NGP85 "81: Better Dead than Red v1.1"

[JDR Dragoon]

Players notes and considerations:

And so it kicks off.

I would have liked a few more turns of preparation, but so it blows...

Up in the GE III Korps sector, the 2. Mechanized Division (a Polish unit) tentatively probe forward with T55 tanks in company size towards the north and west. Both probes are stopped with heavy losses by the West German covering forces. In addition, located artillery and HQ positions are subjected to withering artillery fire. So far everything looks good in this sector.



In the V Corps sector units of the covering force, primarily the 11th ACR, has been in contact with units of the Soviet 39th Guards Motorized Rifle Division over a broad front of some 29 kilometers. In most places the Soviets probed with T62 tanks and reconnaisance units in company strenght, but were turned back with losses. HQs were detected here as well, and taken under fire by long-range artilleri.













In the VII Corps sector, several Soviet and East German formations were positively identified. In front of Meiningen, contact was made with the soviet 79th Guards Tank Division, whose probes in battalion strength still only made cursory contact before withdrawing. Further HQs were detected here as well, and taken under fire.







An East German HQ (likely divisional) was also detected moving towards Meiningen or Coburg, which means that the number of divisions attacking VII Corps can be upped by 1.




In front of Coburg the Soviet 6th Guards Tank Division is detected attacking southwards in regimental strength. They are stopped and delayed by the 12th Cavalry Squadron/3rd Infantry Division, which then proceeds to withdraw towards Coburg.




In front of Hof, the East German army attacking in this sector is positively identified as the 3. Army. In addition one of the attacking Motorrifle Divisions are identified as the 4th. Several artillery and HQ units are detected as well, and is taken under fire where possible.










The problem here is, that this area is defended by a single brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division plus a cavalry squadron from the 2nd ACR. Against a a single East German division they might have been able to hold, but not against 2-3. So the withdrawal starts early here, with the units falling back gradually towards Kulmbach, giving up Hof and its 1000 VPs to the reds. I cannot really afford to do this a lot, since there is sudden death houserule in effect: If WAPA scores 10000 points from objectives within the first 72 hours of the game, they score an automatic victory. I am thus forced to defend forwards. Another problem here is, that several units from the 3rd ID bummed their midnight refuel check and are thus low on fuel for the next turns. This is of course just an additional incentive to get out before the units are pocketed and destroyed by the enemy units detected encircling Hof from the south.

I am still solidly ahead on the scoreboard though:




The enemy seem content so far to probe over a broad front and in disparate directions in the GE III Korps and US V Corps sector. This is not so in the US VII Corps sector, where attacks are being mounted in earnest. It is clear that the enemy main effort is here. Steps will have to be taken in order to safeguard against the collapse of the US VII Corps.