Cuba Libre!

[bigjackmac]

All,

This is the first fight of Day 2 (D+1).  Also, if anyone is interested, I posted the first SITREP, which is an overview to explain what happened on D-Day, and what the CLA's Commanding General is prioritizing for D+1.

http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-d-day-sitrep.html

On to the fight.

It's 0700 on 2 Feb 1990, and the CLA's B Squadron SOF has linked up with C Company of the 8th Popular Force Battalion to push through to the Radio Station in downtown Havana to relieve Colonel Quilveras and the hard-pressed troopers of A Squadron SOF, who are holding out against the regime's 2nd Airborne Company, 1st Airborne Battalion, pushing hard to retake the Radio Station and stop the CLA's transmissions to the local populace.


So far we've had:
D-Day
1) B Squadron SOF destroyed a radar site in support of amphibious landings at Playa Colorada (5).  B Sqdn then egressed and linked up with CLA rotary wing assets for their follow-on mission in Havana (6).
2) C Squadron SOF destroyed a the Cuban military's communications center.
3) 1st Para Battalion dropped in and seized a bridge to screen the landings at Playa Colorada (5).
4) 2nd Para battalion dropped in and eliminated a Castro-regime garrison to screen the landings at the Bay of Pigs (just west of (4).
5) 1st Marine Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion, made an amphibious assault at Playa Colorada.
6) A Squadron SOF attacked a Castro-regime SAM site near Havana, which failed to clear the way for B Squadron's helo assault into Havana.
7) 2nd Marine Company, 6th Infantry Battalion, landed at the Bay of Pigs then turned east and ran into a strong enemy force, which it handily defeated.
B Company of the UWG pursued and destroyed an enemy garrison in the Escambray Mountains.
9) B Squadron SOF conducted an aerial insertion into Havana to seize a radio station and broadcast news of the invasion.
10) 10th Popular Force Battalion seized and destroyed the Pedroso bridge to protect the Bay of Pigs landing site from the Matanzas garrison.
11) 1st Airborne Infantry Battalion successfully fought off a regime counterattack near the bridge at Sandino, protecting the western (Playa Colorada) landing site from the Pinar del Rio garrison.
12) 6th Infantry Battalion fought through an enemy ambush while pushing inland from the Bay of Pigs landing site.
13) 8th Popular Force Battalion ambushed a mechanized column of the enemy 2nd Armored Battalion, just west of Havana.
14) 2nd Airborne Battalion engaged enemy armored forces of the 6th Armored Battalion in the village of El Rincon, en route to the Bay of Pigs landing site.
15) 4th Infantry Battalion's 1st Air Assault Company conducts an air assault southeast of Sandino to counter enemy mechanized forces of 3rd Infantry Battalion (forcing 1st Airborne Battalion's right flank).
16) 9th Popular Force Battalion conducts a spoiling attack on the regime's 7th Infantry Battalion in the Matanzas garrison.
17) 2nd Air Assault Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, inserts east of El Rincon to block the escape of the regime's 6th Armored Battalion.
18) C Company of the UWG fought a running battle in the Escambray Mountains to delay/halt the regime's 12th Mechanized Battalion moving west.
D+1
19) A Squadron SOF holds off the regime's 2nd Airborne Company, 1st Airborne Battalion at the Radio Station in downtown Havana, while B Squadron SOF and 8th Popular Force Battalion move to reinforce.


The opposing forces, with the regime troops on the left and CLA on the right.  The CLA force is made up of Minifigs Special Forces for the the SOF troops, and Pendraken British and Argentinian Special Forces from the Falklands Range.  The regime troops are made up of Minifigs Russian Special Forces and a BMP-2, plus a machine gun from the Brits of Pendraken's Falklands Range.

The CLA force has three parts: two SF teams from A Squadron, with a single leader figure representing Colonel Quilveras (at the Radio Station), and the relief force, made up of two SF teams from B Squadron and four rifle teams from C Company, 8th PF Battalion, plus a single leader figure representing C Company's leader, Captain Talamantes.  The regime force has a Command Stand, six rifle stands, a MG team, and a BMP.


Overview, north is up, with Colonel Quilveras and two teams from A Squadron at top left, the relief force of B Squadron and C Co, 8th PF Bn, at bottom left, and the regime forces spread across the right side.


Continuing a theme...

To see the whole report, please check the blog:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-19.html

Sorry, I'm running behind, I have three more batreps to post from last weekend, with more fighting planned this weekend!

