FLASHPOINT CAMPAIGNS: COLD WAR RELEASES THIS THURSDAY (20TH NOVEMBER)
Rendezvous with Destiny
The 1st Battalion of the 502nd was advised of their first task as soon as the 101st unloaded; Soviet rocket batteries were deploying outside Hanau, too close to the Frankfurt HQ to be acceptable; it couldn't be allowed for them to be tempted to use tactical nukes on such a juicy target. The West Germans were desperately holding Hanau with 11 ACR sending a relief column ASAP. Looking at the remainder of the force dispositions... what the hell?
Grumbling, Lieutenant Colonel Garrison read on and looked at the four offered landing zones, immediately discarding them all-
The opposition looked to be 4 battalions pinching Hanau and a regiment on the way.
He wanted to use the Hemsbach Ridge as a redoubt and shield to protect his Chinook's on the way in. He could attack the high priority rocket batteries and interdict the arriving MRR if he could own that high-ground and occupy Michelbach. He drew his own route and LZ on the provided map and started giving orders. The men were told to eat and grab 4 hours of rest however they could, loading would begin at 2200; the 101st specialized in night actions and there was no way they could wait 24 hours.
At least he was allowed to know a Spectre would be on-hand.
About five hours later as the men were boarding he laid out his insertion plan to his Captains. They would be approaching and landing behind the cover of the ridge over Hemsbach. The Observer and Attack helos would be placed to cover their approach and try to get an eye on the rocket batteries and their AD-
The thrumming squadron took off, their escorts swiftly invisible in the distant night. Unfortunately the near-side scouts discovered the hard way that the enemy AD had that vector well covered, both observer helos splashing in the river. There was no other firing until they crossed the river, when some Apaches discovered Soviet scouts. They were taken care of with dispatch-
All of the Chinooks reached their LZs with no issue and swiftly unloaded. Orders were given and the 502nd started moving out carefully through the wooded hills over Hemsbach. There was a brief message of enemy movement to the north but no indication of its importance-
One of the rocket batteries was discovered right on their doorstep and was swiftly chopped to pieces by more Apaches.
The sightings to the north turned out to be very important as a tank battalion approached Albstadt. Fortunately there was no sign yet that their positions had been realized. The Chinooks were sent further east to create the illusion that the NATO activity was further off while the troops moved out through the darkness, easily picking their way up the slopes. Their presence was formally revealed when a robust bombardment was opened with every mortar and gun they'd brought with them.
Over the next 35 minutes the barrage continued, but the companies heading for Michelbach were moving terribly slowly in their caution, causing Garrison to worry he'd made a mistake. Just then word came down that an airstrike was coming in on the enemy Tunguska battery, a great relief as it would allow the Apaches a chance to get a clear shot at the enemy tanks-
Unfortunately...
The AD was right next to an HQ unit that was apparently emitting louder than the target, so they were struck instead. They only heard the jets as they skimmed beneath the overcast sky, type unknown.
This, to put it bluntly, stunk. The Apaches couldn't take risks, and their AT Hummers were taking an even longer time to navigate into position than the troops. They could only use artillery, and watch as the tank battalion cruised through Michelbach and took up positions closer to the river.
Two hours into the mission the guys were finally approaching Michelbach when the AC-130 arrived. Taking a great risk, they were directed at the pesky AD battery-
Apparently they were reloading as the big buzzing beehive of oblivion flew up the valley, circled twice and then departed-
The Apaches finally had free reign. Ten minutes later Michelbach was occupied without opposition, and companies A B & D began to dig in, choosing stout buildings with a commanding field of fire.
