CMBS Rollin' on the River Con vs Undercover Geek AAR - Game Over

[JasonPratt]

I just wanted to check are people enjoying these AAR from UCG and myself?  Is it OK do you want more or are people more like this is Meh?

Thanks
Conrad

WTF is this?

Still going

Stilllllll going

Oh shi............

>:D O0


(Edited to add for clarity: I love this AAR more than steak.  O:-) )

[Con]

Turn 081 Time Remaining 01:52
Lets call this one Green Eggs and SAM and by green eggs I mean Apaches.

No less than 10 SAMs fly off the rails from the Tunguskas.  Not wanting to be left out of the party the lone MANPAD (located at the embankment) fires off as well.  Congratulations comrade MANPAD you have just become an RPG gunner since the Igla SAM is a 1 shot weapon with no reloads.
So 11 SAMS scream off to a very narrow part of the horizon.  The same area where the choppers from earlier tried to ingress in on.  Seems these US flyboys are a bit dumb and like to show off their hot dogging skills.  Let's see how well they hotdog with 11 SAMS on their ass.



My Tunguskas meanwhile obviously went to the school of North Vietnam AA since they are whailing on that fire button like its a red headed stepchild.  Some of the Tunguskas are down to 2 SAMs.  A couple of US Arty rounds start impacting near the village as well.  Time to move all the SAMs 50 to 100 meters around just in case UCG get cute and tries to triangulate some from the smoke contrails their locations and drops some arty there.

My 120mm spotting rounds start landing on the right embankment.  I wonder if UCG will scamper those troops back over the railroad tracks. 
The center group tries to lay low and hope that the Strykers become visible from what I am still presuming to be the US third platoon.
On the left flank the immobilized and abandoned AFV gets taken out (yay made UCG use some extra LAWs).  The poor single Saxhorn ATGM spots a sniper unit opens fire and MISSES (damn these Ruskies need more time on the range).  The snipers not surprisingly cut him down mercilessly.

[Con]

Turn 081 Time Remaining 01:51

Just as I suspected I start to see US troops scurrying back over the right embankment away from the US side.  Even though it will cause a delay I find that I can shift the Arty fire back about 30 meters directly on top of the embankment.  This means that there will be rounds landing on the US side as well.  It's worth the delay especially since UCG like to be aggressive and I am betting he won't pull those troops back far enough.  Delay is 2 mins



Arty for the left railway embankment is still 5 mins away.  Potential spotting rounds are dropping but since my only Russian consists of learning how to surrender and asking if she has a boyfriend the spotting speech in the game doesn't do me any favors.

Since I know he is now pulling back his troops now is the time to bring up my guys from the wheat fields.  I give them all move slow orders towards the woods line.  Its slow and exhausting but it's the safest in case UCG left anyone behind.

Arty rounds continue to impact in the village.  I spot a US recon team on foot on my far left opposite my recon teams but the distance is so great that there really is no point in engaging them.

I note that there are no more chopper sounds.  I know in other CMBS games it lists the firing unit if it destroys an aircraft but I haven't seen any of those messages pop up for me during this game.

[JasonPratt]

Chuck Norris should drive a Tunguska, i wish i had one

Similar to Christmas Eve during WW1 peace breaks out on the right near Cons graveyard. The troops are playing shadow shapes by the light of a burning Stryker

''Now do Startled Moose, bwahahahahahaha thats brilliant, oh youre surrendering, do you have a Tunguska?"

[Con]

Turn 083 Time Remaining 01:51
Not much happens this turn.  I see more US troops dashing back to their side of the embankment on my right hand flank.  This confirms my choice that it was worthwhile to shift the arty fire.  Arty rounds intensify impacting in the center village.  According to the arty timer its still 5 minutes until my 120mm mortar fire comes down on the left flank

[Con]

Turn 085 Time Remaining 01:50

The embankment is turning into a seesaw.  US troops are jumping over it towards the Russian side on the left flank and retreating back over it towards the US side on the right flank.  My 30mm dismounted HE grenade launcher in the center lobs a couple of grenades towards the US infantry which it spots on the left flank with little or no effect.  There sure are a lot of infantry working their way into the area where I called arty fire on.  Lets hope they are still there when it arrives!



