Well, this took a lot longer than expected. Apologies for the delay, but real world life, and death, unexpectedly interfered with my schedule. So without any further delays, let's get started with the activities on the Wilhelmsland/Rubishland border. As a reminder given how long it's been since the the last battle, this battle takes place simultaneously with the action on the Wilhelmsland/Gardenstan border, which can be found here if you want to refresh you memory.
View of the Wilhelmsland deployment from the attackers (Rubishland) perspective. The Border road is just visible at the bottom of the photo.
As always, click on the image for a bigger view.
3:44 a.m., June 9th, 1985. Wilhelmsland (Eastern) Border with Rubishland. Lt. Koch was currently in command of a mixed Recon platoon of Scimitars and Scorpions. His unit was currently spread out between two small woods approximately 2 kilometers from the Rubishland border. His vehicles were well camouflaged and hadn’t moved in over week. The men were restless, but the handful of troops other than Koch who had seen battle the previous month with Rubishland were keeping them in line.
Koch briefly reflected on the first action of the one-day war that he and Lt. Weber had fought against the Rubishland invaders a mere 46 days ago. The Wilhelmsland high command was still reeling from that action, and had adopted a defense in depth approach as they desperately tried to find enough resources to prevent another incursion. Everyone knew that President for Life Idi Sanford would not let his defeat in that action go unchallenged, it was just a matter of time until he attacked again.
In addition to his Recon detachment, there was half a company of Infantry another 4 kilometers to his rear, dug in along the most likely avenues with the Marder’s concealed in the woods for fire support.
2nd Brigade, which had been mauled during the one-day war was to the Northwest rear of his position. While 3rd Brigade was spread out to the Southwest rear of his position as a rapid reaction force. To his immediate North and South were dug in Reserve Infantry units and more Recon platoons.
Koch’s thoughts were interrupted as he suddenly heard the unmistakable scream of incoming artillery, he dropped down into the turret and slammed the hatch at the same time as the landscape was illuminated by the flash of rounds impacting on the terrain features to his front as well as the woods he was occupying.
Koch switched his radio to the Brigade frequency began to call in the attack as a second barrage of artillery fire impacted on his position again as well as the terrain feature to his immediate rear, as the Rubishland gunners continued with a rolling barrage.
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Lt. Koch looked to his left and saw the carnage the prolonged missile and artillery barrage had inflicted. The Scorpion platoon to his left was in tatters, Tracks blown off, one tank had 2 feet missing from its gun tube. He didn’t need to be a mechanic to know that platoon was out of the fight. (The Platoon rolled poorly on its Quality Check, and was removed from play).
Koch could see the flashes from the artillery impacts to his rear as the Rubishland gunners slowly walked the fire to his rear, giving special attention to all of the terrain features. ‘At least they can’t keep up this volume of fire for long… I hope,’ he muttered to himself. It was at that point that his gunner called out a contact report, the blurry Infra-red enhanced image of a BRDM2 had just appeared on his sights. ‘Now the real fun starts,’ Koch said to his gunner as he reported the contact up the chain of command.
The Rubishland Recon units continued the advance as the Scimitar detachment commander called in a spot report, having sighted 2 BRDM-2’s and a PT-76 tank advancing towards their position. ‘You are free to engage when they are in range’, ordered Koch as he passed this latest report up the change of command, He then began plotting targets for an artillery barrage, realizing that the short range of his Scorpion’s 76mm gun may not allow him to engage the recon unit to his front. Not for the first time he wished he was in a Scimitar Platoon.
End of turn. It's still dark out, so spotting a moving vehicle in the open is limited to a distance of 20", all units having 1st generation IR capabilities.
The Rubishland Recon units continued to advance. The Recon detachment for the Rubishland 1st MRR remained out of range of Lt Koch’s Scorpion platoon. However, the Recon detachment from the Rubishland 2nd MRR were mostly in range of the Scimitar detachment, who opted to wait until the BRDM2, AT units were in range to open fire.
Lt Koch had 10 digit grid coordinates worked out and called in an artillery fire mission on the furthest BRDM2-AT platoon. 2 batteries of 155mm Howitzers responded to his call, the results were less than hoped for, resulting in only suppressing the platoon of Sagger equipped BRDM-2’s.
View from the Wilhlemsland side of the battle.
The Rubishland unit continues to advance through the darkness, the BRDM-2 AT platoons anxious to get into their overwatch positions in the terrain features to their front. The Rubishland BRDM’s units spot both the Wilhelmsland Scimitar and Scorpion units, unfortunately having made more than ½ a move, they are unable to fire.
