Pendraken Miniatures Forum

All,

Well, it's happened.  I started my blog almost two years ago because I was inspired by some small-scale gaming and modern Imagi-nations, and I'm finally getting into it.  The invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles (the Cuba Liberation Army) seeking to overthrow the Castros and reclaim the island nation (so they can take it to war all over the world to satisfy my gaming needs).

It's 0300 on 1 Feb 1990, and the invasion is set to begin.  A large Cuban Liberation Army (CLA) landing force is approaching the island from the west, and so CLA Special Operations Forces (SOF) B Squadron, previously infiltrated into Cuba, have been tasked to destroy a key radar site on the Peninsula de Guana Hagabibes.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nTE4nUcoFeU/VWoAX13qN1I/AAAAAAAAKgc/QwnXFvUm7QA/s1600/IMG_0533.JPG)
The CLA force, from B Squadron of the CLA Special Operations Force, which had infiltrated Cuba several months ago: a Command Stand, four Special Operations stands, an LMG stand, a Gustav 84mm rocket launcher, and a Jeep mounting a .50-cal HMG.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YKxS5tt0uV0/VWoAYFxjD2I/AAAAAAAAKgg/Z1pQJPcRbxs/s1600/IMG_0534.JPG)
The Castro-regime force, from the 27th Infantry Company, 3rd Cuban Infantry Battalion: a Command Stand, five rifle stands, a general purpose (RPG-type) rocket, an 82mm mortar, and an armored car.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jAdEwUA0hHk/VWpwrCSSOWI/AAAAAAAAKrk/jFkWqSKfICc/s1600/IMG_0535.JPG)
Overview of the table, with right being north, CLA on the bottom (east) and regime forces on the top (west), with the radar site at top right (northwest).

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHhj5ANlvuE/VWoCGgfnstI/AAAAAAAAKjU/1ToRxsxk2Ac/s1600/IMG_0556.JPG)
The Charlie G takes a shot at the enemy armored car.

For the whole battle, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/05/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-1.html

It was fun and exactly what I'd hoped for using less forces than normal and on a smaller (2' x 2') board, and a great start to the campaign.  I've got quite a few more of these on the way.

V/R,
Jack

Great report, Jack.  :)
Shows just what can be achieved on a small area.  8)
Cheers - Phil.

Nice report Jack.
Viva la revaluation! ;)

Excellent stuff 8). Always good to see games on a small table.

Inspiring stuff.

Thanks guys, I appreciate.  I've gotten three games in so far, with more to come this afternoon when the wifey takes the kids to a birthday party, and I'm getting them written up as fast as I can.  Hope you like them.

V/R,
Jack

So how many are Not-SEALS -or-CIA-honest?

LH,

In the background for the campaign, I clearly stated they were former SEALs and CIA.  Honest  ;)  :P ;D

V/R,
Jack

Looks like a great game! When my acw forces are finished, i'll have to get back to finishing my single based ww2 models, so i can do stuff like this!

Former.  Yes of course. Uncle Sam knows nothing.  :o

Quote from: Last Hussar on 31 May 2015, 07:09:23 PM
Former.  Yes of course. Uncle Sam knows nothing.  :o

Sounds a bit like the 'former' Russian soldiers in Ukraine, Uncle Vladimir knows nothing  ;)

All I'm sure of is, I know nothing. ;)

Except the (fake) Castro brothers are going down in my (fake) invasion kicking off my (fake) war.  8)

V/R,
Jack

Stay tuned, I'll have another for you tomorrow.  I got a total of five games in this weekend, just need to get them written up.

V/R,
Jack

Good AAR !
Thanks for sharing.

( Some days ago, I was asking myself about your games... Didn't see any report for days...  :-\  So you were working on this ?   :-bd )

Ronan,

Yes Sir, I've been painting and basing to get ready for this, hope you like it.

V/R,
Jack

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.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bcYUoTveWqk/VWoDUFcJf4I/AAAAAAAAKlk/wz4GQnD0QRI/s1600/IMG_0574.JPG)
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.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lYm0U_rqpEI/VWoDWlJ2tjI/AAAAAAAAKls/RiPeyz9X3QY/s1600/IMG_0575.JPG)
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.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s5-y6bFjCcM/VWoDeIdQN_I/AAAAAAAAKl0/DqC5-E1FQpA/s1600/IMG_0576.JPG)
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.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S0_RLxfdNA8/VWoDy7tX-WI/AAAAAAAAKmc/KWolfez7SM8/s1600/IMG_0581.JPG)
The CLA forces steel closer to their objective...

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CmulT7lyuY4/VWoD5IG6H_I/AAAAAAAAKmk/aEd_xycUnV4/s1600/IMG_0582.JPG)
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

Another very comprehensive report, Jack.  :-bd
Cheers - Phil

Good one Jack! 8)

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

V/R,
Jack

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.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tOqQ8i0tRE4/VW4skLGnujI/AAAAAAAAK_o/zwcBXuiouY0/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
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.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HktuiqeJ6Hc/VWsfVATtbfI/AAAAAAAAKsU/oc6sK1qMvx4/s1600/IMG_0617.JPG)
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.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zFQbs18I9QY/VWsfXvzNVaI/AAAAAAAAKsc/eUEFmq0e77A/s1600/IMG_0618.JPG)
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.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9rbkyXd7Nfo/VWtIrDJA01I/AAAAAAAAKxA/NsRjZTIKja8/s1600/IMG_0619.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  The regime garrison is at center, sitting astride the river, and CLA paratroopers are in all four corners.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7-RUsM6gUfI/VWsh3njZUYI/AAAAAAAAKt0/f0J9XiNZe2o/s1600/IMG_0629.JPG)
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

Very good again, Jack.  8)
Cheers - Phil

Another cool one!  :D

Thanks fellas, glad you like them.

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

V/R,
Jack

 :-bd

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.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E3Xv-BQh7ww/VW-jHUILDRI/AAAAAAAALAQ/ImatXAbRf2k/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
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.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3JVW1L2tz2k/VWuSGjk7f_I/AAAAAAAAKxw/o2BS8ARdtGw/s1600/IMG_0653.JPG)
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).

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l4z4kDFrY4g/VWuSTY6rwXI/AAAAAAAAKyE/CGRaWEN7xNM/s1600/IMG_0656.JPG)
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.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y8M3XfF_TCM/VWuTvTYRPUI/AAAAAAAAK0U/QEpUos97GEQ/s1600/IMG_0675.JPG)
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

 :-bd

Good report, again, Jack !
Cheers - Phil

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

Take care

Andy

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

V/R,
Jack

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.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DmK2MZcUQog/VW-nx0ESf7I/AAAAAAAALAc/nVTF5E6sJoI/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
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.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fr5FX1FF90k/VWuXuUAnGII/AAAAAAAAK50/fhTZbbqspXI/s1600/IMG_0720.JPG)
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.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l3CNcPDH1Dg/VWuX8yWiTqI/AAAAAAAAK6E/OkN9eN0febM/s1600/IMG_0724.JPG)
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.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XbSBGp-1J78/VWuYUFfAjAI/AAAAAAAAK60/A022ma7W3Ds/s1600/IMG_0730.JPG)
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

Nice report!

Board looked fine to me!

Another good report. I really like the table. I am, however, now rooting for the forces of freedom, democracy, liberation and good music! Hopefully they will counter the assaults and throw the forces of corporate America back into the sea! ;)


""Inconceivable." You keep saying that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

Fine report, again, Jack !
Cheers - Phil

Quote from: mad lemmey on 07 June 2015, 06:19:31 AM
Another good report. I really like the table. I am, however, now rooting for the forces of freedom, democracy, liberation and good music! Hopefully they will counter the assaults and throw the forces of corporate America back into the sea! ;)

oh yes ! May be it's time for us to call for reinforcements ?  :P


Good report Jack ! Thanks !

"I am, however, now rooting for the forces of freedom, democracy, liberation and good music!"
Cool, okay, huh? wait, what???

It goes without saying that America is evil, but I must say that the United States has nothing to do with this, these are Cuban exiles fighting to take back their country from what they see as en evil, despotic regime that's committed countless atrocities.

'Tis true that much of the Cuban Liberation Army's gear is of US origin, but that's more an issue of proximity.  There is gear from Europe (UK and France primarily, including SLRs, FN-MAGs, and Charles Gustav rocket launchers, and MILAN ATGMs), but quite a bit is former US stuff that came from Central/South American countries that are looking forward to seeing the Castro brothers removed from power.

Once the Cuban government in exile assumes power (following the fall of the Castro's), Cuba is set to become extraordinarily war-mongering, sending troops to and fro, all to satisfy my wargaming needs  ;)

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 0615 on 1 Feb 1990, and CLA Special Operations Forces' A Squadron is on the outskirts of Havana (6).  Their mission is to infiltrate and destroy a Castro-regime Surface to Air Missile (SAM) battery atop Hill 55, just west of Havana.  This mission is in support of B Squadron's upcoming mission, which will see them insert via helo (CLA UH-60s) into southern Havana to seize a radio station later this morning.  But this will be no walkover; the SAM site on Hill 55 is guarded by elite troopers Castro's Bodyguard: 1st Airborne Rifle Company, 1st Airborne Battalion, some of the few Cuban troops trusted enough to be be stationed in the capital of Havana.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dhei6e5mgeU/VXOM5Fikm1I/AAAAAAAALVI/9wr2lKCl2B8/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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) B Squadron SOF attacked a Castro-regime SAM site near Havana.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F2ij0I2T82M/VXNZxyASlBI/AAAAAAAALCE/m5bCw1u6ozc/s1600/IMG_0753.JPG)
The opposing forces, with regime forces on the left and CLA on the right.  A pretty even up fight, which is not good for the attacker, particularly as the CLA SOF had only a slight quality edge over the Cuban paratroopers, members of "Castro's Bodyguard," the Cuban 1st Airborne Battalion.

The CLA forces have a Command Stand, five rifle stands, a jeep-mounted HMG, and a SMAW.  The regime's paratroopers have a Command Stand, five rifle stands, an MG, and a mortar.  The mortar would play hell with the CLA commandos...

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MbqwJ2vCMVY/VXNzcinScPI/AAAAAAAALSQ/iyn5BXd2X9g/s1600/IMG_0756.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  Hill 55, the location of the SAM battery, is at top right, with a small village at top left.  The CLA SOF enter at bottom left near Hill 20.  Regime forces are spread across the board, as are civilians.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UoWM90L7hXA/VXNel_HCENI/AAAAAAAALIU/yiktqEBlL1o/s1600/IMG_0806.JPG)
Despite very heavy casualties, Captain Stelosavo and SOF Team 1 made it up Hill 55, within feet of the target, the enemy SAM battery, and then...

Check it out here:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-6.html

What a fight, I can't wait to hear what you think of this one.  Three more fights to post.

V/R,
Jack

Viva La Revolution!  :D
Vivé Castro!  ;)
Vivé le MiG-21 being vectored into the next airdrop!  :'(

Ouch! That's going to upset the applecart! How does an event like this affect the campaign? How linear are your plans? Now I'm really fascinated.  :-\

Lemmey,

It's all your fault! ;)

Luckily, all the paras are already on the ground.  But CLA shipping is in jeopardy; most of the troops are ashore by this point, but vehicles, equipment, and supplies are still being unloaded.  I actually intend on doing some dogfighting games in support of this campaign, and I wanted to do some naval games (using Shipwreck), but I don't feel ready.

The campaign is somewhat linear, due to the fact the CLA is going to win, but there is room for hiccups like this, and it will play out in future fights; as a matter of fact, it already has in one fight, you just haven't seen it yet because I haven't had time to post it.  Not a huge deal, but certainly an impact on what occurs on the tabletop.

I should be able to get another fight posted this evening (though I don't believe it's the fight where you see the negative impact from the failure here).

