Pendraken Miniatures Forum

All,

This is the first fight in my next campaign, following the Cuba Libre saga.  The short story is, Cuban exiles evicted the dictator, and now have created an expeditionary force available for worldwide deployment in the defense of freedom and democracy.  You can see the full story here:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2015/11/cronistria-cries-for-help-aka-next.html

So a Special Operations task force is heading to the Balkans to help a fledgling democracy, Cronistria, break away from Yugoslavia.  I will be playing this campaign in 20mm with Elhiem figures, using Ivan (Weasel's) rules, "Five Men in Normandy."

It's 0645 on 5 April 1990, and Task Force Trojas has conducted an administrative move (clandestinely) into northern Italy or Austria (sorry, OPSEC rules prevent us from sharing the exact location ;) ), staged its gear, and is infiltrating by team into Cronistria.  Each team is crossing at a different location, with a different objective rally point and different partisan contact on the other side.  All teams successfully crossed the frontier without incident, until it was GySgt Dos Santos' Team 6-3's turn (if you're wondering why he's a Gunnery Sergeant, it's because in the CLEF, Special Operations come from any of the four branches of service).

Team 6-3 moved to the border, and had just crossed when things started to go wrong, which is why we're here, right?

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w9peRGvbBL8/Vm3IyqXAUuI/AAAAAAAASjs/pOoZGnswIec/s1600/IMG_4145.JPG)
The opposing forces: at top are the five shooters from Team 6-3, while at bottom are the seven men and one armored personnel carrier of the Cronistrian National Guard.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YNdK0FeYdX0/Vm3I1mKHthI/AAAAAAAASj8/8VFZa5PXLvI/s1600/IMG_4149.JPG)
Overview of the table, north is up.  The table is about 3' x 3', with the frontier wire running north-south) at left.  Team 6-3 will enter at left and must destroy the enemy patrol and/or exit ALL men off the right board edge.  There's a burned out house in the northwest, a small residence in the southeast, several patches of rough, rocky ground, several haystacks (concealment, not cover!), and a couple rocky outcroppings.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pS_8KJ-QvLg/Vm3JUDqgFpI/AAAAAAAASmg/n07FZQMD6Y0/s1600/IMG_4170.JPG)
The enemy is trying to cut swathes in our line using its APC-mounted MMG.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mqNsilukuL8/Vm3Ja_h138I/AAAAAAAASnM/6LsNOtlM3cs/s1600/IMG_4175.JPG)
Just for old time's sake: wouldn't be one of my batreps if I didn't have somebody firing a rocket, would it?  To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2015/12/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-1.html

Wow, what a fight!  And what a way to start off the campaign in Cronistria.  The fight was fun, quick, plenty of drama and decision making, and things never go as you planned.  One more fight to write up and post, stay tuned!

V/R,
Jack

Good report Jack.

Like it !  8)

Cheers - Phil

Nice little BatRep there mate!  :D

Thank ya fellas, the next one will be posted as soon as possible, with more fights happening this weekend.

V/R,
Jack

Like I haven't got enough on as it is. I want to play some modern skirmish stuff now!  :-[

Tawa,

Go on then, and be quick about it! ;)

If you play, photo, and post, I promise to read and comment!

V/R,
Jack

Yes, go on !
We want games AND pics !  ;)


Jack, your game reminds me of the video game Operation Flashpoint, or Armed Assault..  :)

See there, Tawa, you're picking up steam!

Ronan - "...video game Operation Flashpoint, or Armed Assault..."

Is that good or bad? ;)  I hope it was fun to read, that people enjoy the characters, want to see more of them, and get a sense of what the rules will do.

V/R,
Jack

The Mrs says I'm allowed to...... Shhhh! Here she comes!

Excellent then, we'll expect a batrep by Monday! ;)

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's been several days since crossing the frontier, and TF Trojas is looking for action.  It's 1500 on 8 April 1990, and Team 6-4 has been briefed, geared up, and conducted its movement to the objective area.  Lt Trojas was informed by local agents that the leader of a local cell of the Cronistrian People's Army (CPA, the local Communist Militia supporting General Ambroz Zlatan's communist takeover of Cronistria) scheduled a meeting in a farmhouse in the nearby village of Perzezl.  Trojas immediately put Team 6-4 on the task of proceeding to the meeting location and eliminating the CPA cell.  Sergeant First Class "Rooey" Contreras was only too happy; he and his boys were itching for action, and Willow (KIA from Team 6-3) was a friend of his.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rrh8tVc9jCY/Vm3NSggkp8I/AAAAAAAASx4/Lx_Xwb5Tyrs/s1600/IMG_4262.JPG)
The fight is bloody, and we have close combat!  At left is a downed Cuban and a downed bad guy.  To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2015/12/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-2.html

The fight was fantastic, a crazy back and forth that saw the Cubans...  Well, you'll have to check the blog ;)  In any case, that's all the fights so far.  This week I've been painting up some 15mm vehicles and terrain, and this weekend I have a rather ambitious agenda of getting in one fight in South Leon (15mm), and two more fights here in Cronistria (20mm).

V/R,
Jack

Corking fight! 8)

As Mr Burns would say, "Excellent !"
Cheers - Phil

Thanks fellars!

It was a lot of fun; the bad guy almost got away, but the team had done a good job keeping him pinned in the building.  I was sweating it for a moment at the end, but then the CLEF team leader moved up and dropped him.  The CLEF always gets their man! ;)

V/R,
Jack

Quote from: bigjackmac on 17 December 2015, 01:32:35 AM
Excellent then, we'll expect a batrep by Monday! ;)

V/R,
Jack

BatRep?  :o
It'll be more like a retelling of "Lone Survivor" with the US troops being replaced in the story by me and my gaming buddies trying to escape the other halves when they learn what (else) we've bought....  :D

Oh, man up, or learn to hide your stuff like the rest of us! ;)

Did you see the second batrep yet?

V/R,
Jack

Just about to have a read now  :D

All,

It's 1700 on 10 April 1990, and Team 6-2 has been lying in ambush for over twelve hours.  Recently the Cronistrian National Guard (CNG), the communist armed forces in Cronistria, have stepped up patrolling on the northern outskirts of the capital.  Lt Trojas, the Cuban Liberation Expeditionary Force (CLEF) Task Force commander, met with MSgt "Tico" Benitez, leader of Team 6-2, to discuss, and they decided to ambush a CNG patrol.

Tico moved his team to the northern outskirts and they took up ambush positions, lying in wait for a CNG patrol to show up.  At long last one of Tico's men called out on the intra-squad radio: "contact, enemy infantry, 12 o'clock, 150 meters."  Perfect!  The enemy patrol was walking directly into 6-2's kill zone.  But Murphy made his appearance, and just as the CNG's point man entered the kill zone from the north, a group of approximately a dozen civilians entered the kill zone from the east.  "@#$%!!! Stand down, DO NOT engage."  Terse moments passed the CNG patrol hailed the civilians, halted them, questioned them, searched them, then allowed them to pass.  But as the civilians moved west out of the kill zone, the CNG patrol moved east out of the kill zone...

SPOILER ALERT: an alternate title for this fight could be "TF Rojas' first ass-whoopin' of the campaign."

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3qmlwBvmzjc/VnbtJy0ZJgI/AAAAAAAAS8c/YbUUELp7C7Y/s1600/IMG_4342.JPG)
CLEF troopers (foreground) pressing forward, exchanging fire with the bad guys.  To see the disaster, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2015/12/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-3.html

So, that's game 1 of 2 from this past weekend, I'll post the other as quick as I can.  On a down note, I wasn't able to start my 15mm campaign in South Leon; on a different note, I ended up on the couch watching "The Battle of Britain," and now I've got an itch for some Bag the Hun (just placed an order for some Hurricanes, Ju-87s, Do-117s, BF-110s, and Ju-88s to go with my Spits, Me-109s, and He-111s), starting in France then rolling into BoB.

V/R,
Jack

At least you told us about 'the cheat'....... ;)
Great report, Jack.
Cheers - Phil

Oops!

Thanks guys!

"At least you told us about 'the cheat'"
Why not, you two have been so loyal ;)

I should be able to post number 4 tomorrow night.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's been several days since crossing the debacle of the blown ambush by Team 6-2, and Lt "Mikey" Trojas, commander of TF Trojas, is pouring over maps and message traffic when suddenly Andraz Gregor, leader of the Cronistrian Democrats, darkens his door.  "Have you got a moment?"  "Sure, Sir, come on in."  Gregor quickly explained that one of his key lieutenants was captured ten hours ago, and that Gregor's sources had informed him the lieutenant was being held in a bombed out house in the village of Crocuk, northeast of the capital city of Miran.  Gregor stated he was putting together a team to go and retrieve his lieutenant, and could the CLEF task force spare any gear?  "Sir, we do.  But let us take care of this for you.  Let's look at the map, and I'll personally lead the mission."

It's 1030 on 13 April 1990, and Team 6-1 has been briefed, geared up, and conducted its movement to the objective area.  They conducted a security halt, and Lt Trojas conducted a recon of the area; the team is now infiltrating as close to the target building as possible to secure the Cronistrian Democrat Militia (CDM) lieutenant.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SSmlWGBL5QU/Vnby1xEzTvI/AAAAAAAATHU/_Yvq__5HK4g/s1600/IMG_4428.JPG)
A fierce fight breaks out in and around the target building.  To see how the fight turns out, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2015/12/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-4.html

Well, that's it for now, I'll look to get some more games in this coming weekend.  I'm loving how quick these are; the previous took a tad longer to set up because I used all that lichen, as well as the fact the fight went long (due to the CLEF knocking the bad guys around then the bad guys recovering and knocking the CLEF around), but this fight was quicker than normal and so I got both in (set up, play, take down, set up, play) in about three hours.

More fights to come!

V/R,
Jack

 8)

Cheers - Phil

Phew! Thought badger was a goner then!

Thanks guys!

I was worried about Badger too.  In my last fight I had four casualty rolls to make, and they were mixed (one okay, one out for 4 days, one out for 22 days, and KIA).  In my previous games, I'd had two casualties in two fights, but one was KIA and one so badly WIA he had to sent home.  So I was quite happy to receive a 'just a scratch, back in action' roll.

More to come.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1100 on 13 April 1990, and Team 6-1 is on the run.  Thirty minutes ago the team, led by Lt "Mikey" Trojas (who is also the commander of the Cuban Liberation Expeditionary Force's contingent in Cronistria), assaulted a building held by the Cronistrian National Guard (the military arm of the Cronistrian Communist Party).  The CNG had ambushed a Cronistrian Democratic Militia (CDM) patrol and captured a key lieutenant.  So key, in fact, that the leader of the Cronstrian Democrats, Andraz Gregor, personally asked for Lt Trojas' assistance in recovering the man.

So Mikey led his team to the target building and rescued the CDM Lieutenant.  One of the men, Badger, had been hit, but Slate patched him up and he was quickly back in action.  Which was a good thing: Team 6-1 began to exfiltrate to the southwest, and had only been moving (on foot) for approximately ten minutes when the sound of vehicles was heard to the northeast.  It quickly became apparent the team was being pursued.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PscWFRx1k3s/VoHS75mQqhI/AAAAAAAATPM/tQudq4DjKqo/s1600/IMG_4496.JPG)
CLEF commandos dash across the bridge (bottom right) while trading fire with Serbian commandos (top left).  To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2015/12/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-5.html

So, a helluva fight!  I didn't play any games this past weekend, but I played two games on Monday, and my plan is to play two games each day until I go back to work on 4 January.  We'll see how this shakes out, and be patient as I'm playing my butt off and will have to catch up the batreps later.  Also, I've decided to keep playing through on Cronistria and push back the launch of my South Leon campaign as I'm waiting on more troops.

