Rick Nelson’s AAR:

CPX   near Wurzburg, West Germany, May 1980


Overall Situation

On May 15th, 1980 the balloon went up.  The Warsaw Pact staged a 
massive attack on West Germany. The major thrust was across the 
North German plain, and the Wurzburg area was stripped of 
Allied forces to support the main battle in the north. After a 
week of heavy fighting the Warsaw Pact had advanced far enough 
so that it's southern flank is becoming exposed and the 
Wurzburg area suddenly became a key area for both sides. 
Both Soviet and American Forces are sent to seize key points 
in the area.

==============================================================

U.S Orders (Commander, Eagle Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored 
Cavalry Regiment, U.S. V Corps)

You are the lead unit in our advance into the Wurzburg area.  
The allied forces need to secure the area in order to mount an 
assault on the Warsaw southern flank.  There are no allied 
forces in the area, most civilians have fled, and the 
disposition of Warsaw Pact forces is unknown, although it is 
believed that they have not entered the area.

Your most probable opposition would be units of the 27th Guards 
Motorized Rifle Division which has been operating to the north.


Your task is to advance to the ridge vic 67/98 (Map 230), and 
secure it. The ridge is necessary for our advance northward to 
Wurzburg. If the ridge has already been occupied by a force that 
can't be dislodged, your task is to determine the size and 
composition of the opposition in order to advise the commander 
11th ACR of the situation.  


The Regiment's 155 mm Howitzers will be made available to you.

A Stinger team will be assigned to you from squadron.

No close air support is available.

Your entry point is anywhere in the town of Irvington.

Orders will be accepted for HQ, platoons, mortar section, AA 
platoon, and howitzer battery.  Give the umpire the order of 
march.  Orders will not be accepted for single vehicles.

If the HQ is suppressed, there will be a one minute delay from
the time orders are given and they are implemented.  If the 
HQ is eliminated, the delay will be three minutes.

Your units do not have thermal sights, neither do the Soviets.


Your forces are:

HQ             2 x M113 w/command element
1st platoon    4 x M113 w/inf sqd. + 3 x M901 ITV
2nd platoon    5 x M60A3
3rd platoon    4 x M113 w/inf sqd. + 3 x M901 ITV
4th platoon    5 x M60A3
mortar section 3 x M106 Mortar Carrier

AA
Stinger team

Artillery
6 x 155mm SP howitzers (no ICM)

=============================================================

Soviet Orders (Commander, Forward Detachment, 74 Guards 
Motorized Rifle Regiment, 27th Guards Motorized Rifle Division, 
1st Guards Tank Army) 

Units of the 1st Guards Tank Army will be securing the town of 
Wurzberg in order to protect the southern flank of our advance 
into West Germany. According to our intelligence, the allied 
forces that occupied this area have been sent northward to defend 
against our attack there.  There are thought to be no allied units 
remaining, although the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment may be 
advancing into the area ahead of elements of the US 3rd Armored
Division.  


Your task is to advance to the ridge 16 km south of Wurtzburg 
(vic 67/98), and secure it. The ridge is necessary in order to 
protect Wurzburg. If the ridge has already been occupied by a 
superior force that can't be dislodged, 
your task is to determine the size and composition of the 
opposition in order to advise the commander 74th Guards MRR of 
the best approach for the Regiment to attack the town.

No close air support or off map artillery is available.

Your forces enter in the following march order on the road 
at 69 Easting on the north edge of map 230. 

Orders will be accepted for scouts and HQ as individual vehicles, 
the advance guard, AA, and tanks as platoons, the main body BMPs
as companies, and the arty as a battery.

If the HQ unit is suppressed, there will be a one minute delay 
between the time orders are given and they are implemented.  If
the HQ is eliminated, the delay will be three minutes.  No delays
in any case for orders to scouts.

Your units do not have thermal sights, neither does the U.S.

Your forces and entry times are:

Recce patrol:  (0700)
  1 x BRDM
  1 x BMP1
  1 x T62 M1975

Forward detachment advance guard: (0704)
  scout     1 x BRDM

  MR company
   HQ       1 x BMP1 w/inf squad
   1st plt  3 x BMP1 w/inf squads 
   2nd plt  3 x BMP1 w/inf squads
   3rd plt  3 x BMP1 w/inf squads
   AA sect  1 x BMP1 w/3 SA-7 SAM

  Tank plt  4 x T62 M1975 

Forward Detachment Main Body (0715):
  scout     1 x BRDM

  Battalion HQ 1 x BMP1

  AA plt 2 x ZSU 23-4

  Tank plt  3 x T62 M1975

  Tank plt  3 x T62 M1975

  MR company
   HQ       1 x BMP1 w/inf squad
   1st plt  3 x BMP1 w/inf squads 
   2nd plt  3 x BMP1 w/inf squads
   3rd plt  3 x BMP1 w/inf squads
   AA sect  1 x BMP1 w/3 SA-7 SAM   

  MR company
   HQ       1 x BMP1 w/inf squad
   1st plt  3 x BMP1 w/inf squads 
   2nd plt  3 x BMP1 w/inf squads
   3rd plt  3 x BMP1 w/inf squads
   AA sect  1 x BMP1 w/3 SA-7 SAM

Artillery
  6 x 122mm SP howitzer (no ICM)



==============================================================
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==============================================================

Discussion:

I tried to set up a small CPX based on a meeting engagement, 
without either side knowing it was going to be a meeting 
engagement.  Also, I wanted to make it small, about a company 
on each side, since it would be my first CPX. The sides are 
pretty close as far as TacOps points, though I had to guess 
on the value for the T62s. I ended up with a battalion of Soviets
though, trying to make the sides equal.

