Sparker's Wargaming Blog: The Battle of Hanover 1985

This week the Wollongong Wargamers played out a Team Yankee scenario in the full glory of 15mm scale. Ed's scenario was based on 'The fight for Bundesstrasse 432' from Allied Nations, but adapted to four forces of 75 points each fighting over the approaches to Hanover, as a follow on from 'The Defence of Schellerten':

With two objectives, the Warsaw Pact forces gaining the near objective would represent the seizure of the outskirts of Hanover.

Whilst the 'deep' objective would represent a link up with the main Soviet thrust, sealing off a large pocket of NATO troops.

The 'near' objective can just be glimpsed in the background in amongst the outskirts of Hanover, whilst the 'deep' objective is on the right of the picture on the road between the two wooded areas.

The NATO deployment area was a narrow corridor a third of the way into the table and stretching all the way along it, delineated below between the green counters:

This was quite a challenge for Declan (ANZAC) and I (BAOR) since the 'deep' objective was outside our deployment area! Declan's ANZACs defended Hanover on our right:

If his force looks somewhat underwhelming its because he also had a troop of Leopards in ambush and Abrams in Immediate Reserve. However given our narrow deployment area, finding a suitable ambush spot was going to be a challenge.

Darren's Soviet T-80 force deployed opposite Hanover whilst Ed's East Germans were opposite my Brits out in the countryside.

My Challenger troop was also in Reserve so I lined the edge of the woods facing the Warsaw Pact line of approach with my Milan2 teams, their flank protected by their Warrior.

They were backed up by the Challenger HQ troop:

I usually like to dig in an infantry platoon around the objective but was hampered by our deployment zone. So my grunt remained embussed in their Warriors ready to sprint down to the 'deep' objective and dig in once the game started:

As the attackers the Warsaw Pact got the first move and Ed's East Germans were clearly aiming to prise open my Milan position from the flank:

'Order, Counter-Order, Disorder'! To beef up my solitary Warrior covering the vulnerable flank of my Milan force, the infantry were unceremoniously ordered to dismount and make their way to the 'deep' objective in the traditional fashion, then the 'Zulu Muster' of empty Warriors retraced their route to cover the flank!

Getting there in the nick of time! Meanwhile, the Milan team themselves...

Were doing good work!

Aided by HQ troop:

By the time my reinforcements arrived on scene, there wasn't much for them to do!

However on the other side of the table, the Soviets were blitzkrieging into the outskirts of Hanover!

Could Declan's reserves, which had come on table immeadiately, get to the 'near' objective in time to relieve the Diggers grimly defending it from their slit trenches and buildings?

With my side of the table looking secure, I sent my Challenger troop over to assist, but they would get there even later...

It really was all down to the Diggers!

Although Ed's East German Motor Schutzen were hailing RPG rounds at my Warriors to great effect. But callously, that was irrelevant to the outcome - the Milan teams they were protecting had done their job and the Warsaw Pact only had to seize one objective!