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 0630 on 1 Feb 1990, and 2nd Marine Company, 6th Infantry Battalion, has just come ashore at the Bay of Pigs landing site (7).  The Marines debarked their Amphibious Assault Vehicles, which turned around to go pick up the second wave, then began moving east along the beach.  The Marines had met no resistance during the landing (as expected), but when they began fanning out to the east they ran into elements of the 81st Infantry Company, 4th Infantry Battalion, who, as pure dumb luck would have it, were on maneuvers in the area, away from their base at Cienfuegos.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8XIBioPr_zY/VXONVBABTgI/AAAAAAAALVQ/XhfLXVvSf0k/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oHLzPlkAbIc/VXNgd6FPvAI/AAAAAAAALJU/vHyy1KCebG4/s1600/IMG_0813.JPG)
The opposing forces, with Castro-regime troops on the left and CLA on the right.  The Marines have a rather small, but highly proficient force, but are significantly outnumbered in men and heavy weapons.  The CLA force has a Command Stand, five Marine rifle teams, a light machine gun, and a single-figure stand representing Colonel Ricardo Colvasquez, Commanding Officer, 6th Infantry Battalion.  The enemy force has a Command Stand, seven rifle stands, a medium machine gun, and an 82mm mortar.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CPwOfYsqzzs/VXOEH4-KgAI/AAAAAAAALT8/3pOAbm6sdXg/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG)
Overview of the map, north is up, Marines are on the left (west), coming from their landing site, while the enemy is on the right (east), moving to check out the commotion, unaware (due to C Squadron SOF knocking out the comm center) of the invasion.  In the north is Hill 47.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yJJkBVsJSZ4/VXNiIYaDU_I/AAAAAAAALMA/apogy40eWqo/s1600/IMG_0834.JPG)
Fighting is intense on the highway and beach, but the real bloodletting occurs on Hill 47.  I am happy to report the CLA is back to its winning ways due to the strength of CLA Marine combat leadership. 

To see what happened, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-7.html

Another great fight, two more to post, so stay tuned.

V/R,
Jack

Another good one Jack

What Will said !
Talk about comprehensive.
Cheers - Phil

All,

It's 0630 on 1 Feb 1990, and B Company, CLA Unconventional Warfare Group (UWG), is in pursuit of an enemy garrison of the 84th Provincial Militia Company, 16th Territorial Infantry Battalion.  General Waroldonez is not pleased as this whole gambit almost cost the CLA its strategic surprise for the invasion.

Everyone in the CLA knows of Colonel Huistrella's (commander of the CLA UWG) impatience to get at the Castro regime.  The invasion plan called for Col Huistrella's B Company to eliminate an enemy garrison, east of Cienfuegos, in the Escambray Mountains, as part of the UWGs mission to delay enemy forces in the east from attacking the beacheads or linking up with regime-forces in the west.  But the UWG was not supposed to begin carrying out its portion of the plan until AFTER the landings occurred, and, indeed, that is what A and C Companies did.

But Colonel Huistrella couldn't restrain himself and could have jeopardized the whole plan.  Instead of getting into position surrounding the enemy garrison on 31 Jan 1990, and attacking after the landings occurred on 1 Feb, Huistrella ordered B Company's commander, Captain Galban (son of the 3rd Infantry Battalion's commander) to attack the enemy garrison immediately, and this occurred at 2330 on 31 January 1990, approximately seven hours early.

The attack was near flawless, but only near.  The attack by B Company went off, with the CLA force defeating a much larger enemy force on the strength of surprise and violence of action, and all communication equipment was destroyed without the garrison notifying anyone (this was done by Popular Force infiltrators).  But an enemy column did escape their base, and so to prevent them notifying anyone of the attack, B Company divided into three groups and pursued the enemy.  After seven hours of dogged pursuit in the jungle-covered mountains, the enemy column found itself blocked by a CLA force to the south (off map), with a force in the northwest led by Colonel Huistrella and a force in the northeast led by Captain Galban.  The enemy's only option was to stand and fight, though it wasn't much use in the end...

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jn08KbDMuF0/VXOOSWtPhQI/AAAAAAAALVc/g0zGr809h1c/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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.
8) B Company of the UWG pursued and destroyed an enemy garrison in the Escambray Mountains.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZO9QaGd6W7k/VXNk5NX7kLI/AAAAAAAALOw/1At4vGpWGks/s1600/IMG_0858.JPG)
The opposing forces, with regime forces on the left and CLA forces on the right.  What a mess, using Pendraken Aussies (Vietnam range), VC (Vietnam range), and Vietminh (Indochina range) for the bad guys, and Minifigs Aussies (Vietnam range **What are you going to do now, Shaun, there are Aussies on both sides), Pendraken Brits and Argentinian Special Forces (from the Falklands range), and Minifigs modern US, with a mix of desert, semi-arid, and temperate/jungle basing.  Perfect ;)

The CLA have a Command Stand, six SF rifle teams, a Popular Force rifle team, a SMAW, an LMG, a 60mm mortar, and a single figure representing the Group commander, while the regime fugitives have a Command Stand, five rifle teams, and two LMG teams.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3NTuaT9W37M/VXNlXAaCJuI/AAAAAAAALPM/BMxoDfmfSM4/s1600/IMG_0861.JPG)
Overview, north is up, high in the Escambray Mountains, with no roads, only jungle trails.  There is a strong CLA force in the south (down) off map, which has caused the enemy to halt in the south and turn to face their attackers, who are in the northwest (top left, Colonel Huistrella) and northeast (Captain Galban).

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pVQNLQnjBds/VXNnGP1I9UI/AAAAAAAALR8/nrX-vbZRlew/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG)
No, drama here, this is how it ended.  The CLA UCW troops were simply too aggressive, and quickly overpowered the Cuban territorial troops.  To see the whole thing, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-8.html

To be honest, it was too easy.  I suppose the CLA troops deserved a break for once, we've certainly had some rough ones, but it's not that fun when it's this easy.  To be honest, it's my fault; the scenario just didn't work out as planned.  In my mind I saw a desperate flight through the jungle, with CLA forces in hot pursuit, but then the board didn't seem to suit what I was doing and I just rolled with it.

Sorry, not my most stimulating fight, but in a campaign there will be fights like this every now and again.  Stick around, I promise you'll like the next one (I still have one more to post from last weekend's games, and I'm looking at getting more in this weekend).

V/R,
Jack

Still a good report, Jack !
Something like that's bound to happen from time to time, surely ?  ;)
Cheers - Phil

Sometime the best laid plans...
Looking forwards to the next one!

Another good one Jack, Thanks !

It's sometimes disapointing when your game doesn't match what you expected. But war is not fair !  :P
;)

Thanks guys, and you're absolutely correct Ronan.  But I'll take it, a win is a win.

I should have the next batrep up this evening. I've played three games so far this weekend (up through fight 12), I'm trying to get one more fight in this afternoon, we'll see.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 0645 on 1 Feb 1990, and CLA SOF's B Squadron has regrouped after its successful mission to destroy a radar site on the western end of the island, and enplaned in three CLA UH-60 Blackhawks, en route to seize a building in southern Havana, home of "Radio Cuba."  B Sqdn will seize the radio station and begin broadcasting a pre-recorded message from the Cuban government in exile on a loop, to make the local population aware of this morning's momentous happenings.

Garrisoning the area are troops of the regime's 2nd Airborne Company, 1st Airborne Battalion, "Castro's Bodyguard."  They are elite paratroopers and extremely loyal to the Castro brothers.  Equally nefariously, nearby is a contingent of Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC); the Castro regime is not doing well economically, particularly as the Soviet Union has begun drawing down support as it nears its own collapse, and so Cuba sought friends wherever it could find them.  As avowed enemies of the United States, it was seemingly natural that Cuba and Iran become allies.  This involvement by the IRGC in the CLA's fight for liberation would set the stage for decades of enmity between the new Cuba and Iran.

Back in the here and now, there is a big problem: A Squadron was not successful in knocking out a nearby regime SAM site, and as the three-ship formation nears Havana, a missile rises from the jungle below and destroys one of the CLA helicopters!

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-95f-gbPxFYQ/VXR7tvhLmeI/AAAAAAAALhg/clLVu2YiWwM/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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.
8) 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.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-blhYwQRhAlc/VXRsItjhxGI/AAAAAAAALWQ/Mt8hszoz_iE/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG)
The opposing forces, with Castro-loyalists on the left and CLA SOF on the right.  The CLA forces are outnumbered due to losing a number of their men to the SAM battery A Squadron failed to knock out.  The CLA force, with a Command Stand, five Special Operations rifle teams, an LMG team, a SMAW team, and a single leader figure representing CLA Special Operations, Commanding Officer: Colonel Donalo Quilveras.  The CLA force is split into two groups ("sticks"), one for each of the remaining helicopters.  The enemy has two Command Stands, eight rifle teams, and an 82mm mortar team.  Four rifle teams and the mortar are Castro's Bodyguards, while the other four rifle teams are IRGC.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2PSHUucqG1k/VXR1pKyAeZI/AAAAAAAALgE/TkBD3HrH9hg/s1600/IMG_0885.JPG)
Overview of the map, north is up.  The target building is at far right.  The CLA forces are not on the board as they will enter via helo, what you see are regime paratroopers and IRGC teams spread out.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qIM2_tT5Wxc/VXRtJNsW3AI/AAAAAAAALXY/pzySi5FFIPg/s1600/IMG_0893.JPG)
CLA Special Operations inserts via UH-60 Blackhawk, starting an absolutely ridiculous battle.  To see how it turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-9.html

That's the last of last week's battle reports; I played four more games (10-13, with 14 set up and waiting) this weekend, so more to follow as soon as I can.

V/R,
Jack

Epic !

Thanks for posting all those, Jack !
Cheers - Phil

(And I think I've deleted the 'other' one properly.  ;))

That was an epic! :)

All,

It's 0730 on 1 Feb 1990, and I Company, 10th Popular Force Battalion is charged with destroying a bridge near the town of Pedroso (#10, north-northwest of the Bay of Pigs, south-south east of Matanzas), with the goal being to screen the Bay of Pigs landing site from the Castro-regime garrison at Matanzas.  The bridge is held by the Castro regime's 86th Provincial Militia Company of the 5th Territorial Infantry Battalion.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4ACyzlTsgE/VX4L3RTokXI/AAAAAAAAL80/JfSzpN_4EmY/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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.
8) 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 seizes a bridge near Pedroso, NNW of the Bay of Pigs.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5bhqyhV6TWs/VXxOj8Jt0tI/AAAAAAAALic/uQXXdySKfSQ/s1600/IMG_0963.JPG)
The opposing forces, with regime troops on the left and CLA troops on the right.  The regime forces are made up of Pendraken Australians (Vietnam range), heavy weapons from the Pendraken Indo-china and Vietnam ranges, and an armored car from the Falklands range.  The CLA forces are Brit and Argentinian special forces from the Falklands range, and the heavy weapons are also Vietcong/NVA/Vietminh from the Indo-china and Vietnam ranges.

The CLA force consists of the Command Stand, four rifle teams, an HMG team, two RPG teams, and their battalion commander.  The regime force is comprised of a Command Stand, four rifle stands, an HMG stand, an LMG stand, and a Panhard armored car.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WO9AlSR7SLk/VXxXbJpLLaI/AAAAAAAALsE/ytzpV7G8y-I/s1600/IMG_0966.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  The bridge (objective) is at top left, with Bunkers 1 and 2 (left to right), and the Cuban barracks at top right.  The CLA force entered the fight at bottom left.  There is a small village at bottom right.  Hill 25 is at center left.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gc6HHdtFhaE/VXxP9QcXXhI/AAAAAAAALkw/-IX5fCL_1Bs/s1600/IMG_0981.JPG)
Gettin' down to business: a CLA RPG team looses a rocket towards a Castro-regime Panhard.

To see the whole fight (and you won't regret it ;) ):
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-10.html

Hope you like it, I did; the fight was ferocious!

