3:41 a.m., June 9th, 1985. Border River, International Bridge, Wilhlemsland Customs/Emigration point with Gardenstan.
Stabsfeldwebel Kohler mentally kicked himself again for ever agreeing to go into the Wilhelmsland Reserve after retiring. He was stuck at the Eastern Bridge between Gardenstan and Wilhelmsland babysitting a bunch of snot nosed kids who were more interested in going into town to play Donky Kong and Pac Man at the local bowling alley. Add to that the putrid stench from the swamp that stretched from the river to the elevated border road on the Wilhelmsland side of the river he was in a permanent foul mood.
First Sergeant (the German version is too long to type each time LOL) Kohler was in charge of a composite detachment of reservist guarding the bridge. He chuckled at the thought of guarding, all they could do was call in a request for help if Big Daddy Fish decided to send his forces across the Bridge. At least the Gardenstan forces had learned their lesson about trying to cross the swamp (see Marshland Incident).
Kohler had 4 Reservist Infantry Platoons and 2 ancient 88mm anti-guns that last saw action during the Gardenstan invasion of 1954, dug in around the bridge. He also had 2 Reserve platoons of 4.2” dismounted mortars somewhere to his rear. The Mortars were redeploying once or twice a day.
Kohler blood was up. He was making the early morning rounds checking on the Infantry Platoons and had just finished a round of ass-kicking after finding the last platoon all sound asleep. He was still debating what charges to bring the platoon sergeant up on.
He was headed towards the last platoon to check on, the one closest to the river and could tell that they at least were awake, as he could hear them from over 200 meters away. Kohler’s blood started to boil as he closed on the position and he nearly exploded when he walked right into the middle of the platoon position with none of the Reservist ever noticing him until he bellowed, “AT EASE! Korporal Hans to me, the rest of you idiots to your Post!”
Kohler felt somewhat sorry for Korporal Hans, he would be a good platoon sergeant someday, but that day was still several years away. Unfortunately, the Reserves were short competent Non-coms, so Hans had been forced into a role he wasn’t really ready for.
Hans had taken 3 steps towards Kohler when the world suddenly exploded into blinding light and roaring explosions. Both men leapt towards the nearest depression they could find and began to pray as putrid smelling swamp mud and water rained down on them.
Five minutes later Kohler picked himself up off the ground, spots still dancing before his eyes and his ears ringing. He issued quick orders to Hans, and took off at a run towards his command post. Looks like this morning just turned to shit he mused grabbing the hand mike from his stunned radio man as he entered the command bunker.
A few minutes later the communications center at the Wilhelmsland high command was in utter chaos. Reports were coming in from 4th Brigade about an artillery barrage and Gardenstan assault and at the same time reports were coming in of Rubishland aircraft entering Wilhelmsland air space and forward Wilhelmsland Recon units receiving artillery fire from Rubishland.
_______________________
And so, the general communist assault on Wilhelmsland begins.
The first report will be on the Gardenstan assault. The Wilhelmsland troops are scattered and broken down into combat teams, so reserves will arrive throughout the battle based on dice rolls. For a change I’m using various levels of troop quality to try to portray the difference between the active and reserve units on the Wilhelmsland side. I’m also trying the night fighting rules, so we’ll see how that goes.
___________________
Turn 1 – Gardenstan phase
A massive artillery barrage rained down around the border crossing bridge. High explosive Rockets and 122mm artillery rounds impacted around the bridge. A few landed on the bridge, but no serious damage was done. When the barrage ended, all of the defending units had been suppressed and the custom house was missing a corner of the first floor. As the stunned defenders looked out into the gloom they began to see dark shapes advancing that slowly resolved into PT-76 tanks. As the first battalion of tanks started across the bridge, the Wilhelmsland defenders, still dazed from the earlier bombardment began to take aim.
In the overwatch phase the ancient 88mm anti-tank guns fired first, and then the rest of the defending Wilhelmsland units opened fire. The result being one destroyed platoon of PT-76 tanks. (being suppressed this turn, to hit rolls are down 1, plus down another down 1 for firing at night).