I've almost finished up some good guys from Flashpoint Miniatures, then I've got a bunch more good guys on order from Geoff at QRF.  I've also got a BTR and some helos on order from The Warstore, and I need to order some more Peter Pig bad guys.  It's kind of depressing really, to realize how much more stuff I need and how much more painting I've got to do yet.  And this doesn't even mention the two massive Napoleonic projects I've got going on, the modern aircraft (for Cuba Libre), my Battle of Britain stuff, a bunch of new 10mm modern Brits, a bunch of various WWII stuff in 10mm, and all my crap in modern 6mm...  But I'll keep plugging away.

V/R,
Jack

Excellent, as always, Jack !

Cheers - Phil (Who will come back and read it a bit more slowly, later.  ;)......This putty is starting to 'go'.... ;D)

Nice one Jack! 8)

Yes.
And you didn't have to worry about the scale, it's okay.

Jack,
I didn't do modern but have enjoyed your report. I love the RPG in flight markers (particularly the one in the first set that's about to take out an APC). Are these markers something you scratch built or are the commercially available?

Thanks guys, and I'm working on the next write-up.  I also played another ;)

Oh, and I just finished up a bunch of 15mm Vietnam-era US Marines, will post them soon.

D-Guy - they are commercially available from a store called "Fight's On!" in the US, but those missile markers are just pipe cleaners with a little paint on the end.  I'm very lazy so i went the commercial route ;)

V/R,
Jack

I think you mean prudent with your time Jack ;) ;D

Paul,

Indeed, Sir!  See, I put out money in order to have more time to bring you fine fellows more battle reports ;)  Working on the next one now, but I need to get upstairs and play some more.

V/R,
Jack

All,

Just in time, it's New Year's Eve.  Happy New Year everyone! 

As a quick aside, this is the 75th battle report I've posted this year; hope I do as well next year!

It's 0930 on 15 April 1990, and Team 6-2, down to just Tico (the team leader) and Bear (and the two aren't very happy with one another) are closing in on their objective.  But they're not alone: partly owing to the fact Team 6-2 was so shot up, but partly due to the fact it's simply time to get them on the street, this mission is the first pairing of Cuban Liberation Expeditionary Force troops with soldiers of the Cronistrian Democratic Militia (CDM).  Members of TF Trojas' Det B continue to work on training new recruits; the seven CDM members accompanying Team 6-2 are men with prior military training (in the Army of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, or FRY).  They've been designated as leadership cadre for future units to be stood up once Det B 'graduates' its first batch of troops, so this mission is to be their baptism of fire.

So far the CLEF has fought against the Cronistrian National Guard (CNG, members of the military wing of the Cronistrian Communists), the Cronistrian People's Army (CPA, militia of the Cronistrian Communists), and Demjanovic's Tigers (a Special Forces Battalion dispatched to Cronistria specifically to deal with TF Trojas).  But there is another adversary present in Cronistria: while it has suffered large-scale desertions, horrible morale, lapses in leadership, corruption, etc..., the FRY Army still has a number of garrisons in Cronistria.  TF Trojas would love nothing more than to ignore these garrisons, but the problem is that they wish to keep Cronistria from leaving Yugoslavia and have stricken at Cronistrian Democrats on several occasions.  Lt "Mikey" Trojas, consulting with President Andraz Gregor and his military head, General Miroslav Denis, has decided that the best course of action is to violently attack several of the FRY garrisons in the hope of shocking them bad enough that they simply decide to sit out the war.

So Mikey called Tico in to brief, and they settled on a garrison on the Austrian frontier, north of the capital of Miran.  With that, Tico briefed Bear and the CDM team, they went through gear checks and rehearsals, then set out at approximately 0100 on foot.  By 0930 they were in their jump-off positions, ready to put some shock and awe on the FRY garrison.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nI78805VPlo/VoHXVOIAn4I/AAAAAAAATgQ/dv463-eMHQg/s1600/IMG_4637.JPG)
Tico (center-right) and one of his CDM troops (bottom right) cleared the gas station and guard tower, and now move up on the barracks.  To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2015/12/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-6.html

That was a lot of fun; I've fought one more already and need to write it up, and I'm looking to play some more today.  Stay tuned.

V/R,
Jack

Ouch, poor Bear! ;)

Thanks Lemmey, and Bear will be back.  He just needs to get his stuff together! ;)

I'm working on batrep number 7, played fights number 8 and 9, looking to play two more Saturday and two more Sunday.

I'm really aggravated about not being able to start my 15mm "Fall of South Leon" campaign.  >:( >:( >:(

The issue is I'm waiting on more figures; as near as I can tell, none of them have been dispatched yet either, and then I've got to paint and base'em of course, so no telling when the bad guys will march on Pendrakenville.  But I can't wait to get to it.  My plan is to have some Vietnam War-looking fights up on the border, and some Iraq War-looking fights in the heartland, along with some Special Ops stuff.  I can't wait, getting very impatient  :'( :'( :'(

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1530 on 18 April 1990, and Team 6-3 is on patrol, seeking out the enemy.  And not just any enemy, their new nemesis: Demjanovic's Tigers, the Serbian 4th Special Forces Battalion.  Serbia is very much interested in holding together the splintering Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY).  It had been content with backing, to a certain extent, the Cronistrian Communist Party, as well as keeping several FRY Army units active in Cronistria via pre-existing garrisons/barracks.  But word soon reached Serbian military HQ that a Western nation had dispatched commandos to Cronistria to back the Cronistrian Democrats; President Milosevic ordered the deployment of Major Demjanovic's 4th Special Forces Battalion to hunt them down.

Earlier in the day the Operations NCO approached Lt "Mikey" Trojas, the commander of the CLEF detachment in Cronistria, Task Force Trojas.  "Sir, 626-Forward (a CLEF element across the border in Italy, with a Radio Reconnaissance Team attached) reports new callsigns and locations up on the enemy (radio) net.  This has to be Demjanovic's Tigers.  Most of the callsigns are co-located with FRY garrisons, but we've identified a few located in rural areas.  There's one not two hours' march from here."  "Roger, get me 6-3's leader, Turk."

Turk reported to Mikey, who quickly briefed him in on the situation.  "I want your team to scout out the location ID'ed by 626-Forward, and if you can whack'em, then I damn well want you to whack'em, savvy?"  "Roger, Boss."

Turk assembled his team, briefed and prepped them, and off they went.  By 1330 the four-man patrol was nearing the geocoords provided by 626-Forward.  Unbeknownst to the team, Demjanovic's Tigers had set a trap: they set up several ambush sites in rural areas centered on fake radio transmissions, which they figured might lure the Western commandos to battle.  The only good news for Turk and Team 6-3 was that the enemy had oriented their ambush to the south and west, while Turk had had his men circle around from the north.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uIk_bIQIoqE/VoMdbkeNpWI/AAAAAAAATiU/wTsle1MTU68/s1600/IMG_4652.JPG)
The team arrives at the bridge and begins crossing the linear danger area.  The point man crosses, then, the team leader, and the designated marksman had just begun crossing (the SAW gunner is still on the north side of the bridge) when all hell broke loose.  To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/01/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-7.html

I've already played the next two fights and need to get them written up for you guys.  They're on the way, so stay tuned.

V/R,
Jack

lovely board !
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8qLxcPLHk_k/VoMddWDXNRI/AAAAAAAATig/kwA7mcqRx9M/s1600/IMG_4653.JPG)

Good to see you back Jack! Great report sir!

Ditto !
Cheers - Phil

Jack, enjoyed the report. In looking through your blog I didn't find the rules that you use. Are the commercial or your own?

Ronan - Hey buddy, how are you?  I've been keeping an eye on your blog, no gaming lately eh?   :'( :'(  Hope you're able to get some more games in soon.

Lemmey and Phil - Thanks guys, it's always appreciated, hope you liked the fight.

D Guy - I use a commercial set of rules known as "5Core," which is a system put out by a guy named Ivan Sorenson (he hangs out on TMP and The Wargames Website).  There are rules for skirmish level ("Five Men In Normandy"), company level (5Core Company Command), and brigade level (5Core Brigade Commander), as well as various sci-fi adaptations.  He also has another system, '...End in Sight.'  'No End in Sight' are his WWII to present rules, 'No Stars in Sight' his sci-fi rules.

In any case, I use 5Core pretty much exclusively these days; I've played about 100 battles at skirmish, platoon, company, and battalion level with them, and they think they're fantastic.  You can get them pretty cheap as a PDF from The Wargame Vault.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1830 on 18 April 1990, and Task Force Trojas is a flurry of activity.  Turk and Panda of Team 6-2 were captured approximately two and a half hours ago, and Lt Mikey Trojas, the Task Force commander, has been working non-stop to retrieve his men.  First and foremost is the issue of location; where would Demjanovic's Tigers, the Serbian commandos that captured the Cuban Special Forces men, decide to take Mikey's men?

Mikey immediately met with the Cronistrian Democract President, Andraz Gregor, and the head of his military, General Miroslav Denis, both of whom pledged their support.  Mikey impressed upon them the urgency; Mikey figures the Serbs' most likely course of action is either to interrogate then execute Turk and Panda, or whisk them out of Cronistria and back to Serbia as soon as possible.  In either case, time is of the essence.  Mikey informed the President and the General that his Task Force is acting to find Turk and Panda: Team 6-1 is on the street pressing its HUMINT sources for any word of their location, and 626-Forward's SIGINT element has discovery of Turk and Panda's location as its top priority.  Gregor and Denis agree to immediately press their informants, moles in the Yugoslavian Army, Cronistrian National Card, and Cronistrian People's Army, and to use Cronistrian Democratic Militia to aggressively scout for the location of Turk and Panda.

Within 45 minutes a TF Trojas source pointed to the area southeast of the capital city of Miran.  626-Forward's SIGINT element did some pattern analysis and laid good odds that the missing CLEF members were being held at the FRY (Yugoslav Army) base near the village of Petroika, five miles southeast of Miran.  And then General Gregor's men came through: a mole in the FRY, stationed at Petroika, walked off base, found a payphone, and breathlessly reported to his handler that '...two of our friends were just brought to the base by the Serb scum, and one is hurt pretty bad.'  CDM scouts were able to confirm on VHF that there was increased activity at Petroika, and the Serbs were present there as well.  Shortly thereafter SIGINT traffic showed a Serb Lieutenant at Petroika contact Major Demjanovic in Miran, and then Demjanovic immediately radioed Belgrade.

Mikey: "Get your stuff together, I think this is it."And with that, a detachment of CDM troops and the remnants of TF Rojas loaded into trucks for movement to Petroika.  Once there, Mikey met with President Gregor's nephew, who had just debriefed the CDM mole in the FRY's Petroika garrison.  Gregor's nephew pointed out the building Turk and Panda were being held in, and informed Mikey a Serb interrogation team had just arrived and begun working them over.  Mikey then convened a meeting of the small unit leaders, in which he literally drew his plan in the dirt.  His initial inclination was to leave Rock and Bolt, the two remaining members of Team 6-3, back at base camp, but they pleaded to be a part of the mission and so he gave them the thumbs up.  So the mission would go down in three phases:

1.  The initial breach: Tico and Bear of Team 6-2 would lead one squad of CDM troops to force a hole in the FRY's base perimeter.  Team 6-4, along with attachments from 6-3 (Rock and Bolt) would infiltrate through the penetration towards the target building.  Team 6-2/CDM 1st Squad would continue to demonstrate in order to draw enemy attention.

2.  Team 6-4 (plus attachments) make the direct action assault on the target building to secure Turk and Panda.

3.  Team 6-4+ departs objective area for rally point.  All teams rendezvous at rally point, return to base, with Team 6-1 covering withdrawal.

-CDM 2nd and 3rd Squads take up blocking positions along fast routes into Petroika in order to keep enemy QRF from Miran from reinforcing.

-Team 6-1 takes up position near initial breach and is assault force reserve.

