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Italy and Balkans, June 10, 1997, Warsaw PAct army of 1944 units opposed to Nato army of 1960 units for a battle of complexity 6.25 at Division(XX) level on a 5 Km/Hex map for 500 turns of Full Day each. by Piero Falotti submited on 05-03-2011 Rugged-Defense Playing Statistics
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Alternative ww3 - Southern FrontVersion 1 beta for Toaw 3.4 1. Unit Colors 1.1. WARSAW PACT
1.2. NATO
1.3. OTHERS
2. Background In summary, this scenario presupposes that the USSR did not collapse and actually reformed during the 1970's by Yuri Andropov after the premature death of Leonid Brezhnev. Cuba, with USSR support and with the discovery of oil near it's shores actually thrived during the 1980's and 1990's. The US government, after 8 years of Reagan, 8 years of Bush and now with new president Dan Quayle winning the very disputed and controversial elections of 1996 has to face a political crisis in Latin America as more and more of the pro-USA regimes face unrest and turmoil, as well as economical as the finance and housing bubble of the last 15 years is bursting bringing many business to lay off people and seriously doubt the wisdom of a strong capitalist financial sector. The president's cabinet - with secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Vice-President Dick Cheney (of whom some say is the real decision maker in the US government), and others, prepare for war. Not only do they support and finance a growing military presence in Latin America, but also are supporting Caucasus and Central Asian ethnic and nationalist movements. This scenario starts with the collapse of Yugoslavia which is also backed by the USA and NATO. Throughout the year 1997 a savage war rages on between Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo - all supported by the USA and Serbia, supported by Romania and the USSR - Here the players will start with Serbia trying to subdue the seceding republics - first Slovenia, then Croatia, then Bosnia and possibly Kosovo and Macedonia. Unexpectedly, on September 11th 1997, a massive terrorist attack shakes America. New York, Miami and Washington are attacked by high-jacked planes. Most of the terrorists involved are found to be Mexicans and Cubans. Claims of "proof" of Cuban involvement are shouted as the country - indeed the world - are shocked. A few days later President Quayle warns Cuba of delivering the alleged master mind of the attacks or face consequences. As Cuban leader mocks the US "lies", an ultimatum is delivered to Cuba and as Congress votes for War on October 7th 1997. As the US invades Cuba and keeps supporting the seceding republics in Yugoslavia, the USSR protesting at first decides to stand down to avoid war. This is only a deceit operation. In fact, the Soviet intelligence has uncovered that the September 11th attacks are in fact "False Flag" attacks organized by parts of the US secret service in conjunction with Florida Cubans and some rogue Israeli agents. It also discovered that the USA plans to increase its destabilization operations in Central Asia and the Caucasus. The last straw is that the USA plans to use the September 11th terrorist attacks to wage a global war on communism, thus hoping to lift its collapsing economy by war. The USSR, after a mobilization of its forces in October, stands down, only planning a more complex attack - using deception. The Soviet plan is as follows:
This surprise attach will have several phases
2.1. YUGOSLAVIA AND SERBIE The Yugoslav forces start scattered and with low preparedness to face the uprising of Slovenia first, then Croatia and later Bosnia. However as militias will grow and the Yugoslav army dissolves into the newly raised Serbian army, it will be a strong force in the region. However it will face a tough fight until relieved by the Warsaw Pact. Yugoslav and Serbian forces are relatively weak and with low motivation and proficiency. 2.2. SLOVENIA, CROATIA, BOSNIA, ALBANIA, MACEDONIA Slovenia is the first to revolt and its weak, but well positioned forces surrounding Yugoslav Army position can seize the much needed depots in order to equip its forces and become a good fighting force. Croatia will seceded 10-15 days after Slovenia and also will need to capture the isolated Yugoslav depots quickly in order to build it's defense against Serbia. Croatia will gain many militias but will need heavy equipment badly Bosnia will also secede if Croatia can hold long. It's forces are weak and badly equipped but it will also catch Serbian forces off-foot. Albania will support UCK rebels in Kosovo and may join the fight Macedonia can be either pro-Serbia if granted independence or against Serbia if it secedes. 2.3. WARSAW PACT For this the southern group of forces and South Western Front of the Soviet Union will operate in low secret not to arouse suspicion. Most of its forces will start the scenario at low to medium alert. Once mobilized, the Soviet forces will be quite considerable: Airborne, Naval and Special Operation forces will be able to strike fast - provided the 36th Air Army in Hungary and 5th Air Army in Ukraine can provide air superiority. The Soviet Ground forces - 9th Guards in Hungary, 14th Guards, 12th Guards and 19th Army in Ukraine are very powerful and, well used, can smash almost anywhere if massed together. However, they can probably not achieve much if scattered across this vast region. Indeed the prizes are many : neutralize Italy, Greece or Albania; secure the Austrian southern flank, Seize European Turkey and sortie the Black Sea Fleet in the Mediterranean, involve the weak but useful Libyan forces in the war. 2.4. NATO The NATO forces in the area start by gradually support the seceding Yugoslav republics, with some special forces intervening and some equipment smuggled in the area. The Soviet and Warsaw Pact attack on Christmas 1997 will probably take NATO command in the are by surprise, but the forces under NATO commad are quite powerful:
3. Notes 3.1. Map notes As many will notice, the map is centered on Yugoslavia, which will be the most probable area of fighting. That's where there are the less distortions. I managed to avoind distortions in the Italian peninsula thanks to the sea absorbing them (albeit some distances will be slightly wrong in the adriatic). However, parts of western Greece are slightly compressed to enable a correct portray of the Greek-Bulgarian border. Sadly there wasnot enough place to portray the European partof Turkey, so that is compressed too - I thought that this will not change much as the are is very denselydefended and any fighting there would probably be more like ww1 than manouvre. Parts of central Bulgaria and central Romanis (the are north of Brasov towards Cluj) also are compressed in order to compensate for map distortion. That is probably acceptable as there would be little chances of combat there, but if anyone would like to use this map for scenarios in the region, a carefull redrawing of those area is advised. Finally, off-map bases, especially in Ukraine and Crimea are represented abstractly. 3.2. Game notes The first part of the game with the collapse of Yugoslavia plays well. There is great chance that the Yugoslav/Serbian forces will fail to keep Slovenia and Croatia under control and thus see Bosnia secede. However once Serbians regroup, they can be a powerfull force that can cause lots of damage. Once the Warsaw Pact forces enter the game, they will be able to strike anywhere with strength, but not everywhere at once. So choice of offensives and counteroffensives must be taken. The Game can become quite fluid on its center while it will probably bogs into attritional warfare on the Italian, Greek and Turkish fronts. 3.3. Valued Objectives
3.4. Supply Points
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