ArmyArmies scenario 2 PAUvs Southpaws, Probe at Harrisond Ford.

Now we move on to the next scenario. Ambushes are always meat grinders. I had to put, oh my platonic platoon of purveyors, some thought into interpreting the table. Problem is I have 2 ways to go, rectangular 27” (tiles are 9/18”) wide or my 36” square tabletop. I decided to go with a dense table with bugger all maneuver room for the vehicles, which are presumed to be hull & power down at the start of the game. Tony used lots of markers, every other letter was a proper unit.

Here we go. All the vehicle & infantry bumph can be found on earlier posts. Note on trees and plants, models are representative of type & density rather than exact representation as in some other games.

The Scenario.

For a change the PAU/British are on the attack in this mission. A road runs along the middle of table, in the centre there is a bridge crossing a small river. The river has steep banks and can only crossed by vehicles using the bridge. Infantry on foot can attempt to cross the river, by wading. To do this move to bank roll 1 D6 on 5 or 6 not fordable at that point. Need to full at least half a move along bank to attempt the crossing. There should be a least 3 building in area of the bridge. Place rest of terrain as required on rest of table.

PAU/British Briefing

Situation

Contact has been made with enemy at various points. Orders have come from higher to move to alternate position. The battalion has now formed a battlegroup, with the attachment of 1 squadron of armour. Radio Silence has now been lifted. The Battlegroup will be moving out shortly. Your platoon has been tasked with carrying a recce of the route to the new position

Your Troops for this mission

Your Troops.

1 Mechanised Platoon HQ in FV432 - (5 men - Senior Officer, 2IC, 1 light mortar, 1 medic, 1 Comms swapped for command car)

3 X Mechanised Infantry Sections - 3x FV432 (8 men) SLR, GPMG, Carl Gustav)

1 Armour Troop - x3 Chieftains (swapped for armoured cars)

Battlegroup mortars are not available.

Mission Clear the route for the Battlegroup

Deployment

Player choses chose which edge he come in on. Must start of on a Road or track. Must stay in vehicles until enemy is sited or come under fire which ever happens first.

NB If you have not purchased the Mechanised Start pack, assume that Bn Reece has warned of enemy in the area and your troops have debussed from 432. Still enter by road or track.

Southpaw/Soviet Briefing

Comrade. So far the landings have been successful. It is now time to spring an ambush. Move your platoon to the area of the bridge. Prevent the enemy from escaping that way. You have D30 bty on call.

Your Troops

1 Mechanised Platoon HQ in FV432 - (5 men - Senior Officer, 2IC, 1 medic, 1 comms, 1 sniper)

3 X Mechanised Infantry Sections - 3x BMD-1 (6 men) AK, RPK, RPG)

1 Armour Troop - x3 ASU-85

As last week but without the vehicle riders.

Mission

Hold the bridge at all costs.

Deployment.

At least 2 sections of Infantry are to be in position near the bridge, the remainder can be off table waiting call. The can enter at any table edge on your side of the river. All must come on at same point but not at same time. If you do not need the reserve, then it is better no to call them on.

Victory Conditions

Holding the bridge 5 Victory points

Not calling for reserve is an additional 3 victory points if Southpaw/Soviet player is holding bridge at end of game.

The Game

As Tony was ensconced, I started. Chose to do a fairly quick advance hoping to get over the ford with vehicles supported by infantry wading across either flank and keeping one infantry section back as a mobile reserve.

Once spotted, my scouts were locked into a KO battle that saw them all scrapped bar one of mine. With most of the missiles gone the tank made a move, took out an (empty) APC before stalking and killing the last scout. Mention in dispatches the one IFV Tony used that got stunned, but managed to shrug everything else off including an aimed shot point blank buzzbomb. Then it woke up and minced my waders. That allowed waves of infantry to come in and cheese them.

In the centre this looks mad, advancing troops against this much armour, but it was either dead or stunned. Tony again had to rely on throwing infantry at me. But that's how we see these guys MO.

I just couldn't handle the infantry, perhaps I should have advanced my other unit into the middle to spread the pain.

I got my command with 3 survivors hanging on, a full APC. Ouch.

Flying Lead ArmysArmy scenarios 1 of 3 PAU vs Southpaws

“Sir” - “Yes lad”, “This gun barrel, Sir” - “Yes lad”, “it's empty Sir!” “Gad, it's been rifled!”

That very nice chap at ArmysArmy has got a friend with experience to write up some scenarios on the conventional World War in the 80's most of us were expecting.

In the finest traditions of wargamers everywhere I have acquired and adapted. Also by tradition I have started in the middle. I'd echo his request for a donation, there is no free lunch here.

