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

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

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Wargames Units - The German Army At Waidhaus

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

Other Related Posts:

Scenario - Storming The Waidhaus Gap
AAR - Storming the Waidhaus Gap, part 1 Ground and Deployment
ORBAT - Soviet Air Assault Capability Part 1, Overview and Lift Assets
ORBAT - Soviet Air Assault Capability Part 2, Army Air Assault Battalion
ORBAT - Soviet Task Org, Fronts in the Western TVD
TTP-Forward Detachments and Tactical Air Assault
Wargames Unit - Soviet Late 80's, Independent DShV Battalion
Wargames Unit - Soviet Late 80's, MRB

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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

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 Air Assault Capability Part 2, Army Air Assault Battalion
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 2 Soviet Air Land Battle
AAR-Storming The Waidhaus Gap, Part 3 Counter Attack

Downloads:

Storming The Waidhaus Gap, 19 Mb

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Review - Model 1/72, ACE BMP 2 Re Release

One of the projects I have been working on is the construction of a reinforced Soviet Motor Rifle Regiment for the late 80's period this has been stalled for some time due to a lack of a BMP2 model on the market that would fit well with the first two battalions that were all ACE BMP1Ps and BMP 2s. I had managed to accumulate 2 old BMP 2s and 2 BMP1s and when ACE re released the BMP 2 saw an oppourtunity to complete the project and promptly bought two more allowing me to complete the Regiments third Battalion.

Having just built all 6 I thought it might be worthwhile reporting on the differences between the old and new kits. The new kit is much more than just a re release it is completely re tooled and molded from a slightly harder plastic compound than we are used to from ACE.

The Principal areas of improvement are:

• The hull, The hull base is more riged and conforms well to the track sides and hull top removing considerable effort in construction, although cleaning the spru attachment points is still a must.  The improved fit can clearly be seen in the pictures as can the net saving in filler required when compared to one of the originals.

• Road wheels, return Rollers and sprockets, The running gear is also much improved more cleanly and consistently molded with much better attachments for the Sprockets and considerably reduced effort on clean and fit.

• The tracks, The tracks are vinal, of a good length and they readily stick to the road wheels. This reduces construction time by hours compared to link and length.

• Smoke Grenade Discharger.  The smoke grenade discharger units are much more cleanly moulded, with a lot less flash needing to be removed and are of a more consistent and accurate shape ensuring that fitting them to the turret is far more straight forward

All up a significant improvement in the kit which now has a significantly lower level of effort required to complete the build, and correspondingly can be built much quicker.  This can only be good news as once built and painted ACE are one of the better BMP options out there.  They have I believe done the same with the BMP 1 kit.

References:

Review - Model 1/72, ACE BMP 2

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