Pre-Operational Turn 1 Recon Battle

[Double Deuce]

I need 2 volunteers to fight PBEM battles for the units listed below. This is for a Pre-OP Turn 1 Recon information gathering mission.

These are Canadian Units so the commanders for that nation get 1st dibs. Post here if interested. More details to follow soon.

Detailed OOB's can be found in the appropriate thread.

HEX EE8 (Battle 1)

...1 Co/1er Bn Roy 22e/4th Mech Bde

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HEX II8 (Battle 2)

....2 Co/1er Bn Roy 22e/4th Mech Bde

HEX HH8

....3 Co/1er Bn Roy 22e/4th Mech Bde

[dita]

Looks like I`m up for this one then... As I appear to be one of Canadian commanders:)

I`ve a lot of PBEM going at the moment, but I have the CD version so slots should not be a problem

[Double Deuce]

Looks like I`m up for this one then... As I appear to be one of Canadian commanders:) Since you are longest server Canadian Commander IIRC since we started go ahead and let me know which battle you prefer to run and when Pepper checks in he can decide if he wants the other or will pass it along to another, etc. I'll need to know so we can get another commander up to speed on what they will need to do, how it will work and so on.

[Pepper]

I'm up for either. :rolleyes:

[Double Deuce]

You 2 let me know and I'll go ahead and update the Battle threads with more info so you can begin thinking aboutwhat you might want to accomplish, etc.

What I want to accomplish is getting some fighting under way while we get the team commanders up to speed on moving the rest of the forces and stuff like that. The ongoing AAR's should also help build interest for the other team memebers so they will pitch in where needed.

[dita]

I`ll take battle one (EE8) if that is ok.

If you (pepper) don`t fancy the larger battle then let me know.

[Pepper]

I'm up for either. :rolleyes:

:thumup: ..........


EDIT: One question -- do I have any mines? They're gonna be chasing me around so mines would be real nice.

[Shortreengage]

1) Effective immediatly I am giving operational control of 2x OH58D to the Commander of the Recon Force. Please be gentle with them.

2) The 4CMBG has complete control of It's FA BN and should give DS Fires to the Recon Force.

3) DIVARTY will provide GS Fires in support of the Recon Force. IE Counterfires.

4) Effective immediatly All US and WG FA assets are under DIVARTY's operational control. They will be released on other game turns as the operation passes into different phases.

5) Remember that the Recon Force is actually on a SCREEN mission as per WARNO #1.

a) Gain intelligence on enemy forces in sector.
b) Destroy enemy Recon elements(BRDM and BMP patrols)
c) Destroy CRPs Combat Recon Patrols ( Reinforced tank and BMP/BTR
platoons)
d) Delay against FSEs Forward Security Elements of equal or greater
strength.
e) Maitain 70 percent of Combat Power.

6) No mines will be provided to the Recon Force at present.

7) I need to get off my butt and get things rolling here.

[Pepper]

1) Effective immediatly I am giving operational control of 2x OH58D to the Commander of the Recon Force. Please be gentle with them.

Thanks. Dita -- I assume you'll take these in your battle? Or one each? What say you?


2) The 4CMBG has complete control of It's FA BN and should give DS Fires to the Recon Force.

(a) What are DS Fires?
(b) Dita I assume you're going to decide which of us gets which arty for round 1?


3) DIVARTY will provide GS Fires in support of the Recon Force. IE Counterfires.

Someone is going to have to translate that for me.


4) Effective immediatly All US and WG FA assets are under DIVARTY's operational control. They will be released on other game turns as the operation passes into different phases.

Fine; just advise if I have any air assets for my engagement


5) Remember that the Recon Force is actually on a SCREEN mission as per WARNO #1.

a) Gain intelligence on enemy forces in sector.
b) Destroy enemy Recon elements(BRDM and BMP patrols)
c) Destroy CRPs Combat Recon Patrols ( Reinforced tank and BMP/BTR
platoons)
d) Delay against FSEs Forward Security Elements of equal or greater
strength.
e) Maitain 70 percent of Combat Power.

Sounds good in theory, but ... we have pretty much nil for antiarmor. Take a look. I think if we engage, we die. I would suggest we dig in to direct artillery barrages and make them go around or try a heavy push.

That said -- if you want me to engage, I will! ;)


6) No mines will be provided to the Recon Force at present.

Rgr that.


7) I need to get off my butt and get things rolling here.
:whist:

[dita]

Hi, yes, I`m afraid some translations may be needed. I think I get the general Idea though

DS (direct support?). Not sure myself what (3),talking about (DIVARTY-divisional artillery?)

Concerning the OH58`s. The obvious would be to split the helos across the two battles, though I`m open to suggestions. Don`t they usually operate in pairs?

Artillery I would also split. What is the opinon about which the main expected axis is of the enemy advance?

Forces for battle 2 are the larger, so maybe a more effective fighting force, however, not we don`t know if they are facing the stronger enemy force? Shoot are run...?

[Shortreengage]

OOPs.

1) You get 2 OH58D. It depends what kind of unit that they come from as how they work. These see 60 hexes! They are the only 2 we have. Be very cautious. If one is lost then retreat the other off map.

2) Direct Support (DS) Arty: you control and can fire at in game targets.
They are off map.

4CMBG has 4 Batteries of 155mm.

3) General Support (GS) Arty: I control them at Division Artillery(DIVARTY)
to fire at off board targets IE Enemy Arty. Not sure how that works in
game. They are off board.

4) Air assets are being held back for a later phase of the game /Another mission. KILL ADA/SAMS!

