Pendraken Miniatures Forum

All,

Got the Vietnam figures painted up yesterday, let's get it on!  Because Ronan insisted, I started a campaign with these guys.  :D

Below is the first battle report, and I think what I'm going to do is post all subsequent batreps to this post (or is that a bad idea, making it easier to miss new batreps?).

It's September 25, 1967, the Brigade has been on the ground in the 'Nam for four whole days and has troops out on patrol.  Someone up high is looking at for them, so the squad is sent east along Highway 20 (made up) instead of west, where all the recent contact has been.  SSgt Bleier is able to muster a full complement of troops, and so all eleven men are on the move.

The squad has been in a Ranger file coming down Hwy 20, but up ahead it opens up for a bunch of rice paddies and the village of Ap Bac 14.  SSgt Bleier gives the hand signal and Sgt Greene begins fanning fireteam 1 out into skirmish line to the north of the Hwy, while Sgt Russell continues with fireteam 2 down Hwy 1.  SSgt Bleier is standing in the road, kind of scratching his head at the sight of all the locals didi mau-ing out of the area.  It doesn't take him but a second to realize this coincides with his making a tactical error, a rookie mistake, 'getting caught with both feet in the air."  SSgt Bleier's squad has hit a likely ambush site and has both of his fireteams on the move in the open...  He had just opened his mouth to holler when the first shots rang out...

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8DUW_t6_kik/U2aN6mvuUKI/AAAAAAAAEiw/l8Isx9QRKqc/s1600/P1140901.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  The US squad is at left (west), moving east on Hwy 20, near the intersection with Hwy 30  At top right (NE) is Hill 25, bottom right is the village of Ap Bac 14.  Fireteam 1 is north of Hwy 20 in skirmish line, while fireteam 2 has moved south off the road but is still in file.  SSgt Bleier is standing on the road.  Civvies are trying to leave the area via the west, north, and south board edges.  Enemy forces are present in north (on board edge, just west of Hwy 30), on Hill 25, and in the ville.  They are all unspotted.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GEfvAQ03gM/U2aOezAHnuI/AAAAAAAAEj4/ZwbA3gNW3E8/s1600/P1140910.JPG)
Team 1 getting it's butt handed to it; red beads are serious wounds, yellow beads are light wounds, and dead guys are, well, dead guys...

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ETKkfH_TB0g/U2aPS3-QirI/AAAAAAAAElU/SlCBkogXr60/s1600/P1140921.JPG)
Enemy mortar rounds start falling...

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BldfBFX5ieQ/U2aP1jETFxI/AAAAAAAAEmU/42fi6BroSyI/s1600/P1140931.JPG)
Doc White sprints back out into the paddy, grabs Sgt Greene, and drags him back to safety (second time he did so, previously he rescued Spec4 Harris), while PFC Swan drags himself over to Doc.  Stallworth, previously sitting at the embankment for Hwy 20, sprints across the highway out into the paddy, grabs PFC Blount, and drags him back to Doc.

To see the rest, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-country-game-1-25-sept-1967.html

Both sides got bloodied, US took too many casualties.  A fun game, with more write-ups on the way.

V/R,
Jack

Nice looking game jack, giving a great narrative

Very cool Jack! 8)

 :-bd
Cheers - Phil

All,

It's 29 Sept 1968, four days after the squad got its butt whooped IVO Ap Bac 14.  This morning the squad (minus) is on patrol to the northeast of Ap Bac; two days ago battalion sent a company-strength patrol into Ap Bac and found no trace of the enemy.  Today the squad is out looking to see where they may have gone...

All of 1st Fireteam is still out, except Pvt Greenwood, who is humping the M-60.  All of 2nd Fireteam is present.  The squad is following a trail southwest, when the point man signals 'freeze.'

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wx0VjB5ToRg/U2aRSl84GTI/AAAAAAAAEm0/fH7SeN3Rv9Q/s1600/P1140935.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  US squad is at top left on either side of the trail, VC are at bottom right, diddy-bopping down the trail like it's cool.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rUfq7JiXZ0c/U2aRT3mQBGI/AAAAAAAAEm8/FT5W_EsDW7I/s1600/P1140936.JPG)
The squad, consisting of seven men.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e2JVQUwX0DA/U2aRUK1QGkI/AAAAAAAAEnA/XjZLHchswHc/s1600/P1140937.JPG)
The VC, with two two-man porter teams, an LMG, and a rifleman (just visible under the tree at top right).

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_cR-8M6GVwg/U2aRh84b6aI/AAAAAAAAEnY/O7zobRFHqa4/s1600/P1140940.JPG)
The hasty ambush is set, and Greenwood wreaks havoc with his M-60.

For the rest of the fight, please visit the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-country-game-2-29-sept-1967.html

More to come.

V/R,
Jack

Great again, Jack.

Now....Probably a silly question....Maybe something I've missed in an earlier post of yours.....But.....
Do you set up the battle on the floor ?
A lot of the photos you take, seem to be almost directly above the action and I was wondering how you achieved this ?
You're incredibly tall ?....You stand on a chair ?....You hold the camera above your head and point down ?

Be interested to know. ;)

Cheers - Phil.

Great report again fella!

Phil,

1) The boards are on a couple of 'regular' fold up tables, and I stand on a chair to get the top-down overview of the board, but the rest are just me standing there.  Please keep in mind the board is only 3' x 2'.

2) Wouldn't these battle reports be more interesting with M-14s?  ;) ;) ;)

Thanks Lemmey, I appreciate it.  Do you guys think this works (putting each subsequent batrep into the same thread), or should I start a new thread each time?

V/R,
Jack

Single reports - different periods or battles.
Campaign - keep them in a thread!  :D (Says a man who put all his campaign reports into different threads)!

All,

It's 3 Oct 1967, four days later and we're in the "stuff" again...  First off, a few days ago a Sergeant named Banaszak was transferred in from the 199th Infantry to replace Sgt Greene, and everyone is back on full duty except Spec4 Harris, so the squad is out beating the bush with ten strong backs.

The battalion has continued to spend time looking west around Ap Bac14, but no contact has been made since the squad eviscerated that VC supply train.  The battalion has shifted north, and 2nd Platoon has squads patrolling north of the hamlet called Nam Pla 6, while the squad is patrolling south.  The squad actually had moved southeast about a klick past Nam Pla when 2nd Platoon past a sitrep stating they were in contact on the north shoulder of Nam Pla.  They hadn't hit anything in the nearby jungle, but as soon as they turned in towards the ville all hell broke loose, and Alpha-6 believes Nam Pla is the VC's base of operations.  2nd Plt confirms this with reports that the VC are putting up a pretty stout defense to the north, trying to hold open a hole for numerous teams of porters to escape to the west with all their food, weapons, and ammunition.

SSgt Bleier gets the squad turned around, but can't link up with the rest of 1st Platoon in the dense vegetation; from the chatter on the radio, it sounds like the other two squads are totally disoriented.  The Lt orders all three squad leaders to make their own way to blocking positions on the west side of Nam Pla to halt the VC evacuation.  Bleier gets his squad moving, but they have their own troubles with the terrain, a series of razorback ridges and dense forest.  When the squad finally hits the flatland and is close enough to hear the firing, they are in the treeline directly south of Nam Pla, with token enemy forces swinging about to cover the retreat of their comrades carrying heavy loads west towards salvation...

