56 replies to this topic

[Begemot_]

Jossa is a village in Germany about 18 kilometers west south west of Fulda. Jossa will be the common setting for several war games set in the summer of 1976 which will be reported in this thread.

 

Here is a 1:50,000 scale topo map of Jossa and its surrounding terrain. This map issued to yours truly for maneuvers in the summer of 1977.

 

 

 

The game table is a 3 kilometer by 1.5 kilometer area based on the topography around Jossa. The village sits in a shallow valley with low ridges to the east and to the west. The view below is looking to the west.

 

 

Here is a close-up view of the village:

 

 

 

Looking over the eastern ridge to the west:

 

 

Another view from the eastern ridge:

 

 

Looking back towards the eastern ridge:

 

 

The western ridge:

 

 

 

Note: The tree lines are as illustrated in the photo below. The leaves on the tree line edges extends close to the ground, blocking lines of sight into and from out of the tree groupings.

 

[Begemot_]

Scenario 1 - Hide and Seek

 

Situation

The balloon has gone up in Central Europe and the armies of the East and West have been unleashed against each other. The reasons are of no concern to those who go to face the foe. They have more pressing matters to deal with.

 

Soviet forces have advanced beyond Fulda and are pressing the advance. Looking to take advantage of a possible opportunity to cut off US forces, the Soviets push toward the southwest. Part of the likely path of advance lies along the road through Jossa. The razvedchiki are out, looking for the enemy. The US cavalry troopers, badly depleted but undaunted, wait.

 

US Forces

Mission: Screen the approaches leading south from the village of Jossa, identifying the presence of enemy forces moving south. Engage enemy forces to attrit and delay their advance.

 

Forces Available: 

 

1 x M60A1 tank

 2 x M113 with one dismount team each with Dragon antitank missile

The US forces will be deployed hidden on the table, a counter for each vehicle/team. The US will also have 6 dummy markers, a total of 9 hidden markers. Once deployed, the US units cannot move until the enemy has been spotted.

 

Soviet Forces

Mission: Conduct reconnaissance south through the Jossa area; indentify enemy forces present while remaining undetected; penetrate enemy positions as far as is possible.

 

Forces Available: 2 patrols, each patrol composed of 2 BRDM 2s, each with a dismount team.

 

 

US Deployment

One of the US teams settling into position on the east ridge:

 

 

The M60 takes a position to observe the valley and highway that runs through Jossa:

 

 

Jossa and the highway looking north. The dummy markers for the M60 are in place. The blue edging indicates their location:

 

 

The east ridge, looking to the northeast. One M113 with its Dragon team is placed here to cover this approach. The actual M113 location is indicated by the blue outlined square. The dummy locations are indicated with the 'V' blue lines:

 

 

 

The second M113 with its Dragon team is placed on the west ridge to cover this avenue of approach. The actual location is indicated by the blue square outline. The dummy locations are indicated by the blue 'V's. This view is looking to the southwest:

 

 

 

Below is the big picture to help in keeping oriented. The blue circles indicate the US actual positions. The top and bottom circles are the US M113s and the center circle is the M60A1 tank. The red arrows indicate the entry points of the Soviet recon patrols:

 

 

(Continued ...)

 

[Begemot_]

Scenario 1 - Hide and Seek (continued)

 

The Game

Soviet recon likes to keep a low profile when doing its work, so both patrols will try to stay concealed as they move across the table. As each patrol's actions are fairly independent of each other we will relate each patrol's story separately.

 

The Tale of the West Patrol

 

The west patrol enters the map, skirting along the inside edges of the trees, scanning for the enemy:

 

 

A dismount team scrutinizes the gap between the groups of trees before the patrol moves into the open to cross to the next group of trees:

 

 

A counter in the newly entered tree group is spotted and revealed to be a dummy:

 

 

Having cleared this patch of woods, the patrol prepares to cross the open space to the next group of trees. Seeing nothing, the first BRDM dashes into the open:

 

 

The US M60 tank, in Overwatch, spots the moving BRDM and fires. A miss. The BRDM makes it into the trees. Both sides report the contact:

 

 

The second BRDM takes a deep breath and makes its move, hoping speed will give it an edge against the American tank. Luck deserts the Soviet and the alert Americans get a kill:

 

 

The surviving BRDM continues its mission and moves on through the woods and exits the table, probing to the south for the main American forces.

