Attack on Rommerbach

 

The basis of this scenario is the Tactical Decision Game #98-10, written by Major John F. Schmitt, USMCR, and published in the October 1998 Marine Corps Gazette.

http://www.mca-marines.org http://www.mca-marines.org/gazette/PDF/9810.pdf

 

This battalion level scenario was thought to lend itself to a two-person network game as the host/umpire is required to coordinate the entry of one side’s forces, and “feed” information to the other side in way to shape the battle along the original intent of the “What do you do now Colonel?” Tactical Decision Game. It could be described as more of a kriegsspiel type of scenario, how will one side react, than a knock-down drag-out battle royale.

 

TacOps v4.0.6[AH]

Map981c – currently unreleased, my interpretation of the graphic found withinTDG#98-10. In an effort to avoid wide open plains, and ending up in a a massive ATGM-fest, I over-compensated and coded all E0 as Rough1, towns as Rough2, all E1 as Rough3, and all woods as Rough4. As it turned out, the road net became “the” high speed avenue of advance” and if it could be blocked, Red would have virtually no chance of achieving its objective.

 

 

Blue: Bernard Cousin

Red: Brad Leyte

Host: Pete Maidhof

Observers: Tony Eischens, “Brains”, Matt “Rattler” Olmer

 

Preferences will be:

Arty Smoke defeats Thermals - Checked No

Vehicle smoke grenades defeat thermals - Checked Yes

All OPFOR Tanks have thermals - Checked No

All OPFOR ATGMs have thermal sights - Checked No

Improved OPFOR warheads - Checked No

Firing Units are always spotted - Checked No

No enemy OOB Reports - Checked yes

 

Max Normal Vis: 2000

Max Thermal Vis: 2500

 

Blue Orders:

Orientation:

 

Six weeks ago, the country of Red attacked it neighbor, a former province of Red, quickly advancing throughout the countryside. Host Nation requested emergency assistance from the United States. The US quickly dispatched a Marine Expeditionary Brigade. Upon the Brigade's arrival, it combined with the Host Nation's forces. Two weeks ago, the combined US/Host Nation forces launched a counter attack which has push the Red Forces back on the border. The Main Supply Route toward the border is Highway 7. The border is 30km northwest of the town of Jennau.

 

 

Situation:

 

You are a Lieutenant Colonel commanding a task force of roughly battalion strength that includes 2 US Marine light armored reconnaissance (LAR) companies, Alpha and Bravo each with a section of anti-tank variants; a TOW section; and 2 host-nation Marine companies, one company of M60 tanks, the other company of mechanized infantry in AAV-7’s. The host-nation Marines are reasonably well trained and can generally be relied upon to accomplish basic tasks with a reasonable amount of supervision.

 

The terrain is rolling farmland punctuated by small villages and wooded areas. Enemy forces have invaded the host nation from the Northwest. The Combined Marine Forces (CMEF), of which your task force is a part, are advancing generally northwest along Highway 7, clearing the area of enemy forces in order to restore the border. Your task force has been ordered to break off from the Highway 7 axis and advance south-southwest from Jennau through Ostglossen and Glossen, to Rommerbach and Schilte to clear any enemy forces in zone. Intel indicates that as of 48 hours ago an enemy reinforced mechanized company was reported in Schilte, while Rommerbach appeared to be unoccupied save for periodic mechanized patrols. You have a battery of artillery in direct support. Cobras and fixed wing close air support will be based on priority.

 

You have moved out with Alpha in the lead, followed by mech, tanks, TOWs, and Bravo in the rear. Your lead company has reached the outskirts of Glossen without any enemy contact. You intend to order Alpha to move on Rommerbach while you continue with the HN mech company, the HN tank company, the TOWs, and Bravo toward the enemy confirmed in Schilte. You have instructed your Operations Officer to establish your forward Combat Operations Center in Glossen and your XO to bring up the Main COC from Jennau to Glossen.