The Gardenstan troops responded in their fire phase by destroying both 88mm AT guns, but failing to have any impact on the dug in infantry.
Turn 1 – Wilhelmsland phase
Kohler called in Mortar fire, suppressing 3 platoons of PT-76 tanks. During the Wilhelmsland movement phase the anti-aircraft M3 ½ track decided to bug out to the other protected side of the elevated border road. The Infantry wisely opted to stay in the dug in, heavy cover positions. As every other available unit had shot during the attacker phase, no other action taken.
(Apparently the rules don’t have a provision for illumination rounds to offset the night fighting targeting penalty. Or if they do, I couldn’t find it)
Scene at the end of turn 1. Both 88mm AT guns are destroyed, one platoon of destroyed PT-76 tanks constricts movement on the bridge. The emigration building looks fine from this angle, but it's not doing well either.
Turn 2 – Gardenstan phase
The Gardenstan lead forces continued at full speed across the bridge, opting to ignore the defending infantry unti their bridgehead was established. The follow on BTR-60’s could deal with rooting the pesky grunts out of their positions. While the Sagger teams dismounted to attempt to deal with the Infantry across the river.
In their overwatch phase the Wilhelmsland infantry fired on the PT-76 platoons, as they drove past them, destroying another 4 platoons of PT76’s. Maybe Gardenstan should have fired another barrage?
Gardenstan countered by firing dismounted Sagger’s at the dug in infantry, and firing all the BTR-60 MG that were in range, resulting in 2 infantry platoons failing their quality checks and being removed.
Turn 2 – Wilhelmsland phase
Wilhelmsland rolled for reinforcements. Hopefully there’s a combat team somewhere close by, and rolled up a Reconnaissance Detachment consisting of two Scorpions and two Sheridans – let’s see those Shillelagh missiles fly. (yes, I know in the real world the Infra-red guidance systems were crap – I wonder if with modern laser technology the concept would work today?) They also rolled up a Heavy Panzer Grenadier combat team consisting of 2 M113 Infantry platoons, 1 M-60A1 Tank Platoon and a n M56 Scorpion Self propelled anti-tank gun.
Kohler again called in Mortar fire, suppressing 5 platoons of BTR60’s.
The remaining 2 Infantry platoons stayed where they were trusting to their heavy cover for protection and the Reinforcements enter the table.
The Gardenstan overwatch fire consisted of the one BTR60 platoon that was in range and not suppressed (the effect of the suppression and night rules meant the suppressed units couldn't score a hit) fired and missed. The dismounted Saggers fired and missed, the BRDM2-AT fired and scored a hit, causing an infantry platoon to fail their quality check. Only one platoon of Reserve Infantry (surprisingly enough, Korpral Hans' platoon) remains to defend the bridge.
Gardenstan forces have crossed the bridge and are on the evaluated causeway headed towards the border road at the end of turn 2.
Turn 3 – Gardenstan move
Due to the limited visibility of the night rules, Gardenstan can’t see the Recon Detachment or Mech Combat team entering the table, so no artillery fire for them this turn. They continued their bull rush across the bridge and the dismounted Sagger teams remount. The lead PT-76 reaches the elevated Border Road and both they and the M3 ½track anti-aircraft unit both have an ‘oh shit’ moment as they find themselves eyeball to eyeball in the dark.
In Wilhelmsland overwatch phase the M3 ½ track fires but does no damage to the PT-76. The sole remining infantry platoon takes a flank shot at a BTR-60 destroying 1 platoon.
In the Gardenstan fire phase every BTR 60 in range opened up on the remaining infantry platoon, who not surprisingly, fails their quality check. The PT-76 can’t fire at the M3 ½ track since they used their full move allowance.
Turn 3 – Wilhelmsland
First Sargent Kholer had relocated to the remaining platoon postion and would personally direct the final defense. His last action as the PPK machine gun rounds began to impact the position was to call in artillery, danger close on the bridge itself. Both Mortar batteries fired as did a battery of towed 155mm Howitzers. “Shot over” was the last thing Kohler heard before everything went dark, thankfully preventing him from seeing the totally ineffective artillery rain down causing no damage.
