CCCP vs NATO long campaign (1948-1991)

[-Luc-]

Hi,

Location: Stadthagen;
Date: 1948/11;
Enemy: Great Britain;
Mission: Meeting;
Visibility: 15;
Turns: 90;

No big change in my TO&E:

After some reading on this site, I chose an SMG section for every infantry platoon...

Unfortunately, no air support available.

Map of battlefield:



Soviet forces:



Main forces will follow the east-west road to te first village.

A second group, smaller, will capture and defend the village in the south.

The departure city will be strengthened and artillery will stay there.

Our objectif: Capture the first village and the central hills.

After that, we will see...

Thank you,

-Luc-

[-Luc-]

Hi,

FIRST CONTACT! Turn 5:

UK scout cars (Lynx) are discovered in the first town.

Our T-34/85 destroy them quickly... and wait for infantry support.



Turn 6-9:

Our tanks and infantry move foward.

Few gunned scout cars (Staghound) are destoyed and ennemy infantry are discovered.

Soviet soldiers take defensive position along the road.

The 76mm and 82mm shells begin to fall on the enemy.

BAD SURPRISE! A Centurion MK2!



Our best tankcrew ( Major Baturin) move to the south, taking advantage of the topography, to ambush the tank.

The enemy tank is far superior than ours but... from the side, we still have a chance.

I'm a little bit nervous...

Thank you,

-Luc-

[-Luc-]

Hi,

Turn 10-15:

The ambush works well, it allows the destruction of two Centurions MK2.

However, many others appear on the front line at close range; we are quickly overwhelmed.

***

Soviet second group sized the small village in the south of the map.

UK 3 inchs motars start firing and we put our 152mm D-1 on them.



UK tanks are superior: their frontal armor resist to the regular AP round of ours T-34/85s.

With only 6 special round in our tanks, the situation become quickly critical...

We have to retreat in the city and ambush these tanks with RPGs!

Unfortunately, things will be different.

During an harsh fight, we lose successively our PT-34 and 2 T-34/85s.

Some Crowells appears on the hill! Hopefully, one of our last 2 tanks take care of them.

Major Baturin try to destroy some Centurion but its dificult...



Thank you,

-Luc-

[-Luc-]

Hi,

Turn 16-28:

After fierce fighting, UK tanks are burning and infantry is routed.

Our infantry, espacially our engineers with flamethrower and satchels, were very brave and efficient.

Unfortunately, we lost 2 SMG sections and the hero of the Soviet Union, Major Baturin.

After that, we can regroup move forward.



Some units are met and destroyed easily.

SURPRISE! UK HQ on the road again! It's not the first time...



We toke care of them...

Thank you,

-Luc-

[Paderborn]

Hi Luc

I'm really enjoying your campaign and especially appreciate the inclusion of screenshots! Paderborn

[-Luc-]

Hi,

Turn 29-END

In our progress towards the 3 village, a Churchill tank threat Soviet forces that have almost no AT munitions.



Fortunately, the infantry succeeded in eliminating the tank.

Another Churchill appear to our southern flank but falls into an ambush prepared by ours engineers.

This is a bad surprise for the soviets who are exhausted.

****

Meanwhile, a few infantry units attacked the village to the southeast. They are easily destroyed.

The decision to bring the T-34/85 BTU as reinforcements on the main front is taken.

It will be a good decision...

***

THE CENTRAL HILL IS UNDER ATTACK!!!



The situation is critical... 2 Centurion MKII.

A White scout car is lost and soviet forces retreat.

This is a big threat, we have to reorganise ourself fast!

We plot an ambush with what we have...

***

After fierce fighting, and some losses, the enemy is destroyed and the victory is ours.





That was a good fight!

Thank you,

-Luc-

[-Luc-]

Hi,

ANALYSIS:

UK forces were better organized than others.

They had:
- RECCE elements;
- Good and mordern armored force (Centurion MK2);
- Infantry support;
- Artillery support (3 inches mortars, 40mm AA guns);

Their strategy was not bad et well executed.

The combination tank-infantry-mortars caused most of my losses early in the game.

Their reserve forces (Churchills) was an unpleasant surprise ...

Their Centurion are better than our T-34/85. They are practically invulnerable from the front while our tanks cant resist to their main gun. This is a real problem... I want to change them, but by what... IS-3? I have important choices to do for the next battle.

Their infantry was not bad but inferior to our. 1 SMG section per platoon was a good idea. Unfortunatly they all died. We can say that our infantry saved us by destroying many tanks with RPG-6 AT genades, satchel charges and flamethrower. The addition of the RPG-2 in 1949 will be much appreciated. Our enginneers were very brave and effective. The problem of coordination between tanks and infantry remains. I think I should carry some units on the tanks to be have them on the front at the right time. Is it a good idea? Until we get BTRs, I see no better choice.

Our Regimental 152mm D-1 worked very well; they eliminated 2 of 3 mortars in CB fire. I realised that our 76mm Zis-3 FG are not enought powerfull. I'll probably change them for the 122mm M-30. Untill now, I am satisfied with my mortars.

I think adding a reserve platoon to liberate my regular forces...

Despite my modest losses, the battle was difficult.

Thank you,

-Luc

[Suhiir]

Originally Posted by -Luc-

Their infantry was not bad but inferior to our. 1 SMG section per platoon was a good idea. Unfortunatly they all died. We can say that our infantry saved us by destroying many tanks with RPG-6 AT genades, satchel charges and flamethrower. The addition of the RPG-2 in 1949 will be much appreciated. Our enginneers were very brave and effective. The problem of coordination between tanks and infantry remains. I think I should carry some units on the tanks to be have them on the front at the right time. Is it a good idea? Until we get BTRs, I see no better choice.

Infantry riding tanks works fine till the tanks receive fire, then the infantry gets hit hard as they have no cover at all. Don't place infantry on the lead tank, when it's fired on the rest know it is time to unload their infantry.

[-Luc-]

Hi,

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Infantry riding tanks works fine till the tanks receive fire, then the infantry gets hit hard as they have no cover at all. Don't place infantry on the lead tank, when it's fired on the rest know it is time to unload their infantry.

And... on which tank do you think they should ride?

T-44 was a transition tank built in very small number.

T-54-1 was full of technical problems and was never fielded.

IS-3 is the last option but I dont really like heavy tanks for many reasons...

Maybe they have a good protection, but they are slow and dont have a lot of ammos.

I'll do some experiments tonigt.

Thank you,

-Luc-

[gila]

Originally Posted by Suhiir

Infantry riding tanks works fine till the tanks receive fire, then the infantry gets hit hard as they have no cover at all. Don't place infantry on the lead tank, when it's fired on the rest know it is time to unload their infantry.

Little wonder,on why desant infrantry was deemed not a good idea anymore when the guns got to 90-120mm.