Iran (Skirmisher) vs Iraq (Double Deuce) 1985 Pbem AAR.

[Double Deuce]

Meeting Engagment (2000 pts/1 air)
Iran (Skirmisher) vs Iraq (Double Deuce)
1985

Contact on Turn 1. More info to follow. :smoke:

[Skirmisher]

One of my scout elements sighted a GAZ truck.

After a steady stream of machine gun fire the truck exploded. Pity the Iraqi's didnt weld some steel plates on that or something.:)

[Double Deuce]

The loss of a few scouts yielded some useful intel. It appears the Iranians have 1 platoon of T-62's overwatching the northern road while some Scorpions try sneaking through in the south.

Time to to deploy the ATGM's. :smoke:

[Skirmisher]

A Scorpion tank destroyed the other GAZ truck and one of my HMG's removed a man from an ATGM team.

[Double Deuce]

Hmmm, not much to shoot at this turn. The Iranians must be in hide mode and so low to the ground even my helo's cannot see them. :devious:

[Skirmisher]

Another of my HMG units attack a unit of Iraqi scouts walking in the open.
2 men are dropped where they stand,a third is sent retreating.
In the same area one of my scout elements is threatened by an Iraqi rifle section and a weapons team featuring LMG's.
.50 cal Machine gun fire from the armored scout vehicle
removes one man from the Iraqi weapons team.
RPG-7 team fires with no effect,and my Scouts
attack the weapons team removing another man.
The four remaining men retreat.:)

[Double Deuce]

Hmmm, the Iranians must still be in hiding. They have to come out sooner or later. :smoke:

[Skirmisher]

Clearly my RPG-7 team wasnt hiding,it was surprized by a new Iraqi weapons team down near the southern map border during the replay,and liquidated by the Iraqi's. :mad:

My HMG fires at and kills 2 more of the other Iraqi weapon's team and sends the last 2 men running.
A type 56 SPAAMG unit attacks an Iraqi rifle section right next to the weapon's team,one man is killed and the remaining 9 flee.

In the north my scouts locate yet another GAZ truck very close,after only moving one hex. It's in a ditch below the roadway and the scouts destroy it.

[Double Deuce]

After a small exchange of gunfire my scouts manage to spot a group of BMP-1's sneaking towards the woods in the north. Just to their south burns my poor (yet very brave) recon vehicle.

In the south, some British made Iranian Scorpians cower behind a small patch of trees.

A short time later, Iranian mortars and rockets begin to join the action. Our brave scouts will soon find them too and they will be given a great gift . . a meeting with Allah . :smoke:

[Skirmisher]

My scout element minus the deceased RPG-7 team finds thier killers and lays down a blanket of fire on the Iraqi weapon's team. One man is killed.
Just to the north another scout vehicle makes its way down a gully unseen and captures an Iraqi victory hex.
The Scorpion's took some pot shots at an Iraqi T-72 and a mobile ATGM that have become visible,good reasons for the scorpions to remain hidden.;)

[Double Deuce]

Not much to shoot at but a couple of light vehicles. Managed to flame one Iranian wheeled APC sneaking about in the south (at least they showed more courage than the Scorpian crewman). :salute:

Iraqi Scouts report Iranian Tanks and APC's in the north seem to be shifting south toward the map center. Must be looking for a weak spot.

The enemy continues to drop 60mm and 120mm mortars along with Rockets along the front but no casualties are reported.

[Skirmisher]

During the replay of the Iraqi turn I see an enemy TOW missle destroy my southern EE-11 Urutu Scout APC. I also see the cowardly Iraqi helo thats apparently getting all of Saddams good intel for him.

The helo is nowhere to be seen.:laugh:
In the northern woods an EE-11 Urutu APC and support units (RPG-7,Scouts) visiously attack an Iraqi reserve section,they lose a man,we lose a single scout. The Iraqi reserves retreat.

Yet another EE-11 Urutu APC and support units grab another Iraqi victory hex,with only sporadic fire from the remnants of an Iraqi weapon's team.

[Double Deuce]

Iraqi scouts continue taking the fight to the enemy, putting up fierce yet in many cases, futile resistance such as against Iranian tanks operating in the north.