V/R,
Jack

Great stuff, Jack !
Cheers - Phil

Nice one Jack!

Thank you Phil and Lemmey, I appreciate the loyal following, nice to know someone is reading  :D

I should be able to post another this evening, so stay tuned.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 0830 on 1 Feb 1990, and B Company, 1st Airborne Battalion has set up a road block on the main east-west artery (#11), just east of the bridge seized by A Company earlier in the morning (#3).  The goal of B Company is to defend the road block to protect the western landing site, and they are being attacked by elements of the regime's 28th Infantry Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96bVAj_XVcc/VX4MXebs1tI/AAAAAAAAL88/dkGHUcmT9XU/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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.
8) 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 blew the bridge at Pedroso to protect the Bay of Pigs landing site from the Matanzas garrison.
11) 1st Airborne Battalion defended a roadblock from regime counterattack to protect the western landing site (at Playa Colorada).

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6b3E6pzy0wQ/VXxTVHlbjMI/AAAAAAAALqg/A4L2m6jjy5Q/s1600/IMG_1032.JPG)
The opposing forces, with Castro-regime troops on the left and CLA on the right.  CLA are Pendraken Brits from the Falklands range, while Castro forces are Pendraken Argentinians from the Falklands range supported by BTR-60s from Minifigs.

The CLA force, with a Command Stand, five airborne rifle teams, a MILAN ATGM team, an 81mm mortar team, and a single leader figure representing their battalion commander.  The regime force, with a Command Stand, seven rifle teams, two BTR-60s, and a .30 cal. MG team.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IznJIqdi1Qk/VXxZMlfr4eI/AAAAAAAALsQ/UDT3UaRV5x8/s1600/IMG_1035.JPG)
Overview, north is up, with CLA forces situated in a village at the crossroads on the left (west), while regime forces are on foot in the top right (northeast) and in BTRs in the bottom right (southeast).

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ji3kdwn6bVQ/VXyvJvD4zqI/AAAAAAAALts/7NzVgAX8mV8/s1600/IMG_1052.JPG)
The CLA paras find themselves being flanked on the right, and a furious firefight breaks out (that's Sgt Villagrosa's team at center, amidst the regime mechanized force).

To see the whole battle report, please visit the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-11.html

Another great fight, with things looking dim, then...  Well, you'll just have to read it ;)

V/R,
Jack

Busy busy busy!
Another good in, thought the regime had them for a while! ;)

I recognise that Blackhawk form the 14th June post! Our local Asda flogs 'em for about £2.50 as part of their Tailwinds series. I'm hoping the Heuy comes back in some time soon...

"...thought the regime had them for a while!"
You can keep hoping, Lemmey, but the Castro brothers are going down! ;)

TP - Yes, these are Maisto Tailwinds helos that I slapped some paint on.  I, too, wish I could get my hands on some of their UH-1s.

Thanks guys, and I should have the next report up this evening.  I hope they're entertaining.

V/R,
Jack

Quote from: bigjackmac on 19 June 2015, 05:25:59 PM
(...)  I hope they're entertaining.

Yes they are ! ( although I didn't have time to read the last one  :-[  )

Excellent stuff, look forwards to it. They are always entertaining, my only issue with this one is because your games are a parallel slice of a campaign with quite a lot of simultaneously occurring actions, we are not getting the minor character development like Klink and co...

And yes, I'm definitely pro-Cuban on this one! Just still to decide which Cuba! ;D

Thanks fellas, and good to see you Ronan!  I do appreciate comments; as both you know, it's quite a bit of work to write these things up and get them posted, but I don't mind doing it if people are actually interested.  Heck, Ronan's small-scale battle reports with Force on Force for Spanish Civil War were a big inspiration for what I'm doing here with Cuba Libre!

And Lemmey, I'm with you regarding the span of Cuba Libre being so large.  It's not really the way I wanted it necessarily, but it sort of had to be in order to fight the whole Cuban War of Liberation.  Also, to develop characters that won't be seen for awhile (due to the way I'm going to run Cuba Libre following the War of Liberation), I wanted to get them on the board now so they were known in the overall scheme of things.

Once the War of Liberation if finished, the NEW Cuban military will be reorganized into basically a home defense piece (the bulk of their military) and then build an Expeditionary Force, largely from the elements found in the CLA units fighting now.  Once the War of Liberation is finished, Cuba will be going to war all over the globe, but they'll be deploying smaller units, so hopefully we'll get to know the guys better, a la KG Klink.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 0930 on 1 Feb 1990, and, following 2nd Marine Company's successful amphibious assault, A Company, 6th Infantry Battalion came ashore at the Bay of Pigs landing site, moved to 2nd Marine Company's left (northern) flank, and began pushing inland.  Things were going well until A Company was ambushed by elements of the Castro regime's 81st Infantry Company, 4th Infantry Battalion.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W5p7xxX2XGI/VX4NHf40BJI/AAAAAAAAL9I/JNWS-JQoeXY/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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.
8) 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.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AUiTkogpTYk/VXywStoRxZI/AAAAAAAALvk/O3n3ow9AbNk/s1600/IMG_1067.JPG)
The opposing forces, with Castro regime troops on the left and CLA on the right.  The CLA are US from Pendraken's Vietnam range, while the Castro troops are Argentinians from Pendraken's Falklands range.

The CLA forces have a Command Stand, five rifle stands, an HMG team, an 81mm mortar team, and a single leader figure representing Colonel Colvasquez, their battalion commander, who was already decorated for valor for the fight at the beaches of the Bay of Pigs.  The Castro force has a Command Stand, four rifle teams, an HMG team, an MMG team, and an 82mm mortar.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eZWgfvVj0Uw/VX2L6pz8UoI/AAAAAAAALwo/k-lYqVTOi1s/s1600/IMG_1071.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  A Company entered at bottom left (southeast), while the Castro forces are spread across the top (north) edge of the map, to include in a small village and a team atop the cliffs at top right (northeast).

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zGh_KhuQ-k0/VX2QPqYHIfI/AAAAAAAALy8/HikKMkRRoik/s1600/IMG_1092.JPG)
Things are not going well for the CLA force, and the whole fight hinged on this action on the CLA right flank: the lone rifle team there is forced back by enemy fire, hunkering, when the enemy charges; Colonel Colvasquez immediately grasps the gravity of the situation and throws in with the beleaguered CLA rifle team...

To see how it turned out, please visit the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-12.html

One more left to post from last weekend, looking to get some more fights in this weekend.

V/R,
Jack

Nasty! Good one. :)

I don't know how you find the time to do all these reports !  ;) ;D ;D
(But they're great fun to read)

I've probably missed it in the text.....But what do the little 'beads' signify, Jack ?
Cheers - Phil

"No animals were harmed during this game"
;)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ga04B4VVs9M/VX2Q-Cmj6RI/AAAAAAAAL0c/TA2dIHobyRQ/s1600/IMG_1104.JPG)

Thanks guys, I appreciate the kind words.

Phil -
The markers are:
Black - this unit already activated, can't react or act in its turn
Blue - low on ammo
Yellow - Pinned
Red - Suppressed ('hunkered')
White - Heavy Casualties ('men down')

Ronan - The CLA force is charged with protecting civilians and their property to the best of their ability ;)

Those are Pendraken water buffalo from the Vietnam or Indochina range.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1100 on 1 Feb 1990, and B Company, 8th Popular Force Battalion is lying in ambush just west of Havana (#13).  8th PopFor Bn's mission is to halt/delay Castro-regime mechanized forces in Havana from moving west to the Playa Colorada beach head.  At approximately 1045, CLA scouts returned to report they had not only detected elements of the 18th Tank Company and 20th Motor Rifle Company of the regime's 2nd Armored Battalion, but that those elements had halted on the road and dismounted, apparently taking a break, with very lax security.

The Company Commander, Captain Muertosa, quickly turned to his Battalion Commander, Colonel Habanera, to discuss the situation.  Less than two minutes later the Popular Force guerrillas were double-timing their way to the enemy's location, keen on catching their mechanized vehicles unattended.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WNH-WdphmLQ/VX4NhHifwgI/AAAAAAAAL9Q/khUmXuxIq9U/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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.
8) 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.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PYCk1gB7tpU/VX2RMgAn0kI/AAAAAAAAL0s/3iRy1mOGpdU/s1600/IMG_1106.JPG)
The opposing forces, with regime troops on the left and CLA troops on the right.  As always, my 'Popular Force' troops are Pendraken Brit and Argentinian special forces from their Falklands range, with heavy weapons from the Vietminh/Vietcong/NVA of the Indochina and Vietnam ranges.  The regime troops are Minifigs WarPac and Arab regulars mixed together, with the command stand actually being composed of Pendraken Brits from the Falklands range.  The T-72s are Takara plastics, and the BMP-2s are Minifigs.

The CLA force, a Command Stand, five rifle teams, an 81mm mortar team, an RPG team, and a single leader figure representing the Battalion Commander.  The regime force has a Command Stand, seven rifle stands, an 82mm mortar team, and an AT-5 Spandrel team (not sure what they'll do with that).  Oh, and two T-72s and three BMPs.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dDu_L-LAtfE/VX3iJhmVTJI/AAAAAAAAL2Y/VlzxQd9uNu4/s1600/IMG_1109.JPG)
Overview, north is up, with the CLA forces having entered along the bottom (southern) edge, and some pushed all the way up Hill 32 at dead center.  The regime forces have their armor on the road and everyone, including the vehicle crews, is dismounted at or north of the road.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dckL2ib7Xf0/VX3juEvVuwI/AAAAAAAAL24/WUtnbCcGIYw/s1600/IMG_1117.JPG)
The CLA troopers seized the initiative and dealt a serious blow to the regime armored force.  To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-13.html

More to follow.

V/R,
Jack

Great report Jack, nice to have something different to play.

Now can we have the other 30 tanks in the battalion roll up and flatten the invaders? ;)

Excellent !!
Cheers - Phil

Thanks fellas.

And Lemmey, what 30 tanks?  This is a Commie country, so a quarter were never delivered, a quarter were sold by a corrupt General/politician, and a quarter are unserviceable due to poor design/lack of spare parts/lack of fuel ;)

Besides, the guerrillas of the 8th Popular Force Battalion melted back into the jungle before the regime forces could come to grips with them, and now CLA Air Force F-4 Phantoms are pounding the enemy armor bunched up on the road (as a result of the successful ambush).

Don't worry, the enemy tanks will have to be dealt with, and there's no doubt they will cause some consternation for the lightly armed paras, Marines, Popular Forces, SOF, and Unconventional Warfare troops, before the CLA armored forces can get into the fight.  But it's coming.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1230 on 1 Feb 1990, and Golf Company, 2nd Airborne Infantry Battalion is manning a roadblock (14) to prevent the enemy garrison at Cienfuegos from attacking the Bay of Pigs landing site (4).  2nd Airborne Battalion had jumped in earlier this morning and defeated an enemy outpost (4), but now armored elements of the Castro-regime's 6th Armored Battalion have mobilized and departed Cienfuegos for the Bay of Pigs.  The Cuban Army under Castro has experienced serious cutbacks to the military in recent years, and the 6th Armored Battalion is understrength and fielding WWII-era T-34 tanks.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Iqi9XJlXr5M/VX4OA7Q1G3I/AAAAAAAAL9Y/gmxr096Ljfk/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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.
8) 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.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ssSBvfiHAAQ/VX3l3nFCijI/AAAAAAAAL6k/rVR0Cyl33Qw/s400/IMG_1146.JPG)
The opposing forces, with regime troops on the left and CLA troops on the right.  The CLA force is made up of Pendraken Brits from the Falklands range, while the Castro-force is made up of Minifigs Warsaw Pact and Arab modern troops, and plastic Takara T-34s.

