All,
Yet another long-haul campaign, something I've wanted to do for a long time but hadn't made time for. This time following two buddies from boots arriving in Vietnam in October 1965, through multiple tours as line grunts, into Force Recon, finishing as advisors to the South Vietnamese Marine Corps in 1972.
The idea of 'Two Brothers' is that Nikki Jacobs, a big, 19-year old, corn-fed boy from Middle O'Nowhere, Texas, and Danny Thomas, a tall, lanky, 18-year old high school football star from Big City, Texas, both were yearning for action and adventure so they signed up for the only war they had. They actually met at MEPS in Dallas, TX, when they swore their oaths of enlistment and shipped out to Boot Camp at the Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA. There they were assigned to the same platoon (1089, A Company, 1st Battalion). They became fast friends and were delighted to find out at graduation that they were both to become infantrymen. Following two weeks' 'Boot Leave,' they were back together at Camp Pendleton, CA, for two weeks of Guard Duty (52 Area) before heading off the the School of Infantry (SOI), where both were assigned to become riflemen (0311s) in 3rd Platoon, Hotel Company. Being a bigger Marine, Nikki was originally assigned to become a machine gunner, an 0331, but finagled his way into the 0311 line in order to stay with Danny.
Upon completion of SOI they were given another two weeks' leave prior to deployment, after which they met back up at Camp Pendleton for shipment to the Republic of Vietnam, arriving 5 October 1965. Once there they again managed to stick together, ending up in the same squad. They were now members of 9th Marines (I hate getting tied to actual historical units, because I want to do what I want to do, not be tied to the historical record and, even more importantly, I wouldn't want to dishonor the memory of troops that actually fought and died there, so I'm just going to leave it at that). They are now two FNGs (ahem, 'rookies') in an understrength squad of veterans that came ashore in March 1965, two replacements doing their best to fit in and not get killed.
They settled into Da Nang and began patrolling around the base's perimeter, learning their craft, learning how to survive. Two weeks went by with no contact, with the boys beginning to fret they'd never 'see the elephant,' until the Platoon Sergeant walked in, rounded up the Marines, and provided a Warning Order: stand by for action, tomorrow we kick off Operation 'Red Snapper,' which would see the boys finally get their cherries busted.
So we shall follow the exploits of young Nikki and Danny, seeing how they react to their first experiences under fire and mature as combat Marines. They cannot die, and probably cannot even be seriously wounded, as I want to keep their stories going, but they'll be punished for mistakes (not sure how, but I'll figure out something) and lauded for their heroism and leadership, through medals and promotions.
The Table of Organization and Equipment for a US Marine rifle squad was 1 Sergeant, 3 Corporals, 3 Lance Corporals, 4 PFCs, and 3 Privates with 13 M-14 service rifles, 1 M-79 grenade launcher, and one M1911 service pistol (carried by the grenadier). But the boys are joining a squad that's been in action since March of 1965, so it's understrength, having only the Squad Leader, Grenadier, and two fireteams.
So, that's the concept, now for the first fight.
1130 Local Time
22 October 1965
Phu Gia Peninsula, RVN
Operation Red Snapper
Having patrolled for two weeks in the Da Nang area without finding even a hint of the enemy, the boys are excited out of their minds, taking part in their first combat operation. It seems the Viet Cong (VC) have been making trouble up on the Phu Gia Peninsula, about 36 klicks north of Da Nang, hitting Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and Regional Force/Popular Force (RFPF, a type of South Vietnamese militia, commonly referred to as "Ruff-Puffs") base camps and threatening to cut Route 1 between Da Nang and Phu Bai. So III Marine Amphibious Force (MAF) HQ decided to do something about it: in conjunction with four ARVN-RF/PF battalions, two companies from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment (2/3) and one company from 3rd Bn, 4th Marines (3/4) launched Operation Red Snapper. The ARVN forces set up the anvil west of Route 1 while Fox Company, 2/3 (F/2/3) trucked up from Da Nang and G/2/3 came ashore from landing craft on Orange Beach, forming the hammer and pushing west to east, with a rifle company from 3/4 scheduled to helo down on G/2/3's right (northern) flank the following day.
The boys' platoon ended up being attached to G/2/3, getting quite seasick in the flat-bottomed landing craft before finally putting ashore about 0600 local time. Excitement was high, very adventurous times for the two young Marines, with grunts running to and fro, landing craft and Amtracs zipping up to/along the beach, trucks and tanks coming up the road, helicopters thwacking and fast movers zooming past overhead. Everything was there... except the enemy. The Marines formed up and began pushing east, careful to mind their phase and control lines so as to avoid any friendly fire incidents, which is always a risk when units are maneuvering about without having been afforded the opportunity for reconnaissance (which couldn't be done, for fear of tipping the operation to the enemy).
At about 1045 the platoon was called to a halt. Sweaty and breathing hard from the exertion of humping through the broken terrain with all their gear, they took a knee and rested. And with that they could just hear it; the distant 'pop-pop-pop' of gunfire. The boys inched closer to PFC Griffin, the squad's Radio Telephone Operator (RTO), who whispered updates to them: "Golf Company's 2nd Platoon is taking fire, about a klick up ahead... Golf's CO is trying get a SITREP out of them, but the Lootenat pretty much told him to piss off, he's busy... The CO is trying to get 3rd Platoon over to them... The Lootenat says he's got four men down, needs MEDEVAC... The CO says the LT's gotta get them outta the kill zone... The Lootenat says he can't, they're pinned down... Uh-oh!"
Nikki asked, "what's uh-oh?" Griffin responded: "uh-oh is, they wanna call in arty on the VC, and Lootenat Ward (the boys' platoon commander) wants us to escort the FO (Forward Observer) team up there!"
And here came the Platoon Sergeant, Staff Sergeant Dunn, to confirm that. He grabbed Corporal Little, the Squad Leader, and the two Fireteam Leaders, and briefed them up. "As soon as the FO gets up here, you boys head out." "Aye-aye, Staff Sergeant." A few minutes later the FO, 1st Lieutenant Dyson and his two RTOs showed up. "I hear you fellas are my escort?" "Yes, Sir," replied Cpl Little. "3rd Squad, saddle up!"
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3wmeFykjRU0/X8CDStP75sI/AAAAAAAA1z8/CCQhmPxoFKk971BDn5dSOVnO_MbJYg8YQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/image.png)
Overview, north is up. The US starting point is in the southwest (bottom left), and the objective area is the old, bombed out French colonial building in the northeast (top right). There's a dirt/gravel road that runs north-south, with a spur splitting off to run east-west just south of Hill 65, which the French building sits atop. There is a medium-sized village in the northwest (top left) and a small village in the southeast (bottom right), with neither village showing any signs of life at the moment. There are numerous treelines and bamboo thickets dotting the landscape, with a cluster of rice paddies dominating the center of the battle area. I apologize, I don't have any real rice paddies, so I'm having to use cultivated fields to show them, with hedges denoting the dykes. So please understand that the 'dykes' are not blocking line of sight or providing any sort of cover/concealment for troops that are moving/standing up.
A couple admin notes: I'm playing this game using a modified version of Ivan Sorensen's "Five Men at Kursk," but I've also modified Joe Legan's "Platoon Forward" to a card version to figure out the US mission, assets available, enemy location, strength, activity, etc... I'm also playing as the umpire, controlling the VC force, with my two boys controlling the US Marines.
I'm playing in lovely 15mm with individually-based troops.
The Marines are from Jimmi's Flashpoint Minis.
The Viet Cong are from Martin's Peter Pig.
The mat is from The Wargaming Company.
The roads are from Fat Frank.
The fields are from Hotz Mats.
The villages are from Flashpoint Minis, as are the bamboo thickets and most of the trees. The rest of the trees were bought off some cake decorating shop on Ebay.
The "French Colonial Building" is from JR Miniatures.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKjWCTiGfqU/X77gmpJH9QI/AAAAAAAA1uI/O_LtMNIcB-YWwuIyWVkiYGiMZrhvVKP7gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3814.JPG)
At top, Corporal Little, the Squad leader, is at right, while PFC Nelson, the M-79 Grenadier, is at left.
1st Fireteam is at center, 2nd Fireteam is at bottom. From top right: LCpl Devers, the fireteam leader, PFC Griffin, who carries the squad's PRC-25 radio, then two riflemen, Pvt Masterson and Pvt Jacobs, AKA Nikki.
From bottom right: PFC Ed Marks, the fireteam leader, then riflemen Privates Hendricks, Ryder, and Thomas, AKA Danny.
So the squad's got nine M-14s, an M-79, an M-1911 (carried by the grenadier), and each Marine is carrying a couple frags.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NZRPd_DA_IY/X77hOUCqZ5I/AAAAAAAA1vI/d7zpI6dAKQETQNhDGwSt1qiPiqibpzu1gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3826.JPG)
The squad sets off up the road, looking to get the FO up on top of the hill (top right), but as they enter the village (top left)...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oPhd4fO06HM/X77hTnBZmjI/AAAAAAAA1vU/gnXRGdv5JkEGXa3k69Ck_oYmT2S89PXdwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3827.JPG)
A Viet Cong bunker (top right) opens fire on the Marines (far left and bottom left)!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JLaLtS2AoGE/X77hX3a5kDI/AAAAAAAA1vY/3ewX2r8zdqMbP5RDaV8wxvv9eu-ANVRnwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3829.JPG)
Masterson is hit and goes down!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Phon3qLYb_c/X77hZgADT2I/AAAAAAAA1vg/abTDeQHZ72kQAJz6WXKg-aZtGs-GYNIQwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3831.JPG)
Nikki (far let) lays down fire as Devers throws Masterson over his shoulder and lurches for cover...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sh9MozmuqR0/X77hjoWmN-I/AAAAAAAA1v4/ODQXpu9QCEE6ouzWTsjQMwTK6xHB84sawCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3833.JPG)
But the bunker (bottom right) spots Marines (top left) moving to flank it and opens fire on them...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UmMWvPeGvLQ/X77hiezKaiI/AAAAAAAA1v0/CVhotvHYkHAwlbtM-hMfHYOyAKuVIHJywCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3834.JPG)
Dropping Hendricks and pinning Marks!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pHx7cY1bKuw/X77h8yRzt2I/AAAAAAAA1w0/06AdMpnMmJ86INJ2kuN1tiKKpJ3R6ByagCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3843.JPG)
Nelson pops up and fires a 40mm HE round at the bunker from his M-79!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kvo0bJ6LiLo/X77iG5uYfXI/AAAAAAAA1xI/2P-X_CxOd50KalIusJwKsIKQLCPVI5yWwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3846.JPG)
As VC mortar rounds begin slamming into the Marine positions!
To see how the fight turns out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/01/two-brothers-fight-1.html
So that was fight number one. I've actually played out the boys' entire first tour, a total of 24 tabletop fights. I'm still working on the batreps, of course, but my plan is to post one each Monday. Let me know what you think.
V/R,
Jack
And Bigjackmac is BACK
Incredibly evocative
Excellent, Jack ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil. :)
Good stuff Jack
Great report Jack, well written too.
Thanks everyone, I'm glad you liked it.
V/R,
Jack
All,
0130 Local Time
23 October 1965
Phu Gia Peninsula, RVN
Operation Red Snapper
Yesterday the boys kicked off Operation Red Snapper, attached to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines (G/2/3). They came ashore via landing craft as the Marine driving enemy forces into the ARVN anvil. There were only ashore a few hours before they participated in their first firefight of the war, with each of them performing admirably. They had completed their missions of escorting a Forward Observer (FO) into an old French Colonial building atop Hill 65. They were relieved a few hours later and returned to their platoon, where they grabbed some chow and dug-in for the night. But it wasn't long before their squad leader, Corporal Rob Little, came running up, talking about a SNAFU...
Cpl Little briefed the squad: another screw up! As it began getting dark, the FO and Marines from G/2/3 fell back off of Hill 65 for the night, but now HQ has realized there is a gap in the US perimeter. The Platoon Commander, Lt Ward, has ordered Cpl Little to take 3rd Squad back up Hill 65 and to occupy the old French colonial building. "This is not good, Marines. We've got to hustle over there, and we won't get there until after dark, so we won't be able to dig in, string wire, throw out Claymores, nothing. Hell, let's hope Charlie ain't already occupying the damn place! The only good news is that they're sending a machine gun team with us."
The Marines quickly collected their gear and re-packed their packs, filled in their holes, then reported in to the Command Post (CP), where they met up with the attached MG team and set off for Hill 65 in the failing light.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--3H8wGDKJxw/X8FlqxZ1xGI/AAAAAAAA104/vJQYJEz-GYIDDoIpV8rS8u80xma4-du7ACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3881.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The French colonial building atop Hill 65 is at center, with the bunker the squad knocked out in the previous fight at left bottom. At top right is a village, at far left is a rice paddy, and there is a trail running out of the northwest (top left) down to the French colonial building. Other than that, nothing but a lot of grass, some hedges, bamboo thickets, and a whole lotta jungle.
The table, with everyone in their starting positions. The main Marine defensive position is, of course, the French colonial building. The Marines have flankers out to each side (in thicket at far left and right), and a small reserve in the rear (bottom center, on the road). The Viet Cong have a base of fire element in the rear (LMG at top left and RPG at top right), while their assault element is crossing the rice paddy at far left).
Yeah, not their greatest plan to try and cross the rice paddy, but that's how the dice shook out, so we'll see how it goes.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NAubqxUcp2M/X8FlLeCgnMI/AAAAAAAA10I/mOBihPrDDiEOaqiri1ID2fYtz5-94T4sACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3874.JPG)
The Marines in the colonial building (top center) can feel eyes on them. Eyes with ill intent...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3x29II098Bs/X8FmM7QHNWI/AAAAAAAA11s/mrteOEvOeC0xRBk6v3KOsPyh27t6RmhpACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3890.JPG)
It's 0130 in the morning and the Marines, though uneasy, have settled into their positions for the night, with the boys struggling to keep their exhausted bodies awake, to the point Nikki (in grove at top center left) thinks he's beginning to hallucinate. He'd swear there were men moving in the rice paddy in front of him (top center), but can't be. Nobody would be dumb enough to advance on the hill (far left) from the left, through the open rice paddies! He'd even screwed with Danny (off camera to left bottom) about drawing the short straw by being sent out on the right, near the village, which the enemy was certain to use as their avenue of approach.
But all thoughts of sleep and hallucinations and whatever else were quickly wiped from the young Marine's mind when the still air of the night was suddenly shattered by the loud 'pop' and hiss of a rocket being fired!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UUn1dkPZpSc/X8FmuajSabI/AAAAAAAA12s/zfwaBhvR8xMHvp6mMfNQTvSzuE67ffS3QCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3901.JPG)
Nikki (bottom right, with the colonial building off camera to top center right) finds himself all alone out on the left flank, facing off against five Viet Cong (left). Nik opens fire with his M-14, dropping one of the enemy soldiers...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGPjEBUQelE/X8FnW2DtysI/AAAAAAAA130/PLEe5Qib7KQFxLkzIw_807zTSKztVn8ogCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3913.JPG)
But the VC advance (on other side of the trees at far left), forcing Nik to fall back (bottom center right, from bottom left) on the colonial building.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJEEn-NmDFU/X8FoDMmG9TI/AAAAAAAA14s/JVMSoxERaGs29Rve1OyIDDF6mqRpQQo0gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3925.JPG)
The Viet Cong (bottom left, right, and far right) keep up the pressure on the Marines holding the colonial building.
To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/01/two-brothers-fight-2.html
Next batrep posting soon.
V/R,
Jack
:-bd =D> :-bd =D>
Particularly the second picture above, very evocative
Excellent, Jack ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil. :)
Excellent report, brilliant terrain too
Thanks guys, I'm glad you liked it, and appreciate you saying so.
I'm hoping to post my next Battle of the Bulge batrep Wednesday or Thursday.
V/R,
Jack
Jack take a look at the latest post in "Freinds of the Tank Museum", areials of the Ardennes showing roads as dark against the snow.
Great to have you back Jack and as always, lovely looking games and AARs 8)
Thanks for the heads up, Ian, I'll take a look, and I appreciate it Steve!
