This is an AAR of the most recent OPFOR mission. OPFOR is a VU which seeks to understand and practice Soviet and modern RusFed tactics.
In the mission the force consisted of the bulk of a Battalion Tactical Group (BTR). The BTG's mission was to attack towards the West and take Bridge 87 which for that sector was the only crossing for tanks and other non-amphibious vehicles. The other objective was Obj. Mariya which is the ridge overlooking Bridge 87 to the West. This AAR will focus on the operations of Bravo Company.
As per the plan Bravo Company's mission was to advance up to BP 2 with the attached tank platoon and after this send the BTRs and troops west into the lowlands and across the water feature marked "X1". After this they are to make a move onto the woods at 23-87.
The decision at company level was to assist the attached tank platoon by moving up the company's heavy weapons platoon to support it. While the heavy weapons platoon has ATGMs of a limited range they might still be of use.
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The heavy weapon's platoon from B Company deploying as C company moves north of and past B company.
Contact is made in the south by Delta company when it starts moving to complete its tasking. The result is that a platoon from Delta is lost to ATGM fire.
Delta's burning BTRs over watched by their company's heavy weapons platoon.
The contact worsens for Delta as the Ukrops start shelling the rest of the company's positions.
Artillery landing between the forward parts of Delta's heavy weapons platoon and the rest of the company.
Meanwhile Bravo starts moving forward with their heavy weapon's platoon under cover of smoke. The company's tanks had moved through nearby and hadn't faced much difficulty.
Smoke (hopefully) covering the advance to over watching positions.
While things continue in the center, in the north Charlie company makes contact with a BMP-2 platoon and destroys it with some losses to themselves.
Smoking BTR in the distance.
Destroyed BMP-2s in the distance.
Bravo's tanks start to move forward to test the ordered path while the heavy weapon's platoon over watches. The tanks come under fire from ATGMs in the far distance and once the ATGMs lose sight of the platoon they find the heavy weapons platoon's transportation. Losses for the company include 1 tank and 1 BTR, though no members of the heavy weapons squads are casualties.
Smoking BTR, casualty from the Ukrainian ATGMs.
While the Bravo tanks were seeking a crossing the water feature they realized a mild problem, they were on the wrong side of the stream to make the crossing of the north-south feature. Which meant that they had to brave the ATGMs again to get to the other ridge which was a center of enemy resistance.
Incoming ATGM.
Which thankfully (and luckily) missed.
While the heavy weapons platoon and the tanks take incoming fire the command element moves up to spot for friendly artillery.
The command element looking for the ATGM threat, while viewing the carnage wrought by the Ukrainians.
The ATGMs are spotted by the command element who calls for an emergency fire mission on the threat (3x BRDM-2 ATs). While the artillery lands and misses the target the rest of the company moves at speed down the gully that the tanks moved down.
ATGM fire impacts near the lead BTRs.
The lead BTRs violate the first rule of combat (don't draw fire), and the second transport for the heavy weapons platoon suffers for it. The company now has a heavy weapons platoon but without transport.
The ATGM fire is enough of a threat that the company starts deploying smoke to cover their movement through the "beaten" zone of semi-accurate ATGM fire. While it provides hope of protection it also reduces the options for action later on. We have no reloads for smoke grenades after all...
The situation over half an hour into the engagement.
The leading BTRs reached feature "X1" and started crossing the water feature. At the same time it became evident that the Ukrainians spotted the movement and started calling artillery on the column of vehicles moving down the gully. No vehicles were lost but some had suffered hits, with a few needing to have the dismounts washed out of them...
Artillery falling on my advancing company.
Artillery landing amongst the company.
While the bulk of the company moves into the small valley between the ridges the attached tank platoon starts looking for the ATGM threat, and finds it.
The lead tank that found the ATGMs.
The surviving wingman tank dispatches the threat.
And the probe on the woods begins.
One platoon has been chosen to conduct the recon of the woods. The idea being that if things drop in the pot I only lose a third of my remaining combat power as opposed to risking all of it.
Map view of the recon mission towards "Woddy1."
Recon moves up to the point where Bravo lost its second tank while neutralizing the enemy ATGMs.
View of the recon force with the last remaining tank supporting.
The enemy BRDMs burning nicely in the distance, acompanied by one of battalion's knocked out BTRs.
The lone T-72 moves up to support the recon which is starting to get outside of the engagement envelope of the tank, and is promptly killed by something across the way.
The recon force continues with the knowlege that the Ukrainians are observing their movements on the far side of the ridge. The recon force encounters enemy positioned in "Woddy1" and procede to get involved in a firefight with them.
The initial engagement in "Woddy1"
Further engagements in and around the wood with both sides trading losses.
The plan at this point is to have friendly forces drop smoke between "Woddy1" and the ridge crest. Once that begins the remaining BTRs with troops will move forward to the now "safe" wood line and dismount their infantry.
The "smoke" fire mission. Friendly artillery had exhausted their smoke munitions and replaced it with HE. Not only was the smoke less than expected but the HE added to the pucker factor. In any event the force had gotten past the point of being able to turn back.
The most dangerous point of the attack on "Woddy1." If the company is rendered combat ineffective this would be the moment. Luckily the company gets through without issue and land along the wood line.
"Woddy1" is cleared of enemy forces and the company conducts an attack to assist in taking Bridge 87.
A platoon from Bravo company conducts an amphibious crossing in an attempt to take the bridge from the rear.
The situation an hour and a half into the mission.
Artillery lands on the far bank as infantry move from their vehicles into the village.
The second platoon reaches the far bank and dismounts their troop, which also move into the town under cover from their PCs and the other platoon's dismounts.
Bridge 87 in the distance.
The envelopment of the bridge.
The seizing of the bridge.
By this point the only objective in need of taking is Mariya which the other two companies proceed to take.
Charlie company's handiwork.
Charlie company finishing off enemy forces defending in Mariya.
Hit!
And Delta company sees whats left of the Ukrainian force pulling back.
The two objectives are secured.
In the end we destroyed 21 enemy vehicles and suffered 20 losses. 17 BTRs and 3 tanks were lost by us. The enemy lost 4 tanks, over a company of IFVs and 3 BRDM-2 ATs along with a Tungusta.