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q20FlQjbdbs/U2aS-zyLDDI/AAAAAAAAEoQ/vZlaTGWJ2xE/s1600/P1140946.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  The eastern edge of Nam Pla is at top left; the VC MLR, in contact with 2nd Platoon, is off camera at top left.  There are a few VC fighters in the ville, while five porter teams can be seen departing the village, and a few more fighters are in the top right (NE) corner on Hill 45.  The US squad is at bottom left and bottom center.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OdlaENG7oFk/U2aS_GbvCgI/AAAAAAAAEoY/ByzxF8me4L4/s1600/P1140947.JPG)
Victor Charles riflemen behind wall laying down covering fire for the porters to make good their escape.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IQ9ZnBeDvt8/U2aT8UDzBJI/AAAAAAAAEp8/0AZyo7Av6cU/s1600/P1140960.JPG)
Sgt Banaszak leads the assault on the ville: lots of combat stress (red dice), SSgt Bleier (just off camera at top right) is lightly wounded, and the VC have a man down behind the wall.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d3J2WtQZsyc/U2aTdcg6xAI/AAAAAAAAEpE/VjeYEN6UAhA/s1600/P1140953.JPG)
Holmes tests morale and passes like a champion (he's been very reliable in all three fights so far).  He sprints ahead up to the intersection (bottom center, with Sgt Russell on other side of trail), using the palm trees at right to screen him from fire coming from Hill 45.  Holmes knows they need to stop the VC porters (top), so he sights in a fires twice, missing both times, but adding stress.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AtFpH2x2eFk/U2aUMAs6C_I/AAAAAAAAEqc/mZC6b9xvCWo/s1600/P1140964.JPG)
The squad is taking its toll on the escaping porter teams (and yes, I'm embarrassed that I'm using WWII German casualties for my VC).

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hlSzUHxEFOs/U2aUnQwtgaI/AAAAAAAAErI/67v4gkcw78g/s1600/P1140970.JPG)
Holmes and Stallworth capture a porter team.

VC losses:
5 down KIA
6 captured (2 seriously wounded and two lightly wounded)
5 others survived by running from Bleier's trained killers

US losses:
PFC Blount was hit in the arm but is immediately available for duty.
Sgt Russell was hit in the calf but is also immediately available for duty.
Pvt Greenwood was hit in shoulder and was evacuated to BAS for 9 days.
SSgt Bleier stayed in the fight, but it was actually a lot worse than they first thought.  He thought he'd had a round bounce off his ribcage, but it turns out the round came apart and he's suffering pretty bad internal injuries.  Bleier is being evacuated to Japan and will be gone for the next couple months.

The games are rolling off the assembly line, having a great time.  For the rest of the fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-country-game-3-4-oct-1967.html

V/R,
Jack

Nice report again chap! 8)

Great again, Jack !
M-14s ?
Don't worry, I haven't forgotten. ;)

Cheers - Phil

First off, yes Phil, I need Glorious M-14s, and I'll start a whole new campaign for Marines up on the DMZ.  :D :D
Look how much joy you've already brought me, one can only imagine the euphoria I'll experience with M-14s!  Plus a different M-60, a different M-79, an RTO, a Corpsman, and some Recon guys  ;) ;)  Maybe even an officer with a .45?  :P

All,

Here's the next fight, our first action against NVA regulars in the hill country near the Cambodian border.  Here's the situation: following the fight at Nam Pla 6, the battalion continued to focus most of its attention north of Dak To, seeking out the Viet Cong.  It's October 9, 1967, and the squad (minus SSgt Bleier, who's recovering in Okinawa, and Pvt Greenwood, still at BAS) is scheduled to conduct another patrol to the north, trying to figure out where the VC went after being run out of Ap Bac and Nam Pla.  However, Brigade called out with a FragO and the squad was diverted west.  It seems one of the Division's Hueys went down about 6 klicks away, near Hill 98.  A Bird Dog in the area gave it a look, doesn't look like there are any survivors, so the squad is just going out to destroy equipment and recover our folks.

The platoon had followed the trail network west and then north, and was now in the process of cutting back east to search the area around Hill 98.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8uQXSVaxISc/U2ev5_zb3yI/AAAAAAAAErg/q7OZ7tImbZQ/s1600/P1140971.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  Left is US baseline, atop Lamyai Ridge.  Top center is Hill 98, far right is Hill 50.  You can see the helo wreck at top right.  Bottom center is Hill 72.  The enemy has a bunker at far right on Hill 50.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-irx2H__wZYs/U2ev5jpBsWI/AAAAAAAAErc/2X0srVOwKGQ/s1600/P1140972.JPG)
The downed Huey.  The enemy has pulled the three crew out to search for intelligence information.  This is actually a Minifigs UH-1 that I never got around to finishing.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8yVBWrRY_ck/U2ewKEIyMxI/AAAAAAAAEr8/Ay0qnvS4xGw/s1600/P1140975.JPG)
Looking west at US baseline, here's the US squad.  What's happened so far is that the squad had just crested Lamyai Ridge when the pointman, Pvt Holmes, called a security halt.  The acting squad leader, Sgt Banaszak, moved up to Holmes while the squad fanned out.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mkKsO6g-Ia0/U2ewYXgxb3I/AAAAAAAAEsU/1tVItNDplYE/s1600/P1140978.JPG)
So Holmes (bottom left) calls a security halt, and Banaszak comes up.  "What's up, Holmes?"  "Sarge, look up there, about 10 o'clock, you can see smoke coming up through the trees.  I think we found our downed chopper."  Movement to the right catches Holmes' eye.  "Hey, what's a water buffalo doing way the hell out here?  Holy crap!"  Holmes shoulders his M-16 and fires twice at the enemy trooper (top right, behind the water bull), seriously wounding him.  At the sound of the gunfire the water bull starts running east.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g2-kK-utW8A/U2ewnelnQvI/AAAAAAAAEss/O92erJ7a898/s1600/P1140981.JPG)
Stallworth dashes up the right side (far right, near wounded enemy trooper, with Russell at far left).  Stallworth calls out to Russell, "Hey Sarge, this cat's NVA!!!"  "Whaaaaat? No way."  Well, that explains the helo getting downed...

