Welcome honored guests to the fourth symposium on the Revolution in Military Affairs. Let me introduce our speaker, Doctor Lawrence Durand….
(Applause)
“Good evening Officers. In retrospect, the events which lead to what has historically been called the “Horror of Hotot” have been deeply studied for some time. But, in light of the new information we have, namely, the last words of Commander Tiberius Konev in the form of a CD-R found in the wreckage of the village only last month… has opened up a new understanding of both the character and nature of the forces involved in what was a very bloody and costly engagement. So without further delay, I will share with you now, for the first time its contents… Start the slides please…”
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Commander's Notes
CIS 32nd Motor Rifle Brigade,
The American forces have chosen the point of battle outside of a small town the residents call Hotot-en-Auge. Their decision to advance north will likely take place with little reconnaissance. Instead I expect that they shall use their armored forces, numbering at least 7 squads, to create a fast and powerful thrust in and around the village.
My soldiers are tired, undersupplied and uncertain. In my disadvantage I count these three factors.
1- Superior range of the enemy’s heavy weapons.
2- Superior firepower, I have neither CAS or artillery while the American’s have both in an abundance matching their capitalist fervor.
3- My force morale is wavering, C3 factors heavily into this. I have found it difficult to maintain contact with at least 15% of my forces at any given time.
My plans must diminish such disadvantages... but then, ever since Hitler's bandits paid my grandfathers a visit outside Stalingrad- we have fought under such conditions have we not?
My first consideration then, is to close the gap between myself and the American’s longest ranged weapon systems. This means the M1-Abrams. Without any air support to blunt the tip of his spear, I must fight those tanks only when it is at close range and without fear of reprisal against my meager 4 platoons of T-80’s. A few of those Scrap-Coffins have broken down once already in the first minute of our battle.
Local topography shows that the town of Hotot-en-Auge rests upon a well elevated location. If I can send an advance line of troops to infest that town like the plague, I can establish a barrier that will be costly to cross. Likewise, I will order small platoons armed with AT weapons to hunt along the ridgelines and retreat under taking fire back to the forests. The line of sight for them should be good and the cover adequate. This may prevent our forces in the town from being outflanked.
Where his firepower most cumulative is in those Abrams tanks and his CAS... If I can sacrifice some low value empty and unloaded AFV's to drive around and get spotted by his Apache's, I will gladly let them be destroyed if it means tying up his resources chasing empty vehicles. This will give me a chance, albeit a small one, to stealthily move loaded AFV's to locations with better fields of fire and concealment.
These are the sacrifices I am asking of my men... and behold- some have actually volunteered for the task. They know they will be spotted and most likely killed, but it might buy their comrades just the time needed to prepare for a better defense.
In the spirit of such Disinformatiza I have also ordered several vehicles to speed at their fastest east and west along the northern most highway from the village. The dust created by such actions may make the American Commander think a larger mechanized force than really exists is traveling towards his flanks.
Morale... how can I motivate some of these men when I can't even reach their unit leaders over the radio?
Should I shuttle vodka bottles up to the front lines like I have heard are being done by other commanders?
No, my plan will be to travel as close to the fighting as possible myself and group my forces in and around the paths leading into and just outside Hotot-en-Auge.
I will shout myself hoarse if I must.
But this morale has me worried still... I just overheard my adjutant as he passed my command tent. It seems everyone is reminding one another to "save that last bullet for yourself".
This stinks like the ghosts of Afghanistan...
Commander Tiberius Konev Reporting.
