Your group is the lead element of the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division. You consist of 4x M1A2 Abrams MBT's, and 3x M2A2 Bradley IFV's, without dismounts.You have been tasked with clearing passage into Northern Takistan via the barren oil fields located in the country's north east. To counter our movements, the Takistan Military has moved elements of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Mechanised) and the 3rd Brigade, 1st Armoured Division to hold the area between PL-Gold and PL-Terril. The force consists of an unknown number of BMP-2's, BRDM-2's, BRDM-2 ATGM's, T55's and T35's. The unit also has infantry teams helping with defence.
Objectives
1 - Cross PL-Gold
2 - Eliminate Armour
3 - Eliminate HQ-BMP
Mission By: (AEF)Swordsman
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| (AEF)Swordsman's M1A2 entering the AO |
Mission Review
CTB got stuck into Black Gold as the first mission for the evenings proceedings. The heavy-cav based mission is aimed at training vehicle crews and improving their situational awareness.
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| OC (AEF)Floydii heading south |
Mission commander (AEF)Floydii split the four Abrams main battle tanks into two groups, one covering the northern flank, and one covering the south. The Bradley IFV acted as the unit scout travelling in the center of the formation and calling targets.
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| (AEF)Chappy's vehicle after the hit on his vehicles tracks. |
Upon entering the AO, the two groups encountered a small scout party of 6 BRDM-2 variations and disposed of them with the longer ranged main guns on the M1A2's. The two groups of MBT's then engaged the defensive line of the remaining Takistani Mechanised Infantry Division, eliminating the majority of the BMP-2's in quick succession. During this period (AEF)Chappy's M1A2 suffered damage that rendered his vehicle immobile, making the situation for the vehicle commanders interesting.
The two groups were able to offer supporting fire to each other from their over watch positions, which allowed CTB to successfully destroy the T55 counter attack that attempted to flank the group to the north and south (resulted in 5 more OPFOR heavy vehicles destroyed).
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| (AEF)Kynetic enters the fray. |
From this point on, reinforcements arrived and the remaining two Bradley IFV's joined the fray, helping to clean up the infantry defending the oil platform with their cannons, as well as knocking out two entrenched BMP's with TOW missiles.
The MBT element moved through the AO in an extended line, converging on the enemy HQ and eliminating the unit commander with a single SABOT round from 2 kilometers. The remaining armour in the area was destroyed and the group moved over platoon line Gold after the 45 minute engagement came to a close.
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| (AEF)Swordsman's M1A2 from the view of (AEF)Thyco's M2A2. |
Lessons Learnt
Crew commanders quickly learnt to stay on their guard and scan every direction for targets. The mission also highlighted how important it is for vehicles to choose the correct position in the terrain (e.g. hull down).
Overall the mission ran well considering the majority of the players and even some of the vehicle crew commanders were new to heavy-cav style game play. Everyone involved enjoyed the mission and looks forward to future cavalry missions.
