[jivemi]

Thanks for the scenario (now #300) Mr. Bill. A stunning, staggering struggle, especially for one used to more pedestrian fare (w/o laser range finders, thermal imaging, VIRSS/CIWS missile defense, composite armor, etc.). Took over a dozen hours to play considering the destructive capability and cost of units. Imagine, incredible carnage over objectives that barely add up to a single CS tank!

Thought I'd give some feedback based on your notes (SPOILER ALERT):

1) Dispatching reinforcements was the key. Even then it wasn't easy figuring out where the next attack was gonna be, or how long it would last.

2) Didn't commit (Ukrainian) airpower until the last few turns except for the attack helo, which got off all its missiles, but they were defeated by VIRSS/CIWS. So it shot up a couple infantry units around the Krasina Works and retired. Russian air killed a number of SP ATGM's, APC's and trucks but didn't hurt any tanks IIRC. Managed to damage some of them (plus the helos) but none were shot down.

3) As for the flanks, up top west of Bosnevo--already occupied by friendly infantry--it was sheer luck (along with some helpful overwatch by an SP ATGM) that prevented disaster. As the four high-value tank reinforcements started forward I happened to notice the guy in front saw something. For some reason neither the upgraded T-55 or T-80 east of Bosnevo fired at it, so the guys in back opened fire before moving, destroying both targets. From then on they all moved VERY carefully and caught every Russian AFV emerging from the woods.

Down south around the Osnovni Works the battle started out well but nearly ended in catastrophe after a T-80 Bars, T-90A, and two T-72 Rogatba's showed up late. They shrugged off satchel charges and RPG's while blowing off infantry as if they were mere pests, and brewed up the two T-55's lurking in ambush through 100 (150?) meters of smoke. SP ATGM's and a laser-ranging tank got the T-72's but at terrible cost. Only a single BMP Shkal survived the encounter, and it had expended all its Konkurs (all but one missile from several AFV's were defeated). Finally some artillery and late airstrikes stunned the T-80 and T-90. The BMP killed the T-80 with its 30mm cannon by a "head shot" from the rear while a T-64BM Bulat delivered the coup de grace to the retreating T-90A. Whew!

4) As you mentioned in the scenario notes Russia has the advantage with laser range-finding and TI. On numerous occasions--especially around Kuganskoya--my AFV's got killed by missiles or cannon fire from unseen enemy. Just south of the Krasina Works, where thousands of points worth of armor were lost fighting over a 30-point objective, a Ukrainian T-84 got wasted by a missile, apparently fired from a Khrizantema-S with TI rated at 60 through what seemed like a couple hundred(?) meters of smoke and trees.

5) To the best of my knowledge Igor Kravchuk did not perform any heroics in this battle. However a couple squads with Neto RPG's dispatched a few tanks while others spotted, often detecting their opposite numbers trying to sneak up and bushwhack friendly armor. They did yeoman service and played their parts, however modest they may seem. Couldn't have done it without them.

6) Final score was 5551:15341, enough for an MV and a sigh of relief. Some saves are provided for your information and amusement: