And now, the AAR from Sputnik Monroe point of view
Sputnik Monroe’s after action report.
United States vs. Russia
Meeting Engagement
May 1985 Southern Germany
Turn 0, force selection.
With 947 points to acquisition my combat force I was first considering purchasing a mechanized infantry company. The Mechanized Infantry company was well within my budget at 890 or so points, that is as long as I chose the basic M113A2 as it’s “Light Support APC” as opposed the M113A2 Dragon AT version, which would push the price a tad over my budget. In the end I decided the Mechanized Infantry company was not well rounded enough for the coming battle. Instead I opted for a Tank section consisting of two M60A3 Pattons, a mechanized infantry platoon (the company would have been 3 of these), a OH58 Kiowa and a OH58 Kiowa Warrior section.
The two M60s I’ve decided are crucial for the likely event of facing any Soviet Armor. I would have preferred an Abrams section but one section of Abrams cost 1500 points which was entirely out of my budget range.
The mechanized infantry platoon contains two Dragon AT teams and a Support M113 with a dragon also installed. In addition to the three dragon launchers the four Infantry squads also have some M72 LAWs.
I’m a little concerned about Soviet armor, as I do find my Anti tank capacity to be lacking. The M60s are rather lightly armored with rather venerable guns while the M72 LAWs are known to be next to worthless against MBTs. The 3 dragon Launchers are probably my best bet against any main battle tanks that show up. Hopefully I wont encounter any T62 or later models.
I also purchased a single APC, a M113A2. This will serve as transport for my HQ unit.
The Kiowa was a mandatory choice for me. If I have access to a scout helicopter I will always take one. They give an excellent overall situational awareness of the battlefield, that is as long as they aren’t shot down.
The armed Kiowa is equipped with an Mk19 40MM grenade launcher and nothing more. It was more of an impulse by. I had less than 200 points left and couldn’t really decide on what I should purchase. The Armed Kiowa was part of a section of two which I couldn’t afford. However if you purchase a group you cannot afford it will take all the points you have left and give as much of the group as you could afford. Thus I decided to go for half the section and thus get one more eye in the sky. Though the vision on the armed Kiowa is 1/6th that of the Scout version.
Hopefully I made the right decisions.
Turn 1,
I have deployed my mechanized infantry and armor on the north paved road. They will advance and take the northern cluster of victory hexes. Meanwhile my Kiowas will scout the rest of the field for the enemy.
Turn 2,
My Kiowa scout has located the main enemy force. There is at least one T80B possibly a second. I got greedy with my recon, feeling invulnerable I got a little too close and the Kiowa was brought down by small arms fire. Highly embarrassing, a shoulder launched SAM would have had some dignity but to be brought down by small arms?
The other Kiowa with the Mk19 got two incredibly lucky rear shots destroying two BTR70s. I’m actually really surprised, I figured the Mk19 could probably destroy a BTR70 from behind, but only after several damaging shots which I figured would take several turns to achieve. This wasn’t the case as the Kiowa basically fired two snap shots taking out both. I fired a few shots at the disembarked troops with no effect. They returned fire and I pulled the Kiowa back.
The T80 is going to be trouble. If there are more than one… a lot of trouble.
Turn 3,
My Kiowa warrior has flown around some hills and emerged from behind the third BTR70 and destroyed it. I’m very surprised with the accuracy of this helicopter. At this point it feels a little unfair, I hope Sanctuary doesn’t think I’m cheating. I’ve used Apaches before and not had the kind of accuracy I’m having with this Kiowa.
Currently my two M60s are following the main road. I hope to have them come up from behind the T80 where I will then attempt to split up my two tanks into two directions. In this way I’m hoping one of them can manage to get behind the T80 and score a hit on it’s rear while it is focused on the other M60 in front of it.
Right clicking on the T80 reveals that it is much better armored than my M60s and I believe it has a much better main gun. I’m still certain there is a second unspotted T80 out there also.
My mechanized infantry poised to take the northern Victory hex cluster in the next turn.
Turn 4,
My Kiowa gunship located a RPG7 team and eliminated them. He was unable to locate any thing else, so I pulled him back behind some hills until next turn.