Nothing in range for Gardenstan to conduct overwatch fire on.
Kaptian Fritz, in command of Combat Team Tiger was in communication with the anti-aircraft half track and aware that the defending infantry had ceased communications. He ordered the anti-aircraft platoon to continue to move down the elevated road and to clear the area. He wasn’t expecting any Gardenstan air support in the dark, or any Wilhelmsland support either.
He directed his command to the cover of the small woods that one of the 4.2” mortars had set up in. While the Recon detachment continued down the elevated road, using it for cover as they moved into position to fire on the invaders.
Fritz looked at his watch, it was 4:16am… soon the light would start to peak over the horizon and he could actually see what was going on.
End of turn 3. Part of the Wilhelmsland Recon detachment can be seen in the upper left, out of the nightime spotting range.
Turn 4 – Gardenstan
The commander of the PT-76 battalion was pleased. His orders were to be 4 kilometers into Wilhelmsland by 5:00 am. The last of the infantry defending the bridge had been eliminated, save for that pesky air-defense M3 ½ track that had disappeared into the dark to his left. He ordered the rest of his battalion to proceed ahead and he’d hunt down that obsolete Capitalist piece of junk himself.
In the Gardenstan move everyone moved straight ahead into the dark, except for the command PT-76. The follow-on BTR-60 battalion advanced to the elevated road and had a shock when they saw vehicles (the Wilhelmsland Recon detachment) on the far side of the elevated road. Having expended their full move, the BTR’s could not fire. The follow on BTR’s maneuvered away and deployed their Infantry while the Sagger teams advanced to try to deploy on the far side of the elevated road.
In the Wilhelmsland overwatch phase 1st Lt. Weber recently promoted for his actions in the opening stages of the Rubishland invasion, (see link here) licked his lips with anticipation. His Recon detachment had beautiful flank shots at the PT-76’s and least a battalion’s worth of BTR-60’s. The British may make rubbish for cars, but these night optics are excellent he mused. I wonder how those missiles on the Sheridan’s will work… if they even work he thought as he issued fire commands to his detachment. They needed to keep the Gardenstan forces on the other side of the elevated border road. He needed that cover advantage. The Scimitar’s succeeded in destroying one PT-76 platoon and forcing another to fail its quality check and be removed. The Sheridan’s… well, (I know they were just painted, and new unit curse and all of that, but let’s just say the results of the missiles were realistic) both missed, badly, each rolling a 1.
The M60A1 of the mech combat team took out another PT-76, leaving only the battalion commander who had target fixation on the M3 ½ track he was after.
The Gardenstan fire phase was pretty lack luster as most units had moved their full move distance. However, the PT-76 battalion commander did manage to destroy the ½ track. He also managed to become the sole surviving PT-76. Big Daddy Fish will not be happy.
Turn 4 – Wilhelmsland
The defenders called for fire, receiving fire from two 4.2” Mortar batteries, 1 towed 155mm howitzer battery and 1 self-propelled 155mm howitzer battery. The result of the fire was 9 BTR-60’s suppressed and one failing a quality check and being removed. Not really feeling threatened by the BTR’s the Recon detachment decided to stand fast (we’ll see if that comes back to haunt them), while the Combat Team angled toward the light woods hoping for cover. The Mortar platoon dug in behind them was not happy about the additional attention that move would cause.
And that pretty much ended turn 4.
End of turn 4. Dug in Wilhelmsland mortars being the small hill on the left and woods on the right. Gardenstan traffic jam or advancing and destroyed vehicles on the bridge.
Turn 5 – Gardenstan
The Gardenstan follow on T-55 Tank Regiment comes on board.
Gardenstan makes use of its recently acquired SNAR10 Counter Battery Radar (thank you Joe) and fires counter-battery with the rocket batteries. So after a quick perusal of the rules, it appears that they don’t’ really address counter battery fire. Counter battery fire is an adverse effect you can receive for rolling ‘poorly’ on your artillery to hit dice, or if they are on table and you have line of site to the battery you can fire. Never being one to let the rules stand in the way of the narrative, I improvised.
