OP5 Zone N Battle

[Double Deuce]

Zone N

1st Ukraine Light APC Company
...x10 Mech Section
...x10 BTR-70A(+)
1st UK Mech Infantry Platoon (+)
...x4 Rifle Section
...x4 Warrior
...x2 Pioneer Section
...x2 Warrior
4th Peacekeeper Company
...x13 Peacekeepers
1st UN Peacekeeper APC Platoon
...x4 Fiat/OTO 661461
...x4 Peacekeepers
2nd Peacekeeper APC Platoon
...x4 Peacekeepers
...x4 Fiat/OTO 661461
1st Peacekeeper Tank Platoon
...x4 M60 Mine Plough
...x4 Peacekeepers
2nd Ukraine ATGM Platoon
...x2 Spigot Team
...x1 BTR-70A
1st Ukraine SPA Platoon
...x3 2S3M Akutsiya

Strike Aircraft
...x2 Mirage F1 C
AT Helicopter
...x1 Ka-50 Anti-Tank Helicopter

Briefing: After assembling your forces, they begin the long march North toward the large river in the Northern part of the Zone. 4th Peacekeeper Company leads the way toward the only known brifge across the river. Shortly after the orders are given the Ka-50 Anti-Tank Helicopter develops serious mechanical problems and is grounded at the airfield in ZONE CC to be returned to its home country for further repairs. In light of that fact the Ukrainians immediately dispatch an older but fully capable Hind-E to the UN Commander on the island. This aircraft is expected to be on station by the time UN Forces reach the bridge.

Mission: Push your Forces across the river and deploy along the northern map edge in preparation for future action into Zone G.

[Pannonicus]

I can hadle it. Should be fun.

[Double Deuce]

Briefing and Mission posted. I believe Pannonicus will be the one commanding this battle for the UN Forces?

[Pannonicus]

Yes, I will do it. Too bad for the Ka-50, but we welcome the substitute!

[Double Deuce]

Yes, I will do it. Too bad for the Ka-50, but we welcome the substitute!Yes, unfortunately the OOB changes from 3.00 to 3.01 screwed this up.

[Pannonicus]

So the Hind stays permanently? Then it's even worse. Nevertheless, it diminishes armor advantage on their side. (CATF can handle it alone now, so the chopper can be good quickly reinforcing far-away, less capable units.

[Double Deuce]

So the Hind stays permanently?Yes, for the time being with the OOB changes as they are in the new version.

[Double Deuce]

OK, I have sent the battle file to you via email. Your password was sent in the email to you and the battle is using PBEM Slot # 4. Your will go first.

[Pannonicus]

My forces are advancing ahead on two roads, to the conjunction at the southern bridgehead. Mech forces move up, ready to cross by swimming further East. Bombardment is set to the northern bridgehead-it might catch something there. No contact, peacekeepers move ahead, spotting.

[Pannonicus]

Advancing even more, no sign of enemy on this shore. Fiats and BTRs started to swim through the river further East, I hope I will catch the defenders from their side/rear.

[Pannonicus]

Finally the Hind-E chopper arrived. Now I move more confident, having an eye in the air. Sherzant Kalich from SPA platoon scored one kill- it means we targeted the right place, Rebels are waiting for us on the other side.

I move the chopper above my point vehicle, then I go high altitude (taking chances...) They see a BMP-R and 2 trucks, loaded with ZU-23s! They fire on the BMP first, the missile misses. Then they fire on the trucks with cannon and rockets, one truck and one ZU-23 destroyed, the others (including an infantry platoon) retreating. Very good, this is going to be fun with the chopper!

No ground contact yet, the river crossing farther East going unopposed.

[Pannonicus]

The Hind destroyed a BMP-R using Shturm missile. There is still one BMP left.

The airstrike was good, enemy AAA was practically eliminated, the remaining ZU-23 was almost destroyed. One infantry squad fleeing from a burning truck.

I continue the river crossing, 2 vehicles were stuck, but after the battle they would be pulled out by the others.

I move ahead over the bridge with the helicopter, it spotted infantry in cover of trees. Cannon fire destroyes the other BMP-R. No other enemy armor is in sight. Good...

