Team Yankee: Clash Along Highway 5

The Soviets are launching a reconnaissance in force along Highway 5 in an attempt to gauge NATO dispositions in the area and ascertain where to best direct their follow on forces. A battered Armored Company from 1/4 Armor is all that stands ready to check this Soviet probe and discourage any further penetration in this area. For this mission the Soviets will be attacking and the Americans defending. The mission: “No Retreat” Forces: 47pt.

Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion T-72 Tank Battalion HQ--1x T-72 (A) T-72 Tank Company--4x T-72 (B) T-72 Tank Company--4x T-72 BMP-2 Recon Platoon--2x BMP-2 MI-24 Hind Assault Helicopter Company--2x Mi-24 Hind

US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team HQ--1x M1 Abrams (A) M1 Abrams Tank Platoon--2x M1 Abrams (B) M1 Abrams Tank Platoon--2x M1 Abrams AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter Platoon--2x AH-1 Cobra

SETUP AND DEPLOYMENT

Deployment Overview

The Hinds deployed in support of (B) Company

The American position in the woods protecting Objective R

The Soviet line as viewed from the American position

UNITS IN RESERVE
Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion	US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team (B) M1 Abrams Tank Platoon--2x M1 Abrams AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopter Platoon--2x AH-1 Cobra

DEPLOYMENT SUMMARY

Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion : The Soviet commander deployed with his (A) T-72 Company in the field on his left directly opposing the lone M1 Abrams. The (B) Company deployed behind the hill on his right with the Hinds deployed to provide direct fire support. The BMP-2 recon platoon deployed on the road in the center. During their spearhead move, they dashed up the road and flanked the Abrams platoon in the woods near Objective R. US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team : The Company CO deployed into the woods on his right flank while the (A) M1 Abrams Platoon deployed in the woods on the left side of the road. The Americans set up a minefield to block the approach to Objective R to left of those woods.

TURN 1

Both T-72 Companies advance with only one tank from (B) Company bogging down trying to get up the hill.

BMP-2s and Hinds move to engage the M1s from the rear.

A close up of the action

The Americans open up--first blood to the Red, White and Blue!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion 1 T-72 from (B) Company 2 BMP-2s--the whole BMP-2 Recon Platoon	US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team

TURN 1 SUMMARY

Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion : Both Tank companies advanced with only 1 T-72 from (B) Company getting bogged down. (A) company fired on the conceled CO Abrams but couldn't score any hits while the Hinds and BMP-2s fired on the Abrams platoon with no damage to the Americans. US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team : No Reserves came in this turn so (A) Platoon moved up to the edge of the woods to engage the T-72 Company to their front--this was a risk as that would leave Objective R open to the BMPs. To prevent this, the command M1 moved out of the woods and into the field behind him in order to fire on the BMPs. During shooting, (A) Platoon managed to destroy one of the T-72s and the command tank knocked out a single BMP-2. This forced the BMPs to take a morale check and needing a 3+ they rolled a 2; the remaining BMP-2 decided he has had enough and withdrew back to Soviet lines! ****Gunner, Sabot, Tank 11 O'Clock! Up! Identified...On the way! TARGET! Up!****

TURN 2

A lot of shooting but no destruction!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion 1 T-72 from (B) Company bailed out	US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team

TURN 2 SUMMARY

Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion : The bogged down tank from (B) Company remounted and moved to join his fellows. The Hinds swung around to the front of the woods to engage the M1 Platoon with their missles and (A) Company successfuly moved into the woods vacated by the American CO and several were able to take up firing positions on the far edge. (A) Company managed to get a few shots on the American CO in the field but did no damage while the three shots and two missles from (B) Company and the Hinds likewise had no impact on the American platoon. These pesky Capitialists are proving to be too well concealed! US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team : The first reserve platoon arrived this turn--the Cobras flying in to support the lone M1 on the American right flank. With the Soivets pressuring on both flanks, the Americans stayed put and returned fire--(A)Platoon targeting the T-72s in the open and the CO firing at those in the woods across from his position. While several hits were scored, only 1 T-72 from (B) Company was bailed out.

TURN 3

The heroic last stand of (A) Platoon!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion 2 T-72 from (A) Company	US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team 2 M1 Abrams from (A) Platoon--the whole Platoon

TURN 3 SUMMARY

Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion : The bailed out T-72 is successful in his remount allowing the Soviets continue to push their numerical advantage--(A) Company extends several tanks outside of the woods to maximize firing on the American CO while the Hinds and (B) Company move to likewise focus their fire on the American Platoon. During the shooting step, the hits finally come for the Soviets! (B) Company is able to destroy one of the Abrams in the woods while the missles from the Hinds take out the other. However, their success is short lived. With five shots from (A) Company, only 1 hits the American CO who then successfuly makes his armor save! US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team : With three reserve dice and the left flank completley over run due to the loss of (A) Platoon, the Americans needed their last Abrams Platoon to come on or it would be almost over. As luck would have it, the desperate radio communication from the belegured Company CO went through and his (B) Platoon arrived and took up positions in the field on the left flank! They were out of LOS to shoot, so all that could shoot was the Cobras with thier TOW missles and the CO himself who all remained stationary to fire. With both the Cobras and CO firing at the Soviet (A) Company, they managed to destroy 2 T-72s--evening up the odds a little!

