The following report details Red Dawn, a demonstration game played at Call to Arms (2018) designed to showcase the Team Yankee in the 6mm scale. The game featured 4 players, each playing a different nation with a force of 140 points.
Here's the table before hostilities commenced.
Story: On the morning of 4 August, 1985 the war begins and the Soviet 3rd Shock Army is tasked with breaking through the NATO defences in the central sector. Their main thrust is along the Berlin-Hanover axis, the A2 autobahn connecting Berlin to West Germany.
The attackers aim to seize the bridges that cross the Lien to the north-west of the city of Hanover at Heidehaus, encircling the city and preventing NATO forces from withdrawing to pre-prepared positions.
BRITISH
The American infantry also dig in around the second bridge, but they opt for an aggressive deployment, using scout sections to deploy M90's forward to the autobahn treeline, with the fearsome M1's covering them from the woods at the rear.
Undeterred the attack continues with T-55AM2 tanks picking off enemy swingfire missiles and the BTR60 Transports pouring fire onto British FV432 transports. Russian Hind aircraft hover above the forests near the bridge and disgorge troops into cover. Russian infantry also advance on the second bridge exchanging fire with the American troops guarding the approaches. Withering fire halts the East German infantry who are supposed to support the Russians, pinning them down.
Things are not going so well at the other bridge. While the T72M and T64 tanks firing brutal munitions have not been able to dislodge the British infantry, the forces of the Warsaw Pact are closing in. A Frogfoot airstrike claims several Chieftain tanks and desperate fire from the British has not slowed the advance.
The East German losses have been high but the infantry finally reach the British positions and begin an assault. But determined fire from the beleaguered British troops drives them back.
Having repulsed the assault on the second bridge, the Americans now race a platoon of M1 Arbams tanks to the bridge to contest the objective in the dying hours of the operations and prevent outright Russian and East German victory. Two tanks are destroyed but the third maintains good spirits, and with a single dice roll, prevents total Warsaw Pact victory, ending the game with a draw (in the Warsaw Pact favour).
Russian MVP: My MVP is my BMP 2 Motor Rifle Company. Day 1 it took the bridge, and Day 2 it bravely held up the NATO armoured fist.
East German MVP: I was happy with pretty much every unit that I commanded, and the East German forces did their job of using their numerical superiority to draw enemy fire away from the more effective Russian units while maintaining the attack. The Frogfoot was an unexpectedly solid choice, arriving 5/6 turns and striking with great effect.
British MVP: The FV432 APC's. Their withering fire repelled a powerful assault and also cleared half the Russian infantry from the bridge.
US MVP: I had the most fun with the AH1 Cobras. Can engage at range. Hard to hit before they fire with hunter killer and mobile.
Scenery and models featured in this report
Tanks, Aircraft and Infantry - GHQ Models
Farms and church - GHQ Models
Town and industrial buildings - Leven Miniatures
Roads - Total Battle Miniatures
Rivers, Bridges, Trees, Fields - Time Cast Models
Game Mat - Deep Cut Studio
Here's the table before hostilities commenced.
Story: On the morning of 4 August, 1985 the war begins and the Soviet 3rd Shock Army is tasked with breaking through the NATO defences in the central sector. Their main thrust is along the Berlin-Hanover axis, the A2 autobahn connecting Berlin to West Germany.
The attackers aim to seize the bridges that cross the Lien to the north-west of the city of Hanover at Heidehaus, encircling the city and preventing NATO forces from withdrawing to pre-prepared positions.
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| M1 Abrams of the US 1st Cavalry |
Tasked with the initial breakthrough are elements of the 400th Motor Rifle Regiment supported by the 48th Guards Tank Regiment. Assisting them are tanks from the East German National People’s Army including the Panzerregiment 14 Karol Swierczewski and Schützenregiment 22 Thomas Müntzer.
Opposing the Warsaw Pact forces, and determined to retain control of the bridges, are elements of the 7th Armoured Brigade, part of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR), and units from the US 1st Cavalry Division who have been rushed into position as part of the early stages of Operation Reforger.
Forces:
- Chieftain Armoured Squadron - 2x platoons of three tanks with HQ element of two tanks
- Swingfire Guided Weapons Troop
- FV432 Mechanised Company - 3x platoons, two full mech platoons and one Milan platoon
- Abbot Field Battery
- Medium Recce Squadron - 1 x Scimitar troop, 2x Scorpion troop, 1xStriker guided weapons troop, 1x Spartan support troop.
- M109 Field Battery + FV432 observer
- Tracked Rapier SAM Section
- Spartan Blowpipe SAM Section
- Harrier Close Air Support Flight
UNITED STATES
- Mechanised Combat Team - M1 Abrams Platoon, Heavy Mortars, Anti-Tank and Scouts
- M60 Patton Combat Team - M60 Patton Platoon, Heavy Mortars, Anti-Tank and Scouts
- Vads Platoon
- Stinger SAM Platoon
- M90 Field Artillery Battery
- UH-1 Huey Rifle Platoon
- AH-1 Cobra Platoon
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| NATO Reserves |
RUSSIANS
- T-64 Tank battalion - 2x platoons of four tanks equipped with Songster Missiles and an HQ element.
