Another CWC game. It looks like my terrain, and our last game, has attracted a bit of attention in our club. This time, I'm playing as umpire and introducing the game to 2 players. Setting is in the wake of last week's battle, just after the setback suffered by the French 7th Armored Division. Once again, all units and places are fictionnal. Thanks to Stephane (Soviet commander) and Jeff (French) who bore with my fumbling umpiring and my obvious lack of command of the rules.

The map

As the shattered remains of the 71st Cuirs and 32nd Dragons Portes were pulling back from Ottagen, command of teh 7th Armored Division was facing the unenviable task of preventing elements of the 352nd Motorized Rifles Division from reaching the road hub of Bad-Schwimmenburg. Orders were then given to stop the enemy at any cost before the L_indenberg, whose possession would allow them to hold an excellent observation post over Bad-Schwimmenburg. The main battle tanks of the 88th Hussars, and what was left of the 32nd Dragons were tasked with this mission. And Gazelles HOT were diverted from less urgebnt missions to compensate the stupendous losses suffered. As these forces were still arriving and occupying their positions, the van of the 352nd made contact at 1000.

French Force :

1 CO cv  10

1 HQ cv  9
12 x AMX30B2

1 QG valeur 9
7 x AMX10P
6 x Régulars + APILAS
1 x  Milan 2

2 x Gazelle HOT

After their success at Ottagen, the 352nd Motorized Division could recover some of the forces that had been damaged or left behind in their advance. A strengthened company had just completed their BMP battalion, and another tank company was now in the depelted T62 battalion,  these had fired all their ATGMs, so both companies went into battle with their main guns only. STAVKA however has scrambled everything available to reinforce them. THe battered 978th Guards had been replaced by the 275th Guards, equipped with T72, freshly released from the GMO. A company of BRDM Spandrels, supported by BRDMs Gaskins, were detached tod provide long range missile support, and 2 batteries of SAU 122mm Gvodzika were attached to this force.

Russian force
CO cv 9

HQ cv 8
9 x T72 M

HQ cv 8
6 x T62 E

HQ cv 8
10 x BMP1
10 x Conscrits + RPG7
2 x Mortars 120mm
2 x MT-LB

HQ cv 8
2 x BRDM Spandrel
2 x BRDM SAM13 Gaskin

2 x SAU122 Gvodzika + 2 HE assets per battery

3 general views of the table.

Terrain is typically center Europe, lots of gentle hills and woods. The dominating feature is the Lindenberg, which overlooks all approaches from the East. In the north, the small but deep Milchsee, and enclosed fields, come in the way of any attack. Just in fron, of the Lindenberg, a less high but wooded hill provides some cover for supporting fire for an assault on the Lindenberg. The MBTs of the 88th took position on the Lindennberg, while the 32nd DP were setting themselves under the cover of Michstadt and the enclosd fields east of it. Taking advantage of the high spire of the church town, a Milan team took the northern road under its tubes. A company of tanks was kept in reserve.

Deployment and initial intentions

The Dragon Portes take position in Milchstadt

French MBTs on the Lindenberg

At 1405, the first artillery salvoes shattered the ground in the vicinity of Klein's farm, but with no damage inflicted. In their wake, the Soviet attack started, BRDMs leading the way. A failed transmission caused the T72 of the 275th Guards to lag beind , putting the T62s of the 352nd MRD in the van, while BMPs were going on three axes around the hill west of Wohn. At 1410, tanks of the 88th Hussars caught sight of  BMPs traveling on road over the hill east of Kleinsdorf, and opened fire, causing severe casualties and taking out 2 platoons. At 1412, another BMP platoon was spotted, and destroyed, by Milans fired from Michstadt.

1 2 BMPs killed by AMX30
2 1 BMP killed by Milans

my new smoke palls to mark brewed up armour

BMps pay a heavy price

These losses appeared to cause some confusion in the soviet command. While the artillery was still landing hopelessly off target,the T62s halted their advance, allowing the T72 to catch up at the foot of the central wooded hill. BMPs, unsure of themselves, were stopped in the street of Kleinsdorf, and going round the hill north of this village, while some 120 mortars were at last opening up on the Milan position in Milschstadt, to no avail. As the these missile teams could at last spot the 275th T72 just beyond the hill, they started taking them under  fire, causing some confusion and delays among them. More confusion was added by 2 Gazlle flights, which made an appearace at 1420, but this did not stop the Guards from reaching the foot of the hill.

The French reaction throws the Soviets into confusion. 1&2 : ATGW fired at T72

At 1425, a semblance of order was restored in the Soviet force, while mortars were keeping a sustained fire on Milchstadt. The 275th escalated the slope and entered the woods on top of the hill, while BMPs from the 352nd Division were gathering under the shelter of the hills east of Milchstadt. Once more however, the T62s of that Division were milling around, as no orders were transmitted to them from command.  At 1428, the BRDMs Spandrel at last set up a firing position, raking the Lindenberg with their missiles, and destroying a platoon of AMX 30 B2 on that hill. Nonetheless, the reserve company was committed, and orders were given to converge AMX 10Ps platoons into an adhoc force to face off the BMP threat in the north. Gazelles, vectored in against these BMPs, failed to cause significant damage as they were caught under fire by the Gaskins.

Soviet forces mass for a two pronged attack : Tanks in the center, BMPs in the North.

1 Gazelle driven off by Gaskins
2 HOTs fail to stop BMPs
Reserve committed NE of Milchstadt

At 1432, while the task force of MBts and AMX 10Ps was at last arrayed to stop the northern prong of the attack on Milchstadt, the tanks of the 275th Guards emerged from the woods to take the Lindenberg under their guns, and the T62s of the 352nd Division were driving around the east side of that hill to bring their guns to bear. Fire from the 88th Hussars, and from the Milans in Milchstadt, severely disrupted their fire, and limited Hussar losses to a single platoon of MBTs destroeyd by long range Spandrel fire. The intervention of 2 flights of Gazelles, however, was decisive, despite the loss of several helicopters to the Soviet SAMs. Their action, relayed by the Milchstadt ATGMs and the guns of the 88th caused more than 50% losses among the 275th Guards, effectively halting the attack on the Lindenberg. In front of the losses, and losing hope to overrun the French defence, the Soviet Commander issued orders to withdraw at 1440.

Soviet attack is stopped.

1/ Gazelle shot down, Spandrels kill 1 AMX 30
 2 Concentrated fire kills 5 T72

Sustained opportunity kills two platoons as they emerge from the woods. Only 2 T72 can answer, but 3 more will be destroyed by the French...

ATGM fire kills an AMX platoon, but the Soviet T72 are so disrupted they can just damage, but not suppress another.