Small Scale, Big Game

 This weekend sees the annual Cold War Commanders big game, making its debut at Richard P's own venue The Unit in Stone, Staffordshire. This year there are 8 players and we have been split across two tables. In this year's scenario, set in the CENTAG area of operations, WarPac forces have broken through NATO defences and pushed forward into a salient. NATO have been tasked with counter attacking from North and South to cut off the salient and surround the attacking Soviet and WarPac armies. A third table represents the centre of Soviet held ground and will be used if/when NATO breaks through the Soviet lines.

Table 1 in the north has Nick G's US troops and Neil's Irish brigade attacking Ian W and Simon's Soviets. Table 2 to the south of the salient featured Martin and my West German forces attacking Mark W and Stewart's Soviets.

Table 2, with NATO on the right (south), Soviets on the left (North).

In the first few turns my Leopard 2 companies came face to face with a Soviet T-64 battalion. The greater range and durability of the Leopard 2 made the difference as Mark W's centre battalion was repulsed in short order.

My West Germans press forward.

The Soviet centre opens up as the T-64s come off second best in the long range exchange of fire.

On my left flank a Soviet T-64 battalion has moved forward, blundered, fallen back and then advanced forward again towards a BUA.

At the end of day 1, my West Germans have faced down a Soviet tank brigade (regiment?). 1 battalion has been all but wiped out, another has been badly mauled but the third is unblooded and is on my left flank, threatening to stop any drive forwards. On my right flank, Stewart's Soviet motor rifle regiment have taken up a blocking position in the centre of the table and also threatened to turn the NATO right flank. Martin has shorn up the right flank and has worn down the Soviet forces. Neither of us have the infantry reserves to be able to conduct sustained operations in built up areas.

Tomorrow Martin and I need to figure out a way to quickly push through the remaining Soviet forces and break through to the middle table.

Finally a few photos from table 1 in the north. Here Neil's Irish have held their own against the Soviets and allowed Nick's Americans to attack the Soviets, break them and move across the far table edge. They will thus play across the middle table tomorrow.