of reinforcements arrived, but my forces are surrounded and the only feasible way to use it was to meet Germans south-west in the open between woods and Dutch North-East while they cross the river.
2300-0000
0 downtime for artillery.
Recon units spotted Dutch armor NW, between main defence and 1/1/200 GMRR. I believe that my opponent changed direction of N attack and instead decided to strike from NW.
1/1/200 GMRR is very slow, I believe that they won’t make any contact with the enemy.
Dutch forces launch an assault along A7. Got ambushed my armor and infantry.
German in the south cross the river and move into my underbelly. 1/322 GTR is the only force on their way.
0000-0100
Few successful last minute FASCAM drops: W of bridge on our fortification, where the enemy dropped smoke. After mines fell there, I’ve seen a few explosions; South along the treelines, I think I dropped mines on someone's head too.
I tried to adjust orders for 1/1/200 but it would take an additional 60+ minutes. That unit is 99% won’t meet anyone.
0100-0200
Enemy Dutch Forces from the north direction positioned themselves along the tree line north of Aller river by the bridge and shelling AAA position. I’ll cover it with ICM as soon as I can.
From the same direction enemy engineers were spotted by the bridge, but were illuminated and engaged by 2/2/322 GTD
1/1/322 GTD got under enemy fire from woods 500 meters away. - The enemy is closer than I thought.
Closer to 0200 our forces were decapitated. Well placed artillery barrage wiped out 12 GTD HQ.
Under cover of smoke Dutch forces advanced inside Schwarmstedt. A lot of them concentrated in the center of town. I will cover that area with all available On-Call artillery units.
Finally 1/1/1/200 GTR engaged enemy scouts north of Hodenhagen.
0200-0300
Final enemy assault from southern woods in 2/1/322 GTD area.
Surprising amount of Dutch units spotted coming from Hadenstorf
Conclusion:
Sending the whole company so far into the woods at night was a big mistake. It took them hours to receive new orders and to get out of the woods. They would have better use on the west flank, west of Leine river or north-east in the woods between rivers Aller and Meise or holding Hadenstorf direction.
I was under constant pressure: 24/7 artillery; Initial push from almost all directions; southern defence breach followed by fast advance through the woods.
For every second, I felt like I was just a step behind events and did not have a single opportunity to fight on my terms. Well played!
Thank you!