AAR29: A Good Showing by Mugabia

With the exception of the Mugabian counter-attack at Objective 21, which caused Uwanda to alter plans slightly, things had pretty much gone Uwanda's way thus far.  The second day of the war opened with a series of morning attacks by Uwanda's forces, both on the ground and at in the air.  The battle at objective B29 would be key to the success of Uwanda's plans.  Surprisingly, the battle consisted of the smallest forces on both sides to fight on this day.  Uwanda had air cover with two F5As, but no ground attack aircraft committed, and neither side had artillery support.

The black line running roughly down the center of the map is the

 border between Uwanda and Mugabia.  The Battle takes place

 at Objective 29, center right.

Uwanda's forces consisted of:

1 Armored  Company with 13 Sherman Firefly
1 Motorized Infantry Company in trucks with 12 infantry sections and the CHQ
1 Recce Section with two Ferret armored cars.

Uwanda's view of the battlefield, looking generally north.

Mugabian forces:

1 Mechanized Infantry Company with nine squads in BTR152 and the CHQ
2 BRDM in an ad-hoc recce section
2 ZU23/2 anti-aircraft guns towed by trucks.

Mugabia's view looking south.  In the far right, the little 

white puff is a Uwandan Ferret armored car burning.

The Mugabian forces had some time to dig in, and had created two lines of defense, the first a lightly manned screening line, the second a more solid line of infantry, running diagonally towards the first to the extreme right.  The BRDMs would act as a mobile reserve to try to patch any breeches.  The Mugabain commander expected that Uwanda would employ armor, and the best that he could hope for was to embroil any enemy tanks in an close range skirmish with RPG wielding infantry.

From overflights, Uwanda knew that there was a significant infantry force located at the objective, but feared that by the time that they arrived, reinforcements with heavier equipment might be waiting.  The Uwandan commander regretted that one of his two assault groups had been recommitted to fighting elsewhere, as his force was now the lightest of all Uwandan attacking elements, and was in the position of making the deepest penetration into Mugabian territory.

Though still mounted, Sergeant Okoye's recce section was at least now moving at a more reasonable speed and cross country, rather than simply racing to their death on the road.  He intended to follow orders exactly, barely making contact, and then letting the heavier forces do the shooting.  His Ferret slowed to a stop, as it approached a tree line.  "Time to have a look...again", he thought, as he prepared to climb down from the turret.

Uwanda's scouts slowed as they approached each line of trees and bushes separating fields, taking time to scout out the next line of foliage.  Unfortunately both scouts were spotted by infantry, prior to seeing anything, and one was hit repeatedly, first getting immobilized, and then destroyed by RPGs.  The other scout was fired upon, but at much longer range, and skedaddled into cover along the river.

Sergeant Okoye's armored car smoking after being hit by RPGs.

In time, the Fireflies advanced, moving cautiously, trying to find the elusive Mugabian infantry.  After advancing into the field with the destroyed Ferret, RPGs opened up, killing two of the tanks.  Their positions given away, the tanks were free to engage, firing cannon and machine gun, and killing a number of infantry.  Quite a number of RPGs were fired, but most missed as the Mugabian infantry started to fall back.

Fireflies advance, the Mugabians still haven't been sighted.

The advance continues, more Fireflies pass those killed by RPGs. 

Uwanda's infantry follow in trucks at some distance.

During this exchange, another platoon of Fireflies advanced into battle, with Uwanda infantry in trucks following behind.  Finally in range, the Mugabian anti-aircraft gun on the hill opened up on a truck and demolished it and many of its occupants.  Additionally, in rapid succession, three more tanks, including the one ridden by the battlefield commander,  were hit by RPGs during the slow advance.

Despite Fireflies dropping high explosives in close proximity, 

the ZU23 continues to fire.

The remaining tanks focused on the AA gun, as well as, the sources of RPGs.  Though the AA gun got another truck, it and many of the RPG gunners were knocked out of action, and the Mugabians withdrew completely from their first defense line.  However, chaos ensued as some of Uwandas forces continued to follow their last orders, while others reacted unpredictably to the specific events involving them.