**Game note: 1, 2, and 3 above are played out as three separate games.  This batrep is for #1 above.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yrl0EsZWCBs/VobvpLDshgI/AAAAAAAATzg/R3GBYK62tcg/s1600/IMG_4784.JPG)
CLEF and CDM forces approach the line of departure, with FRY defenses in the background.  To see how it turned out, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/01/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-8.html

Well, the first phase of the operation is finished, next is on to the target building for the actual In Extremis Hostage Rescue mission, conducted to secure Turk and Panda, currently being interrogated by a Serbian team.  I've already played this, just need to write it up; I'm hurrying!

V/R,
Jack

Alas poor Blue, we hardly knew ya!

Good report again, Jack.  8)
Cheers - Phil

All,

It's 1845 on 18 April 1990, and Team 6-4 (plus two men of 6-2) is on the move.  Tico, Blue, and a squad of Cronistrian Democrat Militia (CDM) just blasted a hole in the perimeter of the enemy base at Petroika, and now Team 6-4+ is on the way to the building where Turk and Panda are being held by members of Demjanovic's Tigers, a Serbian commando battalion.  There are also members of the Yugoslavian Army in the area.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WAGBjoiXcI4/VobzNyP8u6I/AAAAAAAAUEk/hWdWM7bErnA/s1600/IMG_4923.JPG)
Redrum leads the charge on the target building.  He did very well for himself today, earning the Bronze Star with V.  To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/02/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-9.html

So right now Rooey, Redrum, Goss, Bolt, and Turk are operating the enemy APC to escape with Blade, Rock, and Panda out of action in the troop hold.  But Serb commandos are moving to intercept them as we speak, so stay tuned for the next batrep.

V/R,
Jack

Good one Jack

Great looking battle, as always, Jack.

Cheers - Phil.

That's great scenery!

Thanks fellars.

V/R,
Jack

" I just got incredibly lucky with some very good/bad die rolling "

Yes you were !  :)

All,

It's 1545 on 2 June 1990, and war in Cronistria is entering a new phase.  To date, Task Force Trojas has conducted Unconventional Warfare missions with its A-Teams while its B Team trained recruits of the Cronistrian Democrat Militia (CDM) to battle the communists, i.e., the uniformed Cronistrian National Guard (CNG) and the rag-tag Cronistrian People's Army (CPA).  The first battalion of Democrat Militia has been trained and TF Trojas A-team personnel are serving in leadership roles as the B-Team continues to train more men.  The Cronistrian Democrat President, Andraz Gregor, has a nephew in the CDM.  The nephew has fought several battles at TF Trojas' side, and has accounted himself very well.  And so Sasha Kukoc has been given the rank of Captain and made a company commander in the 1st CDM Battalion.

It's time to take the fight to the enemy.  Cronistria is a small, sparsely populated nation, with the major urban center being the capital city of Miran.  Cronistria's fate largely rests on who will ultimately control Miran, and so the CDM Battalion, centered in outlying rural areas, has begun patrolling into the villages lying on the outskirts of the capital.  One such village, lying just southwest of Miran, was about to become a flashpoint; a minor battle that would become a test of wills.

And so Captain Kukoc wasn't expecting much when he and SSgt Escalante ("Blade") led Alpha Company's 2nd Platoon into the village of Brevno, but the show had just begun.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eb3sZXPrSjg/VwMEMIZJOrI/AAAAAAAAVUs/RRL2H3LJKE4k4siYNqCfXYdLb_XYKdvWQ/s1600/IMG_5678.JPG)
The village of Brevno, north is up.  The locals spotted trouble coming from both east and west and left town.  The village had been untouched by the war; the Inn at top left, the Post Office at top center, Apartments at top right, the City Office at bottom right, and the Manor at bottom left.  A few trees, hedges, haystacks, market stands, and a single (inoperable) automobile dot the otherwise pristine landscape.

This is the magnificent new City Set from Crescent Root, in 15mm. To see how the fight went, please check the blot at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/04/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-10.html

What a fight, and what a perfect start to this portion of the campaign!  The boy and I had a great time, lots of back and forth, and really it all came down to my being lucky with Captain Kukoc taking the Post Office despite being outnumbered and getting fired at several times at point blank range.

I didn't get any gaming in this weekend, just trying to get caught up on the batreps.  So stay tuned, there are three more to go.

V/R,
Jack

Geeat report, but what medals were dished out to the boy's boys? Fairs fair, time for him to add to the narrative!;)

T'riffic, again, Jack !  8)

Cheers - Phil

Damn Lemmey, I was hoping you were tracking casualties, promotions, and awards for the boy's troops ;) I'm just one man!!!

And thanks Phil, I'm glad you liked it.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 0715 on 3 June 1990, and Captain Kukoc has ordered GySgt Dos Santos to take a patrol from his 1st Platoon, Alpha Company, back into the village of Brevno to ascertain the enemy situation there.  Yesterday the Cronistrian Democrats of the CDM and the Communists of the CNG had fought a meeting engagement there, before both sides pulled back and shelled the village.

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oRJ2Ywk2k4Y/VwMHZ6CnM5I/AAAAAAAAVV0/ZHb5ycJsMEk64ywMMRKjy5XYTIJbxAgHQ/s1600/IMG_5743.JPG)
The Democrat patrol advances from the left, the Communist patrol from the right.  The ville is looking a little worse for wear.

The village of Brevno, north is up.  The locals spotted trouble coming from both east and west and left town.  The village consists of the Inn at top left, the Post Office at top center, Apartments at top right, the City Office at bottom right, and the Manor at bottom left.  A few trees, hedges, haystacks, market stands, and a single (inoperable) automobile dot the landscape.  Democrat artillery has struck the Apartment Building, while Communist artillery struck the Inn.

To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/04/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-11.html

Another fun fight, two more to get posted before this weekend.

V/R,
Jack

Another great report, Jack.  :)

Cheers - Phil

Another cool scrap!  8)

your terrain is getting better and better, jack !

Thanks guys.  And Ronan, c'mon man!  I miss your batreps!!!

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1145 on 4 June 1990, and things aren't looking so great in the village of Brezno.  Two days ago the Democrats and Communists fought a meeting engagement, fell back, and pounded the village with artillery.  Yesterday both sides again sent a patrol into the village, and this time Gunny Dos Santos' 1st Platoon decisively pushed the Communists back.  But as Dos Santos brought the rest of his platoon into position, the Communist artillery crashed in and pounded them for several hours, causing serious casualties.  Both sides once again ceded control of the village and fell back, then sent in small patrols to see what the heck is going on.

Owing to heavy casualties in 1st Platoon, Captain Kukoc ordered his 3rd Platoon, under SSgt Bettancourt, to send a small patrol back into Brezno to identify enemy intentions.  The Communists did the same.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ArUlnP33cHA/VwL9b-Ns9wI/AAAAAAAAVOA/epmKgSE2UgMoCPK_OFUvTHCTjmbboJ23w/s1600/IMG_5776.JPG)
The Communist machine gun gets into perfect position and cuts loose, firing an entire belt of 7.62mm rounds down the length of the Democrat patrol.  To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/04/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-12.html

Last fight coming up.

V/R,
Jack

Unlucky the boy! Good report Jack  8)

Great stuff, again, Jack !

Cheers - Phil

Quote from: bigjackmac on 14 April 2016, 12:26:19 AM
(...)And Ronan, c'mon man!  I miss your batreps!!!

I even didn't have time to write the batrep of the second game we had, with LeManchou, in .. february !  :'(
But I hope I will have some spare time now..

Thanks

Ronan,

Well, I hope things slow down for you and you get some time for gaming and posting the reports.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1430 on 5 June 1990, and SSgt Bettancourt's 3rd Platoon, Alpha Company, is dug-in in the village of Brevno, the scene of three previous battles between the Cronistrian Democrats (led by TF Rojas) and Communists.  Once again the Communists fell back after the battle, and for the past several hours they've been pounding Brevno with artillery.  They suffer from poor coordination and control, so they don't manage to get an overwhelming force into the village as the barrage lifts, but SSgt Bettancourt's platoon has been significantly impacted by the bombardment.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F0dxbW9YyEo/VwL6THw63vI/AAAAAAAAVKc/nhDODVyhbfwmtl8Nlj2ls-dWfa-k82MaA/s1600/IMG_5812.JPG)
The Democrats start in prepared defensive positions, but the Communists move forward aggressively and spot a Democrat near the Inn.  An RPG quickly follows the target identification.  To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/04/cuba-libre-cronistria-fight-13.html

In a strange twist of fate, both sides took the same amount of casualties, but the Communists managed to push the Democrats out of Brevno.  That's right: the boy got me ;) 

That's all the fights I've played so far, but more games to come soon.

V/R,
Jack

Sounds like a goody, your boy certainly doesn't give up easily does he?

Nah, Lemmey, we're Americans  :D ;D

The boy has been doing great, I've mostly just been luckier with the dice ;)

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 0530 on 29 June 1990 and members of the Cuban Liberation Expeditionary Force are on the move in the Balkan state of Cronistria, where the Fall of the Wall has led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia and democrats are fighting communists to determine the future of Cronistria.  Cuba sent a small detachment of Special Operations forces to assist the Cronistrian Democratic Movement (CDM) back in April, and since that time the Cuban-backed CDM has made steady progress.  Most recently, the CDM pushed into the village of Brezno, several kilometers southwest of the capital of Miran.  While the assault ultimately devolved into a stalemate, the fighting proved the CDM had matured into a bona fide force capable of succeeding, and so Cuban leadership decided reinforce the CDM with conventional armored forces.  A battalion-sized element consisting of two mechanized infantry companies and a tank company was dispatched to Cronistria, arriving on 20 June 1990.

Nine days later the force, now combined with the Cuban SOF and identified, by the name of its commander, as Task Force Galban, is ready to move.  TF Galban is broken down into the SOF element and three mixed battlegroups, each named after its commander.  Each battlegroup has a platoon of tanks (actually, wheeled armored vehicles packing a 105mm cannon), two platoons of mechanized infantry (in wheeled armored vehicles), attached heavy weapons (mortars, machine guns, and ATGMs), and reconnaissance elements (in HMMWVs and Scimitars).  TF Galban is set to begin Operation Chokehold, wherein the Cubans will skirt Brezno to the northwest, semi-isolating it and Miran, allowing Brezno to be reduced by CDM troops and opening the road to taking the capital.

This operation, which will consist of between eight and sixteen separate fights, is played in 6mm, with troops from GHQ and buildings from JR Minis, using Ivan's "5Core Company Command" rules.

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kVDyGY7gr7Y/WB-JkKoYH2I/AAAAAAAAY8Q/VdHSO9j1UZkLItu3IT8qXC3JoLn4VqVlACLcB/s1600/IMG_8472.JPG)
Overview of map,  north is up, the town of Kacak, with its key bridge, at center, and Hill 121 at left.

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sRC7ZiyU0Lw/WB-JjkAzryI/AAAAAAAAY8M/7lXL34wl6M4LCGW40x3zX2iirWGsEUN4gCLcB/s1600/IMG_8473.JPG)
The opposing forces, with Communists on the left and Cubans on the right.  I just realized I don't have the command stands for either force present...

The Cuban force, which consists of the company commander, Lt Aguilera (not pictured), six rifle stands (each is a squad, so two platoons), a Milan ATGM, a HUMMWV with TOW ATGM, and an AMX-10RC.  The Communists have six rifle stands (each is a squad, so two platoons' worth), a T-62, and a command stand (not pictured).  The Communists are on the defensive and will begin the game hidden.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_RWRgNAG250/WB-KewMvMsI/AAAAAAAAY94/6Jwy41jufLAGZDIbmKO9m7Zi7XvnehprACLcB/s1600/IMG_8500.JPG)
Some bad guys look down on barbecued HMMWV.  To check out the fight, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/11/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-14.html

I played a total of four fights this weekend for Operation Chokehold.  I figured the entire Op would be about six or eight fights, but it's looking like it will be even more than that, as I hadn't really planned on getting kicked off a map (SPOILER ALERT!).  But I don't care, I'm having a blast, feels like the old Cuba Libre "War of Liberation," in which  I went for 32 total fights.  I figure this Op will last me another two weekends.  So stand by for the next three batreps from this weekend.

