TDG 02: Night Road March
In this reboot of a classic TDG, you command a tank battalion making a night administrative movement to its new assembly area.
If this is your first TDG, you may want to check out these instructions first.
You command a tank battalion of 4 companies (14 tanks per company). Maximum effective range of your main battle tank (MBT) against other tanks is 3,000-4,000m. After having been pulled out of action some two weeks ago for refitting, your battalion is now once more near full strength. You are making a night administrative move on improved roads to your new assembly area in Skellerville, where you will be part of the division reserve. You march route will take you southeast on Route 13 to Clauston, where you’ll head south briefly on Route 10 before picking up Route 17 into Skellerville. The front lines are about 8-10km south of the map sheet, so you are making your move in the division rear area. During the move you are instructed to observe radio listening silence because of heavy enemy electronic warfare. The enemy has been attacking from the south with armor and mechanized infantry, usually leading with a tank battalion. Cross-country mobility for your tanks is good, except in wooded areas. The division commander feels the time is about right for a counterstroke. Division intends to use your battalion to spearhead a counterattack out of Skellerville, direction and objective to be determined as the situation develops, in order to destroy the enemy’s armor, seize the initiative and transition to the offensive.
At the head of the battalion march column, you approach Clauston from the northwest as the day begins to dawn. It has been an uneventful road march. During the night you heard some traffic on the division command net about skirmishes around Skellerville, but nothing major. But then you are contacted on the radio by a section of LAV-25s performing rear-area security. They passed you earlier on the road and are now in Clauston. The light armor section leader makes the following report:
I count about 20 Type 99s [MBTs] and about 10 Type 08s [armored personnel carriers]––I say again, Type 99s and Type 08s––at Lasgah’s Farm. They seem to be laagering; I see dismounted crews. I see a pair of Type 99s, apparently scouts, approaching Clauston Hill from the south; they’ll be in position to see you in less than 5 mikes. I spot a convoy of trucks––about a half dozen, including refuelers––approaching the farm from the southeast on the Skellerville road, about 2 clicks from the farm. I am unobserved.
The section leader’s voice is urgent, but not panicked. He is sure of what he sees. What’ll it be, colonel?
Requirement
In a time limit of three minutes, submit your decision as a comment in the form of the orders you will issue to your subordinates and any reports or requests you will make. Then provide a brief description of your rationale.
"LAVs: Engage those scout tanks IOT distract them and prevent our discovery.
"Battalion: Alert! Everybody awake; we're going into immediate action! We've got an enemy tank-mech battalion 3 clicks to the south, at Lasgah's Farm on the other side of the hill to our direct right. We attack immediately to destroy.
"Alpha and Bravo: Assume firing positions on Clauston Hill to your right, confirm enemy battalion, attack by fire IOT to destroy same. Alpha on the left; Bravo on the right. Imperative you move NOW! Be on the lookout for two enemy tanks coming up other side of the hill.
"Charlie and Delta: Reserve. Attack position west side of Clauston Hill. BPT reinforce main effort and defend against follow-on forces."
Rationale: My tank crews are probably half sleeping, so the first thing I need to do is get everybody awake, oriented, and primed for action.
The enemy force at Lasgah's Farm is vulnerable and we have the element of surprise--if we act quickly. We must attack. Continuing to Skellerville is a non-starter. Those instructions are obsolete. First, we have the opportunity to inflict a damaging blow on the enemy, which we cannot pass up. Second, we cannot allow an enemy force of this size to penetrate uncontested into friendly territory. In fact, attacking the enemy satisfies the division commander's stated intent. He is looking for a counterstroke opportunity to destroy the enemy's armor and seize the initiative. Here is the opportunity. The enemy leads with a battalion of tanks. This is it.
An enemy tank battalion penetrating this far undetected into our territory certainly sounds unlikely. If true, it qualifies as a major screw-up. I will go to Clauston Hill myself to confirm the report, as well as to convey a sense of urgency to Alpha and Bravo through my own example.
Alpha and Bravo will give me about 30 tanks on Clauston Hill. A trained tank crew can put out about 10 well-aimed rounds/minute, or about 300 rounds against 30 targets in the first minute. If we achieve surprise this will be over quickly. If it's not, I have another company or two to conduct a flanking attack. But I'm already beginning to think about what follows, because no action is a strictly isolated event. We know the enemy typically leads with a battalion of tanks--i.e., an advance guard for a larger formation. We should be expecting to see a mechanized regiment within the next 30 minutes.
Finally, once I get my forces moving, I will get ont he hook to division to communicate the new situation and request as much support as I can get.
Radio to LAR commander: “Attack by fire ENY supply vehicles on RTE17 IOT draw ENY forces towards Clauston. Alpha Company will link up with you in the town to establish a blocking position”
Radio to Tank Company Commanders: “LAR at Clauston has spotted ENY armor staging at Lasgah Farm. Looks like at least an armored company with attached mech infantry. LAR will be engaging supply vehicles moving NW on RTE 17 shortly to draw ENY focus toward Clauston.
I think the enemy has infiltrated past our lines and is currently conducting resupply.
Our battalion will destroy the enemy force at Lasgah Farm.
We will fix the enemy at Lasgah Farm and destroy them with a flanking attack.
Cpy A- Block ENY from Clauston IOT prevent advance north.
Cpy B- Fix ENY at Lasgah Farm in order to facilitate ME attack.
Cpy C- Main Effort. Destroy ENY at Lasgah Farm from West of Clauston Hill.
Cpy D- Bn reserve. BPT exploit Cpy C’s success and pursue ENY forces.”
There are no friendlies south of Clauston.”
Radio to higher HQ: “ENY armored forces IVO Lasgah Farm. Estimate armored Cpy(+) with mech infantry. Looks like they’re currently resupplying. I intend to destroy the ENY forces. Will send updates when able.”