Cold War Battles 2: Kabul 1979

Layout: Chris Cummins Photos: ER Bickford Battleplan, Report 002 August 2009 Cold War Battles 2: Kabul 1979 By E.R. Bickford This scenario is being played without US intervention. The Soviets are the first player and have been assumed to have landed at the airport off map to the north. The first wave of units enter the map area on turn one. After the Afghan commander set up his units, the Soviet deployed his security unit at the Soviet embassy. Additionally, the advisor units were deployed at the Kabul University and the Electric Plant where they would quickly garner VP s. The special forces units are placed at the Afghan Institute of Technology, the Bazaar, and the Stadium in the northeastern section. This starts the Soviets out with 7 VP s of the 25 needed for victory. Turn One 27 December 1979 The Soviets receive 9 air strikes this turn. Six TAC units and three Attack helo gun ships are selected. The 317 th Mechanized Brigade arrives from the airport in the north along with a recon battalion and special forces unit. The 317 th moves in along the road and sets up an attack against the TV and Radio Station. One of the battalions conducts a diversionary attack against an elite infantry unit on the left flank of the main attack. Six TAC air strikes are used in the main attack against the KHAD HQ at the radio station. The Afghan commander calls in final protective fire from the 1 st Corps Artillery. [The defender receives a column shift for the HQ and three for the terrain] The result calls for the defender to retreat, but the KHAD headquarters has no movement allowance and is destroyed instead. The Soviet 1 st Battalion captures the TV/Radio Station which is worth 2 VP s. [Soviet total 9 VP s] Now its time to resolve the diversionary attack. 2 nd Battalion is pitted against the elite Presidential Guard Infantry. The Soviet commander brings in three helos to support the attack. The nearby HQ provides a column shift. As a result, the attack is repulsed and the 2 nd Battalion pulls back in retreat. The Afghan commander surveys the situation and decides to disengage the Presidential Guard from contact with the Soviets at the TV station. The 1 st Corps Artillery re-deploys to the hill top near the TV Tower to provide better sighting. The 1 st Corps Artillery fires a barrage against the Soviet 2 nd Battalion which is in open terrain, but there is no effect. The turn ends with the Soviets at 9 Victory Points. BATTLEPLAN

Turn Two 28 December 1979 The random event is Pro Soviet Defection. The Soviet can remove any Afghan unit. Since the Presidential Guard is revealed and is a strong unit with a defense rating of 4, that one is chosen. Other valuable Afghan units would be HQ s, which provide a column shift and but have no versatility with a zero movement factor. Another choice could have been an air defense unit which hurts Soviet air power, but it seems best to get rid of the elite infantry unit. The Soviet commander has six air strikes available and chooses six TAC units. More reinforcements arrive from the airport to the north of the map area. On the eastern flank of the Soviet attack sits the Central HQ s buildings. The 317 th Brigade is ordered to capture that Critical Objective. Due to the defection of the Presidential Guard, this target is a sitting duck and all three of the 317 th s battalions join the assault. The 40 th A Special Forces battalion joins the 103 rd Recon in an attack against the Central Prison in the eastern section of the map. The 345 th Brigade is ordered to cross the Kabul river to the east and move southward near the Stadium and seize the hill top for the artillery. The 350 th Brigade is ordered to seize the Afghan Hospital on the Soviet right flank. Then the 357 th Brigade is to move in near the TV and Radio Station to hold the center position. The Central Prison is assaulted by Soviet special forces and reconnaissance units. Three TAC support points are used and the 103 rd Artillery provides barrage support. The Afghan unit is forced to retreat off map where it is destroyed. The Soviet recon regiment captures the objective. [11 VP s] Next, the Soviet 317 th attacks the Central Corps HQ building. Two TAC units are used in offensive support as well as the assault guns of the 103 rd. The Afghan commander desperately calls on the 99 th Air Defense to provide final protective fire. The Afghan HQ is destroyed due to its inability to retreat. The Soviet 317 th also retreats believing that it has lost the battle. [Both retreat result]. The 357 th Brigade now attacks the 37 th Infantry Regiment along the main road into the center of the city. The air defense provides final protective fire for the Afghan infantry, and the attack is repulsed. Now the 350 th Brigade attacks the Akbar Khan Hospital which is defended by a company of security troops. The 103 rd Air Defense unit is used to provide artillery fire. The Afghan 1 st Corps Artillery issues FPF for the defenders. The attack is again repulsed and the 2 002

