The value of a reverse slope: Defeating a Soviet MRC

Breaking out the museum pieces 

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Here's another little tidy vignette, this time from Graviteam Operation Star.

Setting the scene

 I am playing the 'Shield of the Prophet' operation as the Iranians. Most coverage of this I've seen appears to be from the Soviet (yes, you read that right) perspective and I can understand why: The Soviets start in a position of great strength with the best the 40th Army has to offer bearing down on a stalled out Iranian unit. It's an aggressive, hit-the-ground-running campaign. Its exactly why I chose the Iranians instead. 

You start in a real dilemma, the bulk of your heavy units essentially running on fumes in static positions and the nearest relief force simply not having the ability to fight in the open desert that dominates that area, lacking their own tank support. The first order of business is creating and fortifying a supply corridor (which has been accomplished) followed by getting black gold into your excellent Chieftain MBTs. In the southwest sector of the map, Soviet advances are brutalized by dug-in tanks, artillery and the freshly arrived infantry launching sharp, local counterattacks on stranded Soviet dismounts. 

However, while all of the above is occurring, you have to hold forward positions with tired, fought-out units, trading space for time against superior forces. Interspersed with your active forces are Mujaheddin fighters which you can fall back on. This is the situation you now join me in: having attrited a T-62 and BMP-1 attack with air power earlier in the morning, the Iranians have now fallen back. in essentially a rout. through a Mujaheddin position, which sits astride a dirt road leading into a wadi. 

Smaller, green little depressions dot the landscape leading to this larger wadi and make for excellent battle positions, even for these irregular infantry. I have arrayed my small force, consisting of a platoon equivalent of fighters supported by two 12.7mm DHSKs and a platoon of WWII-era 76mm field guns in this terrain. I also have a supply unit of porters who have been judiciously hidden away in the larger wadi. 

A short and sharp engagement

Anticipating yet another sledgehammer blow from T-62s and BMP-1s, I have arrayed the platoon in the overgrown depression in an all-around defence. Scouts are deployed in brush to the rear and flanks, at the lip of the larger wadi, to help build situational awareness. The left flank is covered by the entrenched DHSKs, situated in a small bowl created by the open desert. Immediately to the rear of the depression, I have arrayed the entire anti-tank platoon, save for a single gun which has been deployed among the infantry. 'My' side of the depression is at a lower elevation than the opposite, creating a sort of layered reverse slope defence.

The first blow comes from the right flank, consisting of what appears to be 2 platoons of BMP infantry. The first of  these platoons motors right to the lip depression, spewing dismounts on the move as they come under anti-tank gun fire. They are greeted with a nasty surprise as they crest the depression's lip; the Mujaheddin knock out the lead BMP and half a Soviet squad at point-blank range. Caught between a rock and a hard place, the survivors reverse out of the depression and attempts to engage the guns with their Sagger missiles. The field guns, despite their general inaccuracy, shortly brew both of them up. The second Soviet platoon punches deep, attempting to get behind the guns, but to no avail, they are in turn brewed up and their infantry compelled to seek cover. 

The action switches to my left as the sound of DSHKs firing draws my attention. A mixed group in reinforced platoon strength are attacking, dismounts already in line, on that flank. They have used the small folds in terrain to expertly close the distance unmolested and a firefight is roaring. A BMP knocks out a DSHK and its entire crew, and the Soviets rapidly begin to win fire superiority. One of my 76 millimetres manages to finally start putting effective rounds down range, however, and it is rapidly joined by a second gun that drags itself into position. This intervention swings the battle decisively in my favour. Once again, several Soviet vehicles are brewed up and the dismounts fall back under withering fire. A rocket-barrage from Iranian MLRS hasten their retreat. 

The enemy company is largely shattered in a much-needed success. My northern shoulder is likely to hold now for the next few hours and allow for a much-needed reorganisation and resupply of the Iranian armoured forces.