Ukraine 2021(?)

[MarkSheppard]

So, in case you've missed it all, there's a HUGE military buildup going on in the Ukraine and on Russia's borders near Ukraine.

According to a Ukrainian journalist, a naval order has been issued by Russia banning ships from foreign countries in the Kerch Strait heading for the Sea of Azov from April 24 due to military exercises.

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New: Current & former officials say there are no geographic restrictions on the deployment of the Javelin missiles Ukraine purchased from the U.S., and argue that Kyiv would be justified in moving the weapons to the frontlines amid Russia's buildup

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Russian Minister of Defence Shoigu: "two armies and three VDV formations were deployed to the western borders of Russia to carry out combat training tasks as part of a combat readiness test." (RIA)

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Ukraine's military intelligence (testimony to the parliament): Russia will complete its troop deployment at Ukraine's borders around 20 April, with up to 110 thousand troops.

For context: it's almost half of active personnel in Ukraine's entire Armed Forces

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Signs are going up in the Russian camps that roughly translate to "Hard training makes the combat easy".

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The 559th Fighter Bomber Aviation Regiment, equipped with SU-34 jets, has been deployed to the Black Sea region.

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There's videos of everything being moved around -- there's an Ukrainian convoy near Mariupol on Youtube this morning with T-64B1Ms, BTR-3s, BTR-4 and MT-LB-ZU-23s in the convoy. People seem to think it's the Azov Regiment.

I know there's no scenario here (yet), but it's a placeholder thread. I'll try to have something, but I am juggling a lot of plates now.

[MarkSheppard]

To give you an idea of the equippage of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), here's a few shots from a concert given for 1 AC (DPR) troops a few days ago:







Things to note: Others have noticed the lack of fancy optics (IR etc) for the BMPs, and lack of anti-RPG grates for the BMPs; giving you an idea of the level of tech quality Donetsk People's Republic troops have.

[MarkSheppard]

This is a simple assault scenario. I haven't playtested it that throroughly; so don't invest too much of your time to it. If you're having difficulties; just quit and let me know if it's too hard or whatnot.

Operatsiya Polina, Feb 2022

Russia Assault
_____vs.
Ukraine Defend

Date: February 22, 2022
Location: Ovruch, Ukraine

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

This is a future-what-if scenario.

With the closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics on 20 February 2022, there was no longer any reason for Russia to maintain the pretexts behind their buildup along the border with Ukraine. Accordingly, at midnight on 22 February 2022, Operation Polina was launched.

This scenario is set several hours into the invasion. The 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, having pushed past Ukrainian Border Guards several hours earlier, reaches the first lines of major Ukrainian resistance just as the sun begins to rise.

Here, the Russian Marines' motto of "There, Where We Go, There is Victory!" would be tested.

[Karagin]

Originally Posted by MarkSheppard

This is a simple assault scenario. I haven't playtested it that throroughly; so don't invest too much of your time to it. If you're having difficulties; just quit and let me know if it's too hard or whatnot.

The Ukrainian ATGMs are doing an amazing job of stopping the Russian's dead cold, three run-throughs, and three times I have lost more APC/Armor to Javelins, etc...than I think I have seen happen before.

Also, the onboard artillery stays in a set fire pattern for several turns and doesn't show up in the bombardment artillery control window to allow me to adjust things forward or pick new areas for them. I have to move them to regain control.

Snowdrifts are a ton of fun at stopping things as well since trying to keep the woods between the armor and the ATGM teams sounded like a grand idea...and then I meet snowdrifts.

[MarkSheppard]

Originally Posted by Karagin

The Ukrainian ATGMs are doing an amazing job of stopping the Russian's dead cold, three run-throughs, and three times I have lost more APC/Armor to Javelins, etc...than I think I have seen happen before.

I might need to "dial back" the Javelin teams a bit, whether in reducing their numbers or their morale/experience...or adding more Russian artillery.

Also, the onboard artillery stays in a set fire pattern for several turns and doesn't show up in the bombardment artillery control window to allow me to adjust things forward or pick new areas for them. I have to move them to regain control.

That's my fault. I tried programming in a pre-programmed barrage to try and keep the Ukrainians suppressed. I guess do a turn 0 Bombardment and then leave it up to the player?

[Karagin]

Not sure about the need to reduce their numbers, the morale/experience side might be better to go with.

The Russian artillery...tricky, having them blast away is good, but not being able to adjust once you get close to the trenches and such, yeah I am not big on Friendly Fire.

Maybe split the SP Arty into some onboard and some offboard with the offboard being the continuous firing set.

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by MarkSheppard

This is a simple assault scenario. I haven't playtested it that throroughly; so don't invest too much of your time to it. If you're having difficulties; just quit and let me know if it's too hard or whatnot.

Interestingly, Russia crushed Georgia in March of 2008. Today, is the 11th of February.

I know this scenario is a what/if, and we know MarkSheppard has given us thoughtful scenarios; please allow me to say, I can't see Russian Naval Infantry (marines) taking on Ukrainian army units; Marines are light forces with "beer and ammo" for maybe 72 hours max.

I'd buy the marines pushing aside border guards and other militia volunteers to permit an unhampered and rapid Russian heavy units follow through; with the marines protecting the flanks and rear of a regular army advance.

Thanks for sharing; and, thanks for patience.

[Aeraaa]

It was August 2008* when the Ossetian war happened.


*(officially on the 8th, which was also when the Bejing Olympics of 2008 started, although hostilities started since August 1)

[MarkSheppard]

Originally Posted by shahadi

I know this scenario is a what/if, and we know MarkSheppard has given us thoughtful scenarios; please allow me to say, I can't see Russian Naval Infantry (marines) taking on Ukrainian army units; Marines are light forces with "beer and ammo" for maybe 72 hours max.

Russian Naval Infantry isn't your normal naval infantry.

I created this scenario based off a twitter thread that identified vehicles of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade on trains:

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1481968626701934592

T-80BV
MT-LB
BMP-3

Some further work identified the main OOB of the 155th NIB as being:

155th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade
---59th Separate Naval Infantry Battalion
---84th Naval Infantry Separate tank battalion -- 4 companies of tanks plus 1 or 2 tanks for BN HQ.
---263rd Separate Artillery Battery (6 x 2S9 Nona?)
---1484th Separate Communications Battalion

A Naval Infantry Battalion is:

HHC Supply/Medical/Maint/Comms units
3 x Naval Infantry Companies
1 x Mortar Platoon
1 x AT Platoon

I didn't have precise numbers on how the 155th's 59th NIB was equipped, so I gave them 1 x BMP-3 Co and 2 x MT-LB Co; because even in 2022; Russia has only 700 x BMP-3 in service; and a single BMP-3 company has 13 of them; ergo, Russia can only deploy about 50 companies of BMP-3s.

EDIT: Looking at Wiki, my guess was right:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Naval_Infantry

The Russian Naval Infantry have been gradually phasing out PT-76 amphibious tanks, and started to receive a number of T-80s and upgraded BMP-2Ms.[26][27] A full-strength Naval Infantry Brigade may have up to 70-80 Tanks. The Russian Naval Infantry has 50 T-72B, 150 T-72B3, 30 T-72B3 mod. 2016, 50 T-80BV and 50 T-80BVM as of 2021. The APCs used by the Naval Infantry are either wheeled BTR-80s (in Assault Landing Battalions) or tracked MT-LBs (in Marine Battalions). Naval Infantry units are receiving BMP-3 IFVs and about 40 have been delivered in 2021.[28] BMP-3s may equip one company per Marine battalion.

[Crueldwarf]

For whatever reason I do not have victory locations displayed or placed in this scenario.