 

In order to “set the stage”, I had prepared a number of messages from Higher HQ to feed to the Blue CO; one announcing an unexpected, major coordinated attack 15-20km NW of the actual map, along Highway 7, a second urgent message ordering Blufor to defend the overall force’s left flank and MSR by seizing both Rommerbach and Schilte.

 

Red Orders:

Orientation: You are the commander of 2nd Mechanized Rifle Battalion.

Six weeks ago RED invaded the renegade province of Blue. During the initial advance, Red forces pushed Blue forces back, inflicting heavy losses. Blue requested help from the United States, which dispatched a Marine Expeditionary Brigade. US forces quickly flowed into the country and soon joined forces with BluFor to create a combined force. The reinforced Blue forces was able to halt our forces and then began an offensive of their own. Red has permitted this advance, slowly giving ground, planning to have the Blue forces overextend themselves, and that is when we will strike.

 

The terrain is rolling farmland punctuated by small villages and wooded areas.

 

Regimental Order

Situation: The Main RedFor has launched its attack on BluFor. A significant engagement is occurring 15-20km NW of Jennau along Highway 7. Highway 7 is the enemy's Main Supply Route (MSR). Our regiment is detached from the Main RedFor, and is getting into positions roughly along a line of Rommerbach-Schilte. Your battalion (2nd) is approximately 5km west of Rommerbach (off-map). 1st Battalion is currently screening the regiment's front. Of note to you is that there is a 1st Bn mechanized company, in prepared positions, in Schilte, and that we have had periodic mechanized patrols through Rommerbach, which shows no sign of the enemy. Be prepared to conduct a flanking attack in order to seize Jennau and block traffic Highway 7. Expect enemy reconnaissance forces with a mission of protecting the their MSR.

 

Friendly:

Higher: Attack and clear enemy in zone.

Adjacent: Your flanks are open.

Supporting: There is 1x Battery of 152mm artillery, and 1x of 220mm MLR.

 

Mission: O/O Regiment will attack and seize Regimental Objective 1.

 

Intent: It is the Regimental Commander's intent to quickly and violently seize RO1 in order to prevent enemy movement along Highway 7, effectiely isolating those enemy forces to the northwest.

 

Tasks:

1st Battalion (notional): Prepare for and along passage of lines for both 2nd & 3rd bn's. Be Prepared To detach the mech company in Schilte to 2nd Bn.

2nd Battalion: O/O conduct mechanized attack along the line Rommerbach-Jennau. You are the main effort and have priority of fires. You have 3rd Battalion on your right. Your left flank is open.

3rd Battalion: (notional) O/O conduct mechanized attack.

 

Coordinating Instructions:

Regimental Objective 1 = Jennau

 

REDFOR Task Organization

 

2nd Mechanized Rifle Battalion: 1x Mechanized Rifle Battalion (BMP-2) reinforced with 1x T-72M Company. You can place 3x Artillery Target Reference Points before the start.

 

 

What happened:

 

Blue’s lead element began just east of Glossen. Red has opcon of a mechanized infantry company dug-in in Schilte, and the Regimental Reconnaissance Company entering from the west edge along the road to Rommerbach.

 

After a quick review of the map, Bernard correctly identified Glossen as being the key terrain, and decided killing enemy from that position achieved his mission of protecting the force’s left flank, despite not seizing either Rommerbach or Schilte.

 

Brad’s recon advanced, exchanged some fire with Bernard’s lead elements and then skirted north of Rommerbach and attempted to go cross country across the northern part of the map to interdict Highway 7.

 

Both Higher HQ messages urged Bernard to push beyond Glossen to no avail. Brad also sortied out of Schilte in an attempt to draw him out.

 

Seeing how the engagement was going to play out, Brad’s main body arrived on map along the road to Rommerbach and he attempted to force Glossen. The combination of my limited visibility decision, a moving force vs a stationary force in the restrictive terrain, resulted in the virtual decimation of RedFor. In retrospect, it appears that, rightfully so, the stationary force should be at that significant advantage.

