Scenario: Turkey's Lightening Shield Operation

[SaS TrooP]

I enjoyed story-like intro and approached it the way you wanted, so focused on tactics and cautious NATO approach. Here is how I done it:

Task Force HQ deployed on hill just north of town, with highest point of 71 I think
Company HQ deployed near Roman Catholic Church, not to risk the chain of command
Weapons Unit was first to combat enemy troops, that in a moment, deployed in a northern part of the ridge line
Mortar platoon deployed northwest of town
Platoon 1 deployed circa 400m south of Agricultural Labs, in the small treeline
Platoon 2 deployed in hedgerows around Agricultural Labs
Platoon 3 split in line over first three crossroads in town
Platoon 3 Weapons Squad exclusively deployed with TF HQ
Ranger element maintained full mobility

Now, After Action Report:
All units were deployed as above: my concept was to fight Syrians off with typical delaying action and deployment so units could cover each other. AirCav element was to delay, while Ranger attachment was to search for enemy mortars that yes, were discovered quickly.
Weapons Platoon was first to tackle the enemy. I have deployed them on the ridge yet when smoke was up to provide great protection for my Milan troops. Milans fired all 8 missiles, out of which 7 were accurate. I have managed to eliminate most of heavy armour at this point. They have received only limited mortar fire, but only one salvo and luckily, no one was even wounded. I have then evacuated Milans and left snipers on the ridge to annoy and delay enemy even more.
In so called meantime, Ranger platoon too a strong flanking to the south and landed on a farm, around 500 metres away from mortar positions. I was cautious at first (what delayed me and endangered Weapons Platoon), but then I decided to rush, especially seeing no proper protection for then and took all of the mortars in 3 turns, AA defence and their vehicles and - surprisingly! - enemy HQ unit I was absolutely not expecting there. I have departed shortly after.
Later on, enemy started to climb on the ridge. Infantry was picked one by one by friendly snipers, then my mortars started to fire as well. Enemy vehicles had to be destroyed: I was first reluctant to use Milans as BTRs were to come and I was most worried about these, but when Shortlands engaged my choppers I had no other way. I took out several vehicles on that ridge with circa 90% efficiency and kept enemy units away by using only my M2s and AGLs for fire. Around turn 10, Rangers landed on the southern part of the ridge to cover the road and I had majority of my troops targeting open field and cooperating closely with mortars and choppers, hovering and helping with their board weapons (snipers took care of ATGM teams, there was only 1 Kornet launch that luckily failed).
My troops were nearly not shot at, there was only one stressful situation. I avoided any engagement in range below 400 metres to keep my advantage.
By that, I mean by turn 20, Syrians still had like 10 BTRs operable but still climbing on the ridge, my AT ammunition was done (Milans only), majority of enemy unit was in retreat.
Syrian echelon was destroyed in at least 75%, having only around 100 troops and around 10 BTRs alive. Exact Syrian losses were: 342 men, 12 mortar tubes, 6 Ural trucks, 15 APCs (Shortland, BTR-152, BTR-60), 9 tanks (6x T-55AMV, 3x T-62MV)

On the Turkish side, for entire battle only 2 helicopters got damaged and had to evacuate, however they were not in grave danger. No wounded of fatalities occurred so entire casualty rate is 0 (zero). In points, it was 5917:5

Nice and interesting scenario, could have been a bit longer so Syrians would try to enter this town anyway. This would be more dramatic and I would have to go low-tech and engage with M72s. I am also surprised this element did not dispose air support as F-4/16s, AirCav should be usually protected.
However I did not enjoy Highway A01 Ambush, this scenario was absolutely nice and I would await continuation.

[Kenny]

Thanks for the scenario,Shahadi.

I got a marginal victory from the Turkish side,5200+ to 1200+ for the Syrians. IMO the helicopters were the star of this show. I was careful in their defensive usage(losing only to two them to the Koronet weapon late in the scenario)and they took a heavy toll on the Syrian infantry. Almost a turkey shoot for the Milan III against the Syrian armor. The MK19 GL is also a game changer in modern warfare against ground troops.

[shahadi]

Originally Posted by Kenny

Thanks for the scenario,Shahadi.

I got a marginal victory from the Turkish side,5200+ to 1200+ for the Syrians. IMO the helicopters were the star of this show. I was careful in their defensive usage(losing only to two them to the Koronet weapon late in the scenario)and they took a heavy toll on the Syrian infantry. Almost a turkey shoot for the Milan III against the Syrian armor. The MK19 GL is also a game changer in modern warfare against ground troops.

Yeah, well other guys used the helos to fight as well. So, I'm going to replace the AB-412's with Pumas as the Pumas do not have a weapons loadout. Try it again changing the AB-412's to Pumas in the deploy phase. I think you'll find the gameplay a lot more fun.

Thanks man for the response!

[Mustang]

I am also surprised this element did not dispose air support as F-4/16s, AirCav should be usually protected.

Great AAR. I think the idea is that this starts out as a very limited operation into Syria and the Turks don't want to escalate by sending in fast air assets. If you do that you risk drawing attention to the operation and having to conduct a huge SEAD operation. This is plausible, in 1991 the US deployed some helos to take out air defenses before the main air war began.

[Mustang]

5136 to 936 this time, minor victory.

I went for three forces this time: one in the town, one on the northern hills and one to take out the mortars on foot. The mortar group took the heaviest losses and I lost a few squads there. The northern group took out most of the tanks but I didn't control their ammo carefully enough. Still, none of the T-62s ever came into range of the town and one was even immobilized by mortars.

The rest of the battle pretty much played itself and the Syrian infantry took heavy losses. It surprises me how SaS was able to get a decisive victory but maybe I'm just a noob. Well balanced scenario. More please!

[SaS TrooP]

I was fighting "Over the range", this means mainly AGLs and M2s were in use and I avoided direct inf to inf firefights. Add absolutely OP snipers in this game (in every PBEM I forbid my opponents to use them and same I do) and we have a slaughterhouse. Helis were nearly not in combat besides mortars, where they helped infantry so all just went quicker. No choppers were used on the ridge, they were occasionaly returning fire with little effect.
Basically, did what modern armies do: I havent given Syrians a chance to actually return fire :P

[Mustang]

Good plan. When I do that though my MGs are spotted pretty quick. I guess if I put the effort into micromanagement I could reveal/withdraw the units every turn so the enemy didn't have a chance to shoot.

[shahadi]

After reading this thread, I've created a formation to provide protection to the Syrian mortars. Unfortunately, it is not working well, as the vehicles remain in place, but the infantry sections leave their posts to join in the fight! What the heck.

So, I've researched Reaction Turns and in particular Reaction Turn setting 98. Unfortunately, it has not given me the desired result of keeping the infantry sections in place. So, I'm still working to implement this suggestion to give the mortars protection.

Tonight, I'll add the Priority Fire hex on the foothills as suggested in this thread.

Solutions please!

[Mustang]

The BTRs are already quite effective and annoying. But you can try placing infantry in bunkers or whatever, or mount them onto a truck, so that they pop out when their carrying vehicle is destroyed. You can also arm the mortar units themselves or create special mortar units that only carry direct fire weapons.

[EJ]

Overall GOOD scenario. I set my units in ambush along the ridge with atgms off along nearby hills to take out armor. I then sent a couple of helos along the south ridge to come up on the syrians flanks to decimate their mortars. If you want to encourage players NOT to use the helos in the fight set a victory condition like; LOSE 2 helos AUTOMATIC DEFEAT!