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

[JDR Dragoon]

Players notes and considerations.

Second turn of combat rolls around. This turn is dawn (04 to 06 am), so visibility is still restricted to one hex.

Soviet special forces units begin showing up in the NATO rear areas, threatening V-Hexes and disrupting reinforcements moving towards the front by going into deception mode. In addition, WAPA long-range aviation begins to attack NATO units marching in road column behind the front.

Own air units are still unavailable for several hours more, as NATO wrestles for air superiority and units scatter to secondary airfields.

Spetsnaz probes the position of a German territorial unit on the outskirts of Würzburg:



In the West-German III Korps sector the Polish 2. Mechanized Division continues to probe the West-German covering forces, but are so far unable to do anything to really force them to relinquish their current position. The remnant of the West-German Korps uses the time bought to lay even more mines and begin to blow up bridges that are not needed by own units withdrawing.




In the US V Corps sector, the first contact is made with enemy main forces, with BTR equipped Motorrifle troops of the 39th GMRD probing the approaches to Fulda. The 11th ACR sends them packing though. Located artillery and HQs get shelled as well.




South of Fulda, BMP and T62 equipped units of the 39th GMRD also probe in company strenght against the 8th ID and the 11th ACR with similar results. Located artillery and HQs are also taken under fire here, but the number of targets now exceed the number of long range guns.

In the US VII Corps the 79th GTD continues to probe the outskirts of Mellrichstadt, supported by artillery. Of special interest here is the East German HQ, which reinforces the estimate, that an East German unit seems to be preparing to follow the 79th GTD on the Meiningen-Bad Neustadt axis of attack.





Further to the south a new WAPA unit blunders into the covering force, their recon screen taking debiliating losses. The 27th GMRD seems to be attacking between the 79th GTD and the 6th GTD.



In front of Coburg the 1st Brigade/3rd ID delays the 6th GTD before withdrawing into and behind the city. Coburg itself and its accompanying V-Hex is now the frontline.




East of Coburg 6th GTD reconnaisance units probe south towards Kronach, but withdraws when encountering the 2nd ACR.



Around Hof the situation remains the same, with a gradual US withdrawal, shadowed by East German units of the 3. Army. So far only the 4. MRD have been identified positively, but the intelligence reports clearly suggests that further units are lurking out of sight, ready to follow up and /or try outflanking manuevers. The situation here continues to be hamstrung by the fact that the units of the 2nd Brigade/3rd ID have not yet received their fuel. In addition WAPA air-activity starts here, with a single reconnaisance sortie over american lines.










Despite of the loss of Hof and the various losses to enemy aircraft interdicting my columns travelling in the rear, the scoring still remains solidly in NATOs favor. The early shift of my reinforcements towards the VII Corps sector should be able to blunt any enemy hope of a rapid breakthrough here as well.