All,
AKA, Unit 101's 1st Fight of Operation Payback (part of Cuba Libre, my alt-history blog where Cuba was liberated by democratic patriots in 1990)
Following the debacle of Operation Pay-Off, Cuba's President decided revenge was on the menu, and established Unit 101 to be the instrument of that revenge, wherever it may take them. Working closely with Cuban Intelligence, they'd begun the task of figuring out who was behind the bombings in Cuba, and who had conspired to ambush Cuba's delegation in Morocco. HUMINT sources pointed to a sheikh in Morocco with ties to certain, nefarious individuals, who might shed some light on the situation.
Major Villanueva: "Load up, boys, we're heading back to Morocco."
It's 0300 on 5 July 1990. Unit 101 has entered Morocco, and linked up with Cuban Intelligence on th ground. They shared their source's information, pinpointing The Sheikh. Major Villanueva decided on a hard hit, going straight at the target.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GnNR5cIZHsw/WH_7QcFf_-I/AAAAAAAAa7A/QlmZeNwsEhYTVbA477Wtmi_3eRn_7azZgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG)
Overview of map, north is up, The Sheikh's compound at bottom right (southeast). Unit 101 will land at top left, assault the compound, capture The Sheikh, then exfil via the road at bottom left, where they will be picked up by helo. The board is 2' x 2', buildings by Crescent Root, vehicles by Peter Pig.
I'm playing these fights using Ivan Sorensen's rules "Five Men at Kursk," modified a little to make them a bit more modern and deadly.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-79U2zIm8JqU/WH_7QeoC_EI/AAAAAAAAa7E/kvN46yLULmw_NrSa1-cImx3JWuNs_RITACLcB/s1600/IMG_0119.JPG)
Opposing forces, with bad guys on the left and good guys on the right. On the right is the entirety of Unit 101, though they will not all be participating in this fight. Unit 101 is composed of:
Commander
Platoon Sergeant
Two five-man teams
1 Sniper team
1 Machine Gun team
*Most of the troops are 15mm Khurasan, but the shooters have two Battlefront figures, and the sniper and MG teams are Eureka.
The bad guys are: infantry from Flytrap Factory (Taliban) and HVT from Rebel Minis.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dxh_8oH8Ow4/WH_7iCHS2_I/AAAAAAAAa7Y/a2LKrum0ekw-eAAI5UpkiS2s8VgZzvZeQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0125.JPG)
The Blackhawk pulls to a hover and the team jumps out. To see how the full batrep, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/02/operation-dragon-forge-fight-1.html
Team 2 successfully completed it mission of capturing The Sheikh, ten Tangos down, no serious casualties for the Cubans (very lucky casualty rolls). Now the team has to get him to the extraction point. Which, of course, is the next fight, coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Nice report Jack.
Soundtrack - Rock the Kasbah by The Clash 8)
Good stuff, Jack.
Cheers - Phil.
Thanks guys.
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, Unit 101's 2nd Fight of Operation Payback
It's 0330 on 5 Jul 1990, and Unit 101's Team 2 has just captured The Sheikh and is on the way to the HLZ for extraction. But they run into a little trouble; luckily Major Villanueva figured this might occur and had planned accordingly. The Platoon Sergeant and Team 3 are standing by on overwatch.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8IL-SlwOm70/WIAAix-VkYI/AAAAAAAAa_k/EPz1jxFfOTMzoTDorH6aWGgFxfqXyk73ACLcB/s1600/IMG_0181.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The HLZ is at right, Team 3 will be in overwatch at bottom center and bottom right, covering Team 2 coming in at top right, while bad guys enter via the road at left. The objective is simple: Team 2 gets The Sheikh to the HLZ and is extracted.
