Area of operations. The previous action was to the northeast of here. |
Across the canal, June 31st 1981
General
Briefing
The rapid Warpac offensive has caught
many NATO units still forming up although reinforcements have brought units up
to their wartime strengths in many places. South of the Mitelland canal en
route to Braunschweig, 3rd Shock Army has been delayed by an
intensive programme of demolitions and desperate resistance from Bundeswehr
screening forces. The two leading Divisions found the bridges over the canal
demolished and prepared to cross before NATO reinforcements could intervene.
British
briefing
4th AD is operating in advance of the
rest of the BAOR. The failure of the enemy to bounce the canal at Braunchsweig gives some hope that the
canal line can be held. TF Golf is engaging enemy forces to the NE of Braunschweig,
and TF Hotel has been sent SE as fast as possible to hold the canal line
although it is spread thinly over a 30km frontage. Progress is being hampered
by refugee columns.
There is reasonable RAF and Luftwaffe air
cover, but the priority operation is TF Golf to the NE. TF Hotel has three
battlegroups, one BG is being retained as divisional reserve and the others
sent either side of Braunchsweig. Each is believed to be facing an entire Tank
Division.
Prevent the enemy crossing the canal
and destroy any bridgeheads they may establish.
Forces
(D6, regular morale
unless indicated otherwise)
BG
Charlie Hotel, TF Hotel,
4th Armoured Div
BGHQ, 1 x mortar battery, 1 x Milan
troop, 1 x recce troop (Scimitar)
1 x Chieftan Squadron, 3 x Mech Inf Co
(FV432)
1 x battery of Abbot in DS
Doctrinally BGs break down into 2-3
combat teams.
Balanced (1 x Mech Inf, 1 x Chieftan)
combat teams from BG Alpha Hotel may be available in the event of a major
breakthrough.
Heimatschutzen companies are holding the bridge sites
at Wedheim and Braunschweig (D12, morale poor) with the remains of the German
recce screen (1 x Luchs, D8, good) patrolling.
1 x battery of M109 in General Support (one turn delay).
1 x section of Harriers and 1 x section of Lynx
may be available for ground support.
Enter from the north or west edge on
or adjacent to roads.
Warpac
briefing
The leading tank regiment of the
division approached the canal east of Braunchsweig to find that the bridges
over the Mittelland Canal had been demolished and it had insufficient infantry
to force a crossing. The divisional BMP
regiment has been brought up to sieze a bridgehead and maintain the advance. Light German forces are covering the bridge
sites and air recce reports enemy mechanised columns approaching from the NW.
Cross the canal and establish a
bridgehead.
Bridge the canal and resume the
advance west with tank formations.
Forces
(D8, regular morale
unless indicated otherwise)
200 GMRR(+), 12th GTD, Cat I
RHQ: 1 x Mech HQ, 1 x recce Co, 2 x
Engineer Co, 1 x AA Co, 1 x GW Co
1 x Tank Bn (T62): 2 x tank Co ea
3 x Motor Rifle Bn (2 x BMP Co)
1 x SP Arty Bn, 2 x SP 122mm how, 1 x
Btty HQ
1 x SP Arty Bn (SP 122mm): 2 x SP 122,
1 x Btty HQ attached from Tank Regt.
2 x Mi 24 Hind and 2 x Su-17 Fitter available
each turn.
1 x Air assault Bn (2 x para, 1 x Mi 8
helicopter) - pre-plan the drop
48 GTR (elements)
3 x Tank Bn (T64)
1 x Eng Co, 1 x AA Co, RHQ
Set up on or SE of the road from the
Autobahn to Groscal. Tank Regt in reserve.
Terrain
Villages and towns provide concealment
and cover (-1 to hit), woods provide concealment.
Hills are rolling and not an obstacle
to movement, stationary units may find concealment on them. Much of
Braunchsweig has been demolished as an AT obstacle.
Weather
The weather is good.
Umpires
notes
Game length - until we get bored.
Really it should be four hours (16 turns).
Airpower: draw a card for each aircraft
each turn (if not on table)
Any but spades = Soviet available from
readiness.
Any black = Lynx available from
readiness.
Black picture card = Harrier available
from readiness.
Once a strike is launched, planes
return to airfield, need a card to rearm and move to readiness. They need
another card to attack. SU-17s always attack when card comes up, others may
choose to and helos can loiter.
VLB as per engineering rules. BMPs
cross the canal as one engineering action.
May repair a damaged bridge with one
engineering action, to bridge the canal otherwise takes two.
Refugees delay entry, each road not
possible turn 1, turn 2 5+, turn 3 3+, turn 4 OK.