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

Good stuff again, Jack.  
Cheers - Phil

[Womble67]

Excellent battle report, thanks for taking the time to post these I really enjoy reading them.

Take care

Andy

[ronan]

I'm in holidays and I have a very slow (and erratic) access to the internet ( a small hamlet in the mountains): Can't read the AARs ! 
( but very-very sunny in Spain     )
Will read you when I'm back, have good games folks !

[bigjackmac]

Phil - Thank you Sir.

Andy - And thank you, I appreciate that.  It's good to know folks are enjoying them.

Ronan - Ahhh, good for you!  I hope you have a great vacation, I need to take the wife and kids somewhere too!

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 1030 on 2 Feb 1990, and the CLA's F Company, 2nd Airborne Battalion is in the center of the island, in hot pursuit of the regime's 84th Infantry Company, 4th Infantry Battalion, in order to carry out Generalissimo Waraldonez' orders to eliminate the enemy's 4th Infantry Battalion.  F Company has been hot on the heels of fugitives all morning, but lost contact briefly.  The enemy, finding itself up against impassable cliffs (at least in terms of scaling them an opposing force right behind them), and so the 84th Infantry Company digs in to make a last stand against the CLA forces.


So far we've had:
D-Day
1) B Squadron SOF destroyed a radar site in support of amphibious landings at Playa Colorada (5).  B Sqdn then egressed and linked up with CLA rotary wing assets for their follow-on mission in Havana (6).
2) C Squadron SOF destroyed a the Cuban military's communications center.
3) 1st Para Battalion dropped in and seized a bridge to screen the landings at Playa Colorada (5).
4) 2nd Para battalion dropped in and eliminated a Castro-regime garrison to screen the landings at the Bay of Pigs (just west of (4).
5) 1st Marine Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion, made an amphibious assault at Playa Colorada.
6) A Squadron SOF attacked a Castro-regime SAM site near Havana, which failed to clear the way for B Squadron's helo assault into Havana.
7) 2nd Marine Company, 6th Infantry Battalion, landed at the Bay of Pigs then turned east and ran into a strong enemy force, which it handily defeated.
B Company of the UWG pursued and destroyed an enemy garrison in the Escambray Mountains.
9) B Squadron SOF conducted an aerial insertion into Havana to seize a radio station and broadcast news of the invasion.
10) 10th Popular Force Battalion seized and destroyed the Pedroso bridge to protect the Bay of Pigs landing site from the Matanzas garrison.
11) 1st Airborne Infantry Battalion successfully fought off a regime counterattack near the bridge at Sandino, protecting the western (Playa Colorada) landing site from the Pinar del Rio garrison.
12) 6th Infantry Battalion fought through an enemy ambush while pushing inland from the Bay of Pigs landing site.
13) 8th Popular Force Battalion ambushed a mechanized column of the enemy 2nd Armored Battalion, just west of Havana.
14) 2nd Airborne Battalion engaged enemy armored forces of the 6th Armored Battalion in the village of El Rincon, en route to the Bay of Pigs landing site.
15) 4th Infantry Battalion's 1st Air Assault Company conducts an air assault southeast of Sandino to counter enemy mechanized forces of 3rd Infantry Battalion (forcing 1st Airborne Battalion's right flank).
16) 9th Popular Force Battalion conducts a spoiling attack on the regime's 7th Infantry Battalion in the Matanzas garrison.
17) 2nd Air Assault Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, inserts east of El Rincon to block the escape of the regime's 6th Armored Battalion.
18) C Company of the UWG fought a running battle in the Escambray Mountains to delay/halt the regime's 12th Mechanized Battalion moving west.
D+1
19) A Squadron SOF holds off the regime's 2nd Airborne Company, 1st Airborne Battalion at the Radio Station in downtown Havana, while B Squadron SOF and 8th Popular Force Battalion move to reinforce.
20) F Company, 2nd Airborne Battalion, attacks north of Sandino to eliminate the regime's 4th Infantry Battalion.


The opposing forces, with regime troops on the left and CLA troops on the right.  The CLA force is made up of Brits from Pendraken's Falklands Range, while the regime force consists of Argentinians from Pendraken's Falklands Range.  The CLA force has a Command Stand representing Captain Guerrero's HQ section, seven rifle teams, an 81mm mortar team, a .50 cal HMG team, a MILAN ATGM team, and a single leader figure representing their Battalion Commander. The regime force has a Command Stand, five rifle teams, a .50 cal HMG team, and a .30 cal MG team.


