Prufrock's Wargaming Blog

Prufrock's Wargaming Blog

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Modern Spearhead: Clash at Oberickelsheim

In December 1979 the 1st Brigade of the US 3rd Infantry Division was tasked with hitting the flank of the advancing Czech 15th Motor Rifle Division and stalling its approach to the Main River.

Stolen from Luke's blog 'hoti to kratistos'

Accordingly, the commander laid plans to do just that.

The forward deployed 3/7 ACAV troop, on the scene at daybreak, was ordered to advance to the Main and follow it north until it encountered the enemy.



But in a shock to the ACAV's recon elements, it happened that the Czechs were closer then anyone had thought...


As the lead recon units began to trade fire, other Czech units were making their way to the combat zone. Thankfully for the Americans, heavy rain turned the fields into boggy hindrances to the Czech advance.



1/30th Battalion arrived in time to provide the firepower needed to halt the initial Czech attacks.


But with the AVAC elements tied up in a firefight there was nothing to stop the Czech advance to the river further north.  The bridging equipment in evidence gave notice of their intentions...


As tensions rose, the 2/64th American armored battalion arrived, and with this the Czech opportunity to take 1/30 in the southern flank vanished, to the great relief of the American commander.


The day now settled into a series of patterns: Czech advances in the centre were stopped by the massed firepower of the M60A1s and the heavy artillery; Czech reinforcements struggled to get through the mud to aid their compatriots and, in the north, the Czechs continued their steady approach to the Main.



The Czech centre paid a heavy price for its attacks, but the river was bridged, and with air strikes impossible in the wet weather the advance units began crossing.


With time running out for the players, the action was called at 11:00 game time with the Czechs across the river but the Americans having routed the Czech centre and things very much in the balance.




It was a fantastic day and a real treat to see so much happening on such a beautiful table.  Many thanks to my noble opponent Pat and to Luke (whose more in-depth reports can be found here and who put the game on and hosted us) for a great wargaming experience.

11 comments:

  1. Yes, such lovely looking terrain!

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  2. Game table looks especially attractive. The interlocking tiles work well and the waterways are amazing.

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  3. Yes, Luke has done a stunning job on his terrain boards. They're a real work of art.

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  4. Just when I decide I can put off my Spearhead project to complete a few other outstanding things first, you have to post this! :-) Aaron that is a superb looking table and once again you inspire me. I might have to re-plan my wargame projects!

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    1. Cheers Jason - but this is Luke's table, not mine. I don't know if I'll be able to use mine again after seeing his!

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  5. Sorry to be yet another echo, but that is a stunning looking table. Is there a blog entry about how he built it somewhere?

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    1. Not so far as I know, Doug. But if he does post one, I'll link to it from here. Cheers for dropping by!

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  6. Huge and great looking battlfield! Really nice!

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  7. hello Prufrock, do you have an email address we can contact you at?

    Here is my blog: http://sixtwentyeight.blogspot.com

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