Cold War Gamer

Andy

Well if the Summer was hot on the release front the Autumn has been bubbling along nicely as well, a large amount of Cold War goodness has flowed out from a lot of the usual subjects. Its been a great 3 months for the blog as well, thanks for all the support, we went through 150,000 hits and cracked the 10,000 hits in a month ceiling, so without further adoo on with the show.

Figures

Elhiem

Matt has had a busy few months at Elhiem Figures with a number of excellent Ultra Modern and WW2 releases but the pack that got me going are these babies:

Cold War Soviet Weapons, these look like a great addition to Matts Soviet Cold War Range and really start to round it out providing a SA7/14 operator, RPG-26 and Dragunov sniper rifle, depending on the detail of the soviet organisation you are creating and the time fram of your orbat will depend on how many you need, suffice to say for the late 80s units you need a lot. Not yet up on his web site but hopefully not too long to wait now.

Black Dog

Israeli Tank Crew, nice addition to the black dog range and useful for those of you interested in AIW not sure if these hit the time zone for cold war, as I am no a massive expert on what the well dressed israleli tank crew should be waring.

Models

S&S,

Shaun at S&S continues to produce at a ridiculous rate when you think over the last few months he has brought out these and a fair number of additions to the WW2 Range as well as a new range of figures for modern Africa.

The BV 206 is great for NATO's Northern Flank with the Royal Marines or AMF(L) battalions, his 1.2 ton land rover is also useful in this context, although potentially a mite chilly for the Northern flank for the cabriolet version

The M42 looks like a really excellent model from the photos on Shauns site works for early cold war Germans and right through to the end of the period on the Southern flank with the Greeks and the Turks.

The HS30 is a very unusual wagon, useful for early cold war germans (in the days before M113 and Marder) Produced under licence by Hanomag and Henschel and known in german service as the Schutzenpanzer SPZ 12-3, command, artillery op TOW, Milan and Morter Carrier versions were developed. Produced from 1958 -1962, started being replaced by Marder from 1970 although the Germans still had some 758 in service in 1973. Only used by Germany

Shaun's last offer of the autumn period is this very tidy Gamma Goat, useful for US Airborne

on top of all that Shaun has finally got with the information age and set S&S up with a web shop superb

Hobbey Den

Brian at the Hobbey Den knocked out this very nifty and much needed BTR 40 which fills a bit of a gap in the market the only other one to my knowledge being by Liberation

He has also knocked up this rather handy trench

However the big news is that Mat 'O' War is back which is truly brilliant news, fantastic wargaming mat I have had two for over 5 years now and they are as good as the day they were bought. Seen in action below during the Waidhaus Gap game this summer.

ACE

As ever with ACE good news and bad the good news is a BMD 2, the bad is that the recently re released BMP2 seems to have cleared off the shelves already, which is a pity as having built a few now I can state they were a fantastic improvement on the last version.

Airfix

Airfix dropped the Harrier GR3, a really good model bit pricy, recently reviewed on the blog by yours truly. With a picture blow just for good measure. The review post is here

Italetri

They announced the Leopard 1 A4 release in the summer but have done that a few times and not delivered but its now in the stores, looks like I'll be able to finish the Canadians after all.

Vallejo

Vallejo seem to have been quite busy with a range of washes and textured paints, have yet to try any myself or come across anyone else who has.

Books

Tankograd

If your an NVA fan or interested in the BTR 50 and its derivatives this might be right up your street, probably a little focused for most of the wargaming community.

WWW.

Dimanoeverdatenbank

on the Web the return of the massively useful M136 web site I'll update the links on the blog at some stage, they also have a face book page, very handy. Now retitled Military Dateabase or more expressively Dimanoeverdatenbank, either way a superb photo reference of exercises in germany since the 70's

CWG on Facebook

and whilst I am on the Web you can still follow us on Facebook, insane ramblings along with products and links to stuff of interest to the Modern Wargaming community, 66 followers currently and keen to make a 100!

The Winter Magazine

Winter is I suppose one of my favourite times of the year, the long nights and Christmas holiday's make for a lot of Hobby time, which is always good news. I have a few interesting projects on the go which should ensure a reasonable degree of content for the winter magazine which should include.

