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IronMikeGolf -> Reverse Slope Defense (1/22/2015 6:12:00 PM)
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I and others have written about much about how to play NATO, especially, on my part, how to play the US. In those writings, we have stressed the importance of deep engagement areas to allow you to reduce Soviet strength before the attacking regiments can close to their effective range of about 2000 meters.
But, you need two things to pull that off: favorable terrain and enough long range anti-armor weapon systems.
So, what do you do when you are missing one or both of those? The scenario that Tazak is developing puts you, as a US Task Force commander, in just that spot.
You are given a mix of tank (1 company), recce (1 troop),M2 equipped mech inf (1 understrength company), M113 equipped mech inf (2 companies), an understrength AT company (mix of M150 and M901,, 9 systems total) and a ring of improved positions to defend a city. You get attacked by 4 tank regiments from multiple directions.
There's not enough long range combat power to defend from the outskirts of the city in all directions. The terrain to the east does not provide for good engagement areas. However there is an opportunity to effectively use a revers slope defense.
Below is the situation shortly before contact. Two tank Bns are approaching from the southeast. We can expect the AI to run both Bns straight at the highlighted M1 platoon.
Southwest of the tank platoon is a stack consisting of an M901 section and an M113 mech inf platoon. These M113 platoon have a Dragon IIs mounted on each track and an additional Dragon II team dismounted.
The attacking units won't be in view until they get to the edge of the high ground and at that point the M1s and M901s can engage them. Once the Soviets get to the low ground northwest of the hill, they are in range of the mech inf's Dragons.
That hill partitions the battlespace nicely, preventing following tank companies from supporting the lead tank company as it comes under fire. And it brings the fight to within the envelope of the mech inf's weapons. There's a good chance we will get a series of mini-battles of 10 Soviet tanks vs the American's 4 tanks and 12 missile launchers. If we get any kills by the Recce tank plt slightly to the north or the M901 plt to the southwest, well that's just gravy.
Let's see how this unfolds. Start time is 0226 hrs, it is night, heavy rain, visual 500m.
[image]local://upfiles/34319/85E6152F3DA941DE8B82E58C456F7D44.jpg[/image]
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