Soviet troops pull back. Overall, the Afghan commander is pleased with his success, and especially with the failed Soviet assaults. Only one objective was lost while three were targeted. The Soviets are less potent when they have used up all of their artillery and air support. A security company is re-deployed to the Central HQ building which was left vacant after the earlier Soviet attacks failed. An infantry regiment is moved to the east of the Communist Party HQ. The infantry at the Hospital is removed and re-positioned at the Foreign Ministry buildings. Turn Three 29 December 1979 The Afghan Government provides reinforcements as a result of the Random Event Phase. The Soviet commander receives six air missions. Three TAC and three Attack Helo units are selected. [The attack helos can also be used for interdiction, which may be prudent as the government has provided unexpected reinforcements.] The Soviets have received the 1193 rd Brigade as reinforcements. These arrive along the road from the north, having first swung west from the airport. These units are ordered to strike the center of the city from the western flank. Additionally, a KGB security unit moves into the Blue Mosque and seizes it without a fight. [12 VP s] The 317 th Brigade is ordered to resume its attack on the Central HQ buildings. The 345 th is ordered to capture the three objectives on the eastern side of the city. Subsequently, the Idqah Mosque is captured, along with the Motor Pool and the Bal-I-Sar Fortress. [15 VP s] The 317 th attacks the Central HQ buildings with support from two TAC [halved due to air defenses] and BATTLEPLAN

4 002 barrage fire from the 1/103 Artillery which is deployed on the hill top to the east. The 99 th Air Defense provides FPF. The result is an exchange, and the Afghan security unit is eliminated along with one of the Soviet infantry battalions. The Central HQ objective is captured by the 317 th [17 VP s]. The Soviet 357 th Brigade assaults the 37 th Commando regiment in the center of the battlefield. The 103 rd Assault Gun is used to support the attack. The Afghan 1 st Corps Artillery issues FPF from the hill top in the western section, but the Afghan infantry is forced to retreat to the south. Another battle breaks out at the Foreign Ministry building to the west. The 350 th Brigade attacks the Afghan infantry. This attack is unsupported and is consequently repulsed. The 350 th pulls back toward the north. Just to the west of the Foreign Ministry Building, the Soviets conduct a diversionary attack with a recon unit against the Police headquarters. The defender is a zero strength unit and is auto eliminated and the Police Station falls without a fight. [19 VP s] To the west, the 1193 rd attacks the Interior Ministry Buildings and is supported by the 2/103 Artillery. The defender is another zero strength unit and this Critical Objective also falls to the Soviets. [21 VP s] Another bad break here for the Afghan forces. Four Afghan infantry regiments and one tank brigade arrive from the east as government reinforcements. The Soviets have set up three helos to interdict but these had no effect. Two Afghan units prepare to attack the 1/103 artillery which has been a menace from the hill top on the eastern side of the city. The Afghan 1 st Corps Artillery fires on the defending artillery, but the Soviet 2/103 artillery provides FPF for their comrades. The result of the attack is that both sides retreat. This is somewhat successful for the Afghan commander as the Soviet artillery is now off the hill top where it gains a column shift. Unfortunately it can move back there tomorrow, if its commander is unafraid of the swarm of Afghan reinforcements. Turn Four 30 December 1979 There is no event this turn. The Soviets receive six air points. Three are taken as TAC and three as Attack helos, again, allowing for interdiction capability if necessary. The last of the Soviet reinforcements arrive from the north. The 1197 th Brigade is coming in from the northwest and will capture the Intercontinental Hotel. Armor from the 360 th will support the 1197 th. Just to the east of this group, the 1195 th enters and will capture the TV Tower and Fort Kohlola Pushtu. Battle breaks out in the northwestern section as the 1197 th attacks the Hotel. An Afghan security company is completely surrounded there. The 360 th Air Defense provides support for the attack. The result is exchange and the Afghan 4 th Security unit is eliminated and the

