Mission 3: Who will stop the rain

[Michielson]

In this mission we have to cross the plains, heading east towards the 'Bismarck' objective near Over.
We've got two recon squads, four mechanized infantry platoons and two tank platoons at our disposal, supported by an anti-tank squad consisting of two M48's.

Heavy rain, no off-map artillery or air support. Not even a squad of mortars for some indirect fire support...

Time (min:sec)
- start: One recon squad advances cautiously towards the build up area's in the north of the map. At the same time the second squad advances towards the urban area northeast of Meckelfeld. So far no contact with the enemy.
- 09.20: In ten minutes our recon squad has reached the stream near Gross Moor. We order two mechanized platoons to advance till contact towards the western stream embankment. Third and Fourth platoon advance at the same time and halt north of the urban area where our second recon squad had taken an overwatch position.
- 09.57: First enemy contact! First platoon receives enemy small arms fire coming from the four houses at Gross Moor.
- 10.18: Our second recon squad advances further east and immediately spots two mortar squads about 200 yards east of the urban area in the south. Our squad opens fire at the enemy units.
- 16.57: At Gross Moor First Mechanized platoon has dealt with the enemy resistance. Further south our recon squad has silenced the two mortar units and advances towards the woods about 200 yards to the east. At this moment we've only suffered light casualties (recon squad south) and the advance towards 'Bismarck' looks promising...
- 53.51: 35 minutes since our last report from the front line. Immediately after reaching the southeastern edge of Gross Moor our forces came under heavy enemy small arms and AT fire. In a couple of minutes one tank platoon is destroyed. The enemy seems to be concentrating his fire from positions about 400 yards northwest of the 'Bismarck' objective. Our two mechanized platoons in the south, two in the north and one remaining armored platoon advance further east. After covering a distance of only about 350 yards we've lost 6 APC's due to enemy AT fire. Our infantry is suppressed in several positions, but keeps a steady base of fire towards the east.
- 1.14.27: Our mechanized platoon reaches the southern outskirts of Bullenhausen. Enemy resistance here is much less than near the center of the battlefield. There we've lost an additional two APC's and our advance comes almost to a complete stop.
- 1.25.12: Thanks to the support of the remaining APC's who bend southeastward from Bullenhausen, our infantry progresses and destroys three enemy infantry squads in positions around the last road west of 'Bismarck'.
- 1.29.07: Our remaining mechanized forces deal with two enemy infantry platoons in the southern outstkirts of the urban area northwest of 'Bismarck'.
-1.35.03: Major Defeat! Despite our relentless push towards the east our morale has dropped to a critical level... Only a couple of hundred yards from the final objective our forces withdraw. We suffered 30 infantry and 18 vehicle losses. The enemy 80 infantry (73 lost - 7 routed), 4 vehicles, 1 gun and 2 mortars.

An unexpected major defeat. Our forces withdraw to replan a battlefield strategy. The complete lack of air and/or artillery assets seems to be the main reason for this defeat, causing our APC's and infantry to take the lead without indirect fire support.

Cheers,
Michielson

[22sec]

Brilliant! That's meant to be an almost impossible nut to crack.

[mmacguinness]

This scenario can be won with a dismounted infantry assault straight through the middle of the map.

Advance to the autobahn.
Unload the troops, two platoons forward, two behind in line formation.
Tank platooon in line formation behind the APC's.
Select the infantry units, order Advance to Objective Bismark.
As the infantry advances, alternate Advancing a pair of APC platoons in support.
Advance the tank platoon behind the rear APC's.
As the infantry spots enemy troops, combined infantry, APC and tank firepower quickly destroys them

Result: Tactical victory

Lost a recon section and an M48 section trying to clear the industrial area East of the Autobahn in the south. Depending in the scoring sysyem, this may have been the difference between Tactical and Major victory.
Lost 4 APC's to ATGM's from the North part of Over.

If I were to do it again, I would ignore the industrial area, bypass the Soviet troops there. If you leave them alone, they do not influence the battle.