Chedaki Counteroffensive, Variant 1

This is a new mission template that is an extension of the CDF Northern Recon mission template.  New forces apply now with four BTR rifle squads supported by two ZU-23/2 AAA trucks.  Support options include two separate airstrikes, one heliborne air support mission (originally tasked as an air extraction unit used by Chernarusian naval and army Spetsnaz), a resupply mission, and a truck borne support mission (also originally tasked as a ground extraction unit used by Chernarusian naval and army Spetsnaz).

This time the field of operations are much wider than before (about three kilometers), and the start time and weather are randomized.

The mission is that a large Chedaki force comprising two light infantry squads, one BRDM infantry section and a technicals section are driving into Kabanino, with a similar but heavier unit advancing on Novi Sobor.  The mission for the enemy is to drive into the two towns and hold them, but from time to time the AI gets frisky and decides on its own to advance much further south than the line Kabanino-Stary Sobor-Novi Sobor.

Chedakis leave Stary Sobor alone because its mayor and staff are friendly to the Chedakis.

The CDF force is an advanced party of the Chernarusian 41st Recon Battalion, newly deployed to south Zagoria in response to intelligence of a Chedaki buildup of forces in the north.  Strong drug sales and aid from rogue Russian Army commanders are aiding the buildup.  Chernarusian Army intelligence does not have a reliable estimate of available forces for the Chedakis owing to restrictions on overflights by the Chernarusian political leadership.

So, the army must rely on local residents to phone in reports of Chedaki troop movements south, enough so that a small armored infantry group can deploy and stop enemy movement further south than the line Kabanino-Stary Sobor-Novi Sobor.



The time is 0655 hrs and the weather is party cloudy, but dry.

The commander wants to deploy his three rifle squads as follows:

1st Squad: On the road at Grid 045076 near the large rock.
2nd Squad:  East of the woods near Grid 049079, just below a ridge crest
3rd Squad: West of the woods at 054082, over looking the crossroads at Grid 056080.
1st AAA Section, Deployed west of the woods at Grid 047078
2nd AAA Section: Deployed southeast of the woods at 052080, also overwatching the crossroads at Grid 056080, in support of 3rd Squad.
Commander's Unit: Deployed north of the woods at Grid 052078.

The commander's deployment leaves his unit overwatching the main road west of Kabanino, which runs south through the position of 1st  Squad, a large field of view north, and part of the crossroads at Grid 056080.

Once the orders are cut, the long 4.7 kilometer road march begins.

Leaving Zelenegorsk

On the road leading west from Zelenegorsk

Running through Pogorevka

Arriving at the area of operation, 10 minutes later

Immediately, the commander hears firing from the west, and decides to dismount his squad.

To the south, an enemy pops white smoke as the firing continues

Fire from one or more of the AAA trucks light up an enemy technical

As the commander orders his driver forward, enemy riflemen appear, which are then dispatched with machine gun fire.  Commander orders his forces to head east towards his planned deployment.

The AI is getting frisky this time.  Last time, the AI holed its forces up, all nice and safe in town and thus the commander was forced to deploy by foot and move towards town to direct airstrikes.  The commander's force never got eyes on, due to an enemy infantry/technical counterattack which drive the commander's forces back.

An enemy technicals section appears near the commander's deployment position, and all three vehicles including riflemen are quickly eliminated.  I failed to photograph his encounter.

In position.

A second enemy technicals section attempts to slip by the overwatch at the crossroads, but is caught by machine gun fire.

At some point the commander calls in the first of two airstrikes, MiG-21s with a ground strike munitions package.

Basically, halftime with 25 dead or destroyed.  I have an arbitrary cutoff of 30 dead or destroyed as a draw and 40 dead or destroyed as a victory.




Continued...

I missed getting photographs of the next encounter.

One each, BRDM2 disabled by 14.5mm machine gun fire.  This engagement took very little time, less than ten seconds.  The damage was limited to the dead crew and mobility damage.  This unit, along with another BRDM2 wiped out the commander's 2nd Squad, except for the BTR, as I later found out.  The other BRDM2 was utterly destroyed, I guess, by RPG fire.

A third technicals section appears to the north of the commander's position.  One Toyota pickup with a PK machine gun, and a UAZ with a 73mm SPG recoilless rifle mounted.  The SPG vehicle managed to get two shots off before it was gridded and destroyed.

The first and second aircraft arrive.  The commander request a resupply column be dispatched.

At the end of the game. Two kills short of victory at 38.

While rearming and refueling the commander's driver ran him over and killed him.  As this was happening more gunfire could be heard from the east.