Welcome to Cold War Gamer, a blog I am using to record my Cold War wargaming projects. These range from fictitious Cold War hot projects to historical conflicts that took place around the globe throughout the Cold War era, all modelled and gamed in 20mm. The blog includes links to various resources useful to the Cold War Gamer.

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Showing posts with label AAR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AAR. Show all posts

Wednesday, 18 December 2013

AAR - Storming The Waidhaus Gap Part 3, Counter Attack






Colonel Ivan Rokovski in his post war book 20 days to the Rhine recalls the pressing need to define the moment when 275 MSP (lead Motor Rifle Regiment of 18 GvMSD) would be committed to exploit the success of 901 ODShB and 468 MSB. This would allow 18 GvMSD to maintain the momentum of the attack into Southern Germany and consolidate the immediate gains of the forward detachment in securing the Haggenwald and the southern flank of the division through the closure of the armoured approaches to Waidhaus from the South through the Schwalmwald.  This was to prove to be one of the classic examples of the use of forward detachments and desente units as enablers of operational manoeuvre in the post World War 2 period.


By 10:00 on 17 August 1988 901 ODShB were occupying their objectives; 
  • 9 Rota starting to secure its tenuous hold on the Haggenwald, still occupied to the North by the remainder of  1./PzBtl 123 which included a single platoon and the Company HQ together with Milan teams from FschjgBtl 251
  • 5 Rota secured the south western armoured approaches through the Schalmwald denying them to German reinforcements.
The loss of 6 Rota the BMD equipped company and the Battalions Recce platoon following effective engagement by the  Ppanzerabwehrhubschrauberstaffel of Heersfliegerregiment 26 left the battalion unable to counter the arrival of the Leopard 2s of 2 and 3 Kompanie  PzBtl 123 from Moosbach.



Oberst Von Meltzahn's staff review of the situation following the successful air landing of 901 ODShB is well recorded in the battle diary of PzAufklBtl 4.  It details the counter moves ordered against the Soviet force to prevent them from securing the Haggenwald and the Northern Route through the Waidhaus Gap.
  • The schwere Panzeraufklärungskompanie in  Waldhaus were ordered to exploit the cover the town provided to outflank 468 MSB and conduct a Counter Penetration against them to prevent their link up with 901 ODShB on the Haggenwald.  This would be coordinated with CAS provided by A10 Thunderbolt IIs reinforcing 4 ATAF from the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing now forward deployed into Germany from its UK bases.
  • The gemischte Panzeraufklärungskompanie in Waldhaus was to push South toward the Schalmwald to cover the schwere Panzeraufklärungskompanie's exposed southern flank.
  • FschjgBtl 251were ordered to counter attack 901 ODShBs position on the South Western end of the Haggenwald using the Falshirmjagerkompanie in Waidhaus and the northern of the two Luftlandepanzerabwehrkompanies in the Schwalmwald. Artillery support for the attack would be provided by the battalion mortars and the M109s of Panzerartilleryregiment 12.
  • The  Panzerabwehrhubschrauberstaffel of Heersfliegerregiment 26  were ordered to support 1./PzBtl 123 on the Haggenwald and halt the forward movement of 468 MSB
  • Panzerkompanies 2 and 3 of PzBtl 123 were instructed to Counter Attack into the flank of 468 MSB North and West of Waidhouse and East of the Haggenwald.


 The  Forward Air Controller with the gemischte Panzeraufklärungskompanie brought the A10s in from the South and they were cleared hot to engage targets North of Waidaus and no further West than the Western edge of the town. The Air Defence Company deployed with 468 MSB picked them up as they cleared the Schwalmwald and engaged with the ZSU 23-4 and SAM 9 platoons, forcing both aircraft to abort on the first pass.




In Waidhaus itself the schwere Panzeraufklärungskompanie was observed moving up by 275 MSP's Recce Company who by now had started to occupy the eastern end of the town and had not been identified or engaged by the gemischte Panzeraufklärungskompanie. In a manoeuvre that has since entered the text books of the Soviet General Staff on the employment of anti tank reserves, Major Suverov of 468 MSB dealt deftly with the counter penetration   by deploying his Anti-Tank Company which engaged and destroyed the Leopard platoon. 


