Light Infantry vs MRB

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 4 - 0831 hrs

1st MRC moves onto the protective minefield and is engaged by direct fires from the TOW sqd, 1st Plt, 3d Plt, and the Dragons attached to those two plts. 1st and 3d Plt Leaders request firing FPFs (Final Protective Fires). 1st MRC suffers enough casualties to break off its breaching efforts moving to the southwest (????).

Note to devs: I'll put this in the bug forum, but a unit that abandons breach efforts needs to depart the obstacle/minefield hex via the hexside it entered.

The MRB has been repulsed and the US forces have sustained zero casualties. 1st and 3d AT are out of missiles. 60mm is at 40% ammo from firing Neutralize missions. 81mm and 105mm are at 68% and 77%. 1st and 3d Plts are both above 90%. All minefields are unbreached. The company is in good shape to take on a fresh MRB, let alone a second attack from this one.

[IronMikeGolf]

ORIGINAL: W1ll14m

ORIGINAL: Tazak
Iron Mike Golf, you should PDF these for future reference.

+1

This one would lend itself well for three columns, time line vertically, showing the alternatives side-by-side. It would help players and shows off the game system.

btw, I actually created pdfs of your AARs for reference when going on holidays for two weeks with limited internet access. I need my inspiration / guidance.

William

So, how are you guys making PDFs?

[WildCatNL]

ORIGINAL: Iron Mike Golf
So, how are you guys making PDFs?

Both OpenOffice/Libre Office's Write (free) and recent Microsoft's Office Word can print to pdf. You'd have to copy and paste the text and graphics from this forum.

William

[IronMikeGolf]

Print to PDF. Cool, thanks.

[Tazak]

or "save as" then select "pdf"

[IronMikeGolf]

Thanks, tazak.

I'll probably run Scenario 4 again, but as Head-to-Head and add a bunch of off map arty to the Soviets so there's a proper level of smoke available. I think that one should be a lot closer than the AI played it.

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0735 hrs

This is essentially the same as Scenario 4. The difference is human player on both sides.

I have added 6 batteries of 2S1 off map solely for the purpose of providing realistic smoke coverage. These batteries will not fire any HE, so I have turned off staff FSCC for the Soviets.

Turn 1 for the Soviets will be only arty prep missions. The east edge of town will be prepped. If I give Assault orders pre-game, the MRCs will cross the LD (Line of Departure) as soon as the game starts. I don't want that, as that will not give a long enough prep.

I ran one turn and then gave Assault orders to the MRCs. 3d MRC, the one highlighted, has the furthest to go. 1st and 2d MRCs have 6 minute delays and that gets all MRCs on the objective within a 3 minute time window.

Synchronization is a key element here. If I can get all of the MRB within small arms range at the same time, I can overwhelm the defenders. I want to give but one order to get the MRB onto the objective. I also have to pay attention to movement routes on the approach to the town so as not to self-inflict movement delays. Feeding the MRCs in piecemeal will increase risk of failure. With only three waypoints available (are you listening, Jim?), I can't really control maneuver to the extent commanders on the ground can.

At this point, two volleys of the prep have been fired and we should see 3d MRC cross the LD around 0750 hrs (maybe at the end of this command cycle or the beginning of the next). All missions are Suppression and are fired by the MRB mortar bty and a bty of 2S1 122mm from the RAG.

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0754 hrs

3d MRC crosses the LD and its Commander reports triple strand reinforced concertina about 1 km short of the town. There is also fresh earth visible, indicating a likely anti-tank ditch. The obstacle seems incomplete and most of the MRB will pass through the gap.

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0758 hrs

The Commander of 2d Plt, 3d MRC has assumed command. He reports the MRC took casualties from ATGM form coming from a wooded hill east of town. The MRC lost the command track and all personnel as well as two other BMPs. Those were not catastrophic and the MRC has dismounted and is continuing the mission.

1st and 2d MRC have crossed the LD. 1st MRC Commander coordinates with 2d MRC to adjust his route so he can skirt the edge of the obstacle belt.

MRB Commander orders his mortar battery to engage the ATGM position.

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0805 hrs

The TOW squad shifts to 2d MRC, killing another three BMPs. Although the gunner is stressed, sitting out alone on the flank, he's managed to kill a vehicle with each missile he's fired.