The CLA force has a Command Stand, seven parachute rifle teams, two MILAN ATGM teams, and a single leader figure (though he's not in the photo of above for some reason) representing their battalion commander.  Col Carreno was wounded in the earlier battle for El Rincon immediately following the drop, but he's still in the fight.  The regime force has a Command Stand, seven rifle teams, and two aging, but deadly, T-34 tanks.  Well, deadly until they run across modern ATGMs, anyway...

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vOi3cVap77o/VX3mE8yvTwI/AAAAAAAAL64/ESuHGnHPySs/s400/IMG_1149.JPG)
Overview of the map, north is up.  The CLA force is dug in at far left, primarily in the bottom left corner, where Colonel Carreno, two rifle teams, and both MILANs are dug in to take on enemy armor.  The regime forces are entering via the road at top right.  At bottom center right is Hill 29, while at top center is the village of El Rincon.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2eEAWV5EmO8/VYiSGso9HcI/AAAAAAAAMC0/r5FU1yR17kQ/s400/IMG_1173.JPG)
Very heavy fighting breaks out between the CLA paratroopers and regime mechanized infantry in the village...

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vp8lYGaclPI/VYiTK8ALkYI/AAAAAAAAMEw/oh7d4Nt9ss8/s400/IMG_1190.JPG)
At the end of the day, Captain Cuervesco and Sergeant Trojas and his rifle team would stand victorious among a pile of enemy casualties, resulting in Captain Cuervesco receiving his nation's highest award for gallantry.

To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-14.html

Another great fight, that's the last of everything I've played, more on the way this weekend.

V/R,
Jack

" two aging, but deadly, T-34 tanks.  Well, deadly until they run across modern ATGMs, anyway..."

I suspect deadly until they run into a two kilometre road march, let alone a modern ATGM :D

Stirring stuff, even rooting for the good guys instead of the CLA!

Another good report Jack. Well earned medals there.

I'll second that !
Cheers - Phil.

"...a two kilometre road march..."
Nah, it's the AK-47 of tanks, that's why they kept them ;)

Lemmey - Quite a string of good die rolls, broken by one unfortunate die roll (the enemy snap fire that got 'men down' on Team 3), followed by a great die roll.  Am I the only one that names my characters, tracks their progress, and awards medals?

Phil - As the only one that hasn't come out on the side of the communists, I salute you Sir!  And if you're really rooting for the Castro-regime, please don't tell me ;)

I'll look to get more fights in this weekend, but I've actually caught up writing all the fights I've already done.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1400 on 1 Feb 1990, and the CLA's 1st Airborne Battalion, which dropped into Cuba early this morning, is hard pressed.  Having fought two battles already (#3 to seize a bridge, and #11 to fight off a counterattack) it finds itself occupied by the enemy's 3rd Infantry Battalion, which is now surging forces south to outflank the paratroopers' lines.  Captain Olejandro, acting Battalion Commander for 1st Airborne Battalion (Colonel Lucastro, decorated for valor during the bridge seizure, was seriously wounded in close combat during the enemy counterattack) puts out a call for help.

Having come ashore at Playa Colorada only minutes prior, Colonel Estevante of the 4th Infantry Battalion, responds.  He immediately provides a Warning Order to Captain Bronchovio, Commanding Officer of the 1st Air Assault Company: stand by to conduct a helo insertion into a hot LZ to counter enemy mechanized forces skirting 1st Airborne Battalion's southern flank.  Captain Bronchovio quickly briefs his men, who gather their equipment, break into their sticks, and mount their flying taxis...

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-35Un3HQHl0I/VYsCOtqJVNI/AAAAAAAAMH4/nfmMG5DOkaw/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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.
8) 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).

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RLDNL3jJzE0/VYiTTSy_7-I/AAAAAAAAME4/NJ0wOdGMvIU/s1600/IMG_1192.JPG)
The opposing forces, with regime troops on the left and CLA troops on the right.  The CLA are made up of US troops from Pendraken's Vietnam range, while the Castro forces are made up of Argentinians from Pendraken's Falklands range.  The BTRs are from Minifigs, while the Panhard is also from Pendraken's Falklands range.

The CLA force, with a Command Stand, seven rifle stands, a TOW ATGM, and a single leader figure representing the battalion commander.  The regime force has a Command Stand, six rifle stands, a Panhard armored car (with 90mm main gun), and two BTR-60s (each with 14.5mm HMG).

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sz5ryaBwFd8/VYiTjNjDPqI/AAAAAAAAMFY/uYBaLBFdUDg/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG)
Overview of map, north is up.  At top left (northwest) are the far right elements of 1st Airborne Battalion.  They are 'for show' only, they will not be active during this fight, they simply show 1st Airborne Bn's right flank.  At top right (northeast) are mechanized elements of the Castro-regime's 3rd Infantry Battalion, on a side road trying to exit the board at bottom left in order to get into 1st Airborne Bn's rear area.  1st Air Assault Company's Landing Zone (LZ) is at bottom right, southeast of the sprawling village of Babiney.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wXpLfTPCrlQ/VY7vLeaI4cI/AAAAAAAAMIU/gAcB4JODP3M/s1600/IMG_1200.JPG)
Two CH-47s of 1st Air Assault Company swoop in and flare preparing to touch down in a hot LZ...

To see another crazy fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/06/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-15.html

Three more to write up and post.

V/R,
Jack

Another corker Jack! :D

Hear, hear !
Cheers - Phil

I always liked the Panhard.
Good AAR with heavy fighting, thanks !

Thanks guys!

And just so you know, on another forum someone asked why the regime vehicles didn't simply blast the hell out of the helos on the LZ; the game didn't start until the CLA troops were on the ground and the helos had left.  The pics of the CH-47s coming in were just for dramatic effect ;)

V/R,
Jack

In a role-playing way, I'd say the vehicles were not in position / surprised by the helos.
That's how I read your AAR  :P
:)

Ronan,

Yeah, exactly, that was my intent.  I'm trying to stay away from talking too much about the rules at this point, because I hope you can just read the batrep as a story about a firefight, as opposed to a game ;)

But sometimes I'll still bring up certain aspects of the rules, usually when something crazy happens.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1530 on 1 Feb 1990, and the CLA's Golf Company, 9th Popular Force Battalion, finds itself in very interesting position, insofar as they about to attack a larger force.  Captain Elias, G Company's commander, turned to his superior, Colonel Bustamante: "Are you sure about this, Sir?"  "Yes, Captain, we will strike at the enemy while he is still preparing to strike at us."

Generalissimo Waraldonez' orders to Colonel Bustamante, commander of the 9th PF Bn, were to delay the enemy garrison at Matanzas from striking south (towards the Bay of Pigs landing site) or west (towards the Playa Colorada landing site).  Colonel Bustamante conducted a map reconnaissance and realized there were three highways leading out of the Matanzas area that could be used by the enemy.  Col Bustamante was adamantly opposed to assigning one of his companies to each of the highways, as it would leave him without a reserve, nor could he afford to play a 'guessing game' with the enemy, trying to ascertain which route(s) they might use.

So Col Bustamante decided the best course of action was to seize the initiative and conduct a spoiling attack against the enemy's 43rd Infantry Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, as it was preparing to depart the Matanzas military base and strike for the CLA landing areas.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hSSvNfK85OU/VY8AaPUJr5I/AAAAAAAAMRQ/I2xYcf13yI0/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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.
8) 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.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C-sb20U-G2M/VY7zod2rTnI/AAAAAAAAMP4/9fbVBKEjTMs/s1600/IMG_1260.JPG)
The forces, with regime troops on the left and CLA on the right.  The CLA are made up of Brit and Argentinian SF from Pendraken's Falklands range, with VC/NVA/Vietminh for heavy weapons, while the regime force is made up of Argentinians from Pendraken's Falklands range.

The CLA force has a Command Stand representing the Company Commander, five rifle teams, a single RPG team, and a single leader figure representing their battalion commander.  The Castro-regime troops have a Command Stand, seven rifle teams, and a .50 caliber HMG.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IpLVP-dmiTs/VY73k3jHUiI/AAAAAAAAMRA/5xfPqbgVUG4/s1600/IMG_1263.JPG)
Overview of the map, north is up, with the regime's Matanzas military base on the northern half of the board.  There are three rifle teams on the ground, falling back to the trucks (at top right), where the Commander and the other four rifle teams are already mounted up.  A single rifle team has just left Bunker 1 (if you count the three bunkers from left to right), and two rifle teams are next to Barracks 1 (if you count the two buildings from left to right).  The HMG is in Bunker 2.  The CLA force is along the bottom (south) edge, with Colonel Bustamante, the RPG team, and a rifle team in the bottom left corner, looking to provide a base of fire from Hill 15 (bottom left), while Captain Elias leads the assault of four rifle teams coming through the thick jungle atop Hill 25 (bottom right).

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c5yyUgJ3Gio/VZA8U_4s6dI/AAAAAAAAMV0/LAQ8K6U7Pv0/s1600/IMG_1301.JPG)
The CLA attacks, and is beaten back.  The enemy counterattacks, and Colonel Bustamante almost single-handledly beats it back, then leads a rifle team into a series of close assaults, this one against an entrenched heavy machine gun! 

To see how it turns out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-16.html

Two more batreps to post, then I intend on posting an end of day SITREP to show where we're at with regards to the entire campaign.  I'll be in touch ;)

V/R,
Jack

You've been going great guns here! As have the CLA and FAR :D

 :-bd
Cheers - Phil.

Nice oneJack. Looks like a kW a job for artillery

Colonel Bustamante : stupid or brave..  :-\

Thank you

Thank you gentlemen, it's been a lot of fun.  I played two more games this morning, just need time to write them up!

Ronan - As we used to say in the Marine Corps, "good initiative, bad judgement." ;)

V/R,
Jack

On the axis of ability and energy, nothing is more dangerous than a motivated incompetent...

As we used to say in the Army about the Marines, "Hey diddle, diddle, right up the middle".

All,

It's 1700 on 1 Feb 1990, and the CLA's 2nd Air Assault Company, 7th Infantry Battalion, having only recently come ashore at the Bay of Pigs landing site, has taken up defensive positions.  The CLA's 2nd Airborne Battalion twice dealt the enemy heavy blows at El Rincon; the second severe enough to send the enemy's 6th Armored Battalion wheeling and in retreat towards its base at Cienfuegos.  Looking to seize the opportunity to put a major enemy armored formation permanently out of the fight, Generalissimo Waraldonez ordered the 2nd Air Assault Company lifted into blocking positions east of El Rincon to cut off the enemy's retreat, placing the enemy troops between 1st Airborne Battalion in the west and 2nd Air Assault Company in the east.

A bold move to be sure, but the CLA has now placed the enemy in "death ground," that patch of real estate in which the enemy cannot sit still and they cannot run, they must attack for the sake of their very own survival.  2nd Air Assault Company was about to reap what the Generalissimo had sown with his overly ambitious battle plan...

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7nkzZ7UDe-Q/VZBQcEyFBqI/AAAAAAAAMlg/qT4MW42qAj4/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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.
8) 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.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XSbtarGMAvY/VZA8l2F5jII/AAAAAAAAMWM/1LOprkuB4oc/s1600/IMG_1305.JPG)
The opposing forces, with regime troops on the left and CLA troops on the right.  The CLA force consists of US troops from Pendraken's Vietnam range, while the regime guys are Argentinians from Pendraken's Falklands Range with Takara plastic T-34s in support.