The arrival of Heersfliegerregiment 26 to support the Leopard 2s and Milan on the Northern end of the Haggenwald however started to strengthen Von Meltzahn's position improving the Germans chances of imposing the required delay on the Soviet force. 



At around 10:45 on the 17 August 1988 FschjgBtl 251 commenced their attempt to regain the Haggenwald with the redeployment of the Luftlandepanzerabwehrkompanies towards Waidhaus.  The kompanie inits light armoured vehicles was however caught in the open and engaged by the remaining Hinde flight from 490 OBVP who had yet to clear the area. With no clear indication of where they were being engaged from they were forced to move to cover loosing a number of vehicles in the process. Meanwhile 2./FschjgBtl 251 had moved into a forming up position in dead ground east of 9 Rotas position on the Haggenwald but failed to secure the support of  Panzerartilleryregiment 12 who were relocating following effective counter battery fire on their position. By 11:30 with no sign of the supporting Luftlandepanzerabwehrkompanie the kompanie commander decided to mount the attack without the missing support elements.  In a sharp engagement with the remaining elements of 9 Rota   supported by 3 Battalions of Artillery from the 18 GvMSDs DAG, 2./FschjgBtl 251 attack was broken up and the company was rendered non effective, leaving 901 ODShB in control of the South Western extent of the Haggenwald.



Concurrently with the German moves to retake the Haggenwald 2 and 3 Kompanie of PzBtl 123 were by now breaking clear of the constraints of the BM27 laid SCATMIN around the eastern gap in the Schalmwald.  In response to PzBtl 123's developing counter attack 468 MSD moved its infantry and armour into position to engage from the dominant position of the north eastern end of the Haggenwald.  




At around 12:00 on 17 Aug 1988 Colonel Rokovski recals crossing the Czech German border at Waidhaus with, 275 MSP  behind 468 MSB's Mobility Support Detachment which we now know included NBC Recce, Engineer Recce, a Motor Rifle company and the road repair and clearing team. They were followed closely by the lead Motor Rifle Battalion and Flanked by the MSP's 21 Tank Battalion to the South.




The gemischte Panzeraufklärungskompanie South of Waidhaus reported the developing Soviet armoured threat between Waidhaus and the Schwalmwald which was unlikely to be contained by the much reduced presence of FschjgBtl 251's Luftlandepanzerabwehrkompanies. Oberst Von Meltzahn who's original plan had been to throw both companies of PzBtl 123 at 468 MSB now ordered the counter attack to split with a kompanie driving North and West of Waidhaus and a Kompanie South and  East, both kompanies receiving support from the RakJPz Jaguar 2 of Panzerjagerkompanie 100.




The situation by 13:00 hours on 17 August 1988 as can be understood from both German and Soviet sources was as follows:
  • To the North of Waidhaus around a Kompanie of Leopard 2's formed from the remnants of 1 and 3 Kompanies PzBtl 123 supported by at least 2 Milan teams from FschjgBtl 251, 2 Platoons from Panzerjagerkompanie 100 and 2 Flights of MBB105Ps from Heersfliegerregiment 26  faced off against 468 MSB
  • To the South of Waidhaus 3./PzBtl 123 along with the remaining Luftlandepanzerabwehrkompanie of  FschjgBtl 251, 1 platoon and the HQ of Panzerjagerkompanie 100 and surviving elements of one of the batteries from FlaRegt 4 faced off against 275 MSPs 21 TB.
  • in Waidhause the remainder of MSP 275 had gone firm whilst the engagements around the outside were resolved
  • 901 ODShB held the Western end of the Haggenwald and the Western of the gaps through the Schwamlwald.

4 ATAF still controlled the skys over the valley effectively securing the Germans ability to manoeuvre however they were  coming under increasing pressure from 131 SAD who were trying to create the conditions that would allow the Soviets to break clear of the area immediately around Waidhaus and to create effective air cover over 18GvMSD which was rapidly becoming a concentrated target.


