© 2019 - George Ross (CCIP-Subsim)

Freeware modification for Armored Brigade

Requires Armored Brigade patch v1.031 and Chechnya Mod v0.6 to play.

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Caliber-10 Scenario Pack
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8 Scenarios, December 31st 1994 - January 1st 1995

This scenario package portrays the actions of the 131st OMSBr, or Independent Motor Rifle
(Composite) Brigade. An understrength unit just getting by in the economic chaos of early post-Soviet
Russia, the Brigade was based in Maikop in the Russian North Caucasus - not far from the Chechen
Republic which, under former Soviet Air Force general Dzhokhar Dudayev, unilaterally declared
independence from Russia in late 1991. The aforementioned economic turmoil and other political
crises in or near Russia allowed Dudayev’s separatist regime to thumb their noses at president Boris
Yeltsin’s federal government in Moscow for over two years; but by 1994 the Russian federal
authorities finally began tightening the screws. As Chechnya’s main resource remained its oil
refineries in the capital city of Grozny, the separatist regime continued to rely on Russia economically
(as there was no other way to export this oil except through Russia). So, economic pressure and
reduced payments immediately caused divisions in the separatist camp, with several Chechen
warlords previously loyal to Dudayev either defecting or being violently forced out of their territory. By
late summer of 1994, a civil war between Dudayev and some of his former allies (now covertly
supplied and supported by Russia) was looming. In Moscow, president Boris Yeltsin seemed assured
that the “Chechen question” would solve itself, and the rebellious republic would cut a deal and rejoin
Russia.
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Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

However, this was not to be; after a few successes, the Chechen opposition (against Dzhokhar
Dudayev’s separatist government) had mounted a disastrous assault on Grozny on November 26th,
1994 where their militias - and the 40 Russian tanks (crewed by Russian “volunteers”) accompanying
them - were caught out by RPG ambushes in the narrow streets and utterly crushed, ending the entire
Chechen Civil War decisively in just a few hours. President Yeltsin reacted almost immediately and,
within two weeks, a massive contingent of Russian troops had invaded the republic with the intent to
“restore order” by force. By the last week of December, four large Russian forces had Grozny
surrounded from multiple sides - called Group North, Group Northeast, Group East, and Group West.

The 131 Brigade - often casually referred to as “The Maikop Brigade” - formed a major part of Group
North, perched high up on the Terek Ridge just north of the city in the last days of December.
Commanded by Col. Ivan Savin (callsign “Caliber-10”), it was a so-called “composite” unit - which
meant that it was not quite a complete unit during peacetime, but was meant to be quickly brought up
to strength in a war emergency by bringing in men and equipment from other units. In December
1994, the brigade had more or less all their vehicles and crews, as well as a core of officers, scouts,
and other professionals - but was very short on infantry to use as dismounts on their vehicles.

The brigade was structured around two Motor Rifle (more accurately, mechanized) Battalions,
equipped with BMP-1 fighting vehicles; a Tank Battalion, equipped with T-72A tanks; and a variety of
attached and organic support assets, including a scout company (which used a few BMP-2s and
BTRs), an artillery battery, and four attached Tunguska AA vehicles. On December 31st, it was
ordered to move down from the Terek Ridge and down towards the city, in two so-called Assault
Groups, each made up of one of the Infantry Battalions, plus escorting tanks from the Tank Battalion,
plus other attached assets. The First Assault Group, to the west, secured a crossing over the small
Neftyanka river by 8.00 hours in the morning, while the Second Assault Group to the east helped the
other major unit that took part in Group North’s assault on Grozny - the 81st Regiment - secure the
Northern (Severny) Airport and the Motherland (Rodina) Collective Farm just north of the Neftyanka.
As far as most of the 131 Brigade’s soldiers were then aware - they would then conduct a recon
action, scouting the northern outskirts of town, and setting up some checkpoints and blocking
positions to prevent the separatists from moving in the area. By 9.00 hours, they were indeed
engaged in just that - crossing the Neftyanka and opening up on a few scattered Chechen units on the
edge of town.

However, at 11.00, the troops suddenly received orders to move into the city center and prepare to
secure key government buildings and the train station. This caught many by surprise - some of the
crews had already used up half their ammunition firing on enemy positions from long range on the
outskirts, and did not even have a chance to resupply. As already mentioned - they were also short on
dismounts on their vehicles. Still, with only a few incidents enroute, they managed to enter Grozny
and were on approach to the city center by noon. The objectives: to capture the city’s rail station and
government buildings including the Presidential Palace. This is where the story begins…
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Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

ABOUT THE SCENARIO PACK

There are 8 missions in this pack, all of them tagged with [Caliber-10:#], with # being the sequential
number of the mission, from earliest to latest in terms of its historical timeline. 5 are played from the
Russian side (with 131 Brigade forming the bulk of your forces, and Col. Savin - represented by the
leader of a Command Team on board an R-145 “Chaika” vehicle - being the player’s unit). 3 other
scenarios are played from the Chechen separatist side opposing them. All scenarios are quite small
by Armored Brigade standards (more Close Combat-like, really!), and should take from less than an
hour to just over two hours to get through. You can play them in any order - but I recommend playing
them in sequence and following along the story of the 131 Brigade and “Caliber-10” during their fateful
New Year’s assault on downtown Grozny…

(individual scenario descriptions follow)

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[Caliber-10:1] Caliber Ten
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12.30 hours, New Year's Eve

The 131st Brigade, led by Col. Ivan Savin (callsign 'Caliber-10') rolls into downtown Grozny as the
main strike element of Group North. Its present task is to secure key objectives downtown, particularly
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Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

the Presidential Palace and the Central Rail Station, while minimizing casualties. Due to dense civilian
population in this sector, artillery and air support will not be available.

SCENARIO SIZE:​ Small (~1 hour of play) - TYPE: Urban Assault

CONDITIONS:​ Day/Cloudy (fair)/Wet Ground
NOTE:​ Recommended starting scenario for the mod - challenging and eventful, but quick to play.

PVT DENIS SHACHNEV, Gunner-operator on T-72A No.517, 131st Brigade:

''...At last, we entered the city. Ahead of us was a broad avenue. On it, a column of vehicles was
already lined up, side by side in rows of two.''

FROM 131 BRIGADE’S RADIO LOG:

12.28 - passed intersection: Prospekt Pobedy [Victory Ave.] and Mayakovsky, brigade commander
with 1st Motor Rifle Bn.

SITUATION:
131 OMSBr (131st Independent Motor Rifle Brigade) formed the key combat element of Group North -
one of four groups that surrounded the separatist-held Chechen capital, Grozny, in the last week of
December 1994. On the morning of New Year's Eve, they were ordered to move down from their safe
position high on the Tersky (Terek) Ridge north of the city, reach a phase line on the Neftyanka river,
and expect further orders. Col. Ivan Savin, the brigade's commanding officer (callsign ''Caliber-10''),
reported this task complete by 8.00 that day. The expectation was that, as earlier discussed with
Group North's commander Maj.Gen Konstantin Pulikovsky (callsign ''Slitok-11'') - the brigade would
be ordered to set up checkpoints and possibly block key highway routes in and out of the northern
part of town. However, events soon took a very different turn...

At 9.00, Col. Savin received orders to move out into the city itself. Following a series of recon actions
at the town's edge (during which at least 1 enemy tank and 1 APC were destroyed by brigade's fire),
by 11 o'clock 131 Brigade was on the move towards the center of town, split up into two Assault
Groups (or Battalion Combat Teams in NATO terminology) via two different approach routes. The 1st
Assault Group entered the city through the Old Industrial District, while the 2nd moved in from the
direction of the new (Severny) airport, alongside a 3rd Assault group from the neighbouring 81st Motor
Rifle Regiment. Soon after 12.00 noon, the two groups' paths merged on the broad, north-south
Mayakovsky St.

Here, Col.Savin ordered the columns to break off into the old downtown streets running to the east
and proceed to their major objectives: most notably, the Presidential Palace (RESCOM) and the Rail
Station. The massive battle columns presented an imposing sight - but under the armor, it was a
different story: the brigade, sent into Chechnya while still in its peacetime complement, had all their
BMPs but almost no dismounts to put in them. Many of the tanks and armored vehicles had expended
half their ammunition in the morning’s action, and hadn’t yet resupplied when the order to assault the
city was given. To the northeast, they could already hear the 81st Regiment's column engaging in
combat on Pervomayskaya St. and Ordzhonikidze Square... and as they closed in on the Presidential
Palace, it was the 131st Brigade's turn!
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Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

TIPS AND NOTES:

With 5 objectives on the fairly small map, you may have to prioritize; the opposing force may be
small, but they're armed to the teeth with RPGs and you will lose vehicles and expend a lot of rounds
dislodging any of them from their positions at every corner. Worse yet, your BMP units are
desperately short of dismounts, and the morale of your infantry is shaky at best. As a result, you may
find it difficult to spot the elusive enemy ambushes... and neither air nor artillery support have yet been
cleared for use downtown due to civilian presence. So, consider your objectives carefully, weigh the
costs - and prepare for the inevitable losses.

Note: impassable zone in the northeast represents an off-map battle being fought separately by the
81st Regiment near Ordzhonikidze square.

HISTORIAL OUTCOME:
The Russian forces ran into heavy RPG fire from buildings all along streets on approach towards the
Presidential Palace, and were forced to begin falling back towards the rail station. There, 131
Brigade's Col.Savin - quickly recognizing the seriousness of the situation - had set up his HQ and
casualty station, and set about creating a strong defensive perimeter. By 14.00 hours on December
31st, the scales had turned - barely three hours after the start of their assault on Grozny, it was Group
North who were now on the defensive against determined enemy attacks. The 131st Brigade's worst
day was about to begin - and for many of its soldiers, it would be their last.

ML.LT. MIKHAIL IBRAHIMOV, Commander of grenadier detachment of the 2nd Motor Rifle Co., 131
Brigade:
''Something happened - I couldn't figure out what... the scouts were riding out ahead of us. We got in
the vehicle and started rolling. The guy sitting in the commander's seat [St.Lt. A.Savchenko] bent
down to the rest of us sitting in the troop compartment - and said we're going into the city. Well, I
guess you could say... I felt pretty happy at that moment. Why? I don't know, folly of youth I guess?
Perhaps we all wanted some excitement?
When we had our first KIA, though - that's when everyone realized this was war for real...''"
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Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

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[Caliber-10:2] Fear’s Third Barrier
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12.30 hours, New Year's Eve

The Russians are coming - and not from the direction originally expected! The CRI Military's Chief of
Staff, Aslan Maskhadov, is hurriedly redeploying forces to the west bank of the Sunzha river to meet
Group North's assault. Get the fighters and militiamen in position, and defend the Presidential Palace!

SCENARIO SIZE:​ Small (~1 hour of play)

​TYPE: ​Meeting Engagement
​CONDITIONS: ​Day/Cloudy (fair)/Wet Ground
NOTE: ​Good starting scenario for the Chechen separatist side - challenging and eventful, but quick to
play.

SHAMSUDDIN NASHKHOYEV, Chechen combatant:

''Those arriving in Grozny then gathered at Minutka Square, in the south part of the city. Here, one
could already feel the real stench of war - not often, but sometimes, tank shells struck nearby high-rise
buildings. [...] Arriving in the city could be considered crossing the first barrier of fear. But motivating
people to go into the center of town, where the battle was, proved difficult. [Chechen Forces' Chief of
Staff] Maskhadov would send his representatives to call up forces towards the main HQ. Each deputy
would address the groups of militia, and then took those who dared to take up the struggle towards
downtown. [...] Along the way, some of the volunteers would fall behind or turn away into alleys and
building doorways. So, by the time they reached the bridge over the Sunzha, there were often only 5-7
men left - and they could be listed among those who crossed fear's second barrier.
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Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

All that remained was to cross the bridge, to the right of which was the Ministers' Council building
(SOVMIN), and to the left opposite to it - the Presidential Palace, where the main HQ was located. [...]
And those that dared to cross it, overcame fear's third barrier. For the ones who pushed themselves
onward and reached their battle positions, a new level of trials awaited...''

SITUATION
When the Russian federal forces approached Grozny, it initially appeared that their main assault
direction (if they were to assault at all) would be from the east. On December 24th, their contingent
occupied Khankala Airport east of the city - with the Chechen Forces throwing a number of immediate
counter-attacks at it, leading to the Battle of Khankala that eventually devolved into a mortar and
artillery duel between the sides, which continued until the New Years' assault started. The bulk of the
Chechen forces thus moved to the east bank of the Sunzha and prepared fighting positions opposite
to Khankala; CRI president Dzhokhar Dudayev also moved his HQ to the village of Aldy on the south
side of town nearby, although the separatists' primary military command remained at the Presidential
Palace, in the hands of Vice-Prezident Zemilkhan Yandarbiyev and Chief of Staff Aslan Maskhadov.
Alongside a portion of the Presidential Guard and a few detachments of tanks, the Melkhi Destroyer
Regiment and the Abkhaz Brigade also kept watch on the northern sections of town, under the
leadership of die-hard extremist commanders Ruslan Gelayev and Shamil Basayev respectively.

