[RERomine]

US vs. Russia

Mission: Meeting Engagement, Russia (that's all it says), 6/2009 - scattered objectives.

Enemy: Reinforced Battalion - 3-4 Armor Co, 2-3 Mech Infantry Co, 2-3 Artillery Btry, plus SAM, AAA, ATGM, etc. Average force experience, ~70.

Terrain: Map = 100x100. Grassland and a large plateau dominating the northern 75% of the area between the LDs Part of the plateau extends into the Russian deployment zone. The top of the plateau has a lot of gullies with rough and impassible terrain. There are a few low spots out in the grassy areas. They provide cover against units not on the plateau, but you have to search for the spots. There aren't many. Visibility = 78.

Troops: Battalion sized Task Force - 1 NG Armor Co. (14xM1A2), 3 Mech Infantry Co. (NG Infantry in M113A3 APCs), 3 Artillery Btry (On board, 8xM109A6s and 4xM1129s), 2 SP-SAM sections, 2 SPAA sections, 2 AH-64D attack helos, plus recon, ammo supply and a few other assorted HHC units. UAV Recon Plane. Average force experience, ~80.

Time: 19 Turns

Analysis

Long range weaponry will rule this map. There is practically no place to hide. The only exception is around the base of the plateau. Snuggling up close to that and controlling the edge that overlooks that base is critical.

It will be difficult to control the top of the plateau, but that isn't really important. Contesting enemy control should be good enough. Since some of the plateau starts in the Russian deployment zone, they have good positions for ATGMs and SAMs and will be able to start with units there. That puts me in more of a role as the attacker in this battle, but the AI won't sit tight. I expect it to move forward and that will create possibilities.

Plan

The first part of my plan is to move in close to the plateau for protection. Almost all of my units will move forward to the western slopes. As quickly as possible, I need to get eyes on top of the plateau. It's very difficult to stop attacks I don't see coming. My UAV will come into play here. It will make a quick run along my LD after the AI first move. With high visibility, anything the enemy has moved, I should see it and maybe some stuff that doesn't. Even if I lose the UAV and I probably will, the intel I get should be priceless.

The next step will be to get some Javelins up top. Their primary role will be to engage any enemy vehicles moving on the plateau. While the Javelins provide over watch on the plateau, infantry will infiltrate via the gullies. During the initial few turns, my armor will provide over watch on the plateau edge from the grassland to the west. They will easily dispatch any fast APCs that make it there.

While everyone gets into position around and on the plateau, recon elements will watch the plains to the south. Nothing will sneak up here. If the enemy makes any pushes in the plains, armor and Javelins near the southwest corner of the plateau should have little difficulty dealing with them. Two gunships I have will also help in this area, but won't be able to stray out from behind the plateau if they expect to live. That probably applies to all vehicles as well. Additional armor will move to the southwest corner to provide assistance if necessary. It is unlikely I will move them to the top of the plateau unless I feel it can be done safely. I might test it by sending Gomer up in an M113 before I move any armor up there, should I decide to do that.

The only area of real concern is ammo resupply. My heavy artillery has deployed in low spots along the back edge of the map. Once they have to relocate, smoke will probably be required to make the move safe, because the low spots are too small to provide relocation possibilities there. Normally, I would have ammo tracks within 500m of the artillery, but in this case, they would be in the open. Ammo resupply will stay close to the Javelins since they should be more active than usual. If necessary, I will just run my artillery off the back edge of the map if no safe relocation routes are available.

Expectations are the AI will get slaughtered running carelessly in the open on this map, as long as missiles hold out. While capturing all the objectives isn't practical on a map like this, infantry moving through the gullies should be able to capture all the flags not currently controlled by the enemy. The enemy may get there first, but I should be able to take them away. As for flags they already control, not worth sacrificing vehicles to get to them and the infantry isn't fast enough.

I've attached a map with my basic plan outlined on it.