I'm playing these fights using Ivan Sorensen's rules "Five Men at Kursk," modified a little to make them a bit more modern and deadly.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cBWUq976JtQ/WIAAjBAQHgI/AAAAAAAAa_o/i751kSSpvC0epCzjsqfCaLh5rFthZnCJQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0183.JPG)
The good guys; most of the troops are 15mm Khurasan, but the shooters have two Battlefront figures, and the sniper and MG teams are Eureka.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iuMBDndKbP4/WIAApvQPT5I/AAAAAAAAa_s/PbnysZI2XxIL4IWxDAfL-b93CRWw09c5QCLcB/s1600/IMG_0184.JPG)
The bad guys: ten hostiles (Flytrap Factory Taliban).
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x8T36gZgjVI/WIAAwlY3BFI/AAAAAAAAa_8/BIYKcM9dSHo5GY_D0MTexzuMaXZE8LiPACLcB/s1600/IMG_0188.JPG)
Sniper team on overwatch.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EqkOh8eF4r4/WIACDc3BvOI/AAAAAAAAbCU/2y4yimXyHzsSrTaAsySwUOcFEjdFNSzcQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG)
The machine gun team laying down fire, what? Uh-oh... To see how the fight went, and if the extraction went off, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/02/operation-dragon-forge-fight-2.html
Next stop, gotta see a guy about a bomb maker in northern Italy. Next fight, coming right up.
V/R,
Jack
Nice one Jack.
Not sure the Italians will be too happy!
Good one !
Cheers - Phil
Thanks guys!
Lemmey - If we do it right and get a bit lucky, they'll never even know!
V/R,
Jack
Jack, let's get started,
Options 1-5 you don't want landing on your team, options 6-13 you wouldn't want to meet either!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_special_forces
If they turn up, those Cubans will have an awful lot of explaining to do, repeatedly, down a set of stairs!!!
The Cuban Special Forces are not cowed. You are underestimating the specialness of Cuban Special Forces, which is largely made up of Cuban exiles who previously served in Tier 1 units in the US, UK, Australian, German, French, and Israeli special forces.
One might say the Cubans are special special forces ;)
V/R,
Jack
Just thinking it would make a nice twist to the usual one on one fight! Can the Cubans complete before the Italians jump them.
Hmmm, that is an interesting idea.
I'll certainly keep it in mind; problem with this one is, I've already played two fights in Italy and gone to another country ;)
And all of you readers out there should please feel free to contribute scenario ideas; I've been doing this awhile and the creative juices are long gone...
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, Unit 101's 3rd Fight of Operation Payback
It's 2130 on 7 Jul 1990, and stuff is about to go down for Unit 101, who is now in northern Italy. Following the raid that captured The Sheikh, Unit 101 extracted him and turned him over to Cuban Intel for interrogation. The Sheikh gave up the next piece of the puzzle: he wasn't sure where he was exactly, but the man that made the bomb used against the Cubans in Operation Pay-Off was rumored to be in Italy, and a known associate of his was set to have a meeting with some Albanian mobsters in the northern (fictional) village of Formaggio. Unit 101 got on the ground and linked up with Cuban Intel on the ground, who linked them up with a local national asset, Victoria Scallapeni.
Victoria got the Unit moved up north, briefed them up on the local situation and the meeting between the Bomb Maker's associate, Vito Squirreleone, and the Albanian gangsters. "It's happening at 2130 this evening, in the village center," said Victoria. Major Villanueva turned to Dozer, Team 1's leader: "Make it happen." "Roger, Boss."
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLjqe3fjf08/WIAJqDMxBnI/AAAAAAAAbGg/3QglbUdbqCYKBBL0a3draOxBmTeyP7RbQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG)
Overview, north is up, of the quaint, northern-Italian village of Formaggio. The Albanians will have plenty of security for the meeting between their boss and Vito Squirreleone, which happens at dead center. Team 1 is breaking into two elements, one entering from right (east) and one from left (west). Their mission to capture Vito Squirreleone and exfiltrate him off the map.