Other events are that my recon HQ unit on the extreme left flank as it was repositioning spotted a US Humvee with a spotter unit in the center of the map.  My guys have nothing that could damage the Humvee but I might think about bringing their AFV up to the same spot see if it can put a little hurt on a key unit for UCG.

US arty continues to rain down on the village

[Con]

Turn 087 Time Remaining 01:49

Embankment right flank as my troops low crawl towards the woods line a Stryker that that sneaky SOB UCG had left behind opens up on the RPG team quickly with Mk19 grenades.    The grenade splinters do their job and both RPG soldiers collapse into a heap of sodden torn flesh before they have a chance to fire back.  Their twitching remains are a stern incentive to the rest of the platoon to make sure you crawl extra low.  There is no such thing as a flesh wound from a 40mm HE grenade launcher.  However by firing on my RPG the Stryker ends the turn spotted by the far right MT-LBM 6M.  Could the RPG team be avenged?



In the center 1st Sq A team crawling forwards spots an M1129 brought all the way up to the embankment line.  The pepper it with small arms fire causing it reverse and wounding/KIA one of the mortar men.  In return they take some heavy Mk19 fire from an unseen Stryker killing one of the two team members.



My 30mm dismounted HE grenade launcher in the center continues to lob grenades at US infantry forces that are clambering over the left flank embankment.  They dont seem to be doing much damage or stopping those troops.  More ominously two Tunguskas start firing into the grey sky with their 30mm cannons.  Every time this has happened in the past has been followed in close succession by a helo attack run.  Will this time be different?
Lastly the heavy arty fire in the village finally claims a victim.  Judging by the size of the blasts I am facing 155mm Howitzer fire.  It takes down one of the main structures and during the confusion and dust and mayhem a 155mm round impacts through the thin roof armor of an MT-LBM 6M that was behind the building.   The resultant explosion leaves nothing recognizable behind of a fully armored vehicle.  The Russians in the surrounding houses are dazed and bleeding from the ears from the force of the blast.




Arty fire is beginning to rain down on the right hand embankment.  I can only hope that it is hurting UCG.  The left hand embankment is still undergoing arty spotting.  The Russian voices on the radio net are probably telling me something critical but again unless they are asking me out I can't understand them

[Con]

Turn 089 Time Remaining 01:48

The Stryker seconds after killing my RPG team is lit up by the rightmost MT-LBM 6M.  One of their 40mm APDS rounds found a weak spot because the Stryker explodes in a spectacular and powerful explosion.  If this was Hollywood it would be in slow-motion with bullet cams and a 1000 strong choir of eunuchs singing a mournful lamenting dirge in the background.  That's how epic this blast is.  The only thing better would be if UCG loaded it up with infantry to shelter from the arty rounds.




I spot another Stryker M1129 in the tree line close to the center of the embankment.  Not really sure what UCG gains by having them so close to the action.



Another Stryker from the 1st platoon on the left flank crawls slowly over the left embankment.  Despite having hidden an RPG team there for this express purpose they don't fire in time and the Stryker spots them killing the RPG gunner and wounding the other team member.  The cad immediately surrenders (probably his best move but still ticks me off).  Where is a commissar when you need one!  One of the center dismounted auto grenade launchers can spot the Stryker so I order it to open fire on him.  I dont know if the HE rounds will penetrate but its better than letting them get chewed up by the Strykers Mk19s.





The Tunguskas continue to blast randomly into the sky with their 30mm cannons.  Sure enough I begin to hear the familiar whup whup of helicopters.