V/R,
Jack
All,
1330 Local Time
4 November 1965
Tra Bong River, 10 miles south of Chu Lai, RVN
Operation Black Ferret
Yesterday the boys were trucked down Route 1 and dropped about ten miles south of Chu Lai Airbase, near the Song Tra Bong (Tra Bong River). There they were attached to 1st Bn, 7th Marines (1/7), for the duration of the operation, pushing southwest along the river with 3/7 on their right and the ARVN 4th Infantry Regiment on their left, across the river. Intel had said a Viet Cong battalion-sized base camp was located in the area, but the boys had walked all day long and hadn't seen anything. As usual, about an hour before sunset the sweep halted and the Marines dug in to their night defensive positions and ate their evening chow. The boys spent a long, uneventful night, including being out together for a couple hours on OP/LP. The next morning the Marines got up, pissed and brushed their teeth, ate morning chow, stomped in their holes, and set off in search of the Viet Cong again.
They've been walking all day so far, lots of stopping to search for VC/munitions, but so far nothing and no contact. They've crossed numerous tributaries of the Tra Bong River, and now they find themselves coming to another, with a village nestled against. Lt Ward called a halt and for his squad leaders. He explained that 1st Squad was going to circle around to the south of the village to isolate it, 2nd Squad was going to head straight in to search it, and 3rd Squad was going to cut north to search some sampans beached nearby, make sure they're not hiding any enemy soldiers or contraband.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UX4xYSb8Mk0/X8LTUfJZo4I/AAAAAAAA190/Yf7nIBvIyRsB1nVHfRwe7VnyuIEwlESAQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3976.JPG)
North is up, the US entry is in the southwest (bottom left). The fishing village is located in the southeast (bottom right; that's just the northern tip, it is much larger to the south/southeast, off map, and that is what 2nd Squad is going into and 1st Squad is going south of). In the northeast (top right) is a tributary of the Tra Bong River, where the three sampans to be searched are located. In the northwest (top left) is a slight rise/ridgeline, and their is a hardball road running east into the village and north to the next village. The center is dominated by rice paddies offering very little cover, and the landscape is dotted by a few patches of dense jungle.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--c7e4q7ZRtk/X8LT99bAgYI/AAAAAAAA1-k/VnuT10bFXbA5NFtiL9pGiNaHxYHZxz6HQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3985.JPG)
The Marines fan out into skirmish line and begin crossing the rice paddies to search the sampans.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--EDVuouOT2g/X8LUFOxVIWI/AAAAAAAA1-0/eOKfTH_MdrsUgYWP-c9UCLevj7wf93yagCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3988.JPG)
When a Viet Cong sniper (bottom left) opens fire on them!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B8rCOZbjro8/X8LUL5CZVsI/AAAAAAAA1-8/CpFHh-CAEVo50Vlh2Dh5ZygiUrzFu3oOgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3991.JPG)
Devers grabs Griffin and gets on the radio: "we're pinned down by two snipers, Echo Four Lima is down, we need air or arty, pronto!" The Platoon Commander says he's working on it, but probably going to be awhile as they're in contact, too.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VRxjbCBBKMg/X8LUjg14H7I/AAAAAAAA1_g/rHKXiYOhRBY-nJMvi-zKhWPABaQMRrxkACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_3995.JPG)
The Marines pinned in the rice paddies raise up and return fire on the VC on the north side of the river.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qz2qsQV7TBc/X8LU93RTtzI/AAAAAAAA2AI/dHWH2EVGJ2ok-mEFp3waoMlnZLZHehCPQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4002.JPG)
As Nik gets the M-60 going (bottom right), engaging the sniper in the northwest (top left).
To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/01/two-brothers-fight-3.html
Next up, the squad is kicking off Operation Blue Marlin, coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Great report, lovely set up too.
Cracking..... :-bd
Cheers - Phil. :)
Thank you, gentlemen.
V/R,
Jack
All,
1130 Local Time
11 November 1965
Near Tam Ky, 15 miles north of Chu Lai, RVN
Operation Blue Marlin I
Two days ago the boys boarded landing craft, which deposited them at 'Green Beach' about 15 miles north of Chu Lai Airbase yesterday (don't worry, the Corps brought out enough with the nightly resupply helos for everyone to get a couple bites of cake and a warm beer). The squad was now attached to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, which was working in conjunction with the Vietnamese 2nd Marine Battalion. Once ashore the US Marines peeled left and began pushing southeast between the Song Tam Ky and Song Truong Giang (Song = River), parallel to Route 1, while the Vietnamese Marines were lifted by US Marine helos (yeah, that caused the US grunts a little heartache) west of Route 1, where they begin their sweep to the southeast. The boys walked all day, passing numerous villages and locals, but not seeing a single Viet Cong or hearing a single shot fired. They stopped multiple times to search for weapons caches, boobytraps, even villages that seemed to have 'too much' rice, but nothing of interest was found. As usual, about an hour before sunset the sweep halted and the Marines dug in to their night defensive positions and ate their evening chow. The boys spent a long, uneventful night, including being out together for a couple hours on OP/LP. The next morning the Marines got up, pissed and brushed their teeth, ate morning chow, stomped in their holes, and set off in search of the Viet Cong again.
This morning the squad is walking point, escorting a team of Combat Engineers that are sweeping the road for mines ahead of the tanks and tracks. They've been on the road for five hours already, having started at 0630, but are behind schedule as the Engineers have had to stop and remove several mines already.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ahObXtWzI-U/X8LYV6x43aI/AAAAAAAA2CM/FlBU1khN9ogOcTkTd1T0us0QRub8-ukQwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4020.JPG)
North is DOWN, the convoy is moving on the road from northeast (bottom left) to southwest (top right). At bottom right is a tributary of the Truong Giang River, while at top right is a small village, and at top left is a small rise/ridgeline. A couple small rice paddies dot the landscape, as well as patches of thick jungle.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j6BbHdQHBTE/X8LYXmfJjfI/AAAAAAAA2CQ/50JbB6SiMF8SfqIgaXIa2wDxBsbVLP2NQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4024.JPG)
Cpl Little motioned the Combat Engineers to start sweeping again and off they went.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9bFDCXMd29A/X8LZQEll6aI/AAAAAAAA2Dg/OsiE2v-U7zUvNbKNZUGqXCQKsfc7pS1JgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4035.JPG)
But there it is, contact! From the north side of the river, a rocket pops and comes hissing in!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2zz-7OGD6mM/X8LZgVe7yMI/AAAAAAAA2D8/aYWREMhFFgg6vJLKyIoVzRsg_5fzBbO0ACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4040.JPG)
As an understrength VC squad in the south (bottom left) opens fire on the boys' squad (top center to top right).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tZeR-yJ1Uec/X8LZycQc2ZI/AAAAAAAA2Eg/kMzn28HJyxg5-ulSGElpinfS32i16RmUgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4044.JPG)
Caught on the road, the Marines are having a rough go of it.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ow0B_zI3yLc/X8LZ1nryXdI/AAAAAAAA2Eo/UuTY2-hVZSgcBnIjKpvjbZjQiHoqzyx8ACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4045.JPG)
Nik (bottom right) gets the Pig thumping away at the VC (top left).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RkG_unui2j0/X8LbAXmGoeI/AAAAAAAA2Gw/hAzHljsIcTkVvuFC_0CUUGVbEw41PrK2wCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4068.JPG)
Cpl Little looks as Doc treats the wounded and Griffin gets on the radio to call for MEDEVAC.
To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/01/two-brothers-fight-4.html
Next fight coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Quite a scrap Jack
Excellent, as always, Jack !
Cheers - Phil :)
Thank you, gentlemen, I appreciate it.
V/R,
Jack
All,
0130 Local Time
18 November 1965
Near Hoi An, RVN
Operation Blue Marlin II
Following the end of Operation Blue Marlin I, the boys re-boarded the amphibious shipping and sailed to Chu Lai, where 3/7 was offloaded. They went ashore and to a couple days of rest, before it was time to re-board the ships for Operation Blue Marlin II, this time with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. They sailed south and landed 22 miles south of Da Nang on 16 November 1965, where they wheeled right and pushed north towards the confluence of the Song Truong Giang and Song Cua Dai (Song = River). The Marines have spent two days humping the bush east of the Song Truong Giang without contact, while two battalions of ARVN Rangers have done the same west of the river.
The boys got a new squad leader, Sergeant Garcia, and the Platoon Sergeant, SSgt Dunn, briefed him on his squad's mission to babysit a bridge tonight. "The bridge was previously guarded by an ARVN detachment, the squad wouldn't be receiving any attachments, arty would be on call, though no one is expecting any trouble tonight. The Company Gunny was out there right now with a squad from 2nd Platoon. You now stand detached; go forth and do good things! And good luck, Sgt Garcia."
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G-10hK1PhaQ/X8LeCFsVY8I/AAAAAAAA2Ho/-oJjCsbjQ1806vrgaOUIINasXe5b2uL6wCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4074.JPG
Overview, north is up. A tributary of the Truong Giang River runs north and south, with a few sampans moored at the northern end. There are hamlets present in the northeast (top right) and southwest (bottom left), a finger of Hill 275 protrudes south in the northwest (top left), there's a rice paddy in the southeast, and thick patches of jungle dot the landscape. The bridge is not fortified, but there are sandbagged emplacements surrounding it.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a6Uge2-B9YE/X8LebiBtlzI/AAAAAAAA2IY/ibHTzt60VskVTcGU-L7boa1g9cgIWDqogCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4084.JPG)
The Marines moved into the defensive positions; Sgt Garcia and Nelson took the small bunker at left, while 1st Fireteam went into the SE bunker (bottom right), 2nd Fireteam went into the West bunker (far left), and 3rd Fireteam went into the NE bunker (top right). The Marines settled in for the night, with each bunker going to 33% and the command bunker going to 50% (only two of them in the bunker).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5AsUnhVMC9I/X8LerZfRTEI/AAAAAAAA2I0/hE3W6pZMjvA-HFIkzACbdKNZOQFZ41CUQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4088.JPG)
At exactly 0130 the cough of distant mortar tubes could be heard to the northeast, and approximately thirty seconds later five 82mm HE rounds rained down around the bridge's defensive positions.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4gfbzmt1k0/X8Le1MB9IPI/AAAAAAAA2JI/rlkPB08i7e8IPtCbuTWgMVInT6wpxaW1ACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4090.JPG)
Immediately following the mortar impacts, the VC 1st (off camera to left) and 3rd Squads (top right) launched rockets at the Marine defenders...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cGv11t6URw/X8Le1DYV5TI/AAAAAAAA2JM/RMz8bnAzQ_Ym27GMF2RyU3S7X4OBOCy5gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4092.JPG)
On the east side of the bridge, a rocket slammed into the SW Bunker, suppressing Cpl Little and Nikki.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KmZuN3UIA9Q/X8LfXt2_7vI/AAAAAAAA2KE/0_9wtPGFlJAF6virDUyPlGhd2ZhLt0-_wCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4099.JPG)
And the Viet Cong come streaming out of the jungle to overwhelm the Marines defending the bridge!
To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/01/two-brothers-fight-5.html
Next fight coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Terrific report and piccies, once again, Jack ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil. :)
Good stuff again
Ace Jack.
Thanks, fellas.
V/R,
Jack
All,
1230 Local Time
10 December 1965
Que Son Valley, RVN
Operation Harvest Moon
While the boys were cavorting on Operations Red Snapper, Black Ferret, Blue Marlin I, and Blue Marlin II, the Viet Cong 1st Regiment had reconstituted itself, dodged various US/South Vietnamese sweeps, and concentrated in the Que Son Valley, which comprised the west end of the area of operations for Blue Marlin I. During Blue Marlin I, the Marines swept east of Route 1 and the ARVN swept west, extending their area of control out to Hiep Duc, where they established a Ruff-Puff base. The Marines pulled out on 12 November and pushed south, and that is when the 1st VC Regiment struck. On 17 November the ARVN base at Hiep Duc fell; the ARVN counterattacked the next day and by 19 November 1965 they had retaken Hiep Duc, killing 141 Viet Cong while losing 33 of their own.
The two counterattacking ARVN battalions were pulled on 20 November to go deal with another emergency; the security situation in the Que Son Valley immediately deteriorated. III MAF met with ARVN commanders and began planning a joint operation to neutralize Viet Cong forces in the Que Son Valley. US Marine forces would be 3/3 and 2/7, while the South Vietnamese would contribute the ARVN 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment, the 3rd Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Battalion, 6th Regiment, and the 11th Ranger Battalion.
Operation Harvest Moon kicked off on 9 December 1965, and it was a disaster right from the start. The Viet Cong launched attacks on the ARVN 1/5 and 1/6; the latter was repulsed, but the former overran the ARVN infantry and killed their regimental commander. The ARVN 11th Ranger Bn was also ambushed and lost over a third of its strength in less than an hour. The US Marine 3/3 was lifted in and set off to assist them but ran into a battalion-strength strength defensive position that cost the lives of 11 Marines before the VC withdrew. The boys had gotten their first helicopter ride, landing further west with 2/7, and walked all day without seeing anything or firing a shot.
Because things were going poorly, the US Marines committed 2/1, which attempted to land near Cam La, but the LZ was hot and the helos were shot up badly enough that only one rifle company (Fox Company) was landed and the remainder were put down in alternate LZs further west. The rest of the day was spent trying to link up and cost 20 more Marines killed in action (I would loved to have gamed this but I cannot find any H-34s in 15mm-1/100 scale... If someone can point me in the right direction I'd greatly appreciate it).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nzk2oIFsyAU/X8LlPlPQqYI/AAAAAAAA2Ok/QSnG7n6kE2gKCnDX3JvP8jhfYitZs8ItQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4143.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The Marines are entering via the road at bottom center left, with the Song Ly Ly on their left flank and a couple hamlets on their right. The hamlets are separated by some rice paddies, and there are several more in the north end of the area. The squad is on the far left flank of the company, with the entire company on line (off camera to bottom right) extending to the southeast; one could argue the company should be in a bit more of a tactical stance, but they have a lot of ground to cover, a lot of areas to search, and so far they haven't run into any contact, despite what happened to the ARVN yesterday and what 2/1 was currently going through on their LZs at Cam La.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8JyMI_gWr1Q/X8LlSlAngRI/AAAAAAAA2Oo/zClc4AJz0JgshZ8frZLn2PMflfUbaEqVACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4146.JPG)
The Marines search a hamlet for signs of the Viet Cong.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UZ_4p1e6h0g/X8Llhus3uRI/AAAAAAAA2O8/relTGvUAyj4aisiD2xsQ9AfQ0V5vW_lDgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4149.JPG)
The search complete, they move out to search the next one.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVLB8SmO0qI/X8Psn1KJRgI/AAAAAAAA2Qc/pjFKOIYU3k048OrdLWTGm-zlFtpqJkLGQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4161.JPG)
The Marines (top left) come under heavy fire at from VC at point-blank range (bottom right)!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5RUzWDBtAnk/X8PsmXpZBTI/AAAAAAAA2QY/msC6sqwsU_YlpwIhQqBcAtaNnfcERpJPACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4163.JPG)
As VC in the northwest (bottom left) launch a rocket at the Marines (top right, with the VC element that initiated the ambush at top left).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gPx5LT1aNTs/X8Pto4VA7OI/AAAAAAAA2R8/lRCggWU_tx0hb8WbAVZAgy1up80umLspACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4178.JPG)
Marines are dropping like flies (casualty figures at center and bottom left)! With the bulk of the squad falling back under heavy fire, only Corporal Zamora and Washington bottom left hold their ground and return fire!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u80OG19x7c4/X8Pu2AWZNdI/AAAAAAAA2UM/dQfElbqTSSANnyWOGk38vxLXlsZosL6jwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4200.JPG)
The squad is disintegrating under intense enemy pressure, but one Marine refuses to leave his wounded brothers in the line of fire, dashing through heavy fire to retrieve Deleon, saving his life...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uk_yvXwVZHg/X8PvUMQFigI/AAAAAAAA2U8/CNuU4X5NQQErqlIOASTmqcvGGrBy3943wCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4209.JPG)
And helping the rest of the squad get its marbles back, at least enough to make an orderly withdrawal.
To see the actions that saw a squad member awarded the Navy Cross, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/01/two-brothers-fight-6.html
Next fight coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Another tough fight then Jack! 8)
Nice one, Jack !!