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1PeZBk05u1A/U2ewqMj5gSI/AAAAAAAAEs8/NDq6uR2TCdA/s1600/P1140984.JPG)
Rusell pops to a knee (top center, left of trail with red dice and green bead), which draws a near miss from the NVA in the bunker (foreground).  Russell flops back down prone, but didn't see where the fire came from.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nmc-gvVZfJw/U2exDY-427I/AAAAAAAAEtc/YvepxTBVhaU/s1600/P1140989.JPG)
Harris' assistant, Swan, takes all three actions but spots the two NVA atop Hill 98 (the RPG and leader, with a rifleman off camera to bottom right).  Ham fires his M-79 at the NVA on the hilltop, but it lands short (bottom left cotton puff).  Ham quickly reloads, then bloops another frag up the hill.  He was aiming to hit between the two NVA and missed, but the grenade lands right at the NVA leader's feet (center cotton puff), putting him out of the fight and giving the RPG a light wound.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mv9xtltVYTw/U2exQFfPPjI/AAAAAAAAEt0/TjYDL2WWgKE/s1600/P1140993.JPG)
Doc White and Ham dodging a raging (water)bull.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g3fh58UUX0E/U2eyESukqnI/AAAAAAAAEvU/x-pn0IgHQc4/s1600/P1150008.JPG)
Security is set while the helo is rigged for demolition and Doc gets the bodies ready for extraction.  Banaszak calls it in, and within minutes a Chinook is on the way.

The fight went very well, the squad is performing like a well-oiled machine and conducting itself (mostly, not counting Harris) as seasoned vets that have 'grown up' very quickly under fire.  They accomplished their mission and gave the NVA, heretofore not known to be operating on this side of the border, a quick bloody nose.  But Banaszak can't help but ponder on how lucky they were: once again, Holmes proves his worth as a pointman, but if that knucklhead with the buffalo hadn't stumbled into us, how might things have gone?  Or if the NVA in the bunker had been a bit more vigilant (AKA, rolled better spotting dice), or if that RPG had put the M-60 team down, instead of missing by a couple yards?

For the whole fight and lots more pics, please visit the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-country-game-4-9-october-1967.html

Hope you had a good time, I sure did.

V/R,
Jack

Another cool game!  8)

Hear, hear !
Cheers - Phil

There should be a company named after the person who started that technique for mass-producing cheap palm trees!

All,

On the last patrol the squad moved to the downed UH-1 Huey, destroyed equipment, and recovered the friendlies, also managing to give the NVA a bloody nose in their first contact with regular forces.  While performing their recovery mission, Sgt Banaszak noticed numerous large holes in the aircraft, the kind made by a 12.7mm heavy machine gun.  The Brigade focused the bulk of its patrols west for a few days, hoping to find and fix the NVA, or at least eliminate the HMG(s), but no luck, no contact by anyone.

It's 13 October 1967.  The squad has been out all night on night ambush, again no contact.  They had been set up just north of the village of Con Quan 9, southeast of Dak To, about a klick north of the village, overlooking a major north-south trail network.  The squad was just packing it up for the hump back to base when Battalion came on the horn: seems the S-2 just got word the Regional VC tax collector was in Con Quan.  The squad was ordered to move south and see what they could see.  The squad is down Bleier (Okinawa) and Blount (China Beach).

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BNJjPpRymnU/U2j6F4xD6jI/AAAAAAAAEvs/KAAs_cb_L88/s1600/P1150009.JPG)
Overview of map, north is 'up.'  Hill 105 at top left, village of Con Quan at bottom left, and Hill 75 at top right.  US baseline is left, VC is right.  The squad is in and around the ville, having just marched south (off map) around Hill 105 then turning east into the ville.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pFcOrjHxWC8/U2j6Fzk5q2I/AAAAAAAAEvk/JwS-AxmR8nU/s1600/P1150011.JPG)
While the US apparently has informers in Con Quan, so does Victor Charles.  These three (rifle, LMG, and 50mm mortar) are in the treeline at bottom right, looking at the ville.  They were sleeping in the ville when a comrade burst in and let them know Yankees were coming down the trail.  They searched for the tax collector, but he was nowhere to be found, so they hauled ass across the paddy into the treeline, surprised the taxman wasn't there.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hGwP9UzRdkc/U2j6PJgPTzI/AAAAAAAAEv8/zhbIMF_KmS8/s1600/P1150012.JPG)
The squad: Sgt Banaszak is at far left, speaking with the village honcho, with Greenwood, Harris, and Swan at the wall.  Doc White is just outside the north wall, giving medical attention to a little girl, while Sgt Russell is standing on the trail aggravated with Ham and Stallworth, who are in the treeline on Hill 105 (top center), smoking and joking instead of pulling security like they should be.  Holmes, always steady, is at far right, where he has taken up a prone position to keep look out to the east.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lZtXs5Qg9KU/U2j6WmXePYI/AAAAAAAAEwI/md0zx_NbfQc/s1600/P1150015.JPG)
The ville, with Banaszak talking to the villager, (l to r) Swan, Harris, and Greenwood at the wall, and Doc White just outside the north wall with the mama and baby-san.  Sgt Russell is up on the trail, with several civvies around.

If you look closely, between Banaszak, Doc, and Russell is a very suspicious looking individual, who has just approached from the left.  He's shocked and bewildered to find Yankees in the village, but he stays cool.  He's further shocked and bewildered that he can't find his three travelling companions; perhaps he should have told them he was staying with a friend last night...  He's really, REALLY shocked and bewildered when the village chief, talking to what looks to be the American leader, spots him and his eyes bulge almost out of their sockets.  The tax man has been made, and stumbles back a couple steps, almost running into another American.  Crap!

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2w-zZ1fUoxg/U2j6dZWFtHI/AAAAAAAAEwU/Ca9iCy0eU7g/s1600/P1150016.JPG)
As the village chief swings his arm up to point and the American leader turns to take a look, the tax man takes off running into the rice paddy, heading for the treeline!  Spec4 Harris, with the M-60, hops the wall to give chase.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ileL0SxCfZ0/U2j7DQs-BeI/AAAAAAAAExM/ruX-7eCGCsk/s1600/P1150024.JPG)
The third VC in the treeline, this one with an old French MAS-36, fires at Sgt Russell (bottom left), Stallworth, and Ham (top right).  Stallworth and Ham take some stress, but Rusell is knocked on his back, hurt bad.  As the mortar fired three times, the LMG fired three times, and the rifle fired three times, I'm counting the treeline as spotted at this point.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SV1AURZPTAI/U2j7TEfPvKI/AAAAAAAAEx0/BB_xR5Z2ZbI/s1600/P1150029.JPG)
Looking east from behind Holmes (foreground, behind bush under tree), straight down the trail where the four VC just arrived, with the VC treeline at top right.  The VC pointman moves up the knoll to his left, goes prone, but can't spot Holmes lying prone in the bushes (VC is top center, just to right of trail you can see his green 'prone' bead next to the bushes his hiding in).  Holmes shifts his shooting position back left and opens up straight down the trail, making a mess of the VC: SMG receives a light wound and LMG a serious wound, with the SMG and remaining rifleman on the trail racking up a goodly amount of stress (you can see all the red dice on the trail).

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BXwSxZS45VM/U2j7uiBStrI/AAAAAAAAEyU/t9qGIzNWI-o/s1600/P1150036.JPG)
I figure I'm pretty comfortable with the tax man (top right), surely he's going to assume a fetal position from all the combat stress... but he passes like a champion: he hops up, he uses both actions to crawl towards the civvies so the Yankees can't shoot at him.  Swan and Harris (seriously wounded) are lying in the paddy, while Banaszak (bottom left) passes his test (from the mortar fire), stands up, hops the wall, and sprints ahead, determined to catch that damned VC tax collector!

