OP1 Battle: Stritzling and Pleinting

[Double Deuce]

ACTIVE COMMANDER: Stonefire
LOCATION: Vicinity Stritzling and Pleinting
RETREAT DIRECTION: East
PBEM SLOT: 002
PASSWORD: wazzup

Attached is a zip of the actual Pbem File for the Battle.

Your opponent is: dita

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

HEX FF5

......2 Co/1 Bn/7th MRR/2nd MR Div
.........x10 Mech Section
.........x10 BMP-2
.........x1 SA-7 SAM
...5 Bn/7th MRR/2nd MR Div
......2 ATM Bty/5 Bn/7th MRR/2nd MR Div
.........x1 BRDM-2
.........x1 SA-7 SAM
.........x9 BRDM-2 Spandrel
......4 Co/2 Bn/7th MRR/2nd MR Div
............x1 Mech Section
............x9 BMP-2
............x1 2-120mm Mortars
............x6 SA-7 SAM
............x2 UAZ-66
............x6 7.62mm PKMS MMG
............x6 30mm AGS-17 GL
............x6 UAZ Jeep

HEX GG6

.........1 Co/2 Bn/7th MRR/2nd MR Div
............x10 Mech Section
............x10 BMP-2
............x1 SA-7 SAM

HEX HH6

.........3 Co/2 Bn/7th MRR/2nd MR Div
............x10 Mech Section
............x10 BMP-2
............x1 SA-7 SAM
.........2 Co/4 Bn/7th MRR/2nd MR Div
............x10 T-64B
..........3 ATM Bty/5 Bn/7th MRR/2nd MR Div
.............x1 BRDM-2
.............x1 SA-7 SAM
.............x9 BRDM-2 Spandrel
----------------------------------------------------------------
ADDED SUPPORT (OFF-BOARD)

...1 Sqdn/16th AA (-)
......x4 MiG-23
Package 3
23mm GSh-23L (1) 4 shots
Kh-23 Kerry (2)
4x 57mm S-5 (4)
4x 57mm S-5 (4) ......x2 Su-17
Package 2
30mm NR-30 (2) 5 shots
Kh-25 Karen (2)
4x 57mm S-5 (8)
4x 57mm S-5 (8) ...1 Sqdn/1st Rgt/8th GTA
......x4 Mi-24 Hind D (# 366)
...2 Sqdn/1st Rgt/8th GTA
......x4 Mi-24 Hind D (# 366)

......7 Art Bn/2nd DAG/2nd MR Div
.........x18 2S1 Gvozdika

----------------------------------------------------------------
Briefing:

[Double Deuce]

All Arty and Helo's are delayed arrival until Turn 2 so no side can pre-target possible deploy areas.

[Stonefire]

Hi DD

Who will move first? - if it is NATO I would like you to set the range of all Soviet units to a very short range (Not AA units) so they don't blow any cover with OP fire.

Regards

Stonefire

[Vesku]

WP moves first.

[Stonefire]

Ok - good ;)

[Double Deuce]

The actual Pbem File has been uploaded to the 1st post in this thread. Please make contact with your opponent if you haven't already done so. You can do this via PM, email or posting in the open part of the forums.

REMEMBER: The Battle is to only go 24 Turns for FOW reasons. Once your opponent has completed Turn 24 HE will send me the file.

[Stonefire]

Good
Just to be dead-sure, we are using winSPMBT v 2.5.1, aren't we?

[Double Deuce]

Yes, we are.

[Stonefire]

No contact at all yet.

My 10 BPM's at the west end are moving fast down south under cover of the forest. If we are superior to the enemy, I want their retreat area covered, if they are superior, the units orders is to harass the enemy so the other units can retreat. it's a gamble, but we need to know the enemy force, and the units will do no good staying in the far north west corner of the map.

All the other units are moving south, the most western of the weering to the east. Towards the town of Pleinting.

When my Hinds arrived they fanned out of the north and east mapside. They spotted no enemies, so in turn two my units mowed as fast as possible (and exposing themselfes a bit - a gamble too - but I need to cover some terrain before the enemy has his forces in place - I hope he is more carefull than I)

A MIG 23 will make a standoff attack at the end of his turn - and I have targetted two hills in the south west corner with two units (only a single tube) of artillery - they will land in 0.5 and 1.5 turn - just in case he has M150 or ATGM's on the hills.

