Cuba Libre!

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 0515 on 1 Feb 1990, and the CLA SOF'S C Squadron has been dispatched to destroy a key regime Communications Center aboard a military base in Santiago de Cuba, at the east end of the island.


The protagonists: a Command stand, four SOF Teams, 2 Popular Force teams, and an 84mm Carl Gustav rocket team.

The target is the Communications Center for the entire Cuban Army, located deep in the heart of the Santiago de Cuba Army base.  The SOF teams are infiltrating the Cuban Army base with assistance of local Popular Force members of the CLA, who are co-optees that are civilian workers and members of the Cuban Army stationed at Santiago de Cuba.  The SOF teams infiltrated Cuba months ago, and are now set to be smuggled aboard the military base in 'borrowed' Cuban Army trucks.


The antagonists: members of the 31st Infantry Company, 9th Cuban Infantry Battalion, responsible for physical security of the Cuban Army Communications Center, which has its own perimeter within the confines of the military installation.  They have a Command Stand, five rifle teams, an HMG team, and an MMG team.


Overview, north is up.  The Comm Center is at top center, with the Command Post at top right.  At top, the bunkers are, from left to right, Bunkers 1, 2, and 3.  At the southern end of the table are three Cuban Army barracks, left to right, Barracks 1, 2, and 3.  The CLA SOF are at bottom left, entering in three Cuban Army trucks.  The MMG team is in B1, the HMG in B2, with rifle teams in the Comm Center and B3 and the Command Stand next to the Comm Center.  The three remaining regime rifle teams will enter the board at random locations once the shooting starts.


The CLA forces steel closer to their objective...


Then spring from their trucks onto the unsuspecting garrison.  A short, sharp firefight ensues.

To see the whole fight, pleas check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-2.html

More to come.

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

Another very comprehensive report, Jack. 
Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Good one Jack!

[bigjackmac]

Thanks Phil and Lemmey, I'm working on the next one.

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 0530 on 1 Feb 1990, and A Airborne Infantry Company, 1st CLA Airborne Battalion, has been dispatched to seize a key bridge east of Sandino (on the western end of the island), held by elements of the 24th Provincial Militia Company, 3rd Cuban Infantry Battalion.  The regime forces are occupying emplacements on both sides of the river, and the CLA Airborne troopers are attacking from all points of the compass.


This is battle 3 of the fight for Cuba.

In the overall scheme of things, CLA SOF Squadron B took out a radar site on the west end of the island (1) to help screen the advance of the troopships carrying 3rd Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Battalion, and 5th Armored Battalion, scheduled to land on the western end of the island in the La Fe area.  Almost simultaneously, CLA SOF Squadron C took out a Cuban military communications center (2) on the eastern end of the island, in order to hamper C4ISR for the Cuban military.  Now 1st Parachute Battalion is dropping east of La Fe in order to screen the landings in the west from the Cuban garrison at Pinar del Rio.  In this fight, A Company, 1st Abn Bn, is attempting to seize a key bridge in order to block Cuban Army forces from Pinar del Rio attacking the beachead, and then to enable 5th Armored Battalion's route of attack on Havana.


Elements of A Co, 1st Abn Bn: Command Stand (Captain Olejandro), six Airborne rifle teams, an HMG team, and a MILAN team.  Additionally, there is a single leader figure on the board, representing Colonel Bartolo Lucastro, Commanding Officer of the CLA's 1st Airborne Infantry Battalion.  His figure will basically be treated as a second command stand, able to assist any friendly unit on the table.


Elements of the 24th Provincial Militia Company, 3rd Cuban Infantry Battalion: a Command Stand (forgive me, I'm using a single figure stand as I don't have a 'proper' Command Stand for this force), three rifle teams, three rifle teams with RPGs, and pickup truck-mounted 12.7mm HMG.


Overview, north is up.  The regime garrison is at center, sitting astride the river, and CLA paratroopers are in all four corners.


The fighting at Bunker 1 was legendary.

A great fight, really a back-and forth affair that was only sealed due to the gallantry and combat leadership of...  Well, you'll have to check out the batrep at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-3.html

Two more fights to write up and post.