- BMP Motor Rifle battalion - 1x BMP1 platoon and 1x BMP2 platoon
- Air Assault Battalion - 2x Air Assault companies and 2x Hind Assault Helicopter Companies
- ZSU-23-4 Shilka platoon
- SA-9 Gaskin platoon
- BMP-1 Recon Platoon
- S23 Acacia Heavy SP Howitzer Battery
- T-55AM2 Panzer Bataillon - 2x T55AM2 companies of eight tanks, 1xT72M Tank Kompanie of six tanks.
- 2x BRDM-2 Aufklarungs Zug
A BTR-60 Kompanie on the move - 2x SA-9 Gaskin Flak Zug
- 2x Spandrel Panzerabwehr Zug
- 2x ZSU-23-4 Shilka Flak Zug
- BTR-60 Mot-Schutzen Bataillon - 2x large Mot-Schutzen Kompanies
- BM-21 Hail Raketenwerfe Batterie + BMP-1 Observer
- MI-24 Hind Battle Helicopter Squadron + landing company
- SU-25 Frogfoot Aviation Company (six aircraft)
Scenario: We used the Bridgehead scenario from the More Missions document, using the actual bridges on the table as the objectives.
Report: On the right flank British Infantry dug in around the bridge, with Swingfire stationed and Strikers nearby. A Chieftain troop is held in ambush while a Tracked Rapier section are placed behind the woods to the rear.
The American infantry also dig in around the second bridge, but they opt for an aggressive deployment, using scout sections to deploy M90's forward to the autobahn treeline, with the fearsome M1's covering them from the woods at the rear.
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| US M90 Tanks make good use of an autobahn treeline |
The Russians and East Germans deploy their main battle tanks in the farmland opposite the bridge held by British infantry. Soviet infantry in BMP's advance on both bridges, using the woods in the centre of the board for cover.
The East Germans use their BRDM scout cars carry out a spearhead, pressing the attack closer during deployment. On the British flank they exploit a small gap in the enemy mines to advance a large BTR Kompanie, T55 Kompanie support, Shilkas and Spandrel mounted armoured cars.
They are backed by elite Russian infantry mounted in Hind helicopters. These veterans of the Afghanistan war will stop at nothing to complete their mission. This surprise attack catches the British unawares and two strikers are knocked our as the East German tanks and armoured vehicles rumble forward.
The East Germans use their BRDM scout cars carry out a spearhead, pressing the attack closer during deployment. On the British flank they exploit a small gap in the enemy mines to advance a large BTR Kompanie, T55 Kompanie support, Shilkas and Spandrel mounted armoured cars.
They are backed by elite Russian infantry mounted in Hind helicopters. These veterans of the Afghanistan war will stop at nothing to complete their mission. This surprise attack catches the British unawares and two strikers are knocked our as the East German tanks and armoured vehicles rumble forward.
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| Whistles sound as East German infantry advance - Hinds whir overhead |
On the American flank, aggressive US deployment of line-abreast armour restricts a similar spearhead force to a more modest advance. T55's enter a long range duel with M90 tanks and manage to knock one out before they lose half their number. Meanwhile the advancing East Germans knock out an American scout section before deploying infantry into the woods.
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| Advance East German elements attack US Scouts in the woods |
Meanwhile, on the other flank, the British are desperate to slow the enemy advance. Five Chieftain tanks ambush the East German armour, while a further 3 arrive behind the enemy column, closing a steel trap around the advancing infantry.
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| Chieftain tanks arrive from reserve and start firing immediately |
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| US infantry hold the bridge against a Russian advance |
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| While US armour repels the East German assault |
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| An East Germans airstrike hits the steadfast British troops |
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| Burning tanks mark the path of the East German advance |
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| Meanwhile an East German landing company sews havoc behind the lines |
Now the Russian troops pounce, mounting simultaneous infantry assaults against the Bridge defenders from two sides, overwhelming the exhausted British defenders. The Afghansty finish the British infantry in brutal hand to hand fighting, while regular Soviet infantry, from the motor rifle company, scale the bridge from the other side of the river. Finally the objective has been captured!
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| Russian troops attack across the river, supported by BMP2's |
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| Russian troops seize and occupy the bridge |
Russian MVP: My MVP is my BMP 2 Motor Rifle Company. Day 1 it took the bridge, and Day 2 it bravely held up the NATO armoured fist.
East German MVP: I was happy with pretty much every unit that I commanded, and the East German forces did their job of using their numerical superiority to draw enemy fire away from the more effective Russian units while maintaining the attack. The Frogfoot was an unexpectedly solid choice, arriving 5/6 turns and striking with great effect.
British MVP: The FV432 APC's. Their withering fire repelled a powerful assault and also cleared half the Russian infantry from the bridge.
US MVP: I had the most fun with the AH1 Cobras. Can engage at range. Hard to hit before they fire with hunter killer and mobile.
Scenery and models featured in this report
Tanks, Aircraft and Infantry - GHQ Models
Farms and church - GHQ Models
Town and industrial buildings - Leven Miniatures
Roads - Total Battle Miniatures
Rivers, Bridges, Trees, Fields - Time Cast Models
Game Mat - Deep Cut Studio
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