Germany 1989

The next game in the loosely strung-together NATO vs. Warsaw Pact WWIII series was played last  Sunday.  Despite a bloody reverse at a river crossing early on, the Soviets have made good progress although they have burned out a large part of their front-line troops.  Sensing the opportunity and need, the Americans have mustered two battalions of M1 Abram tanks with artillery and air support to fall upon a Soviet mechanized regiment of three battalions and a T-64 battalion.  Limited artillery and air support was also available.  Except for the prepared positions everyone on both sides had to be spotted so the Soviets prepared a deployment map.

The game system is based upon Epic Armageddon and we are using micro armor.  I make no claim to be an authority on modern warfare so if my description doesn't do it for the veterans or tread heads out there I'm sorry.

Looking over Dan's beautiful new table cloth mat.  Hills beneath it.

Soviet deployment, two battalions with vehicles could be dug
into prepped positions.

After some recon Humvees were scattered the big boys came on.

The game is d6 based.  Hits aren't hard to get but Abrams save on a 2+ so we need a lot of hits to have a realistic chance to taking one out.  T-72s by comparison save on a 3+.

A look going the other way, hits are already piling up.

After a few turns each side got air support.  The Mig and Eagle flights took each other out.  The Soviets called for ground support which winged its way on table.

And was promptly shot down.

I should have taken more pictures.  The Soviets had a breath of hope when they eliminated a company of Abrams but that left five more to go.  Todd "Crap a 1" Chirhart was spectacular saving his BMPs on a six only against incoming fire, which was only granted because of the tank pits.

More Soviet air as Apaches also appear, along with a Warthog.

An attempt to outflank the ridge meant another Abrams company
lost to ambushing T-64s.

The hits and firepower markers are piling up on both Soviet battalions.

In the game you get markers for hits received and units firing at you.  In the case of Soviets when the markers outnumber the surviving stands they rout.  For small American units you need twice as many markers.

Suddenly the right flank breaks and runs.

Followed quickly by the left flank.

With a requirement that the Soviets preserve their force everyone breaks off.  The third battalion and tanks and artillery are intact so we figure the pursuit will be limited.  For the cost of seven Abram platoons (stands) the objectives were met.  The evolution of the rules is a work in progress but progress is made in each of our rare games.