I don't have the relevant forces, but we have two mid-tech that can be utilised for you entertainment and enjoyment. So – stand by your knees, paint pot white in left hand, brush 4” right. Aaaaatenshun!

Mission 2

This is a defence mission, again set in the early hours of the Soviet invasion. In the middle of the table, 4 small woods separated by cross tracks. The rest of the table place terrain as desired.

British/PAU Briefing

Situation

The Battalion is still in the Active Edge area. Radio Silence is still in force. Reports have come in of contacts on neighbouring units.

Your Troops for this mission.

1 Mechanised Platoon HQ in FV432 - (5 men - Senior Officer, 2IC, 1 light mortar, 1 medic, 1 Comms)

3 X Mechanised Infantry Sections - 3x FV432 (8 men) SLR, GPMG, Carl Gustav)

(My APC's are different, but as only one missed shot in whole game-ignore)

Your platoon is tasked with defending a wooded area that has been designated Battalion refuelling point. The tracks give good access and the woods provide overhead cover. You have now been position for several hours and a phone line has been completed to Battalion HQ. Fuel trucks have not arrived. Stand to has been and gone so your platoon is on rest with fire positions manned.

Attachments

You have no attachments. Bn Mortars are in prepared position and recently completed a line check and are on call if required.

Enemy Troops

Still unconfirmed but is believed that a large number of paratroops are now operating within our Area of Operation

Mission

Your platoon is to defend the woods, when POL trucks arrive inform BN HQ.

Deployment

All troops start dug in position within the 4 woods. Player can occupy as many as he chooses. Because Radio silence is still in force Platoon Leader must be in base contact with unit to change its orders. He can choose to break Radio Silence but costs victory points. The phone line runs to the original position of Platoon HQ. If Platoon HQ moves from that position telephone contact is lost until they return to that position. (I used command vehicle to represent secure coms)

Soviet/Southpaw Briefing

Situation

Comrade our landings have been successful. We must now must spread out and cause disruption within our area of operations. In the past the enemy have been seen using the woods marked. The role has changed but HQ is convinced that they will attempt to use them.

Artillery is prepped and will give you support. (ASU available if purchased)

Your Troops for this Mission

1 Mechanised Platoon HQ in FV432 - (5 men - Senior Officer, 2IC, 1 medic, 1 comms, 1 sniper)

(Debussed, infiltrated, SO, Sniper, SAW, 2 troopers)

3 X Mechanised Infantry Sections - 3x BMD-1 (6 men) AK, RPK, RPG)

(2 IFV's, Officer, 4 infantry, SAW)

1 Armour Troop - x3 ASU-85

(2 scout, 2 infantry each, MBT close support gatling railgun, riders Officer, 4 infantry, SAW)

Your mission is to capture the woods and prepare an ambush position the woods.

Deployment

Player choice of table edge to come in from, 1^st move brings him on to table. If Mechanised must be in vehicles

Victory Condition

The player who is holding all 4 woods at end of game gains 5 victory points.

British Player Breaking Radio Silence -2 Victory points

The Game

This is the largest such game we've done. Normally we plan to comfortably complete in our 4 hour time limit.

I took my PAU & Tony his Southpaws. I set up in the woods, a unit in each. Left me fairly stretched out.

Tony decided to roll for it, which seems sensible as a breakthrough on either flank is possible. As it was, he came on from my front. I had plenty of opportunity and reactions (you can imagine teams working to launch as many missiles as possible). I got some lucky shots, stopped but not destroyed both scouts and an IFV but not their crew of fighters, alas.

So first blood to me. My 1^st squad (no coms- not something we'd have considered) sent a runner back to HQ and the 2ic made his way forward (as a spotter for the mortar). Which was fortunate, as the first wave of Southpaws (proper Rus tactics, run in shooting) having used the scout for cover came dashing in. Their shooting took out the officer and SAW. A couple ran after the officer died and the launcher managed to get away. First, the only survivor, the 2ic got knocked down, then he had a brawl with a trooper while everyone else watched. The rear unit had advanced in a combat patrol but failed to enter the woods, which lost them the initiative and saw them attacked in turn.

On the other flank the remaining IFV laid down a withering storm of fire on my other forward unit, leaving only a mopping up operation for the infantry. As my SAW was shaken (suppressed if you prefer, we represent this by turning the figure around) they proved easy meat.

So that was it, I'd lost a lot of infantry, Tony lost recoverable vehicles. My command would be capable of getting away, as did my APC's. Hopefully someone would stop the fuel tankers!

"Sir, contact forward"

Command and Scouts move up