That's the end of the turn, and the VC win the initiative for the next turn, meaning the tax man activates first.  He hops up and sprints into the jungle, he got away, mission failed...

For the whole report, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-country-game-5-13-oct-1967.html

More to come.

V/R,
Jack

That taxman must have been an Olympic sprinter!!!

Cool report again mate.

nice reports Jack, gives me some incentive to getting my own Vietnam project past the leadpile stage.

Also what you are cooking up with Phil looks very good.

Quote from: mad lemmey on 08 May 2014, 09:07:22 PM
That taxman must have been an Olympic sprinter!!!

Cool report again mate.

I think he had considerable incentive to break the ten second 100 metre dash :D

Good report, they always feel really in period!

The tax man did indeed have incentive to skedaddle along at a rapid clip.  Having said that, the squad was rather preoccupied with the LMG and rifle in the treeline, Russell getting hit, mortar rounds dropping in, then another group of VC showing up on the NE trail.  Not to mention, I don't have an exact timescale down, but I believe that whole engagement probably took about two minutes of 'real' time.

Thanks for the compliments, and good luck with your Vietnam project, mine's been a lot of fun!  And I'm dreaming of the day I have some beautiful, M-14-armed Marines in my possession.  I may never play anything else again.  Yeah right, who am I kidding, I can't keep my mind on one project for more than a week!

V/R,
Jack

Quote from: Matt of Munslow on 08 May 2014, 11:03:59 PM
Phil looks very good.

Nicest thing anybody's said to me for ages !
I put it down to clean living. ;)
Cheers - Phil

Hey misquote!

Get on with them Romans you (so you can move onto Dacians  ;))

Don't get too excited Phil, he didn't mean it, he's just flattering you so you'll kick out new sculpts for us  ;D ;D   And clean living?  Perhaps you've inhaled too much lead dust  ;) ;)   Having said that, I'm living cleaner than I ever have in my life, and it's not working!  In any case, let's get to work:

All,

Ten days of furious patrolling but no contact.  Then, on 22 Oct 1967, 2nd Battalion gets itself into a sh!t sandwich up at Hill 475, northwest of Dak To.  By mid-afternoon 2nd Bn was spent, and 3rd was lifted out there and conducted a relief in place, facing NVA on the east face of the hill.  Brigade is concerned it's bitten off more than it can chew, and the next morning, 23 Oct 1967, it commits Bravo Company, 1st Bn, who helos out and approaches from the SE but rapidly runs into a buzzsaw, an NVA bunker complex.  Alpha Company is called to the rescue; Bravo identified the right (southern) flank of the NVA bunker line, but can't get there themselves.  Alpha helos out, with 1st Squad, 1st Platoon in the lead, bustin' brush in a hurry to relieve the pressure on Bravo, and, in turn, 3rd Battalion.  The squad must find and eliminate the enemy bunker anchoring its defensive line on at the base of Hill 475.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R6vULn_41Kc/U2pWPZPxLDI/AAAAAAAAEy8/i333J7xzmos/s1600/P1150039.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  The blob at top left/top center is the base of Hill 475, with the enemy bunker at top right.  The squad is strung out in column from the bottom up towards the bunker, moving pretty (too?) quickly.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLGFPJGx3Ww/U2pWPNxqi4I/AAAAAAAAEy4/vffkv52HXl0/s1600/P1150040.JPG)
The enemy bunker, with three NVA troops in it.  B/1st Bn is off table in this direction (NE), fighting and pinned down by the rest of bunker line extending to the NE.  The squad is to take this position, then consolidate here with the remainder of its platoon (1st), while 2nd and 3rd continue NE, rolling up the enemy bunkers from the flank.  The bunker is starting as 'spotted' because the three guys in there are firing up a storm at Bravo Company, off table.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V3r_rkN3AtI/U2pWO0p2PgI/AAAAAAAAEy0/9K06BGG6f10/s1600/P1150041.JPG)
And here is the squad, hauling ass to get to that bunker as soon as possible.  From left to right, Stallworth is tail-end Charlie (bottom left), then Ham (M-79 grenadier), Doc White, Sgt Banaszak, Swan, Greenwood (carrying the M-60 since Harris was MEDEVAC'ed, or, for my good friend Panda-John, "humping the Pig")., and Holmes (top right), in his usual spot as pointman.  Everyone can hear the firing from the bunker, and Holmes can actually see it.  The squad is starting out unspotted (violet beads) as they are coming from an unexpected direction; funny, the NVA have no flank security out.  They're usually better than that.

SSgt Bleier, Sgt Russell, and Spec4 Harris are all convalescing, while Blount finished his stay with the medics, but is not present in the field.  This is because he decided to exercise his option due to the '3-time Loser' rule.  That is, any man that's received three Purple Hearts can request a transfer out of the field, so PFC Blount is now working at the Brigade laundry, but the squad has not yet received a replacement...

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6VGM1xaI73w/U2pWWZlwdSI/AAAAAAAAEzM/bMtrXe9bMQY/s1600/P1150042.JPG)
Well, there's no flank security because every swingin' Richard that can be spared from the bunker line has been pulled back, given fresh ammo and grenades, and is being sent around the NVA right flank to go roll up Bravo Company's left flank.  There are eight of them in the initial wave.  I'm playing this that the enemy will receive reinforcements in the counterattack if they are doing well, if not no reinforcements will come, the idea being that, if their counterattack fails/stalls, they will 'go firm' with a minimally manned defensive line (in this case the bunker line and a light skirmish line to the south to refuse their flank) to buy time for the bulk of their force to withdraw to another defensive line further up Hill 475, or out of the area altogether.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1w15-EpmHqk/U2pWf6uk2FI/AAAAAAAAEzU/8t7fqqVv3iE/s1600/P1150043.JPG)
Let's get it on!   Holmes (bottom right) has the squad moving up much to fast for his taste, and as he crests the rise he can see the enemy bunker (off camera at top right).  However, his 'Spidey-sense is bothering him, he's noticed movement to his left out of his peripheral vision.  He drops prone (remaining unspotted), and spots three NVA up on Hill 475 (top left; he had two successful spotting actions, but, because of their close proximity to each other, I allowed all three to be spotted).

Check out all the action at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-country-game-6-23-oct-1967.html

Hope you guys like it!  

Please let me know what you think, what's googy/screwy/messed up, or if you have an idea about something I'm doing or not doing, I love to hear folks' feedback.

V/R,
Jack

It's all good stuff!

I was going to mention that Holmes is one dangerous and calm man, Banazcek is solid and the Doc is earning his keep & they deserve a bit of an XP boost, but you ran into that on your AAR by the half way point :D

I really wouldn't want to be in the M60 team though :S

Very enjoyable report Jack, nice to see some 'characters' developing!  8)

What Will said. 8)
Cheers - Phil

Thanks for the comments guys, I appreciate it!  While I'm very pleased with the character development and how the games have been playing out, but this is not my favorite batrep.  You'll soon see why...   :( :o :'(

And then the wheels came off...  If you recall, after a stiff fight yesterday to flank the NVA bunker line holding up 2nd then 3rd Battalion moving up Hill 475, all US forces pulled back and dug into company-sized NDPs.  The squad had been resupplied and even received a couple replacements.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rr1hYjNJp4E/U2vBdvy4eeI/AAAAAAAAE2M/7gbr98eLB90/s1600/P1150079.JPG)
Overview of table, north is up, NVA baseline at top, US baseline at bottom.  The squad is dug-in in three bunkers, from left to right, bunker 1, 2, and 3.  The NVA is coming in force from Hill 475 (north), entering their base edge and trying to get off the southern base edge.  Everyone starts unspotted (violet beads).