Conclusions

At this point, we sadly had to conclude what was turning into a fairly finely balanced game at a crucial stage with the Soviets about to commit 275 MSPs Tank battalion to the battle and with the NATO team coming under increasing pressure to relinquish air superiority.  I suspect that the NATO team would have created a degree of delay at this stage although the outcome of the game would hang on the amount of damage they would inflict on 275 MSP and weather 275 MSP could exit the far end of the board in another 6 goes.  The Soviet team could probably not afford the wait and neither team could afford the casualties that a decisive engagement would bring, I suspect therefore the event was probably heading for a marginal German victory.



The Guilds Mausman commanded the Germans in fine Germanic style aggressively counter attacking everything in sight whilst I played the Soviets in a sort of steam roller style.  Elhiem and Panzerfaust200 also of the Guild Wargames forum helped supervise and make up the rules as the game proceeded.

Reflections


The Scenario I felt was working well, it had been designed to create a battle with a couple of different focuses that would keep 4 players busy, So the Soviet Airborne had to land but their needed to be a good air land battle component around that which gave the German team something to shoot at.

The air superiority rule worked well and it was much better having it built into the scenario rather than as a random event as it enabled the flow of the scenario. If I were to change anything I would probably give the Soviets Air Superiority in turns 7-8 NATO in 9-10 and only go random for the last two. This would allow the game to progress to its end state rather than potentially bog down.

The German reinforcements were critical to put the initiative back with the Germans following the air landing and the advance of the very powerful 468 MSB.  I think I would have liked to have seen a bit more German Air Power with perhaps some Alpha jets and a few more MBBs, having said that the two MBB flights deployed had quite a large effect on the game removing as they did the airborne armour.

In both the Weisenberg Counter attack and Storming the Waidhaus Gap the scenarios put T-72A's against Leopard 2's which is always a bit lopsided and need the soviets to deploy fairly large numbers of tanks if they are to succeed.  Both games involved Panzergrenadierdivision 4's Panzerbrigade 12, it would be interesting to run a more traditional German Defence around either one of the Panzergrenadier Brigades  or the Heimatschutz Brigade.  Which might be an idea for the summer.

Rules


The rules amendments generally worked well although the effect of artillery on light armour is inconsequential and on infantry is lethal, some adjustment in this area and around the range of the larger Guided Weapons systems such as TOW might work.  The extra movement for out of contact units starts to speed up the ground manoeuvre and allows the scope to play on larger tables.

we are in progress on consolidating our rule amendments and when it is complete I will put a link on the site to a pdf

longer arms would also help, 8 foot wide boards are definitely a challenge although they do provide a spectacle.

For the next game which is supposed to be fairly small we are shifting the focus to NORTHAG and the British sector.   The scenario and supporting material should appear by the end of January with the Game being played out in February or March.


Related Posts:

TTP

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Sunday, 24 November 2013

AAR - Storming The Waidhaus Gap Part 2, Soviet Air Land Battle



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


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Sunday, 17 November 2013

AAR - Storming The Waidhaus Gap, Part 1 Ground and Deployment


The Waidhause Gap sits on the German Czech border and is one of two more obvious routes through the ring of mountains and forests that form the boundary between Germany and Czecheslovakia. These run from the Ore Mointains in the North through the Bohemorwald or Bayerischerwald down to the Alps in the South. On the 17th of August 1988 it was the scene of the initial crossing into West Germany by leading elements of 1 Chezchslovakian Front led by the Soviet 22 Obchevoyskovaya Armiya (CAA).


Once Clear of the wooded highlands that dominate the Czech side of the border, more open country is encountered but the broader valleys remain dominated by high hills and ridge lines and the towns and villages of the region together with its densely packed pine forests created a tactical challenge for the troops of 18 Gvardejskij Motostrelkovaja Divizija (GdsMRD) whoes mission was to storm the border town and exploit west towards a crossing of the river Naab at Wennberg before pushing on towards Nurenberg as one of the opening moves of World War three on Europes Central Front.