The Cav troop has about 2000 tacops points not counting the AA
and arty.  The Vanguard has 1300 points and the remainder of the
battalion has 2000.  The soviets will start in the north at about
69 easting and the US in Irvington.  The first elements of the 
Cav and of the recce could reach the ridge at the same time.  At about
this time, the remainder of the soviets will enter.

The task for the US, though they won't know it, will be to eliminate
the vanguard and get in position to defend against the rest of the 
battalion.  The task for the soviets will be to prevent the Cav from
setting up a good enough defense before the remainder of the battalion 
can get in range.

I included a recon victory condition "If the ridge has already been 
occupied by a superior force that can't be dislodged, your task is to 
determine the size and composition of the opposition". If one side 
didn't hold the ridge, but had placed their units well enough to 
observe the enemy's size and locations, the game would be a draw. 

The scenario got a little bigger than I planned. There were 16 platoons 
plus scouts and misc to handle.  

It's based loosly on a couple of SPI games, "Wurzburg" and 
"Fifth Corps".

I thought of  including Hinds to add another dimension . 
I might have to add more than the historical Stinger team to the
troop to prevent the Hinds from having a turkey shoot.  After I did
a dry run with 2 Hinds, 2 M60 platoons and a M113 platoon with a
Stinger team, I found that it would be a turkey shoot.  The Hinds
have 4 ATGMs each so there were 6 dead vehicles.  The Stinger hit
twice, but did no damage. So I dropped that idea.

I decided to not have thermals on either side.  US only would be 
pretty unbalanced, and the lack of thermals allows for the
creative use of smoke. Jeremy did discover that the options "arty
smoke blocks thermals" and "vehicle smoke blocks thermals" didn't mean
that infantry smoke would block the thermals. 

I included the HQ units and penalties for their loss, but neglected
to include any requirement for the other units to be within a particular
distance from them.  Both sides wisely located their HQ's in safe spots 
far from the action.

Another problem that arose was the difficulty of keeping units on the
roads.  If a road is not on a major direction (N, NW, W, etc) the unit
will wander off the road unless the way points are placed close together.
I tried to place them close to each other, but that meant the 20 move limit
wouldn't take a unit very far.  So I had to keep an eye out for stopped
units and look up where they were supposed to go.  As the game got busier
I tended to place the waypoints farther apart and the units would wander
into slower ground.

As you can see from the following orders I got from the players,
some of them were pretty detailed.  I followed them exactly at the start,
but as the game progressed I wwas less detailed.

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Orders form the players

Soviet commander

CPX Oct16  OPFOR
Operation Oval

Our assigned mission is to secure the ridge vicinity of grid 6798.  If the ridge is
occupied by a force which we cannot handle, then we are to determine the enemy force
size and composition.

Our force will enter the map vicinity of grid 692030 in a series of three march
orders.
0700 - Recce
0704 - Forward Detachment
0715 - Main Body

The Commander's intent is to:
Conduct a hasty recon through the sector and establish OPs which overlook main
avenues of likely enemy approach.  All units will quickly and rapidly move to their
assigned areas, seizing and
securing their assigned areas of operation.  Roads will be used whenever possible.
Avoid broken, slow cross country movement.

Recce will move on three routes and establish three observation posts at the
following locations.
- center route to vic 660980
- east route to vic 698968
- west route to vic 641981

The Forward Detachment will have the responsibility to clear and initially occupy
the ridge between the grids 655985 to 705965.  The Motorized Rifle Company (MRC)
will occupy battle positions in grid 6797.  The tank platoon will occupy battle
positions in grid 6997.

The Main Body will move forward and consolidate the position and provide a reserve.
A tank platoon will occupy a blocking position in grid 6499.   The second tank
platoon will occupy a position in grid 7098.  A MRC will occupy positions vicinity
grid 665980.  The second MRC will occupy a position in grid 6600 and be the
designated reserve.

If enemy contact is not made once the ridge is secure, the Recce will be pushed
forward to establish contact.

If contact is made prior to securing the Objective, adjustments will be made to the
plan.  Recce units will maintain contact and report enemy positions.  The Forward
Detachment will fix the enemy in place.  The Main Body will maneuver and destroy the
enemy.