The expected attack from the east did materialize on December 31st - but proved underwhelming,
and began to be suspected of having been a feint all along. This was soon compounded by actions on
the northern outskirts; the enemy's moves to seize the airport and cut the Petropavlovskoye and Old
Industrial highways were anticipated - but the enemy columns didn't stop there, instead rolling right
down the city's main thoroughfares on the north side, Mayakovsky and Pervomaiskaya Streets. As
their intent became apparent, Chechen fighters shifted into the downtown core (where they did have
pre-planned positions) as quickly as they could. As with the failed Chechen Provisional Government's
attack on Grozny just a month earlier (which took the same route into the city), the plan was to let the
Russian armor reach downtown - and then trap them there. This is where your force comes in.

TIPS AND NOTES:

Your HQ unit (assuming you play with the 'Player HQ' option enabled) represents CRI Military's Chief
of Staff (and future Chechen president) Aslan Maskhadov, the top commander on site. This scenario
is a sort of a reverse of 'Caliber Ten' - but not a complete copy. For one, it's actually a meeting
engagement rather than a defense - though the starting position is stacked in favour of the player. As
long as you act fast, you should be able to occupy good defensive positions by the time the Russians
arrive in force. Don't expect a turkey shoot - the close quarters might favour you, but numbers and
firepower are on the opposing side, and with five objectives to cover, you may need to be strategic
about when and where you'll need to give way, and where you want to hold firm... You may want to
give thought to your unit's engagement ranges too, if you plan to make those RPGs count!

Ultimately, your task is to blunt the Russian assault, trap them downtown, and force them on the
defensive. Don't try to wipe them out or conduct heavy counter-attacks - that will be for follow-up
operations, and at the very least, you have to buy time so that forces for those can be brought over
from the other side of town./n /n Limited artillery support is available - as are a couple of mortars. Use
them wisely, and you may be able to delay the enemy advance.
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Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

HISTORICAL OUTCOME:
Overall, this phase of the separatist defense of downtown went about as well as it could have. With
only minimal losses, they were essentially able to repeat their success of five weeks earlier (when
they defeated a similar assault attempt by anti-separatist militias, who'd brought unmarked Russian
tanks but failed to properly support them). With reinforcements arriving and good lines of
communication and supply through city blocks and back alleys, the separatists deprived Russia's
northern assault force of its initiative - and were on the offensive by 14.00-14.30, pushing the
survivors of 131 Brigade and 81 Regiment to the rail station perimeter.
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[Caliber-10:3] A Bridge Too High
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13.30 hours, New Year's Eve

After the main force runs into problems at the Presidential Palace, Col.Savin of 131 Brigade and
tasks two understrength companies with a pair of missions: attempt to secure a foothold on the far
side of the river, over the Belikov (Subbotin St.) bridge, where contact with 129 Brigade assaulting the
city from the east is expected; and help straggler groups engaged at the Central Market maintain their
shaky foothold there.

SCENARIO SIZE: ​Small (<1 hour of play)

TYPE: ​Meeting Engagement
CONDITIONS:​ Day/Cloudy (fair)/Wet Ground
NOTE: This is a very small but difficult scenario, due to your force's small size and poor condition.

ST.LT. YURI MOROZOV, Tank platoon commander, 131 Brigade

''And when I saw the treetops, which were practically sticking out from under the bridge, I realized
that it was quite a ways down to the water - so if that bridge could not hold the weight of a tank, it was
going to be a long fall for us!''

NOTES AND TIPS:

This is a limited-scope scenario, and half your forces are already battered - so be careful not to
overreach! The scoring of this mission will penalize casualties quite heavily, so you must prioritize
saving strength over capturing ground.
With the situation looking quite difficult, Col. Savin is attempting to get artillery support - but having
little luck of it. Aircraft are operating overhead, but their effectiveness in this environment is
questionable.
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Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

HISTORICAL OUTCOME:
The Russian column tasked with securing the bridge judged it to be too unsafe for their supporting
tank to cross; a brief infantry bridgehead was set up, but it soon became clear that 129 Brigade on the
other side of town was nowhere near making contact, stuck in heavy combat much further east - so
the bridge position had to be abandoned, and the troops returned to Savin's defensive perimeter that
was hastily set up at the rail station. The relief attempt at the Central Market was also abandoned, as
the risk of vehicles being surrounded and destroyed by RPGs became too apparent. This left
numerous stragglers to fend for themselves behind enemy lines, later joined by survivors of other
failed actions nearby; many remained cut off at the market for over a week until rescued by forces
from Group Northeast. Col.Savin had ordered all troops who could make it back to the rail station
perimeter, where he would spend the next day desperately calling for support and reinforcement.
Artillery support did arrive in the subsequent hours and days - wrecking much of downtown Grozny,
still mostly in separatist hands, resulting in thousands of civilian casualties.
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[Caliber-10:4] Pavlov’s House
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c.16.00 hours, New Year's Eve

As the final evening of 1994 approaches, Russian forces have been beaten out of most of the
downtown core, and have now ''circled the wagons'' around the Central Rail Station. For the past
couple of hours, the Chechen combatants have been fighting a heated battle here, with the key
position being inside a five-storey building directly opposite to the station - already dubbed 'Pavlov's
House' by the opponent. Like its famous counterpart in Stalingrad, this position has successfully tied
up a much larger enemy force - but the one difference from Staligrad's Pavlov House was that in
Grozny, it was not the Russians occupying it...

Our forces have pulled back a few minutes ago to regroup, so the Russians are getting a quick break
- but this won't be for long. Time has come to reoccupy 'our' Pavlov's House and clear the path for a
final assault on the station. The Russians are pinned down and won't last long!
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Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

SCENARIO SIZE:​ Small (~1 hour of play)

MISSION: ​Capture the Central Rail Station, and the adjacent freight yards
CONDITIONS: ​Cloudy, Sunset approaching
NOTE: ​This scenario is small, but difficult.

RADIO TRANSCRIPT, GROZNY [UNIT UNKNOWN]

[Chechen commander]: Alik, alright, maybe somehow before it's too late you can pull the guys back?
Don't do this, don't do it - you don't need to. [...] If we - if I see you in battle, then... I know you
understand this: if we see each other, we might both be great guys but... I can't spare you, just like
you won't spare me. You know? It's better if you come visit me as a guest later, Alik - but... get your
guys pulled back. Spare them, spare their mothers from this - pull them back, Alik, give the order.
[Russian commander]: But I'm not that big of a boss that I could give such orders.
[Chechen commander]: Alik, come on, you gotta understand me right... to you, I'm speaking as a
father, and I just wish for you to stay alive - but... it's best you get out of here.
[Russian commander]: And I don't have that kind of choice. I have orders and I will carry them out
under any circumstances.