Overview, north is up, the cliffs are just off table at top.  The regime troops are dug in at the top, on the north side of the river, which can be crossed only at the two fords (far left and center).  The CLA force is at bottom, fanned  out and moving forward to contact, though they don't know exactly where the enemy line is.

Another fun fight!  To see how it turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-20.html

I didn't play any games this weekend, too much fun with the wife and kids, but I did get some painting in.  I'll try to get some work in progress pics up, just to prove I got something done   Oh, and I have two more batreps to post (leftovers that I haven't written up yet), try to get them up this week too.

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Nice report Jack. Feeling the regime is toitering too.
Viva liberation (before it's too late)!

Where are you rivers from btw?

[Techno]

Very good again, Jack.

Cheers - Phil

[bigjackmac]

Well, it's about time Lemmey!  I knew you'd come around 

Thanks Phil, hope all is well.

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 1300 on 2 Feb 1990, and the CLA's 7th Infantry Battalion has been tracking and hunting the regime's 86th Provincial Militia Company, remnants of the 5th Territorial Infantry Battalion.  7th Infantry Battalion has been levied with a similar order to 2nd Airborne Battalion's; in this case, to find, fix, and destroy the enemy's 5th Territorial Infantry Battalion.  7th Infantry Battalion split its three rifle companies and had been tracking th enemy north of Sandino, in the center of the island, when E Company finally came to grips with them.  Eliminating this enemy unit would clear the center of the island, thereby definitively isolating the withering Castro-regime forces in the west from the powerful forces in the east.


So far we've had:
D-Day
1) B Squadron SOF destroyed a radar site in support of amphibious landings at Playa Colorada (5).  B Sqdn then egressed and linked up with CLA rotary wing assets for their follow-on mission in Havana (6).
2) C Squadron SOF destroyed a the Cuban military's communications center.
3) 1st Para Battalion dropped in and seized a bridge to screen the landings at Playa Colorada (5).
4) 2nd Para battalion dropped in and eliminated a Castro-regime garrison to screen the landings at the Bay of Pigs (just west of (4).
5) 1st Marine Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion, made an amphibious assault at Playa Colorada.
6) A Squadron SOF attacked a Castro-regime SAM site near Havana, which failed to clear the way for B Squadron's helo assault into Havana.
7) 2nd Marine Company, 6th Infantry Battalion, landed at the Bay of Pigs then turned east and ran into a strong enemy force, which it handily defeated.
B Company of the UWG pursued and destroyed an enemy garrison in the Escambray Mountains.
9) B Squadron SOF conducted an aerial insertion into Havana to seize a radio station and broadcast news of the invasion.
10) 10th Popular Force Battalion seized and destroyed the Pedroso bridge to protect the Bay of Pigs landing site from the Matanzas garrison.
11) 1st Airborne Infantry Battalion successfully fought off a regime counterattack near the bridge at Sandino, protecting the western (Playa Colorada) landing site from the Pinar del Rio garrison.
12) 6th Infantry Battalion fought through an enemy ambush while pushing inland from the Bay of Pigs landing site.
13) 8th Popular Force Battalion ambushed a mechanized column of the enemy 2nd Armored Battalion, just west of Havana.
14) 2nd Airborne Battalion engaged enemy armored forces of the 6th Armored Battalion in the village of El Rincon, en route to the Bay of Pigs landing site.
15) 4th Infantry Battalion's 1st Air Assault Company conducts an air assault southeast of Sandino to counter enemy mechanized forces of 3rd Infantry Battalion (forcing 1st Airborne Battalion's right flank).
16) 9th Popular Force Battalion conducts a spoiling attack on the regime's 7th Infantry Battalion in the Matanzas garrison.
17) 2nd Air Assault Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, inserts east of El Rincon to block the escape of the regime's 6th Armored Battalion.
18) C Company of the UWG fought a running battle in the Escambray Mountains to delay/halt the regime's 12th Mechanized Battalion moving west.
D+1
19) A Squadron SOF holds off the regime's 2nd Airborne Company, 1st Airborne Battalion at the Radio Station in downtown Havana, while B Squadron SOF and 8th Popular Force Battalion move to reinforce.
20) F Company, 2nd Airborne Battalion, attacks north of Sandino to eliminate the regime's 4th Infantry Battalion.
21) E Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, attacks north of Sandino to eliminate the regime's 5th Territorial Infantry Battalion.


