Vietnam Skirmish Campaign

[ronan]

Good AAR again, Jack !

Ideas ?
May be they should be sent in a "quiet" area, where they'll have to watch for some disguised bombers among the villagers ? ( not so many fights, but in a street or a check point, they must be careful with the civilians...

And for the 'too many PH', may be some checks on your list should be "mental wounds", ie suffering from battle fatigue. Recovering quickly, or becoming very affected..

just my two cents,
thank you again !

[bigjackmac]

PaulR - "Fudging Paperwork" Whatever it takes to win  

Ronan - Thanks, this has me thinking of a bridge-guarding scenario with civilian traffic.

All,

Holy cow, I've had quite the wargaming weekend!  The wife and kids were tied up both days in little munchkin birthday parties, which I fiendishly ducked, and so I got five (FIVE!) more fights in this weekend!  Here's the first one.

Following the bloody QRF mission to save the LRRPs on Thanksgiving, the squad had a few days to regroup, recover, then get back into light patrolling.  The day after Thanksgiving, another Huey was shot down near the Cambodian border, then everything went quiet, no contact for several days.  On a hunch, the Brigade S-3 (Operations Officer) threw a few patrols back to the east, and trouble was immediately found.  Particularly perplexing was the fact the brigade was not only running into the customary local VC, but several NVA had been killed or captured.  What are they doing to the east of us, particularly so near the scheduled Christmas cease fire?  The ARVN, to the north at Kham Duc, are reporting a buildup to their south as well.

The brigade has been pushing patrols further and further east, trying to determine the extent of the problem.  It's 7 December 1967 and the squad is on point towards the village of Kao San, pretty much at the eastern edge of the brigade's area of operations, heading in the direction of the two other major US bases, Kontum and An Khe.  The squad is on point for all of Alpha Company, having just rotated up front.  It's approximately 0930, and they've been on the move since 0645.


Overview, north is up, with village of Kao San at top center.  The squad is entering the board on the trail at bottom, with their pointman almost halfway up the board.  You can see NVA spread all over the top left and right/top right sides of the board, all starting unspotted.


Kao San, sporting a couple rifles, a 12.7mm HMG, and an 82mm mortar.  Looks like the NVA are not only ready for a fight, they're looking for a fight...


The initial set up, with only part of the squad on the table.  Kruczek (top right) is on point, diddy-bopping up the trail, followed by Sgt Russell, Brown (w/M-60), and Bradshaw.  Russell: "Hey, dumbass, get off the trail."  "Wha???"

The fight is on, and it's bloody.  We lose another friend, and this battle...

Features fire missions (yes, things quickly got out of hand and the squad needed help!).

To see the batrep, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/06/in-country-game-13-7-dec-1967.html

V/R,
Jack

[paulr]

Holy cow, I've had quite the wargaming weekend!  The wife and kids were tied up both days in little munchkin birthday parties, which I fiendishly ducked, and so I got five (FIVE!) more fights in this weekend!  Here's the first one.

V/R,
Jack

Five!!!!! I thought I was doing bloody well with 3 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Cool report!

[Techno]

Great stuff again, Jack.
Cheers - Phil

[bigjackmac]

All,

It's the evening of January 3, 1969 and everything is going swimmingly.  The holiday has been joyously quiet, despite all the intel officers screaming about an NVA buildup to the east.  Then combat erupts throughout the length of the country, with NVA and VC cooperating to attack dozens of US and ARVN bases.

The Brigade's planners have been gearing up for a series of operations to clear west of Dak To all the way to the Cambodian border, to reassert their dominance, so to speak.  Alpha Company is once again expected to lead the way, so they are not manning the defense perimeter at Dak To, they are sleeping peacefully in their beds.  Due to its size and importance, no one really ever thought the NVA/VC would attack Dak To, but that's exactly what happened: at 0330 sappers struck, blowing holes in the wire and disabling Claymores, tripflares, and Fugas.  Simultaneously, 122mm and 130mm howitzers (yes, artillery), along with 107mm rockets, rained down for 15 minutes on Dak To, while the NVA assault battalions pushed through the holes created by the sappers.  Alpha Company stood to as a QRF, with platoons being sent off as needed to plug holes in the perimeter.  At 0430 it was the squad's turn, and they rushed forward to seal another breach.