SITUATION:
After their assault on downtown Grozny was defeated, Russian forces were ordered to fall back to a
defensive position at the rail station. Far from all had made it - some are still holed up in the city
blocks, while others broke out and left the city on their own - but at least two dozen armored vehicles
and perhaps two hundred troops are thought to be occupying this perimeter near the tracks. From
14.00 hours onwards, CRI forces have gone on the offensive and have been inflicting serious
casualties on the Russians, mostly still from RPG fire at close range. High-rise buildings immediately
north of the station have provided good cover from which to do so; particularly the very solidly-built
DGB (state security) building, the 12-storey high-rise next to it, and the 5-storey apartment block
directly across the square from the rail station - which the Russians have dubbed 'Pavlov's House'. If
the pressure can be kept up for a bit longer - the Russians may be convinced to give up and surrender
before nightfall.

FROM 131 BRIGADE'S RADIO LOG:

[Caliber-10, 131 Brigade CO, to Group North HQ]: Can you send the ''blue'' guys [airborne troops]...
any ****ing group, at that house? We're... they're circling around us, ****, ****ing around, and... this
house - right opposite from the depot - they're ****ing us from there... the house!

TIPS AND NOTES:

This is a small scenario with the enemy having little room to move - but it's not as easy as it might
seem, as you're still going up against a very heavily-armed and armored opponent. With sunset
approaching, there are also tradeoffs to be made - do you want to attack before dark when you can
still see the enemy from a good distance and snipe off the main threats (while risking massive return
fire), or will you wait until dark and try to get at them point blank (but then have to face each threat
head-on)?

Whatever you choose - be wary of Russian fire superiority. Although the enemy lacked fire support
previously - they no longer seem to have qualms about calling in massive, wide-area artillery
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Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

barrages. Your best bet in avoiding those is to get as close to the enemy as possible - they won't call
artillery on top of their own position, but further out anything is possible.

HISTORICAL OUTCOME:
For a while, it seemed like the Russian assault on Grozny would be merely a replay of the Chechen
Opposition's attempt five weeks earlier - when the anti-separatist militias fled from the tank columns,
leaving the armor unsupported and eventually cornered without an exit (in Kirov Park). But the rail
station left a bit more room to maneuver, and to Col. Savin’s credit - he did manage to set up an
effective defense perimeter, with surviving armored vehicles conducting a mobile defense and
scooting from position to position to avoid becoming sitting ducks. The Chechen separatist fighters
kept up nearly constant attacks on the station overnight - at first head on from the direction of Pavlov's
House and downtown, and then by circling around from the back (which will be explored in Scenario 6
in this pack, called ‘Shot in the Dark’).

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[Caliber-10:5] New Year’s Nightmare
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Midnight, January 1st, 1995

As fireworks greeted the new year in much of western Russia (including Moscow), where the news
barely said anything about the catastrophic events in Chechnya that day - it was the opposite in
Grozny, where for the thousands of desperate Russian soldiers, the only notable 'celebration' came in
the form of a brief pause in the gunfire and explosions. But it did not last long - and soon, Group
North's survivors at Col. Savin's position in the train station were under some of the heaviest attacks
yet. At stake were their own lives, and those of dozens of wounded soldiers and civilians sheltering in
the station's basement.
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Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

Your only mission: hold out until morning!

FROM 131 BRIGADE RADIO LOG:

18.40-24.00 - intense enemy fire from the building opposite to the rail station, vehicles destroyed by
RPG fire from point-blank range, crews taking shelter inside the station building and maintaining a
defense...
22.45-24.00 - regimental frequencies jammed by transmitters of ''Grozny'', ''Tiger'', ''Free Wolf'' radio
stations.

ST.PR [Sr.Cpl] VADIM SHIBKOV, ''AKULA-1'' FAC/FO group radio chief, 131 Brigade:
''I can say for certain, that the only time that there was no fire was New Year's!''

CONDITIONS: ​Night, icy mist and light snow (poor visibility)

SCENARIO SIZE: ​Small (~1 hour of play)

SITUATION:
In a word - a nightmare. The enemy has continued attacks almost without pause since Group North's
assault on the city center failed. Survivors from the two strike groups of Col. Savin’s 131 Brigade’s,
and many from the 81st Regiment’s strike group as well, fell back to the station and the nearby freight
yards and did their best to hold out through the afternoon and evening. The darkness and poor
visibility that came after sunset was in some respects a blessing - casualties from snipers and other
long-range fire dropped off noticeably. However, it also meant that the enemy could approach a lot
closer and maintain positions at point blank range from the station (including in the 'Pavlov House'),
with most of the night-time fighting taking place at 50 meters range or less. Despite this, the surviving
two dozen or so vehicles that could still move on their own retained some degree of mobility,
periodically scooting between different positions and providing suppressive fire.

Some ground had to be given to prevent an overall collapse; the Russian troops retreated from the
post office to the east of the main station during the night, the abandoned construction site
immediately east of the station building (where a hotel was supposed to be built) was subject to
frequent enemy infiltration, while a fierce infantry back-and-forth went on over the small 'Volcanization'
car repair shop next to it. With ammo running low for some units, at least there was now artillery
support - which Savin himself frequently called in and corrected. In Lenin Park to the west of the
station, some of Group West's forces were also now in contact - including troops from the 19th
Infantry Division and a detachment of Airborne soldiers - but their position, too, was so precarious that
they did not dare send any reinforcements to the station.

Otherwise, Savin's increasingly frustrated radio calls to his commanding officer, Group North's
Maj.Gen. K. Pulikovskiy (callsign 'Slitok-11', located at his HQ on Terek Ridge above Severny airport),
were only answered with vague promises of support in the morning. The thing that weighed most
heavily on Col. Savin's mind were the dozens (by some reports - over 60) severely wounded soldiers
that were in the brigade's temporary casualty point inside the station's basement. While it may have
been possible for those fighting above ground to ditch the position and make a run for Group West's
position in Lenin Park - the badly hurt men below could not. Nor could Savin himself - he was
wounded by shrapnel in one foot not long after arriving at the station and then again, in the other foot,
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Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

around midnight. But he remained in command personally, and refused any suggestions for further
action that did not involve some means of getting all his wounded not just out of the station, but to
immediate medical help - and he didn't trust the rather shaky position of Group West's forces in Lenin
Park to be able to provide that. So, 'Caliber-10' needed a plan that could get his men back north, over
the Neftyanka river, to his own rear echelon on the Terek Ridge near the airport. Thus, Savin ruled out
all options but one: to hold out at the station until dawn, at all cost, and save as many of his men as he
could.