The opposing forces, with regime troops on the left and CLA on the right.  The CLA force is made up of US troops from Pendraken's Vietnam Range (with an MG from the French of the Indochina Range), and the regime troops are Australian's from Pendraken's Vietnam Range, with RPG teams that are NVA/VC/Vietminh from the Vietnam and Indochina Ranges.

The CLA force has a Command Stand representing Captain Michoacana's HQ section, six rifle teams, an 81mm mortar team, a .30 cal MG team, and a single leader figure representing their Battalion Commander.  The regime force has a Command Stand (regrettably, still a single figure as I still haven't made a 'proper' command stand; probably won't...), four rifle teams, and two RPG teams.


Overview, north is up.  The regime force is in column, moving west to east across the top, while E Company is split into two forces, one led by Colonel Barnejesus (bottom left, southwest), and one led by Captain Michoacana (bottom right, southeast).

The fight went well, with CLA forces winkling out the enemy troops in the center region of the country.  To see how the fight shook out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-21.html

One more fight from D+1 to come, and more fights coming up this weekend.

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

Excellent report again, Jack.

Lacklustre ?......There's bound to be the odd game (or more) that doesn't work out quite as you'd planned.
Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Maybe lacklustre as a senior officer, but I'm sure the grunts were glad of a quiet time!
Nice report Jack!

[bigjackmac]

You guys are right, of course, I just mean that I enjoy the knockdown, drag out fights, and I do my best to post interesting batreps.

But they can't all be great, and it moves the overall story forward, so the show will/must go on! You'll like the next one, I promise

And on a side note, did anyone read the D-Day SITREP? Was it interesting at all, or a waste of time? Did it make sense?

Oh, and it's "lackluster"

V/R,
Jack

[paulr]

Oh, and it's "lackluster"

Only in one part of the world

[Leman]

Just listening to a bit of Salsa on Spotify.

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 1830 on 2 Feb 1990, and the CLA's Unconventional Warfare Group (UWG) sits astride the east-west running routes in the Escambray Mountains.  The UWG has fought like lions, but has suffered terribly from regime attempts to reinforce its units in the west.  The UWG has so far stood its ground, and scouts report to Colonel Huistrella that another enemy formation is approaching, this time in A Company's sector.  The enemy troops are members of the 90th Provincial Militia Company, 10th Territorial Infantry Battalion.


So far we've had:
D-Day
1) B Squadron SOF destroyed a radar site in support of amphibious landings at Playa Colorada (5).  B Sqdn then egressed and linked up with CLA rotary wing assets for their follow-on mission in Havana (6).
2) C Squadron SOF destroyed a the Cuban military's communications center.
3) 1st Para Battalion dropped in and seized a bridge to screen the landings at Playa Colorada (5).
4) 2nd Para battalion dropped in and eliminated a Castro-regime garrison to screen the landings at the Bay of Pigs (just west of (4).
5) 1st Marine Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion, made an amphibious assault at Playa Colorada.
6) A Squadron SOF attacked a Castro-regime SAM site near Havana, which failed to clear the way for B Squadron's helo assault into Havana.
7) 2nd Marine Company, 6th Infantry Battalion, landed at the Bay of Pigs then turned east and ran into a strong enemy force, which it handily defeated.
B Company of the UWG pursued and destroyed an enemy garrison in the Escambray Mountains.
9) B Squadron SOF conducted an aerial insertion into Havana to seize a radio station and broadcast news of the invasion.
10) 10th Popular Force Battalion seized and destroyed the Pedroso bridge to protect the Bay of Pigs landing site from the Matanzas garrison.
11) 1st Airborne Infantry Battalion successfully fought off a regime counterattack near the bridge at Sandino, protecting the western (Playa Colorada) landing site from the Pinar del Rio garrison.
12) 6th Infantry Battalion fought through an enemy ambush while pushing inland from the Bay of Pigs landing site.
13) 8th Popular Force Battalion ambushed a mechanized column of the enemy 2nd Armored Battalion, just west of Havana.
14) 2nd Airborne Battalion engaged enemy armored forces of the 6th Armored Battalion in the village of El Rincon, en route to the Bay of Pigs landing site.
15) 4th Infantry Battalion's 1st Air Assault Company conducts an air assault southeast of Sandino to counter enemy mechanized forces of 3rd Infantry Battalion (forcing 1st Airborne Battalion's right flank).
16) 9th Popular Force Battalion conducts a spoiling attack on the regime's 7th Infantry Battalion in the Matanzas garrison.
17) 2nd Air Assault Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, inserts east of El Rincon to block the escape of the regime's 6th Armored Battalion.
18) C Company of the UWG fought a running battle in the Escambray Mountains to delay/halt the regime's 12th Mechanized Battalion moving west.
D+1
19) A Squadron SOF holds off the regime's 2nd Airborne Company, 1st Airborne Battalion at the Radio Station in downtown Havana, while B Squadron SOF and 8th Popular Force Battalion move to reinforce.
20) 2nd Airborne Battalion, attacks north of Sandino to eliminate the regime's 4th Infantry Battalion.
21) 7th Infantry Battalion, attacks north of Sandino to eliminate the regime's 5th Territorial Infantry Battalion.
22) Colonel Huistrella's Unconventional Warfare Group fight another desperate holding action in the Escambray Mountains, this time against the regime's 10th Territorial Infantry Battalion.