I'm playing these fights using Ivan Sorensen's rules "Five Men at Kursk," modified a little to make them a bit more modern and deadly. The buildings and mat are from Crescent Root Studios.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jsQTffM0Mw8/WIAEsuFjRmI/AAAAAAAAbDQ/Fl772HMLRE8oI5NXr8V_mCo0Q-ILx3jrQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0234.JPG)
The bad guys are Eureka 15mm Chechens, while the good guys are Rebel Minis.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMFMRv4nvsM/WIAE_iCCYnI/AAAAAAAAbDw/afJwqUjTMeQaQyJ_Eg8dGU8l72liyl0zwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG)
Victoria strolls up (top right, with Dozer and Switch), then pulls her pistol and begins firing wildly! She shot Vito Squirreleone!!! He's still alive though; "Don't worry boys, I did that on purpose, so he couldn't run away." The Albanian Boss (bottom center left, just below Vito) was also pinned.
To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/02/operation-dragon-forge-fight-3.html
Another fun one, next fight coming up in a couple days.
V/R,
Jack
Told you Italian special forces were a bit good! She's done more damage in one shot than the whole squad did in years!
Gooooo Victoria! ❤
8)
Cheers - Phil.
Thanks Phil, and Lemmey, we'll see. It was the hand of fate, via the dice, of course. I actually don't want her to be a bad guy, was hoping for a recurring role for Ms Scalleppini.
V/R,
Jack
Well, she might be an agent, a double agent, a triple agent or a dirty double crossing double-double agent, maybe!
Dammit!!!
Nuthin' worse than a dirty double crossing double-double agent!!! ;)
We'll see how things shake out. Next fight coming up Thursday.
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, Unit 101's 4th Fight of Operation Payback
It's 0430 on 8 Jul 1990, and Unit 101 is on the way to take down The Bomb Maker. The raid to capture his associate, Vito Squirreleone, didn't quite work out as planned, but Cuban Intel was able to exploit personal electronic devices (yeah, I kinda forgot about the fact this is 1990, but whatevah) found on Squirreleone's body and determine the likely location of The Bomb Maker. Major Villanueva: "Well, Dozer, you found him, now lets' go get him."
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jl5VHt1xg7A/WIAKqZbiwoI/AAAAAAAAbG0/LEagXg98r3kTkxTlAkc6iwS00ohHG5L8gCLcB/s1600/IMG_0282.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The Bomb Maker owns a garage on the outskirts of Formaggio. The compound is at top center, while Major Villanueva and Team 1 enter from bottom left. Their mission is to kill or capture The Bomb Maker.
I'm playing these fights using Ivan Sorensen's rules "Five Men at Kursk," modified a little to make them a bit more modern and deadly.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bdo6pBepEi4/WIAKq0cPt-I/AAAAAAAAbG4/60_SsYpGBoEKDt3sUsVEpTefVUt7U9rowCLcB/s1600/IMG_0283.JPG)
Opposing forces, with bad guys on the left and good guys on the right. On the right is the entirety of Unit 101, though they will not all be participating in this fight.
*Most of the troops are 15mm Khurasan, but the shooters have two Battlefront figures, and the sniper and MG teams are Eureka. The bad guys are Eureka Chechens.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qxv98Hj-fOQ/WIAMm9yuyJI/AAAAAAAAbKQ/OzmMy8sZ-_gMyy-1BIEX2f-P6WWqCoEIwCLcB/s1600/IMG_0336.JPG)
Bad guy cowering in the chicken coop. To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/02/operation-dragon-forge-fight-4.html
That drops the curtains on northern Italy, now it's off to Lebanon for the Unit, which is growing ever closer to figuring out exactly who was behind the ambush in Morocco (Operation Pay-Off). Stay tuned for more batreps.