The Wilhelmsland units take overwatch fire ignoring the machine gun armed BRDM-2s. The Scimitar platoons fire and destroy the 2MRR PT-76 platoon and one of the BRDM-2AT platoons, (the other platoon had taken up it’s designated overwatch position on the hill). Lt. Koch’s platoon fired at one of the BRDM-2AT platoons from the 1st MRR that was trying to occupy the woods he was located in and destroys the AT platoon. However, Lt. Koch is now in the position of having the remaining Rubishland units behind him and unable to see them due the woods he occupies blocking his line of sight.
View from the Rubishland side. On the mid right side the remaining BRDM2-AT of the Rubishland 2nd MRR has taken up a hull down position on the hill opposite the pesky Scimitar detachment. I know it's hard to see, click on the picture enlarge.
Lt. Koch felt his heart racing as his gunner quietly said, “hey boss, I think you better check out your night vision, I see a whole shit load of tanks to our front”. The 1st and 2nd Rubishland MRR appear out of the inky darkness on the night vision scopes of the Wilhelmsland forces. A few moments later the woods exploded around both Wilhelmsland locations as artillery and rockets rained down around them, causing 1 Scimitar to fail it’s quality check and be removed.
The Rubishland Recon units continue to move as the follow MRR’s come on the table. The BRDM-2 AT opposite the Scimitar fires at the lone remaining Scimitar platoon but misses.
On the Wilhelmsland side, Lt Koch calls in artillery fire on the advancing tanks of the 1st Rubishland MRR causing one platoon of T-55’s to fail their quality check and be removed. He then maneuvers his platoon to the other side of the woods and prepares to make his made dash to the rally-point. The remaining Scimitar Platoon darts out of the woods and tears off into the darkness for the rally-point, knowing they can do nothing to slow the oncoming juggernaut. Both Wilhelmsland units trusting to the darkness to allow them to make it to safety. “Where the hell are our reinforcements,” Koch wonders.
Battle viewed from Wilhelmsland side, end of turn 5
The Commander of the invasion force had just been threatened by President for Life Idi Sanford, for being 15 minutes behind schedule. President Sanford’s last words to him still ringing in his ears, “We hafta show that fool, Big Daddy Fish, that we have the bestest troops. Now beat them Gardenstan troops to the meeting point or your family starts to lose their heads, Comrade General!”
All of the Rubishland forces continued to move their maximum distance. The BRDM-2 AT unit for the 1stMRR have the scare of their life as they came to the far edge of the woods to find the fleeing Wilhelmsland Scorpion platoon a mere 300 meters to their front, but having moved their full distance the Rubishland unit was not able to fire.
With the Wilhelmsland Recon troops running for their lives there was no one to spot for artillery fire. Several kilometers behind the former Wilhelmsland positions the squeak of tracks and rumble of big diesel engines could be heard as 2 battalions of M-60A3 tanks maneuvered towards suitable postilions. Each Battalion was accompanied by a platoon of TOW anti-tank missile equipped M113’s – a recent gift from President Regan and the United States to Wilhelmsland.
Lt. Koch received a radio call from his wingman alerting him to the BRDM2 platoon at the woods edge, Koch ordered his platoon to continue forward for 100 meters and then fire from a short halt at the BRDM platoon, destroying it as the 76mm rounds sliced through the paper-thin armor of the BRDM’s like a hot knife through butter.
End of turn 6. The 2 Wilhelmsland tank battalions can be seen at the bottom of the photo. I need a bigger table.
The 2 Rubishland MRR continued their advance into the darkness. Their advance Recon detachments continued their advance, with the detachment from the Rubishland 2nd MRR just making it into spotting range of Marder’s in the woods to their front. The Recon detachment from the Rubishland 1st MRR also managed to get into spotting range of reinforcing Wilhelmsland 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade. The 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade is still hidden in the dark. (The 2/2 Armor was just reconstituted after being severally mauled in the opening engagement of the 1 Day war with Rubishland. See Here )
The Rubishland Recon unit from the 1st MRR calls for artillery fire, causing 1 platoon of M-60A3’s to fail their quality check and be removed, and suppressing two other platoons. The call for fire from the Rubishland Recon unit of the 2nd MRR goes unanswered (they rolled – poorly on the artillery availability chart).
