Pre-OP1 Battle: Pleinting and Aspertsham

[Double Deuce]

ACTIVE COMMANDER: DITA
LOCATION: Vicinity Pleinting and Aspertsham.

HEX II8

...2 Co/1er Bn Roy 22e/4th Mech Bde
......x13 Rifle Section
......x24 M113A1
......x6 .50 HMG Section
......x3 81mm Mortar Sec
......x2 Blowpipe
......x4 M150 (#46)
......x2 M125A1
......x5 Leopard C1 A3
......x3 Scouts
......x2 Couger
......x3 Lynx

HEX HH8

...3 Co/1er Bn Roy 22e/4th Mech Bde
......x13 Rifle Section
......x24 M113A1
......x6 .50 HMG Section
......x3 81mm Mortar Sec
......x2 Blowpipe
......x4 M150 (#46)
......x2 M125A1
......x5 Leopard C1 A3
......x3 Scouts
......x3 Lynx

...HHC/223rd ATK HELO Bn (-)
......x2 OH-58D

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ADDED SUPPORT (OFF-BOARD)

......3 Bty/1 RCHA Rgt/4th Mech Bde
.........x6 M109A2/A3

......4 Bty/1st RCHA Rgt/4th Mech Bde
.........x6 M109A2/A3

......A Bty/4 Bn/29 FA/2nd Bde/8th Inf Div
.........x6 M109A2 (18,000) = 9 hexes

......B Bty/4 Bn/29 FA/2nd Bde/8th Inf Div
.........x6 M109A2 (18,000) = 9 hexes

......C Bty/4 Bn/29 FA/2nd Bde/8th Inf Div
.........x4 M110A2 (28,800m) = 14 hexes

----------------------------------------------------------------
Briefing: As NATO and WP forces attempt to fill the void left by their former allies withdrawal from the war Canadian reconnaissance forces are pressed forward to search out the enemy location. The area around Aspertsham is of key importance due to the intersection of major road network. It is also the last flat ground of the area before the hills begin to rise further to the East.

Mission: 2 & 3 Co/1er Bn Roy 22e/4th Mech Bde will advance North and recon the area for enemy activity. All efforts should be made to determine the enemy strength in the area. The capture of Hills 460 and 469 would allow our recon units to look deep into the WP lines as they approach our forces so efforts shauld be made to seize these at least 1 of these 2 points.

[Double Deuce]

ACTIVE COMMANDER: DITA
LOCATION: Vicinity Pleinting and Aspertsham
PBEM SLOT: 003
PASSWORD: imation

Attached are the actual Pbem file and a zip of the map itself.

Your opponent is: CZERPAK

Please coordinate contact through the SZO forum to get the game started.

[dita]

The password does not seem to be working......??!?!

[Shortreengage]

What happened to the Canadians FA Regt???? This was meant for DS to the recon effort.

I'm back online after some WP Jamming!!!

[Double Deuce]

The password does not seem to be working......??!?!Corrected version uploaded!

[Shortreengage]

Thanks for the prompt response.

[dita]

Thanks, first turn done and sent. Blimey this is tense!!!!!

[Shortreengage]

A bit different when you need to preserve the force.

[dita]

I find this whole campaign system really exciting. With my time in the Civil war campaign you`d think my nerves would have stiffened!

[dita]

I`ll start the in game reports in this thread....

Turn one: No Pact forces spotted. Moved some units, using cover and overwatch. Intending to move 1/2 of forces aggressively whilst using the other 1/2 as a "reserve" and reacting once enemy located. Worried that AA cover is too light. Blowpipe teams unloaded. Worried that enemy air units could hit the M113 real bad.

Helos are en-route (turn 2 expected reinforcement)

Will try to get sceenshots next turn....

[Shortreengage]

Hopefully they are not advancing behind a swarm of Hinds. A French tactic put to good use in Desert Storm.

[dita]

Hopefully they are not advancing behind a swarm of Hinds. A French tactic put to good use in Desert Storm.