 

Red was reinforced with an additional battery of 220mm MLR and was given access, by pin, to his air support. Blue was offered, but declined any additional support expressing his understanding of the main forces plight.

 

Lessons Learned:

Canned scenarios such as this one may not be the best example of a free-play scenario. Much effort went to set the conditions that may have made this a “fairer” fight for Red.

 

Terrain and visibility were set way too restrictive. All my fault.

 

Network Hosting Questions:

What actions by a Host/Umpire, in between turns, will result in a sitrep being required to be sent to the players?

 

Is there a way for a Host/Umpire to send a sitrep without overwriting a players orders/waypoints?

 

Observations:

It turned out that RedFor CO, a relatively new TacOps player, did not have a complete understanding of the use of his three artillery target reference points. Time and again, his artillery and MLR strikes were “so close but…” It is my belief that had the artillery support at the hand of RedFor been effectively employed, or if perhaps St. Barbara had smiled more often, it could have severely degraded BluFor which was then concentrated in and around Glossen. As it was, BluFor’s artillery and TOW’s tore through ReDfor’s BMP-2’s. At one point RedFor CO asked rhetorically if his BMP-2’s were made of paper-machet.

 

In the end, Bernard had selected the key terrain and held on for the ride. Brad also aware that victory would be along the road net and through Glossen went in head first. Thanks to all of the participants. Sorry for such a simplistic scenario. It had initially appeared to be worthy. Hopefully the players and/or observers can add from their perspectives.

Nice write-up Pete, I learned quite a bit by observing and from the chatter of the other guys on IRC. Defeating 'dug in' TOW launchers of any type, but especially the LAVs seems to be a very challenging task. Getting close enough to even note their positions is difficult and generally being highly mobile launch platforms, artillery against TOW isn't a high-probability undertaking.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing some good anti-TOW tactics demonstrated

Nice write-up Pete, I learned quite a bit by observing and from the chatter of the other guys on IRC.

 

Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to do something again in the coming weeks.

 

Defeating 'dug in' TOW launchers of any type, but especially the LAVs seems to be a very challenging task. Getting close enough to even note their positions is difficult and generally being highly mobile launch platforms, artillery against TOW isn't a high-probability undertaking. I'm looking forward to seeing some good anti-TOW tactics demonstrated

Although artillery against a moving target is often folly, Supporting Arms, Supporting Arms Supporting Arms. Blue only had four LAV-AT, and eight HMMWV TOW mounts. Blue was not moving them around too much. Both of these guys are highly susceptible to indirect fire of any type. The problem here was two-fold, IMO, (1) spotting the launchers and (2) getting rounds on them.

Though I do not enjoy being pummeled mercilessly, there is some "experience" value in it.

 

I don't think this map presented me (as Red) with any alternative except to transit through, or at least pass by, Glossen. And, conversely, Blue had to know that, and immediately seized Glossen as the lynchpin. Starting just a kilometer east of that town certainly gave Blue plenty of time to do just that. I had expected the Blue forces to start much further east.

 

I tried to goad Blue into moving southwest toward Schilte by feigning an advance from that area, using a few of my "paper mache" BMP-2s. Smokescreens were dropped along that route as part of the ruse. And, while this did attract the attention of some non-effectual Blue arty barrages, I should have known that Blue still had no reason to leave Glossen. Any Red force coming out of Schilte would still have to pass through Glossen.

 

Having determined that Blue had indeed seized positions in and around Glossen, I tried to concentrate my artillery fire there to soften it up. Unfortunately, I had no clue what I was doing with respect to the TRP's and my arty fire was usually off by as much as 500 meters. A couple of 220mm MRL barrages and numerous 152mm ICM salvoes were wasted in the effort, as they were landing nowhere near where I wanted them.