[Con]

Turn 091 Time Remaining 01:47

The Tunguskas light off another 7 SAMs into the Ukrainian airspace.  The amount of metal flying around the air here should make it impossible for even a swallow to make it across the battlefield (European or African).  I will need to check with UCG after the game to see if I am actually doing any damage to his air units.  If I am knocking those helos out of the sky he sure is not hesitating to keep throwing them into the grinder.  This time it looks like the Helos are coming in on a different ingress route.  They probably learned from those last pilots (those that survived) that it might be better to pick a different approach! 



The dismounted 30mm HE impacts the Stryker straddling the road for a perfect target.  Oh if only I had an RPG group that hadn't surrendered!   I don't seem to see any penetrations but the Stryker is just sitting there taking the punishment.  I might not be putting holes the Stryker but maybe I am shredding those tires immobilizing it?  While the Stryker is preoccupied with the grenade launcher team I move my last remaining MT-LMB 6M that is there up to engage it.



My lone weasel RPG gunner spots another M1134 ATG version of a Stryker.  The range is too far for me to engage with him but its good to know there was at least one more.  Hopefully those guys are nervous having watched their team mate get booted into the sky by a direct Kornet ATGM hit.
My arty continues to rain down on the right flank while I am still in spotting mode on the left flank.



My tentative plan is to take the right flank embankment, make it safe for my T90s with my infantry and then to roll up the Stryker line going down the railway.  This is an exciting plan that I am sure my tankers are going to be happy to be part of.  (It might need a little more fleshing out)

[JasonPratt]

In a scene reminiscent of Predator, the [US] team leader starts dry shaving his face, pointing into the woods whispering 'I seeeeeeeeeee yoooooooooouuuuuuu'

I will need to check with UCG after the game to see if I am actually doing any damage to his air units.

While I can't/won't provide details on that, I think I can quote this...

LOOK!!!!! Its an invisible Apache in the sky, firing its cannon of dooooooooom at the....... oh f***, thats coming towards me, STOOOOOOOOOOOOOP.

[Con]

Turn 093 Time Remaining 01:46

Showing the same fire discipline as a cocaine binged Tony Montana the Tunguskas go "Say Hello to My LEEETLE FRIEND" and proceed to unload with everything they have (in fact I spot the commander standing naked atop his Tunguska shooting his Makarov pistol and cackling madly).  The skyline is lit up like 4th of July giving the US troops a festive cheer as they watch their burning aircraft and helos colorfully explode.  Leading to Ohhhs and Ahhhs of appreciation from troops on both sides who dislike those cocky pilots with their silk scarves, leather jackets with overabundant  patches and their ridiculous rampant luxuriant mustaches.



15 SAMS lift off the rails from every Tunguska into several different quadrants of the sky.  With four of the 6 Tunguskas now completely out of SAMs they continue to blast the air apart with their dual 30mm HE rounds.  Two destroyed aircraft symbols flash up so at least 2 confirmed kills plus lots of pretty explosions hopefully mean  that UCG airpower just took a swift kick to the nads.




On the ground the message is a bit more mixed with my MT-LMB 6M creeping forward as the US Stryker now moving rumbles along the railway lines.  An unspotted Stryker on the US side of the embankment armed with a Mk19 fires on my MT-LMB 6M.  In a move worthy of a medal for a hero of the Russian Federation my crew stays at their post.  While being pounded by 40mm grenades they return fire on the Stryker on the tracks.  In an epic 10 second battle both AFVs and crews simultaneously succumb to their wounds with my crew getting killed as they exit their burning track and no US crew making it out alive of their Stryker. 


On the right flank there was some aircraft fire not coming anywhere close to my troops crawling in the field.  Maybe the pilots got a little nervous by the sheer number of hazard warnings coming up on their screens from all the SAMs and threat radars.  There was some airburst HE arty that wounded a couple of my guys as they continue low crawling towards the woods line.