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lRNT-wRVjxk/U2vB7lLTdGI/AAAAAAAAE3E/E5i9cDMeOEw/s1600/P1150086.JPG)
Looking from behind Bunker 2 (bottom right), you can see the squad laid concertina wire, four claymores (aqua beads), and put out an LP/OP (center top, Holmes and Fuqua).

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BTeH2eLTCtw/U2vB8mJhr3I/AAAAAAAAE3M/aT514EMqXUU/s1600/P1150087.JPG)
It's pitch black, and both Holmes and Fuqua are awake on LP/OP, when fleeting, specter like shapes and sounds suddenly crystallize in Holmes' mind: @#$%, how'd they get so close?  "Echo 5 Bravo this is Echo 2 Hotel, we've got beaucoup Charlie out here, we're coming in" Holmes whispered into the field phone. "Come on Fuqua," as the two men crawl back two actions, both reserving one for overwatch.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sw1XpyzsQT8/U2vCJ6NFmUI/AAAAAAAAE3c/I7c9GWvDqaA/s1600/P1150089.JPG)
The NVA move up in the center, as Holmes and Fuqua are falling back (bottom left) to their own lines.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wS-Gi6QbMeY/U2vCOPKzY-I/AAAAAAAAE3s/SMLdrO73hxY/s1600/P1150091.JPG)
Then the damn new guy has some gear catch on the wire (bottom center left), and the NVA are alerted to their presence!  Holmes begins to turn just as the NVA at far left opens up, giving Fuqua a light wound.  Holmes empties a mag in the NVA's general direction, missing, but then Fuqua ripped off a burst and put an enemy soldier on his back.  Banaszak is beside himself; the new guy screws up and now his friend's life is on the line, so he does the only thing he can: "Ernie (Holmes), get down!!!" he screams, and Holmes pulls Fuqua down as Banaszak blows the squad's four Claymore mines.

To see how the squad fares the NVA's daring night assault, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-country-game-7-24-oct-1967.html

Wait until you see the next one (already played, just need to write it up)!!!

V/R,
Jack

Did Holmes make the mistake of referring either to piccies of wife/sweetheart and new baby, or say out loud that he only had one sleep and a wake up to the plane home...

Ouch.

Still, I think these nicely illustrate the casualty rates - one US serviceman dead, three wounded and three times that in NVA casualties, and it still feels like a loss even if they did hold the perimeter!

Great stuff again, Jack !
Cheers - Phil

That's a great report! 8)

Nasty.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it.  And I'm really not happy, Holmes was a stud, but "ces't la guerre."

"Did Holmes make the mistake of referring either to piccies of wife/sweetheart and new baby, or say out loud that he only had one sleep and a wake up to the plane home..."
Actually, I think he pulled the classic "Sarge, I don't think I'm comin' back from this one.  Take this, make sure my wife knows I love her."

"Still, I think these nicely illustrate the casualty rates - one US serviceman dead, three wounded and three times that in NVA casualties, and it still feels like a loss even if they did hold the perimeter!"
I built a casualty table myself that uses a D20 roll to figure out what happened, and I've been pretty happy with how that's been working out (battalion aid station for four days, evac to China Beach for twelve days, evac to US-tour over, etc...).  And you're absolutely right: even though the perimeter held, it absolutely felt like a loss.  I don't feel like I messed anything up, i.e., made any bad tactical decisions (except maybe blowing the Claymores too early, but that was done to try to pin the enemy down to let Holmes and Fuqua get away), and certainly the NVA didn't do anything too fancy, just a very tough fight.

Wait until you see the next one.  That is, to me it was crazy/ridiculous/bonkers, I hope it comes through in my write up.

V/R,
Jack

Nice to see 1:1 gaming with 10 mm, you are getting a really good narrative out of these games.

All,

Following the debacle at the NDP last night (early morning, actually), the squad is allowed to rest through late morning, get cleaned up, then went on working party for a few hours.  During this time 2nd Battalion passed through 3rd Battalion into the assault on Hill 475, while 1st Battalion (the squad's parent element is on holding the southern flan.  The vicious nature of the fighting has got many calling Operation Apple Cobbler "The Battle for Chopped Sirloin Hill."

By mid-afternoon 2nd Battalion's attack is stalled; in preparation for 1st Battalion assuming the assault position, several choppers' worth of replacements were flown out to join the battalion in the field, to include enough to bring the squad up to full strength.  This was causing some sever consternation amongst the few survivors of the squad, and Sgt Banaszak had the rare occasion to voice his opinion directly to the Company commander: "Sir, I don't like it, we've got men out on convalescence!  They're coming back, and they belong with the squad!  There's no way we're keeping these FNGs while our buddies get farmed out to other units."

"Sergeant, perhaps you haven't been paying attention to recent events.  It's 1430 hours (I don't know why the Army insists on saying 'hours' after the time...); your squad will be heading up that hill at 1530.  The way things are going, you'll have plenty of room on the squad for your returning buddies."  Banaszak's expression turned from one of anger to concern, his mouth went dry, and he peered over his shoulder at the looming hill.  "Uh, I see Sir, sorry Sir."  "No problem Sergeant, now you get back to your squad and get your boys ready."  This is what we call foreshadowing...