 

(Continued ...)

 

[Begemot_]

Scenario 1 - Hide and Seek (Continued)

 

The Tale of the East Patrol

 

The east patrol enters and like the west patrol skirts the tree lines as they advance:

 

 

Working razvedchiki, vehicle and dismount team:

 

 

The east patrol clears a dummy counter and then comes up to the end of the tree stand. By this time they have heard the fire of the US tank and the reports of contact and the loss of one of their comrades. Caution is very much the order of the moment.

 

A dismount team is sent across the open space to check out the small copse. Undetected by the US the team finds the copse to be empty of US forces:

 

 

It is fairly certain to the Soviets that the hidden marker on the tree line is an actual American unit, but attempts to spot it have been failures. Getting closer would help. The second dismount team is sent across the open terrain, angling to the left. The American spot this move and fire on the Soviet team, pinning it:

 

 

The Soviets put fire into the woods and both Soviet dismount teams begin to maneuver, working to the American's flanks:

 

 

The American ground team falls back to the waiting M113, boards and the APC withdraws to the south and off the table. The contact is reported by both sides. The American now know that their positions are being heavily probed, a harbinger of a likely Soviet move through the Jossa area.

 

The Soviet patrol presses on, searching for the American main line of resistance:

 

 

The game ends.

 

Results

 

The US mission was to screen the approaches leading to the south from the village of Jossa, identifying the presence and composition of enemy forces moving through their position and to engage enemy forces to attrit and delay their advance. With the exception of delay, the Americans accomplished their mission.

 

The Soviet mission was to recon south though the Jossa area, identifying enemy forces present while remaining undetected and to penetrate enemy positions as far as possible. The Soviets detected US forces in the Jossa area, but their own presence was revealed to the US. They did not spot the US M113 on the west ridge and did lose a BRDM They did continue moving south.

 

Assessed: Draw

 

 

Comments

 

In my experience screening and reconnaissance actions are not common game topics, so I was interested in trying one out. This type of game would be best with fully hidden movement mediated by an umpire so that the full tension and suspense of probing the unknown until contact is made could be realized. The next best solution is using markers to represent units until they are spotted using the game's spotting mechanics. Dummy markers also increase the uncertainty. A problem with using markers is the very process of resolving spotting attempts can reveal to players what is and isn't likely to be a real or a dummy unit.

 

The Mein Panzer rules have a good spotting mechanism. The only change to the rules I made was to allow non-moving reconnaissance troops to make 2 spotting attempts in an activation rather 1 to reflect their better training and experience in spotting.

 

As OGDW has only published an abbreviated 'teaser' listing of Cold War vehicles and equipment for the US and Soviets there were some gaps that needed filling in. For example, the 'teaser' charts do not have the BRDM 2. So data from other rule sets for the period were cobbled to fit the Mein Panzer data format.

 

I'm no expert on reconnaissance and cavalry unit tactics, so those who know about these things will probably find fault with how the forces were used in this game. Constructive criticism is invited.

 

While big tank actions may have more appeal I think this aspect of modern combat, the screening battle, has a lot of potential.

[W. Clark]

I take it that the US force represents part of a cav platoon from the 11th ACR? I was still in A Troop 1/4th Cav in 1st ID in 76. I didn't get to the FRG until May of 77 when I had a Scout section in 3/35th Armor in 1st AD. Our GDP was near Hof. I still shudder when I remember that the Soviet Group of Forces in the DRG had 41 divisions, some within 12 hours road march of my barracks in Bamburg. So, I look forward to your AARs on this.

 

WMC

[healey36]

Thanks for that; great write-up and illustrations (not to mention a lovely game-table). Not only a realistic potential engagement, but also something likely playable in a couple hours. 

[healey36]

One question I have...is/was the "minor" road network really that extensive in that part of Germany (or in Germany as a whole)? Presuming that it is, that's seems pretty remarkable.

[Peter M. Skaar]

Great looking scenario, Begemot!  I will be looking for more.