Once entering the map the following units will deploy:
Battalion HQ - vicinity 684024 (woods and intersection)
AA Platoon - vicinity 668002 (on road south of Midway)
Artillery - vicinity 695027 (in open behind woods)

Command assignments:
Gary - AA, Artillery, and Battalion HQ
Trabuc - All Recce (including FD and MB) and Forward Detachment
StephanFH - Main Body (-)

===============================================================
======
Soviet Vanguard Commander

16 Oct 1400 EST

Comrade Major:

This is my plan for the execution of your operational order viz: Operation
Oval. The attached graphic file will be required for the text to be
comprehensible.

The plan is based on the following assumption: that NATO forces are not
already deployed on or near the objective. Based on that I assumption, I made
the following deductions: that 11 ACR lead elements will enter S map edge.
That they will send recon elements ahead of their main body. That the main
body will approach on the road net. That Hwy 449/79 N-S is their most likely
avenue of approach. That they will move on the objective with best possible
speed. That M901s in overwatch mode on the ridge 3 km south of the objective
are a serious danger. That there may be combat aviation assets available to
the US.

Based on these deductions, I have created a plan that puts Hwy 449/79 under
fire as soon as possible, maintains surveilance and covering fire on all three
areas of approach as designated in your operational orders, provides SAM cover
prior to deployment to firing positions, and retains the flexibility to modify
itself should the basic premises on which it is founded prove false or require
modfication. I estimate that 90% of the units it the Advance Guard can be in
position by 0722, while Hwy 449/79 will be under fire by 0716.




Battalion Recce Initial Deployment:

Recce BRDM: move SW down Hwy 79/144 to junction Hwy 261. Move WSW down 
Hwy 261
to vic 646980 then move S to Recon Point B, deploy Inf Recon Team, move N back
onto Hwy 261, resume WSW movement to crossroad vic 632981, them move NW to
Recon Point A, go to defilade facing SE, set max engagement range to 500 m.
Inf Recon Team go to defilade facing SE, set max engagement range to 200 m.

Recce BMP1: move SW down Hwy 79/144 onto the objective. Depart Hwy due W
(before cresting the ridge & becoming visible to units on the plain below) vic
664979 and move into the woods just N of Recon Point X. Then move S to Recon
Point X, deploy Inf Recon Team, go to defilade facing S, set max engagement
range to 3000 m. Fire on any enemy armor within range, priority M901 ITVs.
Hold position after firing for two turns, then pop smoke and pull back 100 m.
Inf Recon Team move apx 100 m E to Recon Point C, go to defilade facing S, set
max engagement range to 200 m. Note: Recon Point C is within the woods.
Limitations in the resonlution of the map made it dificult to position
exactly.

Recce T62: move SW down Hwy 79/144 to junction Hwy 144. Move SE down Hwy 144
to vic 695974, where the road ends in a T-intersection. Dogleg SW then resume
SE direction on un-named road; turn N at the Y-intersection; depart the road
at vic 700969 and move E across rough terrain to Recon Point Y, go to defilade
facing SE, set max engagement range to 500 m.

Battalion Advance Guard Initial Deployment:

AG Scout: move SW down Hwy 79/144 to junction Hwy 144. Stop and await further
orders. General intent: move towards any area where NATO units have not been
spotted by this time (should be apx 0711). If no contact w/ NATO has been made
at all, move SW down Hwy 79/144 onto the objective.

AG HQ: Dismount Inf. Move SW down Hwy 79/144 to junction Hwy 261. Move WSW
down Hwy 261 to vic 646980 then move S to Firing Point C. Go to defilade
facing S, set max engagement range to 3000 m. Fire on any enemy armor within
range, priority M901 ITVs. Priority targets within Kill Zone C. Await further
orders. General intent: if NATO forces are not spotted on Hwy 449/79, move to
FP A.

AG SAM plt: Dismount Inf. Move SW down Hwy 79/144 to junction Hwy 261. Move
WSW down Hwy 261 to vic 646980 then move S to Firing Point C. Go to defilade
facing S, set max engagement range to 3000 m. Fire on any enemy armor within
range, priority M901 ITVs. Priority targets within Kill Zone C. Await further
orders. General intent: if NATO forces are not spotted on Hwy 449/79, move to
FP A.

AG 1st plt: Dismount Inf. Move SW down Hwy 79/144 to junction Hwy 261. Move
WSW down Hwy 261 to vic 646980 then move S to Firing Point C. Go to defilade
facing S, set max engagement range to 3000 m. Fire on any enemy armor within
range, priority M901 ITVs. Priority targets within Kill Zone C. Await further
orders. General intent: if NATO forces are not spotted on Hwy 449/79, move to
FP B.

AG 2nd Plt: Move SW down Hwy 79/144 to junction Hwy ?72? vic 665985. Move SE
down Hwy ?72? to Infantry Point A. Dismount Inf. Move through the woods SWS to
Firing Point Y. Go to defilade facing S, set max engagement range to 3000 m.
Fire on any enemy armor within range, priority M901 ITVs. Priority targets
within Kill Zone Y. Await further orders. General intent: remain in this
position until relieved by AG Main Body. Dismounted Inf: Go to defilade facing
E, set max engagement range to 200 m. Fire on any enemy armor within range,
priority M60A3 MBTs.

