AAR - The Cavalry Arrives

Today's game saw the West Germans hand over the task of repelling the red horde to the Good Ol' Boys of the US Armored Cavalry. The game was a predominantly armoured battle featuring an armoured cavalry platoon of M1s and M3 supported by a weakened platoon of 3 M1s and artillery under the control of an AOO in a FISTV. Their task was to stop a breakthrough by a company of T80BVs with an attached motor rifle platoon in BMP2s and supported by a MI-24 Hind F.

Here's view of the table with the Soviet forces due to enter from the left:

The Soviets enter on visible blinds. From the look of it they are looking to move around the American left while sending a thrust through along the road. The blinds reserve a die each in anticipation of American action:

The Hind flies low around the American right:

....and finds the M1 platoon in turret down positions along a low ridge. The Hind fires its rocket pods but does no damage to the M1s:

The Hind uses its final action of its turn to shelter behind the nearby wood to avoid US retaliation to its failed rocket attack:

Soviet tanks are spotted advancing on the US left using the a wood for cover:

....and advancing along the road:

The platoon commander and the Bradley section come off hidden blinds and fire an ITOW each at the Soviet tanks:

The launch of the ATGMs is spotted by an overwatching Soviet tank platoon:

The Armored Cavalry's M1 section also shows itself to open fire. 2 Soviet tanks are destroyed and a third survives an ITOW hit courtesy of its ERA at the expense of a damaged engine:

The AOO in his FISTV tucked into the edge of the wood looks for a target:

.....and spots the motor rifle platoon. His request for fire support is accepted with the news that fire will arrive very quickly. DPICM will cause this lot a few problems:

Things start to go wrong for the Americans. Some good shooting from the overwatching Soviet platoon destroys both of the armoured cavalry M1s:

The Soviets take advantage of the Armoured Breakthrough card to push forward in numbers leaving just the overwatching platoon in position:

....with one platoon reaching the village:

That's what I call shooting. Even a well chosen hull down position won't protect against pinpoint accuracy or a double six:

The Hind flies back into action and fires an AT-6 Spiral at an M1:

The M1 turns to present its best armour which saves it from destruction at the expense of being immobilised:

Think like a Soviet commander - Soviet tanks and IFVs push forward quickly. A salvo of ITOWs destroys one tanks and damages the gunsight on another. The US left is in jeopardy as the M3s have each fired both of their ready ITOWs and need to reload:

More good shooting, this time an M1 is the victim:

....followed by the final remaining undamaged tank:

This is how to shoot on the move -  one action to move and aim, one to move and fire, a third to fire unaimed resulting in 2 Bradleys knocked out:

With the US force devastated and the leading T80 poised to exit the table, the battle was over in turn 4. A total Soviet victory that was unexpected. The Americans were unlucky in getting a bad run of cards at a critical moment, rolling low scores in resolving some of the ITOW hits and receiving some first clas Soviet shooting - twice a T80 scored 2 kills in a turn, but the Soviets exploited their opportunities and took some stopping. A few issues with the rules arose which will be part V3 to be released for testing soon.