NGP85 "81: Better Dead than Red v1.1"

[JDR Dragoon]

Players notes and considerations.

This turn is Morning (08 am to 10 am). Visibility is still 3 hexes (4,5 kilometers). A few units still need refuelling, but these are so far behind the front, that it is not a threat to my tactical maneuvers.

At Munden the Polish units from the 10. Arm. Div. starts to establish themselves along the forested heights east of the Weser, no doubt hoping to effect a crossing quickly. Luftwaffe F4F and Alphajets called in to strike these targets have little effect against the units hidden in the forested Weser river valley. South of Kassel, Panzerbrigade 14 again stops the advancing polish spearheads along the narrow mountain roads. In addition, a West-German LRRP unit, a platoon of Fernspähkompanie 300, succesfully ambushes and then calls artillery onto a Polish towed Antitankgun unit, wiping it out! Meanwhile NATO fighteers keep enemy air-recon away. West-German ROLAND SAM systems also manage to disrupt a strike mission of Polish SU 17s against Panzerbrigade 14.



East of Melsungen, most of the Polish units curiously withdraw out of contact. Is it because they are getting relieved, or because he wishes to concentrate them in another sector?



At Bad Hersfeld the enemy presence detected by sensors or exhaust fumes rising above the trees are taken under fire by artillery. In addition, USAF F4C Phantom Reconnaisance planes manage to punch through WAPAs airdefence network and take clear pictures of the areas south of Bad Hersfeld suspected of harboring enemy units. The results confirm the suspicions: An East German Motorrifle Division sits in reserve, ready to support either the attack on the Fulda or Bad Hersfeld axis.



In front of Fulda and in the Rhön the enemy is silent. The sole T64 battalion occupying an old 11th ACR battle position thus gets the attention of most of the US artillery this turn. In the Rhön, the Hind Attack Helicopter Company of the 39th GMRD tries to recon forward, opening fire on Hotel Troop/2nd Squadron/11th ACR. But the airstrike called in by the Hinds get chased away by F15s, and suddenly F Troop from the same Squadron, firing down on the helicopters from a higher elevation, manage to down 4 of them!



At Bad Neustadt, Panzergenadierbrigade 35 holds tight, bringing the advancing T62s battalions of the 9th TD to a standstill while causing heavy losses. South of the town, events go less well: supported by heavy artillery and attack helicopter support, the 79th GTD succesfully eject Panzerbataillon 364 from its battleposition, causing heavy losses in the proces. This unhinges the defence of Bad Neustadt from the south, and forces me to withdraw from the city, which I had hoped to hold. The situation isn´t all bad though, since the lead brigade of the 4th ID is now available to me! In addition, the many WAPA HQs and artillery positions get their customarty artillery greetings.



At Schweinfurt the 106th GABD still edges its units carefully forward, but apart from this seems to be content calling in airstrikes. Luftwaffe F4Fs force most of these to drop their bombload and abort to avoid destruction, but a flight of SU17s punch through, destroying four M60s of the 2/64th Tank Battalion. But the US battalion commander, as ordered, presses his attack on the crossing of the Main river south of Schweinfurt, hoping to eject the assault gun battalion of the 106th GABD. Calling in heavy support from A10s, the battalion charges forward, wiping out the remains of the lightly armed and armored ASU85 equipped soviet unit!

Things go less well further to the east, as the gap between the 12. Panzer Division and the 3rd ID continues to grow. As it withdraws, Aufklärungsbataillon 12 calls in several A10 strikes on advancing T62 companies (likely from the 27th GMRD), causing heavy losses, reducing them to single digits of running tanks and hopefully dissuading them from advancing further into the gap that has developed in the NATO line. But the advancing 27th GMRD piles on the pressure on the 3rd Brigade/3rd Infantry Division, which is now the sole NATO unit east of the Main, calling in a MIG27 strike on the 1/7th Mech. Inf. Btn. The unit holds its ground, even using a REDEYE to shoot down a MIG, but suffers heavy losses to napalm and clusterbombs.



Between Schweinfurt and Bamberg the 6th GTD seems content to gather its strenght and assemble itself in the forested heights east of the Main, no doubt with the intention to cross the river later. This is welcome news for me, since my defence here is by no means ready yet. To the immediate north of Bamberg, the demolition of the last bridge across the Main fails due to a calculation error. The engineers feverishly pile on more explosives. To the east of Bamberg the East German 11. Motorrifle Division is charging hard against the 3/7 Cav of the 3rd ID, supported by Soviet attack helicopters. The VII Corps retreat towards Bamberg is now further accelerated, in order that the 2nd ACR isn´t caught and cut off east of Bamberg.



Around Kronach SIGINT detects a large number of East German HQs. This might possibly be the assembly area for an East German Division, but no recon flights are available this turn to check the area out. In addition, 4 ATAF and AIRCENT reports having caused heavy losses to enemy columns advancing on the axis: Hof-Kulmbach and Kronach-Lichtenfels. This further supports the suspicion that more East German forces are massing towards Bamberg.



And yet again, the score advances about a 100 points in my favor. A velcome and now familiar sight.