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, Unit 101's 5th Fight of Operation Payback
It's 0315 on 11 Jul 1990, and Unit 101 is in Lebanon, closing in on The Mayor in the village of Jezabyl. The village is very small, and inhabited only by people that are well armed and loyal to The Mayor, and the tactical problem is that the platoon needs to take The Mayor alive. They're plan is simple and straightforward: Team 1 will bust the door down (this fight), and then Team 2 will dart through and grab the target (next batrep, at least assuming this works). Meanwhile, the sniper and MG teams will be to the southwest, in position to isolate the enemy compound (keep reinforcements from getting in) and prevent escape (keep the target from getting out).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBbUKnsdRi4/WJjqZiQe2SI/AAAAAAAAbmY/PbXvxnjoGwgjA7MsrI8T2e2v2hHbKACewCLcB/s1600/IMG_0719.JPG)
Overview of the table, north is right. You see a shallow stream running north-south, with an orchard at top right (northwest), several walled compounds, and a few crop fields. I'm playing this solo, using Ben Lacy's skirmish rules "Final Combat." These are super detailed, and you know I'm simple, so I'm using the activation system as written, and I'm using the movement, spotting, morale, casualty determination, and firing pretty much as written, though simplified just a hair. This game was fun, and didn't take as long as I thought it would, but was still longer than I generally am looking for. I really like the activation system, so I'll probably work to make shooting, spotting, morale, and casualty determination. Oh, and I didn't really mess with postures too much, everyone just kept moving forward. Part of that was I don't have figures to reflect the different postures (standing, kneeling, and prone) and I didn't really want to use more markers for it, though I'm considering getting some more Peter Pig US Marines so I can do this. The only problem is, I can't find suitable bad guys where I can do the same thing (no one makes modern prone bad guys!).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jKu-fqi1qW8/WJjqRhSZGTI/AAAAAAAAbmM/iZPDMng81jQsE1njCw36KcKKe_EGuVIfQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0717.JPG)
The Cuban entry team, from left: Tank (TQ 4), Rung (TQ 3), Dozer (TQ 4), Switch (TQ 3), Rake (TQ 5), and Cypher (TQ 4). The bad guys have two leaders that are TQ3, the rest are TQ2 rabble.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEIvx4ymqRM/WJjqq6Ohv9I/AAAAAAAAbm0/X945ZJ9w_QccJI6ZS8xlJEtxuia_GQK1wCLcB/s1600/IMG_0726.JPG)
In the still of the night, the Cuban Special Forces soldiers creep forward up the creek. To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/02/operation-dragon-forge-fight-5.html
The rules worked out great. The game was kinda long, but that's true anytime you play a set of rules for the first time, and there are a lot of modifiers to look up (firing, spotting, morale, hit location, figuring out impact). And I couldn't find my D20, so I was rolling two D10s, which I like better anyway (I always hate rolling only one dice, just a personal hangup). In any case, the next fight will be using the same rules, the same way, then I'll look at changing things up if I think I need to. Hope you liked it, I certainly did!
V/R,
Jack
These are awesome looking little firefights.
What a corker of a fight!
Good scrap !
Cheers - Phil.
"Forge" - "Scrap" - pun there - but can't quite reach it ....
I'll iron it out in time.
Lovely work Mr Mac. Very atmospheric.
Hey, thanks everyone! I appreciate you taking the time to post a comment, and I'm glad you guys like the batreps.
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, Unit 101's 6th Fight of Operation Payback
It's 0325 on 11 Jul 1990, and Unit 101 is in Lebanon, closing in on The Mayor in the village of Jezabyl. The village is very small, and inhabited only by people that are well armed and loyal to The Mayor, and the tactical problem is that the platoon needs to take The Mayor alive. Team 1 has busted down the door, and now it's time for Team 2 to rush in and grab the target. The sniper and MG teams are to the southwest, in position to isolate the enemy compound (keep reinforcements from getting in) and prevent escape (keep the target from getting out).