Overview, north is up.  Far right is main gate, with Bunkers 1, 2, and 3 top to bottom.  To left of Bunker1 is a command post bunker, which is on fire; to its left is an arty position of two 105mm howitzers.  At top left is a truck park, and just below it is the Base Operations Center.  Bottom left is the beginning of the helo revetments, with a CH-47 sitting there.  To its right is the Flight Operations Center.  Between Flight Ops and Bunker3 is an ammo bunker and a communications bunker, both burning.  Two NVA teams are moving forward about halfway east to west, with a number of VC milling around behind them.  There are downed Americans and Vietnamese everywhere, but that's not the squad's concern: there mission is to evict the intruders and seal the perimeter off.  The squad is entering at bottom left at the Chinook.  It's pitch black except for the burning buildings, so spotting is affected, and everyone is starting unspotted.


Arty and CP bunker, with four NVA moving forward.


Ammo (left) and Comm (right) bunkers burning, with NVA moving up.


Perimeter bunkers (left to right, 1-3), with VC milling about.


The squad moving forward, not knowing exactly what's out there but knowing the enemy is there.

And the fight is on!  Please check the blog to see how it goes:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/06/in-country-game-14-4-january-1968.html

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

Operation Heartbeat City is under way.  The Brigade (-) moved north and dug into two mutually supporting firebases, linking up with troops from the 25th Infantry Division as well.  25th ID is moving on Kham Duc, which the NVA have wrested from the ARVN, from the north, west, and south, but having a rough time as the enemy is continuing to reinforce from the west.  1st Battalion's task is to take up blocking positions to the west of Kham Duc, to seal NVA outsiders out and keep the NVA in Kham Duc trapped there.  To maximize speed and shock, the battalion will be heli-lifted into position, but there are two big problems.

First, because of the speed of the operation, no physical recon has been carried out, so no one has any idea regarding what shape the LZs are in, nor do they have any clue as to enemy dispositions.  To help offset this, gunship support will be stripped from the priority (support to 25th ID attacking Kham Duc) to prep the LZ, but will then revert to 25th ID.

The other problem is that, because the whole country has lit up, there isn't enough airlift to get the whole battalion in at once.  The squad is once again at the tip of the spear, and they land in the initial wave with about half of Alpha Company, but they land in the center of the NVA so it's pretty much every squad for itself...


Overview, North is up.  This is Highway 14 (I made that up, don't look for it on a real map) running east/west, and it heads west (left) straight into Kham Duc.  There is a small hamlet at far right, and the LZ is at bottom center.  You can see NVA and VC all along the top of the board.


NVA in the northwest.


VC in the north, a couple rifles with four porter teams bringing up heavy weapons (mortars/MGs).


And NVA in the northeast, all moving west to reinforce their comrades in Kham Duc.


The squad's helo, inbound.


The bird touches down and Banaszak leads them out: from far left, Sgt Malone leading Team 1 to the left (replacement for Sgt Russell, KIA; Malone is a 'real' NCO, not 'Shake and Bake,' returned for his 2nd tour in the 'Nam), Bradley (w/M-60, now a S&D4), Bradshaw (if he keeps it up I'm going to make him S&D4), Thomas, and Kruczek, then Sgt Banaszak in the middle, with replacements Abercrombie and Hinkle, Clack, Kolb, and Sgt Ham leading Team 2 to the right.


The fight starts with Bradley (using his S&D4) sprinting north, flopping prone, and getting the Pig in action, putting a VC rifleman down and laying some stress on the nearby porters.


Banaszak sprints left to the top of the knoll (bottom center, with Thomas to his left and Malone to his right); because I wanted him to fire (he missed), I had to forgo him going prone, thus making him harder to hit.  Was this a mistake, a tactical error?

To find out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/06/in-country-game-15-7-january-1968.html

Hope you like it guys.

V/R,
Jack

[Techno]

  again, Jack !
Cheers - Phil

[toxicpixie]

It's game over man, it's freakin' game over; the Sarge is down!

Ouch :S

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Noooo not Banaszak!

[bigjackmac]

All,

Yeah, losing Banaszak made me want to stop playing this damn campaign, but life (and the tiny little war) go on...

