HerrTom

I fully support Nazi UFOs!

I think c3k gave an explanation here:

Thanks for the info Mikey. We can gather that at least Ukraine and the Separtists like to use it from the numerous videos showing crew served Dushkas and NSVs in the conflict, so it may not be quite like the M32.

My guess is they may augment the weapons platoon either replacing the tripod-mounted PKMs or AGS systems, probably on a piecemeal basis. Correct me if I'm wrong, but crew served M2s don't really serve an organic role in US battalions either, do they?

Easy! In pieces

I'm pretty sure the Kornet is SALH, so no wires to worry about - and the same should be also true about all GLATGMs in the Russian arsenal. Doctrinally, one of the reasons for having them besides being able to reach out and touch NATO tanks was also to interdict low-and-slow-flying helicopters, so I wouldn't put it out of the realms of possibility.

Maybe, maybe not. Haha. I'm not sure if I'm making a terrible mistake or not by staying across the canal. I know for sure that the Russian MRB is more than capable of dislodging my depleted company from the river, so I'm hedging on my brave "volunteers" to distract the Russian force long enough for reinforcements to arrive. There is also a ford crossing just south of Pryvitnoe that offers a more covered approach across the canal, but offers a risk of bogging and close-range ambushes. The Russian forces aren't in danger of crossing the bridge yet, but if they make a push in earnest that I don't think I can repel I'm going to blow it with artillery and move to focus my defence on the ford.

Indeed. The bridge really is the weak point, but I'm not sure if my opponent sees this yet. It is not very defensible, so I am stuck with a dug-in tank and what remains of the recon squad in trenches across the bridge, and another tank and BMP in the woods, hopefully able to provide some defilade on any would-be crossing. My real ammunition is going to be the artillery and TRPs on the bridge, and that I mined one lane, which should interdict any Russian elements attempting to cross the bridge. 0807 My Shturms overlook the open field, ready to engage any tanks that attempt to come over the bridge. One of 3rd platoon's BMPs covers the canal ford while remains of 1st platoon retreat into the village. 4th platoon's last tank south of the canal takes position to flank Russian forces advancing into Malooleksandrivka. Another view of the gigantic Russian force advancing on my positions. Overall, not a super eventful minute. My men took some injuries from HE fire, but that's about it. The Russian commander appears to be moving much more deliberately. I'm assuming this is because of the losses I inflicted using my ATGM teams. So that bit worked. Hopefully my brave "volunteers" left in Malooleksandrivka can further interdict the Russian forces and slow them down to the point I can lock down the crossings with what I have left of 1st company.

+1 to Red Storm - it's asynchronous WEGO system is a pretty cool feature. For more explanation to others: as your units lose runners, especially command units, it disrupts your ability to command, which extends the time between when you can give orders. If your HQs get taken out by good artillery strikes your command loop may go from 15 minutes to 30 minutes while your opponent keeps acting on 20 minute cycles.

0806 Things just got real. My forward units have spotted parts of the Russian follow-on force. And it's not good. The view from the last Ukranian tank's position on the southern side of the crossing. You're gonna need a bigger boat. The brave tanker fires a shell that impacts harmlessly on a T-72's ERA. Time to get the hell out of Dodge. It's menacing. Even more so from the air... And now for the situation: I've detached the Shturms from 4th platoon and moved them to some ditches north of the crossing. They should have a nice commanding view of anything crossing the bridges or attempting to reach the town. My remaining troops south of the canal will interdict the incoming Russian assault and give me some time to orientate myself to meet their attack. It may mean moving 3rd platoon out of their trenches, letting the incoming companies take those positions as they come in. The final brave tank on the south side of the canal is going to move into cover of the trees along the main canal, hopefully able to take some Russian forces by surprise. The Russian estimated battalion is moving into the orchard, which is good for me. In two minutes, I'm dropping a full battery of 152mm shells on it as fast as they can load them. Russian artillery is landing air bursts over the bridge, catching the last element of the retreating Razvedka in the open. So far 3 are dead. Russian direct fire has also taken its toll, knocking out an ATGM site and injuring the men defending the ford. For now, it seems we must make like an anvil and wait for the hammer. This is going to be a long 15 minutes before 2nd company arrives...

Out of curiosity - has anyone tried hull-down with the Khrizantema (which, if I recall correctly is designed to fire from a pretty deep hull-down position)?

Beautiful map. I know I'm looking forward to this!

Shouldn't that be 9? At least, one would hope Russia considers Crimea part of Russia!

Thanks for the clarifications Vladimir. Perhaps disaster was too strong a word to use.