LT.COL YURI KLAPSOV, Operations Officer, 131st Brigade:

''We didn't even notice New Year's, somebody remembered when it was already 30 or 40 minutes
past midnight, and said: ''Dudes, it's New Year's!'' - ''Well, I guess we celebrated...''
All around us - piles of wounded, disabled vehicles, shooting from every side... one of the recon
officers found a bottle of champagne from the half-destroyed wine stall nearby, gave it as a present to
the brigade HQ. It was immediately placed somewhere in a corner and forgotten.''

LT.COL VLADIMIR ZRYADNYI, Chief of Planning Dept., 67th Army Corps

''...at about this time, we were sitting next to his [brigade commander's] HQ vehicle - the ''Chaika''
BTR - and he seemed really down, says, ''Never had to greet New Year's like this before!''... and
[suddenly] on the other side of the BTR, a grenade went off!''

NOTES AND TIPS:

This scenario is likely to be a bit faster-paced than the somewhat more slow-burning historical battles
were at night - but should still capture the stakes well. For best results, I recommend playing as
though all three objectives are mission-critical (i.e., must not be allowed to be captured and kept by
the enemy). The one saving grace for you is the availability of artillery - but with visibility as low as it
is, you may have to fire it dangerously close, or else figure out some means of spotting up front.
Beware of vehicle losses and routing of demoralized troops (and most of them currently are) - the
easiest way to 'lose' this scenario is not so much by losing the objectives, but 'bleeding' points through
sheer unit losses.

GALINA TRETYAKOVA, civilian (sheltered at Grozny's rail station on 31/12/94-1/1/95):

''And then it started! At intervals of a few seconds, explosions shook the ceiling and walls all around
us. Not even half an hour later, despite the cold and falling snow, half-naked people started running
into the basement. Refugees! The very first, from the now-destroyed houses near the station. They
were shaking, but more from what they'd just experienced than from the cold. A lot of them were in
their pajamas and slippers, or no footwear at all. They escaped in whatever was on them, losing some
of it as they ran. Some were wounded. The shock from what they'd seen didn't last long. We had to
calm them down, even a little, share some food and warm clothing. And we found a few among us
who could even give medical aid. Underneath the quiet concern and pushy business-like attitude, we
too were hiding our own horror. Even tried joking. After all, it was New Year's! About two hours later,
another large wave of refugees reached the shelter. This second stream of people was from Khankala
station. They all ran along the railroad tracks, under the light of illumination flares and incessant
barrages.''
 16
Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

HISTORICAL OUTCOME:
131 Brigade and 81 Regiment managed to hold the rail station and freight yards overnight, despite
attacks both from the front (as in this scenario) and later from their rear as well. But the morning
brought no relief. Low on ammo, Savin's troops were desperate for resupply and reinforcements. Two
columns from Group North's reserve were sent out, but were caught by the enemy just blocks from
'Caliber-10's position. By mid-afternoon, events at the station had reached a critical point - and the
wounded, exhausted Col. Savin was facing his hardest decisions yet...

FROM 131 BRIGADE'S RADIO LOG:

00.00-8.00 - continuous enemy fire

------------------------------------------------------------------
[Caliber-10:6] Shot in the Dark
------------------------------------------------------------------

~3.00 hours, January 1st 1995

Our forces have been attacking the Russians holed up in the rail station for over 12 hours now - but
they are still refusing to retreat. We've finally managed to make some headway to their flanks and
 17
Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

rear, however. Our chief interrogator at the Presidential Palace HQ, Abu Arsunkayev, has extracted
some useful intel from the recently-captured Russian troops - and has now headed to the far side of
the tracks with a band of militia. Get around the station, and see if you can finally push them out
before dawn!

MISSION:​ Probe (Meeting Engagement) - SCENARIO SIZE: Small (<1 hour of play)
CONDITIONS:​ Night, icy mist and light snow (poor visibility)
NOTE: ​This mission makes extensive use of custom 'no-entry' zones

ST.PR [Sr.Cpl] VADIM SHIBKOV, ''AKULA-1'' FAC/FO group radio chief, 131 Brigade
''The biggest problem was the depot, there was a mass of fire coming from there, including from
snipers. [Our] radio communication [was] absolutely horrible, all frequencies were getting jammed by
the enemy fighters, who kept coming up on them. We had radios - different sets for aviation, different
sets for infantry, while theirs were 'Motorolas' [with automatic] frequency search - I picked one up for
myself from one of their dead...''

SITUATION:
The battle at the rail station is continuing unabated, after only a very brief pause around midnight on
New Year's. The separatists have made some progress in the past few hours, taking the post office
immediately east of the station. 'Pavlov's House' directly across from the station has been suppressed
somewhat by fire from Russian tanks, but is still holding as well. However, despite the latter's claim to
fame in the battle - by the second half of the night, it was actually the building on the opposite (south)
side of the station that was causing the Russians the most trouble. This was the large, heavily-built
locomotive depot; Chechen snipers and RPG grenadiers took up positions there as well and began
inflicting losses on the Russians. It was from this direction that the main attacks at the station in the
pre-dawn hours would come.

FROM 131 BRIGADE RADIO LOG:

[Caliber-10]: ...we've been flanked... [they're] behind us, both from that [Pavlov] house, and from the
depot... that's on the other side, they're ****ing us from here... at the rear they're ****ing at us from
RPGs, [small arms] fire from the direction of the tracks, that's where those... tank-cars are parked [...]
artillery is close... if only they could work that depot...
[Slitok-11]: ...I read you, call the fire on the depot then, over!
[Caliber-10]: [send a] smoke, one shot - fire! I can't tell whose shells I'm seeing over there.

NOTES AND TIPS:

This is a very small scenario - but not an easy one, as your force is both small and of rather meager
quality. The Russians are also in a poor state - but they now have better artillery support than they did
during the day. Your best bet in avoiding it is to get as close to their positions as possible, so they
cannot use it without hitting their own troops. Avoid losses - since your force is so small, you will
'bleed' points very quickly for any units that you lose, which will eventually force the attack to be called
off if you aren't careful. You may find it challenging scoring above a 'draw' here in any case - which
would make the outcome about right historically (although this scenario is substantially faster-paced
than the actual fighting overnight was).
 18
Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

Note that this is the first of three scenarios in this pack that makes extensive use of big,
irregularly-shaped 'no-entry' zones - zoom out your map or change the detailed terrain display level to
see where these are. These are meant mainly to prevent the player and especially the enemy AI from
behaving unrealistically. Consider the 'no go' areas to be simply sectors occupied by other friendly
units, and thus none of your business - and focus on the station and its immediate surroundings as
well! With a single objective to control, you don't need to wander far in any case.