Cheers - Phil :)
Indeed it was, thanks guys.
V/R,
Jack
All,
1530 Local Time
18 December 1965
Phuoc Ha Valley, RVN
Operation Harvest Moon
The operation began nine days ago, and it's been a real bastard. The boys helo'ed into the west end of the Que Son Valley, got into a helluva ambush, watched some B-52 "Arc Light" bombing raids pound the hell out of the valley, then got to walk around for another week looking at abandoned VC base camps before somebody finally realized the Viet Cong had pulled out of the Que Son Valley and were now inhabiting the nearby Phuoc Ha Valley. III MAF committed 2/9 and had them enter one end of the valley whilst 2/7, whom the boys were still attached to, entered from the other end. Both battalions soon found themselves in the fight of their lives.
The squad found itself at the tail end of the 2/7 formation; they could hear a helluva cacophony about a klick up ahead, and they tried to make sense of the chatter on the radio, but it was crazy. It seemed that the 8th Viet Cong Battalion had ambushed the Marine battalion and were trying to isolate HQ and Hotel Companies from Fox and Golf Companies, and 2/9 was in a very similar predicament. In any case, the boys were with Golf Company, which was ordered to move off to the in an attempt to outflank the VC defensive line and breakthrough to HQ and Hotel, but on the way their mission changed.
The Platoon Sergeant, Staff Sergeant Dunn, quickly briefed the entire squad: a section of HQ Company was separated from the main body and found itself in a running gunfight heading west. They managed to break contact but they're beat up pretty bad and they can hear Charlie out there in the jungle looking for them. They don't know exactly where they're at, other than 'in the bend in the river,' so you're going to go out there and be their cavalry coming to the rescue. Golf is moving east-northeast, so the rest of the platoon is gonna be the bridge between them and you, now go get'em, cowboys."
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeqTRadKDyE/X8Pzz-N73dI/AAAAAAAA2Vo/PlmDRLDWlikNTx-gzx9iuLijJuvv4kzpgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4213.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The Marines will enter the table in the southwest (bottom left) and follow the river northeast (top right), searching for the separated HQ Company Marines. Sergeant Garcia figures the bend in the river referenced on the radio is at top right, and there's a nice bamboo thicket that would be perfect to hide in if one were hurt and being pursued by the enemy. The Marines are in a narrow valley, with the jungle covered slope of Hill 304 present in the northwest (top left), and a finger of Hill 412 jutting northwest from the southeastern end (bottom right) of the area of operations.
Time is of the essence, the squad needs to find the HQ Company Marines before the VC do, or they succumb to their wounds. And Sergeant Garcia really hopes the HQ Company Marines are hiding exactly where he thinks they are, because if the squad reaches the bend in the river and hasn't found them, they're going to have to split up and search both sides of the river simultaneously, which is a recipe for disaster.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5R2Z3HPwMgg/X8PzzoBDp3I/AAAAAAAA2Vk/iaEUE35w4AUcwbm6bCzquXjmRimv7h8NwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4215.JPG)
The initial deployment; "Alright, take five," said Sgt Garcia. "This fork in the river is about 100 yards south of where I'd be hiding if I was those Marines. It's awful quiet, not sure what to make of that. Maybe they found a place to hole up and the dinks can't find'em. Maybe they're all dead... Or maybe it's a trap. Alright, break time is over, on your feet!"
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OOj2EXoKDy4/X8u5SMn3yTI/AAAAAAAA2Xs/inB44KhmQp4Gg_znWOTE3qoEGgmDOQ7SwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4230.JPG)
But no sooner had squad (top center) broke cover than a sniper's rifle (bottom center) rang out...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SgPRLm7KS38/X8u5c4Ty8LI/AAAAAAAA2YA/NrrdjdeeYNwNmSZtplKjCsOza25srmmNQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4235.JPG)
One fireteam pushes forward aggressively to flush out the sniper...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-WqB9YtHKw/X8u5aCZ57AI/AAAAAAAA2X4/VEShVohPrHgyBkLs4Mx3CIWb2lSjyLjfwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4234.JPG)
As the other polices up its wounded and begins falling back across the river.
To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/01/two-brothers-fight-7.html
Next fight coming up Thursday.
V/R,
Jack
Nice to see a scenario where one enemy causes so much consternation.
Well written Jack.
Seconded !
Good one, Jack ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil. :)
Thanks guys, but I'm definitely a fan of less consternation! ;)
V/R,
Jack
All,
0930 Local Time
19 December 1965
Phuoc Ha Valley, RVN
Operation Harvest Moon
Everyone knew the Operation was scheduled to wrap up tomorrow, then they'd return to Da Nang and get a rest as the Christmas truce kicked in. But the op wasn't over yet; the squad was thankful for not having to stand watch the previous night, but now they were back to normal, back at it, having chowed down on some cold C-rats, brushed their teeth and shaved with some cold water, stomped in their holes, hoisted their packs, and set off into the jungle, searching for the enemy. They'd been humping for several hours already when the sound of gunfire and explosions could be heard in the distance. The Platoon called a halt and Sergeant Garcia signaled the squad to take a knee and face outboard, pulling security while he moved to Jackson and propped the radio handset between his shoulder and ear, listening and narrating for the squad. "Golf Company is on point and's got contact... They got casualties, calling for fire and MEDEVAC... VC are attempting to flank, separate them from the rest of the battalion. Fox Company is moving right to head it off... Fox is in contact, taking casualties... Arty is pounding the VC in front of Golf, but they're not pulling back... Air is on the way... VC in front of Fox broke contact, Fox will be on the move in about ten mikes... Air says they got dinks moving to the west, trying the other flank... Uh-oh..."
Once again the 'uh-oh' was a call to action for the squad. Their platoon was being sent west to head off this new threat to the US flank, but it was a lot of ground to cover and so the three squads were assigned sectors, not really tied into each other. "The Lootenat assures me we're not out there with our asses hanging in the wind, that Echo Company is regrouping and will be right behind us, we just gotta head the dinks off and hold'em until Echo arrives. Alright, let's move!"
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3S9AYJo8dDA/X8u-FJxoO2I/AAAAAAAA2bY/_o_ZZwMnnHsIXIL7PbK4MnHZbH3h0Sv_wCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4266.JPG)
Overview, north is up. There is a hardball road running north/south in the west (left), and you can just see the bend in a nearby river in the southeast (bottom right), while there's a small village in the north-northwest (top center left), butted up against a low ridge in the west (far left). There's a relatively large hill in the east (far right) that's heavily wooded, and thick jungle dots the landscape, aside from the open areas covered by rice paddies. The Marines, harried on by Sergeant Garcia to head off the enemy, have the advantage here. They have hustled to their assigned location and taken up hasty defensive positions in hopes of ambushing the flanking Viet Cong, whom they expect to enter from the northeast (top right).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iAyj9cO02Ow/X8u-u6B9ZYI/AAAAAAAA2cw/IJPjOseUFmkypr3m0CzjJTqpxbD-zOgdgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4281.JPG)
The Marines (bottom left and bottom right) open fire on the Viet Cong (top center), catching the enemy crossing some rice paddies.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X_PZxzsSgCQ/X8u_LLoZo-I/AAAAAAAA2dg/V0D5PqbaxgEFhDbd0K7V2nJVKsjbz4PaACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4289.JPG)
But the VC quickly recover, returning fire with their AKs and an RPG.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BkFZ3ZhVqWY/X8u-8IQieZI/AAAAAAAA2dE/rJBoavB-WFgwIctjKD2UC6vZhVcEQn9cQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4285.JPG)
Which allows several VC to escape the kill zone, getting into the village (top right, center, and bottom left), where they work to flank the Marines.
To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-brothers-fight-8.html
Next fight coming up Sunday night or Monday morning.
V/R,
Jack
Great report,
Missing the action and blow by blow at the end though!!! 🤣
I thought they were all just getting p**sed out of their heads. :-\
Good one again, Jack.
Cheers - Phil :)
Sorry guys, this is a family restaurant! ;)
V/R,
Jack
All,
1430 Local Time
13 January 1966
An Hoa, RVN
Operation Mallard
Some old faces, Nelson and Griffin, had returned to the squad, and some new faces, Rivera and Tate, were picked up as replacements, bringing the squad strength to twelve Marines, nearly their T/O strength. They'd been patrolling in and around Da Nang for a little over a week when Sergeant Garcia walked into the squadbay and gave them a Warning Order: they were heading about 20 klicks south of Da Nang to support a sweep by 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines (1/3) and 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines (3/7) in and around a village named An Hoa. It seemed An Hoa was a burgeoning industrial center (or at least he South Vietnamese government hoped so), with the country's only functioning coal mine and a newly completed railway spur located there. But the Viet Cong R-20 Battalion, recently reinforced by the 5th Main Force Viet Cong Battalion, was causing big trouble there for the ARVN assigned to protect An Hoa, so the Marines were being sent in find, fix, and destroy the VC forces in the area and evacuate about 300 villagers from small hamlets in the surrounding area into the (allegedly) better protected An Hoa village proper.
The Marines kicked off Operation Mallard on 11 January 1966, having been trucked into staging areas the previous night. The first two days and nights were relatively uneventful, the Marines following the long established routine of humping all day before stopping about an hour before sunset to dig their night defensive positions, eat their evening chow, then spend a long, uneventful night interrupted by standing watch and sometimes a couple hours out on OP/LP before getting up the next morning to piss, brush their teeth, eat morning chow, stomp in their holes, and set off in search of the Viet Cong again.
But on the third day of the operation they were humping the bush when local Ruff-Puffs (members of the ARVN) reported Viet Cong had occupied Hill 108 looking down on the western end of An Hoa. The boys' platoon was attached to a company from 3/7 and dispatched to destroy the VC threatening An Hoa from Hill 108, the fear being the VC would infiltrate An Hoa and damage or destroy (again) coal mining infrastructure in the village. As the company moved west on Hill 108 it took contact from the north; the main body of the Marine company wheeled to deal with this contact, but the boys' platoon was ordered to continue west at the double in order to cut off and prevent the VC from entering An Hoa, taking Hill 108 in the process.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SPDRlQtA1sM/X801czrE4oI/AAAAAAAA2fM/lhkEcVVnvrANJ7E7SEVt6vBQRnxAYzGuACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4302.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The southeast corner of Hill 108 is visible running across the top of the battle area, from top left to top center right, with the An Hoa railway spur running just below it, with a river bend in the east and southeast (bottom right). A portion of the northwest corner of An Hoa Village is visible in the southwest (bottom left), to include a concrete refinery building VC sappers had previously snuck in and blow up. The center of the tactical area is dominated by rice paddies, devoid of cover. The Marines are hustling into the area from the southeast (bottom right), where they were patrolling east of the river bend, so they'll have to require that large open area at center.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a2F-XVLPcSY/X8019GTw-OI/AAAAAAAA2f0/3-7_BfC-Qngg0yH7CTtD6Ua6W2ayBAs8QCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4311.JPG)
The Marines push across the rice paddies, towards the hill.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pVQ0QqyGh8k/X802F01zAAI/AAAAAAAA2gE/-27mtPUKXmYCJbjrlK4ZyQ6TyTJlspRtwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4314.JPG)
The Viet Cong open fire as the Marines cross the railroad tracks.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-09wQdfdAPgY/X802QyJtzqI/AAAAAAAA2gU/tI0CCoSY4ecV4fHoxFV2knVOpblQjzekwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4319.JPG)
Nik and Danny stand tall and return fire.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WrZcFd_-PAw/X803ZnGARlI/AAAAAAAA2iU/nldVZaKG2xAg3Ly01mFOLH_IVIQozU-7gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4341.JPG)
As Corporal Zamora's fireteam (bottom center, with the rest of the squad at top left and the VC atop the hill at top right) move to flank the enemy positions.
To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-brothers-fight-9.html
Next fight coming Wednesday night/Thursday morning.
V/R,
Jack
Excellent, Jack ! :-bd
What's a 'boonie'...as in a "bloody boonie cover" ?
Cheers - Phil.
US slang for jungle Phil - boondocks....British Army might say Oggin....
Cool Jack
The gaming table you have is gorgeous!
Quote from: ianrs54 on 08 February 2021, 07:25:24 AM
US slang for jungle Phil - boondocks....British Army might say Oggin....
Boondocks is derived from the Tagalog word bundok meaning mountain and was picked up by the Americans in the Philippines and applied to anywhere remote or isolated
It was also transferred to New Zealand by US Servicemen during WWII
My Filipino in-laws were surprised that I knew the word ;)
Thanks, Ian & Paul. :)
I've heard 'boondocks' referred to in a number of American TV shows and always had assumed that it was something to do with shipping docks.
You learn something.......
Cheers - Phil. :)
Brits might also use Uloo (sp)
Thanks guys, and yeah, 'boonies' is used to refer to anywhere away from civilization, out in the middle of nowhere, certainly used a lot to describe heavy vegetation as well. When I was a grunt I spent lots of time "humpin' the boonies," AKA "walking in the woods/jungle carrying lots of heavy stuff" ;)
A 'cover' is how Marines say 'hat'. You're supposed to wear a hat outside and take it off inside (unless you're 'under arms,' AKA on guard duty), but lots of young Marines (and some old ones) like to take their hats off outside or forget to take it off immediately when they step inside, so you'll hear an NCO yelling at them to "put on/remove your cover!" A 'boonie cover' is the soft, wide-brimmed hat you wear out in the field, whilst the 8-pointed cover (sort of looks like a squarish baseball hat) is what Marines wear in garrison, though some crusty old bastards (typically 1st Sergeants, Sergeants Major, and Staff Sergeants that were never going to be promoted again) would wear them in the field.
V/R,
Jack
All,
1330 Local Time
31 January 1966
Song Ve Valley, RVN
Operation Double Eagle
Operation Double Eagle kicked off on 28 January 1966, with the intent to locate and destroy the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) 18th and 95th Regiments (which were believed to have infiltrated across the DMZ in December of 1965) and the Viet Cong 2nd Regiment in Quang Ngai Province, while the US Army and ARVN forces kicked off Operation Masher/White Wing just south of the Double Eagle area of operations to destroy the NVA and VC base camps believed to be located there. On 28 January the boys' platoon went ashore with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (3/1) at Red Beach, spending a couple days patrolling in the local area without contact.
On 30 January the boys' platoon became attached to 2/3, while B-52 'Arc Light' strikes were carried out in the Song Ve Valley. The intent was for the battalion to patrol the valley immediately following the B-52 strikes, but this didn't happen due to poor weather in the area, so the boys spent a restless day and night shivering and soaked under their ponchos. The boys' platoon ended up getting sent back to 2/4, which was then lifted by helo into the west end of the Song Ve Valley, from which they began their search.
The boys' platoon has been humping the valley all day, walking the massive line of craters created by the B-52 bombers, while other platoons paralleled them on the ridgelines to the north and south. The problem was that the boys' platoon was massively outpacing the flanking platoons as humping was ten times easier on the floor of the bombed out valley then it was on the heavily jungled ridgelines, cut a million times by jagged ravines. The boys' platoon seemed to call a halt every ten minutes, trying to allow the flankers to catch up, all the while having that very uneasy feeling they were being watched from those very same ridgelines...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YH8xXL-7i3Q/X81AwH6xdHI/AAAAAAAA2jg/G3NF0YRpiiMBTKkCmlfik7WhCTcCQxfGQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4349.JPG)
Overview, north is to top left, with the squad moving from west (bottom left) to east (top right). At top left is Hill 175, while there's a low ridgeline running north-south at far right. Other than that it's thick jungle broken up only by the craters, burned out areas, and rubble piles left in the wake of the B-52 strikes.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J4MihJ8xokw/X81A55A4OPI/AAAAAAAA2js/9rKOH1iQI2Ixd1EUlchDE_yK2lqbu9xTQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4353.JPG)
The squad pushes east. It's slow going as the point element takes many breaks to stop, look, and listen for signs of trouble, and the rest of the squad uses that time to search the area. "Look at that, man, VC were definitely here!" said Nelson. The squad was finding all sorts of broken weapons, ammo crates, fuel drums, pieces of bodies, even an overturned truck! "Yeah,' replied Corporal Little, "looks like the Arc Lights hit a VC base camp. Good on'em."
