The Commander Series Forum

We are planning a river assault in our ongoing Jutland campaign. The scenario description says that sufficient bridging equipment should be given the attacker for free. How much would sufficient be in terms of numbers? In a regular army list you are only allowed one bridging tank but I reckon that would be too little in a river assault. I am thinking one per 1000 points. Whats the general opinion on this matter?

Cheers

Go with the TOE, so the Russians get 1 AVLB, and 1 Ribbon Bridge per Rgt and similar at Division. NATO have a large holding at Divisional level, so at least 2-3 Ribbon bridges etc.

However, an AVLB wont cross a river, you would use either amphibs or choppers with infantry to secure your chosen crossing point, then build a bridge.

IanS

What Ian said, just bring the assets required

The Soviets had plenty of bridging gear all over, to allocate as needed - their manuals reckon they expected to cross a significant water obstacle every few kilometres so they made sure they were prepared...

Time to see how well you can prepare a ford and snorkel whilst under fire

Thanks guys. I think the rules have something about 5 cm bridge build pr. turn when conserning larger rivers. We will probably use that rule. Airborn infantry sounds like a good idea here. Wont a lot of the AFV also have amphibious abilities?

Well we removed ours - and the US put lots of restrictions on their stuff. The BMP is okish, BTR's rather better. BUT - still need time for prep. The Soviet snorkels are not used for assault crossings, need an hour or so to prep, and about 15-30 mins to remove the proofing. Without this they can't fight. Personal knowledge tells me that the best trained armies sink their so called amphioxus vehicles. (Inspection plate under the engine compartment of a 432 fell off mid river, it sank).

IanS

I always have a chuckle at the marvellous sales/propaganda videos of amazing feats of submerged or amphibious river crossings, as no one I know whose done one in real life has ever had it go very smoothly...

Have a read of chapter 6 of the following:

https://fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm100-2-2....

But it all sounds 'fun' - securing major bridges and then defending them against air attacks would be the order of the day IMHO. That also includes a lot of counter battery artillery to disrupt defensive artillery fire on target bridges.

Maybe some frog-men and engineers to both attack (destroy) and defend the bridges.

Pontoon assault bridges also seem to be a good idea.