AHPC XIV: From GrahameH - More 15mm Cold War Battlegroups

 In a previous post I showed my US Cold War Battlegroup (BG) which I had finished and was then hoping to get some other non-completed NATO BGs completed without getting distracted. So in order to give myself a little encouragement I listened to the "Team Yankee" book. All was going well until they described the attempt by a US Armoured Cavalry Squadron to act as a speed bump in the face of the Warsaw Pact armoured advance. Spoiler - it didn't go very well for the US. Then the troubled started. "I'd like a Armoured Cavalry Squadron" I said even though it not on my list to do. However, I summoned up all my will power to keep to my original plan, failed and here it is. 

 Its not to big as I left out the artillery battery as it the same as the other US BG. The figures etc are all 15mm Battlefront. 

The HQ - MG, Stinger, CO and a M113 (20pts)

Armoured Cavalry Troop

There are 2 of these each consisting of 8 men and a M113 ACAV. (24pts x 2 = 48pts)

Support

M113 ACAV for the Recce Unit and 1 M106 with a 120mm mortar. (16pts and 4 for the mortar crew (20pts)

Two Armoured Cavalry Tank Troops (Each of 2 M60s) (32pts)

So the US Armoured Cavalry Squadron = 120pts 

Then I thought I wonder if I could add a US Air Assault BG. I have a Russian one and a British one. 

Never really sticking to a painting plan due to my butterfly issues, here is my US Air Assault BG.

A A10 Warthog, a AH-1 Cobra and 2 Chinooks (32pts) (the Cobra is Battlefront, the Chinooks are 3D printed and I have no idea where the A10 came from. 

The Ground Forces 

HQ and the 3 Infantry Companies 

This was before the entry of the Humvees so most of the transport is Mutt 151 jeeps (From Army Bits) 

(2 vehicles and 34 figures, including crew for the jeeps) = 84pts

Support Company - M151 with TOW (2 vehicles and 6 crew) = 28pts

Recce Platoon - M151 and 7 figures (22 pts)

Airborne Tank Sqn - 3 X M551 Sheridans (Army Bits). Apparently the 82nd kept their Sheridans during this time period. (24Pts)

The Artillery Battery (2 Guns, 3Vehicles and 12 figures) = 56pts (all Army Bits who make some wonderful US Infantry) I think the guns are a bit late for 1984 but they will do. 

So that the US Airborne BG at 246 Pts. 

Right back to the Plan

West German BG 

West German BG (most of the infantry was already painted so just the vehicles)

HQ and two Sqns of Leopards (7 vehicles) 56pts - Battlefront

Leopard Recovery Vehicle (8pts) (Army Bits)

4 Marder 1s for the HQ, if not an armoured BG and three Infantry Coys (Battlefront) (32pts)

Second Part of the West German BG.

The Artillery Battery - 2 X M109s and a M113 FO (Battlefront) (24pts)

Support Company - 2 M113 (for the Milan Teams) and a M106 with 120mm Mortar - 2 crew. (28pts)

AA Platoon - a Roland (this was suppose to be a Gepard, but that model has been drafted into the Dutch BG) (8pts)

Recce Plt - a Luchs (8pts)

Any then the Butterfly Syndrome hit again 😒

West German Fallschirmjager BG

AT Company - 2 Wiesels with TOW and 2 with 20mm *Butler 3d printing) (32pts)

Pts = 112pts

I need 5 KraKa transport for this unit. These are little go-kart things but I can't find any in 15mm. Anyone know of anyone who produces these please let me know?

World War III

East / West Highway with
Urban and Factory Areas

Friday saw the start of the Battle of Hanover Gap, 11th August 1985, as a Soviet Combat Team, consisting of 3 Armoured Companies and a supporting Mechanised Infantry Company attacked   defending West German Armoured and Panzer Grenadier Platoons.

Leopard 2s defending treeline,
 both knocked out

The game was put on using 20mm models and figures from Mike W's collection and used a combination of Tanks! The Modern Era and Team Yankee rules to give a Tanks!++ rule set.

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)

Nigel commanded a company of 8 x T72s of the Soviet right, Mike N a T-72 company in the centre and Steve took the left flank with a third T-&2 company.

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 right Nigel's tank company advanced, punishing Rupert's defending Leopard 2 platoon, knocking out 2 of the three vehicles and wrecking the engine on the third by the end of the first evening.

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.

Right at the end of the first evening the Soviets unleashed their artillery, with a two battery bombardment, although due to poor dice rolls, damage was relatively light. NATO batteries opened up in anti-artillery mode and wiped out a Soviet Rocket battery, but then in turn Soviet retribution was swift and 3 of 6 Abbots in two batteries were knocked out.

 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!