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kT_b7ntkW5w/X81BOeHA0PI/AAAAAAAA2kM/W6DskbHSTOk3_DODweHAFju9JnUkEMCqgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4359.JPG)
Danny and Tate (top right) are nearing the end of the debris field, with the rest of the squad pulling up behind them, eager to get out of the open area. Nikki (bottom center) paused for a moment for another sip of nice, warm water...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b2MhGDd1Aco/X81BW8c6mCI/AAAAAAAA2kY/vdFmILgjtB0nnlvu2mKIwdEf4yCILrXygCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4360.JPG)
At exactly the moment a burst of AK fire broke out from atop Hill 175 (bottom left)...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0UyMIJcA0NE/X81BXEo56MI/AAAAAAAA2kc/IAav4Rf2tyY1oOKZJwvs0K9xOLxYkLf2QCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4361.JPG)
And it is immediately joined by another AK from the west (bottom left, with Hill 175 off camera to top left), firing on the Marines (top center/left) from behind!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qUOpKPoH2h0/X81BXhpqWmI/AAAAAAAA2kg/Z4bphALfLyUBWjOokR3JOZHlhXqm96fJwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4362.JPG)
As the 7.62mm rounds come in, they find flesh! Nikki (bottom right) is struck, drops his canteen, and falls next to it on the jungle floor! Rivera, next to him (red bead) is suppressed, while Cpl Little (yellow bead at top left) is pinned.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OGhzQhNVJ5g/X81BiMjQK4I/AAAAAAAA2ks/YpGKFJYRhik0fzC18ylE3DgPOzDAaI9GQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4363.JPG)
Danny and Tate (bottom right) immediately face about and begin working back, trying to find the threat, as Sgt Garcia, Cpl Zamora, Holmes, and Jackson (center/left) all hop into nearby craters, seeking cover, peering over the rim to try and discover the location of their tormenters.
Danny listened intently, and all thoughts of the enemy disappeared when he didn't hear the sound of the M-60 firing, knowing it could only mean one thing. To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-brothers-fight-10.html
Next fight coming up Sunday night/Monday morning.
V/R,
Jack
Ouch!
Quite a fight this time mate.
Wottascrap ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil. :)
Thanks guys.
Jack
All,
1330 Local Time
1 February 1966
Song Ve Valley, RVN
Operation Double Eagle
Danny was severely unhappy; first Sergeant Garcia had split he and Nik up by putting them in different fireteams, and yesterday Nikki got hit and MEDEVAC'ed to the rear. Despite being in country with the squad for three and a half months now, he felt completely alone without his best friend. After the helos came and resupplied the company, then left carrying their wounded safely away, the company dug in and occupied its night defense positions, posting OP/LPs and going to 50% in the holes. Danny found it impossible to sleep, it was the first time in the field that he and Nik weren't sharing a hole. The company was up before dawn, and after a quick piss, brushing of the teeth, and some cold C-rats, they stomped in their holes, hoisted their packs, and began sweeping north up the Song Ve Valley.
It was the squad's turn on point when Sgt Garcia called them to a halt, told them to take a knee while he checked the map and checked in on the radio. They were currently atop a finger of Hill 133, but about to come down into some relatively open terrain, with ridgelines to their left (northwest) and right (southeast), as they pressed ahead to check out a fishing village in the northeast. "Alright, Thomas, you take point, and take it easy, take your time, I got a bad feeling about this one." "Roger, Sergeant G," replied Danny.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hoRCX1G18vM/X9JWvZt_vwI/AAAAAAAA2qA/Rx-JxZcwHhYqUlmTvwXlmVkes8gw1WvAwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4412.JPG)
Overview, north is up. Hill 133 is in the southwest (bottom left), while ridgelines dominate to the northwest (top left) and southeast (bottom right). There's a hardball road running north-south through the center of the area, with a cluster of rice paddies across the center/left, while thick stands of trees screen the approaches to the village, which sites in the northeast (top right), as well as box in the rice paddies to the west.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T90oMvaeWEg/X9JWmH69n_I/AAAAAAAA2p8/i_Ujxw2-utIi1OTqLYIUpzP1w1gV1wMPACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4413.JPG)
The squad is down to seven effectives...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E53QmQhBfns/X9JW9ELkd4I/AAAAAAAA2qU/C2UyXte1KRo5Y6CQuUSRJB4kG-zqkssBwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4418.JPG)
The patrol pushes ahead (center to bottom center to bottom right)...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PD-gZC_m358/X9JXVOHUePI/AAAAAAAA2q4/K4JoE7cdb9kTCA4d4iv_bB18KFv30CyAACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4424.JPG)
But then, as they reach the road, a Viet Cong bunker opens fire!
To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-brothers-fight-11.html
Next fight coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Thats a fights and a half
Thanks man.
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: mad lemmey on 15 February 2021, 05:07:57 PM
Thats a fight and a half
It certainly was. :-bd
Cheers - Phil. :)
Thanks Phil.
Jack
All,
1500 Local Time
4 March 1966
Near Hill 50, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation Utah
"So, you really think we're gonna get out and tangle with the North Vietnamese?" Nikki asked Danny. "Hell, I dunno man. On the one hand, look around, we got all these boots, loads of new gear, everybody's fired up like it's the 4th of July. But hell, dontcha remember, they said the same thing about Operation Double Eagle."
This time HQ had it right: Operation Utah was the Marine Corps' first contact with the North Vietnamese Army, and it was a doozy. At 0900 on 4 March 1966, US Marine helicopters lifted an ARVN battalion into an LZ 7 miles northwest of Quang Ngai City; heavy antiaircraft fire was encountered, downing a Marine UH-1 Huey and an F-4 Phantom! The ARVN didn't encounter much resistance once they were on the ground, and they begin maneuvering towards a cluster of hills, Hill 50, 97, and 85. The helos returned to Chu Lai to pick up the waiting Marines of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines (2/7), and began ferrying them back to Quang Ngai, but only one platoon of Kilo Co, 2/7 (K/2/7) was able to be inserted before another hellacious bout of antiaircraft fire cut loose. K/2/7 was isolated for about 15 minutes before the rest of Kilo could be landed, followed by G/2/7 and the battalion's Command Group, which was complete by 1130 local time. The boys were with H/2/7 as part of the third wave, waiting for the helos to return, and were shocked when their pickup was delayed because so many of the twenty of the helos had been shot full of holes, and two of the UH-34s had been shot down! Another helo squadron was quickly scrambled to support, and by 1300 on 4 March 1966, the boys were on the ground in Quang Ngai Province, north of the cluster of hills.
Golf and Kilo had taken Hills 85 and 97 against very light resistance, while the ARVN were working on Hill 50, which was beginning to show sings of being a tough nut to crack, so much so that the ARVN battalion commander was now desperately pleading for 2/7 to support them. As word came in that the ARVN and US Marines were facing the 21st North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Regiment, and that the NVA intended to stand and fight, the Marines' overall commander, General Platt, immediately called up reinforcements, in the form of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, which would be landed the following day, 5 March 1966.
It took awhile to get into position because the ARVN had been held up and thus weren't where they were supposed to be, but LtCol Utter (2/7's commander) got this companies reorganized and moving, now east to west against Hill 50 with Fox Company on the left, Golf in the center, and Hotel on the right, with the ARVN to the battalion's left. Fox Company's job was to maintain contact with the ARVN, Hotel's job was to screen the battalion's open right (southern) flank, while Golf Company was charged with securing Hill 50.
Naturally, the boys' platoon was now attached to Golf Company; "Up and at'em, @#$%birds, time to go earn your pay," Sergeant Garcia said, and they fell in on the far left flank of Golf Company, which was moving east in a company-sized skirmish line, not yet taking fire, though they could hear sounds of battle to their left, where the ARVN were engaged.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Crrl3picujk/X9QUEzXjiJI/AAAAAAAA2ys/NRV5hZJu1To3FMjDFsJNkoNrBE8n3iNcwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4498.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The center of the west side of Hill 50, showing signs of earlier airstrikes by Marine A-4s and F-4s, runs north to south across the east (right) side of the table, where you can see the hill is honeycombed with NVA defensive positions. There are a few clumps of dense jungle present, but mostly it's the hill and the open rice paddies to the west, which the Marines will be crossing in skirmish line.
The NVA are now occupying their defensive positions: the North Bunker (top center), the South Bunker (bottom right), the AAA Position (top right), and the trenchline running across the hilltop. There is a destroyed bunker at bottom center (taken out by the airstrikes). The Marine mortar team has taken up positions in a hedge in the southwest (bottom left), while the entire squad is fanned out in skirmish line from top left to bottom center left. 1st Fireteam is on the far left, then 2nd Fireteam, the Squad's command group, and 3rd Fireteam.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2uRFI7zUtN4/X9QTxylevYI/AAAAAAAA2yU/ze3vlh_btygY-YuqEIlINQ4pbeWUQIj7gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4494.JPG)
A traditional fight: the opposing forces, with the Marines on the left and the NVA on the right. The squad is actually overstrength, with sixteen men, two above their allotted table of organization strength.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Cq_zImkuro/X9QT6EfefNI/AAAAAAAA2yg/67J8o-jEC34MWzauI4vbDjxUcui6CzqYwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4496.JPG)
And they've got a 60mm mortar team attached!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5GI7LWKHIKg/X9QWGmtorQI/AAAAAAAA22M/LbwIyjdFRiAb2HnkDARz8mF7PtfBQiRUgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4537.JPG)
The Marines inch their way forward under heavy fire, taking casualties, in order to close with the NVA bunkers.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-den5NKOtNLE/X9QYQdyAYCI/AAAAAAAA258/cTDQEKkZVH0l7oxcBZlZxgoTkqEJVnLdACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4575.JPG)
Despite a plethora of difficulties, a handful of Marines reach the enemy trenchline on the right flank (left center)!
To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-brothers-fight-12.html
Next fight coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
All,
1700 Local Time
4 March 1966
Near Hill 50, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation Utah
The squad crept northeast through the rice paddies, hustling from cover to cover as best they could, the sounds of gunfire to their front, right, and rear. It felt very strange hugging the west side of Hill 50, knowing NVA were still up there, somewhere, but they were in a hurry. They had to get up, through the village, and into contact with Fox Company, knowing the NVA had probably infiltrated between them and the Marines on the far left flank. Not to mention, they really didn't want to get caught out in the rice paddies, all alone, knowing the battalion had precious little troops available to send to bale them out, and pretty much all the air and artillery assets were being used in support of the rest of the battalion, with all three companies in contact. "Let's go," Sergeant Garcia hissed, "keep it moving."
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yeg9q4Mmmb8/X9QeKoABUrI/AAAAAAAA2-k/hagXk51Tt2EW4NUl7QzQiyBoBp0pmaf6QCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4621.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The village of Khanh My (1) is at top right, the northwestern tip of Hill 50 runs from right to bottom center right, with enemy trenchlines, which appear to be abandoned, and craters from earlier air and arty strikes visible, along with several patches of dense jungle. In the northeast (top right) is a similar patch of dense jungle, which leads to the isolated Marines of Fox Company, while the left side of the table is nothing but rice paddies dotted with a few hedges. The squad will enter from the southwest (bottom left).
You can see the squad moving across the rice paddies in the southwest (bottom left), some Marines from Fox Company in the northeast (top right, in the jungle), in a fight with NVA off camera to top right, while the NVA involved in this fight are coming down off of the north end of Hill 50 and occupying the village of Khanh My (top center).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LbQnHClqUwg/X9QeYUVwmoI/AAAAAAAA2-0/0asqprqZBNkHtXMB7NtrLgGaBg_ZCJzHwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4625.JPG)
The Marines push north (you can see the pointman, Rivera, in the narrow paddy at left top, followed by the rest of the squad), nearing the ville (top right). Private White (bottom left) is 'tail-end Charlie,' and he's keeping a nervous eye cast up Hill 50 (far right).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6nVlStxLJVk/X9QeiYL7crI/AAAAAAAA2_M/51uXfzFXBg8ft3e_mNyi8g7q52i88_HHgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4628.JPG)
And, after all the nervous, tense waiting, it happens: NVA in the trenchline running through the village open fire on 1st Fireteam (top left)!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S3QMI-N5uTI/X9QfY3qt25I/AAAAAAAA3Ak/aE0SszA7CTcXZHVavNS1FG7HR0eA-piWgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4643.JPG)
Nikki gets into position (bottom right) and gets the M-60 going, sending a steady stream of tracers into the village (top center), which allows 1st Fireteam to pull back into cover behind a paddy dyke (far left).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XiVKgt1aQDE/X9QhixvNR1I/AAAAAAAA3EI/Q9JwqkG6ysEyvOrctAEA9E91X8Lxj_ZJgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4684.JPG)
Nik (center top) continues laying down fire as Danny (bottom left) moves up the slope of Hill 50, looking to flank the NVA positions in the village (off camera to far right).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3jbSR2kHX0/X9VigQs63VI/AAAAAAAA3Mc/ANFyPKh03v8VZv6der7mmp3AG1fLE89jgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4758.JPG)
Nik and Danny take a quick breather next to the body of an enemy soldier.
To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/02/two-brothers-fight-13.html
Next fight coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Great stuff - keep it up :-bd
What a fight. That first volley!! :o
Cracking stuff again, Jack ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil :)
Thanks guys.
V/R,
Jack
All,
1800 Local Time
4 March 1966
Near Hill 50, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation Utah
2nd Battalion, 7th Marines had been in contact all day; even before they were landed via helos they were taking fire on the way in, heavy enough that two Marine choppers and an F-4 Phantom had been shot down, and more than 20 helicopters had been damaged badly enough they'd had to head back for repairs, necessitating another helicopter squadron be committed to the fight. Once on the ground, the Marines joined an ARVN battalion that landed before them, and it was being mauled by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) defenses on and around Hill 50. 2/7 sprung into action, basically coming online and pushing east, with Fox Company to the left (north), tying in with the ARVN, Golf Company in the center, and Hotel Company on the right (south). The ARVN were hard pressed and weren't keeping up with the Marines, so Fox Company was pulled farther and farther north as Golf and Hotel struck the NVA defenses on Hill 50. Now it was the Marines turn to be mauled; the enemy were numerous, well-armed, and dug in, letting the Marines get close enough so that it was very difficult to leverage supporting air and artillery ("hugging the belt"). The Marines, Golf Company in particular, were able to breach the enemy defenses on Hill 50 in several places, but they were spread too thin and didn't have any reserves to exploit the success. And then battalion realized another problem brewing; while Golf and Hotel were essentially 'stuck in' and not going anywhere on Hill 50, a gap had opened between Golf Company and Fox Company, with NVA pouring into the gap, near the village of Khanh My.
The boys had accompanied Golf Company on its assault of Hill 50, reaching the enemy trenches but not able to push past, while suffering heavy casualties. They settled into a bit of a stalemate (like the rest of Golf and Hotel), but were then pulled back and sent north to reestablish contact with Fox Company, where they had a short, sharp firefight with a squad of NVA, sent them packing, and linked up with Fox. But now Hotel Company was being counterattacked by NVA on the southern side of Hill 50 and was in danger of being overrun, so the boys were sent south to help them out.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pMzm9ddwo7U/X9Qkq0xzoxI/AAAAAAAA3GA/0GU5dhaCWNE0WoNKt24VJT_qq7AIThdoACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4691.JPG)
Overview, north is up. Enemy entrenchments atop the southern tip of Hill 50 are visible at far/top right, while the northern tip of the village of Chau Nhai (5) (not to be confused with Chau Nhai (3), which we'll see tomorrow), and the rest is scattered jungle. The beleaguered Marines of Hotel Company have withdrawn into a relatively small defensive perimeter to fight off the marauding NVA, the northern tip of which is visible at bottom left, while the squad will be entering from the northwest (top left), seeing to relieve pressure on Hotel Company.