The CLA force has a Command Stand representing their Company Commander, seven rifle teams, an HMG team, a TOW ATGM team, a Charles Gustav team, and a single leader figure representing their Battalion Commander.  The enemy force has a Command Stand, seven rifle teams, and four T-34 tanks.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aob29wXrgj4/VZBRTA1YQGI/AAAAAAAAMlo/u6apITh-Lzk/s1600/IMG_1308.JPG)
Overview of the map, north is up.  The enemy is in the bottom left corner, fleeing from the west, trying to escape to the east.  The CLA force is divided into two elements, with the rail line, which sits atop an embankment, splitting their defense down the middle.  The Colonel is in the north, atop Hill 33, and the Captain is in the south, atop Hill 35.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dz6AVMbLMd8/VZA_i_j4Q4I/AAAAAAAAMZ4/Pesyw1SE74A/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG)
Enemy tanks surged forward all along the line, with CLA anti-tank assets doing what they could to stem the armored tide.  To see how it turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-17.html

One more still to post from last week, then I played four more fights this weekend.  I also have a SITREP for D-Day to post, then I got into some other stuff as well, so keep your eyes peeled ;)

V/R,
Jack

Great stuff...... and cracking pics, as usual.
Cheers - Phil

Thanks Phil, and another batrep coming this evening.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1930 on 1 Feb 1990, and the CLA's C Company, Unconventional Warfare Group, is charged with blocking east-west running fast routes through the Escambray Mountains (just east of Cienfuegos), the goal being to isolate powerful regime forces at Camaguey, Las Tunas, Holguin, and Santiago de Cuba and prevent them from influencing the fight in the west, with Havana being enveloped from both west (Playa Colorada landing site) and east (Bay of Pigs landing site).

C Company has spent the past several hours variously conducting reconnaissance to identify enemy columns heading west, and dispersing to dodge harassing regime ground attack aircraft ("I thought our flyboys were supposed to take care of all that...").  In any case, C Company has identified an enemy column of Task Force A, 12th Mechanized Company, sallying forth out of Holguin; the Company Commander quickly issues orders for a hasty ambush.  It would turn into what would surely be one of the most ferocious firefights of the entire War of Liberation...

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dwfB8bO5Buk/VZBaIFgPx6I/AAAAAAAAMm0/VEDb6DDWwtM/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
So far we've had:
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.
8) 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.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ilKrFSIW6go/VZBCAOrF52I/AAAAAAAAMdM/iIqD3XtOmMU/s1600/IMG_1362.JPG)
The opposing forces, with regime forces on the left and the CLA on the right.  The CLA are Minifigs Australians from their Modern Range, and the regime forces are Argentinians from Pendraken's Falklands range, with an M-8 armored car and two SU-76s, also from Pendraken.

The CLA has a Command Stand representing their Company Commander (unfortunately it has four figures vice three, just like the regular rifle stands), six rifle stands, and a single leader figure representing their Battalion Commander.  Each rifle team is carrying multiple LAWs, but they have to get to very short range for them to be effective.  The regime force has a Command Stand, six rifle stands, an MG team, an 82mm mortar team, a very old M-8 armored car, and two very old SU-76s.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XmzNtZsF8eg/VZBCQ_FVCII/AAAAAAAAMdg/b-H347tsq-s/s1600/IMG_1365.JPG)
Overview of the map, north is up.  The enemy armored column is on the highway at top right, but they also have an infantry force at bottom right.  The CLA is also split into two forces, with Colonel Huistrella and three rifle teams in the north, and Captain Gonzalez and three rifle teams in the south.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NOgN9qyG7qM/VZBDUTCKyBI/AAAAAAAAMfM/4I9Fw6Uv0jw/s1600/IMG_1378.JPG)
Since they've proven so popular, how about another picture of my missiles in action (from "Fight's On!")?  The lightly armed Special Forces troopers use the rugged terrain to get close and fire a LAW at one of the enemy armored vehicles.

To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-18.html

Well, that's 18 fights in the books, and that's just D-Day!  Of course, the following days will feature only a few fights each, and I can't see the War of Liberation going on for more than a week, there are simply too many other projects I need to get to.  Tomorrow or the next day I plan on posting a Situation Report ("SITREP"), outlining what exactly has happened so far in the overall scheme of things, and the operational plan for the next day (from the standpoint of the Cuban Liberation Army, of course).

I hope you're enjoying them, it's really been a lot of fun for me.

V/R,
Jack

Great stuff, Jack.   8)

I still don't know how you find the time to do all these reports and pics !

Cheers - Phil

Thanks Phil, and I don't know how I have time either. If I ever suddenly stop posting, I'm probably recently deceased, and I'd ask you kind gentlemen to please point the appropriate legal authorities in the direction of my lovely wife, who doesn't seem to love gaming as much as I do ;)

V/R,
Jack

I have a condolences card with an offer to take care of your figures ready to post ;)

TP,

Ye bastid!

But, might as well be you ;)

V/R,
Jack

It's not that we don't like you, we just want more lead ;)

Nah, getting them across the pond might be prohibitive. Charity auction, maybe?!

Although for preference, you not needing that option is better - don't wear yourself out to an early grave with the amount of battles you're fighting :D

Quote from: toxicpixie on 09 July 2015, 10:46:21 AM
Chastity auction, maybe?!

What might that be, you strange Pixie?

A highly amusing mistype  ;D

If it was mine  :o

What the heck!?

I need monetary donations to take the wife on vacation, or maybe send her on vacation whole I stay home and game? Dammit, what is wrong with me!? ;)

Next batrep coming soon.

V/R,
Jack

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.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1pFE3X_dVgg/VZdXcO4_MMI/AAAAAAAAM34/yXrd-tagz7U/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
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.
8) 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.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0gmNrQESkQg/VZdAsgdnReI/AAAAAAAAMoM/zqq_N8EslSE/s1600/IMG_1425.JPG)
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.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oWTia2ROhiQ/VZdJhukA-iI/AAAAAAAAM1E/2cZtHwYD_d8/s1600/IMG_1428.JPG)
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.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--G8uy4JTLXI/VZdDxA9vNMI/AAAAAAAAMtg/nIfZaEVMytg/s1600/IMG_1469.JPG)
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

Good stuff again, Jack.  8)
Cheers - Phil

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

Take care

Andy

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   :P  :D )
Will read you when I'm back, have good games folks !

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

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.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RVvCm_7AiWY/VZdYF28XALI/AAAAAAAAM4A/74BDLGWP68Y/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
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.
8) 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.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-430R7T4XaiA/VZdEYhHYuzI/AAAAAAAAMug/qnEtMDxvA_0/s1600/IMG_1477.JPG)
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.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kAfHP7H-uSY/VZdNms8P0mI/AAAAAAAAM18/sF4ZwLT0hw8/s1600/IMG_1480.JPG)
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

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

Where are you rivers from btw?

Very good again, Jack. 8)

Cheers - Phil

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

Thanks Phil, hope all is well.

V/R,
Jack

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.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPKfPA-ZGOE/VZdYrb557iI/AAAAAAAAM4I/7O9Q9kLOVI8/s1600/Map%2Bof%2BCuba.png)
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.
8) 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.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4iwTML_6wY8/VZdHqO8ju0I/AAAAAAAAM0A/BS7Kds_Opf0/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG)
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.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xo-O5dAV6L4/VZdUq6kvjdI/AAAAAAAAM3s/vhz6yXBG8uw/s1600/IMG_1524.JPG)
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

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

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

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

Quote from: bigjackmac on 16 July 2015, 10:37:47 PM
Oh, and it's "lackluster" ;)

Only in one part of the world ;) ;D

Just listening to a bit of Salsa on Spotify.

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.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-__WrpyOra54/VZmbP7hEuII/AAAAAAAANIU/MZftwc_adJU/s1600/Cuba%2BBattle.png)
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.
8) 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.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--6G_GyWlxIY/VZl1AfeHkvI/AAAAAAAAM8o/ouR38lGFpxs/s1600/IMG_1560.JPG)
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.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vW8oLDDHiFM/VZl1QQ0R6nI/AAAAAAAAM9A/7GiEoxDy1GA/s1600/IMG_1563.JPG)
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.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KUeM0EHnz6s/VZl50OA6RzI/AAAAAAAAND4/EoJCwHnMyhk/s1600/IMG_1621.JPG)
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

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

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

Cheers - Phil

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.

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

Quote from: Techno on 18 July 2015, 05:42:24 AM
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.

If not all of it...

Well, I'll believe it.....Even it you have made it up, Nobby.
Cheers - Phil.

Phil - it's RP pronunciation. NOT WELSH. Also most Orffficers cant say R, and pwonoce it "W" - hence Wupert and Whicahrd,

IanS  ;)

Hey, thanks fellas, I appreciate it!

Lemmey - Yeah, the UWG is about tapped out for the campaign as an effective fighting force.  They may fight one more time, reinforced by C Squadron SOF.  And I'll fix the spacing on the previous actions; as a matter of fact, I'm probably going to cut it down on future reports to just the last ten.

Regarding comments, everyone has been great about the batreps, I appreciate all the kind words and feedback.  My complaining was about a SITREP, and it's sounding like most folks don't know what I'm talking about, which is my fault.  After I finished all the fights on D-Day, I made a separate post on my blog that summarized the day's events.  Again, I made a separate blog post, but I didn't make a post on any of the websites to draw attention to it.  When I didn't receive any comments on the D-Day SITREP, I didn't know if 1) anyone saw it, 2) people saw it but didn't need it, or 3) saw it, liked it, but didn't say anything.

So, I'll probably put the D+1 SITREP out tonight.  As I do with the Batreps, I'll post on the websites to let everyone know.  If anyone is kind enough to take a look, I'd greatly appreciate a comment to let me know if it was useful/interesting, or a waste of time.  It takes a bit of time to compile the data and write it up, and I don't need it, so if you guys don't need/want it, there's no sense in me doing it.  So I just want to get a feel for if anyone wants to see future SITREPS.

I played two games this morning; one was okay, nothing special, but the second was pretty damn good!  I'm looking to get a couple more fights in tomorrow as well.

Again, thanks everyone, I appreciate it!

V/R,
Jack

In the sit rep it would be good if we could have a 'starting' and 'current' strength?
I'm sure team three has more regenerations than Dr Who!!!

Lemmey,

Sorry man, I actually am not keeping super strict track of troop and equipment strength (as I do with KG Klink), due to trying to keep things more simple and quick.  So I have overall casualty numbers, but I don't have them by Company or Battalion, much less Platoon, Squad, or Team.  So Team 3 didn't really regenerate, I just wasn't tracking it as a discrete element.

I've been running it pretty fast and loose; if you battalion has three companies, and gets beat up pretty bad two or three times, the battalion is no longer combat effective.  So, with the SITREPS, I'm just tracking whether a battalion is combat effective or not.  I'm only tracking Battalion and Company Commanders, and Team Leaders only if that team does some heroic which needs to be recognized, and the whole point of that is simply to have replacements for BCs and CCs that become casualties, or retire (throughout the later lifespan of Cuba Libre).

I'm working on the SITREP now.

V/R,
Jack

All,

Following all of the fights (1-18) on D-Day, I posted a Situation Report (SITREP) on my blog, but I didn't post it on any websites, so I figured I'd mention it here.  I also just posted the SITREP for D+1, having finished those fights (19-22).

The SITREPS outline the days Operations Order (OPORD, the overall plan of attack by the Cuban Liberation Army, CLA), how successful the various parts of it were, table of organization for the CLA and regime forces, casualties suffered by both sides, and the plan for the following day (the new OPORD).

I figured the SITREPS would help folks have a better understanding of the 'big picture' for the War of Liberation, i.e., put a bigger context to the individual fights, and let you know how the 'war' is progressing.

Here is the link for the D-Day SITREP:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-d-day-sitrep.html

Here is the new one, the D+1 SITREP:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-d1-sitrep.html

If you are so moved to read the SITREPs, I'd appreciate a comment as to whether you thought it was useful/interesting or not.

I got two more games in today (Saturday), and I'm looking to get a couple more in tomorrow, which should wrap up D+2 (only four fights scheduled), so look for those batreps to come out this coming week.  Also, I've been working on a bunch of little plastic Napoleonics, and a bunch of modern 15mm stuff.  Nothing is finished, but it's a lot of stuff and I'd like to snap some photos to show you what's going on.