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Km3XTI77ugI/WKDIJ8tTmuI/AAAAAAAAbsA/x_U4uX5_4EQK-TPahyVsJTFZVYjtoDzxQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0795.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The Cubans will enter the table from the east, via the lane between the crop field at top right and the wall/buildings below it. The rest of the village, with the creek, is off camera to top right; that was the ingress where Team 1 fought the previous battle, and Team 2 has passed through them and is moving into The Mayor's compound. They don't know which building The Mayor is in; the enemy has two squad leaders. Once the fight begins, one of the squad leaders will move to The Mayor and attempt to evacuate him, while the other squad leader organizes a delaying action. When it's time have a bad guy squad leader move to the mayor, I'll roll a dice to see which building he's in, and the squad leader will have to move there, grab him, then lead The Mayor off the map. The Cubans, of course, are trying to catch The Mayor alive.
I'm playing this solo, using Ben Lacy's skirmish rules "Final Combat." These are super detailed, and you know I'm simple, so I'm using the activation system as written, and I'm using the movement, spotting, morale, casualty determination, and firing pretty much as written, though simplified just a hair. This game was fun, and didn't take as long as I thought it would, but was still longer than I generally am looking for. I really like the activation system, so I'll probably work to make shooting, spotting, morale, and casualty determination a little more simplified (keep the concepts, re-work to D100, which is really just a personal preference). Oh, and I didn't really mess with postures too much, everyone just kept moving forward. Part of that was I don't have figures to reflect the different postures (standing, kneeling, and prone) and I didn't really want to use more markers for it, though I'm considering getting some more Peter Pig US Marines so I can do this. The only problem is, I can't find suitable bad guys where I can do the same thing (no one makes modern prone bad guys!).
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3EJRIDWJG3M/WKDIIMUSbrI/AAAAAAAAbr4/z9ox6ZbbEOUs7LSq225TM2HfMimJg4QNgCLcB/s1600/IMG_0797.JPG)
The Cuban entry team, from left: Trinity (TQ 4), Ratchet (TQ 3), Mouse (TQ 4), Link (TQ 4), and the boss, Major Villanueva (TQ 5). These are Khurasan 15mm Private Military Contractors.
(https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tyev6CbNpJU/WKDKffmJ3bI/AAAAAAAAbv8/7jY_j_XhMr0qV2_K3y2V4ujHUQnFifxaQCLcB/s1600/IMG_0854.JPG)
Trinity (bottom center) lays down covering fire with his Mk48 machine gun (scaring the hell out of the goat), while Major Villanueva (center right) dashes ahead, closing the distance to capture The Mayor (in building partly visible at top left). To see the how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/02/operation-dragon-forge-fight-6.html
The fight was fun, and tense, though it's still taking me a long time, about two and a half hours. I'm pretty comfortable with the flow now, though I've gotten away from looking up the firing and spotting modifiers each time and just kind of laying odds (percentages) and rolling under on 2D10 to see if it worked or not.
It doesn't really matter for the game I guess, but it's kind of fun knowing where rounds hit a guy. Actually, it does matter when the target is obscured by cover that can stop a round, and for body armor, but in the overall scheme of things you're really looking to see how much damage the round(s) did to the guy. That is, he can be hit in the hand, but bad enough that it puts him out of the fight.
I believe I'm going to handle wounded in the future the way I did the Cubans here, which is just throw down casualty figures, rather than track a bunch of wounded guys crawling to get off the map. And don't misunderstand, that's only for the guys wounded so bad they can't continue the fight; there will still be guys that get hit but remain in the fight.
It's pretty cool having a few guys take on so many bad guys and 1) having a tense game, 2) a chance to win, 3) without it just seeming like a die-rolling exercise. I did use the term 'TQ5 superhero' in my writeup, but I just meant that in terms of Major V being an incredibly highly trained and highly experienced operator, not that the rules made him untouchable. Though you do need to make sure you don't have too many TQ5s, unless you have two guys and a hundred bad guys. Like "Strike Back" ;)
V/R,
Jack
Nice one Jack!
Bless the goat, he must be terrified!
Thanks Lemmey, and don't worry about the goat, we're getting him marinated, err, 'treatment.'
V/R,
Jack
:-bd Nice one again, Jack.
:-\........Not sure how that report slipped under the radar....didn't spot it yesterday, at all.