The result being a hit on the Wilhelmsland towed 155mm battery which subsequently failed its quality check, and was removed from play. (Apparently, they didn’t hitch up to the trucks and move fast enough). The Recon detachment was also targeted by 122mm howitzers, resulting in 3 suppressed vehicles.
Wilhelmsland recon detachment fires in overwatch, destroying 4 platoons of BTR-60’s (apparently the “1” penalty for beig suppressed didn’t phase them) The Combat team holds their fire.
Gardenstan BTR’s dismount their infantry, and maneuver. The Infantry moves and occupies the woods and well as closes on the Recon detachment for close assault. While the follow on units continue to pour across the bridge.
The Wilhelmsland combat team does not fire on overwatch.
Gardenstan having made maximum moves cannot fire.
Turn 5 - Wilhelmsland
Roll for reinforcements, and rolls up a Tank Company! Unfortunately, it’s a company of M-4 Sherman’s from the Reserves. (I got incredibly lucky, from a Wilhelmsland point of view, as they rolled to come in on the road by the small woods… exactly where help was needed. How will the venerable old WWII warhorses fare, read on.
The mortar platoon behind the woods knew they well and truly screwed. They had no organic transport, and there was no way they were outrunning BTR’s. And while they appreciated the effort, the two Wilhelmsland Panzer Grenadier platoons would hardly be a speed bump for the invaders. The problem was the Gardenstan infantry was on the other side of the woods and out of sight, they had probably dismounted by now and were working their way through the woods. But they just had no way of knowing.
Kaptain Fritz of Combat Team Tiger looked at his watch again. 4:45 am, his troops would have good enough visibility in about 10 minutes to sight targets at normal range… he hoped he still had troops in 10 minutes.
Fritz called for artillery fire from the 2 mortar platoons to target the dismounted infantry. He targeted the Howitzers at the BTR’s. He could really use the towed battery right about now. The Recon detachment could just make out the disembarking infantry in front of the woods, at the extreme limit of their night optics range, but sufficient to spot for artillery fire. The results were less than optimal, a few stands suppressed.
No overwatch fire from Gardenstan, as they made max moves.
The Sherman Company enters the table edge.
The M60A1 platoon fires at the last remaining PT-76 platoon from the MRR tank battalion, destroying it. The Recon detachment backs up trying to put some distance between them and the dismounted infantry.
End of turn 5.
Turn 6 - Gardenstan
The next follow-on MRR enters the table.
The Gardenstan commander started by calling in artillery fire from the supporting 122mm battery on the Recon detachment. Fortunately, the fire was on target and the nearby Gardenstan infantry was unharmed, although very, very annoyed with their commander. When the dust clear one Sheridan had failed a quality check, and two Scimitar’s were suppressed.
On the other side near the woods, the BTR battalion commander called in a rocket battery strike on the Shermans, suppressing all 4 platoons and destroying their accompanying Anti-aircraft M3 ½ track.
In the Gardenstan movement phase the right flank infantry followed up the barrage by advancing on their Recon detachment, but were unable to reach close combat range. The BTR’s, now empty of their Infantry took off down the elevated road towards their objective driving right past the Recon Detachment in an active of defiance or stupidity, time would tell.
The Infantry by the woods proceed to cautiously move through the woods, the lead units reaching the far edge and being greeted by the sight of Combat Team Tiger. The 2 platoons of hastily dug in Wilhelmsland Panzer Grenadiers were just outside of spotting range. Their now empty BTR’s had been ordered to proceed on the road to their objective aftere dismounting their infantry. When the site of the WWII relics in from of them was unnerving, the thought of the wrath of Big Daddy Fish if they failed to meet their objective was more terrifying so they also took off down the road past the Sherman company.
The MRR Recon PT-76 Platoon advanced half a move and took up overwatch positions. (still unable to see the Sherman tanks due to the dark). While the Gardenstan T-55 Tank Regiment continued across the bridge, with their initial objective being 10 kilometers directly ahead.