V/R,
Jack

Ouch! Quite some scrap there Jack!

I notice the preponderance of flat roofed buildings in Cronistria, I thought that with the inclement winter weather, they tended to use more pitched, orange, pan-tile roofing? ;)

You're thinking of the other Balkans, Will. This is the one on the south-west side with the good weather and sunshine ;)

Is Lt. Aguilera called Chris, at all?!

Excellent stuff, Jack.

Cheers - Phil

Good stuff Jack, I'm impressed at the shear number of linked games you go for!

 Lemmey - Yeah, pretty rough fight.  The buildings are flat roofed because Cronistrians are lazy and flat roofs are easier to build.

TP - Yes, Lt Aguilera used to be pretty hot, but hasn't aged well ;)

Phil - Thanks man!

Fred - Part of the reason I do Imagi-Nations is it allows me do whatever I want, as my wargaming whims sway to and fro.  Cronistria started out as 20mm SF action, morphed into 15mm modern skirmish action, and has now evolved into 6mm company-level action.  Not really a well thought out plan, but it works for me ;)

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 0700 on 29 June 1990 and Battlegroup Aguilera is re-forming and preparing to make another push into the town of Kacak, where they just received a bloody nose at the hands of the Cronistrian Communist forces.  Casualties were substantial, but the Cubans are ready to get back in the fight and take Kacak.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2rdsySleo3o/WB-RS6hwchI/AAAAAAAAZBU/n6C6JKA5Ke8bFpLGkyZ7-rKA28FIT_Z2ACLcB/s1600/IMG_8554.JPG)
Things are not going so well: Lt Aguilera is watching his right flank crumble, the attack on Kacak is again faltering!  He dismounts his command vehicle and leads his HQ section into the fray! To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/11/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-15.html

Well, that's fight two of four from this weekend, and two of probably a dozen for the entirety of Operation Chokehold.  Hope you liked it, and more to follow.

V/R,
Jack

That one went well, in the end! ;)

Great report, as always, Jack.

Cheers - Phil

Nice report

Take care

Andy

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.  Definitely a close-run thing.  Next one coming right up.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 0830 on 29 June 1990 and Battlegroup Caballero has just crossed the line of departure, moving into the attack on TF Galban's second objective, the town of Premja.

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C90qjQBOVDo/WB5wEJHPuTI/AAAAAAAAY6c/DHKB0dWgI0MDJ2rTiLUPSKrRK6CNMQuQgCLcB/s400/Op%2BCro%2BFreedom.jpg)
North is up, the village of Brezno is at bottom right, the capital of Miran is off map to the right, directly east of #5 on the map.  Each number is a village/town; you can see buildings (black boxes), roads (tan lines), rivers (blue lines), lakes (blue circles), hills (green humps), bridges (gray pairs of lines), and forests (green shaded areas).  TF Galban will enter the tactical area of operations in the southwest (bottom left) corner.
1: Brezno
2: Kacak
3: Premja

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm3Ft_jKqRg/WB-XEo2NBpI/AAAAAAAAZC4/boTI4jv9U001SkinKQG_X7LMjocbzTc6wCLcB/s1600/IMG_8574.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  The town of Premja is at center right, part of Lake Bulodna at bottom right, and Hill 103 at top left.  Battlegroup Caballero will enter from the southwest (bottom left).

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DJlzWuB3Yf8/WB-XbjlmiMI/AAAAAAAAZDg/xlLJls_N9XUCj8aI3QCLmKdr2VhTradxgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8585.JPG)
The bad guys spring their ambush, firing an RPG at the Cuban Scimitar.  To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/11/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-16.html

Well, fight number 3 of 4 from this weekend is in the books, one more to post, then more games this weekend.

V/R,
Jack

Need to fix the address to "16". Copy and paste in the browser and change the 15 to 16.

Thanks Kipt, not sure how I messed that up, but it's fixed now.

V/R,
Jack

Another 'goodie', Jack.

I keep telling you, I can rig you some loaded dice.  ;)

Cheers - Phil

Nice AAR once again :)

Great looking game Jack

Thanks guys!  One more to post, should get it up here this evening.

And Phil, I may have to take you up on the offer!

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1030 on 29 June 1990 and Battlegroup Caballero, having just been rejected from the town of Premja, is again going over into the attack.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYTRVWea9qk/WB-cfKESX_I/AAAAAAAAZHA/c1lylMbCjgwGwQ1raQQebnfxdxdgTnA3wCLcB/s1600/IMG_8637.JPG)
With a HMMWV burning (bottom right) from the earlier fight, the Stryker pushes forward, and the ambush is sprung!

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rfMJq2ftexw/WB-cniLTsAI/AAAAAAAAZHQ/_Sw2UotxwZUqaIHLdRH_CQXAInlTUfSnwCLcB/s1600/IMG_8641.JPG)
The Cobra rolls in to make a rocket run.  To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/11/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-17.html

Stay tuned, more games coming this weekend.

V/R,
Jack

That was close!  ;D

 8)

Cheers - Phil

Hell, they've all been close!  Too close.  It stinks o'close!

I'm off work for Veteran's Day, about to head upstairs and push this operation further down the track.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1230 on 29 June 1990 and Battlegroup Elias is on the move, crossing the line of departure on its way into the Cronistrian town of Abrvo.  The plan of attack is take take the urban area west of the river, consolidate, then infiltrate across the river and attack what is believed to be strong defensive positions atop a nearby hill.  After some setbacks early on in the offensive, TF Galban seems to be rolling, and the Colonel is depending on Captain Elias to keep the initiative.

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mxto3gVUcWk/WCfM40mIqeI/AAAAAAAAZLM/bYUoAJ_zmeAZ29QSGah7IJn9V5brd1eVgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8698.JPG)
Here's the board with the troops placed.  As usual, I placed the Cubans (bottom left), then I placed one marker and one dummy marker for every enemy rifle squad, and one marker and two dummy markers for the enemy vehicle, then flipped them over and placed the bad guys.

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PYFV9i4OFek/WCfNUaf3HVI/AAAAAAAAZL8/__qcPD_4xs07WEsQn3GomrL94o1c7_z8QCLcB/s1600/IMG_8710.JPG)
Cuban infantry (top center, top left) push ahead to secure the objective, but the bad guys have excellent fields of fire.  That's a lot of open ground to cover!  To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/11/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-18.html

This is the first of four fights I played this past weekend.  Hope you like it, and more to come!

V/R,
Jack

Nice ne Jack. Nearly....

 8)

Cheers - Phil

Thanks guys, I appreciate ya!

Next one should be posted this afternoon/evening.

V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1330 on 29 June 1990 and Battlegroup Elias has just taken the town of Abrvo.  However, the Cronistrian Communists have established a defensive line just east of the town and river, anchored on their left by Lake Lagoda and centered on Hill 142.  Captain Elias sets about quickly reorganizing his troops for the assault on Hill 142.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TDC2179JERA/WCfQMK4oFBI/AAAAAAAAZOo/-EXOPvqlUnILDoJ-hA0Hrk3mYV9uf665wCLcB/s1600/IMG_8749.JPG)
Overiew of map, north is up.  Abrvo is at left, Lake Lagoda at bottom right, and Hill 142 at top right.  Yes, I need to put some flock on the lake...

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EbRNlnmKeCg/WCfRPGbu5iI/AAAAAAAAZQs/hOoqUEQ3V6otDz6dtQmPek8VkELyoI40ACLcB/s1600/IMG_8784.JPG)

The Cuban HMMWV (bottom right) dodged an RPG (bottom left), moved up, and launched a TOW at an enemy T-62.  To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/11/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-19.html

Next up, Captain Aguilera's assault on Pisa,  Last time Battlegroup Aguilera was up it took them two tries to take the objective...  I'm having a great time, lots of linked fights going rather quickly, moving the story along.  I hope you guys are having a good time too.

V/R,
Jack

Interesting game, was not expecting....

Great stuff, once again, Jack.

(I keep reading one of the names wrong, and thinking.... "Why have you got a Manchester City footballer involved in these battles.)  ;D

Cheers - Phil

Thanks guys!

Lemmey - Wasn't expecting what, the Air Force finally making an appearance?  Me either, but when it happened the battle was already won.  Typical Air Force...

Techno - Not following you.  Oh, you mean 'soccer'?  As football is the realm of real men here in the US  ;D ;D ;D

Next one coming soon.

V/R,
Jack

Quote from: bigjackmac on 18 November 2016, 04:13:42 PM
Techno - Not following you.  Oh, you mean 'soccer'?  As football is the realm of real men here in the US  ;D ;D ;D
V/R, Jack

Yes...the game where you use your FOOT to propel the ball.....Not use your hands to throw it everywhere.  ;) ;D ;D ;D

Cheers - Phil. (Do you know....I'm going to have to look up why it's called 'soccer'....I've actually got no idea.)

Easy Techno, it's a corruption of 'Association Football'!

I thought American Football was rugby for wusses who couldn't play it without body armour? There again I famously know nothing about sport. :D

Quote from: mad lemmey on 18 November 2016, 04:26:27 PM
Easy Techno, it's a corruption of 'Association Football'!

Oh, Blimey ! X_X
Of course it is.  :-[ :-[ :-[

Blame the combination of new painkillers and the other new pills I'm taking.....They're great. @-) @-) @-)

Cheers - Phil. (I have become......Comfortably numb.......Will, will get that. ;))

I thought it was 'soccer' because 'bunch of sissies playing keepaway and flopping' was considered too risque?  :P :P :P

So, if I want a bunch of replies to my batreps, all I have to do is insult soccer? ;)

Having said all that, it is indeed a joke.  While 'futbol' is not my thing and I am a huge fan of 'America Football,' I don't really care, I just couldn't help but run my mouth!  In any case, next batrep coming right up.

V/r,
Jack

All,

It's 1500 on 29 June 1990 and Battlegroup Aguilera is pushing ahead towards the Cronistrian town of Pisa, at the northern edge of TF Galban's operational area.  Once Pisa is secured the Task Force will swing west to complete the encirclement of the Cronistrian capital city, Miran.  Battlegroup Aguilera was the first element off the starting line for Operation Chokehold, kicking off the operation with an enemy assault on the town of Kacak.  Lt Aguilera is a bit anxious; his men are ready, but will this be the meatgrinder the battlegroup ran into in the first attack, or will they be victorious, as in the second?

Let's find out ;)

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d41ZqJs-AzA/WCfS3D1uZsI/AAAAAAAAZSU/6c5yvSqEgNY3hPKMAPy81r-vTOXITFFBgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8809.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  The Cubans will enter from the southwest (bottom left), behind Hill 176, attacking the city, Pisa (top center) and seize its vital road junction.  Doing this will:
1) cement TF Galban's left flank;
2) remove the Dubrovna garrison; and
3) allow TF Galban to move on to its next objective, the town of Stanje.

Hill 150 is at top right, beyond Pisa.

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nfLsBwYtTF0/WCfT0pIdTzI/AAAAAAAAZUQ/1vO2i0-RAXg2DHL0OQOLgVNatWE_c9IxACLcB/s1600/IMG_8840.JPG)
The Cobra rolls in on a rocket run.  To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/11/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-20.html

One more fight to post, this one being Battlegroup Caballero's completion of the operation, the assault on Stanje to complete the encirclement of the capital city.  But don't worry, that's not the last fight ;)

V/R,
Jack

Quote from: Techno on 18 November 2016, 05:09:08 PM
Cheers - Phil. (I have become......Comfortably numb.......Will, will get that. ;))

Have your hands swelled up like two balloons?  :(

Quote from: Techno on 18 November 2016, 05:09:08 PM
Cheers - Phil. (I have become......Comfortably numb.......Will, will get that. ;))

Has your Floyd gone Pink?

There is no pain,
You are receding,
A distant ship's smoke on the horizon,
You are coming only through in waves,
Your lips move,
But I can't hear what you're saying........ ;)  ;D ;D ;D

(I'm not taking this combination of pills too often !...Thank goodness it's Saturday tomorrow.. ;))

Cheers - Phil.