AG 3rd Plt: move SW down Hwy 79/144 to junction Hwy 144. Move SE down Hwy 144
to vic 695974, where the road ends in a T-intersection. Dogleg SW then resume
SE direction on un-named road; unload inf nearest Infantry Point C w/o leaving
road, vic 698967; continue S after Y-intersection; leave road, move into
Firing Point Z.  Go to defilade facing S, set max engagement range to 3000 m.
Fire on any enemy armor within range, priority M901 ITVs. Priority targets
within Kill Zone Z. Await further orders. General intent: remain in this
position until relieved by AG Main Body. Dismounted Inf: Move to Infantry
Point C, go to defilade facing E, set max engagement range to 200 m. Fire on
any enemy armor within range, priority M60A3 MBTs.

AG tank plt: Mount HQ Infantry, SAM, and AG 1st plt Infantry.  Move SW down
Hwy 79/144 to small hill astride Hwy 79 vic 667993; dismount HQ inf, SAM;
continue down Hwy 79 to junction Hwy ?72? vic 665985. Move SE down Hwy ?72? to
vic 681973. Leave the road, head E across clear terrain to vic 686973, the
corner of the woods near Infantry Point B. Move S to Inf Point B, Dismount AG
Inf Plt 1. Retrace route back to Hwy ?72? vic 681973, head NE on road to vic
677976, leave road, move N to Firing Point X. Go to defilade facing W, set max
engagement range to 1500 m. Fire on any enemy armor within range, priority
M60A3 MBTs. Priority targets within Kill Zone X. Await further orders. General
intent: remain in this position until relieved by AG Main Body. Dismounted AG
Inf Plt 2: Go to defilade facing E, set max engagement range to 200 m. Fire on
any enemy armor within range, priority M60A3 MBTs. Dismounted AG HQ Inf &
SAMs: go to defilade facing S in a position such that objective is visible.
General intent: remain in this position until relieved by AG Main Body.

===============================================================
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U.S. Orders


Please note check points
CP 1 :655958
CP 2 :654968
CP 3 :657977
Will be northern line of northerb road

CP 4 :665945 edge of the wood
CP 5 : 682958
CP 6 : 685970 in wood 
will be southern line of southern road
>
>Your forces are:
>
>HQ             2 x M113 w/command element      620630 center of irvington
Will follow the movement

>1st platoon    4 x M113 w/inf sqd. + 3 x M901 ITV 635930
>2nd platoon    5 x M60A3						635930
Will take the northern road M603 lead , M113 Follow 500 m later , secured
by M 901
SOP reverse when fired upon, pop smoke
	
>3rd platoon    4 x M113 w/inf sqd. + 3 x M901 ITV 635925
>4th platoon    5 x M60A3						635925
M603 lead , M113 Follow 500 m later , secured by M 901
Will take the southern road SOP reverse when fired upon, pop smoke
	

>mortar section 3 x M106 Mortar Carrier go 640935



>AA
>Stinger team
 please load them in 1 st platoon they will be left at CP1 


>Artillery
>6 x 155mm SP howitzers (no ICM)
How much smoke do i have ?

Please register TRP 680967 , adjust until 5

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The action

At the beginning of the game the US player changed the orders.  
1st and 2nd platoons were to go northeast to Haysville along the roads 
and then go northward to vic 665962 and then to vic 664970. This move 
would be covered by smoke in 66/97.  3rd and 4th platoons were also to
 go to Haysville, but then east and north to vic 682968.  When both were 
in position, they were both going to assault the ridge. All units moved 
in travelling overwatch, with about 500 meters interval.

During the initial approach, a reccee BRDM travelling west on the 
road about 649989 was hit and killed by a M901 moving north vic 
665958. Opfor seemed to think that they were hit by a vehicle on 
the road vic 659969 since they didn't observe the vehicle, just the
 direction of the missle.

When 3rd and 4th platoons neared 682968, they were engaged by a BMP 
platoon in the woods at 680968 and a T62 platoon moving east at 684969.
 The BMP platoon and inf plus one or two T62s were destroyed with the remains of the 
tank platoon escaping eastward. Two M60s were destroyed 
and one fire damaged.

At the west, the tank platoon was observed by an opfor recce infantry 
that was hiding in the woods at 661979.

By this time the opfor advance guard had occupied the ridge and the US 
was preparing to assault it.  The main body was approaching the ridge 
as fast as possible. Some along road 79, and some along road 144 (vic
 682990). Opfor had laid down a smoke screen along 99 northing from 67 
to 70 easting to screen their approach from any US units on the ridge.

The US assault in the west never got going. The remainder of the 3rd 
and 4th platoons moved north along the road between the woods at 681969. 

