Aztec
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Joined: 11/4/2013
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Pied Piper
As NATO/WG commander, my initial defense plan was to blow the bridges across the Flegesser Bach at Hasperde, and the Herkes Bach to the west, then fight a delaying action delaying action to the SW, blowing the bridges around Grob Hillingfeld then retreat to fallback positions south of Rohrsen, while awaiting reinforcements from the south.
The Soviet 1MRR came down on me along two routes, 1 Mech and 1 Armor Bn along each route with recon assets. 1st MRB and 4th Tk attacked down Rte 217 through Hasperde, while 2nd MRB and 3rd Tk attacked further south along Rte 1 aimed toward Hameln. Both groups were briefly hung up in the minefield belts, allowing me to blow the bridges at Hasperde and on the L423 to the west. I tried to withdraw my Mech units south across the Herkes Bach but Soviet forces bypassing the blown bridge at Hasperde overran both the retreating and covering unit. I was unable to bring down the bridge at Grob Hilligfeld. The north ‘pincer’ moved into Grob Hilligfeld and ran into the foolishly exposed 4th Pz HQ. Remarkably, and against all odds, the lowly HQ unit fought a running battle as it escaped towards the southwest. What has amazed me in this game is how the ‘heroism’ of a single unit can turn the tide of the battle. In this case, the Pz HQ, delayed the Soviet northern pincer enough for my remaining mech unit 1/66th PzGr to settle into cover in the high ground north of Rohrsen, along with the Leopards of 11/4 Pz plt. The rest of my Leopards occupied covered positions in the high ground SW of Rohrsen. 21/4 Pz found itself in the open, across Rte 217, and paid dearly for it in the end.
The Soviets regrouped and launched probing attacks towards the 1/66th and came under withering fire. Inexplicably, the Soviet commander then retreated, launching only piecemeal attacks the rest of the scenario which were easily defeated. Meanwhile, my forces were bolstered by the arrival of the 2/66th PG and 2/4th Pz Bn with its’ Leopard 2’s. They promptly set about blowing the remaining bridges across the Fluthamel Canal.
The southern pincer, advancing down Rte 1, was now blunted, with nowhere near the combat power to force Hameln, now that the bridges were down, so the tanks tried to provide direct fire support against the forces in cover above Rohrsen, detaching the 2nd MRB to support the failing units in Grob Hilligfeld. Counterfire from the entrenched Leopards and remaining Marders kept the T80’s of the 3rd tank at a safe distance, and the scenario timed out before the northern attack was able to organize.
My attempt to do a rolling demolition of bridges underestimated the Soviet ability to move and I needlessly exposed my PzGr units allowing them to be eliminated. I would slect my bridges more carefully next time. Compounding my error, I placed the 4th Pz HQ too close to the front and it was overrun by the Soviets…but it escaped!!!! Finally, my poorly placed 21/4 Pz was eliminated before I had a chance to reposition it. Stupid losses.
That being said, the inexplicable behavior of the Soviet commander in not pressing his advantage was the true saving grace in this scenario. His dithering allowed me to get my reinforcements in place and his half-hearted probes late in the game only served up more armor for my Leopards to feed on. All in all, I got off lucky, achieving a tactical success, while keeping most of my combat power intact to fight another day. Meanwhile in Lefortovo prison…
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