You can see several Marines from Hotel Company in the jungle to the southwest (bottom left); the rest of their perimeter stretches off camera to the south, where they are already heavily engaged by attacking NVA infantry. The squad is entering in the northwest (top left), as the NVA Platoon, split in half, is entering through the village (bottom center) and streaming down Hill 50 (center right).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NUXgtbK85bE/X9Vguf4jBoI/AAAAAAAA3JQ/_QYzpo9JifAbCX6fXmQlNRUyjmKbphp3QCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4724.JPG)
The NVA push through the dense undergrowth (top left to bottom right), closing in on the Marine positions (top right)...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OzhBjLKeOTg/X9Vg8X2o7YI/AAAAAAAA3Jo/55rCNN5w2LUl8x9XSvREJrMkKiJNQjuNACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4728.JPG)
Where they launch an RPG!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IeAGGczWPbk/X9VhUs1aoBI/AAAAAAAA3KU/ku8iuTw6O3gazzrESuUPrx8krzdWIJuRgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4734.JPG)
Doc is treating the wounded (far left)...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WUXQCe1K-EU/X9VhKNmgDyI/AAAAAAAA3KA/OlEj22bdBOYub1Ve08K9rY8a83E1eFZBACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4732.JPG)
As Nik (bottom left) keeps the M-60 hammering away...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gB92bgG0OO8/X9VgwwZr2yI/AAAAAAAA3JU/g4Wdsdk8WboKLXaNSJBbnXcBVTSnb0lTwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4725.JPG)
And Danny moves to the flank (bottom right), where he's able to catch the NVA (top left) with enfilading fire!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IiwcbZpUzvk/X9Vgpbj0x3I/AAAAAAAA3JI/hRZJMQHwSVgCmbPRLZU-2ZkcbTDmzaL9QCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4723.JPG)
But the NVA have already dispatched three men (far right, from bottom left) to flank him (just visible at top right, behind the bamboo)!
To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/03/two-brothers-fight-14.html
Next fight coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Crickey What a tense fight!
What Will said.
Good one , Jack ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil. :)
Thanks guys.
Jack
All,
2300 Local Time
4 March 1966
Near Hill 50, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation Utah
2nd Battalion, 7th Marines had been in contact all day, for the first time in a stand-up, knockdown drag-out fight with the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) in and around Hill 50. The Marines had been in heavy combat, and while they'd certainly put a hurtin' on the NVA, they'd taken a pretty good beating themselves. They'd managed to break contact, fall back to the south, and establish a night defensive position, where they could treat and evacuate their wounded, replenish their ammo, and grab a bit of grub and rest. But while things were relatively quiet on the ground, Marine Air was having a helluva time, drawing heavy fire every time they came near Hill 50. Three helos and an F-4 Phantom had already been shot down, and approximately thirty more choppers shot up by NVA antiaircraft weapons, mostly Dshk 12.7mm heavy machine guns, which the Marines often referred to as ".51-cals".
But the Marines cut a lucky break; firing to the southwest drew the attention of one of the battalion officers, who grabbed a few Marines and headed over to check it out. "I'll be damned," he thought, somehow the NVA gotten a .51-cal HMG in behind them, dug into a trench and expertly camouflaged. The officer headed back into the Marine perimeter to inform the Colonel what they'd found. The decision was made to launch a raiding party to destroy the NVA anti-aircraft emplacement. Not long after, Corporal Little was informed he'd be leading the raiding party.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GrDjfB1hR6E/X9VlVfQpoMI/AAAAAAAA3NU/SkzU-zxz5RElA6WiTXXbOjiF_HqMajfuACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4764.JPG)
Overview, north is up. 2/7's night defensive position in Chau Nhai (4) is off camera to top right. At top right is a small knoll that Corporal Little used to screen the squad's approach on the enemy AA Position, which is located to the south (bottom center/left). There is a thick patch of jungle in the southeast (bottom right), while the rest of the table is covered with scattered rice paddies, one of which has a stand of trees located nearby (center top).
Overview, this time with troops. The NVA are manning their AA emplacement, with everyone in the trench except a single sentry out on foot, to the south (in the trees at bottom left center), while Cpl Little has placed his base of fire element in the copse of trees in the center, and led the assault element up to the dense stand of trees to the east (center right).
The plan is for the base of fire element to get into place while Cpl Little and the assault element cover from the knoll. Once Jackson signals Cpl Little the base of fire element is in place, Cpl Little will begin moving the assault element into their jump-off positions at the corner of the western point of the patch of jungle in the southeast under the cover of a pre-arranged fire mission by the battalion's 81mm mortars. Once the mortars lift the base of fire element will engage the AA position while Cpl Little leads the assault element into the east end of the enemy trench, clearing west to destroy the NVA's HMG.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EtcovH0Yf0g/X9VlZtFHFuI/AAAAAAAA3Ng/Cbe-23UI2SYbYS0lUCf3E_cEiW48mtzigCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4765.JPG)
A look at the NVA position: two riflemen in the west (bottom left), the HMG in its emplacement (center left), two riflemen in the east (far right), a picket to the south (in the trees at center right), and the NCO, LMG, and a rifleman in the center (center top).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gcMkshviYzM/X9VlWeD8SgI/AAAAAAAA3Nc/gX-Eva0bQ_UkkuNRnpbDwwxjqYCWqqJVgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4766.JPG)
The base of fire element gets into the copse of trees in the center (right), signals Cpl Little, and he begins moving the assault element up (bottom left).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fvKETHvCxu8/X9Vlf3iloCI/AAAAAAAA3Nk/3dBIyB_Dbe0CaIz-bNEjSEcvM3K4K-p_wCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4767.JPG)
The battalion mortars begin pounding the NVA trenchline...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-52mQKNOsXH0/X9Vlinp7OBI/AAAAAAAA3Ns/iJff0i2_41UYugdfEJ1aKCgkOREWK2vGACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4769.JPG)
Covering the approach of Cpl Little and the assault element (bottom left, with the base of fire element off camera to far right and the NVA position at left/top). Cpl Little peers out around the copse of trees. "Well, I guess we're ready," he murmurs as he signals Jackson with a red penlight, letting the base of fire element know the assault element is ready to jump off.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5OLHg5jIcGQ/X9VlsHu1rXI/AAAAAAAA3N0/FnQFmElv0QQRU2baF8iVS8hjOlQY2M74gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4770.JPG)
The mortars lift and the base of fire element (bottom right, with the assault element at bottom left) cuts loose, Rivera on the M-60 and McCaffrey pumping 40mm HE rounds and flares out of his M-79...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wd1NADLd5e8/X9Vl3WkDPDI/AAAAAAAA3OI/pcufQDxO6bYhUg_YZj_IGah_3lQjGbeRACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4774.JPG)
Corporal Little leads the assault element forward (right, from far right), at the NVA trenchline.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EK9W46kKW9o/X9VmMAJwMII/AAAAAAAA3Oo/Pn_DN2ODny04lvQKxk23ncFzSu5JLXnbwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4780.JPG)
But NVA fire catches them in the open, hitting White and Floyd while pinning Nik and suppressing Cpl Little!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n1QD8DMDJfs/X9VmskOi02I/AAAAAAAA3Pk/lc_u0-yolqAB2c2nmSwbEudPslJfP0iVACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4789.JPG)
Only one Marine would make it into the NVA trench, for which he would be awarded the Silver Star.
Please check the blog for the whole story:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/03/two-brothers-fight-15.html
More to follow.
V/R,
Jack
More good stuff
Amazing Jack, so atmospheric!
Another goody, Jack ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil. ;)
Thank you, gentlemen.
V/R,
Jack
All,
1330 Local Time
5 March 1966
Near Hill 50, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation Utah
Earlier this morning 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines pulled back and the boys humped over to join 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, which was now charged with securing Hill 50. The squad linked up with 3/1 and was briefed on the plan to assault Hill 50 from the northeast, with ARVN units attacking further west; as a matter of fact, the ARVN were claiming they had already secured Hill 50. However, preliminary recon by 3/1 proved that was not the case. So the battalion marched south, to its jump-off positions, where the Marines flopped down in the grass to enjoy a nice C-ration lunch and enjoy the show put on by the 105mm howitzers of 12th Marines and assorted airstrikes by Marine A-4 Skyhawks and F-4 Phantoms. The Marines even joined in with the occasional 'oohs' and 'ahs,' as napalm sent flame and roiling black clouds into the sky, as Willie Pete burst on the slopes, sending its white tendrils in every direction, or a string of 500-pound bombs went off, sending shockwaves across the valley. All a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend one's lunch hour.
"Look at all that," Rivera exclaimed. "This'll be a walkover, nobody could survive all that pounding." "Don't kid yourself, Rivera," Cpl Little replied. "Don't any of you kid yourself, there'll be plenty of dinks up there waiting for us, and they'll be plenty pissed of, just like yesterday. So you keep your @#$% wired tight, we're gonna be in for another helluva fight, and we're gonna need everyone pulling his weight," said Cpl Little, shooting a glance at Contreras. "And I do mean everyone."
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1LOGzvn0Bx4/X9VpM24F7XI/AAAAAAAA3RQ/ySacOMHQ1zQf5aJSOrh9iDM2JpoR-hyHQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4805.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The northeast corner of Hill 50 is visible from far left to bottom center, with two NVA bunkers present, linked by communications trenches and otherwise dotted by patches of jungle and craters from the Marine artillery and airstrikes. Too the southeast is the western end of the village of Chau Nhai (3), which is known to be fortified and occupied by the NVA as well. The squad will be entering from the northeast (top right), looking to make use of the few hedges and thickets of jungle offering cover amongst the slew of rice paddies.
The NVA have both bunkers occupied with troops, men in the trenchlines in the west, and several men manning the trenchline in the ville (bottom right), while the Marine squad is in its jump-off position (top right), ready to launch their assault.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-74jpjVczVL8/X9aEGEIF21I/AAAAAAAA3Sw/Xd-haa0K_KgpZKrtL-l7NnxWPeo4rJ68wCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4819.JPG)
Nik hammers away with his M-60 (bottom right) at the bunkers atop Hill 50 (top center left) as Cpl Little leads the assault element forward (center, from right), looking to get into that stand of trees below the hill (far left).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J_8ywMvvl4I/X9aElg7ZRlI/AAAAAAAA3Ts/F1I6Pc_Z49keKtr_cxhd_yk_gGfHPuJNQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4828.JPG)
The assault element reaches the copse of trees (far right), then begins pushing into the ville (far left).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rKDVU-H8JTs/X9aEqGUb_VI/AAAAAAAA3Tw/4K27HKbsFD4TIXntjdXJBK5qEhirnUNPgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4829.JPG)
But they've gotten away from the base of Hill 50 (center left top), far enough that the NVA in the East Bunker (bottom right) can spot them and open fire...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OB0yVY_OH98/X9aEuGCattI/AAAAAAAA3T4/r_P0At-BY1APrCOYDcnvvp2Cnabeq8a9gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4831.JPG)
A Marine is hit (casualty figure in the grass at right, between the craters and the urns) and Doc fearlessly dashes forward to treat him, ignoring the torrent of NVA fire coming his way.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FCDSZJyLw-M/X9aGVgoyo0I/AAAAAAAA3Wg/67FjIClf0NkD1ykFd-pdQVefy2i2UgvtgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4857.JPG)
Two Marines (left and center) are able to work their way out of the village (far right) and clamber up the slope of Hill 50, towards the East Bunker (just visible at far left).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m4nlO8scWsg/X9aGg1cOXOI/AAAAAAAA3Ww/v8dNaJxDseEfFbWF2wx7kYb73F-fJXsxACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4860.JPG)
The NVA in the East Bunker saw movement go off to their right and realized they are being outflanked, so they fall back out of the bunker and come left to meet the threat...
To see how the fight turns out, please visit the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/03/two-brothers-fight-16.html
Next fight (the last of Operation Utah) coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Still excellent stuff, keep it up
Quite a scrap Jack, well done.
Thank you, gentlemen.
V/R,
Jack
Good one...once again, Jack. 8)
Cheers - Phil. :)
Thanks Phil!
V/R,
Jack
All,
1600 Local Time
5 March 1966
Near Hill 50, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation Utah
The boys had accompanied Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines (L/3/1) in the final assault to secure Hill 50, and now they were attached to Mike Company, which was attacking the fortified village of Chau Nhai (3), which lies just east of Hill 50, from west to east, while India Company had swung around to the north and were attacking from east to west.
The boys' platoon was attacking on the far left flank of Lima Company, with the boy's squad on the far left flank of their platoon, on the left end of a line running north-south. "Our job is to break into the northwest end of the village, securing a foothold, as the rest of the platoon swings in from the front. We'll be tying down their left flank, making sure the NVA can't filter in behind them as they push east to clear the rest of the village," Corporal Little briefed the squad. "So, what, Corporal, the seven of us are gonna assault the village, all by ourselves?" Jackson asked. "No Jackson, we're gonna have all of Lima Company out there with us assaulting the village. They just won't be anywhere you can see them. But trust me, they're there," Corporal Little replied, as the squad busted into nervous laughter. "Let's go, Marines."
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uRVyMAXURZ8/X9aK0Rxv36I/AAAAAAAA3Z8/Di8udLxI5uIXE6SBoTTHKly-uvTIp6b2QCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4893.JPG)
Overview, north is up. You can see the far eastern end of Hill 50 at bottom left, and the northwestern end of the fortified village of Chau Nhai (3) at bottom/far right. Air and arty has worked the area over, leaving a significant number of craters dotting the landscape, which is otherwise covered with hedges and rice paddies. The squad is approaching from the northwest (top left), seeking to get as close to the village as possible before the shooting starts.
The Marines have entered the area at top left, while the NVA occupy the village, from bottom center to far right. The most important aspect to this is that the enemy has a bunker on each flank (right bottom center and far right top. Each bunker has a rifleman posted outside it for flank protection, while the NVA leader and last rifleman occupy the trenchline connecting the two bunkers.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bEHSYEmCqUo/X9aKlhUW2UI/AAAAAAAA3Zs/niDfFmY55vUttXD5NKLdJTh8aDXpo829gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4891.JPG)
The squad is beat to hell, down to seven combat effectives, including the Doc! Corporal Little is very concerned with this mission, knowing it's going to take everything the squad's got if the enemy puts up even light resistance in this area of the village.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8NVxNYj-zgw/X9aLDF2SHbI/AAAAAAAA3ac/PS5zYnC2ftAABcADa4Aaw01VPSygjewOgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4898.JPG)
Right on time, the Marine 81mm mortars came in on Chau Nhai (3), hitting the center and east end of the NVA defensive line.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M1D6b75Ul_A/X9aLYZKI1wI/AAAAAAAA3a4/KJ71dKg03NslUhWo4DFXQFdfgZfjzCG9ACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4902.JPG)
Jackson, Nik, McCaffrey, and Doc Johnson (top left) look on as Danny, Rivera, and Corporal Little begin traipsing across the rice paddies...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Cfx9TsHGIs/X9aLWTWa97I/AAAAAAAA3a0/bHBlqdGZg04aYPHEoKdLnoh3jmmsM71EACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4903.JPG)
The NVA have sucked the Marines in, allowing the assault element to advance out into the open rice paddies, devoid of cover, when the two NVA riflemen in the West Bunker (bottom right) finally breaks the tension: 7.62mm rounds snap and zip past the exposed Marines, plowing into the paddies, kicking up geysers of dirty water. Luckily for the Marines, non one is hit, but Danny (right) and Rivera (center) are suppressed, as Cpl Little (left) is pinned!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MmmUfCRmADA/X9aLbAOVyZI/AAAAAAAA3bA/8aVoh0bUmjY9r_t4AveZN9LRBMdJuLRaQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4904.JPG)
And the East Bunker (bottom right) immediately joins in, spraying with their AK-47s on full auto at the advancing Marines (top left to top center).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z12ohgjy-b8/X9aLgxLvqnI/AAAAAAAA3bI/dRHjF1Zvr4UqK_N81lQDCbroksmum3qPgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4905.JPG)
Corporal Little (bottom right) and Doc Johnson (bottom center right) are both suppressed by the fire from the East Bunker (top right); "@#$%!!!" screams Nik (bottom left), "return fire, return fire! I don't have a shot at that bunker on the right (the West Bunker, just off camera to far right), hit it with the thumper!" Nik ordered McCaffrey, as he poured tracers from his M-60 into the East Bunker. "Roger that!" replied McCaffrey, as he fired a 40mm HE round.