Different song I know, but I was always partial to "...you've got that look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky..."

V/R,
Jack

You reached for the secret too soon...

"...you wore out your welcome, with random precision..."

"Shine on, you crazy diamond."

Non piu andrai, farfallone amoroso,
notte e giorno d'intorno girando.
Nelle belle turbando il riposo,
Narcisetto, Adoncino d'amor.

Real music lovers can play that game too!

Oh-oo-oh, so you think you're something special
Oh-oo-oh, you think you're something else

...
That don't impress me much

Got to love some Shania Twain!  :D :D :D :D

Real music lovers, eh?

"Je te plumerai la beque..." ;)

V/R,
Jack

Quote from: FierceKitty on 19 November 2016, 11:50:37 AM
Non piu andrai, farfallone amoroso,
notte e giorno d'intorno girando.
Nelle belle turbando il riposo,
Narcisetto, Adoncino d'amor.

Real music lovers can play that game too!

My knowledge of Italian suggests this translates as ...

"I have no Andrex and that Amaretto farfalle
Last night is churning my insides grand style.
No belly should hold a turbot so ripe,
Don't be narky, Andrex, my love"

Am I close? ;)

 ;D ;D ;D ;D

Now that's what I call a thread hijack! ;D

Hijack? Isn't the thread title "Something rotten ..." ;)

 :D
Neptune, Titan, stars can frighten!

All,

It's 1730 on 29 June 1990 and Battlegroup Caballero is pushing toward Operation Chokehold's final objective, the Cronistrian town of Stanje, completing the western encirclement of the capital city of Miran.  Victory is near at hand, and as the Cubans near Stanje the Cronistrian Democrats begin their push to clear the town of Brevno of Communist forces.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FVpnWT-6oU/WCi01GJGk6I/AAAAAAAAZaY/1HYsBgjr2aIWuKCGJagI8L1Qg4Cvb7TlACLcB/s1600/IMG_8861.JPG)
Overview, north is up, with Stanje at top center and Hill 127 at bottom right.  The Cubans will enter from the top left (northwest).

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m9Elm2p5vLE/WCi1-ZhY06I/AAAAAAAAZck/ViXN4h9J0sMT_ooGGRbQVWiS_CwEV2mBQCLcB/s1600/IMG_8898.JPG)
As the Cobra (bottom left) rolls in to look for the T-62 and put a TOW into it, an enemy rifle squad (top right) launches a rocket.  The Cubans collectively hold their breath as the rocket rises towards the attack helicopter.  To see what happened, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/11/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-21.html

This was a helluva fight, a real nail-biter for me, one that I enjoyed immensely.  I hope it's as fun to read as it was to play.

That is the last of the four fights from last weekend, more coming up this weekend.  I'm hoping to finish up Operation Chokehold, but I just thought of something else that might be cool, and I've been sick as a dog since Thursday and I'm not sure if I'm up to it.  I laid on the couch Thursday and Friday, managed to paint a grand total of six (6) figures today.  Hopefully I pass my rally roll and get back in the fight, stay tuned.

V/R,
Jack

Great fight, thanks for the report Jack.

The enemy tank deserves a medal!

+1

Super report, Jack !

Cheers - Phil

Thanks guys, but no medals for bad guys!!!  :P

Sorry, I'd been pretty busy and missed these comments. 

Next batrep on the way.

V/R,
Jack

All,

AKA, Operation Cro-Wings #1

It's 1745 on 29 June 1990 and it's time for a diversion.  I've been playing 5Core Company Command in 6mm, but I've got a hankering for some modern skirmish, so here we go.  I've been playing out "Operation Chokehold," where Cuban mechanized forces have been on a blitzkrieg, pushing north and east to encircle the Cronistrian capital of Miran.  This effort has been going swimmingly, but the operational planning had identified Cronistrian Communist armored forces to the north of the battle area.  As a counter, known as "Operation Cro-Wings*," Lt Trojas' ODA 626 was broken up into five- and six-man teams infiltrated into various 'hides' along the northern edge of the Operation Chokehold area of operations.  The teams settled into the hides to perform surveillance on avenues of approach to the north, acting as tripwires for Task Force Galban.  The plan was for the recon teams to report if Communist forces were seen massing or moving towards Task Force Galban's left (northern) flank, providing time for the Cuban mechanized forces to prepare for any Communist counterattacks.

And that is exactly what happened.  At approximately 1710, Team 3 of ODA 626, under GySgt "Turk" Dos Santos was settled into its hide atop Hill 781 when it spotted Communist forces and called it in to TF Galban headquarters.  Not only was the info immediately relayed to TF Aguilera, who immediately set about preparing a reception for the incoming Communists (Cronistria fight #24), but Cuban F-4 Phantoms were sent in, arriving on station at 1730 and making several runs, devastating the Communist armor.

Turk's team remained in its hide, at 50% (half on watch, half sleeping), with no expectation of contact.  Unbeknownst to them, Communist forces had identified the team's location via radio-direction finding equipment and dispatched militia to take on the Cuban Special Forces troops.  At 1745 SSgt "Chick" Alfaro alerted the team via intra-squad radio: "Contact, contact, everyone up.  We've got movement down-slope to the north."

*Operation Cro-Wings: yeah, this is a direct rip-off of "Lone Survivor" and the real-life "Operation Redwings."

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_b7EM2uUIhA/WEOIGSICw_I/AAAAAAAAZkU/CyPZc9rwRRg6zVsArBtRsGTtZchwDQdIACLcB/s1600/IMG_8992.JPG)
Overview of map, north is left.  The team is in and around the bombed out house at bottom left, which is on the crest of Hill 781 (yes, I know the house is the absolute worst spot for a hide owing to target indicator issues, but it's a game and I wanted to break up the terrain a bit).  Regarding Hill 781, think of the entire table as being pretty high up on a sizable mountain, with various peaks being labelled hills.  So bottom left is Hill 781, top left is Hill 690, bottom right is Hill 691, and top right is Hill 850.  Don't worry about all those, just know the original observation post is at bottom left and the team is running to exit the table at top right.  As you see, the area is heavily forested with pine trees and there is a stream running across the board, though it's really just there for looks, doesn't mess with movement.

The team is in and around the building at bottom left.  There are five bad guys in the northeast (top left), and five bad guys in the southwest (bottom right).  Those are two of the bad guy entry points; don't forget, the initial call of 'contact' is bad guys coming up the slope from the north, i.e., the bottom left.  Once the team gets moving and the bad guys start taking casualties they'll start using the bottom left corner as an entry point.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cKMXkCCkz94/WEOH_zybxMI/AAAAAAAAZkE/FolgQGDPxo8OyGgBWMp8eRYN0uJsqqB8QCLcB/s1600/IMG_8989.JPG)
The opposing forces, with Cuban SOF at left and Communist militia at right.  The good guys are Battlefront SEALs (Vietnam era) and the bad guys are Eureka Chechens.

I'm a glutton for punishment, so here's the plan: the bad guys will start with these ten men on the board, at three separate entry points.  As bad guys get whacked they will come back on the board, 're-spawning' at one of the three entry points.  So theoretically there will always be ten bad guys on the board, no matter how many I kill, chasing my six guys.  And if (when?) I take casualties I will have to take them with me.

I will make things a little easier on myself: in the rules (as with most rules), when someone gets shot there is an 'out of the fight' option.  That guy is done for the fight, then after the fight I roll to see if what actually happened to him; there are options for 'dramatic scar,' knocked unconscious, light wound, serious wound, debilitating injury, and dead.  To make things potentially easier for me, when one of my guys gets an 'out of the fight' result, I will move a buddy over to check on him, and then I'll make the casualty roll to see what actually happened to him.  If he's dead or seriously wounded then one of my guys will have to carry him out, but if he's 'lightly wounded' or less he will be able to continue the fight, just moving a bit slower, some other penalties for shooting and reactions.

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kl2xVP8Uu4A/WEOMs26paLI/AAAAAAAAZtI/-eBmW0NJNs8Od6WsiLb62NoiXVLBlv0MgCLcB/s1600/IMG_9134.JPG)
The Cubans are nearing their objective, but the bad guys send an RPG up-slope at them.  To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/12/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-22.html

Hope you liked it, fight number two of Operation Cro-Wings coming right up.  Oh, and someone please do me a favor: I've posted about eight batreps recently, and not received a single comment, and I did in the past, so I'm starting to wonder is something is wrong with the mechanism for leaving comments on the blog.  So, if one of you doesn't mind, please leave a test comment here.  Thanks in advance.

V/R,
Jack

Man of the match: The Goat!

Good one Jack, liking the terrain too.

As always enjoyed the picture stories over at your blog. I'll echo the sentiments about the terrain - very stylish. Did you makes the hills or are they commercially available?

Great stuff again, Jack.

Cheers - Phil

Thanks guys, I appreciate ya!

Not sure what I was doing with the goat, kinda took on a life of its own.

Guillaume, the hills are from Battlezone in the US.

V/R,
Jack

Regimental mascot?  ;)

Coming soon - Cronistria: The Men Who Stare At Goats :)

Great AAR and lovely looking game, as ever.

Lemmy - Perhaps, if anyone survives to bring the goat out! 

Ithoriel - If we leave them up in the mountains any longer, it may turn into the men that @#$% goats!!!   ;D ;D ;D

V/R,
Jack

All,

AKA, Operation Cro-Wings #2

It's 1805 on 29 June 1990 and Team 3 of Lt Trojas' ODA 626 is sitting atop Hill 850.  They had been performing surveillance, from Hill 781 to the northeast, on a nearby road networks, serving as a tripwire to warn TF Galban mechanized forces of enemy counterattack.  They spotted enemy armor moving in, reported it to TF HQ, and coordinated air strikes (some enemy forces still got through; that's actually the next fight, TF Aguilera fighting off the enemy counterattack near Pisa).  However, enemy radio direction finding efforts triangulated the team's position and vectored Communist militia into the area.  Team 3 was able to get the drop on the bad guys, but there were simply too many, and so the Cubans abandoned their positions and moved to Hill 850 in a running firefight.  The team suffered one man seriously wounded (he has to be carried in this game) and three lightly wounded (for game purposes these men are now back to full strength for this fight).

Upon reaching the crest of Hill 850 the team made comms with TF HQ.  They were informed Battlegroup Elias was standing by as QRF to get them out, but the team needs to continue moving southeast to Hill 825, which has a Helicopter Landing Zone (HLZ) just east of it which is suitable for extraction.  The radioman informed the team leader, GySgt "Turk" Dos Santos of this development.  "Uhh, fellas, I got bad news."  Everyone turned to look as Turk showed them the problem: the team's back was to a 30 foot cliff; with enemy troops coming from the north, northeast, and southwest, the only avenue of escape was down the cliff, across a draw, and up Hill 825 to the southeast.

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bt51e7UydMo/WEOOYKrSpFI/AAAAAAAAZt0/BLSHWLkvFt4d1Xh1kFlO0XAveYIxEDgLQCLcB/s1600/IMG_9144.JPG)
Overview, north is left.  Hill 850, where the team is starting, is at bottom left, while the rally point is at top right, on the crest of Hill 825.  Again a draw runs across the board, with a stream cut into it.  The team is on the board, atop Hill 850 at bottom left, trading fire with more than 60 enemy troops (off camera to bottom left) moving up, hoping to encircle and eliminate the Cuban Special Forces team.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k6hfi5ldnzw/WERhXhTQFtI/AAAAAAAAZvU/jKomnukwQiQvKMECboFi26QMaslPEzx2ACLcB/s1600/IMG_9166.JPG)
The team, having to carry one of its seriously wounded members while under fire from three directions, has scampered down Hill 850 (off camera to bottom left) and has begun its climb up Hill 825 (off camera to top right), trying to get to the LZ before being overrun by bad guys.  To see how it turned out, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/12/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-23.html

The third fight of Operation Cro-Wings is coming up soon, but up next is actually the fight at the town of Pisa as Battlegroup Aguilera tries to fight off the Communist armored elements that fought their way through the Cuban airstrikes called in just prior to the first fight of Op.  Stay tuned!