It's the morning of 8 January 1968, and the squad is hurting, but there's a job to do.  They're leading the assault into the NVA-held town of Kham Duc.  To accomplish this task they've been reinforce with armor from the 25th Infantry Divison.  The squad has one M-48 and two M-113s in direct support.  Bravo and Charlie Companies are in blocking position to the east on Hwy 14, sealing off any support from the outside, while Alpha punches into the city from the east.  Due to heavy casualties, the 25th is taking an 'operational pause' to regroup and reorganize in the north, west, and south.

Sgt Malone, now running the show, rounds the men up and gets them ready.


Overview, north is up.  The east edge of Kham Duc is at far left, and is occupied by the enemy.  The NVA also have infantry at top (north) and bottom (south) center, while the squad enters from the right (east), right down Hwy 14.


In Kham Duc, a recoiless rifle team (it looks funny, you see two heads because the gunner and assistant are practically on top of each other).


On the north side of Hwy 14, Kruczek, Thomas (w/M-79), Hinkle, and Bradley (w/M-60).  Sgt Malone is on the road behind the tank.  I don't usually put unit markings on my vehicles because I like to use them for various units/periods, but I couldn't help myself.  If you look at the M-113 you can see my feeble attempt at the 25th ID's "Electric Strawberry." (the vehicles look kinda goofy as I haven't given them a wash yet)


South side of Hwy 14: Bradshaw (now S&D4), Kolb, and Abercrombie.  Kolb has been in enough fights to be S&D4, so has Thomas, but they've both been so shaky.  That is, fantastic one mission, then break your heart the next...


The fight starts with the enemy recoiless rifle (bottom center firing on the tank, and missing by a hair.


Then the south NVA slam an RPG into the M-113 there.  Bradshaw goes prone and, amazingly (I've been notoriously bad at spotting rolls for the squad in past games), spots the NVA on the hill.  For this he receives a bunch of NVA fire, though it all misses.  Then the ridiculous strikes again; the third NVA rifleman on the hill opens up, puts Kolb down and seriously wounds Abercrombie.  @#$%!!!  The track tests and decides to sit tight and think things over (yes, I believe in having vehicles make morale tests too)...

For the rest of the story, please check the blog:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/06/in-country-game-16-8-january-1968.html

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Another good report, sounds like the time is right to have another game and come back to these heros later!

Keep up these great reports sir.

[bigjackmac]

All,

Thanks Lemmey, I'm trying to keep up the fight, but real life is taking over.  I'll do what I can!

After fighting their way into Kham Duc yesterday then falling back to the battalion position, the boys were not happy.  They were even less happy when they were told they would be again leading the advance, this time from the south.  Seems the NVA had (somehow?) reinforced the eastern end of Kham Duc, so the headshed decided to change things up. "Why are we leading from the South, I thought that was 25th ID's?"  "It was, but they're pretty beat up, so we're taking over the South as well."

The "squad" is gearing up, and I'm using the term loosely as it's down to an attached tank, Sgt Malone, Hinkle, Bradley, Bradshaw, Thomas, and Kruczek.  Bradley: "Hey Sarge, I'm not one to complain, but it seems that, if the six of us are the spearhead, maybe high command ain't all that serious about this attack.  You ever hear those stories about troop is short, s'posed to go out on patrol, just head out the wire about 100 yards and laager up?"  Malone looked at him, "No, never heard of it."

This was kind of a silly little scenario I quickly drew up.  Not silly as in implausible, I'm sure most every US grunt that served in Vietnam experienced something similar.  It's just that, like real life, it's very demoralizing, nothing good can come from it, you can't win.  And I wish I hadn't done it.

So, here's the situation.  The squad's task is to probe from the south, north into Kham Duc, contact and identify the enemy main line of resistance.  The squad will report back and, depending on the situation, Brigade will direct them to push ahead (and reinforce the effort) and assault Kham Duc, or, direct them to stand fast and direct the employment of supporting fires (air and arty).

The squad moved west to the staging area before dawn, and crossed the line of departure at 0635, with the rest of 1st Platoon in trail.  The south is different than the east in that there is no cover, only several kilometers of rice paddies flanked by the occasional sparse treeline.  "Holy @#$%," exclaims Bradshaw, "we need to go back.  I don't care how many Commies they have over there on the east side of town, at least they have trees and @#$%!"  Malone's reply: "Saddle up!"


Overwview, north is right (west is up).  The squad enters from the left (south), with the goal being to exit off the right baseline.  The only enemy on the board is a sniper in the top right corner, and he will be almost impossible to spot, and the enemy also has an off-board 82mm mortar.