Wilhelmsland Combat Team Tiger vehicles fire on overwatch. The M-56 Scorpion takes out one unit of Gardenstan infantry in the woods. The M-2 Machine Guns on the M113’s concentrate their fire on one platoon and remove it from play. The 2 platoons of hastily dug in infantry can’t been seen, but they can see the advancing Gardenstan infantry and they concentrate their fire on one Gardenstan platoon and removed it from play – unfortunately they are now spotted.
The suppressed Sherman platoon fires on the vehicles to their front, destroying 1 BTR and removing 1BTR and 1 BRDM2 that failed their morale checks.
In the Gardenstan fire phase, the remaining infantry in the woods fired at the Wilhelmsland infantry but failed to cause any damage. On the Gardenstan right flank the 4 platoons of dismounted infantry fired the lead Scimitar of the Recon Detachment, getting two hits failing to penetrate.
Turn 6 – Wilhelmsland
The 2 mortars and one battery of self-propelled 155mm howitzers were all targeted on the T-55’s just crossing the bridge, suppressing 5 T-55’s and one ZSU-23-4 and causing 1 T55 to fail their quality check and be removed from play.
In the movement phase the Recon Detachment pulled back to extend their engagement range with the BTRs and Infantry. The M-56 Scorpion platoon moved to engage the BTR’s attempting to bypass the Sherman’s. The M-60A1 shifted to engage the infantry in the woods.
There was no overwatch fire from Gardenstan.
In the fire phase the Recon Detachment fired on the BTR’s on the Road, destroying 2 and causing one to fail its quality check. As Captain Fritz saw the sun peak above the horizon.
End of turn 6. Gardenstan BTR's headed off in each direction on the Border Road. Wilhelmsland could use some quality reinforcements next turn.
Turn 7 – Gardenstan
The Gardenstan commander called for artillery fire, but apparently both batteries were still in the process of relocating after the last fire mission.
The BTR’s on the right flank continued their mad dash down the road, headed towards the Wilhelmsland coast, while the infantry chased after the withdrawing Recon Detachment.
While on the left flank the lead BTR’s advanced on the road, past the Sherman’s headed towards the Rubishland border. (While it won’t be on the table, the Sherman’s should be able to get one more shot at the BTR’s – I’m running out of table space as Gardenstan expands the battlespace). The Gardenstan Infantry in the woods advanced on the Wilhlemsland infantry.
The Tank Regiment and follow-on Motorized Rifle Regiment continued their advance.
No overwatch fire from Wilhelmsland.
In the fire phase only their infantry in the woods could fire as all other units had moved their full distance, they targeted the dug in Wilhelmsland infantry both of whom pass their quality checks. However, now that the sun was up, they did have line of sight to all Wilhelmsland units.
Turn 7- Wilhelmsland
Roll for reinforcements results in a company of Sheridan’s coming on table.
Maybe having enough light to see wasn’t a good idea after all, mused Fritz as he called in artillery fire. Mortars targeting the dismounted infantry near the Recon Detachment, suppressing 3 of the 4 infantry platoons. The other mortar battery targeted the dismounted infantry near the advancing on the woods, suppressing all 4 platoons of infantry – unfortunately their luck ran out and the Gardenstan counter battery fire took out the Mortar platoon. The 155mm howitzers targeted the advancing tanks, suppressing 3 platoons.
In the move phase the Scimitars of the Recon Detachment pull backed a half a move. The Shermans stay stationary.
No overwatch fire from Gardenstan as all of their units used their full move allowance.
In the fire phase the Recon Detachment fired on the BTR’s racing past them, destroying 1 and causing another to fail a quality check. The Shermans fired at the BTR’s pushing past them, destroying 4 BTR’s. The Scorpion anti-tank gun added its fire to the BTR’s near the Sherman’s, destroying 1 platoon of BTR’s.
The M113’s Combat Team Tiger fired at the Gardenstan Infantry in the woods, causing one Gardenstan Infantry platoon to fail their quality check. The M60A1 platoon of Team Tiger fired at the Recon PT-76 Platoon of the Gardenstan Tank Regiment, destroying it. The dismounted Infantry to Team Tiger fired at the Gardenstan Infantry in the woods, causing 1 Gardenstan Infantry Platoon to fail their Quality check.
