Team Whiskey - WWIII Fulda Gap Campaign

[ronan]

"I do like the Hind hunting out in front of a wave of BMPs laying smoke to cover their tanks and dismounts, as TOWs fly out seeking steel."

Yes, indeed !

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Nice one Jack

[bigjackmac]

Thanks guys, and good to see you Ronan!

I'm working on part 2.

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

Still working on part 2, but I played out all of fight number 10 today.

The war is over, all but the paperwork... 

V/R,
Jack

[ronan]

(...)
The war is over, all but the paperwork... 

I hope this is not letters to the families..

[Techno]

I don't want to read it, unless Captain Phillips survives.....So I expect spoilers from those who read it before me. 
Cheers - Phil

[bigjackmac]

Ronan - Your family should've already received yours, you went down a few fights ago (I think #7?).

Phil - Don't worry you made it through this fight, but only because you weren't in it.  I'm about to post the second part of 9, and I played 10 yesterday, working on the write-up (it's 173 photos!).  Oh, and if you insist on being squeamish, don't read number 10 

Coming right up!

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

Okay, this is part two of the fight for Rhein-Main Airbase.  We left off with a very small force from Team Whiskey (two infantry platoons from Kilo Company, two TOW sections, and a couple SF teams) trying to keep the Soviet armored horde from overrunning the airbase, and things weren't going so well, particularly given the fact the Soviets just shot down our air support...


A TOW fires into the flank of the lead enemy mecanixed elements.


Fighting got up close and personal.


US tank reinforcements came on, but didn't do so well, and then the Soviets pounded the US center with supporting fires.  First came the 122mm shells, then came the 57mm rockets.  To see the whole write-up, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/11/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-9-part-ii.html

The elements of Team Whiskey were able to put tremendously high casualties on their foes, but not enough to hold the position.  The Soviets ran through them, easily taking Rhein-Main airbase, throwing area NATO forces into a headlong retreat for the Theodor-­Heuss-­Brücke, the last remaining bridge across the Rhine.  Team Whiskey is now down to its commanding officer, LtCol Lacy, a single tank platoon under Lt Travers, India Company under Captain Phillips, which is down to two platoons (under Capt Sighe and Lt Ensmith), and a few attachments from Weapons Company.  They are streaming towards the bridge, hoping to beat the Soviets there.

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Is it me, or is it a bit warm round here? 

[Techno]

 

Oh dear ! 
Cheers - Phil

[bigjackmac]

Famous last words of a certain, well-known tank company commander: "My biscuits are burning!!!"

This next batrep is huge, should be done by January 2019...

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 1530 on 10 August 1986, and Team Whiskey is on the run.  Warsaw Pact forces have overrun Rhein-Main Airbase, where Team Whiskey's 3rd Tank Platoon and Kilo Company made a gallant last stand, and now the enemy is in a pursuit/exploitation operation to reach Wiesbaden and its Theodor-Heuss-Brücke, the last bridge standing over the Rhine River.  A small Bundeswehr contingent (all that is left of a Panzergrenadier Battalion) is holding the bridge open, though they are prepared to blow it should the enemy encroach.  But right now that bridge is the only route of escape for Team Whiskey and the remaining forces of V Corps.


The opposing forces, with Soviets on the left and NATO on the right.


The map, looking west to east (north is left), with the Soviets entering from left and top left, and the NATO forces trying to withdraw via the bridge at bottom right.  The Bundeswehr bridge force is at center right near the crossroads, while Col Lacy, Lt Ensmith's Mech Plt, and Lt Travers' tanks are entering the table via the road at top right, while Capt Phillips leads Capt Sighe's Mech Plt and the Wpns Co attachments entering the table via the road at bottom center.


Bradleys of Lt Ensmith's 1st Platoon launch TOWs into the flank of advancing Soviet armor.  To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/11/team-whiskey-fulda-gap-batrep-10-finale.html

Well, that's it folks!  It's been a tremendous amount of fun; a lot of work, but definitely a labor of love, and I've very happy to have been able to be a part of the playtesting for this new scenario book.  Ben Lacy of Britton Publishers has just released the book of ten scenarios, titled "Fulda Gap," available here: http://brittonpublishers.com/Skirmish_Scenarios.htmlf
Sorry to seem so 'commercial,' but if you've followed any of my batrep postings you'll know I've been quite a fan of Britton Publishers' scenario books for several years now, and I own about 15 of them.  They've been a great resource for me, and I so I highly recommend them. 

I hope you guys have enjoyed this as much as I have.  I always am very appreciative of comments (here on the blog and/or on the various forums I post), and I'd really like to hear any thoughts on the campaign as a whole, now that it's finished.

I've got lots of new ideas/old ideas that need to be finished, so stay tuned, you know I'll be starting another campaign soon.

V/R,
Jack

[toxicpixie]

Splendid stuff!

Sort of...

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Not reading it, due to being mostly dead!

[Techno]

Pah ! I didn't even make it to the bridge. 
Hey, Ho. Wouldn't have helped if I had. (The cheats !  )

Great report, Jack.

Cheers - Phil