TURN 4

Soviets secure Objective R

The dice roll of failure--to destroy the American CO, all you had to do was not roll a 1...

Good bye Hinds! Awesome 5+ firepower roll on 3 failed saves to destroy the Russian choppers!

And the great empty space where the Hinds once were!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion 2 Mi-24 Hinds--the whole Company 1 T-72 from (A) Company	US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team

TURN 4 SUMMARY

Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion : With the start of turn 4, (B) Company moved into the woods now left empty by the destroyed American platoon and secured Objective R--however, in trying to avoid the minefield one of the T-72s bogged down. The Hinds moved in to provide support and get within range to fire their missiles on the newly arrived American platoon. (A) Company's three remaining tanks stayed still in the hopes of finally destroying the American CO. During the shoting step, (B) Company and the Hinds fired at the American (B) platoon doing nothing...again. However, things looked promising on the other flank as one of the hits from (A) Company against the American CO finally went through his armor. All that was needed was a 2+ firepower test and then they could race towards Objective A...only, what happened was he rolled a 1 and the American CO simply jumped out his M1 to check the scratch! US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team : With the Russians holding Objective R the only way to avoid defeat was by rushing (B) Platoon from their cover in the field and over to contest it. The Cobras moved to within gun range of the Hinds and the CO, who was able to remount his Abrams, stayed put to continue his delaying action on the right flank. (B) Platoon failed to hit any of of the T-72s in the woods around Objective R but CO Abrams was able to destroy another T-72 from (A) company--leaving two remaining. The Cobras, however, were able to hit 5 of their 6 shots against the Hinds with three failing to be saved. Needing 5+ on two dice to destroy the whole company, he rolled two 6s sending the Hinds crashing to the deck! During the assault step, the Company CO successfuly preformed a shoot and shoot and fell back further into the field hoping to draw the T-72s from (A) Company after him.

TURN 5

Another amazing dice roll to stay alive!

Woods aflame...the end of (B) Company

The Aftermath--the American CO stands alone amongst the wrecks of an entire soviet company!

COMBAT CASUALTY SUMMARY
Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion 2 T-72s from (B) Company T-72 Battalion HQ	US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team 1 M1 Abrams from (B) Platoon bailed out

TURN 5 SUMMARY

Soviet T-72 Tank Battalion : The two remaining T-72s (including the Battalion CO) from (A) Company moved in pursuit of the lone American CO. The bogged down tank from (B) Company failed to remount so the platoon stayed put in the hopes of shooting the Americans off the objective. (A) Company, as usual, couldn't hit the broadside of a barn and failed to hit the CO Abrams. (B) Company, however, did manage to bail one of the Abrams from (B) Platoon contesting Objective R and forced them to do a morale check and, once again, the fate of the game rested with this one roll. Needing a 4+, the American LT. held his platoon together with a 6! US M1 Abrams Armored Combat Team : With one of their tanks bailed out, (B) Platoon stayed put and with the help of the Cobras' TOWs managed to destroy both of the T-72s in the woods securing Objective R. On the right flank, the American CO was engaged in a desperate CQB fight with the last two tanks from (A) Company. Needing 4+ to hit both of them with his two shots, he does--scoring a 4 and a 6. The T-72 from (A) Company passed its armor leaving the hit on the Battalion CO tank. He failed his roll to transfer his hit so had to take it--which upon failing his armor left his fate in the hands of American firepower. Needing a 2+, the American Sabot punched through and detonated the tanks fuel and amunition causing a massive explosion and killing the Soviet Battalion commander. With only 1 T-72 left in the company, the Russians were forced to take a morale test which they failed. With only 1 bogged down T-72 left on the field, the Battalion was not in good spirits. With the loss of their commander they were unable to take the morale check and the Russians were forced to withdraw! ****This is Sabre actual to all Sabre elements: The enemy is withdrawing, I repeat, the Soviets are withdrawing, consolidate on my position, over****

***In the face of such staggering lossess in the recent probe along Highway 5, Soviet High Command believes that sending further resources into that sector unwise until the tactical situation changes.*** A great and entertaining game where the balance literally hung on a single dice roll numerous times! American tanks in cover are extermely hard to hit--the only way to deal with that is by shear weight of firepower (as what eventually happened to the American (A) platoon.) It was a shame loosing the Recon Platoon so early as they could have dashed to threaten the other Objective which would have forced the NATO player to focus his reserves elsewhere. All in all it was a great, desperate fight that really captures the feeling of the novel!

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