"Jackson, get on the horn and let'em know we need help, they're pinned down and dead meat out there in those rice paddies," Nik continued. "Already on it, boss!" Jackson replied.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jImHSfcLpsY/X9aL4I0nS5I/AAAAAAAA3bw/BpKZyb4AxDcmUHmAK_Q8fGR8xiMz-AU_gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4913.JPG)
Back in the rice paddies, Cpl Little (bottom left), Rivera (left), and Danny (top center) are in Death Ground, with no way out but to fight, so all three open fire on the West Bunker (top right) with their M-14s on full auto...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gwqtk2ZHoAE/X9aMu_XpKzI/AAAAAAAA3dI/I7V9pXDkllAiseb4xFdQrHGSp6j6LqPbACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4926.JPG)
Danny crawls up the firing port of the NVA's West Bunker. He rolls onto his side, fishing a frag out of his pocket, then sweeps the safety clip off, pulls the pin, lets the spoon fly, and begins cooking off the grenade...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mH_2yKmbfwg/X9aM3DBFaBI/AAAAAAAA3dQ/_vDbTiKTR80VtXOclBus7PPAn7IPhGuTgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4928.JPG)
But the NVA rifleman in the trench (top right) spots him and fires, hitting Danny (casualty figure at far left) in the back, though he still manages to roll the frag into the West Bunker, then flops backwards, away from the firing port, as the grenade goes off, killing the NVA inside!
To see the thrilling finish of Operation Utah, which would see a Medal of Honor awarded, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/03/two-brothers-fight-17.html
Next fight coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Coo ! :o
Good one, Jack.
(What's the little maroon, yellow and white shrine (?) type 'wossname' next to some rather large 'pots' ?.....Or did I bypass that in the text ?......Probably.)
Cheers - Phil. :)
Thanks Phil.
I want to help, but I'm not following you. "What's the little maroon, yellow, and white shrine"? It's a Buddhist shrine, made of resin, from Flashpoint Minis. Is that what you're asking for?
V/R,
Jack
That'll be it, Jack.
Thanks - Phil. :)
Another really good one Jack
Gotcha Phil, and thanks Ian.
V/R,
Jack
All,
1045 Local Time
19 June 1966
5 Miles North of Phu Bai Combat Base, Thua Thien Province, RVN
Operation Dodge
Nikki and Danny were having a rough time, their first time back out in the field after being hit during Operation Utah, their bodies weak after their extended recuperation period. But here they were again, humping the bush for the past two days after having trucked up north of Phu Bai from Da Nang. Attached to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment (2/4), the whole battalion had been scouring the area of operations without even a hint of the enemy, but that was all about to change. 2/4 was approaching a cluster of hamlets along the coast (dammit, I was supposed to use my beach mat, with dunes, but I was in a hurry and forgot!) and began fanning out to try and get in as quickly as possible, hoping to catch the Viet Cong before they'd made their escape. But the VC were crafty, had long played this game along the "Street Without Joy," and were already evacuating, leaving behind only a handful of fighters to harass the advancing Marines. And, or course, the squad was about to run into one such group of stay behinds.
Sergeant Little called a halt and motioned for his fireteam leaders to join him, briefing them on the situation. "So the El-tee wants us to split off to the northeast, so we are on the far left, there are no friendlies to our left. As usual, battalion wants us to rush in to catch Charlie before he dee-dees* outta the area, but we all know how that goes, so let's stay frosty and take our time on this." "Roger," replied Corporal Nelson. Sgt Little gave Cpl Nelson a furtive glance and murmured "I'm sorry brother, if there was anything I could do, I would..." "I know, Rob, and it's okay. Don't you jokers sweat me, I'm two days and a wake-up, I'll be back in the World in no time," replied Cpl Nelson. "No, it ain't alright," Nik erupted, "I can't believe battalion's got Rock out here humpin' with only days left in country! This is bull@#$%!!!" "Alright, alright, calm down, and get your @#$% together, we got a job to do, now move out!"
*"Dee-dees" is a bastardization of "di-di mau," which is Vietnamese for 'leave,' or something to that effect.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--zkOYqdFmMU/X91C2qgOOiI/AAAAAAAA3js/KlJX10Q5TKIlgT-ADRLR6I-fPXStka4aACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4978.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The area is nice and flat, the river running from northwest (top left) to southeast (bottom right), with small villages dotting the area (top left, bottom left, top right, and far right), a hardball road running north-south west of the river (left), rice paddies dominating the north and northeast, and heavy foliage scattered throughout.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Az2D_3l74QE/X91C2bjHXdI/AAAAAAAA3jo/wggDFIWeCK84RE5WldvFW9JHYfcS87jigCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4980.JPG)
The initial set up: Sgt Little and Nik's 3rd Fireteam search a ville (bottom center) as Cpl Nelson's 1st Fireteam (bottom right) and Danny's 2nd Fireteam (left center) pull security.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22pstXU9hoQ/X91DGM-32iI/AAAAAAAA3j8/RMbiaBREukQKw3sHdaSOr4W5EYrvBe2KACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4984.JPG)
The Marines warily cross the river.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-htNW9okAj4w/X91DgakcOVI/AAAAAAAA3kg/0Kh67pw8QtQ40OLrrAgMbSSsxZ_XuvktQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4988.JPG)
Where they set about searching the next hamlet.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YwyDoWXwx4U/X91DeMKHquI/AAAAAAAA3kc/rsKsulP1KYM9EyYQsA4qO-8HMI7Wv_toQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4989.JPG)
Nik (far right) takes a puff on his cigarette and tosses another stone at Danny (left) as 1st Fireteam completes its search an steps off (top left) for the next village.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JLzRL_toXkk/X91DkWUwf-I/AAAAAAAA3ko/FglehAb2MhIbgUzSFEZIUTb1Posp_iX7ACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4990.JPG)
But the enemy is out there and about to act...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NGD6-CojfMs/X91DxwP9y8I/AAAAAAAA3k8/Wz1zI8vFQcEZDw18aH9NNW8179AXG3RogCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_4995.JPG)
And the VC (bottom center right) trigger the ambush, cutting loose with a long burst from the RPD at Cpl Nelson's 1st Fireteam (top left, with Danny's 2nd Fireteam at top right)!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ViyTZKQW1bE/X91E1v5HP6I/AAAAAAAA3m4/r2ko0o-LBTwAqnzJUMNPW5Fj8Xm0yPn4wCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5013.JPG)
Once again things get bleak for the beleaguered Marines.
To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/03/two-brothers-fight-18.html
Next fight coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Great report Jack, can't wait for the next one
Keep em coming !
Thanks fellas!
V/R,
Jack
Another real goody, Jack !
Cheers - Phil :)
Thanks Phil.
V/R,
Jack
All,
1230 Local Time
15 July 1966
Ngan Valley, Quang Tri Province, RVN
Operation Hastings
This morning Marine A-4 Skyhawks and F-4 Phantoms pounded LZ Crowe, followed by an artillery barrage, before the CH-46s carrying 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment (3/4) descended into the valley and began disgorging their heavily-laden Marines. The LZ was too small and quickly three Marine helos were down, badly damaged; two collided, and the third hit a tree while trying to avoid the other two. Even worse, the incidents left two Marines dead and seven more injured, all before the enemy had even fired a shot.
Nevertheless, 3/4 formed up and began setting about its tasks: India Company was charged with holding the LZ's perimeter, while Lima Company marched off to occupy a nearby hill, Hill 200, which it took after some light skirmishing. Meanwhile, the boys set off with Kilo Company, which was charged with moving south to cross the Ngan River and establish blocking positions for 2/4, which was being lifted into LZ Dove a few klicks to the east and was scheduled to sweep west, into K/3/4 and Hill 200. As Kilo Company moved south there was a brief firefight as they encountered some lightly-armed North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars performing a rearguard action; when the dust cleared the Marines were hardly prepared for what they found: a building containing a 200-bed hospital, and an ammunition dump containing 1200 rounds of small arms ammunition. "Hold up," Nik begged. "How the hell did they get all this stuff down from North Vietnam, and how's it just sitting here, unmolested, like they're not in somebody else's country? And how many of them must be out there right now if they're comfortable enough to build permanent-ass buildings up here?"
The Marines destroyed all they found and then continued their trek south towards the river. Kilo Company halted and sent out scouts locate a river crossing, and that's where the squad ran into trouble.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dptnz_6ZD3U/X91IH06W-xI/AAAAAAAA3qk/L6mFxPkdkycgbpdkhaqLXt5kOtT_nV-YgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5048.JPG)
Overview, north is to bottom left. This is my first attempted rendition of the geography up near the DMZ; lots of hills, cuts, saddles, ravines, heavy forest in the draws, small, shallow rivers, with clumps of bush clinging to the hillsides/hilltops. It's hard to see here, but there are significant elevations in all four corners of the table, with forested draws at left, top center, right, and bottom center.
The hills are: Hill 110 at top left, Hill 155 at top right, Hill 142 at bottom right, and Hill 160 at bottom left. The Marines are clustered on the hill in the north (Hill 160, bottom left), while the NVA are clustered on the hill to the south (Hill 155, top right), across the river, though they have pushed a squad north across the river (in the trees at far right bottom, near Hill 142).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G8q5BN2nHvE/X91INn0rx2I/AAAAAAAA3qs/BfV1lH65BtQmADXh2tSfJJP1jV3v0A8OwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5050.JPG)
A look south from the Marine Command Element's position on Hill 160. You can see the MG Team at far let, the fireteams in column moving down the hill and up to the river at right, and even some NVA on the far hill, Hill 155.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VoOLAfsipow/X91Is_7_rkI/AAAAAAAA3rg/G8F1jKKc2206QlREknCeZ3ZjLIChnFabQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5057.JPG)
As the sound of small arms fire reverberates throughout the valley! The NVA squad near the river crossing (bottom right) opens fire at point-blank range on Nik's 3rd Fireteam (top left)!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYkj2EJUFC4/X91I9h6kggI/AAAAAAAA3r4/L-e9mBz9wmoA-CI8XlYeKQV2iVthkzuswCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5061.JPG)
And then a rocket comes screaming in from the west!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ve4Rmx3oeY8/X91JMzKIvyI/AAAAAAAA3sQ/HFTCHIR7R-gQFWnrILvOZ99LF0IiEQ-wACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5065.JPG)
Sergeant Little (bottom left) tries to assert control: he gets Jackson on the radio to call for support and directs Doc Eakle to move downhill to help 3rd Fireteam's casualties as he fires on Hill 155 with his M-14 and McCaffrey fires his M-79...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pwad8CKuB0Q/X91JlxTKWCI/AAAAAAAA3s8/bz6TQqdsAlIqKDo82jTZFRqHeyHieFqRgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5072.JPG)
The NVA at the base of Hill 155 (left) rally as their MG Team (bottom left) continues dueling with the US MG Team (top right)...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HM804H-Eva8/X91LCPmNnwI/AAAAAAAA3vM/9jRNBCrC8SkJvqfzuLWcMwrp_98K0yLAwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5095.JPG)
A fierce fight breaks out at point-blank range ont he Marine right, atop Hill 142, trying to drive back the encroaching NVA squad in order to keep 3rd Fireteam (at the river, just off camera to top center) from being overrun.
To see how the fight turns out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/04/two-brothers-fight-19.html
More to come.
V/R,
Jack
Another good un Jack
Great reports.
Sorry. I should say this more often.
I do look forward to what I am ashamed to say I think of as "the Teddy Bear Wars".
Great stuff again Jack
Your tables are brilliantly presented :-bd
Something I hope to emulate myself
Thank you gentlemen, I greatly appreciate the kind words.
The 'Teddy Bear Wars, eh? I can dig it ;)
And your tables look great to me, Matt!
V/R,
Jack
Great stuff again, Jack !
Cheers - Phil. :)
This is utterly engrossing, I can't wait for the next instalment of this excellent series!
Thanks Phil, and thank you too, Ben, I am humbled.
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: Ben Waterhouse on 08 April 2021, 08:05:53 AM
This is utterly engrossing, I can't wait for the next instalment of this excellent series!
Oh..stop encouraging him....He's trying to sell this as a storyboard to Sky. ;)
Cheers - Phil. :D
Oh goodness, you're killing me. I don't know about TV, but I do have some buddies that are trying to get me to turn it into a comic book or something to that effect. We'll see...
If it does make it onto the big screen, I'll make sure Phil is played by Ian McKellen.
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 09 April 2021, 02:15:38 PM
If it does make it onto the big screen, I'll make sure Phil is played by Ian McKellen.
V/R,
Jack
Far far to young for Phil
Ah! But he hasn't aged since the Quickening.
"Far far to young for Phil"
Fair point, but I was pulling the "I should be played by Brad Pitt" bit ;)
V/R,
Jack
Pah !
If they ever make a Judge Dredd movie that features Judge Death, I should be played by the Judge Death actor......At least that'll be a close approximation, build wise. ;)
Cheers - Mr Stick Insect. :)
All,
2015 Local Time
15 July 1966
Ngan Valley, Quang Tri Province, RVN
Operation Hastings
The boys are with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment (K/3/4), on their first trip up to the DMZ. They were helo'ed into the area this morning, then found themselves in a sharp firefight trying to cross the Ngan River which saw them repulsed with two Marines badly wounded. The Company tried twice more to cross the river, but the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars of the 90th Regiment threw them back both times. Kilo Company then fell back approximately 200 meters to the north and dug in, but the NVA pursued them, harassing with mortars and snipers, and by 1930 Kilo's commander reported to battalion that the company was entirely surrounded.
The squad is tasked with holding a section of the company's perimeter on the northeast side of the hill, and it's gonna be a long night...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wr1Fyjee7YA/X91ON6j_99I/AAAAAAAA3yA/sQVz9AEn-6UwMd0hnS6oyI7sXLlnTHLOQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5123.JPG)
Overview, north is up. The squad's section of the hill is at bottom left, with its highest point in that corner and fingers jutting out to the north (far left) and east (bottom), a steep draw pushing into their center (the cluster of trees at center marks the point where the draw comes together and the hill begins rising to the southwest (bottom left). There's nothing but trees, grass, and some scattered brush out here.
The Marines are set up thusly: Sergeant Little and his Command Element are in the center bunker, looking down into the draw (left bottom); Danny and the 2nd Fireteam are in reserve, not dug-in, just chilling behind a hedge further up the hill (bottom left), while Nik's 3rd Fireteam is holding down the northern finger (far left) and Cpl Benavides' 1st Fireteam is holding down the southern finger (bottom center). I didn't put out Claymore or wire because 1) I'm stupid and 2) I wasn't sure how to handle Claymores, afraid of making them too powerful.
The Marines are currently at 50% (half are sleeping, half are on watch), and they will have off-table arty support, subject to availability rolls.
The NVA are spread across the table from the northwest (top left) to southeast (bottom right), with rifle squads in their assault positions at top left, top center left, center, right bottom, and bottom right, while their mortar and MG teams are positioned atop the knoll at top right.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TigUJVd1Hak/X91OTLhhWKI/AAAAAAAA3yQ/ysFQ2OK98h4NjVryki9r4pCZ06I3k-mqwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5124.JPG)
Another look a the Marine positions, giving you a better idea of the topography (the finger running to the north at far left, the steep draw at top center/right).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_AN3j_ppnLQ/X91OS3uPv4I/AAAAAAAA3yI/cb7s9b1QzUkD6byQaKdjg2gkjS7TtvmDACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5125.JPG)
Another look to the north, from behind 2nd Fireteam's reserve position. Nice and lumpy, starting to look like some real terrain ;) Notice the fall off on the back side of the northern finger, far left.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RAn-2YZ1j60/X91PMxY84OI/AAAAAAAA3zw/zgO0y3avgJEdlp0C9amYjDESHA-QmlOjACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5140.JPG)
The NVA cut loose with a B-40 rocket...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cWAWVtbD26o/X91O_7xdETI/AAAAAAAA3zY/yO35mZ9vsqICjb7d9GXZEDspwZwJZqQeQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5136.JPG)
And the rocket slams into a bunker, pinning the Marines inside!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WlpRpkqGUhk/X91RBIkP3qI/AAAAAAAA33A/YjSzF9Jku6IxTQRTBERhnQYoG6o58bgdwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5173.JPG)
The NVA move up the slope of the north finger (left bottom), silencing the Marine machine gun and overunning Nik's bunker! With the gun out of action the NVA immediately exploit the situation by rushing to the bunker and opening fire on Sergeant Little's command bunker (top right, with 1st Fireteam's bunker visible at top center).
