History, places, time, technology, tactics, the will of the few, the might of the many. 2,465 years ago it was Spartan spears and armor. Spartan discipline and vigour. Spartan tactics and pride.
In 1985 the Valley just east of Fossbakken was wide, with steep rocky sparsely wooded sides. There were no fantastical walls of bodies. No cliff edges to the sea.
Just a Brigade of determined Norwegian fighters keen to protect their homes, and their families. The warriors had help too. Stout British men. All volunteers who believed in something bigger than themselves. When the Light Force received its shipping order it had expected to head to Denmark to join the 45th Mobile Force. Instead they raced north aboard the HMS Invincible at a respectable 28 knots.
After unloading and commandeering any vehicle capable of carrying four or more the Battalion moved forward to begin digging in.
Thankfully the Norwegians knew their terrain, had caches of supply, and had begin building a series of camouflaged defensive lines. Bobcats, builders, lumberjacks all chipped in to build, command posts, camouflaged entrenchments and small outposts covering the long clear lines of sight to the valley floor.
They had heard that an entire mobile division had landed at Bardufoss. Just a few dozen click North. The Norwegians had relayed their stories of the fighting against the paras and rugged Alpine trained troopers. This would be no easy fight. High above them all Soviet jets drew lazy circles in the sky.
Sidebar:
The water off the coast of Narvik and Tromso was teeming with Subs. A Soviet Fox designation #4 spotted and tracked the Norwegian Kobb class submarine designation #5. She takes a hit. The Fox class used active emissions to track and confirm the strikes. [Game Mechanic d20=18 -2 for the ASW defense factor – 1 hit.]
Norwegian Intercepts fail. FFG HMS Jupiter is intercepted struck! And damaged by a Tango class submarine.
At 0230 the light from the Northern summer began to cast long shadows over the valley.
During the early morning light change, a scramble alert sounds. Su 15 are escorting SU 24M’s [Fencers] to begin the battle for the Hot Gates. They scream in wings swept back coming in low and fast through the valley. F4’s scrambled to intercept.
With the horrid air conditions neither side had much luck shooting the other down. The F4’s are chased off by the Su15 TM escort they returned to base empty handed, frustrated knowing that they could not support their ground pounding colleagues. NATO had recently transferred the Buccaneer’s to support the defense of Narvik. They quickly launched to provide ground support.
They would reach their targets without incident.
Battle
131st attack Nord Brigade.
The commander of the 131st Division’s lineage was impressive, earning its reputation in Stalingrad during WWII. The men were stationed usually in the Leningrad district. Their early fighting against the Nordic forces was however not impressive, they allowed a battalion of second rate cadres delay them on their mission. Their commander Colonel Solokov was not about to allow a second mistake to tarnish his record. The were people watching. Political officers taking notes and no doubt spies in his officers team. After his unit had been transported in the BMP’s, trucks BRDMs etc pulled out. Their logistical tail was long. The men were on edge as every few clicks there would be a halt for s suspect IED, or an RPG round would take a out a vehicle. Causing delays. He had not received any replacements for the unfortunate losses he had take during the border battle…well to be honest it was a skirmish. A mismanaged skirmish according to his superiors.
That would not happen again.
The 1st Regiment had been ordered to push recon units up and scout out the valley. Sporadic resistance was demonstrated by the enemy ….So said the report. But for some reason radio comms were playing up. It must the terrain mused Solokov. But maybe he had beaten the NATO forces to the gap! He ordered 2 regiments to press into the valley and secure the road junction and flanks, and to do so aggressively. His political officer smiled and nodded enthusiastically. Everyone knew the importance of securing the Narvik port quickly.
Norwegian Defensive Line 0500:
‘Ok, men their air support has not done much to us because of your hard work! Let them close. Target transporters, heavy weapons and stand off platforms. The British airforce will be delivering a surprise any minute now. And we have a little surprise for the invaders.” Said the Commander of Nord Brigade.
The soviet companies attacked in wedge formation, driving in fast towards designated objectives, as platoons peeled off to cover flanks, they found mines, rapid sudden arty strikes hitting them and squads of soldiers appearing out of nowhere from hides. Supporting Soviet locally attached mortars and arty began popping smoke into the valley to cover the advance. Confusion mounted.
Radio distortion increased, commanders could not connect with units. Forces were in disarray.
Then the Buccaneers arrived. Raining destruction on the open valley floor, while the Brits and Nord formations opened up completely .
Russian Command post 131st Division
“What do mean you cant contact anyone! Get in a UAZ and find out what the hell is happen screamed Solokov! He pointed to the valley floor. Look at that… that is my army. Burning. “He raged!
“Pull back, pullback…F%^$%k pull back for gods sake.”
[Game mechanic – The terrain benefit is +2 the Norwegians also garner a Electronic Warfare benefit Combat Factor 10 + 12 Air. Vs 4 defense factors and +8 for the buccs. = 12 factors. The 131st earns concentric benefits from 2 airborne brigades and the 7th Guard. The final combat ends up at 4:1 with a plus 5!! The 131st earns an A1. The 131st now has 2 combat losses and will suffer a +3 to any further combat.]
A ragged weary cheer erupts from the defensive line of NATO.
Solokov is relieved of command by his Political Officer
1100 July 1st
7th Guard picks up the attack. They elect to use their Echelon formation and attack with all the regiments attacking at once. Bringing the full weight of the division to bear. They come in from over the valley pass, and strike obliquely.
Once again fighting is furious. The Norwegians and Brits fight like lions, and the Soviets give as good also.
The lines bend but do not break. 7th withdraws to reconsider its options.
[Game Mechanic – 15 vs 4 Soviets bring ground Support mission in to help 7th Guard using Tu22’s . +3 concentric bonus column shifts to a net 6:1. Soviets roll an 8. There is a +4 for the combat. The +4 is comprised of +3 for EW. +2 for terrain but the Alpine bonus subtracts 1. The net roll is 12. Contact. Note the two air groups cancelled each other out so I discounted them in the above counting. ]
brilliant – good to see naval bombers pressed into use as ground support – in my game the whole WP attack on DE, depends on just 2 brigades of marines – and despite massive airstrikes they still have not advanced. Meanwhile SU heavy arm and mech brigades sit idly by, not able to deploy. Next time we (WP) are invading Denmark via Jutland.
now how will Jutland work? Clear SH first then what? There is much to do and limited transport to do it. The problem appears to be the toughness of the Bns!! At first I thought I was making errors. But I think its a hang over from the SPI game. Next War had the same issue. Hard to crack, but when they do its like a wet napkin.