The last of the troops were finally taking up their positions about half-an-hour later when the helo scouts reported significant movement; the MRR was in column advancing down the road, armor in front-
After assessing the ammo states of all their artillery a Maximum Effort barrage was called for, including the newly arrived 155s across the river. However word had reached General Carter that the West Germans were being hard pressed so “Spooky” was rotated up to them. The 502nd's massed batteries, which had previously offered a few volleys at the initially sighted tank battalion, now opened up with everything they had-
No one appeared to have paid due attention to Saint Barbara however as the enemy column mysteriously lagged in their advance, causing the cascade of fearsome ordnance to be wasted on a set of recon vehicles. With only a cratered landscape to show for it, now yet another battalion stormed over the rise. It could only come down to the man on the ground-
30 minutes of desperate firing began, the defenders using their night vision equipment to best advantage as the leading tank battalion disappeared into the fresh moonscape of the small draw that lead up to Albstadt. Some of the AT units had managed to reach a spot to fire from even if they weren't yet in position, and they began scoring hits at even 5km as their crews sighted in with thermals. 15 minutes later however the surviving T-80s crawled out of the cratered landscape of smoke and fumes and advanced into Michelbach-
For ten fearsome minutes the 90 men holding the town took their carefully aimed potshots as the tanks moved into town, from this garage door or that kitchen window, finding that their LAWs were quite capable of disabling the Soviet armor if used with care. The first wave petered out, with surprisingly few casualties-
Everyone reloaded and the Battalion FS called for another Maximum Effort barrage as Soviet illumination rounds drifted down, but fortunately just west of their positions-
Through the hail of fire the MRR drove into the draw, their leading tanks being the first to clear the demolition yard-
Minutes started seeming like hours as the armor ground themselves to dust on Michelbach's defenders, shortly followed by the BMPs of the infantry. It was definitely desperate, every battery ruing the minutes they could not fire while they restored their stocks, the companies in front wishing they had time to resupply while all they could do is fire light arms out of windows and doors. The Soviets not only seemed to want to overrun the defenders but also made moves to bypass the town, simply because of the mass of their traffic in the choked streets and fords-
Fifteen more minutes the fighting raged, TOWs streaking overhead from the ridge behind, artillery falling endlessly in the narrow draw, and the men of the Screaming Eagles shooting every target they could pick out, now hardly needing their edge as the Soviets entered the town. They wisely began to cycle resupply so as to maintain as much LAW fire as possible, but the Soviets were starting to leak by. Just then Garrison was informed Task Force Comanche had arrived, but the bad news was that the Germans needed them more than he did according to HQ. Cursing, all he could do was look at the map and listen for radio calls-
5 minutes later, unbelievably, Michelbach proper took their first big casualties. This spot of news was surprising as Garrison had assumed casualties had been badly accumulating. The Soviets in the draw however seemed horribly slowed by the initial errant barrage, and the persistent bombardment was certainly not helping their cause. Their BMPs were starting to back-up in the wasteland just outside of town, a critical opportunity to fire everything at them-
Then; ...dawn broke. And, suddenly, it seemed doable. In that wasteland of burning vehicles, it seemed more wasn't moving than was. More barrages were drawn up, but it was finally felt that a few speculative volleys at presumed but unknown defensive positions could be afforded. Despite this moment of hope with first light the Soviet artillery began to find their TOW positions on the ridge. Garrison felt they'd take more casualties by breaking out to move than holding, so hold they did-
Thirty minutes later a moment came where the soldiers in Michelbach realized the gunfire was distant, that their breathing was the loudest sound they could hear. Sergeants started moving around, checking in with the men, calling for medics or giving a hearty clap on the shoulder as need demanded. Colonel Garrison looked at his sighting reports and was shocked to see that their artillery would have to really look for worthy targets. The Hummer ATs by report seemed to be in the worst shape, they weren't meant to sit through artillery, but at least every unit answered. He grimaced at himself as he realized C Company's blocking position to his southwest probably hadn't been necessary at all as none of them had fired a shot at anything.
Their bombardments continued for another 90 minutes, and then word came from higher up that the enemy seemed to be withdrawing. It was an amazing spectacle when he finally climbed the ridge to lay eyes on the field for himself. The little vale of Albstadt, all 3sq km of it, was a sea of smoke. Little fires poked and sputtered, but the haze of defeat just clung to the ground like a gloomy shawl. Task Force Comanche had succeeded in reinforcing the Germans, who had apparently taken a lot of casualties and were pushed to the bitter edge before they arrived, but thanks to the US Army the day seemed to be won.
Command asked for a debrief, so Garrison told his forward positions tally claims of enemy losses. Of the 4 platoons holding Michelbach;
3rd Platoon, A Company 2 Tank, 3 APC, 12 Inf, 1 AT, 4 AD, 1 Arty
1st Platoon, A Company 2 Tank, 3 APC, 16 Inf, 1 AT, 2 AD
2nd Platoon, A Company 6 Tank, 1 APC, 2 Inf
1st Platoon, B Company 6 Tank, 5 APC, 9 Inf, 1 AT, 2 AD
The TOW Humvees supporting the defenders;
3rd Platoon, D Company 1 Recce, 11 Tank, 12 APC, 1 HQ, 9 SPArty, 10 Utility
2nd Platoon, D Company 1 Recce, 7 Tank, 33 APC, 2 SP AT, 1 HQ, 7 Utility
1st Platoon, D Company 6 Recce, 3 Tank, 24 APC, 5 SP AT, 1 HQ, 6 Utility
The airmobile Division Artillery added;
Battery A 11 APC, 7 Inf, 2 SP AT, 7 AT, 7 HQ, 4 AD, 1 Utility
Battery B 16 APC, 7 Inf, 5 AT, 2 HQ, 5 AD, 2 Arty, 3 Utility
289 Claims from 9 units. There would be a lot of stars handed out.
It turned out the Germans actually carried their fair share of the fighting, though this was not visible to the 101st. Between the two forces, including 56 Claims from the Apaches, 736 enemy sub-units had been accounted for, set against total sub-unit losses of 144. For NATO definitely not a gross result. And a brilliant day for the 101st!