Healey, there are lots of smaller roads and logging trails throughout Germany.  I remember getting the Fifth Corps game from SPI a long time ago.  On the map were of course the autobahn and secondary roads.  Not quite as prominent, but still featured, were the many logging trails through the woods.  I have to say that the German people maintain their forests very well and each forest is assigned a Forest "Meister" that takes care of it.

[W. Clark]

The road network there depends on where you are. But tactically there are plenty of trails that I was able to navigate with a M113. In fact, that is how I made my living. You stay off the high-speed access routes as that is where the enemy devotes the bulk of his efforts to thwart you. I'd find a way through that obviously threaten to throw a track and counted on that deterring anyone from being there. I'd penetrate and then find an elevation to lay up on and the normal movement behind the lines would show me just about everything my S3 wanted to know in about an hour or so. I did it in Bavaria for three years to the tune of about 150 days plus a year and it worked every time.

 

WMC

[Begemot_]

Guys - Thanks for the comments and your interest in my posting.

 

Clark - The US force is elements of a cavalry platoon, but I didn't have a particular formation in mind. I wanted the US to have a tank and that meant a cavalry unit.

 

I was in Germany from March 1976 through March 1979. Looks like we were there the same time. I was assigned to the 1-39 Inf (M) at Baumholder, part of the 2nd Bde 8th Infantry. Our GDP was in the high country south of Fulda. The approach road that wound its way up the steep slope to our initial position had pre-dug holes in the road for the placement of demo charges to blow the road. I concluded from the terrain we were on that our unit was not on a primary invasion route. Good news at the time.

 

Healey - As Clark and Pete Skaar have stated, the road net in Germany was pretty dense, terrain permitting, particularly with light surface and dirt roads and trails. Looking at the map I based my terrain on you can see what I mean.

 

 

The red and white indicates a secondary road from 4 to 6 meters in width. Such a road goes through the village of Jossa.

 

Paired thin solid black lines indicate a light surface road. There are about five of these radiating out of Jossa.

 

A thin solid black line paired with a dotted line is a light road, most likely dirt. There are several roads of this type on this map.

 

A single thin black line is a farm of forest road. A dotted line is a foot path.

 

As you see from the map above, there are a lot of these different types of roads throughout this area.

 

In fact, in creating the game table, I simplified the road/path net quite a bit.

 

The 1:50,000 Scale Maps - As noted, the above is part of a 1:50,000 scale map of a part of Germany, issued for land navigation purposes by the US Army. I loved these maps! They were so detailed that it was impossible (if you were paying attention) to get lost. They were just amazing.

 

I've started working on the write-up for the next scenario. Stand by. Out.

[healey36]

I pulled out a couple of USGS maps of my local area (north-central Maryland, Piedmont Plateau) just to have a look at what the network looks like here. Back in the 1970s, I worked summers as a delivery-driver for a local building supply company, so I have a decent sense of the state and county road net, but I really hadn't thought much about the tertiary dirt-track and unimproved farm lanes that cris-cross the area. There are many of them, although they tend to be dead-ends mostly leading to a farm, a back field, a stream, etc. Certainly something I'd not considered before, so thanks for the eye-opener.

[W. Clark]

You and I look at a trail that we can fit a track through and see road. To people who think a road is something with tarmac on it, they see that trail and think maybe a mountain bike. Scouts love people who think that way as they never get in our way. Trouble is, if there is someone watching the trail. There will be no room to maneuver. I fixed that by dismounting and running ahead. My driver just kept me in sight, and I could hear an idling engine(s) ahead before they saw me or heard my track. I've run many a mile with whatever I was supposed to be mounted in following me at four miles an hour.

 

WMC

[healey36]

Not to further hijack the thread, but I often wonder about the reliability of tracked equipment. I had a college roommate that did a couple tours of Southeast Asia in the early 1970s, the second of which was commanding an M163, basically a Vulcan 20mm rotary cannon on top of an M113 APC. His assessment was that he spent nearly as much time repairing/replacing thrown tracks as he did moving around in the vehicle. I presume this problem is exacerbated in moving off-road or on unimproved trails or light roads(?) I recall helping a couple guys replace a track on a small Cat D-2 many years ago, and that was a back-breaking job. 

 

Anyway, I look forward to Jossa scenario #2. 