End of turn 7. The recently arrived Reinforcing Company of Sheridan's can be seen on the lower left corner.
The Sherman's may be old and ugly, but they can still slap a Commie around, (as long as it's an APC with paper thin armor).
Gardenstan – turn 8
The last follow-on Regiment enters the table, a T-72 Tank Regiment.
The Gardenstan Commander calls in artillery targeting a battery of 122mm howitzers and a rocket battery on Team Tiger, now fully visible in the day light, suppressing the entire Company and causing 1 M113 Platoon to fail its quality check.
In the move phase, the four platoons of BTR-60’s on the road near the Recon Detachment roar off the table in the general direction of the Wilhelmsland coast. On the Gardenstan left flank 3 platoons of BTR60’s and the MRR Recon detachment of 1 PT-76 and 1 BRDM-2 speed past the Sherman company and up the road in the general direction of the Rubishland/Wilhelmsland border.
On the left flank the last of the dismounted infantry make it to the woods while on the right flank the dismounted infantry tries to close with the Recon Detachment. In the woods the Gardenstan Infantry closes to Close Combat range with the Wilhelmsland defenders.
In the Close Combat phase Gardenstan had 2 platoons removed from play and Wilhelmsland 1 (still not sure I’m doing the close combat stuff right, need more research on that).
The T-55 Tank Regiment moved forward a ½ move to allow them to bring Team Tiger under direct fire, while the following MRR Regiment advanced across the bridge.
In the fire phase, the lead units of the T-55 Regiment fired on Team Tiger, causing the M-60A1 platoon to fail a quality check and destroying the remaining M113 platoon.
Wilhelmsland – Turn 8
With Team Tiger gone, command temporarily fell to Lt. Weber. A Wilhelmsland Harrier headed towards the bridge, Weber had targeted the lead tanks of the T-55 Regiment for a cluster bomb strike. Everyone, especially the Pilot was surprised when rounds from a ZSU-23-4 began flying past the fighter. No rounds found anything vital on the aircraft and Pilot kept his wit about him, resulting in 1 T-55 failing its quality check.
The artillery was unavailable, but the remaining mortar platoon fired at the infantry near the Recon Detachment, suppressing all 4 platoons.
In the movement phase the Sherman’s realizing they couldn’t’ catch the BTR’s redeployed to meet the oncoming T-55’s. In an act of bravery (or stupidity) The M-56 Scimitar anti-tank gun platoon moved half its distance towards the oncoming T-55 column and fired at the lead platoon, destroying the platoon and making themselves a nice big target.
The Sheridan Company, at the limit of their maximum range, fired their Shillelagh missiles at the T-55 column, destroying 1 platoon of T-55’s.
The Recon Detachment trusting to other reinforcements that were enroute to deal with the BTR’s, fired on the dismounted infantry to their front, causing 3 of the 4 platoons to fail their quality checks.
Kaptain Klein, in charge of the company of Sheridan’s looked towards the bridge and for as far as he could see t was a solid line of combat vehicles waiting to cross the bridge. ‘There is no way sending in units piecemeal is going to stop that juggernaut’ he thought. From the radio reports he was hearing air superiority was still in question, although Wilhelmsland had the upper the hand, air strikes were not guaranteed and the Politician’s had so far forbidden any interdiction strikes into Gardenstan territory. ‘Ours is not to reason why’ he muttered.
Scene at the end of turn 8. The units on the far side of the road are those Gardenstan units which have left the table and are driving hell bent for leather towards their objectives. Unfortunately for them, they were forced to deploy their infantry so it's just the vehicles, no ground support.
Gardenstan - Turn 9
In the Gardenstan High Command Bunker, President for Life, Big Daddy Fish, was NOT happy. An entire Battalion of PT-76 tanks destroyed! Now the T-55 Regiment was getting bogged down by a disorganized rabble of units. “Order them to proceed at full speed, do not stop to engage. They must achieve their objective within the hour, the follow-on Regiments can deal with the riff-raff”.
