The Battle of Blickheim Ridge 1984

[Fireman Tim]

(Repost from the Guild)

I play tested the Rapid Fire 'Able Archer' rules that I have been compiling for the last few months.  The game takes place in southern Germany in 1984.  The 290th Motor Rifle Regiment of the 1st Soviet Guards Tank Division attacked a battlegroup from 4CMBG defending a ridge line and 3 villages.

Rules Adaptation can be found here:  https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/15577379/Rapid%20Fire%20Able%20Archer%202.2.pdf

Scenario:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/93rgm3dvsjw4iam/The%20Battle%20for%20Blickheim%20Ridge.pdf?dl=0


Random Fog of War cards, each side draws one from their deck per turn:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/ydlcu7hrmk0ramt/Cold%20War%20Fog%20of%20War%20Cards.docx?dl=0

3 Royal Canadian Regiment Battlegroup
-M577 with Commander, FO, MMG and Blowpipe and Ambulance
-3 Mechanized Infantry Companies with
  -M113, 8 figs with a Carl G and LAW
-Mortar Platoon with a M125 81mm
-AT Company with 2 x M150 TOW
B Sqn Royal Canadian Dragoons
- 4 Leopard C1 (1A3)
444 Tac Wing
-CH-136 Kiowa FO/FAC
-2 Offboard M109A2 (One fire mission of RAAM and ICM each)

290th Motor Rifle Regiment TO&E
Advanced Guard
-BMP Battalion
  -3 BMP-1s with 7 figs and RPG each
  - MTLB with 120mm mortar
-Tank Company with 3 T-72s
-BRDM-2 Recon
-BRDM-2 AT5
-ZSU-23-4
-3 Offboard 2S1 122mm


Main Body
-Regimental HQ
  -BMP with CO, FO, AGL and SA-6
  -Radio Truck
-2 BMP Battalions of 3 BMP with 7 figs ea
-MTLB with 120mm mortar
-2 Tank Companies of 3 T-72 each
-BRDM-2 AT5
-SA-9


In this pic you can see Iffezheim on the top left, Blickheim on the top right and Favorite in the bottom right.  The Canadians deployed an infantry company in each village and one on the ridge with tank and TOW support.  One tank was kept in reserve in case of a breakthrough.

TURN 1:


The Soviets dropped a smoke screen in front of Favorite and moved forward with the Advanced guard. GSF dropped a barrage of 152mm HE onto favorite with no effect on the dug in troops. A brave Lynx opened fire on a BRDM-2 AT but was destroyed by a T-72. TOWs struck home on the BRDM-2 AT and a T-72 while Artillery ICM rounds fired from off board M109s destroyed a BMP.

TURN 2:


The Soviets burst through the smoke screen only to be greeted by LAW and Carl G fire. The supporting Leopards missed their marks due to the surprise. The remaining BMPs moved up to the tree line and unloaded their infantry. The Canadians in Favorite took a direct hit from the 120mm mortar which killed half the unit while a barrage of 122mm scored a direct hit on the flanking Leopard in Blickheim.



On the Canadian side an AH-1 cobra arrived and popped up behind the ridge line out of sight of the ZSU and launched a volly of TOWs at the Soviet tanks damaging both. The infantry took out the BRDM-2 while mortar and Artillery dropped on the Soviet infantry.

[Fireman Tim]

Turn 3:



The pressure builds as the main body of the MRR arrives. The Advance Guard managed to drive out the remaining Canucks in Favorite while a Mig-23 flew in and blew up another Leopard.



The Canadians tried to slow the Soviets down by destroying another three T-72s and damaging the SA-9. Another battery of offboard artillery became available which helped.

[Fireman Tim]

Turn 4:



The Soviet consolidated their hold on favorite while a Lynx in Blickheim was spotted by the Mi-1 and dispatched by tank fire.
With one remaining Leopard on the ridge, the MIG swung around for another run. This time the blow pipe operator hit his mark and the jet went down in flames




The Canadians held firm while the Cobra fired one last TOW salvo destroying yet another T-72 while artillery and mortar fire rained down destroying a BMP advancing on Blickheim. The Cobra then left the board to rearm and refuel.

[Fireman Tim]

Turn 5:


A strange nausea set in as the carnage continues. The Soviet right flank pushed on to Blickheim, immediately losing a tank and damaging another from Carl G and Law fire. In response, the massed Soviet Artillery drips on Blickheim slaughtering the remaining Canadians there.


Meanwhile the Russians in Favorite advance towards the dug in 3RCR on the ridge.


Terror suddenly tore through the Soviet ranks as an A10 appeared and dove down on a column of BMPs. A SA-9 fired off a missile that missed the evading A10. A moment later two Bmps were hit by maverick missiles, erupting in flames.


The Canadian Kiowa maneuvered into position to direct Artillery which fell on advancing soviets in Favorite.



With his Regiment at 33%, Col. Oblensky called off the attack. With only one of his objectives captured, he knew MGen Samsonov would not take kindly to his failure. Luck was not in his side that day for it was the early intervention of NATO airpower that put a halt to his plans. As for LCol Cowdray and his 3RCR battlegroup, they bought VII Corps the much needed time to regroup and prepare for a counter attack.

[Schriv]

That is a great looking game table and an excellent write-up.

[grant]

Bravo Zulu!

That's how Cold War is supposed to look!

First Clash is a classic, and highly inspirational for gaming in 1984.

[commissarmoody]

Pretty damn cool. 20mm?

[Marine0846]

Super looking game.
Excellent write up of the battle.
Will we get to see more? I hope so?

[draxx66]

Great looking game and report.   

[Lobsterback]

Great AAR - thanks for posting!  Now to do this in 28mm ....

[Fireman Tim]

20mm, Figs by Elhiem and East Riding, AFVs are a mix of S&S, Britannia, 1/72 S-model, Italeria, Revell, and others. 

This was the second time I played this scenario, the first was a typical Soviet steam roller result, so I was surprised when the Canadians held the line.  I use random Fog of War cards for assets like Division artillery and air power, plus a few moral boosts which in this game played out very well for NATO.

[Elbows]

Very cool.  Namely because I'm reading Team Yankee (meh) and The Third World War (a bit better).  Sounds like a good and proper flow on the table.  What Hoplite is that?  One of the brilliant little Easy Model machines?