Battle of Aachen

Germany Oct 1944

Wargaming Demo

1 R IRISH Junior Officers

Capt Marc Barrow

Allies Axis

Capt Paddy Pratt Capt Wes Brown

Capt Steve Maguire Lt Ant Kirkham

Battle of Aachen - Context

Ruhr Valley

Battle of Aachen

2-21 Oct 1944

Advanced Squad Leader - Aachen

N

300m

Advanced Squad Leader

Allies Axis

Victory condition: Allies hold 25 buildings on right map board

Task

Org

14x 1st line

sect

1x Engr

sect

2x MMG

1x Flame

Thrower

Good C2

Task

Orgs

7x 2nd line

sect

4x

Conscript

sect

3x LMG

1x HMG

Weak C2

N

Terrain Analysis

Key

Terrain

Vital Ground

N

Content

Planning

Defence back brief

Attack back brief

Execute

AAR

Key Lessons

Summary

Planning

Axis: Q1 Deductions

•

3I

3I 2I

1I

E FT

2I

2I

Y

Y

Y

3I

Key Deductions

• Capabilities – 1st line troops,

high morale, greater FP & range,

greater numbers

• Organisation – Good leaders -

impact battle (ID & neutralise C2)

• Weapons and Equipment – 2x

MMG & 1x flame thrower – key

urban wpn system. All units have

higher range than def (less HMG)

• Reinforcements – No external

reinf expected. Likely to

reinforce success

• Doctrine – Use offensive

action

HVT = Flame Thrower, C2

nodes

N

Axis: Q2 Key Deductions

MSN: DENY 25 bldg hexes on map

board Z to Allied forces

Shaping: FIND and DISRUPT fwd en

elements. ID primary axis of advance.

Decisive: DELAY en advance in

Centre.) DENY freedom FoM on

flanks. Use of reserve to CONTAIN En

breakthrough/CAtk. HOLD MDA.

Key Terrain: Forward strongpoint

(central cluster of fortified buildings)

Vital Ground: Main Defensive Area

Space: Ltd with obstacles. Must gain

ground iot allow delay.

Time: Effective delay crucial to

success as Allied advance has time

constraint.

Resources: Troop quality and

quantity – outmatched IN FP & range.

Wide frontage for coy group – flanks

vulnerable.

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Axis: Intent Schematic

1.FIND/FIX/

DISRUPT

2. DENY/

DELAY

5. HOLD

4. DELAY

3.

DELAY

Ser Effect Purpose

1 FIND/FIX/DISRUPT

ID and disrupt En forces as early in the battle as possible. Attempt to ID main axis of advance

2 DENY/ DELAY

DENY EN forces FoM over open ground

3 DELAY Delay approaches through the key terrain. Likely to be resourced heavily by En forces.

4 DELAY Trade in time for space, forces to move toward MDP/HOLD

5 HOLD MDP/MDA. High concentration of buildings that lend themselves to C’Atk opportunities.

MSN: HOLD AACHEN (25 buildings) IOT delay/block Allied advance east Intent: FIND and DISRUPT En advanced elements to DELAY approach. DENY En forces freedom of manoeuvre in open ground and DELAY movement through key terrain. HOLD vital ground and BPT C’AtK to DELAY & DISRUPT allied forces.

Main Effort: ID and DELAY break in force COA Direction: Fwd SCREEN to ID and FIX/DISRUPT. Seek to DELAY in the centre. Must have a reserve capable of reinforcing or launching C’Atk.

All Round Defence Depth Mutual Sp Deception/ Concealment

Offensive Action Reserves

• Focus must be west, but some risk can be taken. Must be flexible enough to cope with pressure on the flanks

• Some risk taken here – use of reserve to form part of the depth

• Must for forces around the MDP. Use of Sp wpns to achieve for more isolated units

• Max use of cover for both positions and movement. Engage HVT as a Pri over normal units

• Use of reserves. Reoccupy buildings if possible. Seek to CAtk in the HOLD phase

• Must be central and have sufficient FP and numbers to offer a credible CAtk force.