V/R,
Jack

Quote from: ianrs54 on 18 July 2015, 09:53:19 AM
Phil - it's RP pronunciation. NOT WELSH. Also most Orffficers cant say R, and pwonoce it "W" - hence Wupert and Whicahrd,

IanS  ;)

And "Wetweat, men, vewy wapidly!"

Very nice sit rep and it puts everything into context after a hard days fighting.
Bridgehead is secure, now to consolidate.
:)

Lemmey,

Thanks buddy, I appreciate it!

It seems there are not many, but there are a few folks out there that are reading the SITREPs, and that's enough for me.  In any case, they're getting quicker anyway as the following days have far fewer battles, and I've sort of established the format.

In separate news, I've played four fights this weekend, need to get them written up and posted.  These fights were all the scheduled fights for D+2, so we now have three days of the War for Liberation in the books, and so I'll be putting out another SITREP also.  The way things are looking, the war will be over on D+4 or D+5.

Then I've got a couple pressing things to take care of: I haven't played a single air fight in support of this campaign, and I'd like to do a half dozen or so.  They obviously won't impact what's happening on the ground, but I want to rack up some 'history' for pilots that will carry forward for future campaigns.  I also need to get back in and finish up KG Klink in France.  Then I'll take a look around and see what catches my fancy; I've certainly got no shortage of stuff I want to do!

V/R,
Jack

All,

On a quick admin note, I just wanted to throw out that this battle report documents my FIFTIETH (50th) table-top game using Nordic Weasel Games' "5Core Company Command" rules.  They sprung out of Ivan's "Five Men In Normandy" rules, and I was fortunate enough to have played a small role in bringing them to light.  Certainly they won't be the only set of rules I ever play again, but insofar as we wargamers are always on the search for the "Holy Grail" of rules, I can say that, for tactical games at the reinforced platoon to reinforced company level from WWII to present (and possibly even earlier than WWII), I have no need for rules as I've found them.  On to the battle, which is the first of D-Day +2 (D+2), the third day of fighting in the War of Liberation.

It's 0830 on 3 Feb 1990, and tanks of the CLA's 2nd Troop, 5th Tank Battalion, supported by C Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion, have run square into enemy armor of the 78th Tank Company and 70th Motor Rifle Company, 2nd Armored Battalion, just west of the city of Artemisa, on the island's western end.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7e8xQA5nClg/Vaq6NHD7jEI/AAAAAAAANZY/ZHf7W_TO8Cg/s1600/Cuba%2BBattle.png)
So far we've had:
D-Day
...
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.

D+2
23) The 5th Tank Battalion squares off against the regime's 2nd Armored Battalion just west of Artemisa.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6XqShuHs-CA/VaqlazCG6zI/AAAAAAAANJY/GKZ9W-y3fT4/s1600/IMG_1641.JPG)
The opposing forces, with CLA on the right and regime forces on the left.  The CLA is made up of Pendraken Americans and M-113s from their Vietnam range (the TOW on one of the 113s is from Minifigs), and plastic Takara M-48s.  The regime is made up of modern Warsaw Pact troops from Minifigs, along with their BMPs and some Takara T-72s.

The CLA forces has a Command Stand, five rifle stands, an M-113 TOW, an M-113 .50 cal, three M-48A3s, and a jeep carting around the 5th Tank Battalion's commander.  The regime force has a Command Stand, four rifle stands, four T-72s, and two BMP-2s.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JT2-wKF8meg/VaqvVN3P29I/AAAAAAAANXI/1nHC_YCfhf8/s1600/IMG_1645.JPG)
The opposing forces, clashing head-on in a classic meeting engagement, with CLA on the left (west) and regime on the right (east).

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2_FNZ53esSU/VaqnXMGd9gI/AAAAAAAANMM/OFK8Coqmv30/s1600/IMG_1665.JPG)
Nothing beats burning T-72s!

To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-23.html

Well, there's one, three more to write up and post!  Don't think we're gonna make it before the weekend, just too much to type...

V/R,
Jack

Great again, Jack !
(I'll give it a more thoro' read later !) ;)
Cheers - Phil

Those dice!

Good AARs as usual !
Thanks
( I had a look at the sitreps, I prefer the 2nd. )

Thanks Phil!

Lemmey- Commies can't shoot man! Besides, I thought you'd already shifted over to the winning team? ;)

Ronan - thanks buddy, and thanks for the SITREP comment, too.

V/R,
Jack

Yes, but those T-72 should have chewed lumps out of the M48s!

Lemmey,

Aww, don't be so bitter! ;)

You're right, of course, but if I was worried about that I would have just given the CLA M1 Abrams.  At this extremely short range, a tank is just a tank, and everyone can KO everyone else. Just wait til you see the next one: M48s and Shermans vs T55s and T34s!  Gotta have a bit of fun, right? That's the beauty Imagi-nations/alternate history.

V/R,
Jack

Now that one does sound fun! Type of battle where the grunts head for cover and only come out when the sound of Diesel engines does away! :o

You'll like the next one; no tanks, but one helluva fight between CLA Popular Force and regime troops breaking out of the Matanzas garrison to reinforce Havana.

I'll post tonight.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1030 on 3 Feb 1990, and the CLA's F Company, 9th Popular Battalion, has been tasked with the encirclement of the regime garrison at Matanzas.  But the enemy is wily, and, concerned for the wavering forces in the west, the regime orders its 7th Infantry Battalion, led by its 41st Infantry Company, to break out to the west to reinforce Havana.  The 41st Infantry Company's orders are to blast a hole in the CLA's encirclement and lead the 7th Infantry Battalion's three companies to Havana.  Failing that, the 41st Infantry Company is to pin down CLA forces long enough for the 7th Infantry Battalion's other two companies (43rd Infantry Company and 48th Provincial Militia Company) to break out and reinforce Havana.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jA4xJOp2BfU/VbFriNOH-nI/AAAAAAAANxU/CmVhH0yBqDY/s1600/Cuba%2BBattle.png)
So far we've had:
D-Day
...
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.

D+2
23) The 5th Tank Battalion squares off against the regime's 2nd Armored Battalion just west of Artemisa.
24) 9th Popular Force Battalion holds the line at Matanzas as the enemy's 7th Infantry Battalion attempts to break out to reinforce Havana.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--U0OiolJet0/Vaqq3C9FblI/AAAAAAAANRc/ekML5mw4jSs/s1600/IMG_1707.JPG)
The opposing forces, with CLA on the right and regime on the left.  The CLA force is made up of Pendraken Brit and Argentinian SF from their Falklands Range, with crew served weapons being VC/NVA/Vietminh from the Vietnam/Indochina ranges.  The regime forces are Pendraken Argentinians, to include the Panhard armored car.

The CLA force has a Command Stand, five rifle stands, an HMG team, and a single leader figure representing their (acting) Battalion Commander.  The regime force has a Command Stand, seven rifle stands, an MG team, and a Panhard armored car.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VdjNCCwzHWQ/Vaq2AiZ4-pI/AAAAAAAANYc/WedtTm1VUFE/s1600/IMG_1710.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  In the center is the Old Spanish Monastery atop Hill 75.  The CLA has established an outpost in the monastery, but it is occupied only by an HMG team as everyone else was out on patrol.  However, upon sighting the enemy (top right, armored force, and bottom right, infantry force), the HMG team put a call for help out on the net.  Captain Ballesteros led several rifle teams forward (top left), while the acting Battalion Commander, Captain Afflexio, led two more rifle teams (bottom left) towards the monastery.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mXi3NODcsDQ/Vaqt-_MRqxI/AAAAAAAANWs/0V-HASSkZZU/s1600/IMG_1750.JPG)
Continuing my rocket theme ;)

To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-24.html

Well, two down, two to go, and looking to fight some more this weekend, which is already upon us!

V/R,
Jack

Nice one jack! Makes a good read!

Casualties from friendly fire don't appear to concern your rocketeers!

Thanks Lemmey.

FK - I can't see where any unit endangered another unit, do you mean from their own rocket fire (the photo above)?  If so, part of that is my fault, in terms of giving the LAWs only 6" range (trying to make it harder for myself); the other part is, I'd rather take a little shrapnel from my own rocket then get run down by an armored car rattling machine guns and firing bee-hive out of its 90mm gun ;)

V/R,
Jack

Well, I admire the resolution and fortitude of that rifleman, standing firm with a big firey projectile flaming past his ear like that.

FK,

No man, no one is shooting through that team, that team is the one that fired the rocket.  And the big, fiery projectile thing might be a little out of scale ;)

V/R,
Jack

But looks cool 8)

Appreciate it, Paul  :D

V/R,
Jack

Hi Jack, congratulations for your history arc.

I really love the tables, they have the flavour of cuban landscapes.

Very good again, Jack !
Cheers - Phil

"Holy crap, what a mess, and what a fight! "

Yes !  :)

Thank you JChaos, Phil, and Ronan, I appreciate your kind words.

I'm still writing up the next two fights; #25 is okay, but #26 was another incredible fight.  For me, it was the funnest game I've played in Cuba Libre so far.

Having said that, I'm 26 games in to the War of Liberation, and I'm about ready for this to be finished, I have too many other things I want to do!  :-[ :-[

Thanks again fellas.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1330 on 3 Feb 1990, and the CLA's B Company, 6th Infantry Battalion, with support from 3rd Troop, 5th Tank Battalion, begins the process of reducing the regime's Cienfuegos garrison, consisting of the remnants of the enemy's 6th Armored Battalion.  The enemy launches a spoiling attack, rolling out to meet the CLA's thrust, just west of Cienfuegos. Two lines of armor clash!

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPfbJ_OeOkI/VbFsCTMm3vI/AAAAAAAANxc/LGTiWhs-yeQ/s1600/Cuba%2BBattle.png)
So far we've had:
D-Day
...
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.

D+2
23) The 5th Tank Battalion squares off against the regime's 2nd Armored Battalion just west of Artemisa.
24) 9th Popular Force Battalion holds the line at Matanzas as the enemy's 7th Infantry Battalion attempts to break out to reinforce Havana.
25) 6th Infantry Battalion, with support from 5th Tank Battalion, engages the enemy 6th Armored Battalion's spoiling attack.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HxagdNHCQVM/VavczsGAMAI/AAAAAAAANZw/6mJRhN0JLu8/s1600/IMG_1759.JPG)
The opposing forces, with CLA on the right and regime on the left.  The CLA is made up of Pendraken Americans from their Vietnam range, with plastic Takara M-48s and Shermans, then Pendraken M-113s and a Panhard.  The M-113s have gunners from Minifigs (one .50 cal and one TOW).

The CLA force has a Command Stand, three rifle stands, two dismounted TOW teams, two M-113s (one HMG and one TOW), a captured Panhard armored car, two "Super" Shermans, three M-48s, and a single leader figure representing the 6th Infantry Battalion Commander.  The regime force has a Command Stand, two rifle stands, two dismounted MILAN ATGM teams, 6 T-34s, and three T-55s.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SIHGQy6sQdM/Va2rseMPY3I/AAAAAAAANuk/ox4559hOYsk/s1600/IMG_1762.JPG)
Overview, north is up, with CLA forces spread across the left (west), and regime forces attacking out of their garrison at Cienfuegos (off map) at right (east).  This is nothing but a bare-knuckle brawl; no room for maneuver, just pure guts and marksmanship (or lucky command and firing rolls).

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TNgLr37Ry9Q/VaviEt8EnPI/AAAAAAAANfs/5CQqzNo39kc/s1600/IMG_1807.JPG)
One more rocket shot?  LAWs vs T-34s; weren't expecting that, were you?

To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-25.html

One more to post.  I regret to inform you that I didn't get any games in this past weekend, due to a weird combo.  On the one hand, it's summer, and it was beautiful out, so spent some (extra) time with the family (even slept in a bit).  On the other hand, I really felt like painting, so the time I did have went to that. 

Stay tuned, more to come.

V/R,
Jack

Another good one, Jack.
Cheers - Phil

Good fight!
The CLA would have really struggled without their infantry! :)

Thanks fellas.