Stonefire

[Stonefire]

Turm 3
The MIG tagetted a m113 (not the Leo 1 hexaway) no hit.
There is 1 Leo and 4 M113A1 (with rifle squads) around hex 31/115 (down south). A Hind pupped up over the trees, and was imidiately hit by a Blowpipe SAM, when it retreated it was hit once more for a total dammage of 3. The blowpipe is in hex 34/80. Bandsat!!
It spotted a Lynx in hex 22/55. Then a bmp moving over open terrain at the far east, was shot by a TOW? from a M150 hidden on one of the hills, no personnel was seen leaving the wreck, the squad riding in it must be lost.
I have called full air-support on the open terrain, at the west end of the map - hopefully they will catch some Leos out in the open - there must be more than the single one.

I am not confortable with the situation at all.

Stonefire

[Vesku]

Our superb repair teams will get the damaged Hind back in a minute, surely for the next call of duty. Those TOWs are a threat, maybe you could try with just infantry (probably would take too much time to advance there)?

Good info, now we know what we are facing, the Canadian regiment. Their best piece is the M150, Leo 1s as tanks and a lot of good mech infantry.

[Stonefire]

Turn 4
The Mig-23 who attacked this turn killed a M113 with a rifle squad I beleive - some of the crew survived. The Hinds are exellent spotters - only one of them got attacked by a Blowpibe SAM - but not hit.
Here is what they spotted:
Hex21,46 1 Lynx
Hex 21,51 1 M113 with a HMG
Hex 29,60 1 M113 (HMG?)
Hex 34,80 1 SAM
near Hex 29,115 4x m113 with rifle squads
Hex 42,115 1 M113 Rifle
Hex 41,111 1 M113 Rifle
Hex 53,117 1 Leo
Hex 32,79 1 Leo
Hex 35,97 1 Leo

My platoon on the western mapedge is now behind his northern flank - supported by 2 Hinds.

The other forces are moving toward south east - 2 Hinds are waiting behind the town at south east, hopefully the Leo down there wil be closer next turn.

1 Hind retreated off the map

Artillery is called down on the SAM - and aistrikes are called in on the 3 Leos - some of them will not make standoff attacks - let them use the SAM's on them - so my Hinds can move in for some kills.

It looks too good to be true - am I walking into an ambush?

[Cameronius]

Stonfire, please don't use your 122s on the enemy formations at this time. This is very important! The HE will have little effect on armoured AFVs and APCs an you will only be inviting effective counter battery fire. Let the enemy drive full speed into your ambushes.

Cam

[Stonefire]

Understood - I will turn it off next turn - I have two 120 mm mortars on the map - It must be OK to use those.

I haven't fully understood the counter battery fire system. Can someone explain me?

I was not intented to fire all the tubes but only 1 or 2 out of 3 in a battery.

[Cameronius]

Stonfire,
The counter battery routine is run by the game engine. It works like this. If you fire an off-map arty mission the computer will determine if the enemy has any idle off-map arty assets with greater than or equal to your unit's max range. These units may fire counter battery using experience and morale ratings as modifiers. The better the enemy experience and morale the more likely he is to fire and the more effective his fire will be. We have a disadvantage to the NATO artilleryman here.

Using your on-map 120mm mortars is fine, and a good idea to suppres that SAM site.

Cam

[Stonefire]

Ok

I cannot garantee that one of the batteries won't fire at the end of this turn.
But i'll turn them off next turn.

Why did we bring them along if we don't want to use them?
Just curious :D

[Cameronius]

Just to be prudent. If the enemy comes with more than just the recce force that we think it is, than we need to be prepared. Have you read my detailed orders post?
http://www.strategyzoneonline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=572412&postcount=15

[Stonefire]

Hi Cam

I did - it says "Artillery unit will be assigned as situation demands".
But I have turned the arty off this turn.
The disposition of the forces in the setup, made it difficult to get into defensive positions, so based on the info from the Hind's, I am playing the scenario to the agressive side - sorry.

There is bad and good new this turn.

Bad news first: One of the Hind's at the left mapedge was hit twice by a blowpipe, and are now hanging exposed in the air - and have to retreat all across the map, with a damage of 7. So it may be lost after next turn.:nervous: But is has on the other hand proved some good intelligense of the enemy.
A new Blowpipe are located in hex 22,101 (based on smoke trails)

The good news:
The MIG's destoyed 1 Leo in hex 43,92, and a M113 in hex 30,115, the rifle squad survived.
The units up north destroyed a Lynx in hex 22,41 and a Lynx in 27,55 - the scouts survived.

The Hind behind Pleiting has observed 3 Leo's in hex 63,116 58,117 and 55,115 - the area are now target for coming airstrikes.

A M150 fired at a jeep, but it is still nor expoded, but I begin to guess where it is.

The rest of the forces are still moving south south-east towards Pleiting.

The enemy fired 155 artilery and 81 mm mortars at the end of the turn - 2 of the Hinds reatreated off the map draqwing fir form one more blowpipe SAM.