To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/04/two-brothers-fight-20.html
More coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
How inflammable is the fur they're so cheerfully firing rockets into?
Just a quiet day then!
I should say so !
Another goodie, Jack !
Cheers - Phil :)
"How inflammable is the fur they're so cheerfully firing rockets into?"
It hadn't really factored into my tactical considerations, but quite, apparently.
And unfortunately yes, a rather 'normal' pair of engagements on the DMZ.
Thanks guys.
V/R,
Jack
All,
1500 Local Time
16 July 1966
Ngan Valley, Quang Tri Province, RVN
Operation Hastings
The boys are with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment (K/3/4), on their first trip up to the DMZ. Yesterday they were helo'ed into the area, then found themselves in a sharp firefight trying to cross the Ngan River which saw them repulsed with two Marines badly wounded. The Company tried twice more to cross the river, but the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars of the 90th Regiment threw them back both times. Kilo Company then fell back approximately 200 meters to the north and dug in, but the NVA pursued them, harassing with mortars and snipers, and by 1930 Kilo's commander reported to battalion that the company was entirely surrounded. At approximately 2015 the NVA launched a full-scale assault on Kilo Company's hilltop, which the Marines threw back owing to some brutal close-in fighting buttressed by supporting fires, with both sides suffering significant casualties.
The Marines of Kilo Company pried themselves out of their holes with the sunrise, and were greeted with an NVA mortar barrage for their efforts. It didn't last long and there were few casualties, so the rifle company got itself in order and not long after was back on the move, proving south towards the Ngan River. There was good news in that 2/4 had been told to hustle up and move west with all practical speed in order to effect a linkup with 3/4, owing to the tough resistance the Marines were running into, and radio traffic reported that 2/4 arrived at LZ Crowe* at approximately 1400. So there was a strong base behind Kilo Company, to the north, but it kind of left Kilo as the lone, dangling appendage to the south, still under orders to find and force a crossing to the south side of the Ngan River.
Needless to say the Marines were none too happy to be flung out so far to the south, without support, to an area they'd already gotten a good bloodying in, but order are orders, and so we catch up with Sergeant Little and his squad about to make another attempt to cross the Ngan River.
*With three helos already grounded there from damage caused by collisions, then the NVA shot down a Marine CH-46 yesterday evening, the LZ Crowe area was now being referred to as "Helicopter Valley."
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WZSxVfpWdgY/X91U-tpFoVI/AAAAAAAA37k/KlZNHFQfFeUjed1CExAw-CMFtof4-X-pACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5214.JPG)
Overview, north is left, for my second big DMZ map. The western area (bottom) is pretty open and flat, a couple spare trees and scrub, the Ngan River is narrow and shallow and flowing in a southwest to easterly direction, but the big deals are the two hills, the massive Hill 212 dominating the north (left to top left) and Hill 104 on the south bank, in the southeast (top right).
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Eu34MuDhKKk/X91VJuYTR2I/AAAAAAAA374/yQCEJYaJxCw-3eXGTsCdgI74nU3loVHmwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5219.JPG[/img]
Sergeant Rob Little leads his squad towards the Ngan River (right top), looking to get across while avoiding any contact with the NVA, hugging the base of Hill 212 (left), Hill 104 looming ominously across the river (top center right). Sergeant Little (bottom left) called the squad to a halt and had them pull security; behind them (off map to bottom left), the rest of the platoon halted as well. Rob called his fireteams over and explained his plan: "we're not walking into a mess like we did yesterday, and I know that hill across the river's gotta be housing some NVA on it, so you guys sit tight, Jackson and I are gonna hustle up front and put some arty on the hill."
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hXfrlC-0h1I/X91VTXIfBAI/AAAAAAAA38I/qHndMPGGIuUGfO5ZPYcng5NUZJqtP_k2QCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5222.JPG)
They (bottom left) get in behind some scrub and raise supporting arty on the radio; Jackson spent a couple minutes providing the data to the battery, then called out "spotting round on the way, shot out!"
"Splash!" "Splash, out," replied the battery. "You're dead on, fire for effect!" (you can see the cotton 'blast' atop the hill at top center)
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AX2KAZ5cHIA/X91VnUgdRNI/AAAAAAAA38s/wDV8O8oPKRgGD2TuXrWh4zZU6DgKSLROQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5229.JPG)
Danny's 2nd Fireteam nears the river (center, with Cpl Benavides' 1st Fireteam off camera to left), the freshly cratered Hill 104 still looming ominously across the river...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yXVd3TsaFbU/X961bd46BwI/AAAAAAAA39g/nnfFwrthaZ8N2VLBXkMWPsqJmuntjnD4ACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5233.JPG)
And the mid-afternoon stillness is shattered by the NVA squad on the south bank of the Ngan River opening fire at point-blank range on Danny and 2nd Fireteam...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVXJFkXIIFw/X9615VxPfyI/AAAAAAAA3-M/v5WYGEzAwrIp9eL1CeRzgyaSww6bCg7uACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5242.JPG)
Correa is still in shock (center right) as Doc dashes up to him, while Jackson (bottom left) gets on the radio, trying to get that arty support back on the hook!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k996fEEjyHw/X963lE-xMLI/AAAAAAAA4BU/10NjC31tDr0AN603LnKY01uxgkDG-s5nACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_5277.JPG)
Worn out Marines catch a quick breather. Sorry, I just like the closeup of the figures, great sculpts from Jimmi at Flashpoint.
It's gonna be another long day for the jarheads. To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/04/two-brothers-fight-21.html
Only three more fights left in the boys' first tour, next one coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Coo....You did have some good dice rolls in that scrap, Jack ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil. :)
I'm jealous Jack
:-bd =D> :-bd
How do you form the hills under the fur? They look very natural
Phil - Yessir.
Ian - What of?
Paul - Thank you, and they're just old towels and shirts piled up. I get them as tight as I can, and make sure to create plenty of fingers and draws, though this sometimes causes problems with the lie of the mat.
V/R,
Jack
All,
1930 Local Time
16 July 1966
Ngan Valley, Quang Tri Province, RVN
Operation Hastings
The boys are with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment (K/3/4), on their first trip up to the DMZ. Yesterday they were helo'ed into the area, then found themselves in a sharp firefight trying to cross the Ngan River which saw them repulsed with two Marines badly wounded. The Company tried twice more to cross the river, but the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars of the 90th Regiment threw them back both times. Kilo Company then fell back approximately 200 meters to the north and dug in, but the NVA pursued them, harassing with mortars and snipers, and by 1930 Kilo's commander reported to battalion that the company was entirely surrounded. At approximately 2015 the NVA launched a full-scale assault on Kilo Company's hilltop, which the Marines threw back owing to some brutal close-in fighting buttressed by supporting fires, with both sides suffering significant casualties.
This morning the Marines of Kilo Company pried themselves out of their holes with the sunrise, and were greeted with an NVA mortar barrage for their efforts. It didn't last long and there were few casualties, so the rifle company got itself in order and not long after was back on the move, proving south towards the Ngan River. There was good news in that 2/4 had been told to hustle up and move west with all practical speed in order to effect a linkup with 3/4, owing to the tough resistance the Marines were running into, and radio traffic reported that 2/4 arrived at LZ Crowe* at approximately 1400. So there was a strong base behind Kilo Company, to the north, but it kind of left Kilo as the lone, dangling appendage to the south, still under orders to find and force a crossing to the south side of the Ngan River.
Needless to say the Marines were none too happy to be flung out so far to the south, without support, to an area they'd already gotten a good bloodying in, but order are orders, and so Kilo Company again attempted a crossing of the Ngan River, and again they were repulsed with casualties, by NVA on both sides of the river! The beleaguered company beat feet back to the hill they spent the previous night on and dug in, and it wasn't long before the NVA were making their presence felt...
*With three helos already grounded there from damage caused by collisions, then the NVA shot down a Marine CH-46 yesterday evening, the LZ Crowe area was now being referred to as "Helicopter Valley."
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XjEj8P9G_Jk/X966ss4jkhI/AAAAAAAA4B4/1OiE_ZuO7_sPUGa-WdbdqCm7ZJVvrZUwgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5282.JPG)
Overview, north is up. Another night-time hilltop defense battle by the Marines, where they are dug into the top of the hill at bottom left, a bend of the Ngan River visible to the northeast (top right). As usual, this is the DMZ, so lots of grass, some scrub, and pockets of trees in places the wind couldn't blow them out of.
You can see the Marines dug into three bunkers atop the hill (bottom left), while the NVA are infiltrating the hill in an arc from the northwest (top left) to the southeast (bottom right, with their MG team in the northeast (right top).
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5pxd_pbcsbI/X968SZpjEII/AAAAAAAA4Ek/WqOlxpFMn7wwGIrC1NnndudTwiUBqUWGQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5310.JPG)
Once again the boys (bottom right) find themselves in the thick of it, firing down slope on advancing NVA (far left, top center left)...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFgUfvEthUg/X968Vk-vn6I/AAAAAAAA4Eo/dY0NXp57UygdtuFiBtGxD4hZSA2FALNpwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5311.JPG)
But their bunker takes a rocket, putting Correa out of the fight...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QrxLAl6GzNM/X968wSIib-I/AAAAAAAA4FY/w79iJh3NE0c3dCgNHRMXlEw2EY8MR39nwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5319.JPG)
The NVA push relentlessly forward, close assaulting the bunker...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2w8ZTtxltig/X9680CPF8YI/AAAAAAAA4Fc/YllQjBD2dNAKTX19jpKx9TEE_H4dozxWwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5320.JPG)
Which is enough for Danny and Nik to decide to get out of Dodge! They each grab Correa under an arm and fall back, behind a nearby hedge (bottom left, from center), as the nearby NVA (top right) toss grenades into the recently vacated bunker.
To see how the fight turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/04/two-brothers-fight-22.html
Next fight coming soon.
V/R,
Jack
Keep em comimg Jack
Crumbs Jack. Great details.
Good stuff, again, Jack ! :-bd
Cheers - Phil. :)
Thanks guys, and will do, Ian.
V/R,
Jack
All,
1400 Local Time
18 July 1966
Ngan Valley, Quang Tri Province, RVN
Operation Hastings
The boys are with Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment (K/3/4), on their first trip up to the DMZ. Yesterday they were helo'ed into the area, then found themselves in a sharp firefight trying to cross the Ngan River which saw them repulsed with two Marines badly wounded. The Company tried twice more to cross the river, but the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) regulars of the 90th Regiment threw them back both times. Kilo Company then fell back approximately 200 meters to the north and dug in, but the NVA pursued them, harassing with mortars and snipers, and by 1930 Kilo's commander reported to battalion that the company was entirely surrounded. At approximately 2015 the NVA launched a full-scale assault on Kilo Company's hilltop, which the Marines threw back owing to some brutal close-in fighting buttressed by supporting fires, with both sides suffering significant casualties.
This morning the Marines of Kilo Company pried themselves out of their holes with the sunrise, and were greeted with an NVA mortar barrage for their efforts. It didn't last long and there were few casualties, so the rifle company got itself in order and not long after was back on the move, proving south towards the Ngan River. There was good news in that 2/4 had been told to hustle up and move west with all practical speed in order to effect a linkup with 3/4, owing to the tough resistance the Marines were running into, and radio traffic reported that 2/4 arrived at LZ Crowe* at approximately 1400. So there was a strong base behind Kilo Company, to the north, but it kind of left Kilo as the lone, dangling appendage to the south, still under orders to find and force a crossing to the south side of the Ngan River.
Needless to say the Marines were none too happy to be flung out so far to the south, without support, to an area they'd already gotten a good bloodying in, but order are orders, and so Kilo Company again attempted a crossing of the Ngan River, and again they were repulsed with casualties, by NVA on both sides of the river! The beleaguered company beat feet back to the hill they spent the previous night on and dug in, and it wasn't long before the NVA were making their presence felt, and about 1930 local time the NVA mad their push. The Marines were once again able to hold on, but Doc Eakle was killed, and two more Marines were wounded and had to be evacuated, bringing the squad down to a total of six bodies, seven including Holland, the attached machine gunner.
Kilo 3/4 was ordered to hold fast the next day (17 July 66), sitting in their holes all day as Lima Company, 3/4, was dispatched from LZ Crowe to move south and reinforce Kilo on the hill just north of the Ngan River. Lima Company arrived that afternoon and dug-in, taking over a share of the hilltop perimeter, which allowed Kilo to pull some men back into reserve, which meant more sleep for the beleaguered company as they finally had a relatively quiet night in the bush. At some point intel came in that the NVA, who had suffered their fair share of casualties too, had withdrawn from the Ngan Valley, so the new plan was for 2/4 and 3/4 to move out and exit the valley to the northeast, sweeping back towards the coast. So on the morning of 18 July 1966, Kilo and Lima 3/4 packed up, stomped in their holes, and trudged back north to LZ Crowe, arriving just as Mike 3/4 and all of 2/4 stepped off to the northeast.
Lima 3/4 took off not longer after they got back to LZ Crowe, and the plan was for Kilo Company to hang around and blow up all the NVA weapons and ammunition that had been captured, as well as the three damaged helicopters still sitting on the east end of the LZ. So that's what the Marines were doing, split up into squad-sized elements they were packing up gear and prepping stuff for demolition, when all of a sudden, at about 1400 local time, gunfire was heard from multiple directions. Sergeant Little, with the squad at the far western end of the LZ and substantially distant from the rest of Kilo Company, further east, ordered the rest of the squad to grab their gear and get ready to move in a hurry!
*With three helos already grounded there from damage caused by collisions, then the NVA shot down a Marine CH-46 yesterday evening, the LZ Crowe area was now being referred to as "Helicopter Valley."
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KbhE1ssVUHg/X97BK-1l5uI/AAAAAAAA4Ik/4TQM1N5fVuctrZI-8ov9T5nHNc0V8Y81wCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5352.JPG)
Overview of the west end of LZ Crowe (which actually extends further east, off camera to right-top), with hills and trees in the northwest (to left) and southeast (bottom right). There is a cache of enemy weapons and munitions in the southwest (bottom left), which is where the squad was located when the NVA attacked, and the rest of Kilo Company, 3/4, is to the northeast (top right), which is where the squad needs to get.