RPGs and the ZU23 took their toll.

It took some time for the young infantry captain to gain control over most of his forces, and even then, he wasn't really equipped to coordinate the armor and infantry. 

Most of his infantry had dismounted at Mugabia's first defense line by the time he caught up to them.  He had one platoon remount as a reserve, while troops to his right exchanged long range small arms fire with Mugabian infantry near the road leading into town.  To his left, he had his second platoon advance toward the small hill, now seemingly abandoned by the opposing infantry.

Second Platoon advances toward the little hill.

Third platoon advances into the open area east of the hill, and 

west of the road (lower right).  Second platoon is now engaging 

Mugabian troops on the hill (upper left).

During the lull that came after the command tank was hit, the Mugabian commander had his troops withdraw to the backside of the small hill to the southwest of the town.  He hoped that the cover would force the Uwandans to finally attack dismounted, giving his troops opportunity for a fair fight.  Additionally, if the tanks came again, the few remaining RPGs would be able to engage at short range.

When the Uwandans did advance over the hill, a furious firefight ensued, in which both sides took heavy casualties.  Both sides suffered morale failures, simultaneously abandoning the hill. 

The Uwandan Captain, sent the reserve platoon to try to regroup the remnants of second platoon, while third platoon advanced into the open area just west of the main road into town.  The Mugabians withdrew into the town behind the hill and along the road, during the Uwandan recovery and advance. 

Uwandan infantry withdrew, rallied, and attack the hill a second time.

Once again the Uwandan infantry rushed the hill, engaging in another heavy firefight, and discovering the Mugabian surprise behind the hill, two BRDM armored cars with their heavy machine guns.  Once again, the Uwandan infantry broke, causing the caption to mount up and advance with the remaining tanks to regroup his battered forces. 

Fireflies crest the hill to find the Mugabians nowhere in sight.

All during this time on the hill, Uwandan infantry slowly closed with the Mugabians in the town and along the road, finally gaining an edge, and hitting several of the Mugabian infantry in the town.  As the Uwandan tanks advanced up the hill to engage the armored cars, waiting on the other side, the Mugabian commander decided that it was time to withdraw.  His force had been reduced by half or more, but had fought hard, and stood their ground, when required.

Uwandan infantry west of the road, advance on the town.

The Mugabians took significant losses along the road, 

and finally decided to withdraw. 

Uwanda took the objective, but paid dearly during the process.  This force would not be advancing to the next fight.  Additionally, the captain's after action report, combined with observations from higher on, gave clear indication of the limitations of Uwandan command structure, and the cost of attacking without proper artillery and/or air support.

Sergeant Okoye was confused as he came too.  His last memory was of the flash and the immense burning pain in his legs, then blackness. The medic assured him that his injuries actually weren't too bad, and that he would be okay.  He asked about his driver, and the medic said that he didn't know, but Okoye already knew what the medic wouldn't tell him. 
________

This was a great game, if a little slow at the start.  The battle took place almost entirely on the "west" side of the road, but the infantry battle for the hill ebbed and flowed with multiple morale failures and rallies, spanning maybe 25 turns or more.

In the end, there were simply too many Uwandan troops and tanks, but the Mugabians fought well.

Losses were as follows:

Uwanda:
7x Sherman Firefly
3x truck
1x Ferret

17 KIA
46 WIA

Captured:
1x Zu 23-2
3x BTR152
1x GA 66

Mugabia:

2x Zu 23-2
3x BTR 152
1x Gaz 66

21 KIA
30 WIA

I'm still playing with officer command bonus/penalties for leadership quality, training, etc.  

Uwanda's primary commander was a strong leader, but the infantry captain was inexperienced and hesitant, making him slow to act. He got a one turn penalty to make decisions when changing orders.  this helped give time to the Mugabians to regroup and reposition, during the fight for the hill.   

Mugabias leader was recognized as having great character and was well respected by his men, which gave a morale bonus to his troops.

Probably going to do another battle this Saturday.