[W. Clark]

I never operated in rain forest. I have operated 113s in Central Alaska, Colorado, the Mohave Desert, Germany, Kansas and in Korea and found them to very reliable for a track. It's different then operating a car on paved roads. You beat these things up just getting from A to B. In Colorado as an example, I was a young Buck Sergeant (72-73) and was trying to find a way through impassable terrain to penetrate the enemy screen. I found a way that required me to take the 113 off a 6 foot drop off to get through (there was no going back). I replaced my driver and eased the track over the edge while I leaned back on the laterals. The track slowly edged over the drop and when it touched down, I let the laterals go and we went off that ledge like we meant to. I couldn't get back that way, but I was through and that was the intent. That maneuver far exceeded what the track was designed to do but it did it. 

 

As for Maintenace needs, all tracked vehicles require more Maintenace than wheeled vehicles, but you can go places no wheeled vehicle will take you. I've had several years' experience with M151 (jeeps), often alongside tracks and the wheels were what limited where we could go. It's like comparing an M60 MG to a M16 rifle. Sure, the MG is heavier and so is its ammo. But when you need it the lighter M16 will not cut it compared to the MG. Besides, it's a soldier's right to bitch about his equipment, the weather and life in general.

 

WMC

[W. Clark]

As for the 11th ACR, it replaced the 6th ACR when it came back from Vietnam as the V Corps cavalry regiment. As such it operated as the Cover Force for the Corps and Fulda was considered the primary axis of advance for the Soviets against V Corps.

 

WMC

[Begemot_]

Jossa Scenario 2 - Collision

 

Introduction

Continuing from the previous Jossa ("Hide and Seek") scenario the Soviet command decides that, based on their reconnaissance reports, an opportunity to attempt to cut off American forces retreating west exists. A tank regiment is ordered to move southwest in the Jossa direction to carry out this maneuver. The Americans recognize their vulnerability and order forces to move to block the Soviet threat. A meeting engagement is in the offing.

 

As I have neither the table space nor models enough to execute a very large engagement, this scenario will be small in scale, representing the initial contact of the forces.

 

U.S. Forces

Mission: Engage advancing Soviet forces to delay or halt their advance south through the Jossa valley.

 

Forces Available: 1 x M60A1 platoon (5 tanks) 

 

Soviet Forces

Mission: Operating as part of the advance guard move south through Jossa to engage US forces and carry out the regiment's mission to cut off and destroy US forces withdrawing west.

 

Forces Available: 1 x T62 company (9 tanks)

 

Deployment

Both forces start off table, entering on the first turn, the Soviets from the right (the north) and the Americans from the left (the south).

 

 

The Game

The US gets the initiative and enters first followed by the Soviets. The US engages a spotted Soviet tank but misses.

 

 

Second turn the Soviets get the initiative. Moving forward they exchange fire with two US tanks on the US left and get a hit which immobilizes and suppresses one tank.

 

 

The US activation sees the suppressed tank recover and the other two tanks on the US left fire. One T62 is killed.

 

 

On the third turn the Soviets win the initiative. The Soviet right platoon checks its morale due to its loss and becomes Shaken. They cannot advance this turn, but they can fire and doing so they immobilize another US tank. A center Soviet platoon tank fires at the just immobilized US tank and kills it. Further Soviet fires miss and the remainder of the Soviet company moves forward.

 

 

The US platoon activates and checks morale due to its loss. Morale remains good. The remaining left flank US tanks fire with one miss and one suppression result. The two US tanks on the right, unable to see the Soviets on their left remain in Overwatch, waiting for the enemy to appear to their front.

 

 

Turn 4 the US gets the initiative so the two US tanks on the left fire. One miss and one kill.

 

 

The Soviets on the right continue firing at the US tanks on the US left and kill both US tanks. The US left has been destroyed.

 

 

The Soviet center platoon passes its morale check and advances. The Soviet left platoon also moves forward but comes under fire from the overwatching right flank US tanks. One Soviet tank is suppressed and another is destroyed.

 

 

Turn five sees the Soviets with the initiative. The Soviet left platoon passes its morale but the suppressed tank remains so. The remaining left flank platoon tank advances through Jossa to the edge of town. The Soviet right flank platoon now advances and engages the left of the remaining US tanks, getting an immobilized and suppressed result. The center Soviet platoon now moves forward but its fires miss.

