Battle Report - Minding the Gap!

In no time the soviet recce elements began to probe forward to determine where the NATO defensive positions might be. Already the Recce commander can hear firing off to his flanks and he guesses that the ridge to his front is defended. Doctrine forces him to push on and he sends his light tanks up the road, whilst his scout cars probe around the flanks.

His three PT-76s reach the cross roads:

 As reports of enemy movement come into combat team (CT) HQ, the NATO CT commander moves up onto the ridge to take stock. His plan is to try to fight off the recce with his infantry, while keeping his tanks concealed for the main attack.

 Two BRDMs nose their way around the soviet right flank and are engaged by a Wombat. The shot misses and the vehicles pull back:

At the same time the two leading PT-76s are engaged by concealed infantry 84mm and are quickly taken out:

The soviet recce commander decides that it would be folly to try to move more light tanks through the close country and he orders the accompanying infantry to move forward and clear the hedgerows.

 He also orders an artillery barrage to soften up the objective and shells crash down on to the Blankshires trenches:

The dismounted infantry surge forward:

 And despite the artillery support are met by a wall of fire that causes many casualties.

 Temporarily halted, the soviets call for smoke and soon the attacking infantry are masked as they once more attempt to cross the road:

 The right hand Wombat repositions, and takes out one of the BTR-60s:

 The soviet infantry emerge from the smoke and surge forwards:

 

An infantryman with an RPG engages the Wombat armed APC and destroys it:

 The Blankshire's right flank is now in serious danger of being over run and so the platoon commander calls for a 'danger close' mortar stonk, which lands around the position, cutting down the exposed soviet troops, but killing one of the Blankshires too:

The remaining PT-76 pushes up the road, firing into the flanks of the British infantry, but is taken out by a Chieftain on the ridge, but the Chieftain has been spotted.

 The CT commander looks beyond the battle in front and can see columns of tanks and APCs moving along the road in the distance. To his horror he realises that these are not old BTRs and T-55 tanks; but more modern T-62s and BMP tracked APCs:

 After more stiff fighting the soviets capture the CT right hand position and they push forwards:

 Having located one of the British Chieftains the soviets bring up an ATGW BRDM, which fires Swatter missiles; but misses its target:

 The soviets fire everything they have got at the Chieftain and a 115mm round from a T-62 slams into the turret ring, knocking out the British tank

 The first Chieftain burns:

 The newly arrived BMPs begin to disgorge their infantry onto the CTs left flank and put pressure on the dug in infantry:

 A supporting T-62 crunches through the hedge and blasts away at the British trenches:

 On the CTs right, tanks and APCs support the infantry assault:

 Increasing pressure on the defending infantry.

 The Chieftains on the left ridge open up but miss their target and quickly another Chieftain is knocked out by concentrated tank and ATGW fire:

 The remaining Wombat attempts to engage a T-62, misses and is destroyed by tank fire:

 With one tank remaining and the anti-tank guns knocked out things look bad for the CT.

In an attempt to stop the infantry assault on the CTs left flank artillery fire is brought down, causing a number of casualties amongst the soviet infantry:

 But, BMP and tank fire pins the British infantry as the soviets close in.

 On the CTs right flank soviet tanks and APcs nose their way up onto the ridge. The CTs position is all but lost:

 The CT commander orders non essential troops and CT HQ to withdraw:

 The last remaining Chieftain accounts for one of the BMPs before pulling back off the ridge

 On the other flank the soviets are in control of the ridge as they pass a knocked out Chieftain:

With one remaining tank and just half of the infantry, Combat Team Charlie withdraws, having failed to do much damage to the soviets or delay them as long as required. A win for the soviets.