Gardenstan targeted 2 rocket batteries at the Sheridan Company, and the 122mm howitzer battery at the Sherman Company, suppressing both Companies and causing 1 Sherman Platoon to fail a quality check.
Having gotten the message from Big Daddy Fish loud and clear, the commander of the T-55 Tank Regiment made best possible speed for his objective while the surviving BTR-60’s of the lead MRR continued down the road towards their objectives. While the 2nd MRR cleared the bridge and the T-72 Regiment started across the bridge.
The 6 Gardenstan Infantry platoons in the woods closed to within close combat range with the remaining Wilhelmsland Infantry platoon, resulting in the loss of one Gardenstan platoon and the elimination of the Wilhelmsland platoon.
Wilhelmsland – Turn 9
Kaptain Klein received grimaced as he ended his radio transmission with headquarters. No more reinforcements were going to be fed into the battle piecemeal. They would concentrate their forces for a counterattack. His instructions were to withdraw at his discretion, but attempt to conserve as much combat power as possible.
He had an airstrike inbound in 15 minutes (next turn) and two additional batteries had recently located within range to assist. He called in fire on the BTR Regiment on the bridge, and prayed for lucky hits. 3 155mm batteries and 1 mortar battery responded, causing 2 BTR’s to fail their quality checks, but the damn bridge was still standing.
The Sargent in charge of the Scorpion Anti-Tank platoon was in a quandary. Stand his ground and maybe take out another platoon of T-55s but most certainly die. He still couldn’t’ believe that he hadn’t been fired at, and felt a little insulted that the T-55’s seemed to be ignoring him. It was just then that Kaptain Klein radioed him to fall back to a new rally position. With the speed of the M-56 he was sure he could run the invaders, and he was hopeful the range was already too great for a Sagger to reach him.
The commander of the Sherman Company was having similar thoughts. He doubted he could outrun the attackers, and through his binoculars he could see the Sagger’s sitting over the barrel of the BMP’s following up the T-55s. If he moved behind the woods for flank shots on the T-55’s he’d have the Gardenstan Infantry in the woods on his flank, and the old Sherman’s wouldn’t’ do well against the RPG-7’s. He mumbled a line from his favorite movie, Conan the Barbarian to himself ‘do you want to live forever’. As he ordered his tanks around the woods, if he could stay far enough away from the woods, he might be safe from the infantry. He saw the M-56 Scorpion dashing away as he rounded the woods, ‘smart man he thought, that little antique has tin foil for armor, at least my antique has real armor’.
The 2 Scimitar platoons of the Recon Detachment fired on the sole remaining infantry to their front, eliminating it. The remaining Sheridan platoon of the Recon Detachment fired on a BMP platoon of the T-55 tank Regiment, the Shellelagh missile screamed out of the tube, flew straight for 300 meters, then did a cork screw and flew off towards the river.
The Sheridan Company fired again at the T-55’s, destroying 1 platoon of T-55’s.
End of Turn 9. The T-55 Regiment is in the center heading towards the interior of Wilhelmsland.
Gardenstan – Turn 10
Gardenstan called down all available fire on the Sheridan Company. 2 Rocket Batteries and a Battery of 122mm responded. Suppressing the entire Company. The Company also passed all of their quality checks.
In the move Phase the Gardenstan T-55 Regiment surged forward, with the Recon BRDM-2 leaving the table edge headed towards their first objective of a small farming community called Munnerstadt.
In the fire phase, the BRDM-2 Anti-tank platoons and dismounted Sagger teams fired at the sole remaining Sheridan of the Recon Detachment, causing the Wilhelmsland unit to fail their Quality Check.
Wilhelmsland – Turn 10
The promised Wilhelmsland air strike arrived. Kaptain Klein looked on as 2 F-4 Phantoms screamed down each dropping Napalm bombs on the column of T-55’s. The Gardenstan ZSU-23-4’s fired, causing the trailing F-4 to fail their target roll. The lead F-4 dropped their Napalm, engulfing 6 platoons of BMP’s and 6 platoons of T-55’s as well as one platoon of ZSU-23’4’s which caused 3 Platoons of T-55’s to take quality Checks, of which 2 platoons failed and were removed from play.