The final Instalments of the Waidhause Gap
A new scenario Passing the Baton, which pitches 1 Br Corps against 1st German Front from GSFG.
Orbat and TTP articles around Northags deployment, and NATO air Land Battle
Completion of some long standing British Projects

and as its nearly December, have a good one - not sure what the Soviets did about Christmas

Posted with Blogsy

Andy

The Soviet offensive into Southern Germany at Waidhaus erupted in the early hours of the morning of 17 August 1988 with an intense artillery barrarge from the Divisional Artillery Group of 18 Gvardejskij Motostrelkovaja Divizija (18 GvMSD) heavily reinforced from the army artillery regiment of 22 Obchevoyskovaya Armiya (22OA) and coordinated with the fires from the two battalions task organised with the Army Forward detachment 468 Motostrelkovyj Battalion (468 MSB). At about the same time broad band Jamming from the divisions reconnaissance battalion commenced across allied radio frequency bands and airborne jamming of the Gepard and Roland radar frequencies was instigated by Mi 8 PPAs of 199 OVE BU flying in with the air assault group.

The fighter regiments of 131 SAD's 114 IAP rapidly established local air superiority over the Waidhaus battle field to enable Mig 27 and Su 25 Fighter bombers of 236 APIB and 100 ORAE to commence Air Interdiction activities against the the German air defence assets of FlaRgt 200 and FlaRgt 4 located West of the Haggenwald.

Despite the vulnerabilities of the radar equipments on the air defence vehicles and the exposed Red Eye teams in their soft-skin Unimog trucks the skilful deployment of the German air defence assets meant that the initial artillery suppression missions were less than effective. This left a large amount of work for the Fighter Bombers of 236 APIB and 100 ORAE who struggled to gain control of the landing zone for 901 Otdel'nuju Desantno-Shturmovye Batal'on (901 ODShB).

East of the Haggenwald and in close proximity to the advancing armour from 468 MSB the air defence suppression task fell to the Attack Helicopters of 490 Otdel'nyy Boevoy Vertoletnyy Polk (490 OBVP).

The 6 Flights of Mi 24s and 2 Flights of Mi 8 TV Hip E from 490 OVBP pushed up the Northern and Southern Ingress routes for 901 ODShB making best use of available cover and concentrating fire on the clearance of air defence assets covering the routes. These aircraft were also supporting and supported by the ground forces who were now starting to move North and South of Waidhaus.

Once air defence assets were suppressed or destroyed the aircraft pushed on west in order to suppress any remaining opposition on the landing zones. With a level of control being established over the ingress routes, 396 GvOVP crossed the border escorted by Mi8 TV Hip Cs of 490 ODVP. The Air assault group also included elements from 199 OVE BU, which provided a Mi 8 PPA ECM aircraft who's jamming systems reduced the effectiveness of the German Panzerflugabwehrkanonenbatteries and an Mi 8VZPU command and control aircraft that controlled the whole air assault group and coordinated with the supporting fighter bomber and artillery units

Simultainiously with the clearance of the Northern and Southern ingres routes Recce elements of 18 GvMSD started to push up through the wood line South of Waidhaus, whilst North of Waidhouse clearing through the eastern extent of the Haggenwald moved 468 MSB the army forward detachment, whose primary objective was to create a cleared route for the passage of 18 GvMSD through Waidhaus and beyond.

As 468 MSB started to outflank FschjgBtl 251 and PzAufklBtl 4 detachments in Waidhaus the transport aircraft of 396 GvOVP carrying 901 ODShB commenced their approach along the cleared routes to the LZ escorted by Armed Mi8 Hip C from 490 OVBP who would provided suppressive fire in the immediate vicinity of the LZ and deal with any unexpected threats on route. Artillery fire from 18GvMSDs DAG was called down an already identified NATO positions in proximity to the flight path by an Mi 2 Observation Post aircraft with the air assault group.

In the Schwalmwald to the south of Waidhaus FschjgBtl 251's Luftlandepanzerabwehrkompanies commenced engagement of Soviet Ground Recce elements and the aircraft of 396 GvOVP as the Soviet Artillery continued to prove ineffective against the lightly armoured Wiesels and dug in infantry. At around this time NATO fighters of 1 ATAF started to became decisively engaged with the Soviet fighters from 114 IAP challenging the fragile local air superiority established over the Waidhaus area.