V/R,
Jack

Yet again, the goat did well!

Great report, Jack.

What with Bear, Chick & Badger in the frame....I'm beginning to wonder if the goat's someone in camo'.
I must go back and have a much slower read later on.

Cheers - Phil (Who's rushing about !)

Thanks Lemmey, and the goat probably has earned a promotion, walking point for the team and all.

Phil, hurry up!  I didn't realize most of the nicknames were animals until I started typing the report.  But don't worry, no camouflaged goats ;)


V/R,
Jack

All,

It's 1815 on 29 June 1990 and Battlegroup Aguilera is taking up defensive positions near the Cronistrian town of Pisa.  Earlier in the day Battlegroup Aguilera seized Pisa and held open the corridor as the rest of Task Force Galban (Battlegroups Caballero and Elias, as well as the HQ and Service Support elements) passed through.  Battlegroup Caballero completed TF Galban's mission to encircle the Cronistrian capital of Miran by seizing the city of Stanje, and Battlegroup Elias moved up to them as Battlegroup Aguilera began moving east to catch up.

However, at 1710 local time, Team 3 of ODA 626, under GySgt "Turk" Dos Santos was settled into its hide atop Hill 781 (screening the left/northern flank of the Cuban advance) when it spotted Communist forces and called it in to TF Galban headquarters.  Not only was the info immediately relayed to TF Aguilera, who immediately set about preparing a reception for the incoming Communists, but Cuban F-4 Phantoms were sent in, arriving on station at 1730 and making several runs, devastating the Communist armor.

**Team 3 was compromised atop Hill 781 by enemy radio direction finding; its fights for survival are numbers 22, 23, and 25.  That may not seem to make sense, but I'm posting these in chronological order.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w3BV2An-v-I/WEOD5iQQjDI/AAAAAAAAZhs/TNkezFc7g4YMrHpOytNbAyhaXKFi4HVlgCLcB/s1600/IMG_8951.JPG)
A HMMWV with .50 cal (bottom left, firing past the CO's vehicle) opens up on a Type 63 APC and enemy infantry in the open (top right).  To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/12/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-24.html

In the overall scheme of things, Operation Chokehold is finished and has been a roaring success.  Task Force Galban started in the southwest, then dashed north and cut east to encircle the Cronistrian capital city of Miran, taking five enemy-defended towns along the way, then throwing back a (weak) counterattack.  There is still one more fight to go in Operation Cro-Wings, which is Recon Team 3's fight for survival in the hills north of Pisa.  Also, the Cronistrian Democrat forces are having a bit of trouble clearing Brezno (the town that started all this conventional fighting and convinced the Cuban President to allocate more forces to Cronistria), and Dubrovna, the town just north of Brezno, is still in enemy hands as well, which puts it in the bag, but a thorn in our side and a danger to try to break out of the encirclement.  If I have time I may have Battlegroup Elias take the town.

Total casualties for Operation Chokehold, which consisted of nine tabletop battles:

Cubans
180 KIA, WIA, and MIA personnel
2 x AMX-10RC destroyed
2 x HMMWV destroyed
1 x Scimitar destroyed
1 x Stryker destroyed

Communists
270 KIA, WIA, and MIA personnel
55 captured personnel
5 x MTLB destroyed
2 x T-62 destroyed
1 x ZSU-23-4 destroyed
1 x BMP destroyed
1 x Type 63 APC destroyed
1 x BRDM destroyed

Additionally, members of Task Force Galban were awarded the following decorations during Operation Chokehold:
1 Cruz Servicio Distinguido
1 Estrella de Plata
4 Estrella de Bronce

Like I said, I may play another couple fights to take the city of Dubrovna just to eliminate a pocket of enemy resistance and help out the Cronistrian Democrats, but Operation Chokehold is officially concluded.  For me it was a pretty cool concept, a lot of fun in the vein of my War of Liberation campaign (which, so far, is kind of the pinnacle of fun for me in wargaming).  The games were small and quick; while the tables were nothing to look at, they took only minutes to set up and take down, and were serviceable, as were the 6mm troops, vehicles, and aircraft.  I can definitely see myself doing more of this.

I've played the last fight of Operation Cro-Wings, still need to write that up and post it.  After that, not sure what's up next.  A few ideas:

1.  With the capital encircled from the west, I'm considering some larger-scale armor fights using Cold War Commander on the east side of Miran.

2.  I'm thinking about doing some platoon-level stuff back with in South Leon, my Imagi-nation stuff that's really USMC vs North Vietnamese Army.

3.  I'm thinking about starting my WWII USMC series of campaigns at the platoon level, beginning in the Philippines.

4.  I played out Operation Pay-Off, where Cuban SOF escorted The Ambassador to Morocco to make a ransom payment, then got ambushed.  I need to get around to Operation Pay-Back, which is exactly what it sounds like, retribution.

5.  I need to get back to KG Klink to finish up Fall of France, then figure out what to do with them.  That thing is really a bit too ambitious (following a company of armor, a company of infantry, a company of recon, and assorted heavy weapons through the entire war (already did Poland, played four games of France).

6.  I need to get back to Hakuna-Matata, my African Imagi-nations.  The hang up here is that I based them individually, which looks great, but I wish I'd have based them three vehicles to a stand.  For me, so much of wargaming campaigns is 'feel,' and playing this with individually-based vehicles just doesn't feel right.

Well, that's it for now.  Last fight of Operation Cro-Wings coming up, then more games next weekend, just not sure what yet.

V/R,
Jack

Nice one Jack.
Enemy dice were dire!

Good stuff, Jack.

(Wot ?.......No goat  ;))

Cheers - Phil

Lemmey - Yeah, but what goes around comes around :(

Phil - Sorry man, I don't have a 6mm goat!

Next fight should be posted tomorrow or Thursday.

V/R,
Jack

All,

AKA Operation Cro-Wings #3, AKA The Death of Team Three

It's 1825 on 29 June 1990 and Team 3 of Lt Trojas' ODA 626 is sitting atop Hill 825, and they're in a bad way.  They had been performing surveillance, from Hill 781 to the northeast, on a nearby road networks, serving as a tripwire to warn TF Galban mechanized forces of enemy counterattack.  They spotted enemy armor moving in, reported it to TF HQ, and coordinated air strikes (some enemy forces still got through; that's actually TF Aguilera fighting off the enemy counterattack near Pisa).

However, enemy radio direction finding efforts triangulated the team's position and vectored Communist militia into the area.  Team 3 was able to get the drop on the bad guys, but there were simply too many, and so the Cubans abandoned their positions and moved to Hill 850 in a running firefight.  The team suffered one man seriously wounded and three lightly wounded.

Upon reaching the crest of Hill 850 the team made comms with TF HQ.  They were informed Battlegroup Elias was standing by as QRF to get them out, but the team needed to continue moving southeast to Hill 825, with a Helicopter Landing Zone (HLZ) just east of it.  The radioman informed the team leader, GySgt "Turk" Dos Santos of this development.  "Uhh, fellas, I got bad news."  Everyone turned to look as Turk showed them the problem: the team's back was to a 30 foot cliff; with enemy troops coming from the north, northeast, and southwest, the only avenue of escape was down the cliff, across a draw, and up Hill 825 to the southeast.

Turk led Team 3 down the cliff and up the slope of Hill 815.  The fighting was ferocious, and while the Communists were dropping like flies, Team 3 reached the crest with three seriously wounded men and two lightly wounded.  But tragedy struck as Turk radioed for extraction; a Cuban CH-47 carrying five crewmen and 18 soldiers from Battlegroup Elias swooped into the valley between Hill 850 and Hill 815.  Turk had just established communications with the pilot when a rocket streaked up from Hill 850; the Cuban helicopter was struck and fell at the foot of Hill 850, with no survivors.

Turk informed TF Galban headquarters, which ordered the recon team to descend Hill 815 to the south, heading for the Cronistrian town of Tulm, where a convoy from Battlegroup Elias was currently moving to effect extraction.  Turk looked at his team, half of whom could not even walk, and got them ready to move.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G4-nkjnUHKg/WE3fkzWwD-I/AAAAAAAAZ3s/HLDll3-5SMIJxoamlviCjACi6oZEoeWjwCLcB/s1600/IMG_9291.JPG)
Overview of map, north is left.  Hill 815 is at bottom left (northwest), Tulm is at top right (southeast).  There is a shallow stream running east-west at the center of the table.  Hill 535 is at bottom right, and the foot of Hill 618 is at top left.  The team is atop Hill 815; they have to make their way down-slope, cross the stream, then get into Tulm, where (hopefully) units from Battlegroup Elias will be waiting to pick them up.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mj_mbCsa9BA/WE3gT9UzxhI/AAAAAAAAZ5A/Cdra81JLJAgOanbwCUjftBBupHt_P830gCLcB/s1600/IMG_9312.JPG)
Turk and Chick taking fire.  Almost to the stream, but enemy troops in Tulm and no sight of Battlegroup Elias.  To see the bitter end, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2016/12/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-25.html

I hope you enjoyed Operation Chokehold (the 6mm fights) and Operation Cro-Wings, even though it wasn't exactly a Hallmark ending.

V/R,
Jack

Um ... do your chaps get their backsides handed to them often?

Could it be a problem in leadership, or tactical thinking?

Sad ending! But a nice game!

"I just realized I forgot the damn goat!!!"

Well, there you go...

FSN - "Um ... do your chaps get their backsides handed to them often?"
I dunno man, you'd have to define 'often.'  It certainly happens.

"Could it be a problem in leadership, or tactical thinking?"
More than likely!  Hell, I've posted more than 300 batreps in the past three years, you draw your own conclusions!!!   :P ;D ;D

Peter - "Sad ending! But a nice game!"
Thanks, and don't worry about sad, they're just little toy soldiers. 

I know you're not going this route, but I just wanted to take the opportunity to say, I know some folks don't like (or find insensitive) modern wargaming, it's too close.  But this is just little toys in a made up army fighting in a made up country. 

Lemmey - Yep, I'm pretty sure not having the goat is what did me in ;)  That, and bad shooting dice.  And the millions of bad guys streaming onto the field of battle.  To take on three guys.  That were carrying three guys.  And the initial QRF being shot down.  And the follow-on QRF not showing up in a timely manner  :'( :'( :'(

It was a fun series of fights.  More gaming coming up this weekend, just haven't yet made up my mind on what it will be.  I might go with some Cold War Commander in 6mm, work to close out Cronistria once and for all.  Any preferences (I listed some options at the end of the previous batrep)?

V/R,
Jack

All,

First, Happy New Year!  And to celebrate, I'm going to post a series of 6 or so modern skirmish battle reports, one a day until I'm done.  Thus begins the first of 6-10 modern skirmish fights; I'm playing with my 7-year old son, and we're playing co-op, so that each of us controls a 'good-guy' fireteam of four men against the enemy squad of 6 to 8 men (depending on a die roll).

AKA Cronstria Fight #26, AKA "The reduction of Dubrovna," Fight #1

It's 0725 on 1 July 1990 and Battlegroup Elias is moving up to the line of departure, preparing to jump-off into yet another attack.  It's been a busy few days, but if today goes well, enemy forces on the west side of the capital city of Miran will be totally eliminated. 

If you're a loyal follower of Cuba Libre, go ahead and skip down to the last bullet-paragraph before the map.  If not, and you're bored:

It's recently come to my attention that not all of you out there in wargaming land have bothered to read every single one of my batreps, thus you may be confused about what the heck all this talk about Cubans, Cronistrians, Miran, etc..., is about ;)

So, for the uninitiated, here's a synopsis:

-In Feb 1990, Cuban exiles, with substantial support from several Western nations, staged an invasion of Cuba to depose its dictator and install a constitutional republic.  The invasion was a roaring success, and the war was over after five days of heavy fighting (32 tabletop fights can be found on this blog under the label "Liberation").