On the Wilhelmsland side, Oberst Richter Commander of 2nd Brigade, noted that the sky was starting to lighten, checking his watch he knew he had about 10 minutes until the visibility would improve enough to allow engagements at extreme range, and more importantly air strikes to arrive.
Lt. Koch also noted the dark starting to recede as he willed with Scorpion to move faster. He was stuck out in the middle of the main bodies with no cover other than the fading darkness. The tanks of 2nd Battalion advance towards their assigned positions on the hill when they encounter elements of the Rubishland Recon detachment from the 1st MRR already there, having stabilized guns, they can move and fire, so they light them up – destroying 2 BRDM’s and a PT-76, eliminating the Recon detachment from the Rubishland 1st MRR. The tanks of 1st Battalion advance and engage a BRDM platoon from the Rubishland 2nd MRR, destroying it. A Marder platoon in the woods engages the sole remaining BRDM from the 2nd MRR and destroys it. The Rubishland Recon elements are now down to 1 BRDM-2 AT in overwatch. (maybe the main body should have followed a little closer behind the recon detachments?).
Battlefield at the end of turn 7
View from the Rubishland side. Look at all those tanks and BMP's at the bottom of the photo. So far the Whilhelmsland forces facing off against those are 2 companies of dug in Infantry with Marder's in support and 2 battalions of M-60A3 tanks. Hopefully the other 2 companies from the Infantry Battalion show up soon, although the Infantry won't be much help, the Milan missiles on the Marder's may be... maybe.
The commander of the Rubishland forces cringed as the first rays of daylight peaked over the horizon. He had hoped to be at the hills approximately 3 and a half kilometers to his front by this time. He could just make out a platoon of Wilhelmsland Scorpions’ racing away from him, ‘you get to live another day, perhaps, capitalist scum, I don’t’ have time to stop and engage you’, he thought as he ordered the Rubishland horde to advance at maximum speed.
Oberst Richter received word that an airstrike would be on station within 10 minutes. Meanwhile the Wilhelmsland tanks continued to move into position.
End of turn 8 from the Wilhlemsland side.
As the sun popped up above the horizon behind the back of the Rubishland commander he urged his forces onward. He knew there were enemy forces on or near the hills and woods to his front. He ordered his BRDM2-AT platoon to be a spotter as he called in missile fire on the woods – suppressing 1 Marder platoon and 1 platoon of M113-TOW’s.
Oberst Richter squinted into the sun as it rose above the horizon to his front. He called in an artillery strike on the BMP battalion across from his right flank, and vectored the airstrike onto the T-72’s across from his left flank. A Tornado of the Wilhelmsland Air Force came streaking in, the steady stream of tracer fire from a Rubishland ZSU-23-4 coming nowhere near it as it launched missiles resulting in the destruction of 1 platoon of T-72’s, and causing another platoon to fail their quality check and be removed. The artillery fire suppressed 5 BMP platoons, but the firing battery was hit by counter battery fire.
The effects of the Tornado missile strike, one platoon burning and another missing (failed quality check) of the lead company of the 2nd MRR Tank battalion. The rules don't require that either aircraft or off board artillery be modeled, but I think it adds to the visual appeal to have the aircraft. And I also model all of the off board artillery, because I just feel you should have the unit represented, and there may be some deep rain missions coming up if the US sends 'military advisors' who wear funny green head gear to help our the beleaguered Wilhelmsland forces.
Lt. Koch’s platoon makes it off the table (back to their Rally-Point). The remaining Wilhelmsland units hold their fire, expecting to use opportunity fire in the next turn. (It’s daylight now, but since all of the Wilhelmsland units are dug in or in cover and not moving, they won’t be spotted until the Rubishland forces close to within 20”).
End of turn 9 from the Wilhelmsland side. The approaching Rubishland vehicles are almost in range of the M-60A3's. Rubishland won't be able to spot the tanks until they are within 10", unless the tanks shoot or move before then.
The Rubishland commander wanted to fire at the woods that he suspected held enemy units, but no artillery assets were available. "How can no assets be available? We are the only attacking force," he yelled at his radio operator. "Someone must b e trying to sabotage me to win more favor with President for life Sanford" he thought. The 2 MRR continued their advance as the follow on Tank Regiment appears on the board. The lead T-72’s of the Rubishland 2nd MRR finally move into spotting range and deploy into line formations, while the lead battalion of the trailing BMP’s do the same.