I continue bombardment, let the rebels cook in their holes - treelines are burning, they must be routing soon.

[Pannonicus]

Warriors finally reached the bridgehead, they are in the cover of trees, blasting enemy infantry squads seen on the other side with cannon and machinegun fire. Looks like that slowly Rebels loose their nerves, and begin to flee.

Other units are moving to assault the bridge. Peacekeepers are arriving to the bridge as well, taking positions in the trees on the riverside.

The helicopter is over the enemy, it killed the fleeing crew of the ZU-23, and almost killed a squad. It has spotted some other squads, was fired upon, but rebels do not know how to fight helicopters. Fortunately, they do not have those modified RPGs Somalis had 4 years ago... So the chopper blasts them wherewer it can.

Artillery still working, pounding them.

The crossing force came ashore, they are moving to cut the enemys line of retreat. No one should escape from the envelope, my forces are quicker, and they are repressed by artillery anyhow, do not seems to be able to move.

If there is no surprise (which I doubt) then the rest of the battle is just mopping up.

[Pannonicus]

My Warriors and M60s keep firing with everything they have to suppress Rebel infantry on the other side fo the river. 105 mm guns seem to work especially well, most of them are routing. Some infantry is firing as well.

A platoon of Fiats, loaded with peacekeepers crosses the bridge, and kills an RPG team, a scout squad and an infantry squad. One dismountig platoon is fired upon from a hiding rebel infantry unit, there is one slightly wounded person. A few RPGs also fly, but miss. Fiats cover themselves with smoke, now I have a safe bridgehead.

Artilley keeps firing, there was an airstirke, with no visible results. The chopper used up all anti-personnel ammunition, and there is no enemy armor in sight.

The corssing party almost finished envelopin the enemy, in a few turns they will be slaughtered. Looks like only a company defended this bridge, this is woefully inadequate to stop us, even to slow us down considerably.

Next turn I will start finsihing suppressed rebel units close-in.

[Pannonicus]

Katusa informed me that the battle quit after his turn, with decisive defeat on the Rebel side. So our road open, with only a minimal injury for one of our soldiers. This amply demonstrates our power and effectiveness.

However, there is one problem I would like to bring into attention, especially to DD: There was hardly direct contact between our forces, and the operation was still in its early phase. While it is true that the enemy broke morally, physically they did not suffer great losses, in fact, they almost remained intact. Moreover, being suppressed by artillery they had no chance of escape, especially in the light of the fact that my wheeled force was almost behind them, cutting off their road of retreat.

Despite of this, this force will be saved almost entirely, to fight for another day! This is not right, we should have annihilated all of them!!!

This was caused by the game engine, that is right. But in the future it can be prevented:

IN EACH BATTLE SOME VICTORY HEXES, WITH HOWEVER LITTLE POINT VALUES SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE SCENE: IT WOULD MEAN, THAT THE GAME DOES NOT QUIT BEFORE THEY ARE TAKEN.

Therefore the battle can be finished, fleeing units exterminated as it would happen in real life after such an envelopment my forces achieved.

Otherwise it was a piece of cake, Rebels have no chance against our superior forces.

[TF 1-37]

Lt. Gen. Toth:

Congratulations on a most masterful victory. Hopefully the Rebels will begin to get the idea that they can not stand up to the massed UN force.

Col. Boomer

[Double Deuce]

United Nations Forces, probing across the river in the Northern area of Zone N encountered a small force of Rebels. After a quick firefight the Rebel force quickly retreated back to the safety of the nearby woods in Zone G.

There were no significant UN Force losses.

United Nations Forces retain control of the zone!

[Pannonicus]

Did we get the ZU-23 that was abandoned? I dont think that they could have carried it away, and it was not destroyed but abandoned. As we control the zone, we should have it!

[Double Deuce]

Did we get the ZU-23 that was abandoned? I dont think that they could have carried it away, and it was not destroyed but abandoned. As we control the zone, we should have it!Its been added to the OP6 Starting OOB under 1st Ukraine SPA Platoon