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Storming The Waidhaus Gap Southern Germany, 17 August 1988 4 PG Dv Covering Force 18 Gds MRD, Fwd Detachments & First Echelon MRR
Storming The Waidhaus Gap Storming The Waidhaus Gap is a “Cold War Hot” what if scenario set in August 1988, following the commencement of hosRliRes in Western Europe on the central front. The Game pitches 4 Panzer Grenadier Division’s covering force against the Forward detachments of 18 Guards Motor Rifle Division as it forces a crossing of the German Czechoslovakian border at Waidhaus in the opening hours of the Third World War. The ORBATs used are based on the assumpRons stated within Victor Suverov’s book inside the Soviet Army that: • The Peace Rme structure of Soviet Armies and Fronts would not represent the warRme ORBAT. • The Soviets would incorporate the NaRonal formaRons of the Warsaw pact states inRmately into their structures • The Soviet Army would pursue a consistent approach to the structure of Armies and Fronts unless they had good reason to choose not to. • The Soviet Army throughout its History expended significant effort successfully on Maskerovka The Scenario is set against the background of General Sir John Hackets book the third world war but a few years later.
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Securing The Waidhaus Gap 17 August 1988
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Military SituaRon
CENTAG, Central & Southern Germany •
Air Armies of the 3 First Echelon fronts together with the Spetznaz and Air Assault Ba"alions hit targets through out the CENTAG and NORTHAG areas on the night of 16/17th August a"acking HQs and securing key features and defiles in proximity to the Inner German Bprder and Czech German Border
•
3rd Western Front a"acked across the German Czechoslovakian Border into VII US Corps in the North and II Ge Corps in the South. The Front commander deployed 22 CAA in the North and 4 CSLA CAA in the south with 1 CSLA TA in the Front 2nd Echelon.
•
II Ge Corps in the South deployed 4 PG Div North, 1 GbJgr Div South with 10 Pz Div in Reserve. Within 4 PG Div area 10 PG Bde is North, 56 HS Bde Center and 11 PG Bde South, with 12 Pz Bde in reserve. A strong ba"legroup built around 4 PzAuf Bn provided the forward deployed covering force heavily reinforced by elements of the reserve and strongly supported by AviaRon and Air assets from Heersflieger Regiment 26 and the Alpha jets of Jagdbombergeschwader 49 out of fustenfeldbruck air base
•
22 CAA Intended to cross the border at Waidhaus and Arzberg, with a main axis of advance Nuremburg – Stu"gart. The Combined Armes Army deployed 30 MRD North through the Arzberg gap against VII US Corps and 18 Gds MRD South through the Waidhaus gap with a main axis of advance passing south of Nuremberg through10 PzGren Bdes area on the line Waidhaus – Amberg – Neumarket-‐ Stu"gart.
Military SituaRon
4PzGren Division, D D Day H + 2 • 4PG Dv had deployed 4 PzAuf Bn as a covering force across 10 PG Bde and 56 HS Bdes Frontage covering the Main crossing points of the Cham and Waidhaus gaps. • 4 PzAuf Bn formed the principal component of 2 strong Kamf Groups covering the border crossings, 11 PG Bde remained responsible for the divisional frontage in its AOR which was generally considered impassible to major armored formaRons. • At 04:00 aler a period of significant air acRvity in its area communicaRons were lost with Kamf Group Von Maltzahn due to heavy and conRnuous broad band Jamming, a Recce flight from Heersfliegerstaffle 4 was sent to reestablish communicaRons with the Waidhaus covering force. 2 Flights of PAH 1 from PzAbwRegt 26 were moved to immediate noRce to move.
Military SituaRon
PzAuf Bn 4, Oberstleutnant Dietrich von Maltzahn Kampf Group Von Maltzahn was one of two Kampf groups formed to provide the covering force across the 100km frontage of 4PG Dv. The Kampf groups were consRtuted from The Panzeraunlarungs ba"alion and elements of the Divisional and Korps Reserves. As both the principal border crossing points sat within 4 PG Dvs Area of Responsibility this force was significant
The Kampf Group Comanded by Oberstleutnant Dieter Von Maltzahn deployed its forward elements into the Waidhaus gap on the night of 15 August 1988. As well as Waidhaus they also covered the area South to Waldmunchen, Kampf Group Steiner covered the Cham Gap.