My arty continues to rain down on the right embankment hopefully its doing something to UCG.   Spotting continues on the left flank with rounds still not dropping anywhere near where the US troops are congregated.  LT. Nesterov who is the spotter obviously also is a graduate with honors from the Russian Mr. Magoo school for the blind. 



I updated the blood board things have improved for UCG since the last one having killed an additional 5 MT-LMBs and losing three Strykers.  But if you look at the points totals of these kills I am still a good 25% higher than UCG as his expensive Strykers continue to get toasted. 

Updated Blood Board
Russian                       US
10 MT-LBM 6M               8 Inf/HQ/Recon Strykers         
3 BRDM-2M                   1 MGS Stryker
                                  1 ATGM Stryker

Points total ~1600            Points total ~2100

I have killed at a minimum 2 Strykers on the left bank and 2 Strykers on the right bank.  So both those platoons are at least at 50%.

Reinforcements in the form of an additional 152mm Howitzer battery shows up.  Since Lt. Nesterov is doing such a god-awful spotting job I give the FO orders to lay a linear line of fire on the Russian side of the embankment with the Howitzers.  Time taken is 8 mins (vs 14 mins for a non FO unit).  Its a lot easier dropping arty on your own side when everyone has been killed. 

[Toonces]

Man, this is good stuff.  I love the commentary on the screenshots.  I might have to borrow that for my next AAR!   

[Con]

Turn 095 Time Remaining 01:45

After the last turn I hear no aircraft sounds and none of the Tunguskas are lighting up the sky.  I think we gave those mustached pilots such a beating that they are slinking back home to the taxpayer with a bunch of wrecked aircraft.  No medals for you today airboys!

Other than that my weasel run comes to an end.  Lt Abramtsev spots a half squad of US troops running back over the embankment to the Russian side.  Wisely ignoring his AK-74M becuase he knows he cant hit the side of a barn door and honoring the saying a miss is as good as a mile (except for grenades) he hurls a Russian Faberge grenade at them.  Unfortunately for Lt. Abramtsev an unspotted 50cal promptly puts multiple fist sized holes in him killing him instantly before he can report whether the grenade did any damage. 




On the other hand 3rd squad A team in the center spots a US MG team and cuts one of them down as the turn ends.



I also scoot the APCs and the Tunguska on the left flank forward 50meters on fast to avoid any UCG return fire on those units since I am sure they were at minimum spotted last turn.  So knowing US troops are clambering wearily over the railroad tracks (again) I make a somewhat rash decision to call in fire on the woods line (again) with the Tunguska.  This time I will risk an immediate fire call (ie no spotting) to not give UCG any warning.  However I better be praying to the god of arty (a vain and mercurial god) that it lands close to where I need it to land.

[Con]

Turn 097 Time Remaining 01:44

Oh Oh.....Just when I think that UCG aircraft where done for the war and had gone home with bruised feelings and taken their ball with them all of a sudden my Tunguskas start up again.  Obviously a couple of pilots had popped some extra un prescribed amphetamines this morning and ignoring all the death and destruction that has rained around them decide to press on with the attack.  I am sure the Military Intelligence Briefing probably had something along the line of "And by this time those Tunguskas must have ran out of SAMs so you will be totally safe"



Superior US range training allows the one remaining member of the US MMG team to kill 2 members of 3rd Squad A team.  Unbelievably though the sole remaining member of the Russian team as cool as the other side of the pillow reloads his AK74M and squeezes off a couple of shots killing the US infantryman.  This Russian should be immediately pulled from battle and promoted to head the basic shooting school.  Instead he will probably die in the weeds with all his comrades.  Let's see how long he makes it.



Other than that I push my surviving infantry on the embankment towards the right and leave the infantry squad in the field in place.  My plan is to try and use arty to thin out the US troops

[JasonPratt]

120 mm roundballs flung generally in a general direction?  :o :o :o :o

Normally I would say 'at least try for some rifled shells!' But I'm not sure the game really models the variable shapes of incoming ordinance that closely anyway.