This is probably getting way off topic, but I think Vlad hits a big point here. I strongly doubt a lot of this would be happening if Yanukovych was ousted via an impeachment or any kind of legitimate election. Since it happened via what was essentially a coup, it gave a lot more legitimacy to the secessionists in Crimea and the Donbass - and a hell of a lot better reason for Russia to step in. There's no doubt that the Donbass was already very much opposed joining the EU for fear of the already poor region becoming even poorer since they can't modernize their mines and factories to EU standards. In an election they can at least pretend that their voices were heard. I know a Crimean friend who is very happy to have avoided the draft! I think this ties into a lot of issues that we see in the civilian world's view. As far as I can tell, the Russian military has had some embarrassingly bad performances in the past, in Chechnya, Chechnya again, Georgia, and now Ukraine - but the thing that's missed is that all of these wars had the Russians facing a much better equipped and organized foe than the US has in the past. Combine that with the issues the Russians faced in each war - largely command and control, and you have the disasters we've seen. Now in Ukraine we have poor views of the much improved Russian army since their performance is lumped in with their piecemeal application amongst the rebels against the most largest army in Eastern Europe. On the original topic: Is there any more news about what's happening? Has the Christmas/New Years cease fire in the area held?

May be worth trying, then. I haven't seen any dismounts, even from the vehicles I've knocked out. They may be well hidden or disrupted by the artillery fire I'm dropping on the orchard. I have one battery on harassing HE fire, and just ordered my other battery to fire in a short, heavy airburst barrage in the forward edge of the orchard. Any squishies accompanying the BMP-3s are going to have a bad day in a few minutes.

I'd love to upgrade myself. The improvements seem pretty cool, but I don't want to force my opponent to upgrade and I'm not sure what will happen if we upgrade in the middle of a game.

it's a PBEM, hence the slower nature.

Haven't the LNR units consistently shown poor performance throughout the war, regardless of their equipment? I thought this caused a somewhat hush-hush row when the Russians had to bail out several LNR units in the east last year.

I wouldn't dream of it! 0805 A Ukrainian ATGM team tracks a Russian BMP advancing past the orchard. They manage to knock out the one on the left and catastrophically kill the right hand one. ...But not before one of them fires a shot at their comrades in the trenches. The shot injures four, three critically. Another ATGM in the weapons squad manages to knock out another T-72 in the western flank. I think they managed to wipe out the whole platoon and probe on that side. Both teams are moving to relocate to avoid Russian artillery fire from ruining their day. 3 knocked out T-72s next to their escort BRM-3 Meanwhile, 3rd platoon sits in their trenches, listening to the chaotic sounds of battle, worried about what the Russians will throw at them. ... And a bonus video! Edit: Damn! I even went through the effort of cropping the UI out of the video but uploaded the wrong one! Oh well - expect it in the next video, whenever that is! Oh, and the map:

Doesn't this support Steve's thought that it was a probe? Perhaps reminiscent of infiltration tactics in the WW1 than a mechanized offensive. Beyond that, the terrain from what we've seen doesn't seem very conducive to armoured vehicles - especially Soviet ones with their limited depression.

Thanks Euri. Do they really abandon their trenches? Seems like it'd be the safest place in a barrage.

I'm sure @TheForwardObserver can attest to whether all FOs are that aggressively vegan or not! Grass is nutritious, so I've heard. At least if you have four stomachs... I'm also curious about the infantry survivability tweaks mentioned in the changelog. Any anecdotes about how effective they are?

Damn! Why do these always happen when I'm in the middle of a game? Thanks gnarly for the heads up! Thanks Battlefront for your hard work!

Wow. 11 days! The holidays sure get in the way of wargaming, don't they? 0804 One of the weapons platoon's BMPs gets nailed by a T-72 as it retreats from its fighting position. This flank is getting dangerously exposed, so I ordered an ATGM team to get into position to take on the tanks if they decide to move forward. The weapons platoon's final BMP catches a BRM-3 unawares, raking it with 30mm cannon fire. The enemy crew disembarks and retreats from the fight. Unfortunately, the dismounted squad couldn't warn the commander fast enough about the enemy BMP-3 that appeared in the woodline of the orchard. At the end of the minute, my artillery shells begin to land on the orchard, hopefully we'll stall the advance of the recon company through the forest. I'm going to increase the intensity of the fire mission now that enemy troops are confirmed to be in the forest. The situation. 2 more BMPs lost this turn, in exchange for one enemy BMP. Hopefully I can make up for those losses with artillery and mines.