Chance Encounter

D+22 | 11 August 1989, 05:00hrs - 09:00hrs vs @ Bad Driburg

With chaos still dominating the battlefield, gaps naturally formed between NATO's defensive pockets.

This was expected by both sides. As the Soviets tried to exploit said gaps, so did NATO endeavour to close them.

One thing that was also common was the need to recon these gaps. Aerial and satellite recon were major forces in this endeavour, but they struggled to provide real time data. Sometimes the boots on the ground had to do this work. Such was the case in Bad Driburg. A corridor, between Kassel and Bielefeld, where NATO had strong defensive positions, and leading straight to Paderborn. From here the B64 highway split north and south and would allow a roaming force to appear behind NATO's defensive positions.

Given this, both sides decided to confirm if the area was free of enemy forces. The 7^th Independent Guards Reconnaissance Battalion was tasked by the Soviets to exploit and advance through the gap while the British Army 3^rd Armoured Division's 9^th/12^th Royal Lancers armoured recce squadrons with an attachment of the Queen's Own Highlanders must determine whether they must mind the gap.

Scenario by Joao Lima | Map by Alexander Schwarz