And yeah, Lemmey, it was interesting that most of the tank kills came courtesy of the infantry.  I've rated the ATGMs pretty highly, so it's more of a surprise when they don't get a kill/immob, but two tanks to the LAWs of Team 3 was pretty cool  8)

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1700 on 3 Feb 1990, and the CLA's 1st Troop, 5th Tank Battalion, supported by F Company, 4th Infantry Battalion, follows up its earlier victory against the enemy's 2nd Armored Battalion by carrying the attack forward, pursuing them into the streets of Artemisa.  The CLA pushes in with armor supporting dismounted infantry, but the CLA is about to discover the horrors of street fighting, and it will be particularly difficult as the CLA's spearhead has been cut off from the main body by regime artillery, forcing the CLA to push into the initial assault with a relatively small force.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FEUkqMul-ag/VbFsmSqKUGI/AAAAAAAANxk/NfpMSBoDODU/s1600/Cuba%2BBattle.png)
So far we've had:
D-Day
...
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.

D+2
23) The 5th Tank Battalion squares off against the regime's 2nd Armored Battalion just west of Artemisa.
24) 9th Popular Force Battalion holds the line at Matanzas as the enemy's 7th Infantry Battalion attempts to break out to reinforce Havana.
25) 6th Infantry Battalion, with support from 5th Tank Battalion, engages the enemy 6th Armored Battalion's spoiling attack.
26) The 5th Tank Battalion and 4th Infantry Battalion take part in heavy street fighting in Artemisa against the regime's 2nd Armored Battalion.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pVxpZNw3-yg/VavifbxRyYI/AAAAAAAANgM/gy1zYXAzics/s1600/IMG_1811.JPG)
The opposing forces, with CLA on the right and regime on the left.  The CLA is Pendraken Americans from their Vietnam range, with a WWII jeep and plastic Takara tanks.  The regime is Minifigs modern Warsaw Pact, with a Pendraken German WWII FJ mortar team and plastic Takara tank.

The CLA force has a Command Stand representing Captain Chavez (infantry company commander), four (only four!?) rifle teams, two M-48s, and a jeep stand representing the 5th Tank Battalion commander.  The regime force, remnants of their 2nd Armored Battalion, has a Command Stand, five rifle stands (with RPGs), an AT5 Spandrel ATGM team, an 82mm mortar team, and a T-72 tank.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1SyCr6bZQ1o/Va2w_6gIm6I/AAAAAAAANv4/Q9AU7i6CelI/s1600/IMG_1814.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  The CLA force is spread across the left side of the map, at the outskirts of Artemisa, while the enemy is in the city.  The regime troops are well aware Artemisa is their last stand.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkh2ImGQSZ0/VavjwNF7gpI/AAAAAAAANiM/QWAT7QVeWdo/s1600/IMG_1826.JPG)
See all those explosions on the left side?  That's the CLA getting its butt kicked right on its start line, trying to push into the city.  It would get darker before it got lighter...  To see how this crazy fight went, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/07/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-26.html

Thanks for looking, and hope you like it.  For me the fight was amazing, wish everyone one of them was like it.  This is the last of the write-ups for the fights I've finished so far, and I regret to inform you there will be no fighting this weekend as the family and I are off to the beach this weekend.  But feel free to comment, I'll still be checking!

V/R,
Jack

Ouch!
Good try Jack. ;)

Dang cheatin' running dog lackeys!

Good fight :)

Hope the beach is good and the weather fine.

Good stuff again, Jack !  8)
Cheers - Phil

Thanks fellas, and today's beach-capades were fantastic.

On a Naval note, tomorrow we're visiting the USS Lexington. On a Texan note, Sunday were visiting The Alamo.

V/R,
Jack

Well planned that man ;)

All,

Well, we're back, and had a great time at the beach, the Lexington, and the Alamo (just ordered the old Disney Davey Crockett movies to show the kiddies; loved'em when I was a kid).

It's about time to head upstairs to continue the War of Liberation, so stand by for action.

V/R,
Jack

Quote from: bigjackmac on 08 August 2015, 12:33:03 PM
All,

Well, we're back, and had a great time at the beach, the Lexington, and the Alamo (just ordered the old Disney Davey Crockett movies to show the kiddies; loved'em when I was a kid).

It's about time to head upstairs to continue the War of Liberation, so stand by for action.

V/R,
Jack

Wellcome back sir!

Quote from: bigjackmac on 08 August 2015, 12:33:03 PM
stand by for action.
V/R,Jack

Just a minute.....Are these reports of battles in Cuba, or an episode of 'Stingray'.
(Anything can happen in the next half-hour.)  ;)
Sorry - Phil  :-[

Stingray! Stingray! Sting-ray! Stingray!!

Phil - COAT......didnt think even you were old enough to remember that one.

IanS

I can even remember Fireball XL5.....And before that.....Four Feather Falls.....

Now, back to the thread.....Over to Jack.  ;)

Cheers - Phil

What about Supercar and Torchey the Battery Boy ?

What the hell are you guys talking about!!!   :-\ :P :P

I got three games in this weekend, just need to find time to write them up and post.

V/R,
Jack

1964 Gerry Anderson programme called Stingray, famously started like this:

http://youtu.be/E06cNv55jTs

Holy Cow, pretty cool.  "Supermarionation," eh?  I remember something like that when I was a kid; I think it was called 'Thunderbirds,' but not sure.

Anyway, should have another batrep up tomorrow evening.

V/R,
Jack

Thunderbirds was (were ? :-\) a later series from the same makers/studios, Jack.....
Look forward to the next report.  :)

Quote from: haupt on 09 August 2015, 02:45:29 PM
What about Supercar and Torchey the Battery Boy ?

I'd forgotten those !  :-[

Cheers - Phil

Phil,

Well, when I watched Thunderbirds, it was a long time ago, and if Stingray is before that, you must be...  a fossil  ;D ;D

Next fight coming up this evening; I finished it up last night, but it was past my bedtime so didn't post.

All of you communists will thoroughly enjoy it...  :P

V/R,
Jack

Communist! Bloomin' fascists! I leave Trotsky in the shade to the right...  :P

My cousin and I share a birthday (he's exactly two years younger than me) and we used to have shared birthday parties.

In the days before Jane Asher style novelty cakes were popular my aunt wowed a bunch of seven to ten year-olds by arranging for a "Supercar" chocolate birthday cake.

Ithoriel,

That sounds awesome, but we were in the midst of hurling geo-political insults and have no time for chocolate cakes.

Well, to be fair, I usually make too much time for chocolate cakes.  But not this time!  :-*

V/R,
Jack

"On occasion of birthday in decadent West you can always find cake. In communist Cuba, on occasion of birthday, cake find YOU!" - Yakov Bacardi  ;) :)

Better? :D

Now you're talkin'  ;) ;D

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 0720 on 4 Feb 1990 (D+3), and the CLA's B Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion, supported by tanks of 1st Troop, 5th Tank Battalion, have are clashing with the remnants of the enemy's 2nd Armored Battalion just east of the town of Artemisa, on the approach (of the Western Force) to Havana.  The regime's 2nd Armored Battalion has been through hell, fighting valiantly to stop the CLA's Western Force, but they know they are at the end of their rope.  The enemy battalion fell back (east) out of the city to reform and regroup, and as the CLA elements cautiously rumbled forward, the regime's 2nd Armored Battalion launched a spoiling attack.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qoEgNIukQvA/VcZSo8FeuGI/AAAAAAAAN6k/JbOrgyx2AlU/s1600/IMG_1999.JPG)
The opposing forces, with CLA on the right and regime on the left.  The CLA is made up of Pendraken US troops and M-113 (with Minifigs gunner) from the Vietnam Range, plastic Takara M-48s, and a Pendraken WWII US jeep, while the regime has Minifigs Warsaw Pact infantry (with Pendraken Brits from the Falklands range for their command stand) and BMP-2, and plastic Takara T-72s.

The CLA force has a Command Stand, four rifle stands (bad things seem to happen when we only have four rifle stands), two M-48 tanks, an M-113 (with M2 .50 cal HMG), and a Jeep representing the Battalion Commander. 

The regime force has a distinct numerical advantage: a Command Stand, six rifle stands (to the CLA's four), two T-72 tanks (a wash with the CLA's M-48s at such short range), and a BMP2, which is an advantage for the fact the CLA's M-113, armed only with an HMG, cannot defeat tanks, while the BMP's chain gun can.  Lastly, RPGs get 12" range, while the CLA's LAWs only get 6" range.  An uphill fight right from the start.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtILW61Wt1U/VcfuBEwbbJI/AAAAAAAAOOY/hE-_Bm-jdYU/s1600/IMG_2003.JPG)
Overview of map, north is up, CLA on left (west) and regime on right (east).  Hill 30 is at top center, Hill 25 at center right, and Hill 20 at bottom left.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-CPjrqhPvw/VcZUHcyCfDI/AAAAAAAAN8U/4DTymfgm3wo/s1600/IMG_2014.JPG)
Captain Fordesante's tank is hit, so he dismounts and runs over to take command of the other tank to continue the fight.

I didn't know what to do, no rockets were fired in this game!  To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/08/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-27.html

Thanks everyone, two more batreps to go.

V/R,
Jack

Good stuff again, Jack !  :-bd
Cheers - Phil

Good fight. Nice to see the fight causing you to react. Street fighting will be fun!

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

...

Perhaps that's not a good thing?  :-\

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

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.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EjeHSlfCc-s/VcZX7B3XK2I/AAAAAAAAN_w/R08czm-BNUg/s1600/IMG_2042.JPG)
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.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C4tqgyY4J2c/VcfxiVluehI/AAAAAAAAOPM/oReMZjmgPew/s1600/IMG_2045.JPG)
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).

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XZb0GAPVFGs/VcZcJRiczJI/AAAAAAAAOEo/ZFyeGBrQfG8/s1600/IMG_2082.JPG)
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

Another excellent report, Jack.  :-bd
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

Nice report Jack, heck of a scrap! :)

Thanks Phil; I usually leave the shots with poker chips out so as to avoid bad attempts at humor   :P ;D 
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

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.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4C95Bj4FPQk/VcgP6NvSSiI/AAAAAAAAOR4/IZcp483768w/s1600/IMG_2153.JPG)
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.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ki7ftB0qpEU/Vcpuy0K9ZzI/AAAAAAAAOaU/yq_kvqkbNRo/s1600/IMG_2156.JPG)
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).

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fJsY7nEieCY/VcgR2UmH1DI/AAAAAAAAOUw/3S45CGX1-3s/s1600/IMG_2178.JPG)
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

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

Great report, again, Jack.

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

Superb Jack!

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

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

Matt

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

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 !  ;) )

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

Quote from: bigjackmac on 24 August 2015, 02:05:06 AM
  I won!

Well done !

All,

It's 0900 on 5 Feb 1990, and the CLA's C Company, 1st Airborne Battalion, is on the move in Havana.  Following B Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion's setback yesterday in Artemisa at the hands of the regime's 2nd Armored Battalion, 1st Airborne Battalion was committed to secure Artemisa, which occurred yesterday afternoon.  The CLA paratroopers entered the city to find organized defense non-existent, the enemy forces severely demoralized and surrendering in large groups.  Interrogations of prisoners of war yielded only "it is finished, the regime has fallen."

CLA SIGINT intercepts showed a great deal of chatter, to include several new stations on channels previously unused, in a foreign dialect, and a large deal of communication between regime formation senior commanders.  The regime's Supreme Headquarters had communicated with a foreign element, then gone off the air, leaving the regime's military leaderless and without direction.