In the south, our forces continue trading fire with the enemy. We are trying to work in close and finish the Iranians off in hand to hand fighting. Only through their vehicle mounted .50 caliber MG's are they able to survive against us.

Iranian mortars and rockets continue falling across the front. Reports of a few minor casualties are reported.

[Skirmisher]

I am thrilled during the replay as one of my T-62M's destroy's a snooping MT-LB APC.

Some scouts move up along the roadway and are surprised by another Iraqi reserve section. (Is Saddam low on men?) We lose a man,return fire kills two of them and they run.
A T-62M targets and destroys another MT-LB APC. Another tank targets a scout section and kills one man.

In the south a pinned scout section is destroyed when they fire at an Iraqi rifle section. The scorpions move up and attack another Iraqi rifle section killing 2 and sending them running.One of my Urutu scout vehicles takes a look over an embankment and see's several Iraqi infantry units sneaking about. The .50 cal machine gun finishes off the remnants of a scout section,then attacks a close by rifle section,killing one of them,they retreat.

[Double Deuce]

Finally a vehicle kill although only an HMG armed halftrack.

Iranian tanks continue trying to "sneak" up on me in the north and seem to be pressing their dismounts into the woods in that area as well.

In the center they continue creeping forward as well, taking a few minor objectives. Our men are arming their RPG's in preparation for retaking them when the order is given but for now we let them come closer. :whist:

In the far south, our scouts appear to have broken through and will be driving deeper to seek out the enemy guns hidden in their rear areas. :bandit:

[Skirmisher]

One of my Pasdaran infantry sections can't believe what they see in front of them at the beginning of the turn,an enemy BRDM-2 just sitting in a ditch right in front of them some 3 hexes away.
3 RPG shots later the enemy scout vehicle burns out of control,yet one crewman managed to escape the inferno.
Ironicly it burns very close to where the enemy just destroyed one of my Type 56 SPAAMG vehicles.

My Scorpion tanks lash out at nearby Iraqi rifle sections.
The first tank kills 3 men and sends the rest retreating.
The second kills a man from a different enemy rifle section nearby. The Urutu scout vehicle crests a berm and sprays the retreating rifle section with .50 cal fire.
Two more men are killed and they continue to retreat.

In the north my Urutu scout vehicle moves up and spys
an enemy reserve section and it opens fire on them killing one. Upon disembarking the vehicle,we begin taking fire from another direction. Another reserve section is there and they destroy my RPG-7 team and kill another of my Scouts. My eyes have been opened to the extent of enemy presense in these northern woods.


Iraqi Reserve Section x3
Iraqi Weapon's Team x1
Malutka ATGM Team x1
Scout Section x1
_______________________
Seen enemy units in the northern woods.:surprise:

[Double Deuce]

Iraqi scouts continue to press forward in the South. They can now spot the smoke of the enemy mortars on the horizon to the West.

In the center, the Iranian Scorpians are forced to pop smoke to cover their positions allowing our men to reposition behind the screen.

In the north in the woods, a lone Iranian EE-11 Urutu APC has been stripped of his infantry shield and the assault begin with grenades and RPG's. :smoke:

[Skirmisher]

My remaining Type 56 sprays an advancing Iraqi weapon's team killing two men,the rest head for the hills.
Two RPG-7 teams attack an advancing BRDM-2 scout vehicle. The vehicle is lit up. It was attemping to sneak :sneak: through my southern wooded area and approach my two victory hexes there.

In the north as my scout vehicle disengages the northern
enemy filled woods,the enemy kill off the last of my scout section being carried in it.
One of my guards infantry sections gets an RPG shot at an Iraqi
T-72 lurking about,with no effect.
I am also happy to see in the south, a Scorpion tank immobilized a mighty T-72 on my opponents turn.:)

[Double Deuce]

Iranian Artillery is still bombarding the front line. No major losses inflicted or taken this turn. Fortunately our scouts have been able to keep the enemy's armor under close watch as they sit behind the high ground to the west. Heavy, close in fighting continues in the northern woods.

In the center our scouts take an enemy infantry squad under fire and inflict some casualties but are not able to force them to withdraw. They can hear the Iranian tank idling on the other side of the ridge.

In the south the enemy is hidden behind the thickening smoke from the heavy fighting. Our disabled T-72 continues engaging any visible targets, killing several enemy infantrymen in the process.