HISTORICAL OUTCOME:
Despite the attacks from both the front and rear, the Russian position at the rail station held out
overnight. Through the morning on Jan 1st their situation would only get worse, however. They called
in relief columns, which approached from the north and west - which shifted focus away from this
flanking position at the depot, and back to the north of the station. With daylight, assaults from there
resumed, bringing in even more fresh units - including reportedly some 'White Crow' tanks that took
up positions to wait out the incoming relief columns…

------------------------------------------------------------------
[Caliber-10:7] Relief Column
------------------------------------------------------------------

~10.30 hours, January 1st 1995

 19
Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

Forces of the 131st Brigade (plus elements of the adjacent 81st Regiment), led by Col. Ivan Savin,
have been taking cover and defending Grozny's central rail station against determined separatist
attacks since the previous afternoon. They are surrounded, low on ammo, and with dozens of
wounded in the basement of the main station building - and cannot hold out for much longer on their
own. Two relief columns, one from 131 Brigade's own rear echelons, and the other from the reserve
276 Brigade, are sent into the city an attempt to break through and relieve the beleaguered troops.
Get them to the station before it is overrun by the enemy!

SCENARIO SIZE:​ Small (1+ hour of play)

CONDITIONS:​ Cool, Cloudy (Fair) - Significant damage from shelling in city
MISSION:​ Get relief columns to the rail station, and defend from enemy assault!
NOTE: ​This mission makes extensive use of custom 'no-entry' areas - check your map to see which
areas are inaccessible. This is designed to guide both AI and player in order to model the rather
unique tactical situation.
The large 'no-go' area between the column and the station represents positions of the 81st
Regiment's survivors at the freight yards - radio contact with whom is proving difficult, and so the relief
column must keep away from those positions in order to avoid 'friendly fire'.

FROM 131 BRIGADE'S RADIO LOG:

9.51 - brigade commander requests helicopter support. Reply: helicopters are not being allowed over
the city, if possible - wait.

PVT. ANATOLIY ZABOLOTNEV, Driver-mechanic of BMP-2 No-108, Scout Group, 131 Brigade (in
relief column):
''Colonel Savin kept in constant communication with the column, clarified and corrected the route of
advance. When we approached the station square, he warned that on his right was this multi-storey
building. On the 7th floor [of 12], enemy RPG grenadiers were operating. It was on this stretch of route
that battle started. [...] We broke out ahead [...] so those guys fell behind us, it seems. So it was just
us on three vehicles - two BMPs and a KShM... we made it to within about a block of the station - and
that's when they hit the first vehicle...''

SITUATION:
The survivors of 131 Brigade's main position at the rail station, following their retreat there after the
failure of Group North's assault on downtown the previous day, have now been holding out against
persistent separatist attacks - from nearly every direction - for some 20 hours. Col. Savin, 131
Brigade's commander (callsign 'Caliber-10'), has dozens of seriously wounded soldiers in the station's
basement, and has by now been wounded twice himself - which hasn't stopped him from continuing to
lead his forces on-site, and personally directing much of the incoming artillery strikes. But his own
troops are low on ammo, and Savin is growing increasingly desperate in his calls for relief, with Group
North's overall commander, Maj-Gen. Pulikovskiy (callsign 'Slitok-11') is only giving vague answers
over the radio as to what and when Caliber-10 can expect.

Finally, word comes through that two columns - one from the 131 Brigade's own rear echelons left
behind north of the city (arriving under callsign 'Leska-12'), and the other from the sister 276 Brigade
that was left in reserve (in contact largely via callsign '104') - are inbound to his position, through a city
 20
Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

still controlled almost completely by the enemy. Realizing their poor odds, Savin keeps up regular
checks with these columns on the radio and tries to guide them towards his positions and around
potential danger areas. After 10.00 hours, they are within barely a mile of the station...

On top of all the other problems facing Col. Savin and his brigade at the station, the jamming,
interference and intrusions on radio frequencies render radio communications with units in the
station's vicinity extremely difficult by morning - and it only continues to get worse from there. With
Chechen forces clearly gearing up for another massed assault, the next period is going to be critical -
and the force at the station may not survive if help doesn't get there on time.

LT. ARVID KALNIN, Commander of the 4th Scout Plt/BMP-2 No.018, 131 Brigade (in relief column):
''...and so I see ahead of us: a tank. I was leading the column, the tanks were behind me, so - it
wasn't one of ours. So it was - it was the separatists'. The tank dispatched us from point-blank range,
the company commander's vehicle was the first one set on fire. [...] I was lucky. It's like something
always pulled me out of trouble. Andrei, my gunner, was squeezing a crucifix between his teeth and
firing away in every direction. We didn't know where our guys or the enemy were, just shot in all
directions and that was it. I told the [driver-]mechanic: if you see an opening - go for it! All around us,
one vehicle would light up, then another... we were just being massacred. My [driver-]mechanic
started falling asleep (that's one way a body can react [under stress]!) and accidentally stepped on the
gas pedal. And since the vehicle was in reverse, it lurched about half a meter back suddenly - which
happened to be exactly when an RPG round passed us. Had we stayed in that same spot, we
would've been burned alive...''

NOTES AND TIPS:

This mission uses custom 'no-go' zones quite extensively - check the map (and/or adjust the detailed
terrain level) to see which parts are inaccessible.

The main thing to make note of is the fact that a direct path between the relief column's starting point
and the main objective at the station (which is defended by the last remaining stragglers) is blocked -
and unlike in previous Russian scenarios in the 'Caliber-10' story, the position at the freight yards is
inaccessible. This is intended to simulate the forces there now being out of radio contact due to
constant separatist radio jamming - so, the relief columns have to go around that position to avoid
'friendly fire' (and, well, get into some very ufriendly fire instead!)

Due to the limitations of what Armored Brigade can do, getting this scenario to work required a bit of
a compromise. Historically, the relief columns actually started a bit further north along the west edge
of the map, and their route took them much closer south. But in order for this to work in the game and
represent the actual (and very serious) ambushes they encountered on their way to the station, they'll
have very limited choice of routes, forcing them to run a bit of a gauntlet on the way to the station. The
'no-entry' area around the freight station represents the positions occupied mainly by 81 Regiment's
troops, who for this scenario are presumed to be out of radio contact with 'Caliber-10' at the main
station.