-A transition government was put into place, elections were held, and a new government was quickly established.  The Cuban military was essentially split in two: a Home Defense Force (about 75% of the military), which never leaves Cuba, and the Cuban Liberation Expeditionary Force (or CLEF; about 25% of the military), which is an all-arms, air-ground force deployable to all corners of the globe, fighting for the cause of freedom.

-There have been some minor operations, but the first sizable deployment was of a Cuban Special Forces A-Team to the (fictional) Balkan republic of Cronistria.  It's 1990 and the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia are falling apart; Cronistria has declared independence and is striving to become a democracy, but Communist hardliners and Yugoslavian federalists are actively opposing this.  Fighting broke out between the Cronistrian Democratic Militia (or CDM, the good guys) and Cronistrian Communist Army (or CPA, the bad guys); the Cuban SF troops were deployed to support and train the CDM.  The Cuban SF (designated Task Force Trojas) performed their mission very well, surpassing expectations, to the point Cuban leadership began to believe they might actually succeed in helping Cronistria become an independent, stable, and free state.  With this realization, the Cuban leadership deployed additional, conventional forces to Cronistria (reinforcing success).  The Cuban element in Cronistria is now known as Task Force Galban, a roughly battalion-sized element composed of three mechanized Battlegroups (Aguilera, Caballero, and Elias), and Lt Trojas' SF detachment.

-CDM and Cuban forces had been marching on the Cronistrian capital city of Miran, but had become stalled by heavy fighting in the village of Brezno, just southwest of the capital (see map, below).  Upon arrival of the mechanized elements of TF Galban, they were immediately thrown into battle.  Two days ago they conducted a series of lightning quick attacks to encircle Miran from the west (eight fights in "Operation Chokehold," on this blog they are Cronistria fights 14-21, and 24, with 22, 23, and 25 being a Special Forces operation gone wrong).

-So, this blog concept, 'Cuba Libre,' is really nothing more than a vehicle for me to play out whatever modern ideas and scenarios I feel like playing, in the overall concept of a single 'history,' if you will, as I follow the exploits of the various units and leaders of the Cuban Liberation Expeditionary Force.  To illustrate, I felt like playing some skirmish-level games using my Peter Pig US Marines and my Eureka Russians.  I didn't really care about climate, so I used Cronistria.  If I wanted Arctic or desert, I would have just made up a new operation somewhere in the world (like I just played out Operation Pay-Off because I wanted to play Special Forces against terrorists in the Middle East).  It's great!

-I'm a big fan of Ivan Sorensen's "5Core" series of rules, having played Five Men in Normandy (skirmish), 5Core Company Command (company/battalion-level), and 5Core Brigade Command (brigade/division-level).  I love the activation process, which puts limits on what I'm able to do and forces interesting decisions to be made, and I love the combat processes, which are simple, quick, and to the point.  Most recently, Ivan put out a new/updated/modified version of 5 Men in Normandy, known as Five Men at Kursk (5MAK).  I modified these slightly to play out modern games, and that's what I'm using for this set of skirmish fights.

-CDM forces currently have their hands full clearing Brezno, and have asked for Cuban assistance.  Colonel Galban acquiesced to this request, sending Battlegroup Elias to aid their allies.  Battlegroup Elias left Stanje (see map, below), heading south to attack the rear of the Communist defensive positions, located atop Hill 489 and in the town of Dubrovna.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sj1HyRTlfQE/WGbIK8sr8oI/AAAAAAAAZ7o/SU9zuS7H0fgAWp2jGHZHsQmFkfHh8bWNwCLcB/s1600/IMG_9346.JPG)
Overview, north is up. Shown is the slope of Hill 489; the Cubans will enter from the south/southwest (bottom/bottom left), while the Communists enter from the north/northwest (top/top left).   The situation is Cuban infantry of Battlegroup Elias are dismounted and conducting a movement to contact, when they run into a Communist patrol in the early morning mists of July 1, 1990.

The Cuban mission is to defeat the enemy patrol in order to clear the path to this morning's first objective, the enemy defensive line atop Hill 489.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9MkX_ab99V4/WGbIK2LHyyI/AAAAAAAAZ7s/da05roRggoQG75geWk8mzCGiRGxF0EbiACLcB/s1600/IMG_9347.JPG)
The opposing forces, with bad guys on the left and good guys on the right.  The Cubans will always have eight men (so that my son and I can always control four guys, each), while the bad guys will roll to see if they get 6, 7, or 8 guys.  Here they got eight...

The Cuban squad is eight men in two fireteams, 15mm Modern Marines from Peter Pig, painted up in temperate MARCAM, with each fireteam containing a grenadier, a SAW, and two riflemen.  The bad guys are 15mm Modern Russians from Eureka Miniatures, painted up in 'Sun Bunny' camo.  Each game we roll to see how many bad guys there will be on table, with the options being 6, 7, or 8 men.  With eight men they get two whole teams, each of a grenadier, a machine gunner with PKM, and two riflemen with AKs.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4gATjlzaR3o/WGbIzOmwX1I/AAAAAAAAZ84/FdTvTVz79iINC3jmz4w_yOuBPR6lTW0cgCLcB/s1600/IMG_9367.JPG)
Team 1 in the thick of the fight, laying down fire.  To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/01/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-26.html

Team 1 moves up the slope to capture the last enemy soldier, officially ending the fight in victory for the good guys!  Cpl Lira calls in for CASEVAC with two WIA, as well as a SITREP to inform Battlegroup Elias HQ the way to the crest of Hill 489 is clear, though it appears the enemy has established a bunker line there that is going to need to be taken care of.

The boy and I are quite pleased with ourselves, getting away with 7 bad guy KIAs and 1 EPW for only two WIA.  Not just winning, but winning in style, accomplishing the objective of defeating the enemy patrol to clear the approach to the defensive line atop Hill 489.  Which, as luck would have it, is the next fight, so stay tuned ;)

V/R,
Jack

Nice one Jack and the Boy!

Great game rep as always.


I googled "sun bunny"
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ac/ff/23/acff23a65674520cc05796058031d8ee.jpg)

Enjoyed both of those, Jack.....
Think I 'lost' the earlier one due to EE losing all my 'unread  posts'.....So it got missed until now.

Great reports, as always. :)

Cheers - Phil.

Thanks fellars, glad ya liked it.  The boy is having a great time, and so am I ;)

But he's getting spoiled; we need to get back to playing opposed, get him a few more butt-kickings.  Builds character ;)

Next fight coming right up.

V/R,
Jack

It's 0845 on 1 July 1990 and Battlegroup Elias continues to push up Hill 489.  Earlier, units from 2nd Platoon made contact with an enemy patrol and defeated it.  Following that firefight, 2nd Platoon continued up Hill 489 and conducted a reconnaissance.  Their Platoon Sergeant quickly sketched out a Communist bunker complex atop the hill, noting a ravine which afforded a covered and concealed avenue of approach to within 150 meters of the enemy defensive positions.  The Plt Sgt had carefully reconnoitered the ravine; he found an engineer stake, signalling the enemy had likely registered the ravine for indirect fire, but it didn't appear the enemy had eyes on the ravine, nor where there any indications of mines or booby traps.  He'd found what looked to be a two-man observation post (OP), but it looked to be abandoned.  Encircled and cut-off, the enemy's morale was beginning to crack, and the platoon's earlier defeat of the enemy patrol likely was enough to convince the OP to fall back into the bunkers.

But that meant Battlegroup Elias had a way to get within 150m of the enemy defensive line without being seen.  If they could slip across the small stream unnoticed, they could get within range to put a rocket into the nearest Communist bunker.  And if they could do that, they could rush more troops across the stream, face left, and roll up the enemy line.  Because of the dense forest and undergrowth, and because the enemy had chosen to site their defensive positions too close to the crest, the bunkers weren't in very good position to support each other.  Without the OP in the ravine, the enemy defense was compromised.

The Battlegroup commander, Captain Elias, was briefed on the situation, and he quickly issued his orders.  2nd Platoon would go firm on either side of the ravine, and act aggressively against enemy troops attempting to patrol in/around the ravine, or trying to re-establish their OP in the ravine.  Meanwhile, 3rd Platoon, following in trace of 2nd, would pass through 2nd Platoon, move up the ravine, then attack the enemy defensive line.

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJaQk2Y8sz4/WGbLNwi-09I/AAAAAAAAZ-4/hC28RedGEHwPEvAZl2K9mXWZmDqKRXaEwCLcB/s1600/IMG_9391.JPG)
The enemy line atop Hill 489.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWXDd5fyePk/WGbLaK1gvyI/AAAAAAAAZ_Q/btDCihpHlIgsCRrwOdeqJiBTRME8JJGvgCLcB/s1600/IMG_9398.JPG)
Fight's on!  And nothing says 'fight's on!' like an AT-4 ;)  To see the whole thing, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/01/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-27.html

The Squad takes up defensive positions to the west and begins the CASEVAC process, with one KIA and one WIA, to the enemy's eight KIA.  The remainder of 3rd Platoon is atop Hill 489, working east to clear the rest of the enemy bunkers.  2nd Platoon begins moving up the center, between 3rd Platoon's 3rd Squad on the left (south) and 1st and 2nd Squads on the right (north).  As 2nd Platoon reaches the crest they can see the enemy is broken, and a good thing too!  The enemy massively outnumbers the two Cuban platoons atop Hill 489, but they're outflanked and in full route down the west slope of Hill 489.

2nd Platoon's commander calls the development in to Captain Elias, who immediately orders 1st Platoon, still unengaged in a blocking position astride the highway at the base of Hill 489.  Capt Elias orders 1st Platoon to proceed southwest at all speed, then turn right and push up the backside of Hill 489 to cut off the enemy's retreat, to prevent them from falling back into the town of Dubrovna and setting up defensive positions there.  Battlegroup Elias' AMX-10RCs and LAVs will remain on the highway and cover 1st Platoon's left flank (facing Dubrovna).

1st Platoon mounted its LAVs, dashed west to the backside of Hill 489 (screened by Battlegroup Elias' armor), then dismounted and began pushing to cut off the enemy troops.  However, the dismounts quickly ran into an enemy strongpoint, a weak enemy force seeking to 'hold the door open' for their comrades, i.e., not allow the Cubans to close their path of escape.  As 1st Platoon's 3rd Squad moved on the strongpoint, a few routing enemy stragglers moved over to join the fight.

Next fight coming up tomorrow.

V/R,
Jack

Good stuff, again, Jack.  :)

Cheers - Phil

Thanks Phil!

Next one on the way.

V/R,
Jack

All,

AKA The reduction of Dubrovna, Fight #3

It's 1010 on 1 July 1990 and Battlegroup Elias has two rifle platoons on Hill 489, where the enemy is routing down the backside, attempting to flee into the town of Dubrovna, where their commander hopes to rally them and re-establish defensive positions.  1st Platoon rolled down the highway towards Dubrovna, covered by AMX-10RCs of Battlegroup Elias, then de-bussed near an enemy strongpoint.  The Communist position was key to both sides; a machine gun in an old, bombed out house was keeping Battlegroup Elias at bay, holding the door open for their comrades to escape the carnage of Hill 489, where 2nd and 3rd Platoons quickly broke their defensive line.  1st Platoon was tasked with eliminating the enemy machine gun position, then driving north to cut off the enemy's retreat.

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kkf3uPFapvA/WGbPGgNLwVI/AAAAAAAAaC4/s1QPn1Ji8qIpQphlG3BEJpeR9cEEHztaACLcB/s1600/IMG_9449.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  The enemy strongpoint, a bombed out house, is at center, and Hill 489 is at top right.  It will not be pictured (sorry, I should have put some minis up there as decoration), but enemy troops are streaming down from Hill 489 off the map, from top right to left, while an enemy MG in the strongpoint is firing to cover their exit.  The Cuban 1st Platoon's 3rd Squad will enter from the bottom (south) and is tasked with taking the strongpoint, then the other two squads will push past to the north (top) to cut off the enemy escape route.

