SABRE SQUADRON: Soviet River Crossing Part 2 Final

I got to play the remaining turns of my SABRE SQUADRON Soviet river (canal) crossing operation today and the final result probably won't surprise anyone.  Voroshilov gambled with the first platoon and sent them through the minefield, even as the engineers furiously cleared the mines behind them.

  He lucked out significantly as the crossing resulted in a mere 2 "suppression" results, most likely a result of setting off an anti personnel mine, instead of an anti vehicle mine.  Anyways, the Soviet armor poured across the canal and the infantry platoon on the left stormed the bridge with very heavy casualties.  This was a Soviet victory.

Armor pours across the canal crossing covered by the Hind gunship.  "Hmm.  We're still alive" muttered the lead tank's commander.

 The Soviets moved through the gap covered by a Hind gunship which fired off its last missile, missing the target, a Dutch Centurion.

The village with destroyed buildings and burning Soviet tanks.

 The Soviet infantry on the left receive priority of fires and the FO calls in their supporting battery.  The rolling goes well and the mission is successful, bringing 6 tubes of 122mm artillery down on the the area formerly occupied by a Dutch squad.  For all intents and purposes, the Dutch have given up the town.

122mm towed artillery plasters the village as Soviet infantry lower left attempt to move in.  They become neutralized by the .50 caliber on the M113s on the far bank.

 The Dutch move their M113s through the crops up to the outskirts of the village in an attempt to provide Final Protective Fires on the village position and allow the infantry to get into the fight.  It works well and the M113s score quite a few hits on the advancing Soviet infantry.

The 122mm barrage barely misses the M113s.

"We got out of there just in time!"  Marvels the Dutch squad from the department store.

 Voroshilov, monitoring the tank canal crossing, doesnt realize there is a big infantry fight starting on his left.  Soviet fireteams maneuver against the bridge but are being held back by the Dutch HMGs.

Soviet infantry storm the bridge and shelter behind a knocked out Soviet tank.  Then the mortars start dropping...

 The Soviet platoon commander notices mortars on the far side of the bridge but has a different reaction:  "That's good.  We've reached their final line.  They've had it here."  He urges his men across.

Gritty house to house fighting in World War 3!

The Soviet infantry platoon commander drops his binoculars and grabs his AK74.  He moves forward to be closer to his men.  As much as he'd like to stay in this cozy church steeple, there is work to be done...

Soviet infantry swarming the bridge

 The infantry make it to the far side of the bridge and grab a toe-hold on the other side but a fusillade of .50 caliber tracer fire finds them as they do.  Men start dropping quickly.

THREE HUNDRED THIS IS THREE OH FIVE, WE HAVE MADE IT ACROSS AND ARE ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE CANAL.  SEND EVERYONE AFTER US - THE MINES ARENT AS DENSE AS WE THOUGHT!

 Voroshilov slams his palm down on the turret.  We made it!  Suddenly a voice he is not accustomed to hearing sounds on the radio.  HAWK 03, the Hind gunship finally checks in with Voroshilov.  "This is Hawk Zero Three.  We are out of missile ammunition to cover your tanks.  Unless you have more work for us we will return to base."
Voroshilov hammers back onto the radio "NO!  NO YOU WILL TURN NORTH TOWARDS THE TOWN AND ENGAGE HOSTILES WHERE THEY APPEAR!  AND MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE - OUT"  Feeling happy with himself, Voroshilov decides to check in on #301 and see what the hell is going on in the town.

NATO APCs are exacting a brutal toll on the advancing infantry.  If only the Soviets had tank support here.  

 Voroshilov once again yells into the radio.  THREE OH ONE THIS IS THREE HUNDRED.  REPORT YOUR STATUS AT ONCE!  But to no avail.  #301's morale drops to withdraw and stays there for the remainder of the battle.  Pasha's tank sits back at the assembly area....  Thinking the first platoon knocked out, Vorshilov decides to move there himself now that he has tanks across the canal.

Tank #301 skulks in the rear, his platoon, destroyed.  When Voroshilov finds out about his cowardice he is immediately sent to Division for his court martial.  The rumor went that the Category II unit courts martial were brutal with the leadership desperate to prove they were not "soft" as their regular active duty comrades accused them of.  Pasha was stripped of his commission and sent to an infantry battalion to serve as a rifleman.  He is lucky he was not shot immediately.

Note the breach in the minefield as the second platoon moves into the breach area.  Third platoon is over and engaging NATO targets on the far side.  The lead T-55 fires at a Centurion and hits it, only to have the round bounce.  He couldn't have known that the crew became neutralized from the shot

The Soviets throw their men across the bridge and bring up the APCs for extra fire support.  The infantry are taking heavy casualties now but the morale is holding.

 THREE HUNDRED THIS IS HAWK OH THREE. The Hind reports in.  YOUVE GOT A FIGHT GOING ON OVER HERE.  WE ARE ENGAGING HOSTILE INFANTRY TARGETS WEST OF THE VILLAGE.
More mortar fire finds the attacking Soviet troops but none score any direct hits.

note the infantry on left bank of the canal and more moving up.  The Hind spots Dutch infantry in a park off-picture to the left.  The Dutch decide to bug out.

Voroshilov watches the battle unfold.  He's got to reinforce those infantry on the far side.

THREE OH FIVE THIS IS THREE HUNDRED, MOVE NORTH AND ENGAGE HOSTILE TARGETS AS THEY APPEAR UNTIL YOU REACH THE BRIDGE.  SECOND PLATOON IS FOLLOWING YOU.  YOU ARE IN COMMAND OF THE FAR SIDE.  I WILL MEET YOU AT THE BRIDGE.  OUT.

plenty of heavy metal moving west now.

Final Dispositions.

LESSONS LEARNED
There were a few lessons learned and, believe it or not, rest on tactical principles.  Here are some things I learned (the hard way).

Obstacle Plan:  The defender's obstacle plan, in this case the minefield at the canal crossing, was not covered by fire.  This battle may have had a much different outcome had those Dutch tanks or infantry been covering the canal crossing in conjunction with their minefield.  The Dutch tanks started out, as a protective measure, too far behind the canal.  This was to avoid being hammered by Soviet artillery or direct fires right away.

Infantry Maneuver:  The Dutch, who used their APCs very well against the advancing Soviet infantry, still had a squad in a reserve position.  Initially it was thought to put them in however the Dutch commander felt the town was going to fall and they would need to have their collective rears covered in case.  They probably should have been moved up as soon as the Soviet infantry reached the bridge.  The Soviet force on the Dutch side of the canal was a weak one and probably could have been pushed back with more aggressive use of infantry.

Use Your Mortars!  The Dutch had an 81mm mortar section in the reserve position in the park the whole battle and the first time those tubes reached out was turn 9???  In Sabre Squadron, artillery controlled by your force has a good chance of actually making it so it's advisable to use it whenever and wherever possible.

Air Defense Troops:  Sad to say my ADA troops, in this case a MANPADS section with the Dutch HQs didn't hit the Hind once after 3 shots!  The only successful result was fire from a Centurion tank which suppressed the pilots.  Probably should have had a dedicated AAA vehicle there which would have helped tremendously considering 100% of the Dutch Armor casualties were from the ATGM fired from the Hind.