Kampf Group Von Maltzahn was consRtuted from elements of PzAufBtl.4, PzBtl. 123, FschJgBtl.251, FschJgBtl 252, PzJgKp.120, PzAufZug.120 supported by elements of PzArtBtl.125, RkArtBtl.42 HeersFliegerStaffele.4 and PzAbwRegt. 26. Support was also available from elements of 10 PG Bdes covering force.
SupporRng Air SorRes were expected from the Alpha Jets of Jagdbombergeschwader 49 out of Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base
Military SituaRon
PzAufB 4 Ba"le Group D Day 05:00 • •
Kamf Group Von Maltzhan had deployed across the 10 PG Bde frontage as follows: Waidhaus – 251 FJ Bn reinforced by elements of 252 FJ Bn – 1 Coy 123 Tank Batalion (Leo 2) – PzAuf Bn 4 Recce Group 1 – 21 and 23 Ba"ery 4 Flugabwehrregiment 10 PG Covering Force – 100 PzAfZug – 100 PJKp
•
Eslharn 12PzAufZg group 1 – –
1 Recce SecRon 1 PJZug 120 PJKp
•
Schonsee 12PzAufZg group 2
•
TreffelsRen 12PzAufZg group 3
– –
– –
• •
1 Recce SecRon 2 PJZug 120PJKp
1 Recce SecRon 2 PJZug 120PJKp
The Kamf Group Reserve 2 and 3 Kp 123 Tank Bn was at Moosbach and 124 Tank Bn the Kamf Group SRener Reserve was at Oberviechtach 2 Flights of PzAbwRegt 26 were held at a FARP at Schwarzenfield secured by 254 FJ Bn
Military SituaRon 18 Gds MRD Orbat, 1988 Major General Petre Khrenov – 18 Guards MRD was one of two MRDs in the 20 CAA first Echelon. It was to cross the Czech/German border at Waidhaus at around 06:00 hours on 17th August, following acRons to secure the Waidhaus Gap by 901 Independent Air Assault Ba"alion and 468 MRB Group a heavily reinforced Forward detachment provided by 48 MRD in the Armies 2nd Echelon – The first echelon MRRs 275 and 278 would pass through the secured defile heading for a river crossing of the NAAB in the vicinity of Wenberg. The Wenberg crossing was to be secured by the divisions own forward detachment 65 MRB in conjuncRon with 9 Company 37 MRR Bn from 275 MSP. 65 MRB was due to cross the Czech border between Eselarn and Schonsee from 00:01 0n 17th August – The Remainder of the Armies Forward Detachment based on 721 MRR from 15 CSLA MSD would drive on Amberg to secure a crossing of the Vilis between Theuren and Kummersbruck and in conjuncRon with 149 Parachute Infantry Ba"alion from the Fronts Air Assault Brigade would then secure the defile between Amberg and the Hirchwald through which 18 Gds MRD would pass.
Notes: whilst the Regimental numbers for the Motor Rifle, Tank and ArRllery Regiments are believed to be correct, the remainder have been made up based on other units
B
u 4 PzA
Waidhause
VII US xxx II Ge
MR 468
1 fB RG
251 FJ B,
B
R 65 M
Moosbach
123 PzB
Eslarn
10PG Bde x 4PzAufB Schonsee
Wernberg
124 PzB
Oberviechtach
TrefflsRen
KG Von II KG Steiner
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12 Pz Bde 280 MRB Group
MISSIONS
PzAufB.4 Kampf Group Mission PzAufB.4 D Day 05:00
• The Mission Given by the divisional Commander to Kampf Group Von Me
Delay for 6 hours (12 Turns) within boundaries in order to allow 252 FJB to prepare an area AT Ambush in the vicinity of Amberg
280 MRR Group -‐ Mission Colonel Ivan Rokovski • Mission Given to Maj Suverov Commander of 468 MSB the forward detachment was to – secure Waidhaus Gap by 10:00 hours in order to allow 18 GvMSD to cross the German Czech Border at Waidhaus by 12:00 from Comd 22 OA