The squad is in the southwest (bottom left), salvation (in the form of Kilo Company's perimeter) is in the northeast (top right), and there are NVA squads pressing in from the northwest (top left) and southeast (bottom right), meaning the squad has to run the gauntlet in order to reach safety.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qXOQ8mPN2mM/X97BK18FYwI/AAAAAAAA4Io/kbecDzcD_x4eabRAm7Sv7QG-5jqecTlQgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5353.JPG)
Here is the squad's initial dispositions: Sergeant Little and LCpl Jackson, the RTO, are at top center, with Pvt Holland, the machine gunner, just to their left. Corporal Benavides is at far left, Pvt McCaffrey, the grenadier, is at bottom center, and Danny and Nikki are at far right.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LGUt3Gdptr4/X97BV0HRn3I/AAAAAAAA4I8/54dErldnwtcP-ze-cPlJPSgQat5vGNV8gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5357.JPG)
Sergeant Little and Jackson (bottom center left) are standing there arguing about which targets rate priority of fire for fire missions as the rest of the squad wires captured enemy weapons and munitions for demo, when the rattle of gunfire to the northeast (top left) startles them both back to the moment. Rob stops mid-sentence. Looking to the east (top), he is taken aback when NVA soldiers suddenly pop into the LZ (left top and center right), between them and the rest of Kilo, 3/4 (top left)!!!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ek6fGiNje_M/X97BguX157I/AAAAAAAA4JM/IxsdKm7Hs48kf-lAVQC-f9I29SW9nG39wCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5360.JPG)
The Marines (bottom left) immediately open fire, quickly realizing they are in immediate danger of being cut off by NVA between them and the nearest friendlies.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8if25XXgLjo/X97DLVbMlQI/AAAAAAAA4ME/NAI7oAruECAMX8s3sIqFurBUkuHZvwaJwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5390.JPG)
The Marines move out, but they're in a bad way; Sergeant Little makes the tactical decision to stay in the center, using fire and maneuver to advance across the LZ to reach Marine lines but exposing the squad to fire from both flanks, rather than move into the dense brush on either side of the LZ, which would provide cover and concealment, but would put the Marines face to face with an enemy of unknown strength at point-blank range and thus unable to utilize supporting arms, with another enemy element of unknown strength coming in behind them, albeit in a position of having to cross the open LZ in order to get at the Marines.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6IpTOrzKH8E/X97D0JDHPHI/AAAAAAAA4NI/3Y00k8pQo8gQsWqjaFrhvNCrBQg1OYgCwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5404.JPG)
Casualties begin to mount as Sgt Little lays down fire with his M-14 and Jackson calls for arty.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PIoukRU_iqg/X97EAKTkyNI/AAAAAAAA4No/LJpg4xq6nHojFgjT8Lz5tPsqnBbhhs-dACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5407.JPG)
The NVA continue to assault the beleaguered Marines.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vp4icdNC8M/X97Ejq6vi6I/AAAAAAAA4Os/UtfizinW1MEPhdKiKXfEm85Aq4R8WAzvgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5419.JPG)
But the squad keeps going, bringing their casualties out with them! Nikki (far right) continues laying down fire to the north as Jackson moves up behind the lumbering Holland (center, carrying Corporal Benavides) and Sergeant Little covers Danny (bottom left), who lifts the wounded McCaffrey onto his shoulders and begins moving east.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XiUVsHgAD7M/X97E77d-KxI/AAAAAAAA4PY/fo6FKxZjJ_4wJEQXWQVGflJ9nvOsNtKgwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5425.JPG)
Marine arty begins to fall...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kfhmxbjWZ_Q/X97E8lxJJQI/AAAAAAAA4Pc/b9-11C-tsTcNpgdg__U2YwCCCrNQxU7ugCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5426.JPG)
As the squad (left bottom) nears friendly lines (top right)...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rfdndowW97k/X97FIQ_yDQI/AAAAAAAA4P4/_QC_WmGmwOkkyEuGv88NEETDzWhaTUingCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5428.JPG)
But the NVA (bottom right and off camera to left bottom) aren't finished with them (top left) yet!
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl00O1aYoFg/X97FbH3HGTI/AAAAAAAA4Qg/Fz9J8yzCVLgla0COGl_TBw8_zOt7i31uwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5434.JPG)
Driving Nik to perform some (more) heroics, driving into close assault the NVA positions...
To see the whole fight, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/05/two-brothers-fight-23.html
So that's the end of Operation Hastings. I hope you enjoyed it; all five fights were based on real fights that Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, took part in, to include the getting left at LZ Crowe and almost being overrun. I really enjoyed the games using KR-16, particularly the river crossings and the first hilltop defense (and was proud of my DMZ tables), they were lots of fun, and it felt like I was able to still keep some personality in the games despite playing with elements, rather than individual troops. It actually felt kinda strange going back to 5MAK after playing KR-16, but the next fight proved it didn't take me long to get back to normal.
Last fight of the boys' first tour coming right up!
V/R,
Jack
So what's next Jack ?
What's next? That, my friend, is an excellent question!
The short answer is, 'I'm not sure.'
I've been painting like a maniac, but I just keep buying more...
First, I need to type and post the last batrep for this series, then I need to type up some Cuba Libre fights I've already played and post them so I can close out my dreadfully long "Operation Chunky Bandit."
Then it's open; options are:
-diving straight into the second tour for "Two Brothers"
-getting back to my WWII in the Pacific campaign, which is more aerial dogfighting, my rifle platoon hitting the beach at Guadalcanal, and maybe some naval actions (both big-time and PT Boats)
-kicking off Operation Barbarossa for KG Klink
-I need to reanimate my Sword of Gideon blog and finish off the War of Independence
-finally get my Brits/Canadians vs Germans in Normandy going
-finally get the Western Desert going
-get back to my special ops stuff with "Black Ops"
Probably a couple more I'm forgetting...
What do you recommend?
V/R,
Jack
All good choices mate
Another good scrap, Jack ! 8)
(And that was on a quick gander :-[.....I'll have a proper read over the weekend.)
Cheers - Phil. :)
Great campaign with the brothers Jack....still don't know how you play and write up your very readable narratives for that many games ;)
What about Operation Watchtower next?? (1st Marine Div on the 'canal).....I always find your dogfighting scenarioes inspirational.....maybe enough to get my own Zero flight back on the table "somewhere in the Pacific" in another scripted campaign?
Seconded :-bd
Operation Watchtower was Task One after all ;)
First, well, there it is! I owe it to my loyal fans to give them what they want, so we're soon headed for sun'n fun in the South Pacific. Gonna be a bit as I still haven't received all the troops I need, damned Battlefront (place an order on 21 Jan, still haven't received...).
Not sure how inspirational I can be, but I'd love to see more of your Zeros on the prowl, Pierre, and you're absolutely right, Paul!
Second, why is everyone changing their forum monikers all of a sudden? Did I miss the memo?
V/R,
Jack
Okay then.....looking at the operations that the IJN undertook in support of the landings at Attu and Kiska (all actually a part of the Midway operation) l think there's a definite aerial campaign in there that l can use for the Zero flight....but they will be on a different carrier this time. They get to fight the weather as well as the Americans ;)
Air raid Dutch Harbour....this is no drill!!!
Look forward to seeing the Marines hitting the beach some time soon Jack.
Sounds great, Pierre, I guess Zeros vs P-38s? Definitely a campaign underserved by wargamers!
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 12 May 2021, 02:54:21 AM
Sounds great, Pierre, I guess Zeros vs P-38s? Definitely a campaign underserved by wargamers!
V/R,
Jack
Would you believe P-40's flying from the American "secret base" at Fort Glenn on Umnak Island? One of the squadrons involved was commanded by the son of General Claire Chennault, the founder of the AVG (the Flying Tigers).
Ah, yes, of course P-40s. I know there were P-38s in the Aleutians, but that must have been later.
I had no idea Claire Chennault had a son serving in the Army Air Corps, very cool. I actually lived in Alaska during my childhood and read a book on the Aleutians campaign; I took it to mostly be a battle against the elements vice man vs man, though I also recall quite a bit of discussion of the Army Air Corps essentially trying to dive bomb with B-17s and the wings ripping off at the roots...
V/R,
Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 12 May 2021, 02:54:21 AM
Sounds great, Pierre, I guess Zeros vs P-38s? Definitely a campaign underserved by wargamers!
V/R,
Jack
We have re-fought the naval battle of the Komandorski Islands :)
Paul,
The Komandorskis, eh? Sounds awesome, is it on the internet anywhere for me to take a gander?
V/R,
Jack
All,
Well, here we are, the final fight of the boys' first tour!
1330 Local Time
26 September 1966
Near Mo Duc, Quang Ngai Province, RVN
Operation Golden Fleece
When Sergeant Little walked into the squadbay and announced the Warning Order on 14 September 1966, only 22 days before the boys were set to rotate back to the States, neither Nikki nor Danny said a word. First, Danny didn't care, running ops was why he was in Vietnam, and though Nik was pissed, he knew better than to voice it in front of the junior Marines. And he knew it wouldn't change anything anyway. Danny had kept bringing up the idea of shipping over for another tour, and Nikki had kept ignoring it or pooh-poohing it.
But Rob could tell Nik wasn't happy, so he pitched it the same way the Lieutenant had to him: Operation Golden Fleece is set to be a piece of cake. Eleven days in the field, down south, with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines and the ARVN, providing security in some village called Mo Duc for the annual rice harvest, no sweat! The squad packed its gear and reported in to 1/7, trucking down south to Mo Duc, approximately 170 kilometers down the coast from Da Nang, which brought Nik much happiness, as it was about as far away from the DMZ as a Marine in I Corps could get!
The Marines hit the ground running on 16 September 1966, working closely with the ARVN and local villagers to clean out suspected Viet Cong weapons caches and safeguard the rice harvest. Even Danny had to admit this was much more fulfilling work than anything else they'd done since arriving in Vietnam. They'd arrived young and idealistic, helping the people of Vietnam by keeping them safe from Communism; things hadn't really worked out that way, and the villagers they interfaced with on a regular basis sure didn't seem to appreciate the American's presence. But this was different: here the Viet Cong actually had a history of coming in, stealing the rice, and pressing youngsters into service, and so the Marines, actually keeping the villagers from being mistreated by the VC, were finally finding a local population that was welcoming and actually helping them to root out the Viet Cong. The villagers were actually pointing out Viet Cong cadre members, as well as booby traps and weapons caches! The Marines, working closely with the ARVN, would then cordon off the area and politely conduct a search of the area, with no preparatory airstrikes or artillery barrages, rather than their normal 'Hammer and Anvil' tactics on Search and Destroy missions. Hell, the docs and dentists were even here giving vaccinations, setting broken bones, stitching up lacerations, and checking teeth! Several times Nik actually caught himself smiling; he was helping people, and they were making a real dent in the local Viet Cong forces and infrastructure. Over the past ten days the battalion had arrested over 100 suspected Viet Cong members, people the locals villagers had pointed out, and had uncovered hundreds of weapons and tons of ammunition and explosives.
But with all that success, the Marines had to know the Viet Cong weren't going to take it lying down. The squad was out, conducting a presence patrol in one of the nearby villages; this village had been a problem for a number of years now. The ARVN had originally wrested control of the area back from the VC in 1962 and installed a militia unit there (known as "Ruff-Puffs"), which had fortified the village with bunkers and trenches. But the VC had infiltrated the village, killed the village chief and Ruff-Puff commander, and demanded fealty. There was an uneasy peace for a bit, a truce between the two sides or, closer to the truth, an agreement by the Ruff-Puffs not to interfere with the Viet Cong, but the problem was that every now and again ARVN infantry would return to the area, and fighting would again break out. Under one of President Ky's Pacification initiatives, the village was relocated and the area left unoccupied, with regular ARVN operations to ensure it stayed that way. The last ARVN operation had been more than a year ago, and it had been very quiet, but this morning villagers in the closest village reported Viet Cong activity in the area. The squad was dispatched to investigate...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dd7CH_YY8mo/X-AC91GGWJI/AAAAAAAA4RY/pLQ3wgODIW8YmroX5_pceiBRwhdPIZvaQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5444.JPG)
Overview, north is up, and back to the tropical tables again! There is a creek visible in the northeast (top right), which is the direction the Marines will enter from, and the fortified, abandoned village is visible in the southwest (bottom left). There are slight rises in the northwest (top left) and southwest, more important for their dense foliage than their elevation, with more dense vegetation spread around the perimeter of an area dominated by open rice paddies. You can see the VC occupying the fortified village at bottom left, and the Marines have reached the creek at top right.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BOlfnG0m1gw/X-ADBztrCDI/AAAAAAAA4Rg/1WqPjyCNJLIIkBI3c5AmB_MnxW9jz76eACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5445.JPG)
Sergeant Little gets the squad to the river and then calls a halt, pulling a set of field glasses up to his eyes. "Damn, I don't like the looks of this at all; look at those brazen bastards, you can see'em running back and forth, and lots of'em, like a damn ant colony. Lamont, give me the RT."
Rob got on the radio with battalion, then was handed over to a FAC. Twenty minutes later the Marines were treated to a good old-fashioned barbecue...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r359BQaSqAA/X-ADQHMs0nI/AAAAAAAA4R0/WCKaWRGCSGYdVl1BT20Nyma5EFTdU81tQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5448.JPG)
The Marines cross the creek...
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y3UNOsNNDqE/X-ADanst_DI/AAAAAAAA4SA/fYHSJkZ5J3cK9YeL95oyJTN_omOxrOPGACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5451.JPG)
And fan out into skirmish line as they approach the village. "God bless, it's hot, little brother," complained Nik (far right). "You bet yer sweet ass it is," Danny smirked back. Sergeant Little jumped in: "Knock off the chit-chat, ladies, stay frosty," he demanded, when something caught his eye. "Hey, I got moov..."
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nq4DxBjqgiA/X-ADjp9IEeI/AAAAAAAA4SQ/TfTXvjRZbSwDVe2AJFkg4cSXq7FbuAkwgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/IMG_5452.JPG)
But before he could even finish the word, the heavy, oppressive, still air was disturbed by the 'pop' of a B-40 rocket being launched, coming straight in at the squad...
To see how the final fight of the boys' 1st tour turned out, please check the blog at:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/05/two-brothers-fight-24.html
If you'd like to see my thoughts on the first tour, and where we're headed for the second tour, please check the blog here:
https://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2021/05/two-brothers-first-tour-prologue2nd.html
More coming soon, but first I have some other wargaming business to attend to. I hope you enjoyed the boys' first tour as much as I did.
V/R,
Jack
Good stuff
Cool plans Jack
Quote from: bigjackmac on 19 May 2021, 09:28:40 PM
I hope you enjoyed the boys' first tour as much as I did.
No...They didn't play a
single one of my favourite songs. ;)
(Nice one, Jack !)
Cheers - Phil. :)
Thanks fellas, and I'll be sure to talk to their stage manager about the lineup for their next set ;)
V/R,
Jack
Good man ! ;)
Cheers - Phil :)
Not sure if they'll be able to meet your repeated requests though, I don't think the know any Abba ;)
V/R,
Jack
Don't you start. ;)
I'll settle for "Comfortably Numb", though.
Cheers - Phil. :)
Just a quick update on my wargaming projects, for anyone that's curious:
Americans and Germans for the Bulge – Done, played a few games already
Americans and German FJ for Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy – Ready to go
British/Canadians and Germans for Normandy – Ready to go
Troops and Gear for Two Brothers 2nd Tour – Ready to go
Marines and Japanese for Guadalcanal – Close, maybe another two weeks of painting/basing
British Airborne – 75% there, hopefully by end of summer
Soviets and Germans for Barbarossa – Almost there, probably by end of summer
Soviets and Germans for Typhoon – Close, but sort of back burner
Commonwealth, Italians, and Germans for Western Desert – About 75%, back burner
US Airborne – About 50%, back burner
US for Normandy – About 50%, back burner
I also bought into the Warlord 'Epic Scale' ACW stuff and I'm dying to dive into that, but staying disciplined to at least finish up the Marines and Japanese before I tear open the box.
I've also got pretty big mountains of Napoleonic and AWI lead languishing in their boxes...
So that's what my wargaming projects look like, I'm hurrying.
V/R,
Jack
Here's a few pics of some test stands.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uv33dlEZQOI/YLGa3kLflqI/AAAAAAAA5bs/gAAw_P9BLmk9QCgn6UuOYfor8DTVR1VGQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/B33EFFC9-AB88-495D-932C-F763BC2E3BF9.jpeg)
Japanese riflemen "banzai-ing" the Marine command stand.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I_4AETCcZGY/YLGa0M-qsHI/AAAAAAAA5bo/rwMH7hOs2aAcg3Up1vXK1prScqS1rPfCwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/3C2651B8-0CC4-403A-B914-6B34313867D4.jpeg)
The Japanese flashing some cold steel in this very poorly illuminated photograph.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zfa8kViHgF4/YLGayUy6ADI/AAAAAAAA5bk/XdZ4BFEaIzEzV7DTVtOJmwQGViq2tROQACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/69EE2FAE-68E2-422B-998E-42AB0683A395.jpeg)
The valiant Skipper draws his sidearm.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hhc5wsNPOmI/YLGa3xfqT7I/AAAAAAAA5bw/3Ko5FBgpRoApP2Fp0Ik6wzwRrCLIDRXcQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/BD0414CD-896B-43EC-B6EB-3DA87963506E.jpeg)
The intrepid XO stares on in disbelief.
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dh1jU8XOYc/YLGawkmLfyI/AAAAAAAA5bg/BzmrzfsR83MqMfGCavCpaIV0a168E22DgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/0394916E-C1C8-413C-9BEF-A93A95CC1808.jpeg)
And the Company Gunny (Pop Haney?) directs traffic, barking out orders.
Just a teaser, more coming in a couple weeks (hopefully).
V/R,
Jack
Good progress on those projects =D> =D>
Test stands :-bd =D> :-bd
Looking good Jack
Thanks fellars!
V/R,
Jack