Am I right in remembering that also some Iraqi forces surrendered to a group of apache helocopters?

[Shortreengage]

No telling, but leave a conscript sitting in the cold wet desert long enough when his officers have run off and anything can happen.

[dita]

Contact. Chalk up one APC. Hit by a TOW.

Further in the distance and APC with probable artillery observer is spotted, with also enemy presence on the right flank.

one scout vehicle accidentally stumbled into the enemy. I "popped" smoke but unable to retaliate.

Made one silly mistake, and ploughed a M113 into a building. Bit of a giveaway that one.:mad:

Onto the pics....
pic 19-48-26-71 shows the overall situation and initial plan.
pic 19-59-45-56 shows the action and the intended advance of one section of armour. Hit the flanks of the initial enemy contact perhaps?
pic 00-07-10 shows the plan on the left flank
pic 59-54-17 shows the contact on the right flank...Probable assault from this flank?

More info to follow....

[dita]

A quick turnaround of turns....

next turn I hit another two armoured cars. One on the northern edge with tank gun fire and the other with LAW rockets from a scout team on the eastern edge.

The scout vehicle somehow managed to extract himself. Great reverse feature. But the scout team was lost :(

So far three confirmed kills against one scout team lost.

I`ve a terrible feeling that the artillery/air/helos are about to come pounding into my postions!!!

Sorry no screen shots, pressed F10 but the realised I hadn`t loaded the program in until after I`d quit my turn. Shame, Would love to have shown the scout vehicles escape:)

[Shortreengage]

Numbers and types of vehicles encountered?

[dita]

Suffered ATGMS file this turn, both from BMPS and infantry.

Vehicles spotted so far are BMPS both in centre and on the right flank.
Destroyed so far ONE SPW-60PB, ONE SPW40PB, ONE SPW40P, ONE PRP-2.

Strela team shot at the centre helo, but missed. Phew, that was a close one!
I have plotted mortar fire on expected positions, along with one platoon of 155m ALL other artillery so far unused.

One Lynx immobolised by ATGM fire. Smoke automatically popped. Unable to spot the BMP that fired it.

I was hit by 122mm but suffered no casuaulties so far. No counter battery fire initiated.

Pic 1 attached shows the action in the centre.
Pic 2 attached shows the recon forces on the left flank.
Pic 3 shows likely positions of ATGMs and BMPs

[Shortreengage]

Ok good deal. the more Arty he fires the greater chance we'll CB.

[dita]

Ouch, Sorry lost one of the Helos. Hit by hidden armoured car using AA machine guns (12.7mm if memory serves me)

Retreated the other helo to the southern edge of the board. I assume its now best to preserve this asset.

Destroyed another armoured car. SPW40.

Hit the 122mm with counter battery fire for 3 points. Not sure what that equates to. Plotted smoke on the eastern flank to try and smoke out the BMP. Lost a cougar on that side. Cannot seem to spot the firing unit, only the tell tale smoke.

Would like to use more artillery (the other 155 platoon). Is that ok?

Screen one shows postition on right flank, one squad is routed.
Screen two shows the incident with the helo. Sorry about that, I think they are very fragile.

(EDIT: I`ll be away for a few days, sorry for the intteruption. Back Tuesday/wednesday)

[Shortreengage]

That's a serious blow,but **** happens. Which board edge is our home edge? You need to see if you can retreat the last bird off the board.

How much arty do you have available now?

Which ARTY fired the CB?

You don't need my permission to fire the ARTY that I have sliced to you this game. Except the 8" of course.

And yes the OH58s are very fragile.

And HOW are you making all the nice screenshots?

[dita]

Hi

Next turn sent, after the interval.

Not much action this turn, just repositioning of units, which I`m sure the other side is doing also. Spotted another BMP1 in the centre (see screen 2), which resulted in the BMP engaging but not inflicting any damage. Popped smoke and repositioned.

Smoke now on target on the right flank. Mixed in a little 155mm for next couple of turns, to supress the BMP/infantry ATGMs which I suspect are there.(screen 3)

On the left, I am advancing slowly, knowing that there is a least one RPG team and scout vehilce in the wood.