At 1500 1st Battalion was passing by LZ Bluebird, where so many wounded and dead were being evacuated by helicopter that Banaszak figured no one could be left in 2nd Battalion, and at 1530, as the squad passed through 2nd Battalion's front lines, he saw he was pretty much right...  Picking up the action at approximately 1545 on 24 Oct 1967.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y_08HmDVum0/U20Mc3BqgGI/AAAAAAAAE7Y/q8VYcdRWZQ0/s1600/P1150119.JPG)
Overview of board, north is right, US baseline is south (left), NVA is right.  You can see three enemy bunkers at far right, which are (top to bottom) Bunker1, Bunker2, and Bunker3.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Rz4uCdCgm0/U20Mcrrp-_I/AAAAAAAAE7Q/lEh6cUNEhI4/s1600/P1150120.JPG)
Looking north at the NVA, left to right: Bunker1, Bunker2, and Bunker3.  At top left is an 82mm mortar position.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wypMbrUyXiM/U20MzSZvP1I/AAAAAAAAE8A/myr_-GxHIhU/s1600/P1150126.JPG)
The US squad, moving north (right) up Hill 475, unknowingly about to run into an NVA bunker line (they've passed two abandoned bunker lines on the way up.).  Banaszak can't help but think, 'if only Holmes were here, he would have spotted the enemy already and warned the squad...'  The 'new' squad is as follows, from left to right: Pvt Mansfield, a replacement rifleman, Spec4 Shell, a replacement field medic, Pvt Thomas, a replacement grenadier, Cpl Ham, now 2nd Team's leader, Pvt Swan, now a rifleman in Team 2; Sgt Banaszak is between the two teams; Pvt Webster, grenadier, Sgt Bradley, a 'Shake and Bake' 90-day wonder, given his Sergeant's stripes pretty much straight out of basic (an 'interesting' program instituted by the Army, not real popular with guys already 'in-country' that are suddenly outranked by an FNG straight from the World), replacement Team 1 leader, then Pvt Wagner, replacement assistant machine gunner, Pvt Brown, replacement machine gunner, and Pvt Kolb, replacement rifleman walking point.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoG2fgEmDR4/U20M7Gbj3_I/AAAAAAAAE8I/rA8yLUkr9wM/s1600/P1150127.JPG)
View from behind pointman Kolb, looking up the trail at Bunker3.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wdLhLWKkCIs/U20M_SlIdLI/AAAAAAAAE8Y/8WrTgTn8b7c/s1600/P1150129.JPG)
The action starts at Bunker3 (foreground).  One NVA activates and spots Kolb, Brown, and Wagner, opens up, and puts Kolb down (first shooting roll was a damned 20) with a serious wound (followed with a 14).  Next NVA opens up, Brown is down, out of the fight.  Third guy spots Bradley then shoots Wagner, seriously wounding him.  All three guys in Bunker3 fired, I count it as spotted.  Unbelievable: three NVA activate, three US troops out of the fight...

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K26pDc1WqdA/U20NKEKNvoI/AAAAAAAAE8k/xccA8N4ofiY/s1600/P1150134.JPG)
Banaszak, on the trail between his two teams when the shooting started, sprints right, moves up, and flops prone (bottom left in the bushes, next to the seriously wounded Kolb, on the trail, with Bunker3 at far right).

And then things got really crazy!!!  Sgt Banaszak has been recommended for the Medal of Honor for his actions on Hill 475 on 24 Oct 1967, which went beyond the call of duty.  That game was intense, and it certainly worked out like real life.  That is, you don't need a big-time hero until you've got a big-time problem.

For the rest of the fight, please check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-country-game-8-24-oct-1967.html

V/R,
Jack

That's a hell of a game.
Guess Swann's days are numbered too!

Bloody hell, Banaszack is dangerous! He probably needs a psych check, he's going a bit thousand yard stare there :S

Swann's reminding me of Rifleman Bowlby's entire regiment. I can't see it going well for him. Full on mental breakdown coming there, I think. I don't think he's temperamentally suited to front line service...

And the FNGs appear to truly be FNGs with all the luck & skill that entails. Did anyone even get their names?!

 :-bd
Cheers - Phil.

All,

Following their last fight, the battalion spent several days recuperating at the LZ, performing working parties in support of the battalions in the line, and conducting security patrols around the LZ perimeter.  On 28 Oct 1967 1st Battalion was thrown back into the line, and the squad was on point for a combat patrol heading up Hill 475 as the 201st Brigade continued its attempts to wrest control of the hill from the NVA entrenched there.

The squad received no replacements, but several of its previously wounded members were returned to full duty (Corporal Ham, Sergeant Bradley, Spec4 Stallworth, and Pvt Brown).  The squad's mission was to patrol up the main axis of attack, locate the next enemy defensive line, and punch through it on their way to the top.  They crossed the friendly lines at 0830, the line of departure at 0845, and the previous enemy line (from which the enemy had fallen back from) at 0915, and we pick up the action at 0945.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x4DwkUoc09g/U3ZrQZ295KI/AAAAAAAAE_o/RXM3FLghkCU/s1600/P1150158.JPG)
Overview of the table, with north being to the right.  Once again I'm playing solo on a 3' x 2' board.  The enemy baseline is to the right (north), the US baseline to the left (south), and the squad is patrolling up a trail leading north, entering from the bottom left.  You can see three enemy bunkers on the table, with Bunker1 at top center, Bunker2 at top right, and Bunker3 at bottom right.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ff3cCwmbVxs/U3ZrQlpmZNI/AAAAAAAAE_k/q-eYn0pGQd8/s1600/P1150159.JPG)
Looking north at the enemy bunker line: Bunker1 at left, Bunker2 at top center, and Bunker3 at right.  Moving up the trail you can see one squad member, Spec4 Shell, on point.  All troops on the table are starting unspotted except Shell and the man immediately behind him (just off camera at bottom), Pvt Swan, who are starting as spotted as they are without cover on the trail, moving right into the NVA kill zone.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7_crBNZlSI/U3ZrhILCNcI/AAAAAAAAFAE/8l2Hh3ANQXY/s1600/P1150164.JPG)
The squad, moving up the trail south to north, from right (closest to enemy) to left: Shell, Swan, Ham, Mansfield, Sgt Banaszak, Sgt Bradley, Stallworth (carrying the squad's machine gun), and Brown.  Because of how the casualties have worked out, the squad is in the field without either of its M-79 grenadiers.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51d1-j1qdiY/U3ZrmkmtdJI/AAAAAAAAFAQ/3aqMCBgA6cw/s1600/P1150165.JPG)
Shell is on point (bottom center), not happy with Banaszak reaming his ass about running away in the last fight and putting him on pointman duty.  As he's grumbling to himself while moving up the trail, he sees or hears or just feel something bad about to happen.  As he moved up he had already noted a clearing to the right leading into a foliage-heavy treeline, but as he scanned again, suddenly he could make out the outline of an NVA bunker (top center).  He just opened his mouth to yell a warning when AK-47 fire erupted...

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vv19V3dOZVQ/U3Zru4XxGVI/AAAAAAAAFAY/3I0TcBMY_2o/s1600/P1150166.JPG)
Behind Bunker3, where both NVA rifleman have opened up on Shell (top right) and Swan (top left).  The NVA at right delivers a full magazine of 7.62mm rounds in Shell's direction, but miraculously Shell is not hit!  The NVA on the left fires at Swan, missing him with two bursts, but the third lightly wounds him.  Due to the outbreak of automatic weapons fire, Bunker3 is spotted.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C_-LGuFBJwg/U3ZrvsQk88I/AAAAAAAAFAg/zvaO847TCns/s1600/P1150167.JPG)
Shell (center) passes his test (caused by the shock of three bursts of AK fire), moves right, drops prone, and returns fire (at Bunker3, bottom right), stitching 5.56mm rounds into the sandbags but hitting no one, while Swann (top left) is stunned from his wounds and simply drops prone to avoid incoming fire.  At this point he's not even scared, he's just thinking, 'Swannie, don't you dare run away again, that @#$% Banaszak will shoot you just like he said!"

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXQzEXLv77I/U3ZrzglS5oI/AAAAAAAAFAo/KhHvL6l6EXM/s1600/P1150168.JPG)
No sooner had Bunker3 opened up on the point element than Banaszak understood the threat and what he must do.  "Ambush front, base of fire, I'm moving right" he yelled as he shook out of his pack and web gear, stuffing frags and extra magazines into his cargo pockets.  Banaszak then sprinted off the trail to the right, continuing up the right side until almost face to face with the bunker, then dropped prone.  As the NVA are focused on the Americans to their front, Banaszak remains unspotted, though all his sprinting through the jungle will make it easier for him to be spotted.

