TRAVEMÜNDE,
BUNDESREPUBLIK DEUTSCHLAND
August 4, 1985
The first shots were fired by Anti-Aircraft units just before sunrise as a wave of Warsaw Pact aircraft crossed into West Germany. About 10 minutes after the initial air strikes had passed over the border region in northern Germany a large collection of Soviet artillery guns began firing on NATO defenses along the Trave river. Soviet troops then overran the small Priwall peninsula and attempted a crossing of the Trave near DUMMERSDORF.
The Soviet attack was able to establish a temporary foothold on the far side of the river but proved to be very costly. A concentration of Danish 155mm and 203mm artillery guns caused heavy damage to the crossing operation. A counterattack by the Danish I/DRLR pushed the enemy back across the river. Several Soviet tanks in running condition were captured after being abandoned. It is believed the crews attempted to get away by swimming back across the river.
Friendly losses include:
Two (2) Leopard 1A3 tanks destroyed.
One (1) Leopard1A3 tank damaged – in short term repair.
One (1) Imp HAWK SAM destroyed.
Worst hit was the 2 Company/VI JDR (Divisional AT Bn) who lost about half its fighting power, incl several TOW teams.
(I made much of the water into shallow hexes making it possible for the AI to move units across without barges.)
Below the high water mark for the Soviet attack:
Danish mop up. Three slightly damaged Russian tanks...
None of the F-16s were committed to the battle.