Cuba Libre!

[fsn]

Tell you what - those T72's stand out in the camo scheme.

...

Perhaps that's not a good thing? 

[bigjackmac]

Thanks fellas, and I'm eager to get to fight 31 and put an end to the Artemisa/2nd Armored Battalion problem.  They've been a thorn in my side for quite some time now.  I just hope it goes well, unlike the last two fights against them...  


FSN - It's the latest in armored fashion.  Actually, I'm cheap and lazy, so it was my attempt to paint the T-72s, BMPs, and BTRs in something that could be used in both temperate and desert climes, thereby reducing my painting workload and lead expenditures by half.  It works for me, and was more fun than just painting them green.  I can promise you that their paint schemes had no practical effect on the outcome of any game I've played  

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 0945 on 4 Feb 1990, and the CLA's K Company, 10th Popular Force is clashing with elements of the enemy's 43rd Infantry Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, in the streets of eastern Havana.  The regime's 7th Infantry Battalion was in the Matanzas garrison, east of Havana, being screened by the CLA's 9th and 10th Popular Force Battalions, but the enemy infantry launched an attack out of Matanzas, sacrificing a rifle company to free the other two to push into Havana to reinforce the depleted enemy 1st Airborne Battalion.  But upon arriving, the regime's 7th Infantry Battalion ran square into strong CLA forces in central Havana (SOF B and 8th Popular Force Battalion), and found themselves trapped between them and the CLA's pursuing 10th Popular Battalion (from the east).

The enemy 7th Infantry Battalion called upon heavy artillery, which ranged in on 10th Popular Battalion, who, in turn, called in close air support from CLA F-4 Phantoms, which raced in to drop strings of Mk82 500-pound bombs on the regime infantry.  The enemy's 7th Infantry Battalion managed to break contact with the CLA's 8th Popular Force Battalion (to the west), but found itself under attack by the CLA's 10th Popular Force Battalion from the east.


The opposing forces in an all infantry fight, with CLA on the right and regime forces on the left.  The CLA is made up of Pendraken Brit and Argentinian SOF from the Falklands range, with Vietminh/VC from Pendraken's Vietnam range as the weapons team.  The regime force is made up of Argentinians from Pendraken's Falklands range.

The CLA force has Captain Fulgencio's Command Stand, five rifle stands, an LMG stand, and single leader figure representing their Battalion Commander.  The regime force has a Command Stand, five rifle stands, and a MMG team.


Overview of the map, north is up.  CLA is at bottom right (southeast), with battle damage (from enemy artillery and CLA air support) to the streets of eastern Havana readily apparent.  I set the CLA up in their starting positions with the enemy on blinds (poker chips).  I don't usually show this, but this is how I set the game up 99% of the time, which hopefully explains why you may see enemy deployments that you think are kind of silly.  About 60% of the time I also use some sort of random set up for the CLA, though I didn't in this one (I just gave them very minimal space).


An all infantry fight, so no rockets flying about in this one either.  In this pic,things are going so badly that the enemy CO has decided to push forward in the northeast, pushing the CLA troops back to their own baseline! 

To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/08/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-28.html

This was really a fantastic fight, tons of fun.  I still have one more fight to write up and post, so stay tuned.

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

Another excellent report, Jack. 
Lovely sharp pictures, as always, too !

(I was going to make a comment about using the poker chips in the early shots..."See you had a full house to start with, Jack ".....But I won't bother.)

Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Nice report Jack, heck of a scrap!

[bigjackmac]

Thanks Phil; I usually leave the shots with poker chips out so as to avoid bad attempts at humor     
But they are key to how I go about playing my solo games; just a way to try to surprise myself.

And thanks to you, too, Lemmey.  The back and forth on the right side was epic, should be commemorated in song

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 1100 on 4 Feb 1990, and the CLA's 2nd Marine Rifle Company, 6th Infantry Battalion, supported by tanks of 3rd Troop, 5th Tank Battalion, are conducting the final assault to destroy the regime's 6th Armored Battalion and secure the central city of Cienfuegos.

This is a major step in the CLA's operations to overthrow the Castro regime; in the west, the CLA has advanced and, minus a few regime holdouts in Artemisa (just west of Havana), has the weak remaining regime forces in Havana in a vice.  While powerful regime forces remain on the eastern end of the island, they are shielded off by strong CLA forces posted across the center of the island, and the fall of Cienfuegos is a powerful military and morale blow to the Castro regime.


The opposing forces, with CLA on the right and regime on the left.  The CLA is made up of US infantry from Pendraken's Vietnam range, with plastic Takara tanks, while the regime force is comprised of Argentinians from Pendraken's Falklands range.

The CLA force has Captain Spirovales's Command Stand, six rifle stands, two M-48A5 tanks, and single leader figure representing their Battalion Commander.  The regime force has a Command Stand, five rifle teams, a MILAN Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) team, and an 82mm mortar team.  After participating in four fights previously, this armored battalion finds itself with no remaining serviceable vehicles.


Overview of map, north is up, with a stream (fordable by infantry but not vehicles) running north-south and bridges at center (road) and top center) railroad).  The CLA is on the left (west), coming out of the city's downtown into the regime's final line of defense in the suburbs of Cienfuegos.  The poker chips are enemy blinds (black are infantry and infantry dummies, while the white chips represent the ATGM and ATGM dummies).


Rockets were back in full force, seen here a MILAN fires on Captain Basilone's tank.  To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/08/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-29.html

This fight was another beast, with the CLA awarding its third Medall de Honor (their highest award for gallantry).  I'm looking to wrap up the Cuba Libre 'War of Liberation' this weekend, then start another modern project/campaign.

V/R,
Jack

[FierceKitty]

The one who devised the pipe-cleaner rocket-trail should be commemorated in some way. A statue somewhere, perhaps.

[Techno]

Great report, again, Jack.

Have a good 'mini break'.'
Cheers - Phil

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Superb Jack!

[bigjackmac]

FK - Amen, they do look cool, don't they?  I bought them from "Fight's On!" for air gaming, but then thought, 'why not try them for my 10mm stuff?'

Phil - Thank you Sir.  We actually took the vacation last weekend, I'm just late catching up writing and posting batreps...

Lemmey - Thanks man, glad you liked it.

V/R,
Jack

[Matt J]

I know I don't post much but love reading your AAR's Jack, keep 'em coming.

Matt

[bigjackmac]

Hey Matt, thank you Sir, I really appreciate you saying so.

So if you'll send me some of your gorgeously painted minis, I'll gladly get them on the table and post some batreps with them

V/R,
Jack

[ronan]

Hello Jack.
May I suggest something on your overall map ? Use colors for the won / lost fights ?

Thank you for posting ( I read all you post but didn't post myself. But you know we're here, waiting for your BatReps !  )

[bigjackmac]

Thanks Ronan, it's always good to see you buddy!

I'll try to use different colors for future campaigns, but I'm not going back and changing 30 fights for Cuba Libre!

I played three games of Cuba Libre this weekend, finishing the War of Liberation!  Cuba Libre!!!  I won!

Now I'm getting ready for my next big project.  And writing up the battle reports...

V/R,
Jack