The Marder Company and M113TOW platoon in the woods fire on overwatch at the deploying T-72’s, destroying 1 platoon of T-72’s and causing another fail its quality check and be removed.
The T-72’s next returned fire... this could be ugly – and it was, destroying 1 Marder platoon, causing 1 to fail a quality check and destroying the M113-TOW platoon.
Oberst Richter called for an airstrike, which was denied, apparently the battle for air supremacy was still going on. He ordered the 2 battalion mortar platoon’s to target the BMP’s, and was successful in getting 1 battery of 155mm howitzers to do the same, suppressing 7 platoons of BMP’s and causing 1 platoon to fail a quality check and be removed.
The M-60A3 tanks of 2nd battalion opened fire on the BMP’s of the 1st MRR to their front, destroying 8 of the 9 platoons of BMP’s… (wow that’s just how it always went in training exercises too., back in the day). Next the 2nd tank battalion fired at the advancing T-55’s to their front, destroying 6 platoons of T-55’s as well as 1 BMP platoon, and causing 1 T-55 platonn to fail it’s quality check. (the Wilhelmsland dice were hot for this shooting. In Fist Full of TOWS 3, the M-60A3 has a rate of fire of 3, I was typically scoring 3 hits on every shot – definitely not my normal dice rolling).
Oberst Richter breathed a small sigh of relief, that certainly helped the odds. But, he was dreading the onslaught of Sagger missiles he knew would be released from those damnable BMP’s.
End of turn 10, there's a lot more smoke plumes on the battle field.
The Rubishland commander called in an airstrike and the air controllers were able to free up a SU-17 from the ongoing battle for air supremacy, he directed a bombing run on the Wilhlemsland tanks that had just decimated his BMP battalion, suppressing 2 platoons.
The air strike goes in, suppressing 1 platoons of M60-A3's. (black bead indicates suppressed which reduces movement and adds a penalty on to hit rolls).
His calls for artillery fire were answered this time by a battery of 122mm howitzers which he targeted on the other Wilhelmsland tank battalion, suppressing 7 platoons of M-60A3’s.
The lone remaining BMP platoon on the extreme left of the Rubishland flank retreated into the woods, and took up an overwatch position. The single surviving T-55 platoon of the 1st MRR also fell back into the woods. The remaining 2 battalions of BMP’s from the 1st MRR deployed into line and advanced cautiously (1/2 move to be able to fire in the fire phase).
On the 2nd MRR Regiment flank, the mostly suppressed BMP battalion moved cautiously forward and prepared to fire. The T-72 battalion rushed forward trying to pass to the North of the woods to their front and launch a flank attack on the offending M-60A3’, while the remaining BMP’s advanced. The remaining Marder platoon in the woods took overwatch fire at the T-72’s, and prayed the woods would provide adequate cover to save them. The Milan missile leapt out of the launch tube, barely having time to arm itself before slamming into the side armor of a T-72, destroying it in a spectacular display of pyrotechnics.
The T-72 battalion returned the favor by firing on the hapless Marder platoon, and as expected destroyed it. 2 battalions of the 2nd MRR were within range of the Wilhelmsland 1st tank battalion, and the sky was suddenly darkened by the smoke of the Sager missile engines launching – and that was uneventful. Out of 16 Sagger missiles launched, 2 hit, resulting in 1 destroyed M-60A3 platoon.
Over on the 1st MRR flank, getting 1 hit and destroying 1 platoon of M-60A3’s.
Oberst Richter let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He couldn’t believe the good luck, he had expected at least half of his tanks to be destroyed. He now felt confident they could stop the Rubishland invaders. Based on the last report he had received from the Marder Platoon before it went off the air, he knew there were T-72’s trying to flank him, he ordered the reserve tank company of the 1st battalion to advance and engage, destroying 3 platoons of T-72’s (the Wilhelmsland success here surprised me. I really thought the Rubishand troops would be able to turn the flank, at least briefly). The rest of the 1st tank battalion fired on the BMP’s to their front, destroying 5 BMP platoons.
The tanks of 2nd battalion took long range shots at the BMP battalion behind the burning remains of the T-55 battalion, resulting in 5 BMP platoons being destroyed and 1 failing a quality check.
Oberst Richter was almost giddy with joy at the results of the last round of fire from his troops, “Yes, there’s still a tank regiment headed our way, but the Commie bastards are down to 1 platoon of T-55’s and 1 platoon of T-72’s in the immediate area,” he thought. Turning to his Executive Officer he said, “alright, let’s see if we can mop up these annoying BMPs”.