Hit again by the 122mm, but now casualties. Also hit more counter battery fire for 4 points. All counter battery fire so far by the 155mm battery(s). 8" seems to be waiting...?

The last helo is one the southern edge, not moved this turn, will retreat of the southern edge (bottom of screen) next turn.

Oh, screen shots are using FRAPS program, and adding the notes in paintshop pro, which reminds me, must change the brush size........

(No screen shot 1, error on my part in the numbering!)

[Shortreengage]

Ok looking good. They seem to like those hills in the west. That's wher I expect they have thier third Recon element. (Not engaged) Not sure what's going on with the 8". Time will tell.

Continue Mission.

[dita]

Interesting development....

The helo spotted a SPW-40, with probable recon or RPG units on the east flank (see screen shot 1). I moved the helo away, but still remain in postion on the bottom edge of the map.

I lost the immolized cougar on the right flank to the BMP, which is spotted, repositioning to engage with tank fire.

Hit by 122mm some suppression, no counter battery fire.

Screen 2 shows proposed plan to take the hill. Another SPW-40P destroyed in the woods, I`m sure theres some RPGs in here somewhere.

Screen 3 is the situation in Aspertsham, seems to be in Canadian control, though I would like more infantry in there, if I can, but I sent the follow on force to the hill of the right flank.

Screen 4 shows the lost cougar.

[dita]

Next update.

Lost one M113. Ouch, I had a feeling I`d just left it in range to a suspected ATGM.

Destroyed the two located BMP in the centre right of the map, by tank fire, popped smoke on one tank, reversed the other into cover.

Only two barrages of artillery (still 122mm), a lot less than a few turns ago. I`m sure the counter battery fire helped their.

Lost contact of the SPW-? on the right flank. Left helo on the southern edge of map. Screen one shows the BMP contact. Screen 2 shows the right flank and the hit M113

Screen 3 shows an overall view (just cutting of the right flank) and potential plan (if one has such a thing!!) laying smoke and intend to make an advance as indicated on the map.

As always, open to suggestions.

[dita]

Smoke now starting to impact and moved some infantry to engage. managed to pin the enemy but no casualties. Canadian casualties of 1 man.

Layed more HE (both mortar and 155mm) in the area. still no contact on the right flank, seemed to have lost the scout car. Starting to worry that there may be a much bigger force on this side than may be anticipated!

Smoke laying well on the left flank, and advancing through woods, no more contact. Perhaps the enemy is centred on the two northern hills, in a holding position, with these units as a advance?

Screen one shows the scouts on the left flank. Perhaps the high grass will cover the advance? or, perhaps the enemy is straight in front of me on the hill already?

[dita]

Operations seemed to have stalled, perhaps they are reorganising for an offensive :)

[Double Deuce]

Czerpak is back and he should be in contact now.

[Shortreengage]

Ok, this fight seems over and we hold the field. Get some scouts down to the KOed vehicles and scrounge for exploitable intel. IE Maps, Graphics, Cyphers, and any POWs we can get. Good Job.

[dita]

Had copy of email today from czerpak to DD saying Pact forces have withdrawn from the field.

[Double Deuce]

LOSSES

...2 Co/1er Bn Roy 22e/4th Mech Bde
......x1 Rifle Section
......x1 M113A1
......x1 Scouts
......x2 Couger

...HHC/223rd ATK HELO Bn (-)
......x1 OH-58D

----------------------------------------------------------------
AAR: Coming Soon!

CURRENT UNIT LOCATIONS:

HEX JJ7 --> 3 Co/1er Bn Roy 22e/4th Mech Bde

HEX HH7 --> 2 Co/1er Bn Roy 22e/4th Mech Bde

[Double Deuce]

CONFIRMED ENEMY LOSSES

......x4 SPW-40P
......x2 SPZ BMP-1P
......x1 BTR-60PB
......x1 PRP-2

Unit Identified as part of East German 9th Rec Bn/9th Tk Div