The US progressed north west along the road vic 680972, eliminating
 the minor resistance, until a BMP company from the main body appeared
 travelling
southeast along the road vic 670980. During the exchange of fire, the 
two M60s that were not destroyed then withdrew.

The US side then said that they wished to report to HQ that they were facing a recon 
company that was to be followed by a MRR moving east.  
Since they were wrong in their estimation of opfor's direction of 
movement, and could only guess on the size of the force since they 
had never gotten any units to locations that could see north of the 
ridge, the game was awarded to opfor.

===============================================================
======================
US

UNIT                 START   NOW     ELIM    EXITED

M113 APC               10      6       4        0
Command Element         1      1       0        0
Inf Squad               8      7       1        0
M901 ITV                6      3       3        0
M60A3 Tank             10      7       3        0
M106 Mortar Carrier     3      3       0        0
155mm SP Hwtzr          6      6       0        0
Stinger SAM             1      1       0        0

Force Lethality Value, Start: 3362
Force Lethality Value, Now: 2762
Casualty percentage: 17
Force Lethality Ratio, Start: 1:1.4
Force Lethality Ratio, Now: 1:1.5


OPFOR

UNIT                 START   NOW     ELIM    EXITED

BRDM2 APC               3      1       2        0
BMP1 IFV               32     25       7        0
Inf Squad              31     28       3        0
T62M M1975 Tank        11      9       2        0
Inf Recon Team          3      3       0        0
Command Element         1      1       0        0
ZSU-23-4 AAA            2      2       0        0
122mm SP Hwtzr          6      6       0        0

Force Lethality Value, Start: 4699
Force Lethality Value, Now: 4039
Casualty percentage: 14
Force Lethality Ratio, Start: 1.4:1
Force Lethality Ratio, Now: 1.5:1

===============================================================
============
OPFOR Situation Report - Time: 0731

[Recce] 1xBMP1 IFV OP#3 at UTM 661978
[Recce] 1xInf Squad OP#4 at UTM 661978
[Recce] 1xT62M M1975 Tank OP#5 at UTM 703969 *Moving southeast
[A.G. Scout] 1xInf Recon Team OP#10 at UTM 656980
[Recce] 1xInf Recon Team OP#11 at UTM 645986
[A.G. - H.Q] 1xBMP1 IFV OP#12 at UTM 653988
[A.G. 1st plt] 3xBMP1 IFV OP#19 at UTM 652988
[A.G. 3rd plt] 3xBMP1 IFV OP#17 at UTM 692971 *Moving southeast
    3xInf Squad OP#16 [A.G. 3rd plt]
[A.G. - H.Q] 1xInf Squad OP#13 at UTM 666991
[A.G. 2nd plt] 1xInf Squad OP#15 at UTM 680971
[A.G. 1st plt] 3xInf Squad OP#14 at UTM 666991
[A.G. tank plt] 2xT62M M1975 Tank OP#20 at UTM 685970
[M.B. Scout] 1xBRDM2 APC OP#21 at UTM 645007 *Moving south
    1xInf Recon Team OP#22 [M.B. Scout]
[Fwd Det - HQ] 1xBMP1 IFV OP#26 at UTM 682025
    1xCommand Element OP#24 [Fwd Det - HQ]
[AA plt] 2xZSU-23-4 AAA OP#27 at UTM 667029
[2nd tank plt] 3xT62M M1975 Tank OP#28 at UTM 659009
[3rd tank plt] 3xT62M M1975 Tank OP#29 at UTM 659009
[B Company] 6xBMP1 IFV OP#30 at UTM 672978 *Moving southeast *Suppressed
    6xInf Squad OP#32 [B Company]
[C Company] 10xBMP1 IFV OP#31 at UTM 685988 *Moving southeast
    10xInf Squad OP#33 [C Company]
[B Company] 1xInf Squad OP#37 at UTM 672978 *Suppressed
[B Company] 1xInf Squad OP#36 at UTM 669981
[B Company] 1xInf Squad OP#35 at UTM 668981 *Suppressed
[Arty. Btty] 6x122mm SP Hwtzr OP#34 at UTM 691029


===============================================================
=======================
US Situation Report - Time: 0731

[Troop E  H.Q.] 2xM113 APC US#29 at UTM 640945
    1xCommand Element US#30 [Troop E  H.Q.]
[1st platoon] 4xM113 APC US#31 at UTM 663971
    4xInf Squad US#32 [1st platoon]
    1xStinger SAM US#41 [AA section]
[1st plt ITV] 3xM901 ITV US#33 at UTM 665963
[2nd platoon] 5xM60A3 Tank US#34 at UTM 668971
[3rd platoon] 3xInf Squad US#36 at UTM 683968 *Moving north
[4th platoon] 2xM60A3 Tank US#38 at UTM 683968
[Mortar section] 3xM106 Mortar Carrier US#39 at UTM 644935
[Arty btty] 6x155mm SP Hwtzr US#40 at UTM 629925


Gary Wollbach’s Opfor AAR:

CPX Oct17 OPFOR Commander AAR

The OPFOR Team consisted of:
Gary Wollbach - Commander and controlling the main body.
Jeremy T - first time CPX player in charge of all recon and the advance
guard.