Cheers - Phil
Thanks Phil, I'm glad you liked it.
V/R,
Jack
That was an intense firefight Jack, very readable blog as usual :-bd
Thanks Pierre!
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, Unit 101's 7th Fight of Operation Payback
It's 1025 on 14 Jul 1990, and Unit 101 is heading into action outside Langkawi, Malaysia. Following the successful raid in Lebanon which captured "The Mayor," intelligence information was discovered leading the team to its next target: "The Persian" is a Shiite Muslim born of Iranian parents in Lebanon in the mid-1960s, true name Ali bin-Schwammy-Roksamshammy (we'll stick with "The Persian"), and he's rumored to have details regarding the brokers of the ambush in Algeria. The Israelis were very helpful in assisting with logistics for the Unit to get to Langkawi in a speedy and clandestine manner.
The Cubans are working bilaterally with the Malaysians (this was actually Ivan's suggestion, so if it doesn't work...), and the troops are crossing the line of departure.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ql48IwgBYC8/WNg4Tcr8YKI/AAAAAAAAcJw/8g9HB7gSChcRPGAR_hkY74ZxcwJO-A0hACLcB/s1600/IMG_1189.JPG)
Overview of the battlefield, north is up. The southern end of The Persian's compound is at top center and top left (his house is off camera to top left about another 250m); the Malaysians and Cubans will enter the table in the southeast (bottom right). They are mounted, so they will move west (left) to the bridge, cross, then fan out and clear this portion of the compound before re-mounting and moving on the north end of the compound (which will be the next batrep).
The table is 4' x 4' on a new mat I bought, played out solo in 15mm using Ivan's "5Core Company Command" rules, though with "Five Men at Kursk"-style activation (each team and vehicle gets an activation dice, each team and vehicle can act and react once per turn).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bKRCRjiPJV0/WNg4LZdPz9I/AAAAAAAAcJo/Lb87AOqQR_Q0yh9TTMKwtnbg23scRXLTQCLcB/s1600/IMG_1186.JPG)
The opposing forces, resplendent in 15mm. The M-113s are Old Glory, the Land Rover and Technical are Peter Pig, the bad guy infantry is Peter Pig, and the good guy infantry is Flashpoint Minis.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M4KjRbVs5Dw/WNg4nUUUvCI/AAAAAAAAcKQ/hcShUwT3TW04KkWq5emW59p-306bGEgYwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1196.JPG)
"Contact, RPG at 3 o'clock!!!" To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/03/operation-dragon-forge-fight-7.html
I played a total of three games this past weekend, I'm working on getting the other two written up.
V/R,
Jack
Quite a fight Jack!
Thanks Lemmey! It was a helluva fight, glad you liked it.
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, Unit 101's 8th Fight of Operation Payback
It's 1130 on 14 Jul 1990, and Unit 101 is in the thick of it near Langkawi, Malaysia. After going it alone caused logistics and force projection problems for the Cubans, and drew the ire of some erstwhile allies (or at least neutrals and potential allies), Major Villanueva and Unit 101 are working a bilateral operation with Malaysian Special Forces to take down The Persian, a terrorist with ties to the ambush of a Cuban diplomatic envoy in Morocco.
The Persian's compound is relatively remote, and while not fortified, it does have a large contingent of armed men protecting it. The Cubans and Malaysians just finished Phase 1 of the operation, which was securing the southern end of The Persian's compound. Several vehicles were hit and moderate casualties suffered; Rake (Unit 101's senior enlisted man) and Captain Choy (the Malaysian SF commander) quickly reorganize the task force. Major Villanueva, leading the Unit 101 direct action element which will close assault The Persian's house, moves up to join the task force on the southern end of the compound, leading a couple Malaysian vehicles with replacements forward.
Rake and Captain Choy quickly got one of the damaged M-113s back into action, then integrated the new vehicles and replacement troops. Everyone reviewed the scheme of maneuver and checked comms, then stepped off, crossing the line of departure. Phase 2, the securing of the north end of The Persian's compound, is under way (Phase 3 is Major Villanueva leading the shooters to take down The Persian's house).