• Mission given to Major Bezarin, commander 901 Independent Air Assault Ba"alion by Comd 22 OA -‐ Prevent counter a"acks into the Waidhause gap from the West and South in order to allow 18 GvMSD to cross the German Czech Border at Waidhaus by 10:00
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12 Pz Bde 280 MRB Group
ORBATS
468GvMSB, Forward Detachment Maj •
468 MRB Group –
468 MRB (BMP 2) • • • • •
– –
2 Coy 27 TB, each 4 T-‐72A 280 Engineer Company Mobility Support Detachment • • • • • •
–
3 BRDM 2 AT5, 1 BRDM2, 1 Zil 131
280 MRR RAG • •
–
1 BMR, 1 BMP2, 1 BRDM 2, 1 RPG, 1 LMG, 4 AK74
280 MRR AnR Tank Ba"ery •
–
Recce 1 BTR 60PB, 1 BRDM 2 Rkh Mine Clearing Detachment, , 1 Zil 131, 3 KMT4 Mine rollers, 1 MTK2 Bridging 1 T-‐55 Bridge Layer Route Improvement 1 T-‐72 Dozer Security 1 BMP Coy, , 1 BMP, 8 Figures, 1 LMG, 1 RPG, 1 Commander, 4 AK74 Engineer Pl 1 BTR 60PB, 4 Fig AKM, 1 AKMS, 1 RPGr
280 MRR Recce Company •
–
HQ, 1 BMP, 4 Figures, Commander, Radio Op, Sniper, AK74 3 Coy, 1 BMP, 8 Figures, 1 LMG, 1 RPG, 1 Commander, 4 AK74 AGS 17 Platoon 1 BMP, 2 AGS 17 SAM Platoon, 1BMP, 3 SAM, 3 AK74 MTR Platoon, 1 MTLB, 2 120mm Mortar
8 2S1, 2 BRDM 2U, 2 OP parRes 8 2S3 2 BTR 60 OP ParRes
280 MRR AD Ba"ery •
1 ZSU 23-‐4, 1 SA 9 Gopher
901 DShB, Forward Detachment •
Deploy West of Line Y
•
901 DShB – BHQ 5 Fig, – 2PICoy each 11 Fig 6 AKM, 1 AKMs, 1 RPG, 1PKMS, 1AT7 – 1 BMD Coy 1 BTR-‐D, 2BMD 1P, 6 Fig, 4 AKM 1 RPG 1 AKMS – Recce Pl 1 BRDM 2 – AT Pl 1 SPG9, 2 AT-‐4 – Mor Pl, 2 82mm Morter 1 MOP – AA Pl 3 SA7, 3 AKM – DF Sp Pl 2 AGS-‐17 AviaRon – Assault and Combat Helicopter Regiment • 1 Sqn 5 Mi-‐24 D • 1 Sqm 2 Mi 8 TV, 3 Mi 8 T – Indipendent Helicopter Transport Regiment • 1 Heavy Lil Squadroin 2 Mi 26, 1 Mi 6 • 1 Medium Lil Squadron 4 Mi 8 Strike Package – 2 Flights FGA each 1 Su25 – 2 Flights FGA each 1 Mig 27 ArRllery – 1 Bn BM21 3 Bty of 2 BM21 failed arRllery request Turns 1 -‐3 1 Bty only – 2 Scatmin Missions – 2 Bn 2S5 each 3 Bty 2 Guns, Turns 1 & 2 only preplaned fire
•
•
•
275GvMSP, Lead MRR – 3 Bn BMP • • • • •
HQ, 1 BMP, 4 Figures, Commander, Radio Op, Sniper, AK74 3 Coy, 1 BMP, 8 Figures, 1 LMG, 1 RPG, 1 Commander, 4 AK74 AGS 17 Platoon 1 BMP, 2 AGS 17 SAM Platoon, 1BMP, 3 SAM, 3 AK74 MTR Platoon, 1 MTLB, 2 120mm Mortar
– 1 Bn T-‐72 A, each 9 T-‐72A – 280 MRR Recce Company •
1 BMR, 1 BMP2, 1 BRDM 2, 1 RPG, 1 LMG, 4 AK74
– 280 MRR AnR Tank Ba"ery •
3 BRDM 2 AT5, 1 BRDM2, 1 Zil 131
– 280 MRR RAG •
6 2S1, 2 BRDM 2U, 2 OP parRes
– 280 MRR AD Ba"ery •
1 ZSU 23-‐4, 1 SA 9 Gopher
Orbat PzAuf Bn 4 Ba"le Group Deploy any where on Board
PzAufB 4 Recce Group 1 1 Kp 4 x Leo1, 1 Fuchs with GSR, 4 Figs G3 1 PfF44 1 Kp 2 Leo 1A5, 2 Luchs FJB 251, 253 2 PzJKp each 3 Weasel TOW, 2 Weasel 20mm (or Kraka) 2 FJKp each 2 Milan Kraka, 6 G3 1 MG3 1Carl Gustarv 1PzF 44 1 FJKp Grp 2 Milan Kraka, 6 G3 1MG3, 1 Carl Gustav, 1 PzF 44, 2 Kraka 20mm 1 Mor Platoon 2 120mm Mortar Kraka 123 PzBtl 1 Kp 4 Leo 2 4 Flak Regiment 2 Bty each 2 Gepard, 1 Unimog 2 Redeye
Limited Deployment (deploy behind line X) 10 PzBde Recce Group 2 Luchs, 4JgPzRkt
Deployment opRons on Waidhaus Gap Terrain, Slide 20
