Somewhere in Austria, 1985

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. 
The table. NATO would advance to contact from the left. 
A rough TO&E:
EAST GERMANY:
2 Panzer battalions of 9x T55AM2
AA of Strela SAM for 1 battalion, a ZSU23-4 for the other. Supported by an infantry battalion in BMP1 IFVs. Artillery support came from a 2S1 122mm SP guns. Air support would be randomly picked from whatever we could find. 

USA
2 battalions of infantry, 1 in Gama Goat transport, 1 in UH-1 Huey helos. 1 tank battalion of M551 Sheridan tanks, artillery support from M102 howitzers. Air support would likewise be randomly determined. 

the built up area, surely a prime target for the US to secure? 
with the inevitable "Ride of the Valkyries" being hummed, the 2nd battalion of the 82nd were deployed on the right flank. 
same pic but with some rudimentary blurring on my phones editing suite! 
The infantry landed on top of the hill with no issues. 
the 1st battalion made for the town, deploying into the car lot and bierkeller garden. 
the Sheridan's ran into some punishment from the T55s, but took surprisingly light casualties. Their return ATGW fire was ineffective. 
NVA air support showed up in the form of an Su-22 Fitter, but was driven off thanks to combined fire from towed Gatling AA and SAM Stinger. 
return support came from an AV8 Harrier. Some suppressed infantry was the result. 
a Huey Cobra made an appearance, loosing off a few TOW missiles. 
a Mig 23 Flogger then arrived (ignore the Cuban markings!)
a fortuitous deviation roll moved the strafing run from the infantry to the Sheridan tanks. 
the Airborne FAO called in artillery onto the German tanks but blundered and a Blue on Blue attack hit the infantry sheltering in a around the American-style diner (hence the yellow cab on the roof!) fortunately there were no casualties. 
the end of the game. The infantry in the town were facing armour to the front and a flanking infantry attack. The Sheridan's were too far away to offer useful support and the infantry in the diner needed to withdraw. 
the unscathed BMP battalion bronegruppa with infantry infiltrating through the woods and buildings. 
An entertaining game. The first that we have played at my place using the new rules, as we've played a lot of Maurice on these match-up days. The NVA didn't blunder once, hopefully they can keep that run going at the Big Game! 

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