Our forces consisted of:
Recon - 3 vehicles
Advanced Guard - 3 BMP platoons and a tank platoon
Main Body - 2 BMP companies, 2 tank platoons
Other - 1 battery of on board 155mm, ZSU section, HQ

Our assigned mission was to secure the ridge vicinity of grid 6798.  If
the ridge was occupied by a force which we cannot handle then we were to
determine it enemy size and composition.

In the early stages of the planning it was decided that we would move
all units on the quickest fastest routes to the ridge.  Boldness and
audacity.  And we did, using the main highway system.

I had intended to send out three recon patrols; west, center, and east,
to determine enemy activity and movement.  The advanced guard (AG)
arriving at 0704 would then push forward to the ridge from 6798 to the
east map edge and occupy it.  The AG would hold the ridge and pin any
enemy until the Main Body (MB) arrived.  The MB would began to arrive at
0715 and be moved directly to the ridge to secure the objective.  I had
initially planned on one MRC from the MB to be the reserve.

From the start things did not work as well as planned.  The Team lost a
member, Jeremy's initial plan did not arrive to me until game day, and
the CPX had communication problems.  Additionally, Jeremy's plan did not
meet my intent.  The western portion of the map (grid 65 west) was
completely uncovered north to grid 00.  I had determined that the west
was the greatest threat to our forces since it offered the most covered
and concealed routes northward.  It was wide open.

I made so adjustments to the plan.  I changed the reserve mission,
sending all MB companies to the ridge and pushed two tank platoons west
to a position in grid 6499 to act as a block against any sweep from that
flank and to provide the Team's reserve.

I also made a mistake in my planning.  I was told the ridge point grid
6798 was the objective but expanded my plan beyond that one grid square
including the entire ridge.  The only reason a unit was at that grid is
because I wanted something there to look southward down the road.  The
OPFOR forces were going to be deployed in grids 6798, 6797 and 6997.

As the battle unfolded I began to realize that the US forces were either
being very stealthy or were moving slow.  As contact was made I
continued to have units use the road system.  I then began to notice
that all of the US forces seemed to be concentrated in an extremely
small area of less than 2km.  (And here is were I began to pray for an
MRL).  Either there were other unreported forces or the US player was
making a single axis advance to the ridge.  I also noticed that the M901
and M60A3 did not seem to be over watching each other as they moved.  I
now knew that we could inflict serious damage on the US player.

We had been afraid that the US player would gain a foothold on the ridge
and, by using the long range TOW fire and the accurate tank fire,
destroy the MB as they moved through the open valley north of the
ridge.  I knew that the US player would not now hinder the MB and
continued to drive the MB on to the ridge, hoping to catch the US team
still on the south valley floor where we could then use the mass of our
firepower to destroy them.

It was at this point that the battle was called.

Lessons Learned:
Team members need time to plan.   Our Team had less than four days from
the time I was selected to command and the battle.  Depending on
schedules this is not enough time.  Luckily Jeremy had a detailed plan
for the AG and I am good at adjustments.

Time versus security.
There is a key moment in recon missions where you change from fast
unsecure movement to slower secure movement.  The time to make this
decision is based on the likelyhood of enemy contact and instinct.  Our
team lost some forces that could have been prevented because of the use
of speed over security.  We knew that as we went further south that the
likelyhood of contact was an increase possibility but changed recon
movement techniques to late and lost some of our recon elements.


Gary


Brian Rock’s commentary:

A few comments on the game from an occasional CPX ref's POV.

>I included a recon victory condition "If the ridge has already been
>occupied by a superior force that can't be dislodged, your task is to
>determine the size and composition of the opposition". If one side
>didn't hold the ridge, but had placed their units well enough to
>observe the enemy's size and locations, the game would be a draw.

I like the idea of having a fall-back "victory" condition that adds to the
ambiguity of the situation, and also provides an incentive *not* to attack
at all costs.

>The US side then said that they wished to report to HQ that they were
>facing a recon company that was to be followed by a MRR moving east.
>Since they were wrong in their estimation of opfor's direction of
>movement, and could only guess on the size of the force since they
>had never gotten any units to locations that could see north of the
>ridge, the game was awarded to opfor.

It's interesting that the US decided to pull back with only 17% casualties
vs 14% for OPFOR. I actually consider this a success in terms of scenario
design.:-) I think having credible options available to the COs produced a
believable outcome.

>I included the HQ units and penalties for their loss ("if the HQ unit is
>suppressed, there will be a one minute delay between the time orders are
>given and they are implemented.  If the HQ is eliminated, the delay will
>be three minutes.  No delays in any case for orders to scouts"), but
>neglected
>to include any requirement for the other units to be within a particular
>distance from them.  Both sides wisely located their HQ's in safe spots
>far from the action.

