Autumn Forge, Sept. 1978... cont.
The attack was blocked just south of Budingen, near the villages of Hain-Grundau and Mittel-Grundau. It was here that OPFOR elements engaged in a furious mock tank battle with British armor. At least several hundred tanks, plus additional support vehicles, were involved, and the flashes of the "Hoffman" gun simulator blinked angerly from the distance ridge. Dozens of M-60s were already casualties, the yellow nerf balls dangling from their antennae, while the crews cheered as the reserve element passed to go on the attack!
Probes were launched looking for weaknesses in the British deployment, even as Chieftain tanks took concealment behind cornfields and stone walls.
With Mittel-Grundau in the background, the attack of the OPFOR finally stalls, unable to push through the rapidly growing strength of British armor. So close but so far--... Gelnhausen was less than five miles away.
Chieftains maneuver for firing positions. Note the mist and loss of visibility. The village was only 500 meters away. The farthest Chieftain, with its turret reversed, is a casualty awaiting the nerf ball.
With the OPFOR attack stopped, it was time for the counteroffensive of the Nato forces. The photo at left illustrates an important point about urban combat. It is far easier to defend a city or village which is in rubble, than undamaged, since it is easier to conceal weapons systems, even tanks.
Here, several tanks attempt to find concealment between buildings near Budingen. Note the other tank in the background, between the foremost vehicle and the small barn.
While on the defense, another illustration between cover and concealment was demonstrated. This M-60a1 is positioned to guard an approach route through a wooded area. The hull is actually perpendicular to the road, violating the principle of positioning the heaviest armor in the direction of possible attack. The turret is rotated so the gun can cover the approach. Although violating "the book," the tactic was sound, since the tank could quickly reverse and back into a position of COVER, once having revealed itself behind its CONCEALMENT. From there, the tank would maneuver behind the cover to another firing position.
A few days later, Autumn Forge 78 came to an end as the rain grew heavier and the ground softer. The tanks could handle it, but this caused greater maneuver damage, and so the exercise was cancelled several days early.