Axis: Ops Schematic

D

HOLD

C2I N

2 2I O

C2

Node

C2I N 2 2I

2 2I C2I

2 2I 2 2I N C2I C2I

2 2I 2 2I

C2

Node

C2

Node

C2

Node

N

Allies: Q1 Deductions

• Capabilities – 2nd Line

troops and conscripts. Brittle

leaders.

• Organisation – Poor,

leaders have ltd impact and

have to cover a dispersed

force

• Weapons and Equipment

– 1 x HMG and 3 x LMG

• Reinforcements – likely to

maintain a CAtck

force/reserve

• Doctrine – DAMROD

HVT = HMG/LMG and C2

Nodes

N

C2I N

2 2I

2 2I

2 2I 2 2I C2I

2 2I

C2

Node

C2

Node

C2

Node

2 2I

Allied: Q2 Key Deductions

• CONTROL 25 bldg hexes on map board Z

• Shaping: Dominate AA IOT STC FEINT, NEUTRALISE,

SEIZE

• Decisive: PENETRATE KT infiltrate flanks,

• Key Terrain = central FLET – PENETRATE IOT

CLEAR/HOLD S AACHEN

• Vital Ground Central AACHEN (largest cluster) = ME

• Space: Ltd space with obstacles. BSM to deconflict AA.

• Time: Gain foothold in S AACHEN. Rapid Rate of Advance.

• BPT EXPLOIT success

• Maintenance of manoeuvre

• Risks: Heavily fortified KT– EXPLOIT flanks. CONPLAN for

infil of flanks. N flank remains FIXed – Task Org: Provide FEs

to enable break in N or S.

Allied: Intent Schematic

Ser Effect Purpose

1 FIND ID EF fwd posns and MDAs IOT facilitate FF manoeuvre

2 FEINT DECEIVE EF IOT FIX N EF Group

3 PENETRATE IOT DISRUPT and CLEAR EF ID’d in key terrain and SECURE foothold into Central AACHEN

4 CLEAR/HOLD S

Secure buildings in Central AACHEN DENY EF FoM

5 CLEAR/HOLD N

Secure N avenues of approach in N AACHEN IOT DENY EF FoM

2. FEINT

5.CLEAR/HOLD N

4. CLEAR/HOLD S

3. PENETRATE

N

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MSN: HOLD AACHEN (25 buildings) Intent: Conduct FEINT along N axis DECEIVING EF. Concentrate firepower to PENETRATE key terrain along central axis CLEARing advanced EF. Manoeuvre along S axis and gain foothold enabling CLEAR/HOLD of S AACHEN.

Main Effort: SEIZE S COA Direction: PENETRATE along central AA BPT EXPLOIT N and S flanks. CLEAR and HOLD Blds in S sector. BPT DISRUPT EF CAtk

Surprise Security Seize Key Terrain Concentration of Fire Manoeuvre Exploit Success

• Covered approaches through buildings

• FEINT to enhance surprise

• Maximize fire base to NEUTRALISE defenders

• Covered approaches

• Groupings given clear objectives and LOEs

• Central firebase to enable PENETRATE/CLEAR of KT

• SW to enable manoeuvre

• FT used in close combat

• Rapid rate of advance to push back defenders.

• BPT to take risk to maintain momentum

• Reserve forces to reinforce success

Allied: Ops Schematic

N

C2

Node

O O

Y

2I

2I

2I

2I

2I E FT

C2

Node

C2

Node

2I

2I

C

Execute

Allied Initial Actions

N

Allied break-in and Axis response

N

Allied attack fixed

N

X

After Action Review – Lessons Learnt

Depth & mutual support in defence

Failure to exploit

Effective use of reserves

Depth and Mutual Support

N

Failure to Exploit

N

Effective Use of Reserves

N

Utility of war gaming

Recommendations •Simplification:

• Current wpns/troops • Complex rules – time to learn/play

•Different target levels:

• Sub unit & BGHQ

•Dedicated trg time (CPX)

Disadvantages Advantages

Time:

•Learning the rules

•Playing the game

Complexity

‘Playing the game’

Planning:

•Application of 7Qs

•Adversarial nature

Execution:

•Adversarial nature

•Validate the plan

•Dynamic decision making (Res)

Career & professional development

Questions?