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bVV3WL4IcEI/WNhDasRT20I/AAAAAAAAcRs/DrM-9tXD-iM56YZEXyHsyVwlGUbBTA0wwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1310.JPG)
Overview of table, north is up. The Persian's house is at top left, the north end of the compound at top center, with a coconut grove just east (right) of the eastern-most buildings. The Cuban/Malaysian task force will enter the table in the southeast (bottom right).
The table is 4' x 4' on a new mat I bought, played out solo in 15mm using Ivan's "5Core Company Command" rules, though with "Five Men at Kursk"-style activation (each team and vehicle gets an activation dice, each team and vehicle can act and react once per turn).
I got kinda lucky on the bad guy blinds: there are not nearly as many bad guys as there could have been, and while they have another damn mortar, that's the only heavy weapon they have. You can see the good guys on the road at bottom right, and the bad guys really spread out, with some at left, top left, top center, and top right.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_1NCsOaerwc/WNhECHbmyaI/AAAAAAAAcSQ/GrYXtdkZCGUweJQC6CN_gUbzJCUg7bXrwCLcB/s1600/IMG_1319.JPG)
Apparently I really enjoy being ambushed, and Tiger 27 doesn't appear long for this world. To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/03/operation-dragon-forge-fight-8.html
The fight was a lot of fun, and the rules tweaks I've made are working out great. There's one more fight to be posted from this operation, then it's on to some punitive raids and things are going to heat up in South Leon.
V/R,
Jack
Are the Malaysians sending Cuba the bill for that one Jack? ;D
Another cracking report, Jack !
Cheers - Phil.
Thanks Phil, and Lemmey, there's no price for doing the right thing! ;)
V/R,
Jack
All,
AKA, Unit 101's 9th Fight of Operation Payback
It's 1205 on 14 Jul 1990, and Unit 101 is on the verge of capturing The Persian, the goal of Operation Dragon Forge. The Persian's capture will yield information on which country(ies) and individual(s) was responsible for the ambush of a Cuban diplomat in Morocco.
After fighting to collect information through Morocco, Italy, and Lebanon, the Unit has arrived in Malaysia. Working with Captain Choy of Malaysian Special Forces, the Unit has punched into and secured The Persian's compound in a series of intense firefights. With the compound secured, Major Villanueva is leading a team of five shooters to The Persian's house to capture him. Separated from him during the battle, a team of The Persian's most loyal soldiers, his personal bodyguards, have simultaneously arrived at the house. The opposing forces are making a mad dash to grab The Persian and whisk him away, one for questioning, one to safety.
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Overview of map, north is down. Major Villanueva and his team are at left, The Persian's bodyguard at right, and The Persian is in the building at center right. Note the two casualty figures at bottom center; those are the mortar crew that was knocked out by the OH-6 gunship at the end of the last fight.
The 'table' is maybe 15" x 15", and this is going to be a quick and bloody affair. Both sides are killing each other while moving forward to get The Persian. I planned on being a bit more nuanced, a bit more in depth, but I'd been playing all day and I was tired, my back hurt, and my wife was complaining (I played Dragon Forge games 7, 8, and 9 all in a row). So this is going to be real quick, not even sure if I can really say there are rules ;)
I've got a deck of cards, two colors, one card per man. Each time a card is pulled, one man on that team gets to move up and fire, or rally. Everyone will keep moving until the other side is dead and/or The Persian is grabbed. The Cubans will get slightly better firing dice as they are top tier commandos.
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A fierce firefight rages in the courtyard. To see if the Cuban Special Forces were able to capture The Persian or not, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2017/04/operation-dragon-forge-fight-9.html
Either way, information has become available which makes it possible to determine the individuals behind the attack on The Ambassador, and Cubans are planning to move out in search of retribution.
Which is the next set of fights, coming right up.
V/R,
Jack
Nice fight Jack! 8)