BATTLEPLAN

2/360 Recon is sacrificed. The hotel falls to the Soviets. [22 VP s] Just to the east of the previous battle, the 1195 th attacks the fort, which is an objective hex. The Afghan security company is completely surrounded. It happens to be a zero strength unit and is eliminated. Fort Kohlola Pushtu is captured. [23 VP s] This is the third zero unit revealed by the Afghans. Toward the city center, the 357 th attacks the Communist Party HQ buildings. The 103 rd AG and AA units provide support. Also two TAC support the attack, but are halved due to the Afghan air defense units within range. The Afghan 1 st Corps Artillery provides FPF from its hill top to the west of the fight. This gives an additional column shift for the defenders. A relatively strong unit is defending the position [1/20 Regt.]. Both sides retreat leaving the objective completely abandoned. Just to the east the 317 th conducts a diversionary attack against the 2/20. Both retreat. [If this attack would have been conducted before the main attack at the Communist Party HQ, the Afghan unit would have had no retreat path. Instead it retreats into the objective hex.] The 3/357 performs another diversionary attack against the 37 th Commando in the Palace in the center of the city. The Soviet unit is forced back. The main attack is launched by the 350 th against the 4/8 at the Foreign Ministry building. This attack is supported by the 103 rd Artillery Regiment and the Afghan 99 th Air Defense issues FPF. The battle results in an Attacker Exchange and the Afghan unit retreats. One of the Soviet infantry battalions is lost, but the Foreign Ministry Building is captured nonetheless. [25 VP s] The next battle is to the west of the city center. The main objective is the Central Telegraph Office. The 1/1193 battalion conducts a diversionary attack against the Afghan 4 th Tank to the south. Both units retreat. The main attack is supported by the 360 th Artillery Brigade. The 28/14 would like to have final protective fire from the PG Air Defense unit, but the artillery is pinned down by the Soviet 3/103 Recon battalion. [Incidentally, the Air Defense pushed the Soviet recon unit back in a repulse.] Units from the 360 th lead the assault on the Telegraph facility. The result is that both sides retreat from the contested area, leaving it temporarily abandoned. The Soviets have deployed three attack helos in the east to interdict the Afghan reinforcements. The Afghan leader realizes that the Soviet commander has accumulated the 25 VP s necessary to win, so a concerted effort must be made to prevent the further capture of objectives as well as taking some back. It would be nice to get some guerrillas troops from an Uprising event. First, the 28/14 re-deploys to the Central Telegraph Office. It is a 1-2-6 strength unit. The Air defense is re-deployed toward the inside of the city to allow it to provide FPF. In the eastern sector, the Government reinforcements make an attempt to re-capture the Stadium. The 2/8 infantry runs into Soviet attack helos and is revealed to be a zero strength unit. It is auto-eliminated. The Afghan forces assault the Soviet position at the Stadium. The 1 st Corps Artillery adds its fire support with its column shift for the hill top. The Soviet commander 6 002

of Zenith [the special forces unit at the stadium] calls for final protective fire from artillery and the last available TAC unit. This attack is repulsed by the Soviet Zenith battalion. Turn Five 31 December 1979 The Random Event is Uprising. The Afghan populace produces six! Guerrilla units, which is the maximum result. The Soviet commander receives nine air support units this turn. Six TAC and 3 Attack Helos are selected. The 3/1195 battalion captures the TV Tower. [26 VP s] The Afghan commander could have moved into the location, but the 1 st Corps Artillery is on a nearby hill top, which was deemed a better option. Unfortunately, it will be unable to fire support with an enemy unit adjacent. The Soviet 1197 th advances southward toward the Kabul River, where a number of Afghan guerrilla units have appeared. The Soviet 360 th redoubles its assault on the Central Telegraph Office, which is defended by the 28/14 Infantry Regiment. In conjunction with the main effort, two diversionary attacks are made against the flanks. First the 1/1193 battalion attacks the 4 th Tank Brigade. The Soviet flank attack is repulsed. Then the 360 th launches the main assault against the Telegraph Office. The 360 th Artillery adds to the attack. The Presidential Guard Air Defense issues FPF, but the Afghan infantry is forced to retreat. The artillery fire reduces the telegraph office and the rest of the block to rubble. One of the 360 th s tank battalions captures the area. [28 VP s] On the left flank of the main attack, the 1/360 attacks the Afghan 40/14 infantry regiment. The 360 th Artillery provides further fire support. This assault results in an exchange. Both units are eliminated. The 317 th Brigade launches an attack against the Communist Party HQ building on the eastern end of the city center. The 2/20, a strong unit, is defending. The Soviets throw three artillery units into the fray, while the Afghan 99 th Air Defense adds FPF. The Afghan unit retreats toward the south. The Soviets capture the objective. [30 VP s]. In the center of the city, the 3/357 battalion attacks the 1/20 infantry regiment. Artillery support is provided by the 1/103 and four TAC points are used. An exchange result eliminates both maneuver units. A few blocks to the west, the 1/350 battalion assaults the elite 37 th Commando unit at the Palace. The Soviet have a full complement of artillery support as well as two TAC units. The air support has been limited in this area due to the Afghan air defense. The attack helos are unable to be used and the TAC is working at half strength. Another exchange result eliminates both units, leaving the objective abandoned. BATTLEPLAN