The two Patton tanks are now following the road south. Hopefully in around 3 or 4 turns they can engage and destroy the T80(s?)
My HQ unit in their APC along with one mechanized squad a Dragon section and their two APCs have begun taking the northern victory cluster. They will set up in a hopefully defendable position and await a any likely attack.
The three other APCs belonging to my mechanized platoon are heading south off road through wooded hills. I’m hoping to set up the M113 with the dragon and the second dragon AT section on a hill facing south. My hope is that they will be able to catch site of the T80(s?) and neutralize them. The other two mechanized squads with their M113s will deploy along side the AT groups as I anticipate the Russians will be sending some infantry north to attempt to take the northern victory cluster. If all goes well my mechanized will be able to hold off the attack and keep them from ever reaching sight of the northern victory cluster.
Two random thoughts: My Kiowa will run out of ammo soon. Also much of the enemy infantry are Spetznatz, this could prove an important factor in infantry vs. infantry combat.
Turn 5,
My Kiowa has run out of ammo and has now been regulated to a observation role. He has located the T80 again. My Dragon teams and infantry are deploying just to the north of the T80, I only hope they can get under cover in time. Meanwhile my two Pattons are closing the gap. They should be able to engage the T80 soon, It looks like my Dragons will be under attack by then
Turn 6,
Nothing much to report this turn tactic wise. My units all continued to move into position. The M60s are close to their destinations, though I have lost sight of the T80 again.
Strangely I could not move my Kiowa. It has only one point of damage, no systems destroyed and both crew alive, but I guess that was too much for it. When I ended my turn the Kiowa turned around and flew off the map exiting the current battle.
Turn 7,
My lead M60 came out of cover and was fired upon by the T80. The T80 missed so I turned the hull toward the T80 and fired. There was a brief exchange and the M60 lost, no crew members survived.
The Second M60 is moving in now from the north east and the Dragon equipped M113 from the north west. I’m hoping to co ordinate them into a pincer movement that should give one of them a shot at the T80s rear. Sadly I’m certain this will lead to the destruction of either the M113 or the M60, at this point it appear necessary.
I really hope there isn’t a second T80 out there.
Turn 8,
My remaining M60 and the Dragon equipped M113 are still maneuvering into position to engage the T80.
Turn 9,
The M60 and the M113 continue to maneuver into position.
One of the flags in the central cluster just changed to USSR control .I’m taking a chance that it was the T80 (which I have lost site of again). If so the Dragon equipped M113 is only 100 meters away aiming at some of the other flags. Hopefully the T80 will move out to take one of these flags. Should this occur it would give a pretty much point blank shot for the dragon. However if it turns out it’s infantry then my dragon equipped M113 cover will have been compromised. Still even then perhaps he’ll send his T80 after the M113 which will give my Patton the chance to rush out and take a rear shot or two.
Turn 10,
The Dragon equipped M113 was destroyed by spetznatz with an RPG. For now my M60 will play it cautiously, he’s still advancing but very slowly.
My plan at this point is to keep my troops where they are at in good over watch positions. Hopefully once he has taken all the middle flags he’ll advance north for the final cluster (which I control). If this is the case I may be able to still win by inflicting massive casualties.
With 2/3rds of the victory flags in his position, I think I can only hope for a marginal victory. Still a victory is a victory.
Turn 11,
I moved my HQ and their apc up a little to contribute to the fire zones my mechanized platoon have set up. My second Dragon section is marching up to my eastern flank in case the T80 comes up from that direction.
Meanwhile my M60 is moving up a hill to try and locate that confounded T80 again. I might take a gamble and pop out from concealment to locate him. If I locate him I’ll fire the smoke dischargers and engage him from behind the smoke. I’m going to risk my tank on the theory that early 80s Soviet imaging equipment is unable to see through thick smoke screens and that early US thermal equipment can.
Every report seems to be about engaging this damned T80. The sooner it’s dead the better.
Turn 12,
This turn I positioned my second Dragon section and moved a rifle squad. Nothing real exciting on that front.