What happens next? Will Banaszak continue to cover himself in glory, or will he fall apart?  Maybe even become just another casualty?  You'll just have to check the blog ;)
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-country-game-9-28-oct-1967.html

Hope you dig it.

V/R,
Jack

Nice report Jack.
At least Swann didn't leg it. :)

I'm off to 'Nam on the 4th. Any advice from the obvious experts here?

Have fun!
Any more advice, visit tunnels, drink local, revel in the exchange rate!

Quote from: mad lemmey on 24 May 2014, 06:45:33 AM
Have fun!
Any more advice, visit tunnels, drink local, revel in the exchange rate!

Exchange rate? Our currency is about to do a nose-dive!

Thanks fellas.

Fierce Kitty - A little advice, though a bit dated, I haven't been since '02.  Don't exchange a cent more than you have to, for two reasons:
1) If/when you try to change it back out in Vietnam before you leave, they'll only give you about 35% of face value.  They get away with this because:
2) No one else will exchange Dong.  I tried Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and Macao, couldn't get rid of it.  I still have a boatload of Dong in a box upstairs somewhere.

They won't shoot at you though ;)

V/R,
Jack

Quote from: FierceKitty on 24 May 2014, 06:52:52 AM
Exchange rate? Our currency is about to do a nose-dive!

At least the situation over there, is actually making the news over here now....Stay safe !
Cheers - Phil

Quote from: Techno on 24 May 2014, 04:30:22 PM
At least the situation over there, is actually making the news over here now....Stay safe !
Cheers - Phil

You mean it has taken precedence over the doings of footballers  :o

All,

Following the vicious fight for Hill 475, the Brigade pulled back to its base and sent out patrols to the west, chasing the NVA towards the Cambodian border.  Little contact was made and it appears the NVA made good their escape.  Routine patrols resumed until two UH-1s were shot down in two days by HMGs to the west.  Aggressive patrolling was conducted to try to locate and destroy the NVA HMGs, which had downed three helicopters so far, to no avail.  Intel suggested the NVA was working more closely with the local VC, and the weapons were being kept on the move throughout the local network of villages so as to keep them hidden from the Americans.  To counter this, Brigade decided to implement the "Strategic Hamlet" initiative, wherein smaller villages would be packed up and moved to several larger villages which would theoretically be easier for the Brigade's forces to keep an eye on.

Several of these relocations have been conducted by the Brigade and have gone off without a hitch.

It's 13 November 1967 and the squad has been sent west to the village of Kai Yao, where they will pack up the villagers and move them east to a larger village...

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tXaRtaNBOuc/U4Kzc5eyYgI/AAAAAAAAFLw/9pVDApUB5Ak/s1600/P1150206.JPG)
Overview, South is 'up.'  The ville of Kai Yao is at bottom right, the squad in column on the trail, entering from bottom left, with rice paddies to either side of the trail.


(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TOBBs-AF0HA/U4KzdXupACI/AAAAAAAAFL0/lEeTNbjgZtU/s1600/P1150207.JPG)
The squad, from right to left: Fuqua, Stallworth (w/M-60), Brown, Russell, Thomas (M-79), Sgt Banaszak, Ham (M-79), Swan, Bradley, Shell, and Kolb as 'Tail-End Charlie.'

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VDY8Z3j4Hds/U4KzdAWVYeI/AAAAAAAAFL4/lj1dq7TkyB4/s1600/P1150208.JPG)
The village, with the villagers standing by for evacuation as leaflets were dropped three days ago notifying them (and the VC) of the pending relocation.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ivI5c2_KuEg/U4KzpZjEFII/AAAAAAAAFMI/ahVpK9OC1WU/s1600/P1150209.JPG)
The squad moves up and Banaszak confers with the village honcho.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uHtiYVjWisw/U4KzsPFeA6I/AAAAAAAAFMU/OJ-B7ORK0bE/s1600/P1150212.JPG)
The squad begins leading the villagers east to their new home...

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E-vwKLBtQ2w/U4Kz2SMl2BI/AAAAAAAAFMg/qLqe_ojVNd0/s1600/P1150213.JPG)
As VC close in on three sides...

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kTA9H4F9OLM/U4K0C_OvhKI/AAAAAAAAFM4/u6ONLtMLAgs/s1600/P1150216.JPG)
And all hell breaks loose.  The VC in the east (top left) open up first, initiating the ambush.  A LMG opens up lightly wounding Kolb and Russell (center, two guys with yellow beads), quickly followed by rifle fire from the same location, and Sergeant Banaszak (center, on the trail just in front of the villagers) goes DOWN!!!

To hear the rest of their harrowing tale, please visit:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-country-game-10-13-nov-1967.html

V/R,
Jack

 :-bd
Cheers - Phil.

I knew Banaszack had shot his mental bolt, poor bloke. That silver star was an autopilot drill from training, not conscious thought... He's got to be next up for a psych discharge :S

Still, it seems to snapped Swann out of his funk a bit...

Oh yeah - some jungle sweeps for the MIA up next?!

Nice game Jack !

I'm glad to see you're on this campaign !  :)

Thank you for sharing

Toxicpixie - I think Banaszak's doing find, he's been through a lot  ;)  I actually like that he's not all of a sudden a super-human every mission, and Swan has been coming along.  Probably a negative on the MIA searches; word is, Shell and Fuqua went over the hill and are stoned out of their mind in Saigon.  Or, Shell and Fuqua were snatched by the VC and turned over to the NVA, who whisked them across the Cambodian border, up the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and they're now residents of the Hanoi Hilton.  Either way, we're not likely to see or hear of them again.

Ronan - Good to see you brother, where have you been!!??  Never mind, I'm glad you're back!  I just took a look at your last two games (German patrols in the valley), looks like you've had a rough time!  Anyway, what do you think of my Vietnam campaign?  It's got me thinking about my Legionnaires vs Vietminh...

Phil - M-14s, Phil, M-14s  :D ;D

V/R,
Jack

All,

Following the Brigade's initiative to relocate various smaller villages into fewer large ones, it opened up the opportunities for the use of greater firepower, particularly to the west, nearer the Cambodian border where the NVA frequented.  Due to this, the Brigade stepped up its use of B-52 'Arc Light' strikes.  As these occurred, frequently a patrol would be sent out to conduct a "Bomb Damage Assessment," that is, patrol up the length of the airstrike in an attempt to ascertain if the enemy suffered any casualties.  The vast majority of the time nothing was found, just a massive string of 500-pound bombs ripping the jungle open.  But every once in awhile...