[Skirmisher]

In the south one of my scout sections is ambushed by an Iraqi rifle section.Some scouts are killed and the remaining one's surrendered to the Iraqi's.

In the north my Pasdaran section's scour the hills completely destroying two Iraqi scout section's. Ample payback for the ambush.

And finally that pesky Iraqi scout helo is hit for (3) damage by a tank mounted 12.7 mm.
The Iraqi's have not used any artillery at all so far in this battle. I continue to fire mortars and rockets all around to cause some confusion for Iraqi troops on the ground.

[Double Deuce]

Little gunfire exchange this turn.

In the north, the Iranian begin to press their infantry forward eliminating my most forward deployed scouts acting as early warning.

In the center and south most Iranian units remain hidden behind smoke, relying on their artillery to try and inflict casualties on the Iraqi's.

[Skirmisher]

In the northern woods a man is removed from an Iraqi weapon's team,and a reserve infantry.
South of those woods I'm making a push for a 110 point victory hex there.Surprizingly there is very little in the way of an Iraqi defense. The Iraqi scout section in the area is almost killed off,leaving one man.
The enemy T-72 is surely still about,but it wont show itself for fear of my RPG's.

In the south I lose a scorpion tank as it attempts to duck into a gully, after attacking a nearby Iraqi rifle section. Various Iraqi ATGM elements wait patiently in the background hoping for a shot at a T-62.

[Double Deuce]

In the north, Iranian infantry and armor bunch up in the woods as Iraqi reserve infantry continues to hold their ground. Just to their south Iranian infantry crosses the ridgeline and eliminates a severely depleted scout section.

In the south, the imobilized Iraqi T-72 continues to hammer away at any exposed Iranian infantrymen they can find. To the north of the T-72, fresh Iraqi squads bring up some RPG's and manage to eliminate another Scorpion.

The Iranian Air Force makes it's presence felt as an F-5 streaks in and destroys a repositioning M901 ITV moving in the south.

[Skirmisher]

Well I should have stayed put,peeked over that embankment one to many times,and the immobilized T-72 got another notch for a kill. The Iraqi's seemed to be massing to possibly make a try for the victory hexes there.
Iraqi ground troops are attempting sneak into the southern woods,we are ready there.:smoke:

A couple more Iraqi's are killed in the nothern woods,but nothing conclusive. I capture a victory hex in the middle and the Iraqi's didnt even fire a shot,they seem to have vacated the area.

[Double Deuce]

In the northern woods the gunfire seems to have subsided somewhat except for the steady barrage of Iranian rockets and mortars. :blab:

In the south, Iranian aircraft continue to try and take out the immobilized T-72 in the south but are unsuccessful. Iraqi infantry squads maneuver to surround a lone RPG team holding 2 closely positioned objectives. He seems to be pretty much all alone. We are just waiting for the smoke to clear. :yummy:

[Skirmisher]

In the northern woods the fight continues,a .50 cal machine gun section kills a member of an iraqi weapon's team,the rest retreat. I lose an ifantryman,but the supporting T-62 fires at an Iraqi reserve section and kills two,they retreat.
Just to the south on the Iraqi side of the map another Iraqi weapon's team loses a man and the rest retreat.
Also in the north my last Uturu scout vehicle takes an Iraqi objective and see's a whole lot of mobile ATGM's.
Hope they miss again.:OHNO:

[Double Deuce]

The woods in the north are still alive with the enemy as a T-72 falls victim to a lowly Iranian T-62. :cry: At least the M901 ITV's have continued to keep the rest of the enemy's vehicles at bay, killing another Iranian EE-11 Urutu APC.

In the south, the Iranian Air Force continues the attack but still without success against the besieged Iraqi T-72. Just before the attack a lone Iranian BMP-1 was spotted sneaking around in the woods off in the distance.

[Skirmisher]

In the north an Iraqi Malutka ATGM section is destroyed.
Sporadic small arms fire with no results elsewhere.

F-5 ordered to try again on that immobilized tank. Interestingly there seems to be no Iraqi air defense present
and no Iraqi artillery.:)

[Double Deuce]

Iranian artillery continues to drop all along the front, killing me on both sides.