The opposing forces, with regime troops on the left and CLA on the right.  The CLA is comprised of Minifigs modern Australians ('modern' being relative, they look to be Vietnam era), while the regime force is made up of Australians from Pendraken's Vietnam Range, heavy weapons are NVA/VC/Vietminh from Pendraken's Vietnam/Indochina Ranges, and an M8 armored car from Pendraken's WWII Americans Range.

The CLA force has a Command Stand representing Captain Kalabera, six rifle teams, and a single leader figure representing the UWG commander.  The regime force has a Command Stand, six rifle teams, an LMG team, an 82mm mortar team, and an antiquated, yet still functional, M8 Armored Car.


Overview, north is up.  The Castro-force is expecting trouble, so is dismounted and fanned out along the right (east) side of the board.  The CLA force is hiding on the back side of Hill 67, on the left (west) side of the board.  The purpose of this is to avoid observation by enemy elements that could call in air/arty, sort of a micro-reverse slope defense.  But they're ready to spring their ambush, so, at the micro-level they shan't be sitting tight, waiting for the enemy to crest.

Sitting tight would make sense if their goal was a short burst of fire to sow confusion, cause a few casualties, and slow the enemy mechanized force by making them dismount and deploy, then fall back.  But then enemy is already deployed, and the goal is turn back the enemy, not hit and run; operationally, the UWG doesn't have room to fall back, they'd end up in the Cienfuegos garrison.  So, with these short ranges they're better off seizing the initiative and lashing out at the enemy, rather than holding fast and potentially being overrun due to being caught outnumbered at such short range, or (more likely), being fixed in place by ferocious enemy fire at short range, then having enemy armor loop around the flank to eliminate them.


Colonel Huistrella is once again demonstrating personal valor in the face of the enemy, dodging a hail of enemy fire which just put one of his teams out of the fight.

To see how it went, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-22.html

Well, that's the last of the fights on D+1, and the last of the fights I had yet to post.  It's Friday night here, and I'll be looking to get a start on D+2's fights tomorrow morning, posting them when I can, so stay tuned.

I'll also be posting a D+1 SITREP, having already posted the D-Day SITREP.  I'd beg anyone that takes a look to please leave a comment; I did the last one and it doesn't appear to have garnered much attention, and no one said a word about it.  I don't mind doing it if it's interesting/useful to somebody out there, but if it's not, I'm going to stop putting the time in to collect the info and stats, type it up, and post it.

In any case, see ya real soon.

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

Excellent, Jack !
(Oh...and it's centre !) 

Why do we Brits pronounce lieutenant, the way we do ?

Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Good report Jack.
With the level of casualties taken, will the UWG need time to regroup?
Also, the actions so far list on each report is getting very long, is it possible to put a couple of line breaks in to show DDay/D+1 etc?

I know you appear miffed about the lack of comments on the overall reports, but they were good.

[fsn]

Well, I've been enthralled and inspired by the whole thread. Great stuff.

Why do we Brits pronounce lieutenant, the way we do ?

Because we're British! Actually it's because lieutenant comes from "lieu" and "tenant" i.e. "one who holds in place of another", i.e. there for when the Captain gets killed. So the lieutenant held the least prestigious part of the line, the "left", and the usage of the "left-tenant" came into being.

I may have made at least some of that up.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

If not all of it...