Germany 1984: Counterstrike at Gemunden

(a scenario designed by Barrie Lovell)

This scenario represents a mobile encounter battle between advancing Soviet forces and a West German armoured counter attack in a hypothetical WW3 fought in Central Europe in the summer of 1984. It uses a somewhat unusual initial deployment as the aim is to generate some of the problems and confusion which might arise in a clash between two highly mobile opponents, supported by intensive air and ground reconnaissance,and suffering the effects of pre-battle attrition etc.

Essentially the NATO player must  make the most of his superior C3I systems to try and beat the enemy by fire and manoeuvre before the Soviet numbers build up and overwhelm him.

The leading elements of the Soviet 8^th Guards Tank Army have been driving hard along the line of the A5 autobahn towards Koblenz and, eventually, the Rhine. The speed of advance has overwhelmed a number of West German and US positions quicker than anticipated and the 39^th Guards Motor Rifle Division are now closing on the Gemunden gap, a choke point where the autobahn runs between two dense wooded features and the old town of Gemunden. In order to seize the gap and punch through the West German territorials believed to be holding the area the commander of 39 GMRD has pushed forward his two tank units (15^th Guards Tank regiment and 39^th Guards Tank battalion), supported by a BTR 70 equipped Motor Rifle Regiment, with orders to make the best use of the autobahn and press on with all speed.

Player Briefing - NATO forces

Order of battle:

Elements of Belgian 1st Mechanised Division:

1 Mechanised Brigade HQ

1 Carabiniers Mechanised Battalion

Bevrijding Mechanised Battalion

2 Lanciers Tank Battalion

8 Ligne AT Battalion (may attach out)

68 Engineer Company

18 Horse Artillery Bn (Artillery Regiment –  1 x FO in M113, 4 x M109A2, 1 x M163 20mm AA)

3 Battery 14 Artillery Regiment  (Gepard) (from 1 BE Corps HQ)

Forward Air Controller from Corps HQ (M-113)

Attached from COMRECCE

3 Lanciers Tank Battalion (2 squadrons)

A Squadron 1 Jaagers te Paard (attached to 3 Lanicers)

West German Territorial Troops (from Light Defence Brigade):

1 dismounted Shutzen battalion

FO for Bde Artillery battalion (4 x 105mm – off-table)

Mission:

To counter-attack towards the line of the A5 autobahn between Mucke and Gemunden and to destroy enemy forces within boundaries and to prevent the enemy using the A5 axis of advance.

Player Briefing - Soviet Forces

Order of battle:

Elements of 39^th Guards Motor Rifle Division

·         39 GMRD Forward Command Post

·         15^th Guards Tank regiment (T-64B, BMP-2)

·         39^th Guards Tank Battalion (T-64B)

·         Divisional Recce bn (11^th Reconnaissance battalion)

·         120^th Guards Motor Rifle regiment (BTR-70, T-62M)

·         Divisional FAC (TACP) (1 x BTR 60 TACP)

Divisional Helicopter Squadron

·         2 x Hind E

·         2 x Hip

·         2 x Hoplite (acting as FOs for Divisional Artillery Group)

Divisional Artillery Group (DAG)

·         FO from Div Rocket Launcher battalion (4 x BM-21)

·         FO from Div 152mm Battalion (4 x 2S3)

·         FO from Div 122mm Battalion (4 x 2S1)

Mission:

To secure the A5 Autobahn and open a route towards the Rhine.

The leading Soviet battalion group may deploy on table within 6” of the Soviet entry point. All other battalions start the game off table. To represent the Soviet system of march one battalion will arrive on table every hour (two turns) starting on turn two. This will allow a steady build up of Soviet troops as the day wears on, and simulates the division narrowing down its frontage to traverse the choke point. Each battalion will be assumed to have a command arrow following the line of the autobahn unless changed using the normal rules for changing orders.

The battle as we fought it:


In our refight the Soviet recce screen ran into advancing Belgians and the German Home Guard troops.  The Soviet recce was quickly destroyed.  Behind the recce was a Soviet Motor Rifle battalion, and this too was quickly engaged on the flank and eliminated almost before the next Motor Rifle battalion arrived on the board.  Tank battalions followed as the Soviets tried to expand their advance down the A5 autobahn in the face of fierce resistance from Belgian troops using their Leopards, Kanones and Milans to good effect.

T64s on the A5 autobahn

T64s engage Belgian Leopards

Belgian Leopards

The most effective Soviet elements turned out to be the helicopters and the 122mm MRLs of the divisional artillery.  These at last imposed some meaningful casualties on the Belgians.  As Belgian morale problems rose we ran out of time in our gaming day, with a whole phase of the battle yet to come as the Soviets were about halfway down the autobahn but yet to engage the dug-in German homeguard and approaching Belgian mainforce.