"The Tide is Turning" - Part Three

As the mist began to clear in the early morning NATO gathered their forces for the assault on the Donau and Naab Rivers hoping to breakthrough to Regensburg and hopefully force the Warsaw Pact forces back to the Czech border and make the Czech 1st and 4th Armies think twice before committing their troops to the battle.

Recce unit from US3ID uses the cover of a hedgerow to survey the Warsaw Pact defences.

US 3ID (Steve Graham) and 2Cav (Andy Hamilton) advance using the Emmeran Forest as cover as they advance towards the Bruckdorfer Holz near Kapfelberg on their way to attempt to cross the Donau River.

Warsaw Pact T72's, already taking hits, await the oncoming assault from the US forces from their positions above Bad Abbach.

Two West German Phantoms provide air support for the US advance.

 

Elsewhere on the table the Soviet Airborne troops dug in along the banks of the Donau River set up their medical unit to treat casualties.

Soviet Airborne CO in the centre of Saal a.d. Donau reads through reports of West German armour and infantry approaching his positions along the Donau.

Soviet Airborne prepare to meet whatever NATO care to throw at them.

West German (Andy Taylor) recce unit keeping watch in Kelheim, The quiet before the storm as this area was soon to be the scene of bitter fighting between West German troops and Soviet Airborne and Spetsnaz (Gordon Malcolm). The recce unit is a great little conversion from a Scotia Iltis using some H&R stowage and a staple!

Kelheim before the battle with the now infamous Pauma Plastics factory which was to see heavy fighting. The factory was a Soviet sleeper cell and home to several units of Spetsnaz!!! Much to the surprise of the West Germans. 

Saal a.d. Donau across the Donau from Kelheim and one of the objectives of NATO. This town was occupied by Soviet Airborne for the entire battle who successfully held their position and with the support of a battalion of T72's even went on the offensive and crossed the river and took Kelheim in a heroic operation. Vodka all round!

A selection of the superbly painted and based US 3ID and US 2Cav commanded by the Grimsby contingent, Steve Graham and Andy Hamilton.

Some more of Steve and Andy's great work.

TO BE CONTINUED