The Wilhelmsland artillery targeted the follow-up Motorized Rifle Regiment, suppressing 3 BTR’s.
In the move phase the Sherman Company was ordered to pull back with best speed towards the small farming community of Munnerstadt where forces were being gathered for a counter attack. The 2 Scimitars of the Recon Detachment circled the hill and had the Mortar Platoon climb on as they headed towards Munnerstadt as fast as they could, careful to not ‘lose’ any of the mortar men.
Kaptain Klein ordered his company to take flank shots at the T-55 Regiment and then gave them a circuitous route to Munnerstadt. We may arrive to late to aid in the defense, but if we thin out the attackers it will be worth it. The result of the fire was 3 destroyed T-55 Regiments. When those Shellelagh actually fly straight they do some serious damage he mused.
______________________
And with that I called it. There was no way I could bring sufficient Wilhelmsland reinforcements to the scene. If they had rolled up a Battalion of M60A1’s as an early reinforcement, they may have been able to slow the advance, but since they didn’t, time to pull back to the poor little farming community in the crosshairs of the Communist Invaders.
____________________
The Gardenstan Commander was ecstatic, he had 3 Regiments across the bridge and the paltry defending forces were withdrawing. Yes, they had bloodied him, (he was sure… well very, very hopeful, Big Daddy Fish would forget about the loss of an entire battalion of PT-76 tanks) but the way to his objective was clear. Time to show these Capitalist dogs a thing or two.
_______________________
The Mayor of Munnerstadt looked out his window as pride swelled at the efforts of their Citizens. Thirty minutes ago a battalion of Wilhelmsland Reserve Infantry in M3 ½ tracks had arrived and informed them an attack on the town was imminent. A call went out to the local farms for digging equipment and a small army of backhoes, front end loaders and a couple of Caterpillar’s had arrived and were digging fighting positions under the direction of the Army Engineers. The Engineers were also busy laying out several hasty mind fields along the likely avenues of approach to Munnerstadt.
Most of his citizens had refused to evacuate and many were requesting weapons and ammunition from the Army. The mayor chuckled at that; he knew there were several residents that were better armed than the troops. Heck, one of them even had an old T-34 in his barn that his father had ‘acquired’ during the failed Gardenstan invasion of 1954.
____________________
The Wilhelmsland high command was in shock. They had been forced to order their piecemeal defense of the international border crossing with Gardenstan to withdraw. 4 Regiments? Who would have thought President for Life Big Daddy Fish felt confident enough to keep his citizens in check with the entirety of his military deployed outside Gardenstan? Wilhelmsland had redirected their piecemeal reinforcement efforts to concentrate at a small farming community that was the most likely objective for the invaders.
But the bigger worry was the Rubishland border. After initial reports of attacks across the border they had lost communications. It appeared to be the result of jamming by Rubishland. Apparently, the Soviet’s had seen fit to provide their lacky with state of the art electronic warfare equipment. What other surprises may be in store of Wilhelmsland?
_______________________
And so, the first phase of the war ends.
Now the next big question is, do I play out the defense of Munnerstadt (which wasn’t planned to be an action, it sort of evolved based on the way the battle went). Or do I play out the Gardenstan opening invasion next. I’m thinking Gardenstan, (which was the original plan) since based on how that front goes, it will directly impact the next battle.
I still need to tally up the butcher’s bill. But looking at the table most of the Wilhelmsland units failed quality checks and were not destroyed, so they have a good chance to come back.
This will probably be the last battle of the year unless I play out a small, quick action.
If I don’t’ get around to posting again I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a fantastic new year. May Santa bring you all of the lead you desire.
There may have been a few liberties taken with the order the events played out to lend to the narrative and keep the feeling of actions occurring simultaneously vs. the I-go, you-go feel of a game. This took a lot longer to play out than I anticipated. Real life had the gall to interrupt my plans - the nerve.
So much lead, so little time.
