Campaign Series Middle East: Hot Knife Through Butter - AAR/PBEM

[Jason Petho]

Turn 1 (of 22) vs Peter: Campaign Series Middle East 1948-1985, " Hot Knife Through Butter"

I am playing the Israeli's, Peter is playing the Syrians.

This scenario takes place in 1982 during the Invasion of Lebanon.

Northern Overview

Here is the overview of my starting positions. You can see the vanguards of two columns in positions at Dahr El Ahmah and Kfar Mechki. The primary victory locations are at these two small towns and will represent the main battlefields for the scenario.

My force is mostly infantry with a couple of tank battalions (Magach 6) with a plethora of supporting weapons.



Southern Overview
Here is the southern columns as the advance towards Kfar Mechki and Dahr El Ahmar.

I will advance both of these columns as quickly as I can to the frontline.




Dahr El Ahmar

I have the town secured with an infantry company and tank company. Reinforcements are en route from the south. I am expecting an attack from the north, so I am sending a couple of platoons to gain some Line of Sight.




Kfar Mechki

The vanguard here has an infantry battalion and tank battalion. There is a narrow avenue of approach between Hill 1212 and Hill 1187 where my Syrian opponent will have to advance through.

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

Can't see the images. :(

[Jason Petho]

Hmm, OK, I'll find a solution for that! 

*curses Dropbox*

[Aces8]

Hmm, OK, I'll find a solution for that! 

*curses Dropbox*

Try this

http://postimage.org/

[Jason Petho]

Fixed, I believe!

[Outlaw Josey Wales]

Yes sir! Thank You!

[Jason Petho]

Turn 2 and 3

Turn's 2 and 3 were pretty quiet and didn't involve much/any action so I didn't take any screenshots.

In the meantime, let me make note of some of the key weapons that will hopefully make this a victorious scenario.

First up is my primary battle tank in this area, the Magach 6. It is an M60 that has been upgraded and uparmoured. As I am using two Mechanized Brigades, I have a couple battalions of these. Knowing what I am up against, I have to use these sparingly and from ambush positions. The terrain favours the defence.





Second is my air defence. There will be a few flights of HOT armed Gazelle's flying around and it is essential I dispatch them prior to them causing armour losses. To do so, I have the M163 (Hovet), which is an M113 APC converted to house a 20mm M61 Vulcan rotary cannon.




Third is my anti-tank weapon systems.  I have two supporting the Mechanized Brigades. The M150 and Jeeps mounting TOW launchers. The M150 is an M113 with a TOW launcher mounted on top. It is lightly armoured, so will have to be used sparingly. The Jeeps are soft targets, which as its advantages.

Both of these weapon systems will have to utilize the terrain as much as possible in order to survive contact.






Lastly, I have a few flights of Cobra's armed with TOW's and rockets coming on as reinforcements. These are extremely powerful anti-tank weapons.

[Jason Petho]

Turn 4

My manuevering in the east was successful as I managed to catch a couple flights of Gazelle's unaware. My M163's have left them burning hulks on the landscape.

Dahr El Ahmar

It appears I have run into a company of T-72's and some infantry. There is more where that came from, so I am pulling back my frontline and abandoning the village. Two the south of the 100 VP location is a decending road, I will move in behind there and force him to advance to the crest. Hopefully I will be able to take shots at him as he advances and attempts to seize the Victory Point location.




Kfar Mechki

The Syrian vanguard appears to be a mechanized infantry company. While they are entering into the narrow pass, I am maneuvering to gain some Line of Sight into the pass and move my forces around to protect the flanks from any unncessary surprises.




North

Here is the overview of the northern part of the battlefield. The Red and Blue lines represent the Hard and Soft attack ranges of the M163. Even thoug the Soft Attack range is two kilometres, getting kills at that distance is a rarity.

[Jason Petho]

Turn 5

Dahr El Ahmar

The T-72's appear to be attempting to flank my position on the west side of Dahr El Ahmar. I have responded accordingly by transfering infantry and tanks along my hard surface road that connects the two towns.




Kfar Mechki

The self-propelled mortars are focusing their fire on the pass, causing some casualties among the Syrians. I am attempting to dig in at Kfar Mechki, but I am unsure I will have enough time to do so before the Syrians come knocking. Fortunately, there doesn't appear to be a lot of tanks in this sector yet. I have a lot of armoured personel carriers that I am moving into the wooded areas behind the main fighting. These are easy targets and best be put out of harms way.

[Jason Petho]

Turn 6

Dahr El Ahmar

While I wait for the western advance, a company of T-72's have crested the ridge at Dahr El Ahmar. The infantry screen just south of the 100VP location will halt the advance, but they don't seem to be taking out too many tanks, even at close range.

To the northeast of Aaqbe, I have a series of M150's and a couple of Magach 6 platoons that will fire across the valley towards the T-72's across the way. To the northwest, I am building up a screen to hopefully halt any flank advance from the Syrians. I have every intention of holding that paved road that connects Dahr El Ahmar and Kfar Mechki.




Kfar Mechki

South of Hill 1187, I am attempting to move over the ridge to see what the Syrians are doing to the west of Hill 1187. So far, it just looks like a few screening troops. The Syrians in the pass are assembling and looking like they will be assaulting in the next few turns. As expected, I am trying to soften up the assembly area with my mortars. For naught? Probably, but I don't mind trying!