The dastardly, bush-whackin' enemy sniper, hidden and prone.


The squad, looking south, left to right: Hinkle, Bradley, Sgt Malone (on road behind tank), Bradshaw, Thomas, and Kruczek.


Fight starts on the left: sniper fires, and Thomas (center) stumbles, lightly wounded.

And it's on!  For the rest of the fight, please check:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/06/in-country-game-17-9-january-1968.html

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Holy Tamoly! 
What a frustrating mission! The squad must be on nearly 80% replacements by now... That's really going to sink morale. How frustrating for the boys. At least they snaffled a sniper.

[FierceKitty]

I was in 'Nam, boy. Where were you?

Which said, no Vietnam game does justice to the real trauma that is 'Nam. There you are, Charlie coming at you left and right, motor bikes, rickshaws, taxis....hell, I tell you, hell!

[ronan]

Good AAR as usual !

I like your terrain, very realistic :

[bigjackmac]

All,

If you've seen the advertisement for the just-released rules, "Some Corner of a Foreign Field," all of these battle reports were done using them, I was a play-tester.

It's mid-morning, January 10, 1968.  After their probe from the south yesterday, the squad was relieved by members of the 25th ID, then pulled back to their battalion positions in the east.  The remainder of the day and all night saw US air and artillery pound Kham Duc.  The squad replacements, but the Brigade is so short of bodies that SFC Bleier is sent back down to command the squad, and they're still two bodies short!

Nevertheless, they are on point once again, leading the attack into Kham Duc from the east (25th ID is pressuring from north, west, and south).  The squad has two M-48s and two M-113s attached, but that's because enemy resistance is expected to be very tough once again.  And it was...


Overview, north is up, squad enters on the right, NVA own the rest of the map.


NVA to the north of the crossroads; there is a 12.7mm HMG in the top building, and an RPG in the ruins just below it.  All other NVA in the picture have rifles.


NVA  to the south of the crossroads.  Position at top right has an RPG, all others are rifles.


NVA at the west end (far left): top left is an 82mm mortar, top right are rifles, and bottom center is a recoiless rifle.


Looking east at the squad, just coming onto the board.  From left: Nickerson (replacement that ran last fight), Sgt Malone (been here for about three missions), Hoge (with M-60, brand new replacement), Worley (brand new replacement), Kruczek (been around a few missions), Bradley (been around awhile, started as a Sgt, busted down due to cowardice, worked his way back up, very reliable as the M-60 gunner of late, just worked himself back into a team leader position), Brister (brand new replacement), and Lipps (brand new replacement).


Things didn't go very well.  Scratch that, it was a royal ass-whoopin,' the likes of which I hadn't seen previously (in this campaign).

For the rest, check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/06/in-country-game-18-10-jan-1968.html

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Ouch!
Just...
Ouch!

[toxicpixie]

"The squad has two M-48s and two M-113s attached"

Oh dear... you know it's going to be bad when you have heavy support attached, let alone such large amounts...

[bigjackmac]

All,

I am returned!  Albeit, in a much reduced capacity.  The wife and baby are doing great, we're all just tired, and I haven't really gotten anything done regarding gaming (damned kids!).  I have been taking a gander here every now and again, but refrained from posting as 1) I didn't want to get wrapped up in conversations and gaming and ignore the family, and 2) I didn't want to throw something on here then leave someone feeling ignored.  Having said that, please bear with me if you post something and I don't get back right away.

Anyways, here's the last game I played for "In Country," which occurred prior to the the boy's arrival, I just now finished typing it up.

After their tremendous ass-whoopin' at the hands of the NVA during their last attempt to secure Kham Duc, the squad pulled back to the battalion position once again, east of the town.  There they sat and watched the steady rain of steel by US airstrikes and artillery as they cared for their wounded, cleaned their weapons, and topped off their ammunition.  They had suffered very heavy casualties, and ached for a chance to get back at their enemies.

But there they sat for the remainder of the day, and all the next day, watching the bombs fall and 105mm shells strike.  It was sunrise on January 12, 1968 when SFC Bleier roused the men.  As they ate cold C-rats for morning chow Bleier explained they were once again attacking into Kham Duc, but something was different.  Old Sarge didn't look right; dark circles under his eyes, his skin was sickly pale, and his hands were shaky.  "You alright, Sarge?"  "Yeah, I'm fine."  But the men picked up on this, and the heat of their anger and desire to re-engage the enemy in Kham Duc quickly dissipated.