Needless to say - this is a tough scenario! You'll start out with not enough forces at the station to
really hold it against the enemy attack, and will need to get the relief force there as soon as possible -
 21
Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

which is a bit of a gamble in itself, especially if you try to get there fast. Weigh the risks carefully, and
try to minimize casualties.

FROM 131 BRIGADE'S RADIO LOG:

callsign Caliber-10: Col. Ivan Savin, 131st Brigade CO
callsign Slitok-11: Maj-Gen. Konstantin Pulikovskiy, Group North CO
callsign Leska-12: 131st Brigade's Recon Company's commander Cpt. Oleg Tyrtyshny
callsign Client-12: acting column lead substituting for Tyrtyshny, unknown officer.
[Caliber-10]: 12, I am launching smokes and rockets - observe!
[Caliber-10]: 12, where the **** are you?!
[sometime later]
[Slitok-11]: Leska-12, Leska-12, reply to Caliber-10, reply to Caliber-10 - over!
[Caliber-10]: 12... [unclear, sound of gunfire], do you read!
[Client-12]: 12 has been hit...
[Caliber-10]: [unclear]...elve,do you read!
[Caliber-10]: Where is your lead, 12, where is your lead?
[Client-12]: Lead is ahead: I think he's been hit...
[Client-12, sometime later]: The column is blocked...
[Caliber-10]: Who and how?
[Client-12]: Say again!
[Caliber-10]: How did they block you: are they firing or... just people [on the street]?
[Client-12]: There is fire [coming from] from the houses... lead's BMP is hit.
[Caliber-10]: Understood! And can you not just ****ing turn around and go a different route?
[Client-12]: I have no communication with anybody [in the column]...
[Caliber-10]: Try to turn around and go a different route, bec[noise]se they will ****ing burn you all,
over!
[Client-12]: Understood!

HISTORICAL OUTCOME:
The relief attempt on January 1st had essentially failed. Hastily assembled from mostly ill-prepared
and ill-equipped troops (with the notable exception of the 131 Brigade's scouting detachment, which
took the lead), the first column managed to slip into the city with minimal losses - but just a few blocks
away from the station, ran into a massive separatist ambush and was largely massacred. The second
column, from the 276 Brigade, arrived a bit later - and fared only slightly better, even managing to get
a couple of its vehicles to the station. Though the columns did draw away the bulk of the Chechens'
fire for a couple of hours and suppressed a few hostile positions along the route, in the end it was their
survivors who ended up having to be rescued by Savin's men from the station... which was precisely
the opposite of what was intended.

In the end, the outcome became inevitable: by early afternoon on January 1st, nearly 24 hours after
his defense of the station started, Savin was forced to make the hardest decision - to evacuate the
station as soon as feasible. Of all those present, the colonel appeared to be perhaps the most
skeptical about their odds of success, especially having seen what had just happened to his relief
columns...
 22
Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

FROM 131 BRIGADE'S RADIO LOG:

callsign Caliber-10: Col. Ivan Savin, 131st Brigade CO
callsign Slitok-11: Maj-Gen. Konstantin Pulikovskiy, Group North CO
callsign Client-12: acting 131 Brigade relief column lead following actual lead's death, unknown
officer.
callsign Knife-38: unknown officer
callsign Client-2: unknown officer, likely from 276 Brigade, inquiring about their column
[Caliber-10]: Did you get out or not?!
[Client-12]: There's no way out...
[Knife-38]: Mask-09, respond!
[Client-12]: [unclear]...stopped in place!
[Caliber-10]: Blocked?
[Client-12]: Yes! From the right, and from the left - [they're] firing RPGs!
[sometime later]
[Client-12]: 012! Who can hear me? 12 - who can hear me, respond? 12 - who can hear me, respond!
[sometime later]
[Slitok-11]: He's over there! You know where he is! Over!
[Client-2]: [unclear] I meant: is everything alright [with them]? Over!
[Slitok-11]: I don't know, I don't know! Over!
[Client-2]: [unclear]... and they did not tell you the details?
[Slitok-11]: Just today... they were directing [artillery] fires, directing. Over!
[Client-2]: I heard that! But at the present moment, are they alright?
[Slitok-11]: At the present moment... I do not hear him, don't hear him... I don't know!
[Client-2]: So, and I also sent two guys... uh, two battalion commanders. They got out there, and then
their vehicles were both burned... any results on them, do you know?
[Slitok-11]: I don't know, I don't know anything! They are not coming up [on comms] with us!
[Client-2]: They won't come up because they've been burned. Alright, I got it! That's it... Alright!

(Grozny Central Rail Station, early 1995)

 23
Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

------------------------------------------------------------------
[Caliber-10:8] Savin’s Gauntlet
------------------------------------------------------------------

c.17.00, January 1st 1995

The end has finally arrived - the battle for the rail station is over. Unable to hold it any longer, 131
Brigade's commander Col. Ivan Savin (callsign 'Caliber-10') believes he's done all he could - the
troops and vehicles that could evacuate more safely have already been sent ahead. All that's left now
is to load up the many wounded from the station onto the last running BMPs, and make a run back to
their original staging area north of the city. The odds don't look good - but Savin figures it's the best
chance they have. Can you save the brigade commander and his wounded men?

SCENARIO SIZE:​ Small (<1 hour)

MISSION:​ Escape (reach objective)
CONDITIONS: ​Cool, Cloudy, Dusk approaching - Significant damage from shelling in city
NOTE:​ Mission uses extensive 'no-entry' zones - check map! In order to simulate this unusual
scenario, your forces and the AI can only move through a very limited 'corridor' from one end of the
map to the other.
*Given the (very unusual, for Armored Brigade) nature of this mission - you do not need to play it
through to the end. Once all your units that can still move have reached the objective, feel free to
press 'End Battle'. A 'Draw' result for this one should be considered a player success!
 24
Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

FROM 131 BRIGADE'S RADIO LOG:

12.20 - brigade commander and 1st Motor Rifle Battalion are surrounded. The enemy is attacking, at
distances less than 50 meters.
12.21 - brigade commander reports that he cannot retreat, over 60 wounded whom he cannot
abandon [at the station].
12.55 - RPG gunners to the rear, opening direct fire on the station.
14.00 - tank has picked up 4 wounded and left to the rear, communication lost
14.10 - communication lost with all those who were inside the rail station building.
14.20 - brigade commander requesting real and concrete support, artillery opening fire, being
corrected by brigade commander and FO.
FROM 81 REGIMENT'S RADIO LOG:
14.00-15.15 - communications jammed.