8 002 The Afghan commander s infantry regiments from the 14 th and 20 th divisions move into the vacated objective in the center of the city. [Palace and Foreign Ministry] The six guerrilla units manage to surround the Soviet Embassy, which has a security unit defending. The Soviet embassy unit pleas for final protective fire from the available artillery units. The Afghan guerrillas press on with the attack. The Soviets manage to stop the guerillas in their tracks. The embassy stands. On the eastern side of the city, the Afghan government forces make another attempt to reclaim the Stadium from the Zenith battalion. The Afghan forces have no support nearby, but they have cut off the Soviet special forces unit. The commander of Zenith calls for final protective fire. Unfortunately, the Soviet special forces unit is forced to retreat and is destroyed. The Stadium falls back to Afghan control. [29 VP s] Turn Six 1 January 1980 The random event is Morale Break, giving the Soviets a favorable column shift on combats. Six air points are available and the Soviet commander chooses all TAC. The 1197 th Brigade out flanks the guerrillas near the Soviet embassy, moving to the west and elements of the 360 th encounter a guerrilla unit. Four TAC and the 360 air defense join in the attack, which eliminates the Afghan guerrillas. Three battles rage on in the city center. To the west, the Soviet 360 th attacks the 4/8 Infantry Regiment at the Telephone Exchange. Both the Soviets and Afghanis use artillery support. In the end, both sides retreat leaving the telephone exchange unoccupied. At the Foreign Ministry buildings, the Afghan 28/14 Infantry Regiment is attacked. The Soviet 357 th and 1193 rd join forces with artillery support. The Afghan air defenses fire FPF and the attack is repulsed, sending the Soviet infantry in retreat. To the east of this action, the 317 th attacks the Afghan Presidential Guard s tanks. Both sides have artillery support and the Soviet commander calls in four TAC points. The result is attacker exchange. The Afghani tanks pull back and the Soviet infantry battalion is eliminated. Afghani guerrillas launch an attack at the Soviet advisors at the Electric Plant. The 1 st Corps Artillery issues fire while the Soviets call in FPF. The result is both retreat. The Soviet advisor unit has no retreat path and is therefore eliminated. The guerrillas retreat, unaware of their victory. Afghani tanks launch a counterattack against the Telegraph block, which has been rendered rubble. The Soviets still have a strong presence there. The 99 th Air Defense is used to support the attack while the Soviet defender calls in artillery for final protective fire. The Soviet tanks are forced to retreat and the PG moves into the ruins. [27 VP s] A final counterattack is launched against the Soviets at the Bal-I-Sar Fortress. The Soviets have a lone artillery

battalion their, part of the 103 rd Brigade. The result is that both sides retreat. The Soviet artillery has no retreat path and is eliminated, The Afghani units retreat. Turn Seven 2 January 1980 The Soviet commander is dealt another blow by receiving only three air points this turn. Three TAC are selected. With the recent success of the Afghani counterattacks, the Soviet commander is more determined to wipe out all resistance. The 1197 th Brigade attacks the Defense Ministry in the south, which is defended by a company of security troops. The result is an exchange. Both sides lose one unit but the 1197 th captures the objective. [29 VP s] At the Telegraph building, the 360 th renews its attack to reclaim the objective hex. Both sides call in artillery support, but the Soviets prevail and force the Afghan tanks to retreat. [31 VP s] The Afghani commander immediately counterattacks but this is repulsed by the Soviet defenders. His infantry recovers the Bal-I-Sar fortress [30 VP s] and launches an attack aimed at the Soviet position at the Bazaar. This is defended by a Soviet special forces battalion. Both sides are forced to retreat, but the Soviet troops are surrounded with no retreat path and are destroyed instead. The battle comes to an end here as time has run out. The Soviets have 30 VP s. The Afghan commander is wondering if his failure to garrison all possible objectives in trade for a better defensive situation toward the center of town was the best strategy after all. It gave the Soviets 5 VP s at set up. Five less VP s still gives the Soviets the necessary 25 VP s for a win though, and no telling that they would have pushed through the center of the city more quickly with less defenders there. BATTLEPLAN

10 002 Victory has been achieved comrade.