1980's Afghanistan AAR

In between laundry duties and a kitchen DIY project, I got a game in today. I decided to use some old Soviet-Afghanistan War Russians (mostly H&R, some GHQ) against the Mujahedeen. The scenario was based on the Test of Arms scenario in the previous post, but was one that was probably repeated across the country during the 1980s: the Soviets were to advance and occupy a village in a valley and clear it out of weapons and fighters. The fighters were watching from the hills. I used the Hidden Deployment rules from CWC2 and rolled for 2 additional HD tokens for each HQ. 
Soviet forces
CO
2 HQs
FAO
6 T62M tanks
10 conscript infantry
1 HMG
1 82mm mortar
6 BTR70 APCs
Off table 122mm artillery with 1 salvo of chemical munitions and 5 HE. 

Afghan forces
CO
2 HQs
Group 1 
6 infantry
1 82mm mortar

Group 2
6 infantry
1 HMG 

Group 3 
6 infantry
1 HMG + 6 Hidden Deployment markers.
The village with Hidden Deployment markers randomly placed- I was not aware of what force was where or if they were blank. 
The Soviet forces had a slow start, the infantry HQ failed then the CO failed. The Afghan forces repositioned slightly but were happy to wait. 
Turn 2 saw the Soviets get off the mark and with impressive coordination. A series of successful rolls including a Command Bonus, saw them deploy and form up 2 infantry groups to start advancing towards the village with a Bronegruppa of APCs behind each group. 
The infantry force in column before the radio net was functioning and they were just sat around with engines idling and doing nothing to further the cause of Marxism. 
The Soviets advance and spot the HD marker. It's a blank. 
The second infantry group also turned up a blank. 
By turn 3, the Soviets had spotted a group of fighters on a hill. The Afghans used Opportunity Fire to knock out the Soviet HMG team. The tank company moved forwards and fired on the move. Even with the reduced effect, they suppressed some infantry and allowed the Soviets to withdraw out of range. 
The Soviet FAO advances. 
A successful command roll saw the FAO call in a salvo of off table artillery, using chemical munitions. 
The still conditions were the perfect opportunity for High Command to try out new chemical weapons on the enemy. 

The artillery strike was accurate and effective. Every unit was suppressed and so we're easy pickings for AP fire from the tanks. 
By turn 5, the Afghan commander revealed all the markers and moved to contact with the Soviets. Their victory conditions required them to inflict enough casualties to reach the Soviet Breakpoint and to remain on the map. 
Turn 7. Another bonus and the Soviets swiftly moved through the empty village. The BTR70s fired and knocked out more infantry while the Afghan mortar fired and suppressed Soviet forces, but to no great effect. 
Final turn, the remaining Afghan HMG attempts to cover the withdrawal of the other fighters, but their fire is erratic and ineffective. The fighters disappeared into the hills and the Soviet forces were left in possession of the village with minimal casualties. A surprisingly efficient job and a weekend pass all round for the Motor Rifle lads. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Somewhere in Austria, 1985

Image
Andy T voyaged over the passes today to Sheffield, via the less travelled route of Winnats Pass, due to the Snake Pass being shut (for who knows how long?) Andy was keen to give his NVA army a run out, a Panzer Brigade that has been prepared for the Cold War Commanders big game next month at The Unit in Staffordshire. Facing them was a hurried deployment of the 82nd Airborne, deployed from Italy into Austria as part of NATO's southern flank, where the decision to override niceties such as neutrality has been taken, in order to stem the WarPac advance. 
Read more

Crisis Point- forces and Day One

Image
DAY 1  The Soviet aim was clear- advance across the board, reduce enemy forces but bypass strong resistance and continue the push to Prague. The Soviet forces available were:  224 Motor Rifle Regiment  Mech battalion 2 HQs 3 companies of 6 infantry + 3 M3 half tracks AA M14 half-track with quad .50cals Support company of 2 82mm mortars and 1 DsHK HMG Motor battalion  As above, but mounted in trucks 2 battalions of T44 tanks. 9 tanks + 1 HQ per battalion. The latest in Soviet armour technology and basically what you would expect a tank to look like if a T55 and a T34 had a baby.  Recce- elements of the regimental reconnaissance force- 3 M3 half tracks plus 4 Recce Support T34/85 tanks. In CWC2 these recce support forces are whatever that unit is, in this case, tanks, but with the Recce ability.  Artillery- 2 batteries of 3 152mm guns each, 1 battery of Katyusha rocket launchers Regimental Command element - CO, FAO, FAC. There was a pool of aircraft that would be called on, depending on
Read more

Skirmish on the edge of Khemikhal

Image
 The first actual tabletop battle was a small affair fought last night.  US forces comprised 302/1, a Marine company of 4 Infantry,  an HMG support platoon and an 81mm support platoon along with an FAO for naval gunfire support.   Facing them was a mixed Khemed force of an armoured recce company of 2 BRDM2 & 2 BMP-2's,  an Infantry company of 4 Infantry,  mortar and HMG and an artillery battery of 3 on table 152mm guns (represented by some 100mm AT guns). Shown above is the outskirts of town,  looking south towards the coast. (I place Khemed as being next to Yemen on the southern coast of the Arabian peninsula). The Marines needed to seize the village and hold it until nightfall on turn 8. Khemed forces would enter from the road to the right in a random order. The very first dice roll of the Americans was a blunder,  which set the tone for much of the game on both sides. The Marines rushed to take up positions in the buildings along with the FAO who called in some accurate fire
Read more