The view of the Haggenwald Ridge looking east towards the Czech border beyond the town of Waidhaus, taken by elements of Panzerbrigade 12 as the recced fire positions in early August 1988.


The Same area taken from an MBB105 of Panzerabwehregiment 26 which gives a better impression of the Haggenwald ridge line west of Waidhaus that dominated the border crossing points and exits from Waidhaus into the more open terrain beyond.


The View that would be presented to 468 Motostrelkovyj Battalion as they cleared the more deeply incised ground around the Czech border and looked west towards Waidhaus and the wooded ridge line of the Haggenwald.


A view from the North East Eastern end of Waidhause emphasising the challenge of manoeuvring armour through the constraint created by town, wood and ridgelines. In the far distance beyond Waidhaus can be seen the area of the Schwalmwald which would be occupied during the opening stages of World War 3 by elements of Falschirmjagerbattalion 251 who together with Panzeraufklärungsbataillon 4 provided the bulk of the force deployed to blunt the tip of the Soviet Spear Waidhaus.




An image from a photo reconnaissance Phantom R-F4E of Aufklrungsgeschwader_51 that overflew the area late on the 16th of August, this image shows the landing zone for 901 Otdel'nuju Desantno-Shturmovye Batal'on (Air Assault Battalion) who were to attempt an insertion beyond Waidaus and the Haggenwald to secure the flanks of the lead division as it passed through the area and to clear the Haggenwald in support of468 Motostrelkovyj Batal’on, (MSB) the Army forward detachment tasked with Storming the Waidhaus gap.


The Initial Deployments of the German Defenders have been subject to much historical speculation but thanks to the exhaustive research carried out by Proffesor Gerht Halmer for his book, Breaking down the Door the first 6 days of the Campaign against CENTAG, there is now a degree of clarity.




The Germans Deployed three Anti Aircraft Batteries at Waidhaus, Two Gepard/Redeye batteries from Flugabwehrregiment 4 and one Rolland Battery from Heersflackbrigade 2's Flugabwehrregiment 200. One of the Geppard Batteries covered the Leopard 2s deployed on the Hagegenwald and the open ground to its West. The other battery sat forward around the Western end of Waidhaus and the Farm complex immediately to the South of the town that sat within the area of the Schwalmwald. In addition to the Flak Batteries each of the two Luftlandepanzerabwehrkompanie deployed two 20mm armed Weisels, these deployed within the Schwalmwald itself covering low level transit routes South of Waidhaus.




Panzerbataillon 123's Kompanie 1 occupied a dominating position on the Haggenwald, where it was co-located with anti tank elements of Falshirmjagerbataillon 251. West of the Haggenwald around the small areas of woodland sat the forward elements of Brigadespähzug 10 and Panzerjagerkompanie 100 which were the forward deployed elements of Panzergrenadierbrigade 10. The German forces West of the Haggenwald would find themselves subject to intense Air attack in the opening moments of the war in the preparatory attacks that cleared the way for 901 Otdel'nuju Desantno-Shturmovye Batal'on's air assault.



East of the Haggenwald deployed around the Schalmwald and the town of Waidhouse were the elements of Panzeraufklärungsbataillon 4's Kompanies 2 and 4. Kompanie 2 covered the northern edge of the village and Kompanie 4 the southern. Fallschirmjägerbataillon 251 and its reinforcing Kompanie, Dug itself in around the Northern edge of the Schwamwald and the Western edge of Waidhaus. Both the Luftlandepanzerabwehrkompanie deployed along the Northern edge of the Schwalmwald giving their TOW and 20mm armed Weisels good arcs of fire into the flanks of any vehicles or aircraft trying to bypass Waidhaus to the South.




At 05:00 on 18th August 1988 Sukhoi 25s and Mig 27s of 10 Air Army thundered across the border at Waidhaus, followed closely by 490 Otdel'nyy Boevoy Vertoletnyy Polk (independent Combat Helicopter Regiment), World War 3 had come to Waidhaus.





References:

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

Related Posts:

TTP














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