I liked the idea, but I'm not surprised the players played it safe. I don;t
really know how to incorporate HQs (especially for "lead from the front"
leaders) into a CPX either. :-\

RT once ran a scenario that had a number of factors dependent on the CO's
actions - if the CO went to the front the SOPs and engagement ranges would
be modified. A bit fiddly, and arguably a bit "Hollywood", but I rather
liked it.

>Another problem that arose was the difficulty of keeping units on the
>roads.. As the game got busier
>I tended to place the waypoints farther apart and the units would wander
>into slower ground.

I don't worry about it anymore. I just put it down to units misreading
maps, traffic jams, evading the odd bit of shell-fire, or whatever
convenient excuse I can come up with. You just don't have time to get in
right in a CPX.

>As you can see from the following orders I got from the players,
>some of them were pretty detailed.  I followed them exactly at the start,
>but as the game progressed I wwas less detailed.

Also a good idea. :-)

Overall sounds like a rather successful first CPX.  Quite unlike my first
one...

Rocky


And Rick’s reply:

> It's interesting that the US decided to pull back with only 17% casualties
> vs 14% for OPFOR. I actually consider this a success in terms of scenario
> design.:-) I think having credible options available to the COs produced a
> believable outcome.

Their eastern two platoons had run head on into a BMP company and were
severly bloodied.  They weren't aware of it, but another BMP company was
approaching them from the east.  Their western two platoons had succumbed
to "fog of war".  I was having trouble understanding what they wanted them
to do, and in the meantime their eastern force was almost completely
eliminated in a few minutes.  The infantry was still there, but they had
almost no tanks or M901s left.  I think it felt like the whole Warsaw Pact
was coming down on them. :-)
 > 
> 
> Overall sounds like a rather successful first CPX.  Quite unlike my first
> one...

Of course it helped that I had a chat line open to James Sterrett and he
was giving me advice and suggestions.  :-)

Thanks for the comments Rocky, and thank you James for the help.


Rick

And Basil Burgess’ AAR:

Hi there

I was one of the US team in the CPX, and thought I'd add some comments, 
rather than a full AAR.

First, as always, I was pleased to be teamed up with Christian Simon. I 
like working with Christian, though I have to teach the silly man not to 
call me sir <wink>. Even though we never talked rank, I was determined 
to have Christian be the CO for the US side.

I did mess up some things, particularly in arriving on time. I 
calculated the game time wrong. They announced the game start in GMT, 
but forgot to tell me which number the big hand was pointing to.

So I got there late. Ah well. Meanwhile, Chris had moved his units up 
carefully. We hadn't gotten a chance to talk, save a single e-mail. I 
think we both saw the worst case scenario of the enemy being on the 
ridge and figured a slower overwatched approach was best. I think he 
disposed his forces (2 groups of tank/apc/AT) reasonably. When I finally 
arrived, we had had some engagement and spots.

I took over the eastern platoons, just in time to be engaged by BMP's. 
In the ensuing firefight, I lost the vehicles and tanks, unfortunately. 
Really, to the extent that this contributed to our choices, I'm 
responsible, because I should have been there earlier.

I was going to try to keep moving, but we got into a discussion with an 
advisor about using the second victory condition. I must admit, I think 
I influenced the decision to report in rather than engage, more than I 
should. I looked at my side of the SITREP as indicative of being 
stopped, so I didn't look at the aggressive alternatives.

I think we estimated the forces we were facing and were about to face, 
pretty well. The main thing we got wrong was the axis of advance, and 
that's because we didn't get on the ridge. We judged it east-to-west 
because that's what the spotreps showed.Once it seemed like we were just 
too late to decisively engage the enemy force, we made our best guess 
and reported into headquarters.

It was fun, though. From the CPX's and MPX's I've played, I think it was 
well thought out, force-balanced about right, and compitently run. 
I enjoyed it and learned some more. What the heck else is there.

That's all I'm going to say about that.

Cheers
Basil


And Christian Simon’s AAR:

CPX oct17 US AAR

The US team Christian Simon, and later Basil Burgess, we were in the useful
guidance of  Steve Althouse.

Our forces were

HQ             2 x M113 w/command element
1st platoon    4 x M113 w/inf sqd. + 3 x M901 ITV
2nd platoon    5 x M60A3
3rd platoon    4 x M113 w/inf sqd. + 3 x M901 ITV
4th platoon    5 x M60A3
mortar section 3 x M106 Mortar Carrier

AA
Stinger team

Artillery
6 x 155mm SP howitzers (no ICM)

Orders were to take 67/98 ridge if unable to take it, then determine enemy
forces ( they were more detailed in other AARs )

Preparation : 

almost nothing, as i was busy all the week and unable to join Basil B on
IRC for some coordination.
The only things i prepared were 
- some checkpoints to define the maximum area were i wished to go

>> Please note check points
>> CP 1 :655958
>> CP 2 :654968
>> CP 3 :657977

>> CP 4 :665945 edge of the wood
>> CP 5 : 682958
>> CP 6 : 685970 in wood - 

I also decided to make two groups of 1 M113 platoon + 1 M603 platoon

HQ will move alone

AAA will be left at place were it could see the battlefield



Plan ( if that could be have such a name :) )

The main idea was to move the two groups NE one on the norhern side of the
area defined by checkpoint, one in the south

the check to determine the weakest point , regroup and attack.