Orbat PzAufB 4 Ba"le Group Off Board Reserves/Counter ALack Force From Turn 3, 123 PzBtl 2 Kp each 4 Leo 2, Dice for arrival, d6: 1 or 2 all arrive on turn 3; 3,4or 5, 1Kp Turn 3, 1 Kp Turn 4; 6 all arrive turn 4. AddiRonal delays if choose entry points other than A or B From Turn 8 124 PzBtl 1 Kp 4 Leo 2, Dice for arrival, d6, 1-‐3 on turn , 4-‐6 on following turn. AddiRonal delays if choose entry points other than A or B
ArPllery 125 PzArtBtl 2 FOO, 3 Bty 2 M109; on request support roll of 1 only 1 Bty available 42 RkyArtBtl 1 FOO, 3 Turns of support from 3 Bty 2 MLRS, up to 1 Scatmin Mission, request support roll 1 no support 41 FdArtyBtl and 105 PzArtBtl from turn 6 request support roll 1 or 2 no support
Air AviaPon (Dice per turn on task on roll of 1 re deployed) 1 Sqn PzAbwRegt 26 1 Sqn 5 MBB105 2 Flights 1 Alpha Jet (or A10)
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The Waidhaus Gap
GROUND
Waidhaus Gap Terrain and Entry/Exit Points
Entry at:
Point A, B German Tank Companies on Turn specified Point C German Tank Coy + 1 Turn Point D German Tank Coy + 2 Turn Point E Soviets on Turn specified Point H Exit Marginal Victory Point I Exit Victory Point G resounding Victory
Line X
D
Line y E H
G
C
F
I
B
A
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Deployment, Special Rules, Victory CondiRons & Player InformaRon
STORMING THE WAIDHAUS GAP PLAYER BRIEFS
Special Rules •
•
•
Air Superiority – Turns 1-‐3 Soviet – Turns 4-‐6 NATO – Therealer Dice, d6, 1-‐3 Soviet 4-‐6 NATO – When a side has air superiority, the opposing side must save if it has aircral on board, dice once for each aircral, D6, 1 aircral destroyed, 2 aircral aborts, 3-‐6 conRnue with mission. Movement – an addiRonal 12" move regardless of terrain if no other acRon taken, and not within 2' of observed enemy unit at start of move – Plus 1 to hit for firing at target conducRng an extended move ObservaRon, all TI equipped MBT to be treated as Recce for ObservaRon
•
Scatmin – 6 x 6 inch squares per mission deployed either 1 x 6 line or 2 x 3 area. – use direcRon dice to determine direcRon of error, d6 inches to determine distance. – Minefield effects, dice D6 for each vehicle entering, 1-‐2 the vehicle takes a hit, resolve damage as per rules. – Use of ploughs or rollers will remove effect, MG Fire will give damaged vehicles a saving throw which is successful on a 6
•
ECM Aircral – an ECM aircral adds + 1 on score to hit for selected radar type when on board at medium alRRtude
PzAufB.4 Kampf Group Player Brief • Aim is to prevent exit of follow on MRR before turn 12, • Set up within deployment parameters. • Reserves to enter from one of allocated direcRons with turn penalRes as applicable. Choice of entry point at Rme of entry • 50% of FJgr infantry companies can be dug in
Soviet Player Brief Aim is to exit 275 MRR as quickly as possible with as few casualRes as possible ECM aircral on board +1 to hit roll for radar directed weapons 901 DShB must land West of Line Y All Forces enter from Eastern Board edge via entry point selected prior to game start.
Victory CondiRons
• Exit 75% of MRR before turn 18 from Exit G (West) -‐ Soviet Win • Exit 50% of MRR before turn 18 from Exit G -‐ Draw • Exit 25% of MRR before turn 18 from Exit G – German Win If Soviets Meet any of the exit criteria by turn 10, Increase by Category in their favor. If Soviets Exit via either of the alternate Exit routes reduce by Category. If Germans sustain more than 30% casualRes increase by Category.