Operation Currahee, into South Leon

[bigjackmac]

Uh-oh...

Hey, this wasn't my idea! If you recall, a couple years ago I posted here looking for help with campaign background, and I took what was provided.  You know, South Leon, capital of Pendrakenville, bad guys are FSNL, etc..

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Sooo many innuendos, so little time!

Nice report Jack. 

[Techno]

Another goody ! 

Cheers - Phil

[bigjackmac]

Thanks fellars!  Next fight coming right up.

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 0750 on 27 July 1990 and Operation Geronimo has kicked off.  The parachute landing went smoothly and Lt Espinale's E Co, 6th Para, AKA Task Force Hawk, quickly formed up and began pushing east, clearing the area of enemy forces and moving to blocking positions to screen the amphibious landings scheduled for later this morning.  Earlier the TF Hawk commander, Lt Espinale, ran into enemy forces, insurgents of the Free Leon Army (FLA).  The Cubans suffered two very serious casualties, but killed six FLA soldiers, captured one, and destroyed a Technical, thus opening the route east.  Then TF Hawk continued east towards its blocking positions, coming across a farm south of the main route that needed to be cleared.  Lt Espinale ordered Lt Gonzalez to prepare to clear the farm, but first Lt Candelario was tasked to continue further east to clear some high ground that would threaten Lt Gonzalez' assault on the farm.  But Lt Candelario and his men ran into a buzz saw, taking heavy casualties from the high ground and a heavy machine gun mounted on a Technical on the north end of the farm.  Lt Candelario and his few remaining men, shocked at the ferocity of the FLA insurgents' resistance, fell back into a hasty defensive perimeter and got on the radio to plead for help.

The commander, Lt Espinale, ordered Lt Gonzalez to assault the farm immediately.  "But Sir, that high ground is still in enemy hands, we'll get torn to pieces."  "I know, but Candelario is about to be overrun, we've got to do something now.  You assault the farm, and as soon as you've got the compound under your control I'll push through on your right to secure the high ground and relieve Candelario and his men.  If you can take the north end of the farm, great, if not, we'll handle it.  But I need you moving as quickly as possible to take that compound."  "Roger, Sir."


Overview, north is RIGHT.  The objective, the farm compound is at left/top left, with a small fish farming pond at top center, and the north end of the farm (with the Technical) at top center right.  The southern high ground, known as Point 2, is at bottom right, with the canal running north-south (right-left) from the fish farm to the far right.

Lt Gonzalez' men will enter at bottom left, their mission to take the farm compound and, if possible, silence the Technical at the north end.  The bad guys will have a group of riflemen (amount unknown) in the farming compound, but they'll also have a rifleman in north end of the farm (he can fire on Lt Gonzalez' men, but the Technical's HMG is firing off screen to the north -right-, keeping Lt Candelario's men pinned down), and the bad guys have a light machine gun atop Point 2.  It will be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to kill the enemy soldiers on Point 2 and in the north end of the farm.


Here is a new set of buildings I picked up for Christmas, from Crescent Root Studios.  That's also where I got the trees and hedges; they're awesome!!!


The Cuban assault element manages to push onto the objective (top right), but the base of fire element is getting its butt handed to it by flanking fire from Point 2 (off camera to bottom left) and the north end of the farm (bottom right).  Can they do it?  Can they take and hold the objective, relieving pressure on Lt Candelario's beleaguered force long enough for Lt Espinale to pass through and assault the high ground?  Check the blog to find out:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2018/02/operation-geronimo-3.html

I'll do my best to get the fourth fight posted tomorrow night, but I'm a bit behind and can't promise...

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

You've been stacking these up Jack! Nice report, great fun.

[Techno]

+1 

Cheers - Phil

[fred.]

Nice looking table Jack, the new terrain is good.

[bigjackmac]

Thanks guys, it's been lots of fun for me too.

My issue now is whether to play some more of these this weekend, or kick off WWIII with my Wolverines.

V/R,
Jack

[Steve J]

Excellent looking games and AARs as always Jack . What rules are you using because I've completely forgotten!!!

[bigjackmac]

Steve,

Thanks, and I'm using a modified version of Ivan Sorensen's "Five Men at Kursk."  I'm a big fan of the 5Core system, approaching 200 fights at skirmish, platoon, and company level.

V/R,
Jack

[Steve J]

Hi Jack,
thanks for letting me know .
Steve J.

[d_Guy]

Late to the party, but as always, Jack, your games have great visual appeal and snappy accompanying narrative. Well done. 

[bigjackmac]

Thanks guys, and always happy to see you Guy, whenever you show up!

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's 0805 on 27 July 1990 and Operation Geronimo has kicked off.  The parachute landing went smoothly and Lt Espinale's E Co, 6th Para, AKA Task Force Hawk, quickly formed up and began pushing east, clearing the area of enemy forces and moving to blocking positions to screen the amphibious landings scheduled for later this morning.  So far this morning Lt Espinale was pushing east and ran into contact, clearing the route with a couple casualties.  Then the Task Force approached a farm that needed to be cleared, and Lt Espinale detailed Lt Gonzalez to take the farm, but he was worried about some high ground a bit further east, so he sent Lt Candelario forward to take the high ground, and after that was done he'd send Lt Gonzalez to take the farm.  But Lt Candelario's troops got shot to pieces and had to hole up and call for help, in danger of being overrun. 

Lt Espinale immediately launched Lt Gonzalez' attack on the farm in order to relieve pressure on Lt Candelario's men; Lt Gonzalez' attack succeeded but, as predicted, with the high ground in enemy hands, they suffered mightily.  But now the farm is in Cuban hands, Lt Espinale is leading his men forward to take the high ground and rescue Lt Candelario and his men.


Overview, north is up.  The northern edge of the farm is at bottom center, while just right of it is a canal running north-south.  At top right and far right is the troublesome high ground Lt Candelario's group was supposed to take (Point 1 at top right and Point 2 at far right).  The dirt road runs from far left to top center right; there are a few cultivated fields throughout the area, as well as some boulder-strewn patches of rough ground, as well as a few stands of trees and plenty of bushes.

Lt Candelario's survivors are huddled at top center left, just left of the canal, while Lt Espinale's men are entering the table in the southeast (bottom right).  Lt Gonzalez' men took the farm compound, just off camera to bottom center left, but that damn Technical (bottom center) is still hammering away from the north end of the farm, Lt Gonzalez' men were exhausted from their fight and simply couldn't get to the north end.  Lt Espinale's men need to whack all the bad guys and save their comrades in the north.


A Cuban rifleman (bottom center) catches a pair of insurgents crossing the road (top center) and opens fire.  To see how the operation concluded, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2018/02/operation-geronimo-4.html

So, that series of fights was a lot of fun for me.  I kinda want to play more, but I've got too much other things going on, and this isn't the end of TF Hawk, just the beginning. This was simply to set the stage for some other stuff I want to do with them (this ties into the 10mm Modern French stuff I just bought and posted on Blackhawkhet: http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2018/02/some-progress-but-not-there-yet.html ).

Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and stay tuned, more fights on the way.

V/R,
Jack

[Steve J]

Excellent stuff once again Jack. It really makes me want to get some small skirmish games in just like this!

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Wow, busy time!

[bigjackmac]

Great, Steve, I hope you dive in and post them here!

Lemmey - Absolutely!

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

Great, as always, Jack.

Cheers - Phil

[bigjackmac]

Thanks Phil!

V/R,
Jack