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

Very good again, Jack. 
Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Another cool one! 

[bigjackmac]

Thanks fellas, glad you like them.

I thought the Pendraken Falklands range Brits looked fantastic, if I do say so myself 😃

V/R,
Jack

[ronan]

 

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 0545 on 1 Feb 1990, and E Airborne Infantry Company, 2nd CLA Airborne Battalion, has been dispatched to seize a key hilltop position near El Rincon (on Hwy 122, just east  of the Bay of Pigs), held by elements of the 89th Provincial Militia Company, 5th Territorial Infantry Battalion.


In the overall scheme of things, CLA SOF Squadrons B and C have stricken blows to degrade regime C4ISR capabilities, and 1st Para Bn dropped in the west to shield the west landing site at Playa Colorada, and now 2nd Para Bn is dropping near El Rincon, just east of the Bay of Pigs, to shield the Bay of Pigs landing site from the Cuban Cienfuegos garrison.

Highway 122 is the key artery running along the coast, east-west into the Bay of Pigs.  The Cuban 5th Territorial Infantry Battalion has forces overlooking the Highway just east of the town of El Rincon, and E Company, 2nd Para Bn, is tasked seizing this position.  Failure to do so will leave the route open for attack on the landing beaches.


The E Company Paratroopers: Command Stand (Captain Halabrio), five Airborne rifle teams, an 81mm mortar, a MILAN ATGM team, and a single leader figure representing Colonel Salvino Carreno, 2nd Airborne Infantry Battalion, Commanding Officer.

The pro-Castro force: Command Stand, six rifle stands, two LMG stands, and a dedicated RPG stand (three of the rifle stands also have RPGs).


Overview, north is up.  The enemy force is in the north, the CLA paras in the south.  The objective is Hill 81 at top left.  Please note the civilians on the battlefield.


Captain Halabrio's command section rushes to usher the innocent civilians out of the line of fire (top right), while Para Team 1 lays down heavy fire (bottom right).

Overall, another great game, which came within a whisker of Colonel Carreno ordering Captain Halabrio to withdraw his men to regroup.  See the entire batrep here:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-4.html

One more batrep yet to come, so stay tuned.

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

 

Good report, again, Jack !
Cheers - Phil

[Womble67]

Hi jack I really like the look of your table scenery etc.  And enjoyed your battle report.

Take care

Andy

[bigjackmac]

Thanks Phil and Andy, I'm working on #5, should have it up today.

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 0600 on 1 Feb 1990, and 1st Marine Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion, has been tasked with a forced entry operation, coming over the beach at Playa Colorada (on the western end of the island), held by elements of the 27th Infantry Company, 3rd Cuban Infantry Battalion.  Unfortunately for the Marines, the enemy was tipped off by local fishermen regarding the strange ships lying close off shore, and so the regime forces are ready and waiting when the Marines arrive.


In the overall scheme of things, CLA SOF Squadron B knocked out a radar site (1) in an attempt to mask the landing force, but local fishermen warned the regime forces, elements of the enemy 3rd Infantry Battalion, of the foreign ships, and so the enemy at Playa Colorada (5) are waiting for the CLA Marines.  2nd Para Bn has already dropped and seized a key bridge (3) to protect the beachhead from the enemy's Pinar del Rio garrison just to the east.


The Marine landing force: Command Stand, six rifle teams, a SMAW team, a 60mm mortar team, a light machine gun team (what the hell?  I don't see them in the pic), and a single leader figure representing the Battalion commander.

The enemy force, Cuban Army regulars of the 27th Infantry Company.  They're ready and willing, but are hurt by a lack of dedicated anti-armor weapons.  They have a Command Stand, six rifle stands (three with RPG attachments), an MG team, and an 82mm mortar team.


The battlefield, north is left, with the Marines landing from the west (bottom) and the regime force defending in the east (top).  The enemy is dug in and ready.


Track 3 hits a @#$% landmine; inconceivable! To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-5.html

I played three more games today (Saturday), so more to come.

V/R,
Jack

[petercooman]

Nice report!

Board looked fine to me!