DCS Black Shark 2 - Thunder Run, Russian Style - Briefing

When bullets start flying, there is nothing more precious to a Russian Army commander than key terrain.

It is not just real state, it's the early door opening that unhinges the enemy's resistance.




Colonel Vitali Kashlev, the commander of a Russian battalion-sized bonnegruppa, wants an early kick in the door to Kutaisi. Georgian rebels are far from organized for a defense of the city and Kashlev's troops are arriving from the west at a glacial pace.

Right click and open in a new tab for a better view. The scheme of maneuver for a company-sized force (line with arrow) tasked with securing one of the bridges over the Rioni river (circle). 

Kashlev's on the job training goes back to the war in Chechnya, and he learnt well from his former superiors. He faces now a rebel-held city, but with no apparent elaborate defenses like the ones he fought against in Grozny.

Despite the abysmal differences between the two fights, he is not going to treat Kutaisi with kid's gloves but with a fist of iron. His main objective is securing one of the crossings over the Rioni river in order to stop rebel reinforcements from the eastern suburbs of the city and from the nearby towns. He intends to accomplish that with all he has available now. Two tank platoons and one mechanized infantry platoon are to advance through the city towards the objective at maximum speed. Fire support will be provided by 9 self propelled artillery tubes (romboidal icons in map above), which will pretty much demolish the buildings along the the main route of advance for the maneuver group. The purpose of this type of indirect fire is to eliminate insurgents lying in ambush within buildings. Yeah, that's the type of indirect fire support targeting Kashlev learnt to love from Grozny.

It's a 60 pound sledgehammer used to crack a bunch of nuts. Any takers for the nuts that roll in or out the anvil of destruction? Army Aviation, off course!

Enter my flight of two Ka-50 attack helicopters originally deployed along with bonnegruppa Kashlev to provide close air support and ad-hoc reconnaissance. Our regular armament of 2A42 cannon (precision fire) and unguided rockets (area fire) against soft and lightly armored targets has been augmented with Vikhr ATGMs in order to deal with (if any) reinforced bunkers and fortified buildings.

My flight will occupy a fighting position north of the main advance route, trying to detect enemy ambushes in alleys, rooftops or wherever the advance forces can't see or shoot. We intend to keep ourselves at maximum distance from the enemy. Of great concern is deconfliction with the indirect fire coming from the west. We have our ABRIS navigation system programmed to show the no-fly area. It is not cool to be shot down by your own artillery.

Right click and open in a new tab for a better view. Flight and fire plan for my flight.

Cheers,