Germany | Exercise Schneide des Blitzes

[Stahlmann34]

The Purpose of Exercise Schneide des Blitzes is two fold and is as follows:

- To provide Reichsheer units with instruction in the use of Urban warfare tactics

- To ensure that Reichsheer units are able to communicate and coordinate with one another so as to accomplish their objectives in a time conscious matter

- To simulate a foreign invasion from the northern border southward into a small town of strategic value located of in Schleswig-Holstein

Units will be categorized as belonging to RedFor and BlueFor factions

RedFor Faction

- 13th Jager Battalion

Objective: Move inland and capture town

BlueFor Faction

- 17th Jager Battalion
- 23rd Jager Battalion

Objective: Hold town and Halt the advance of RedFor units

 

[Stahlmann34]

RedFor units would be debriefed by the commander about the task and purpose of their mission which was to form two assault groups of 500 men each, group one would advance towards the western part of town and flush out enemy strongholds while group two would move up the enemy's right flank and head north towards the center of town.

BlueFor units would set up four rows of concertina at various intervals across town. From concealed positions in west, sniper teams and light machine gun crews would perform overwatch and be tasked with overlaying suppressive fire designed to immobilize their adversaries.

 

[Stahlmann34]

Group One RedFor would receive intel on a small village somewhere in Schleswig-Holstein harboring hostile forces, that the enemy had sealed off the perimeter and had begun the process of setting up defensive positions to counteract their advance inland while inflicting heavy casualties in a fairly close quarters environment.

From their forward operating bases north of the town, two combat groups of five hundred men each would begin advancing southward in a dispersed squad column formation for ease of maneuverability and cohesion.

Group One would then split off and head westward with six rifle squads, two machine gun teams, and fifthteen engineers. 3 rifle squads and 1 machine gun team were tasked with covering two squads of engineers from the main road who would be authorized to breach the weak point of the enemy's perimeter.

Group Two would move eight rifle squads, and one machine gun to the town center with five engineers who would be used to breach the walls of key positions of value to the defenders. Four of the eight rifle squads would discharge smoke grenades to obscure their movements and begin a carefully crafted flanking manouver rightward.

 

[Stahlmann34]

BlueFor would designate a single route out of town for extraction beyond its area of operation, this would be covered by two rifle squads whose purpose was to ensure that RedFor was kept at bay while other units were engaged in a retreat outside the town.

BlueFor would send one four rifle squads to the northern entry point to the town and set up three overlapping static positions using seven outbuildings and a stonewall. Five teams of scouts would deployed to the cover around the center of town and would establish an observation post from which to monitor enemy movements. Two blocks away BlueFor would set up two machine gun nests to dial in RedFor units advancing nearby.

 

[Stahlmann34]

RedFor in response to this, would deploy 3 Rifle Squads, a machine gun (auto rifle) team for fire support, and two squads of engineers to the north.

Advancing from their FOBS to their zone of operations at the entry point, their prior intel had indicated that the northern part of the town contain a large hostile presence benefiting from ample amounts of cover in their given environment. To secure a foothold from the weakest defensive position, RedFor would establish a fire zone using a mixture of small stones, brush, and treeline to provide an ideal situation on the ground in which high concentrations of overlapping fire would be a perquisite to securing small victories in the interim phase of operations.

Fire Zones would be activated by dialing in BlueFor units into a fixed concealed firing position. On the left flank RedFor would place a machine gun in a makeshift crater, to suppress enemy combatants. Two Engineer squads would head towards the soft point congruent to the objective. Chucking smoke, the engineers would place charges among the first two entanglements of concertina wire. A loud explosion would follow as bits of wire scattered in the aftermath. Ten minutes would've elapse since the explosion, this allowed engineers to create four breaching points of contract with remaining entanglements being dismantled abruptly.

The explosion may've cleared the way for the RedFor advance into town but not before attracting the attention of two adjacent rifle squads who relayed details on RedFor insertion. Rifle team Alpha would open up on RedFor triggering a brief barrage of combined arms fire with alpha inflicting five casualties. Rifle team bravo would be located eight blocks away in a stationary position. Alpha would then fall back and wait for reinforcements leaving behind six more casualties to their own four. Bravo would head three blocks short of alpha positioning themselves on the corner.

RedFor West or Group One would initiate phase two of operations and deploy three rifle squads, two machine gun teams, and ten engineers. Breach a second insertion point and would ambush Bravo. Holding out for 35 minutes they would puff smoke and exfiltrate.