5) I want you to skirmish with them. Sneak and peek with your light armor
M113s and Lynx/Cougers, overwatch with your tows, snipe with your tanks. Support with Arty. Make sure that your blowpipes are deployed.

You should destroy his scouts as they come up. They may try to bypass you as you're not the guys they are looking for.

Keep in mind that those BRDMs can kill M113s at about 6-8 hexes.

Don't get involved with large numbers of BMPs and tanks.

Send firepower kills off map to fight another day.

I expect that they will lead with the East German 9th Recon BN as it is the only full recon BN they have. It is probobly the Division Recon unit. That is IF the are opperating as 1 Division. And IF they are using WP doctrine. Pretty big IFs there.

I expect that we will be engaging only 2 of the 3 "Recon" companies that were called for. I expect that they have a third operating in the hills to the east.

My estimate is that you will face a Recon Company reinforced with tanks BMPs, engineers, ADA, Attack Helicopters and supported by Artillery.

Something like this in each game:

9xSPW40P
9xRPG7 teams
3xBMP1P
3xInfantry squads
3xSPW40P/AT3
3xSPW60PB
3xEngineers
3xT55/KMT/BTU/AM???
4xMi24d Hind gunships
3+ Batteries of Arty.
Manpacked SA7s and AT3s carried by Hinds for commando ops.

My best guess at present.

7):cool:

[Pepper]

Assuming I understand how this going to work (and I may not but I think I do ...)

Dita -

You will need to specify which of our arty will support which battle. You will also need to allocate the OH-58s. I honestly have no preference there - in fact, if anything, I'd lean towards you taking them both so if they get shot down its not my fault. ;)

Short-

You need to assign which DIVARTY assets you want us to have access to (unless DD has some other way of doing this). I would assume that since this is the only battle that will be going on at this time, you can safely assign ALL of the DIVARTY to our use (i.e. no one else will be needing it now so you may as well let us use it). After these initial engagements end, and others get involved in fighting, obviously you will want to reassign ... but for now I see no downside to letting us use it all. Obviously, if you want to restrict what we can do with it, that's fine (e.g. only counter-battery fire), but unless its allocated to the battle, it won't be doing anything.

Dita -

Now back to you. Once Short confirms that we can use all DIVARTY, you'll need to again assign some to my OP area, and keep some for yourself.

[Shortreengage]

Pepper,
I don't have a problem with that. The main question is how does the Counterbattery work? True you could have the other guns assigned with a CB mission only IE the 8" M110s. I'll have to think about it a bit and clarify the CB model being used. I don't think that DD will call me up in the middle of your games with a grid to enemy Arty. Or maybe he will....... I may have to assign the 8s to specific battles for CB work. I also need to see if all the guns are in range as the German M109s have a shorter range.

[Double Deuce]

Because of WinSPMBT game limitations you'll need to assign the arty to a specific battle for me to add in at the beginning.

GS Artillery can be used to target hexes BUT is not really effective with the way things will work in the campaign.

[dita]

Ok, the helos are allocated to battle one (me). I`ll be gentle with them, like you pepper, I`d hate to loose them at this early stage!!

Split the batteries of artillery, 2 each. Still not sure on this, battle one may require more support, though battle two could be seen as the main action so more support required??

[Shortreengage]

DD,
Thanks for the clarification.

Dita,
You have 2 Batteries of WG M109s, 2 Batteries of US M109A2s, 1 Battery of WG M110A2 and 1 Battery of US M110A2 to assign for the Pre Recon Battle(Turn 0, Phase 0) . You will lose much of it for Turn 1 Phase 1 unless you are the only show in town.

My only guidance is that you assign 1 battery of M110A2 to each battle and you don't fire any targets with it. Just let the CB model run with things until mid game. If there are no enemy off board FA units the show them what 8" looks like :devil:

We are fortunate that the moderator understands US/Nato FA C&C:laugh:

[dita]

Sound good to me...

Two batteries of the M109s to each battle, along with one battery of M110s to each battle.

The M110s are to be used as counter battery fire only, until last possible moment. Mid game onwards.

[Double Deuce]

Artillery and helo's have been added to the Battle Threads. Scenario files have been created.

We are just waiting on the WP team to allocate their assets and commanders to step forward. :OHNO:

[Pepper]

Damn commies :laugh:

[Double Deuce]

It seems most of their team members are MIA at the moment. They are all visiting the forums but are not stepping up to play the EG units. :cry:

I'm working on recruiting some new bodies in case they are needed.

[Pepper]

As an aside - I have the CD, as does Dita I believe.

[Shortreengage]

I can play the East Germans If you like:devious:

[Vas FURY]

Who is commanding our force in this battle?

[Double Deuce]

Who is commanding our force in this battle?Actually, there are 2 I just didn't make "battle" plural when I started this thread. :hush:

You can find the battle threads here;

Pre-OP1 Battle: Pleinting and Aspertsham (http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40677)

Pre-OP1 Battle: Parst and Strizling (http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40676)

[Pepper]

Nice job on battle briefings ... I'm gettin geared up.

Is it possible for me to get the map that the PBEM will be played out on now, rather than later, so I can study it a bit?

[Vas FURY]

Ah, ok, everything Understood. And yeah, nice job on the briefings! Im standing by for any assistance/command that may be required of me.

[dita]

Looking good.

Would be nice to have the maps before to have a look at...

[Shortreengage]

You should at least have the total map downloads. No? It may be a bit hard to find but at least you can see the general AO.

[Double Deuce]

Nice job on battle briefings ... I'm gettin geared up.

Is it possible for me to get the map that the PBEM will be played out on now, rather than later, so I can study it a bit?Let me have a couple days to extract it from the scenario and post in each battle briefing. I'm kinda snowed in right at the time. :D