My M60 on the other hand advanced up a slope and made contact with the T80 again, (or should I say the T80 made contact with him?). I should of waited a turn and moved up the slope from the east thus exposing only the front of the tank. I was impatient and instead went up the slope from the north, thus exposing the side of the tank towards the enemy. The T80 fired its main gun striking the front turret of the M60 with no effect (save for the crew soiling them selves). The T80 also fired a Reflex missile which struck the M60 in the side hull and has immobilized it.
I chose to fire the smoke dischargers at this point. It seems my bet on soviet vs. us imaging has so shown that the US optics cannot see through the smoke screen. I can only hope the T80 also cannot see through, if it can this immobilized self blinded Patton will be dead by the end of the round. None the less I fired some indirect rounds through the smoke at the hex the T80 is in. I knew they had no chance of hitting the tank what so ever, hopefully they’ll trick him into thinking I have thermal imaging.
Turn 13,
My M60 survived the round. The T80 fired three obviously blind shots in its direction. Obviously we are both on even terms when it comes to imaging equipment. The smoke screen is starting to fade. Right clicking on the T80 to compare vision and fire control with my M60 shows that they have the same vision while the M60 holds a slight 5 point advantage in fire control at 25.
I think the person who’s turn the smoke clears on will keep their tank while the other player’s tank is blasted into oblivion. I can only hope that the smoke clears on my turn.
I also fired 4 more indirect fire shots at the hex with the T80. A million to one chance of hitting but it’s worth a try. One lucky HE shell hit on the T80 will do no damage but might suppress it enough to give my M60 the advantage he needs.
Turn 14,
This turn was a virtual repeat of round 13. The smoke is still up but fading. The M60 and T80 both exchanged blind fire with no noticeable effect.
Turn 15,
Well the smoke screen has faded yet now I can’t seem to see anything to the west regardless. This seems to be do to the earlier destroyed M60 which is burning 50 meters to the southeast. I think the smoke is obscuring my view and the T80s.
For now I’ve made the decision to sit tight.
Turn 16,
Nothing of interest to report. My troops are sitting tight awaiting a possible Soviet grab at the northern victory cluster.
I only hold 1/3rd of the total victory flags. If the battle stalemates to the end I’m hoping the casualties I’ve inflicted will tip the balance in my favor. 3 BTR 70s and a few troops vs. his kills of 1 Kiowa, 1 M60, 1 M113 and one immobilized M60 and a retreated Kiowa. It looks like the odds are tilted in his favor.
Turn 17,
The T80 crested over the southern hill and blasted one my M113s into smithereens. However the T80 by doing this has moved into my immobilized M60s line of sight. The M60 was able to blast the T80 in the side for a damaging hit. I’m not sure how much damage was inflicted as the T80 fired his smoke dischargers and vanished again.
One of my two dragon sections also launched a missile as retaliatory fire but missed. I leap forged the firing dragon unit 100meters closer. I also did this incase the T80 managed to locate where the dragon fired, shoot and scoot if you will. The second dragon unit has also moved in order to hopefully score a side hit should the T80 continue to advance.
Turn 18,
The T80 has not shown its face this round. I’m sending my western most Dragon team around the west where hopefully they can get a side shot at the T80 if it’s located again.
My Eastern Dragon team has spotted two 8 man rifle sections advancing through the forest towards the victory cluster I control. I’m now repositioning my troops accordingly. I have two rifle squads that’ll hopefully get the jump his troops this turn.
Turn 19,
The Russian infantry have advanced and killed one of the two men in my eastern dragon team. One of my squads returned fire with out much effect.
The squad continued to fire on the Soviets troops while I maneuvered a second squad up (losing one man to an RPK burst) to lay down some more volume of fire. Finally one Soviet squad took a few casualties and popped smoke and fell back.
Two of my APCs have also moved up to contribute their firepower. There is a RPG team that directly threatens the M113s, hopefully the two rifle squads and two M113s can keep him pinned down with opportunity fire.
Final event worth noting is the destruction of my immobilized M60 by a RPG fired by a Spetznatz team.
Final result of the conflict,
The battle has favored the Soviets. I have suffered a marginal defeat.
Screenshot of the score