Next week there will be a pause in the figth - as I will be on a business trip from October 3. to October 6.

Stonefire

[Stonefire]

In brief - a good turn

1 Leo was killed in his turn when a spandrel returned fire at it.
Airstrikes took out one Leo down south and a m113.

The hidden M150 took out a spandrel and a BDM, but was then spotted, and after a hailstorm of fire from BDM's finally killed by a T60.

A BPM took out one M113 and a Hind disposed one more of the Leos down south.
My opponent really exposes his tanks.

The avantgarde of my forces are closing in on Pleiting.

Over

[Stonefire]

Airstrikes - a Mig23 took our the thirs od the Leo's down south.

But another was hit by Blowpipes for a damage of 16 - the plane going down. No chutes seen.:OHNO:
Two blowpipes spotted, tried to hit the one i could get to with long range fire from a BRDM - but no results.

The blowpipe must have spotted some of my forces on the western mapedge.
They ran into a lonely HMG and killed it - he knows that I am there.

The planes crossing the map observed several M113 and one more M150 - tried to move in to a killing position on it but lost a spandrel - a BRDM scored 2 hits but then it puffed smoke - Tried to get to it with the Hinds but they was halted by m113 and infantry just west of Pleiting. Airforce is called in to get rid of the M150.
My forces are now in Pleiting, and more comming down from north.

No more from me until the weekend - i'm of to Germany tomorrow

Stonefire

[Cameronius]

Stonfire,
I see that you are advancing your force into Pleinting. While this is contrary to the battle plan you are having some success so I am willing to let you go with it. Keep in mind that the troops on your flanks are digging in and that operationally your force is in a bad position. I may ask you to fall back before the end of your 24 turns. Please keep this is mind and keep the excellent battle reports coming.

Cam

[Stonefire]

Hi Cam.
The next time I have to print out the orders, and dont rely on my memory - sorry for that.
But the dammage is not so great - I have just yesterday received this mail from dita:

"Hello. My orders are to withdraw from the battle.
As per DD, I`ve sent my last turn to him."
Regards Paul "dita""

So I guess that you can arrange my troops as you want to, as there still are more than 2/3 back of the game.

DD - is there any penalty for withdrawing when I have troops placed in the retreat area?

Stonefire

[Double Deuce]

DD - is there any penalty for withdrawing when I have troops placed in the retreat area?Yes and no. I'll be evaluating like I did for the WP team from Round 1 when they were deployed in bad spots (due to the map exit/retreat direction limitations).

[Stonefire]

OK - I guess if he retreats to the south, he may avoid any WP ambushes.
But then our troops can move into Stritzling and Pleinting if Cam decides it, can't they?

[Vesku]

Stonefire, can you give us a summary of both sides casualties.

[Double Deuce]

OK - I guess if he retreats to the south, he may avoid any WP ambushes.
But then our troops can move into Stritzling and Pleinting if Cam decides it, can't they?Yes, they will have essentially abandoned the hexes those locations cover.

[Stonefire]

Stonefire, can you give us a summary of both sides casualties.

OK I'll try from my AAR reports

WP losses: 1 BRDM, 2 BMP's, 3 Spandrels, 1 Jeep, 1 mech Squad and 1 MIG23

NATO: 4 M113, 2 Lynx, 1 M150, 5 Leopards, 1 Rifle Squad and 1 HMG.

I guess it would have been more if he hadn't retreated.

The Hinds and airsupport really made a difference in this game, and I am mad at myself for loosing the MIG, it should not have been alloud to make that attack. (and my opponent did not handled his tanks well)

And the M150 are deadly - they was responsible for most of my losses, and I don't think there was more than 3 or 4 or maybe only 2, and they was wery difficult to spot - shame I didn't got the second I spotted.

[Vesku]

Thanks! Good intel for Rompa and me.

[Stonefire]

Thanks! Good intel for Rompa and me.

Just be aware that your opponents may not expose their tanks so eagerly.

[Double Deuce]

LOSSES - Confirmed

HEX FF5

...5 Bn/7th MRR/2nd MR Div
......2 ATM Bty/5 Bn/7th MRR/2nd MR Div
.........x1 BRDM-2
.........x4 BRDM-2 Spandrel
......4 Co/2 Bn/7th MRR/2nd MR Div
............x1 Mech Section
............x1 BMP-2
............x1 UAZ-66

----------------------------------------------------------------
ADDED SUPPORT (OFF-BOARD)

...1 Sqdn/16th AA (-)
......x1 MiG-23

----------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT UNIT LOCATIONS:

HEX TBD
Unit Name