In the north, the M901 ITV's turn their MG's loose on the enemy infantry at long range forcing at least 1 squad to retreat.

In the south, the immobilzed T-72 survives another F-5 airstrike. :smoke:

[Skirmisher]

Action in the north woods,my infantry kill off two men in an Iraqi reserve section. Supporting T-62M's finish the section off. Just to the south in the open a MG1-MMG section kills off an Iraqi Malutka ATGM unit in a treeline,waiting for an Iraqi vehicle to shoot at.

[Double Deuce]

In the north, the woods are still bitterly contested, with 2 enemy T-62's remaining in sight but just out of reach of our anti-tank weapons.

In the center, Iranian infantry is found pushing very close to the main ridge in the front line.

In the south, things look much better. The holdout Iranian RPG Team has been eliminated and the their accompanying scouts have been put to flight. In the far south, our forces continue pushing west toward the Iranian rear areas. There is a enemy BMP out there somewhere.

[Skirmisher]

An Iraqi rifle section has appeared on the ridge to threaten my advance. Combined fire from a scout section and the MG1-MMG section kills 3 men and routs the Iraqi's.
A Pasdaran infantry section advances capturing another Iraqi victory hex.They are fired upon by a rifle section hidden behind the ridge and the immobilized T-72A. One of ours is killed,and one of their rifle section.

In the north woods a T-62M attacks an Iraqi reserve section killing one and they retreat.

In the south woods an enemy rifle section was fired upon by one of my Pasdaran sections killing two of the enemy.

[Double Deuce]

The fighting in the north is still intense. Boh sides jockeying for the advantage. While the Iranians are continuing to advance against our forces they are only able to do so at a slow pace. They have at least 3 T-62's supporting them in this sector.

In the south and center, the situation looks much better. The Iranians have been routed or eliminated to our direct front in most places. We have advanced to the woods near some of their rears areas and are continuing to probe their lines. If nothing else we can keep their heads down and prevent them from retaking the center objectives or reinforcing their attacks there. The immobilized T-72 who was the anchor in the central and southern defenses finally succumbed to the repeated F-5 attack runs. :nervous:

[Skirmisher]

One Pasdaran section kills 3 Iraqi's in a rifle section. Another Pasdaran section loses two men to the Iraqi's.
We seem to have lost the objectives that our lite troops had been holding on to,yet north of there the Iraqi's are weak,and a couple more objectives are within reach.

In the north woods a troublesome hidden scout section nips at my infantry unseen. Somewhere up here theres an Iraqi T-72.

In the south woods the enemy has walked into a waiting trap. Three Iraqi's are killed in a rifle section and they retreat. An Iraqi weapons team hides behind smoke ,because of the hail of gunfire raining down upon them.

[Double Deuce]

In the north and center the situation continues to deteriorate as the Iranians are able to continue their advance, athough not without casualties. The M901 ITV's have begun adding their MG's to the defense and this seems to be fairly effective.

In the south, the situation is a more stable and I should be able to continue to hold most of the objectives for some time.

[Skirmisher]

An action packed turn. In the center Iraqi ground elements have begun advancing toward an objective. One of my scout sections kills one of an Iraqi weapon's team and they retreat.
We advance again on the Iraqi ridge,but are bogged down by localized Iraqi rifle sections behind the ridgeline.

In the north woods the scout section continues to make trouble,along with the remains of an Iraqi reserve section.
One of my prized guards infantry is ambushed by them,all but two of my men are killed.
The supporting T-62's open up on the visible reserve section killing 3,the two remaining retreat.
My forces now own ground previously held by the Iraqi's.
Overall resistance by the enemy is slowing in that area.
Just to the south of this my forces kill of one of an Iraqi weapons team leaving only one man.
Ahead I can see more reservists and the remaining T-72
near the objective.

In the south woods a mech section kills 3 of an Iraqi weapons team and they retreat. A Pasdaran section kills 2 of an Iraqi rifle section,and another mech section comes in
and finishes them off. With the southern woods cleaned of enemy forces I can begin working back toward the Iraqi held objectives.:smoke:

[Double Deuce]

In the north, things are going downhill rapidly. The Iraqi infantry is finally being forced to fall back out of the woods with the exception of a few die hard scouts.

In the south, an Iranian BMP is maneuvering to attack supported by infantry. With some effort, we should be able to hold most of the objective hexes here.