SITUATION:
By early afternoon of January 1st, it was clear that the attempts to relieve 131 Brigade's commander
and his troops trapped at the rail station had failed. The only choice was to evacuate. But how? With
dozens of wounded on site, brigade commander Col. Savin - himself wounded in both feet during the
preceding day's combat - could not just walk away. Using artillery and continuing the fight at the
station, he'd sent some of his faster running tanks ahead first, and allowed some of the troops that
could still walk and did not require immediate medical help to slip away to Group West's shaky (but at
least still defensible) position at Lenin Park not too far away. Then, as sunset approached - he
ordered the wounded to be loaded into the last remaining BMPs still in working condition. His own
radio set ran out of batteries and went off the air sometime after 4pm, but his aides in other vehicles
remained in contact during the escape attempt. Savin was riding on top of the 2nd BMP out of a
column of 4, with other healthy or lightly-wounded troops - while the interior compartment was filled
with badly wounded casualties. They left the station sometime around 5pm, with darkness
approaching.

Savin’s choice of routes was limited. They had to get back to the brigade's staging area back north of
Grozny, but reports from other vehicles noted that a very heavy Chechen ambush was at the
Publishing House near the key intersection that the brigade passed on their way downtown. The
brigade commander thus decided to get to Mayakovsky street, then veer left into the area of industrial
rail yards and garages, hopefully making it to the Altaiskaya crossing, and then just speeding out of
the city past the former airfield. It was hoped that the coming night-time mist would help them along
the way...

NOTES AND TIPS:

As already mentioned, this mission gets a bit creative with how Armored Brigade scenarios usually
work. Since there are no actual 'escape' tasks possible, you should simply aim to get all your units
that can still move to the objective, after which you can hit 'End Battle' to view results. A draw is more
than good enough, considering the historical outcome of this scenario.

FROM 131 BRIGADE'S RADIO LOG:

callsign Caliber-10: Col. Ivan Savin, 131st Brigade CO
callsign Slitok-11: Maj-Gen. Konstantin Pulikovskiy, Group North CO
 25
Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

[Caliber-10]: We have to get out of here immediately! That's it, ****... we're already... ****ing nailed
here... What will be my next objective, over?
[Slitok-11]: I will confirm [in a moment]!
[Caliber-10]: [unclear]... over!
[Caliber-10]: [unclear]... over! Confirm my next objective!
[...]
[Slitok-11]: I am confirming, confirming! We cannot give you an objective now, right now [unclear]
figuring it out!
[Caliber-10]: Objective... now... I am about to be ****ing ***ed over here, ****, already, to all ****ing
****!

HISTORICAL OUTCOME:
Savin's evacuation column broke out from the station under cover of an artillery barrage, and headed
north (with some of the vehicles actually getting to within a couple of blocks of the Presidential
Palace), then turned west. The column quickly reached Mayakovsky St. (at the corner of Karl Marx
St.), then turned north again - but made it less than two blocks in that direction.

The enemy ambush turned out to be a lot closer than the Publishing House, where it was anticipated
- RPGs instead opened up from the buildings across the street from the rail ticket office (as marked on
the map). The lead BMP narrowly dodged destruction (though some of the troops sitting on top of the
armor got thrown off it by an RPG burst and/or violent maneuvers), but Savin's BMP took a direct hit.
The colonel and others that were sitting atop the vehicle were thrown clear and survived, but the
round penetrated the passenger compartment, killing all of the wounded being evacuated inside (over
a dozen by some reports). Savin, already wounded in both feet and now also shell-shocked, was
helped by a small group of his soldiers into cover and managed to evade through the rail yards.

The exact route of Savin’s straggler group is unknown - but sometime around midnight (start of
January 2nd), they reached an area of truck garages (marked on the map as 'Avtopark'). Here they
were spotted by a Chechen patrol. A fight ensued in the darkness, and a hand grenade was thrown at
close range - possibly by one of the disoriented Russian soldiers. The Chechens fled - but Col.Savin
received a fatal shrapnel wound to the head. Apparently still half-conscious, he was pulled away to a
ruined building nearby - where, without speaking another word, the brigade commander passed away
less than half an hour later. With no strength left to bury him or carry his body any further - and still a
long way to go to safety - the remaining soldiers covered him with a poncho and left him near other
bodies by the side of the road. While most of his small straggler group in the rail yards survived, the
rest of those that left the station in the final convoy did not fare well. By some accounts, only one of
the vehicles loaded with the wounded had made it back to friendly lines that night.

The 131 Brigade Commander's body was only found again three weeks later, along with the many
others who perished in the disastrous escape attempt. Like many of them, he was found with
additional gunshot wounds to the head - hinting at the fate of the many other, still-living troops that
were left stranded on Grozny’s streets that night. Col. Ivan Savin's legacy as 131 Brigade's
commander remains controversial in Russia to this day. Some praise him for setting up a competent
defense at the station, for his brutally honest assessment of the situation (as evidenced in radio logs),
and for remaining with his troops until the end and refusing to leave his wounded. Others criticize him
 26
Caliber-10 - Mission Notes and Briefings

for adopting a firebase mentality too quickly, for failing to challenge his superiors when given
unrealistic tasks and false promises, and for refusing to make hard decisions until forced to do so by
circumstances. It’s interesting to note that immediately after his death in 1995, Savin was
recommended for Russia’s highest military award (Hero of Russia) by his superior Pulikovsky (aka
“Slitok-11”) - but the recommendation was either never received or not approved by then-president
Yeltsin. In 2005, however, Yeltsin’s successor Vladimir Putin issued Presidential Decree No.839, by
which Col. Savin was finally given this posthumous honour. In historical circles and among veterans,
however, debates about his performance as a commander during those two fateful days still continue.

Regardless, hopefully you now know a bit more about the story of 131 Brigade and 'Caliber-10', its
fallen commander, having played a few missions from their (and their opponents') perspective!

(Col. Ivan Savin, CO 131 OMSBr. 24.04.1953 - 02.01.1995)

Official records state that, of a nominal count of 1282 men in 131 Brigade (including noncombat
personnel - though in reality, the brigade was severely understrength and was closer to a battalion in
actual combat power), 446 entered Grozny just before noon on 31st of December 1994. Within 36
hours, 162 of them (36%) were killed in action outright, with another 21 eventually listed as missing.
More than half of the survivors were wounded, and over 80% of their armored vehicles were
destroyed or abandoned on Grozny's heavily-shelled streets. It remains the worst toll suffered in an
(almost) single-day action by any regular, brigade-sized military unit since World War II.