1st Airborne Battalion passed off the prisoners to other CLA units, then road marched to Havana, where Captain DeNostro's C Company led the way into the last pocket of enemy resistance in the north.  Early on the going was easy, but the paratroopers soon ran into stiff enemy resistance, with early reports suggesting the CLA riflemen had run into foreign troops, which HUMINT sources stated parachuted onto Cuba the night of 4/5 February 1990.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v0b4_L_0W-c/Vdo8kBU5E4I/AAAAAAAAObs/4zoFd5pqWio/s1600/IMG_2221.JPG)
The opposing forces, with CLA on the right and backers of the regime on the left.  The CLA is comprised of British from Pendraken's Falklands range, as well as an M-113 from their Vietnam range (with a Minifigs machine gunner), while the enemy is made up of Minifigs Warsaw Pact Special Operations troops.

The CLA force has Captain DeNostro's Command Stand, seven rifle stands, a dismounted .50 cal HMG, an 81mm mortar, and an M-113 (from 5th Tank Battalion) with a .50 cal HMG.  As the forces are equal in quality, the CLA element has only one Command Stand (vice the usual two).  The regime force has a Command Stand, five rifle stands, and an 82mm mortar in support.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Za_GYQKdm0s/Vdpn9ujtIeI/AAAAAAAAO5I/5e5TBqgINQY/s1600/IMG_2224.JPG)
Overview of map, north is up, on the north side of Havana.  The CLA entered at left (west), while the enemy force is at right (east).

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VxBub2zz4zc/VdpAGTOSzZI/AAAAAAAAOg8/q1W_7BeBbSM/s1600/IMG_2263.JPG)
Captain DeNostro leads the M-113 forward as an enemy rifle team fires an RPG at them.  To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/08/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-30.html

Two more fights to go in the War of Liberation!

V/R,
Jack

Great stuff, again, Jack.

Cheers - Phil

Cornered rats always fight harder! ;)

Great report Jack, interested to see how the extra 'player' turns out!

Thanks guys, we're near the finish line!

But starting a new war this weekend, of course ;)

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1700 on 5 Feb 1990, and C Squadron of the CLA's Special Operations Forces is in the air.  1st Airborne Battalion's sharp fight in northern Havana  with Venezuelan paratroopers set the CLA General Staff into a flurry of activity.  With the small amount of Venezuelans introduced into the battle-space, as well as their dispersal to three different locations on the island (northern Havana, northeastern Havana, and just east of Bayamo on the eastern end of the island) it was immediately apparent they were not in Cuba to put up a serious fight.  CLA intelligence officers immediately set to work to determine what the Venezuelans were there to do.

Intelligence stated the regime's government and military executive staff had dissolved, with it being very much an 'every man for himself' environment as they attempted to flee the island.  But there was no info on El Presidente.  The regime's senior formation leaders were still arguing back and forth via radio about whether to keep fighting or not, and, if so, how to best coordinate their efforts.

HUMINT and SIGINT sources began to paint a picture: El President was preparing to depart Cuba, with Venezuelan paratroopers in Havana to escort him away; where, how, and when were still unknown, though it was determined that the Venezuelan Captain Chavez' unit was a blocking force, the assumption being the Venezuelan force in northeastern Havana must be the element charged with securing El Presidente.

CLA Intelligence continued to press, and at 1600 local time, the breakthrough came: a bitter regime officer came forward to inform Generalissimo Waraldonez that El Presidente was to meet with Venezuelan paratroopers at the Playa Riviera Hotel in northeastern Havana at 1700.  HUMINT sources were begged, cajoled, and interrogated, and radio intercepts were scrutinized, and all signs pointed to the regime officer's story being correct.

The CLA's Commanding General quickly met with the Special Operations Commander, Colonel Quilveras, and a capture or kill order was issued.  Colonel Quilveras notified Captain Bosanova,who quickly collected two teams of shooters and boarded a waiting UH-60 Blackhawk.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7uCq2yiYxkg/VdpDngt1_MI/AAAAAAAAOiw/YjTuTGU-o1Y/s1600/IMG_2276.JPG)
The CLA is made up of Rebel Minis' SWAT troopers painted up as Direct Action shooters, while the regime forces are various Warsaw Pact and Modern Africa codes from Peter Pig.  El Presidente is a Rebel Minis Pulp character.

So this is a dramatic departure from the norm (for Cuba Libre) in that 1) I'm using 15mm troops, rather than my beloved 10mm, and 2) I'm using the 5Core rules "5 Men in Normandy" ("5MIN," modified) rather than 5Core Company Command, which is what I used for the previous 30 battles.

The reason for the switch is that I think both the figures and the rules are better for this fight (and the next one), which are small-scale, skirmish-level raids.  I've purposely made the Venezuelan paratroopers a much larger force, and they will be treated as 'ordinary' soldiers, opposed by CLA Special Operations types.  The only real modification I made to 5MIN was to have the CLA SOF troops fire with double dice (2K 2S), and those firing dice would be applied to any targets within 6" of each other, meaning the CLA SOF trooper will fire at one target, but with four dice, it is possible to 'hit' or effect other targets.  While it is normal within 5MIN to have shock dice affect nearby enemy troops, I'm playing that, in the unlikely event the CLA SOF guy fires and gets two kills, he will kill the target and another enemy within 6" of the target.  Also, if a CLA trooper is fired on without effect, he may return fire, even if he has already acted that turn.

I also split the enemy into two forces, and had them roll activation separately.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HevuvVktU0s/VdpkthZ-HmI/AAAAAAAAO48/W8SmyVEvWVc/s1600/IMG_2278.JPG)
Overview of the map, north is up.  El Presidente has been secured by a small contingent of a Venezuelan paratroopers in the bottom left (southwest) corner, and their job is to escort him to the larger force of Venezuelan paratroopers in the top right (northeast) corner, where they have a skiff standing by to whisk him away to a waiting seagoing vessel.  The CLA force is not on the board.

*Forgive my 'skiff.'  I looked around and all I had was an old Axis and Allies landing craft, so it'll have to do.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KqRcbfYgoYM/VdpEWE7QQNI/AAAAAAAAOkA/qzayHKJntvA/s1600/IMG_2287.JPG)
CLA shooters move aggressively to secure the package.  To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/08/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-31.html

One more fight and the the War of Liberation is finished!

V/R,
Jack

Boo !

Not enough pipe cleaners ! (They're my favourite !)......And is it an optical illusion, or is El Presidente a very tall chap ?  ;)

Seriously though, Jack......Terrific report & piccies, again !  8)

Cheers - Phil.

Good report Jack.
Now should we reveal that was the president's double! Muhahaha!

Phil - Unfortunately (because they represent enemy RPG fire) there are several more pipe cleaners in the next fight, so you'll be okay ;)  Regarding El Presidente, you're absolutely correct (leave it to the sculptor to be the one to notice!).  The 'original' El Presidente (with the pistol) is 'normal' size, but the captured one (with hands on head) is a veritable giant!  He must be 7' tall in scale; not sure how that happened...

Lemmey - Don't you worry about El Presidente!  He's going to have fresh clean clothes every day (albeit in orange), three squares, regular exercise, and plenty of alone time for reflection ;)

I've actually got the last batrep written up and ready to go, just trying to decide if I should make you wait until tomorrow or post it tonight  :d

V/R,
Jack

Make em wait.....

IanS

All,

It's 1930 on 5 Feb 1990, and troopers of the CLA's B Company, the Unconventional Warfare Group, are on the move just east of the town of Bayamo, in search of a renegade regime General and his two fanatical sons.

Immediately prior to and immediately following C Squadron's successful capture of El Presidente, CLA Intelligence came upon information from multiple sources which explained that the enemy's plan was for General Guapos, near Bayamo and with a bodyguard of Venezuelan paratroopers (they couldn't be sure who the CLA had co-opted) planned on continuing the war, and resorting to an insurgency if circumstances dictated.

Generalissimo Waraldonez immediately called a staff meeting to determine the CLA's best course of action.  The Commanding General turned once again to Colonel Quilveras, commander of the CLA's Special Operations Forces, and ordered him to prepare another Direct Action Team to carry out a decapitation strike, to end the war once and for all.  Colonel Huistrella, commander of the CLA's Unconventional Warfare Group, catching wind of this, arrived at Generalissimo Waraldonez' Command Post and lobbied to have the mission directed to the UCW.  "Hector," said Waraldonez, addressing Colonel Huistrella, "you know this is a job for the Direct Action shooters."  "Sir, after all the UCW has been through, all we've done for you and this army.  We bled white in the Escambray to hold the line, keep your flank secure so that you could secure this victory.  Let us finish this."

After much politicking, made possible by Huistrella's 'moles' in the Commanding General's Command Post, and by his arrival by helicopter at said Command Post, Waraldonez awarded the mission to B Company, UCW.  Of course, Colonel Huistrella would personally lead the assault.  Colonel Quilveras rolled his eyes and muttered a curse under his breath...

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lRvHF8WGIqo/VdpLR5TwviI/AAAAAAAAOrc/f45sVC_pDnE/s1600/IMG_2344.JPG)
The opposing forces, with CLA on the right and regime forces on the left.  The CLA force is comprised of Battlefront's Vietnam-era SEALs, while the regime force has the same Peter Pig troops as last game.  General Guapos and his sons are from rebel Minis' "armed assassins" pack.  And I just noticed that, in my haste to get the troops ready, I forgot to put a blackwash on the bases of the General and his sons.  I'm also going to have to re-do the basing of the Peter Pig troops; usually I paint the pennies, let it dry, then put grass on them.  Being in a hurry  I skipped the 'paint the pennies' stage and just grassed them; you'll see in some of the photos that the pennies' bronze is showing through the grass on quite a few of the bases...

So I'm once again using 15mm and Five Men in Normandy.  But these are not CLA Direct Action shooters, so both forces are being treated as 'ordinary' soldiers as per the rules.  The only mod is that two of the CLA troops have M-14s, so I'm using them as Designated Marksmen.  I've doubled their firing dice, and allow them to hit multiple targets.

The CLA force: 12 troopers, two with M-79 grenade launchers and two with M-14s.  Several troopers are carrying LAWs, but I forgot about that and never used them...  The two men at front right are Colonel Huistrella and Captain Galban.

The enemy: there are ten Venezuelan paratroopers, one with RPG and one with LMG, General Guapos, and his two sons.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LpheEo5It2M/VdpW9c0I8uI/AAAAAAAAO3Q/3AxDXItEwaA/s1600/IMG_2349.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  General Guapos has made his Command Post in a bombed out farmhouse (top left).  He, his sons, and a few Venezuelans are there, while the rest of the Venezuelans are spread across the top of the board.  The CLA is spread across the bottom of the table; Colonel Huistrella has half the men on the left, while Captain Galban has the other half on the right.

The farmhouse is at top left, the barn at top center, the pig sty at top right, Hacienda 1 at bottom right, Hacienda 2 at bottom center, and the stables at far left.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rz3z_qh97dg/VdpL-_Qp4_I/AAAAAAAAOsc/qFyg-Q_HWtA/s1600/IMG_2355.JPG)
One of the Designated Marksmen is in position and takes a shot at General Guapos.  To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2015/08/cuba-libre-liberation-batrep-32.html

Well folks, that's it!  The War of Liberation is finished and we won!  I'm looking to step away from Cuba Libre with another campaign, which I'm looking to start as soon as possible.  I was hoping this weekend, but real life has conspired to slow me down.  But it's coming, so stay tuned, and I'll be returning for more Cuba Libre action in the near future.

V/R,
Jack

Really good stuff, Jack !  8)

Just one question.
I hadn't noticed the 'wrecked house' before...Is it a new addition ?...It's rather spiffy !
(Knowing me, it's been there in virtually every single scrap...and in my early morning, bleary eyed state, I just haven't noticed it before.)

Cheers - Phil

Cool report, knife edge stuff.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it!

And Phil, you're good man, those buildings are brand-spanking new.

Alright, I need more comments please, let me know what you think guys.  The whole war is finished, so lay it on me.  I'm getting into another project (about to post under 'non-Pendraken'), but I plan on coming back to 10mm on 2' x 2' boards for quick, Hollywood-ish fights as seen in this campaign.

V/R,
Jack