Should have some screenshots next turn.

[Skirmisher]

The scouts are finally removed from the north woods,only scattered Iraqi ground forces seem to remain there.
To the south a couple victory hexes are just out of reach.
The enemy T-72 has vanished.

In the south woods we kill all but a lone Iraqi left running,
and continue the advance back toward the Iraqi held objectives.

[Double Deuce]

In the north, finally some good news. An Iranian T-62 is burning (thanks to our T-72) and another is under assault by scouts. Just waiting for the therd one to pop out of the woods for a look around. :yummy:

In the south, Iranian BMP's line up for a counter-attack while my M901 ITV's reload their missile tubes in preparation. Iranian artillery continues to fall onto the front lines.

One thing I have learned is that Iraqi ATGM gunner's are severly lacking in their ability to hit even stationary targets. :mad:

[Skirmisher]

A Mulutka ATGM team is killed off,and other Iraqi units surpressed. Advance continues across the board.
Not much visible in the south,and four or five objectives are out there to take.:cool:

[Double Deuce]

In the north, the Iraqi reserve infantry continues to be forced back. The northern woods are almost all under complete Iranian control now. :nervous:

In the south, the Iranians launch their counterattack with at least 3 BMP-1's in support. My ATGM's continue their poor performance, not managing to hit any targets the entire turn. They are forced to displace as their covering smoke begins to disperse.

[Skirmisher]

Advance continues,In the north we lose a couple men in a couple different Pasdaran sections.
In the middle an objective is taken,one Iraqi rifle section destroyed.One man removed from another one.
In the south,an Iraqi weapons team is destroyed and 2 men removed from another one. Objectives just ahead.

[Double Deuce]

Things continue to deteriorate especially in the north. The south may yet be saved depending on how effective the BMP's are in the offense. :cry:

[Skirmisher]

The Iraqis had a decent turn for themselves in defensive mode. One T-62 destroyed in the north,a mech section destroyed in the south,and the BMP immobilized. We removed some more men from Iraqi rifle sections and took another objective. Iraqi's still have some fight left in them.:surprise:

[Double Deuce]

A very good turn but maybe too little too late. In the north, earlier in the turn one of the M901 ITV's finally found their mark taking out a T-62.

In the south, a BMP is assaulted as it moves on the objective area and is destroyed. Two others BMP's are being targeted by more M901 ITV's as the Iraqi infantry tries to regroup bolstered by the remaining T-72 which has sallied forth to seek out something to shoot at. :smoke:

[Skirmisher]

In the north, we lose a bid for a victory hex there,as one of my Pasdaren sections is destroyed by Iraqi conscripts.:rolleyes:
In the south,we capture two more victory hexes,and kill off the remains of an Iraqi rifle section.
The last Iraqi T-72 appears to be headed to recapture some objectives.:upset:

[Double Deuce]

All across the front the situation seems to have taken a turn for the better.

In the north, Iraqi conscripts have managed to elminate the Iranian infantry attacking their positions. An M901 ITV has moved out of his covered position to spray the surviving enemy with machine gun fire.

In the center, the remaining Iraqi T-72 has retaken one of the objectives and eliminated 2 Iranian squads in the area. Seeing this, several previously decimated Iraqi squads have rallied to support the lone tank in the counter-attack and are in position to retake the other objective on the ridge.

In the south, the situation is still tenuous. While 2 of the 3 Iranian BMP's have been destroyed and their suppporting infantry put on the defensive, the remaining BMP, hiding in a gully, is still a major threat. Fortunately, 2 M901 ITV's are overlooking his exit routes. Let' hope they don't miss this time. :smoke:

Somewhere out there is another Iranian T-62. It hasn't been seen for a while and could pop out at any time. :nervous:

A draw may still be possible although our casualties have been very heavy.

[Skirmisher]

I could have just sat back and taken less losses,but I want the objectives,and my troops are paying the price on the Iraqi side of the map.
Captured 2 more objectives this turn,lost more men.

[Double Deuce]

Well it looks like I managed to scrape out a Draw. Taking 5 objective hexes on the last turn probably helped, that and being able to destroy the last Iranian BMP-1.

Final Score
IRAN: 2655
IRAQ: 2127