The squad joined the platoon, which linked up with the rest of the company and met the attached armor at the line of departure, approximately a klick outside the town.  The whole company was on line, with a platoon of tanks interspersed.  The formation crept forward, waiting for the cough of incoming mortars, or the stutter of enemy machine guns, at least the crack of a sniper rifle, but nothing happened.  Once the formation was within 300 yards of the town the Company Commander called a halt and conferred with his platoon commanders.  1st Platoon, in the center, was ordered into double interval skirmish line, with the squad in the center, in order to advance into Kham Duc as the other two platoons and the tanks assumed supporting positions...

"I can't believe it's so quiet.  Maybe we got lucky, Sarge, maybe the flyboys and the cannon cockers wiped'em out!" says one of the new guys.  "Yeah, don't hold your breath Slick.  If old Victor Charles isn't in there, it's because he chose to not be in there," replied Bleier.  "Dammit, I bet they slipped past us again," muttered Malone.  "Yeah, well, that ain't all bad... What was that!?"


Overview of Kham Duc, north is up.  US forces are on right, VC are on left.  It appears the NVA, happy to have taken Kham Duc from the ARVN, and happy to have held it so long against the Imperialist Yankees, decide to save their strength for another day rather than allow the Americans to eliminate them, and so the NVA pulled out last night, slipping through holes in the US cordon scouted the previous night.


All that's left in Kham Duc are a few VC stragglers that didn't get the word, and now that they realize they've been left to die, they are didi-mau'ing to the north, just as the squad spots them.  These VC are in the northwest, three porter teams and three infantrymen.


Looking east at the remains of the squad as it passes Tiger 1, still burning in the street.  From left to right: Lipps, Sgt Malone, Hoge (w/M-60), SFC Bleier, Nickerson (w/M-79, ran last fight), and Abercrombie.


And the fight is on!  Sgt Malone (foreground) spots the VC, sprints ahead into the ruins of a house, and opens fire.  He seriously wounds a VC rifleman (red bead at center) and lightly wounds the porter team above him.

For the rest, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/06/in-country-game-19-12-jan-1968.html

In the overall scheme of things, Operation Hearbeat City was a disaster.  It was a reaction to a massive infiltration by NVA troops across the border from Cambodia, missed by the US high command.  The US troops had a great time, partying it up for Christmas, then woke up to NVA nearly overrunning their bases, and taking over several ARVN posts and friendly towns.  The cost of repulsing the base attacks, and then evicting the NVA and VC from their newly conquered territories was severe, and made worse by the fact the enemy was not annihilated, but managed to slip away, back across the border to its sanctuary in Cambodia.

The Brigade pulled back to its combat base at Dak To, conducting a very limited schedule of security patrols, making sure to stay near its base while it reconstituted itself.  The enemy, while he escaped, was still badly bruised, and content to bide his time, also rebuilding his strength.  This period of minimal contact continued for two and a half months; the Brigade, once again near full strength and full of confidence due to a round of aggressive training at the company and battalion level, began early April determined to expand its area of influence.  The North Vietnamese began April 1968 determined to reassert themselves across the border...

To date our 11-man squad has permanently lost 21 members:
7 men Killed in Action
9 men Wounded in Action, severely enough to be evacuated to the US.
2 men Missing in Action
3 men transferred out of the squad (two "3-time Losers," one promotion)

So, this isn't the end, I do plan to return to these guys at some point, but there are three things hampering this:
1) the new baby, of course
2) a boatload of other campaigns I want to start/get back to
3) a massive painting project I've just undertaken (bought everything shortly before the baby came
4) I picked up a new set of rules and I'm dying to get dug into them.

Stay tuned.  I'm slowed down but not stopped.  I believe next I'm going into British vs Germans around Caen, 1944 (with the new rules); I've been dying to get to this campaign and it will work well with the new rules.  Having said that, I've got a bunch of 6mm modern stuff about ready for action, and some 6mm WWII almost there.  Oh, and I have a bunch of Marines for an 'alternate history' type deal I've been wanting to do.  We'll see...

V/R,
Jack