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-coZuV_H6hwI/WGbPyuYKjEI/AAAAAAAAaEE/2afZF2gnxNkaC5nngxG40eMcTmRPHX7xACLcB/s1600/IMG_9470.JPG)
Cubans move on the Communist strongpoint, hoping to seize the day.  To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/01/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-28.html

The squad consolidated its position in the objective house while Cpl Lupe sets the SAW into position facing northeast, the other two on policing up their casualties (1 KIA and 2 WIA, Pvt Salazar was knocked down but okay), then pops a green star cluster to signal the objective is taken.  The other two squads immediately begin streaming past the objective house, setting up blocking positions to bag the enemy troops still streaming down Hill 489, attempting to escape 2nd and 3rd Platoons, now on line and moving down the crest.

Battlegroup Elias now has all three rifle platoons engaged, though they are reaping a considerable harvest of wounded and de-motivated Communist troops, men now caught between hostile forces and only too happy to capitulate.  Captain Elias raises TF Galban HQ on the radio and provides a SITREP, and requests reinforcement; all these enemy prisoners (more than 400 as of 1630 local time) are eating up resources, and Battlegroup Elias is unable to enter Dubrovna.  A plan is devised: Battlegroup Elias will go firm, isolating Dubrovna from the east/northeast (while Cronistrian Democrat forces push from the west/southwest), while HQ and Support elements are stripped for bodies and pushed forward to come take care of Battlegroup Elias' enemy prisoner problem.

Battlegroup Elias will resume combat operations tomorrow morning (2 July 1990), looking to enter and finish off Dubrovna.  The entry op is the next fight, coming right up.

V/R,
Jack

Good pair of games!

Great scrap !

Cheers - Phil.

Indeed it was!

Thanks Phil!

V/R,
Jack

All,

AKA The reduction of Dubrovna, Fight #4

It's 0630 on 2 July 1990 and Battlegroup Elias is again moving up to its jump-off positions.  Yesterday saw the Cubans attack a strong defensive position, Hill 489, and defeat it in detail, causing approximately 75 enemy casualties and capturing approximately 400.  The Cubans had gotten extraordinarily lucky in that a patrol spotted a covered and concealed approach into the enemy line, which allowed its units to infiltrate and flank the enemy bunkers, which drove the numerically superior enemy force to flee headlong from the fight.  Cuban forces were able to circle around and block the route of escape, which is what allowed them to bag so many Communist troops (also keeping in mind that the enemy troops in and around the town of Dubrovna are already encircled and cut off from other Communist forces, so they're morale wasn't all it could be).

As Battlegroup Elias rest, refit, and reorganized, Cuban air and artillery pounded Dubrovna all through the night.  Rather than an all-out assault on Dubrovna, Captain Elias has elected to try to infiltrate his infantry on foot, behind a creeping barrage, and once the artillery has moved on and the troops are on the edge of town, the Battlegroup's mortars will give the forward edge of town one more sharp, quick pounding before the grunts push forward.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g9fhy1Pnlq4/WGbUhIWtU6I/AAAAAAAAaIA/WiPW8KSmWvQMwnLmM0SfdwMtgaZrmCdgQCLcB/s1600/IMG_9530.JPG)
Overview of map, the outskirts of Dubrovna, north is bottom right.  The Communists are defending the buildings at center/top right and the Cubans enter from bottom left (east).  1st Platoon is in the lead, and 1st Squad the tip of the spear.  1st Squad's mission is to secure the first four buildings at the town' initial crossroads, opening the door for 2nd and 3rd Squads to pass through them, then 2nd Platoon to pass through 1st Platoon, moving into the town, proper.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8lU-Y1fFgDc/WGbVaYZMasI/AAAAAAAAaJo/r9Kx-33BnckV7O0gKpitEddE3NpMJXDzwCLcB/s1600/IMG_9556.JPG)
With smoke still rising from the craters left by the mortar barrage, Team 1 moves up through the Dragon's Teeth to Building 2, laying down fire as they go.  To check out the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/01/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-29.html

Mission accomplished, the squad consolidates, Team 1 in B3 and Team 2 in B4.  They take up defensive positions, redistribute ammo and water, and Cpl Lupe moves back to tag PFC Abrera's body (1 KIA, enemy 6 KIA).  Cpl Lira calls in the pro-word for objective taken, and 2nd and 3rd Squads immediately go streaming past them to the west, securing the next to buildings without firing a shot.  2nd Platoon now passes through 1st Platoon, and they come smack up against Old Town, the original section of the town of Dubrovno, a sniper's paradise of narrow, cobblestone streets surrounded by two story buildings with nooks and crannies everywhere.  Well, someone's gotta clear that rat's nest, looks like 2nd Squad, 2nd Platoon is up next.

Which, of course, is the next fight, and it's an absolute mess!

V/R,
Jack

Nice one Jack.
2/2plt always end up being combat monsters, looking forwards to this one!

 8)

Cheers - Phil.

Thanks guys.  This next fight was my favorite of the series.

V/R,
Jack

All,

AKA The reduction of Dubrovna, Fight #5

It's 0715 on 2 July 1990 and Battlegroup Elias is inching through Dubrovna, clearing the city house by house.  1st Platoon just completed its mission of breaking into the city, and now 2nd Platoon was passing through them to continue the momentum forward.  However, 2nd Platoon was entering Old Town, the oldest portion of Dubrovna, a sniper's paradise of narrow, cobblestone streets surrounded by two story buildings with nooks and crannies everywhere.  The Platoon Commander called a halt, established 360 security (there was now a gap between them and the other platoons of Battlegroup Elias), and called out "2nd Squad, you're on point."  He gave a quick brief to the squad leader, then 2nd Squad pushing into Old Town, with 1st Squad providing rear/flank security and 3rd Squad standing by to support by fire (an almost impossible task in the densely packed terrain), reinforce, and perform CASEVAC.

2nd Squad's leader briefed his men, finishing with "up and at'em boys."

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z0oV6GKRGw/WGllt4GagaI/AAAAAAAAaXM/MENtKaB3CIAynddba--5bjV0MR5lAZ60wCLcB/s1600/IMG_9584.JPG)
Overview of table, north is up.  We're looking square at Old Town, which is separated from the newer developments to north and south by a city park.  2nd Squad is entering Old town from the east (right), and their mission is to clear every last nook and cranny, right to left, flipping over every blind, to secure Old Town.

(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qDkUNMtZW_w/WGlluJXg-YI/AAAAAAAAaXQ/0UmPRJ9grEI6gzxA7u5w_gAg4IuIJPm6ACLcB/s1600/IMG_9586.JPG)
These little guys are in for a world of hurt.  Actually, I just wanted to show'em off.  The Peter Pig US Marines are fantastic, and I'm proud of my MARCAM paintjob.

(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OtVnFBoW5M0/WGll_upt-2I/AAAAAAAAaXw/YPkXuqgZ5k8lPB7IVvFpMSzrcMF5pUJkQCLcB/s1600/IMG_9593.JPG)
Two Cuban soldiers dash up the street (center right), getting close to The Lion's Den.  A team leader sits tight at bottom left: "better them than me."  To hear all about the Lion's Den, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/01/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-30.html

The squad's in tatter's, 1 KIA and 3 WIA.  Cpl Lira calls in to inform HQ they've cleared the Old Town, but at quite a cost.  3rd Squad moves up for CASEVAC, while 1st Squad comes up to relieve 2nd Squad, with 3rd Platoon right on their heals, looking to clear the rest of Dubrovna.  3rd Platoon finds the going easy, particularly as they're able to make use of a couple AMX-10RCs in the wider boulevards of the newer sections of town.  A couple 105mm rounds into a building makes believers rather quickly, so 3rd Platoon found itself primarily responsible for searching prisoners and shuttling them to the rear.  However, as they reached the edge of town the AMXs were called off to deal with some enemy armor spotted to the south, and the Platoon Commander heard a flurry of rifle shots up ahead, from the area of 3rd Squad, the platoon's point element.  Seems there were a few hardliners holed up in an old, bombed out industrial plant.

Which just so happens to be the last fight of the Cuban operations to seize Dubrovna.  See ya tomorrow.

V/R,
Jack

Ohhh, a possible recurring character! :)

I like that old town layout - nasty place to try and clear!

 8)

Cheers - Phil.

Thanks again Phil!

Lemmey - It would be, but nah, I'm trying to close out Cronistria.

Toxic Pixie - There you are, been awhile man!  It certainly was nasty, but lots of fun.

Last one coming up soon.

V/R,
Jack

Hi Jack,

Yes, I seem to have missed a chunk of fighting there :D

Still, all looks good fun, for a fairly unpleasant for most of the figures value of fun!

TP,

No sweat man, better late than never, and good to see ya!

And don't worry, the little guys are tougher than they look ;)

V/R,
Jack

All,

AKA The reduction of Dubrovna, Fight #6

It's 1135 on 2 July 1990 and Battlegroup Elias is on the verge of completing its mission to take the Cronistrian town of Dubrovna.  1st Platoon  had made the initial breach into the city, and 2nd Platoon expanded it, with heavy fighting to take the 'Old Town' portion of the city.  3rd Platoon passed through them, clearing the balance of Dubrovna.  3rd Platoon finds the going easy, particularly as they're able to make use of a couple AMX-10RCs in the wider boulevards of the newer sections of town.  A couple 105mm rounds into a building makes believers rather quickly, so 3rd Platoon found itself primarily responsible for searching prisoners and shuttling them to the rear.  However, as they reached the edge of town the AMXs were called off to deal with some enemy armor spotted to the south, and the Platoon Commander heard a flurry of rifle shots up ahead, from the area of 3rd Squad, the platoon's point element.  Seems there were a few hardliners holed up in an old, bombed out industrial plant.

(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hHxO_TkgkYU/WGqxRgZN6hI/AAAAAAAAafU/9VPfUANSWxo_Vk7Tw1A3rEQvhqnyNZR7QCLcB/s1600/IMG_9700.JPG)
Overview of table, north is up.  The factory is in the southwest outskirts of town, with a tree-lined road leading to it, and open fields to the far side (which is perhaps why the bad guys chose to make their stand here, there was nowhere else to go).  The Cubans will start the fight on the right side of the factory, the Communists on the left.

This is my brand spankin' new piece of terrain from Novus design, and it's fantastic.  It took me a full day to paint and wash, but it looks great and I'm happy to have it.  I have another large piece like this from Novus, but so far I've only found time to prime it.  Lotta work ahead of me still.

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n61QqYQJQ2w/WGqx1LgIbzI/AAAAAAAAagQ/wZaVzC6V3kEtJ-3s8UwibaC63DBgn2o7ACLcB/s1600/IMG_9715.JPG)
The action is up close and deadly.  To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/01/cuba-libre-cronstria-fight-31.html

Mopping up operations continued for a couple more hours, but Captain Elias called in to Task Force Galban Headquarters to declare Hill 489 and Dubrovna secured as of 1730 local time on 2 July 1990.  Mission accomplished, lots of fun.  I hope you guys had half as much fun as the boy did.  But it's high time he and I get back to some 'opposed' games, vice 'co-op' games.  He's getting a bit big for his britches, basically declaring after both the last two fights that he did all the work.

I am not exactly sure what we're going to play yet, but the weekend is coming and we'll be playing something, so stay tuned.

V/R,
Jack

Super stuff, Jack.

That ruined factory/warehouse IS a very nice piece of kit....You've done a cracking job on that.
Yep....definitely the time to put that young whippersnapper in his place, if he thinks he's doing all the hard work.  ;) ;D

Cheers - Phil

Doomed! Rule of Juve- they always win!

No gaming this past weekend, it turned into a super painting project.  Not fun, but needed to get done.

The boy's comeuppance will have to wait until next week ;)

V/R,
Jack