1 st mistake : i thought  67/98 was occupied and that many observers were
posted to warn the main force.

At the beginning of the attack, i decided to add some TRPs
<chrsimon> TRP 1 680968
<chrsimon> TRP 2 664972
<chrsimon> TRP 3 666964
<chrsimon> TRP 4 668977
<chrsimon> TRP 5 660972

The attack will show that they will be more useful than CP t give orders
I tried to name the 2 groups coy 1 and 2 but it was two late the ump had
already named them , my fault I should have prepared better :(

As i was sur there were observers , i began to put some arty on TRP were
supposed observers were.

The general order of march was M603 then M113 the M901 to cover, steve
explained me later that M113 should lead M603 follow as they have a greater
range of fire.
The distance asked was about 500 to 800 m between each platoon.

The  waypoint were defined to be maximum hidden by the woods.

SOP : reverse when being fired on,pop smoke,  move 200 m north or south and
run again. 


No news of Basil , i will have to begin alone, for i first trial as a CO,
that will be not easy...


 0715  1st plt ITV killed a BRDM at 646989

this BRDM confirmed me i was facing a big force with some observers
entrenched...


Coy 1 was just N of Haysville, Coy 2 n the wood east of Haysville (aaargh
they should have been more in the east, my orders were not clear

Then for a long time i had no news of my troups
great fear : what are enemy's orders? do they have to move west, take my HQ
( the umpire mentionned that if HQ was suppressed, orders will suffer a 3
min delay).

As there was no real fight until there, I was pretty sure we were drawing a
circle US south half circle, OPFOR north half circle.

Next sitrep will show my units didn't move much.
I learned they were under smoke.

Steve arrived and proposed to give a help.

the attack began on B coy, i lost a few tanks

Basil arrived, my morale ( not modelled in Tacops) raised .3 players will
be better.


Basil took command of B coy, that was not a present for him, he was under
attack.

T62s were spotted north of position of B coy, for me it was the flank the
enemy advance.



<RickN> US Spot Report - Time: 0726
<RickN> 2xT62M M1975 Tank at UTM 683970 *Moving east


<RickN> BRDM and ITV exchange fire vic 678975, BRDM loses
<Basil> smoke trp 1 and move scouts up to scout

I was *sure* i was facing a BIG force ( Reinforced MRR), i decided to
report HQ what i thought i was facing.

<chrsimon> Please send to HQ : report  Advanced Guard compnay of a
reinforced infantry or tnk coy.
<chrsimon> coming to east 
<chrsimon> going to east
<chrsimon> next report later
<chrsimon> most Probably tank coy
<chrsimon> Orders for all everydody keeps on cover 
<chrsimon> if not on cover rear south until you are in cover

Then CRASHHHH, my wife tried to put on the TV on the same plug point as my
computer. I was disconnected, had to reboot my comp...



Question :

<christianS> does HQ consider mission over?
<RickN> negative

After asking the opinions of my partners i decided to keep on running
i was thinking I had whole opfor troups available in tacops.

the following debate 
<christianS> Message to HQ:
<christianS> 67/98  we were unable to take the position,
<christianS> we hit the beginning of a MRR - that was a Reinforced recon coy
<christianS> going from east to west
<christianS> casualties are heavy
<christianS> i suggest we wait for reinforcments
<Basil> and pizza
<christianS> we are unable to keep position
<christianS> only able to oserve and give some information
<christianS> waiting for orders
<christianS> over
<christianS> rick, do we have watch on 67/98 by now?
<RickN> you can't see 670980
<christianS> ok so maintain until we see 67/98 with tanks or M113

That was the end of game, and probably the end of my troups.


Lesson learned : 

1 it's better to play more than 1 player more fun and more realistic ,stops
you thinking, gives some different POV  ( for the armchair warrior i am )

2 prepare better, names are importants CP two.

3 have more than one plan in mind.

4 know the exact size of your force (i didn't really realised i had a
*heavy*  team,so  i was  not enough aggressive ) 

4bis don't forget agility is  the key of the battlefield 

5 recon recon , i tried to cover inf troups, i should have sent then as
recon before sending more forces

Good point either:

I was more self confident with that small scenario:
Message to potential umpires: don't forget small scenarios :) good for
beginning CO. 

 I'm ready for next CPX.

Thanks to Rick Nelson and James Sterrett who gave me some hints to
formulate my messages as real soldiers would send them.

Thanks to Basil B and Steve S for all they did in the game.



This the end of this AAR, please excuse poor english, poor military
expressions.

Regards 
Christian Simon