 

 

 

(Continued ... )

 

[Begemot_]

Scenario 2 - Collision (continued)

 

 

 

The US activation sees the US fail its morale check with a rout result. The only US tank that can move exits the table. Its immobilized comrade is abandoned.

 

 

The Soviets begin the pursuit.

 

 

Results

U.S.: 3 tanks killed; 1 tank immobilized and abandoned; 1 tank escaped.

 

Soviets: 3 tanks killed.

 

Assessed: Soviet victory.

 

Comments

Tactics: This is a meeting engagement and the tactics used by both sides were very basic: get into line and blaze away until somebody wins. For the Soviets this tactic naturally follows from their tank company battle drill, rapidly deploy from column into line and attack to maintain offensive momentum. So why would the US side chose such a tactic, considering they are out numbered? If your foe is on you before you expect him you do your best and pray that will be good enough. This is just the sort of situation you have here with both sides coming into view at the same time and within range.

 

US Tank Camouflage: If you are curious about the camouflage scheme carried by the US tanks it is the MASSTER scheme. This was a scheme that many US units in Germany carried before the introduction of the MERDC scheme. Here is a closer view of the models:

 

 

Click here for more: https://lairbegemot....s-was.html#more

 

Mein Panzer M60A1 Values: When I closely examined the 'teaser' Cold War data for the M60A1 tank that OGDW has published I noticed that the frontal defensive value was given as '14'! The T62 has '8' listed as its frontal defensive value. These two tanks were understood to be relatively evenly matched. The M60 value seemed too much so a check of other data sources led me to adjust the front defensive value to a '9' with additional adjustments to the side (from '7' to '4') and the rear (from '3' to '2'). The battle was fought with these adjusted values.

[Kenny Noe]

Hello,

 

Thank you for the AAR.  (Keep'em coming!!)

 

So about the numbers. The numbers for the M60 and T-62 are the original numbers that in all honesty were guessed by the author Jon back in 2003.  He was under the gun to publish the "Core Rules" and did the best he felt with what data he could find.  Jon sold the company in 2009 to the current motley crew.  Bob Benge was named Mein Panzer manager and I am the post WWII data researcher.

 

This all said, Bob and I took time during 2021-22 to update the rules to 2.1.B version.  All the updates are documented here :

https://www.odgw.com...ore-rules-v21b/

 

You can DL the "new" book from the Private DL Library.

 

A MAJOR update was to research and put numbers in the equipment table that 20yrs later are identifiable (somewhat).  The Cold War Databook chapter was renamed the Mid Cold War Databook chapter.  And the Ultra Modern Databook Chapter was renamed the Late Cold War Databook chapter.  (And it has stats for the BRDM-2 Recc vehicle)

 

Some of these stats will go into either the Arab-Israeli Wars Databook 1967 or Arab-Israeli Wars Databook 1973.  (Titles may  change...) 

 

So I recommend you DL the latest version of the Core rule (w/ the updated chapters).  And buy the Arab-Israeli Wars Databook Vol.1 1948-1956 for the updated data on vehicles used in post WWII engagements  (Shameless plug, I know)

 

Thanks again for the AARs.

 

BTW we'll be in Lancaster PA next weekend for Fall-In! 2023 running MP games.

[Kenny Noe]

One more note after some sleep and thought on the subject.   There is a substantial different in armor values between the M60 and the M60A1.  This is primarily due to the redesigned (arrowhead) shape (slope) of the turret vs the normal oval shape.  So when researching the two armor values there will be a LOS difference in thickness.

 

The reason I point this out is the references to "M60" values but the use of M60A1 vehicles in the AAR.  (Apologies for the lawyer in me coming out.  <grin>)

 

Thanks

 

BTW - Great paint job on the M60A1!

[Begemot_]

Kenny,

 

Thanks for the heads-up on the Cold War data sheets in the 2.1.b version of the rules. This will be very helpful.

 

Glad you liked the M60A1 MASSTER camouflage painting. A strange scheme, but it was fun to paint.

 

Looking forward to any pictures taken of your games at the upcoming Fall-In! convention.

 

 

 

Begemot