The men in the Rifle Plts grimly watch the approach of the MRB as shrapnel thuds into the half meter of sandbags that make up the bunkers built inside the homes and shops of the town. The shelling has been nearly continuous for the past hour and over in 3d Plt, one squad and a MG team have gone off the net and landline. Anger begins to replace fear.

As 1st MRC approaches the gap in the wire and ditch, the lead vehicle reports seeing surface laid AT mines. A few moments careful scanning reveals the "gap" is actually several belts of mines. A few hundred meters down the highway, a sharp-eyed soldier can just make out another belt of mines.

At this point, 1st and 3d Plts in the northern stack are at 40% Readiness. The Dragon teams likewise are at 40%. All units there, save 3d Plt, have taken a 5% hit to Morale. The casualties to 3d Plt push Morale down to 38%. 2d Plt and its Dragon team are at about 80% Readiness/67% Morale.

The US Company Commander masses all indirect on the MRC closing on the obstacle.

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0807 hrs

The MRB Cdr calls for smoke on and in front of 1st MRC as they begin to breach the first belt of mines. 122mm from the RAG is called upon that ATGM position to the south. Mortars continue the prep, but can only range the very northeast corner fo town. Fortunately, that is where 1st MRC will enter.

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0820 hrs

1st MRC loses 4 BMP to ATGM fires from the TOW sqd. 3d MRC engages the TOW and gets a lucky 30mm shot, killing the TOW Sqd. Mortars and 105mm rain down on 1st MRC and the command group is hit. The MRC is about halfway through the mine belt. The other MRCs are about 1 km behind, slowly moving forward.

Readiness drops to around 30% for the plts facing 1st MRC. US commanders order mortars to hold their current position and keep firing at the MRC that is breaching

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0823 hrs

1st MRC is now ordered to breach any and all minefields for the MRB. 2d and 3d MRCs are ordered to follow 1st and use lanes provided by 1st. MRB mortars are orders to displace 1500 m forward. RAG 122mm is ordered to concentrate on a 1000 m wide frontage directly in front of 1st MRC.

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0837 hrs

1st MRC loses a BMP to indirect. Readiness is 14%, but Morale is at 32% and appears good enough for the MRC to complete the breach.

1st and 3d US Plts each lose a sqd. 3d Plt is rattled and the plt sgt is reorganizing and rallying the men. Indirect fire missions continue and ammo levels are still in the Green.

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0839 hrs
1st MRC is nearly through the breach and the other MRCs are line up to follow. More smoke is ordered.

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0853 hrs
1st MRC completes the breach and moves forward, only to find another belt of mines. Now the infantry in the town opens fire, killing a BMP. In a fit of rage, that Plt Ldr fires an AT-5 missile at the position, bringing the small house down on top of the US ATGM sqd, killing one Dragon team. The sqd, rattled and out of missiles, abandons their position.

Seeing the Soviets turning away, the American shift fires to the MRC passing through the breach lanes.

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0858 hrs
1st MRC ordered to remain in place and observe indirect fires. MRB mortars had move but 500 m forward when they are ordered to stop and fire missions to 1st MRCs front.

More smoke is ordered to mask 3d MRCas the pass through the breach minefield.

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0907 hrs

Between fires from 1st MRC and mortars and 122mm arty, 1st Plt has only a MG team surviving. Readiness and Morale are both low. 1st AT is ordered back to the company CP. 3d Plt is down to a single rifle sqd and has broken, moving to join 2d Plt to the south. 3d AT has moved off to the northwest.

Indirect still concentrates on 3d MRC negotiating the breach.

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0917 hrs

1st MRC still wants to withdraw, but the MRB commander refuses permission. 3d MRC wants to bypass the mines 1st MRC is in, but the MRB commander orders them into the breach and 2d MRC is to follow. The MRB commander senses the Americans are about to break on that narrow front in the northeast corner of town and perhaps 1st MRC can finish breaching that minefield on their own and open the way for the rest of the MRB.

He continues to hammer the American positions with 120mm and 122mm fires. Smoke is adequate for the moment. If his Captains had not been killed, he is sure his battalion would be in the town by now!

[IronMikeGolf]

Scenario 5 - 0920

All that stands in the way of the MRB entering town is a lonely rifle sqd.

The US cdr deems the MRC that has moved off into the wire to not be a near term threat. He is concerned that the MRC breaching the second mine belt may complete its task and that the train MRC may start moving again. He splits his idirect fires among these two MRC, with the breaching force getting most of the fires.