 |
| East / West Highway with Urban and Factory Areas |
 |
| Leopard 2s defending treeline, both knocked out |
Terrain was provided by Mike N. and his Urban flats and factory units looked great on the table.The highway was downloaded and printed from the internet.
The game opened with a surprise, the Soviets elected not to do a pre-planned artillery bombardment and instead steal a march on the NATO troops who were waiting for the attack in 'cloaked' mode - i.e. without Radar, electronics or engines running to minimise the ability of Soviet spotters finding them.
 |
| Attacking T72s, counters indicate Speed (white), Optics Damage (Blue). Bailed Out (Yellow), Engine Damage (Purple) |
Phil was overal Soviet commander and took the Mechanised Infantry Company riding 6 x BMP-1s.
As the Soviet tank companies surged onto the table'2 eastern edge, a West German Recce Platoon of 2 x Fuch Armoured Cars and a Leopard 1 tank raced back to their own lines from the eastern table edge. The Recce Platoon was accompanied by a lone, stray British Chieftan tank, that had become detached form it's parent unit and stumbled across the German positions.
Needless to say the massed guns of the pursuing Soviet tank companies punished the the Recce company, knocking out a Fuch, the Leopard 1 and the Chieftain within a couple of turns.
Meanwhile both sides kept their artillery batteries in Anti-Artillery overwatch mode, daring the other side to unleash a salvo and invite targeted reprisals.
 |
| Knocked-out Marders in Urban areas |
On the NATO right, Dave's Leopdard 2 tank platoon fared little better, 2 knocked out and one left active, however, the ever cautious Steve had halted his tank company at the tree line. In the center John commanded the two Panzer Grenadier companies and took control of the urban areas without significant loss of life - albeit that two of the transport Marders were lost.
 |
| Mike N's tank company rushes the Urban areas. |
Start of week two and Mike N, pushes his central Soviet tank company forwards, with Phil tucking in the Mechanised Infantry company behind the tanks in an effort to reach the Urban area objectives.
The NATO forces were up against it - with infantry holding the center and relying on a single Leopard 2 on each flank to hold back the 'Red Tide'.
They did however receive some key reinforcements, two British Challenger 1 tanks and two Gepard AA Vehicles.
Between the remaining Leopards and the Challengers the NATO players were able to blunt the central Soviet tank thrust, as that stalled the BMP mounted Infantry company wet off road, inadvertently exposing their flank to the enemy and paid with the immediate loss of two vehicles. This was followed up by an artillery strike on the exposed company.
 |
| Battle of Hanover Gap, 11th Aug 1985 |
Morale tests at the end of the turn went against the Soviets - Nigel who had been rotating and managing damaged vehicle successfully for both evening ran out of luck as more vehicles went out of service and on the left Steve's tank company also failed a morale test and refused to advance after 50% losses.
To cap it all both central companies also failed tests, Mike N's tanks refused to advance and the battered infantry withdrew.
Soviet objectives could not be met - NATO declared a victory!