End of turn 11 from the Wilhelmsland side. The Rubishland Sagger gunners need to step up their game next turn or this may be an even shorter offensive than the 1-day War.
The Rubishland commander again called for an airstrike and was told that no aircraft were available. “What do you mean not available!” he bellowed at his radio operator. A few seconds later the radio operator responded, “Sir, they say they’ve all been shot down or are returning to our bases,” the young operator said as he waited to see if he’d be shot for relaying the bad news. The commander was able to get two batteries of BM-21 missile launchers, and directed one each to fire at the Wilhelmsland tank units, resulting in in 2 platoons of 2nd battalion failing their quality checks and being removed. There was on effect on the tanks of 1st battalion. He then ordered all units to advance and fire, as he uttered the last word he felt a catch in his throat, like a noose tightening around it. President for Life Idi Sanford does not tolerate failure.
On the Rubishland right flank the Wilhelmsland reserve tank company of 1st battalion conduct overwatch fire on the advancing Rubishland units, destroying the remaining T-72 and 2 platoons of BMP’s. The Wilhelmsland dug in Infantry conducts overwatch fire on the BMP’s on the 2nd MRR, launching their Dragon missiles and destroying 3 platoons of BMP’s. (at this point I ran out of burning vehicle markers – have gone through all 50 of them). The Wilhelmsland 1st tank battalion then conducted overwatch fire on the BMP battalion to their front, destroying 7 platoons of BMP’s. The tanks of 2nd battalion also fired in overwatch, destroying 2 battalion of BMP’s.
Rubishland BMP’s fired Sagger missiles at the reserve tank company of 1st battalion, destroying 1 platoon of M-60A3’s and causing another to fail its quality check. The remaining BMP’s fire at the Wilhelmsland tanks, destroying 2 platoons of M-60A3’s.
Oberst Richter failed to get any artillery or air support, the aircraft were busy chasing down the Rubishland craft fleeing back to the Rubisland air space. He did however receive word that the first Battalion, 1stBrigade was arriving at his position. With word of the new reinforcemetns he released the reserve tank company from his 2nd battalion to maneuver and engage. They fire on the last 3 BMP platoons of the Rubishland MRR still offering resistance and destroy them.
Battlefield at the end of turn 12, from the Wilhelmsland side.
Seeing the last active units of the 1st MRR blow up less than 500 meters from his position the commander the Rubishland Tank Regiment ordered his troops to return to Rubishland. The Commander of the Rubishland invasion force heard the unmistakable sound of a round being chambered in a semi-automatic pistol, and then everything went dark. President for Life Idi Sanford does not tolerate failure, and he has eyes (and guns) everywhere.
At that point I called the game. In turn turns the one remaining undamaged battalion of the Rubishland 2ndMRR could have exited the table edge. Wilhelmsland didn’t have enough forces on table to stop that, unless they got lucky with either artillery or air support. But, with a fresh tank battalion arriving it would just be a matter of time until the Rubishland forces would be tracked down and eliminated. The Rubishland 1st MRR pretty much ceased to exist, when I called the game they hand 1 platoon of T-55’s and one platoon of BMP’s cowering in the woods and a ZSU-23-4 anti-aircraft unit definitely standing amongst the wreckage.
And to add insult to injury, the Gardenstan forces of Big Daddy Fish were successful in their simultaneous assault. Securing their bridgehead and occupying the secondary objectives where they were to link up with the forces of President for Life Sanford. Surely, many heads will roll in Rubishland in the coming week.
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Finally! Tanks were effective, (at least the M-60A3’s were). In the other games the tanks have been mostly targets and the anti-tank missiles (sadly, most of them being the Sagger variety) have ruled the table. I think the whole night fighting, spotting and firing range limitations may have played into that somewhat.
While I don’t think the pictures really conveyed it, but with the 2 Motorized Rifle Regiments moving down the board towards the 2 tank battalions, it drives home just how lopsided an actual engagement would have been ‘back in the day’.
Speaking of pictures, I need to figure out a better camera option to this dinky little 6mm stuff. The crappy camera on my phone doesn’t cut it. I’m still not sure I’ve got the rules right, but it works for me and provides the narrative I’m looking for.
Anyway, if anyone suffered through reading the whole report, thanks for your time. As usual I played this out over a couple of days, so I hope the narrative wasn't too disjointed.
So much lead, so little time.