 

My small recon force (BMP and BRDM) was able to skirt through Rommerbach, but it was also quickly spotted by Blue forces around Glossen and lost some units in the process. They escaped north and were able to skirt around toward the objective, but to me it seemed like their movement was obvious. I felt that if I attempted to take that route with the main body, they would be observed and brought under fire by Blue forces at Glossen from the flank (together with whatever else Blue had lurking out there). That route would also require me to move off road, cross country, and through a narrow strip at the north edge of the map where I believed I would be extremely vulnerable to concentrated arty and direct fire.

 

In the end I decided to try and drive the main body directly through Glossen, relying on my artillery and my rather feeble attempt to draw off Blue units to the north and south. As Pete has described, it didn't turn out so well.

 

Blue had a serious visibility advantage from his stationary positions around Glossen. TOW and 25mm Chain Gun engagements were being made at 1,000 to 1,500 meters, while it seemed I couldn't spot anything further than 250 meters. Blue also dropped some brutally effective 155mm ICM directly on my advancing armor, decimating my "paper mache" bimps.

 

My T-72M's skirted slightly south to try and avoid the arty, and although they reached the edges of Glossen, 105mm tank fire from M60's somewhere in the town (I think I had one very short engagement with them) blasted them.

 

Strangely, my 120mm SP mortars never moved up with the arty, although they had orders to do so. And my infantry units were left behind in the dust west of Rommerbach. It was probably just as well.

 

Lessons learned:

* Learn how to use artillery TRP's; they could save your life or at least make your demise somewhat more palatable.

* Direct attacks in the face of TOW and 25mm Chain Gun, where the opposing has the advantage of defense, terrain and superior visibility, is akin to playing Russian roulette with all chambers loaded.

* Sometimes the terrain and your objective make for unpleasant bedfellows.

* Did I mention TOW was mean?

Though I do not enjoy being pummeled mercilessly, there is some "experience" value in it.

But it builds character.

 

Strangely, my 120mm SP mortars never moved up with the arty, although they had orders to do so. And my infantry units were left behind in the dust west of Rommerbach. It was probably just as well.

 

Movement orders to the SP mortars are most likely overtaken by fire mission. I recall them firing at the cyclic-rate throughout the battle.

 

* Learn how to use artillery TRP's; they could save your life or at least make your demise somewhat more palatable.

I will conduct some tests using Bernards set up and some TRP attacks and see what transpires. Who knows what a 220mm MLR ICM strike or two would have done to the defenders.

 

Not knowing the the finer points of TacOps fire support only comes through execution. No fault of your own. I'm sure that won't occur again.

Movement orders to the SP mortars are most likely overtaken by fire mission. I recall them firing at the cyclic-rate throughout the battle.

 

That makes sense, i.e. no firing on the move. Though when playing against Red 120mm SP mortars in solitaire, they seemed to have that ability. Is there a direct fire option?

 

I also have questions about 'splitting' company markers into their component units. Is there any way to do so without disgorging infantry squads from their respective vehicles?

Movement orders to the SP mortars are most likely overtaken by fire mission. I recall them firing at the cyclic-rate throughout the battle.

 

That makes sense, i.e. no firing on the move. Though when playing against Red 120mm SP mortars in solitaire, they seemed to have that ability. Is there a direct fire option?

 

I also have questions about 'splitting' company markers into their component units. Is there any way to do so without disgorging infantry squads from their respective vehicles?

 

Let me check when I get home, I believe that there is an OPFOR SP Mortar variant which is an "automatic" motar, that may be the one that you faced earlier.

 

About breaking down company markers without disgorging troops, that one bug-a-boo in TacOps. For example, having a Mechanized Infantry Company, I find that one must not only split into mech platoons, but I must split the rifle company marker down into three platoons, and more often then not I have to then break down the MG, SAM, and AGL sections in order to fit everyone who came out of a vehicle to have a seat going forward. It is possible, just not readily apparent on the first go around. It has been a long time user request to be able to join non-like markers into a total unit marker, the Red regimental reconnaissance company had two platoon markers one BMP and BRDM, they should be working in concert.