As 468 MSB started to clear the Eastern End of the Haggenwald immediately due North of Waidhouse, the fighter ground attack and fighter bombers of 131 SAD completed the suppression of the air defence systems around 901 ODShB's landing zones West of the Haggenwald although parts of the Haggenwald itself were still occupied by German Leopard 2s from 1./PzBtl 123 and the schwere Panzeraufklärungskompanie and gemischte Panzeraufklärungskompanie of PzAufklBtl 4 still occupied Waidhouse itself together with elements of FschjgBtl 251.

Despite intense 20mm fire the bulk of 396GvOVP made it through to the landing zone. Only an Mi 6 flight containing the 901 ODShB's 120mm Morters was unsuccessful in running the gauntlet of fire South of Waidhaus. Brigadespähzug 10 and Panzerjägerkompanie 100 were still deployed West of the Haggenwald although none of these vehicles were in a position to directly engage the LZs.

The landing site of 901 ODShBs 1st parachute infantry company was however brought under fire from the M109s of Panzerartilleryregiment 12 supporting the covering force, who lost the bulk of 1 Platoon whilst clearing the LZ. Enough of the force remained for them to secure and clear with the assistance of the attack helicopters the south western end of the Haggenwald.

In conjunction with the air landing the BM 27 Uragans of 18 GvMSD successfully covered the eastern of the two prominent gaps in the Schwalmwald that created the most direct access for reinforcing companies from PzBtl 123 at Moosbach. Critically the gap was not closed and the 901 ODShB elements assigned to cover it were about to be engaged to devastating effect by aircraft from Heersfliegerregiment 26.

With the bulk of the Air Assault units on the ground 4 ATAF managed to regain air superiority over the battle zone and a number of the aircraft of 396 GvOVP and 490 OBVP were lost clearing the LZ and routing back to there base locations. it took little time for the MBB 105Ps of the Panzerabwehrhubschrauberstaffel of Heersfliegerregiment 26 to get into action with dramatic effect against the armoured company of 901 ODShB who lost 50% of there armour and were forced North West away from the blocking positions they should have occupied to cover 18 GvMSDs southern flank just as 2./PzBtl 123 arrived at Waidhaus, although their initial deployment was slowed by the Soviet scatmin deployment.

The delay in clearing the Panzerflugabwehrraketenbatterie of 2./FlaRgt 200 and Panzerflugabwehrkanonenbatterie of 2 and 3./FlaRgt 4 covering the LZs of 901 ODShB was to prove critical to the success of the NATO mission allowing as it did, Heersfliegerregiment 26 to disrupt the otherwise successful landing of 901 ODShB and preventing it from blocking the likly reinforcing routes in time to prevent 2 and 3 Kompanie from PzBtl 123 attacking into the flank of the leading elements of 18GvMSD as they attempted to move down the route being cleared for them through Waidhaus, a story that will unfold in the 3rd and final part of this historical account of the Waidhaus Gap battle. The final chapter of the battle sees the NATO tank reinforcements arrive under NATO controlled skys and the Soviets needing to commit elements of the lead motor rifle regiments in order to maintain momentum.

References:

Breaking down the Door the first 6 days of the Campaign against CENTAG

Related Posts:

TTP

TTP-Forward Detachments and Tactical Air Assault

Scenario:

Scenario - Storming The Waidhaus Gap
ORBAT - Soviet Air Assault Capability Part 1, Overview and Lift Assets
ORBAT - Soviet Task Org, Fronts in the Western TVD

Wargames Unit:

Wargames Unit - Soviet Late 80's Independent DShV Battalion
Wargames Unit - Soviet Late 80's MRB
Wargames Unit - The German Army at Waidhaus
Wargames Unit - Soviet, Combat Helicopter Regiment, Assault Helicopter Squadron
Wargames Unit - Soviet, Combat Helicopter Regiment, Attack Helicopter Squadron

AAR:

AAR-Storming The Waidhaus Gap, Part 1 Ground and Deployment
AAR-Storming The Waidhaus Gap, Part 2 Soviet Air Land Battle
AAR-Storming The Waidhaus Gap, Part 3 Counter Attack

Downloads:

Storming The Waidhaus Gap, 19 Mb

Posted with Blogsy

Andy

The Forces deployed at Waidhaus by the Germans represent the concept of a forward Screen or covering force established in order to Identify, Monitor and Delay the enemy such that the main defensive positions could be prepared. As such it would be unusual for that force to become decisively engaged and it would be supported by Air Aviation and Artillery assets to enable it to achieve its mission. The covering force would consist of elements of the Divisional Recconaisance and Divisional and Corps Reserves. in this case:

Elements of Panzeraufklärungsbataillon 4
A reinforced battle group from Falschirmjagerbattalion 251
A Company from Panzerbataillon 123 part of Panzergrenadierdivision 4's reserve Panzerbrigade 12
elements of the covering force for Panzergrenadierbrigade 10 in the form of Panzerjagerkompanie 100 and Panzeraufklarungkompanie 100
Air defence assets from Flugabwehrregiment 4 (Gepard) and Flugabwehrregiment 200 (Roland)

The Remainder of the Recce Regiment was deployed to cover the Cham gap whilst the Recce Company of 12 Panzer Brigade covered the difficult terrain between Waidhause and Cham. The off board elements of Panzerbataillon 123 and Panzerbataillon 124 were being held as an armoured reserve to be deployed as the situation developed.

The guilds Mausman provided all the German forces used on the day and built a number of the forces for the event. Falschirmjagerbattalion 251 consisted of two Luftlandepanzerabwehrkompanie each equipped with 3 TOW armed Weisels and 2 20mm Armed Weisels, The Weisel was just starting to enter service at the time of the scenario. The two Falschirmjagerkompanie are provided with Krakas for the use of their Milan teams. This was part of the earlier Kraka only equipped unit but it is not clear if these carried forward into the weasel equipped units

The Weisels are 1/72 models all from S&S and painted by the skilled hand of Mausman, in standard NATO 3 Tone, airbrushed using Tamiya XF-67 NATO Green, XF-69 NATO Black and XF - 68 NATO Brown

The Figures are 20mm from Elhiems Cold War German range and liberation miniatures Bundeswehr. The Krakas are by S&S and run up by Shaun to help John put his force together. As well as the cargo variants shown here S&S also do, TOW, 20mm and Milan armed variants, in fact just about all you need to represent the Falschirmjager units of the Bundeswehr in the 80's and early 90's.

As well as Falschirmjagerbattalion 251, the Germans deployed two of the Panzeraufklarungkompanies available to Panzeraufklärungsbataillon 4. One representing a heavy company reinforced by a Fuchs detachment with GSR and the other a light company with two Leopard platoons of 3 vehicles and 1 Luchs Platoon of 8 Vehicles. The Luchs are from 1/72 Revell kits and the Leopard 1 A3/4s are the Italeri 1/72 kit which has just been re released BTW. The Leopard 1 A2s shown below are Altaya resparays and the Fuchs from Revell. The Green Leopards are painted in a mix of Tamiya XF-69 NATO Green and XF-65 Field Grey

Panzerbrigade 12 provided two Panzer battalions as an armoured reserve to the covering force of Panzergrenadierdivision 4 with Panzerkompanie 1 of leopard 2s from Panzerbatallion 123 being deployed on board. a further 2 Companies from Panzerbatallion 123 and 1 from Panzerbatallion 124 were available as reinforcements during the game. The Leopard 2 A4s are from Dragon.

The final components of the onboard force were elements of Flugabwehrregiment 4 and Rolands from Heersflackbrigade 2's Flugabwehrregiment 200 The Gepards are altaya repaints the Unimog from S&S. The Marder Roland uses the missile unit from an Altaya AMX 30 Roland and the Hull from an Altaya Marder.

Confined to deploying at the rear of the area was Panzerjagerkompanie 100 from Panzergrenadierbrigade 10 Mausman converted these from the S&S Jagdpanzer Kanone with TOWs missiles provided from the S&S range as well. All vehicle markings were either suppliesd with the kits or possibly Prieser.

There is a wealth of German Orbat information on the web, particularly if your not afraid to wade into German language sources. Rationalising it all can be fun and inevitably you are left making a number of assumptions. listed below are some of the References I have used in compiling the German orbats for our last couple of games.

References:

Fire and Fury German Cold War Orbat

Micromark G98M West German 2 Korps

Micromark G170M West German Paratroop Brigade, 1984 - 1990

4 Panzergrenidier Division

12 Panzer Brigade

25 Luftlande Brigade

4 Panzeraufklarungs Battalion

NATO Order of Battle 1989

Die Bundeswehr 1989, Teil 2.1, Heer, I Korps, II Korps, III Korps

Armies Of NATOS Central Front D Isbey