It's 22 November 1967, and the squad is on patrol near the Cambodian border, conducting a BDA for an Arc Light that occurred earlier this morning.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zfJ-v7nFoAY/U4K1wVGTI3I/AAAAAAAAFOw/9I6a4dTGLP0/s1600/P1150232.JPG)
Overview of board, right is North.  The squad entered from the left (South), the NVA from the North.  It's dense, trackless jungle on each side of the Arc Light strike, with bomb craters running from south to north.  Interestingly, a small, bombed out structure is noted atop a knoll up ahead.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YGl3QcBtioI/U4K1wuGU30I/AAAAAAAAFO0/mYRGobS2HrA/s1600/P1150236.JPG)
The squad, down to seven warm bodies, from right to left: Swan on point, followed by Stallworth (M-60), Bradley (with his brand new PFC stripes, courtesy of running last fight), Thomas (M-79), Sgt Banaszak, Ham (M-79), and Kolb bringing up the rear again.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8HCCXyzhhbo/U4K1xGp5cKI/AAAAAAAAFO4/KM71_Z2mia4/s1600/P1150237.JPG)
Swan (bottom left): "Holy Crap, Sarge, take a look at this!  We've been on how many of these, ain't seen a damned thing!  Check it out, looks like the flyboys finally hit something!"  Banaszak: "Yeah, looks like a comm site, got fresh bodies and everything."

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0coUnVKJeDU/U4K15A1rkpI/AAAAAAAAFPI/-SfDSq7ClC4/s1600/P1150238.JPG)
Swan and Banaszak move up to the comm site.  Banaszak: "Hell, I imagine when they figure out this thing ain't transmitting anymore they'll be sending someone up to check it out.  What was that?"  Please take a look to the right of the comm site.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7hAwJJ98Z4c/U4K2AtcApHI/AAAAAAAAFPQ/BW9llDzvLHI/s1600/P1150240.JPG)
Swan (bottom center) moves over, and spots five NVA moving down the Arc Light track.  "Damn, they really should be busting brush, not walking down the damn highway."  Banaszak whispered back, "Yeah, they're lazy just like us," then cut loose, lightly wounding the NVA pointman (bottom right).

A short, sharp fight that goes pretty well for the squad, see the rest here:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-country-game-11-22-nov-1967.html

I've got one more already played, soon to be written up, and it's a good one, so stay frosty ;)

V/R,
Jack

Now that went better!

Aaaaaaand relax :)

Is the next some R&R in Saigon versus Navy & Marines ;)

Quote from: bigjackmac on 28 May 2014, 01:31:39 AM
(...)Ronan - Good to see you brother, where have you been!!??  Never mind, I'm glad you're back!  I just took a look at your last two games (German patrols in the valley), looks like you've had a rough time!  Anyway, what do you think of my Vietnam campaign?  It's got me thinking about my Legionnaires vs Vietminh...(...)

Life's sometimes difficult.. Thank you.  I like your AARs, The guys improve. The bombed terrain was a very good idea, and good scenario  :-bd

Two great scenarios Jack, nice to see it firstly not going their way, then pulling off a coup on that last patrol! 8)

Toxipixie - "Is the next some R&R in Saigon versus Navy & Marines" 
Can't do it; if I let them go on liberty near Marines they're likely to suffer even heavier casualties  ;)

Ronan - "Life's sometimes difficult.."
I know what you mean.  Hopefully it's over, and it wasn't too hard on you, I hope all is well.  I'm glad you liked the scenario, I had been looking for your comments!  :)

Lemmey - Yeah, every now and again, particularly after a really tough fight, I like to throw up a scenario that's kinda softball to get the squad back on its fight.  It's worked twice, but the two other times I though 'this should be easy' turned out to be pretty tough fights, so you never know!

On a totally unrelated note, It's funny that I find myself addressing three of the officers from my "Hell on Wheels" Campaign  :D
In preparation for the baby being born in a few weeks, I've been working on small scale stuff, and recently I've been eyeing some 6mm stuff to use so that maybe I can get that campaign back on track.  That, or 10mm, just on a gridded, 'Portable Wargames'-rules type of deal.  Either way, I'd like to try to get you guys back on the table soon  ;)

V/R,
Jack

All,

For the squad, Happy Thanksgiving!  It's 25 November 1967 (I didn't look at a 1967 calender to see if it's correct, but close enough for me), and the squad is enjoying a day on base with turkey and stuffing.  But they're not off the hook; the Brigade has several patrols out, still trying to find those damned HMGs, which have put another helo two days ago, and the squad is on standby as a Quick Reaction Force should something go awry.

Which is exactly what happened.  On of the the Corps-level 'Lurp' (Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols) teams has gotten itself into a @#$% sandwich out on the border; they stumbled onto an NVA base camp, called in air, which saturated the place, but a lucky NVA walked into them during exfil and compromised them.  They went on the run, trying to make it two klicks to the LZ, but the NVA did some damage.  The Lurps are in a bad way, holed up on Hill 65, about 300 yards from the LZ.  They have heavy NVA pressure from the northwest, at least company-size, and four of their seven-man team are out of the fight.  The squad is heloing out to the LZ, its mission to secure the Lurps, move them to the LZ, and exfil everyone.

As soon as the squad's helo, a Chinook (because I don't have any Hueys...), touches down, fast movers are gonna drop Snake and Nape (500-pound 'Snakeye' retarded bombs and napalm) to the northwest of Hill 65 to help the Americans break contact with the NVA pushing there.  It's up to Banaszak's boys to get the Lurps back to the choppa and thus to safety.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--XsjQoczwbI/U4K3jbMB4DI/AAAAAAAAFQ4/UTp6StzIPzc/s1600/P1150254.JPG)
Overview of board, north is up, LZ at bottom right, Lurps at top left.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bxQEgJu_1eE/U4K3kX0qlQI/AAAAAAAAFRE/MeYFMmOdE5o/s1600/P1150255.JPG)
The "Alamo," atop Hill 65 three Lurp troopers fighting off NVA (off camera to top left), protecting their four downed buddies, praying for help.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WKszCKWMqyc/U4K3kNM0W9I/AAAAAAAAFRA/M01JwLrJ4NY/s1600/P1150256.JPG)
Screaming in low over the rice paddies from the south comes a lone CH-47.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8NxHPr1AquE/U4K3rkmMcoI/AAAAAAAAFRQ/pMbyjFnUcl8/s1600/P1150257.JPG)
The Chinook sits down and Banaszak (far left) leads his boys out:  Thomas (M-79) top right, Stallworth to his left, then Bradley, Ham next to Banaszak, Kolb to his right, and Swan just exiting the helo.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c03z5m3-dPQ/U4K30I5AOCI/AAAAAAAAFRY/8P6UxM0fNXI/s1600/P1150259.JPG)
And then, from the northeast (top right of board), NVA arrive.  The squad had been detached from the NVA attacking Hill 65 from the northwest, with the intent on flanking them, when the Yankee steel-bird descended onto the paddy field to their south.  The NVA leader makes a snap decision: half will focus on the Yankees to the south, the other half will push west (left) to flank the Yankees on Hill 65.

And the race is on!  I will throw in a spoiler; the squad once again accomplishes its mission, but loses a dear friend...

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LEyjHrtLC7s/U4K5kNPUw6I/AAAAAAAAFUY/rPM5rkfiYlk/s1600/P1150290.JPG)
Ham and Thomas are still on guard as the last of the Lurps gets the wounded aboard the helo (far right) and Swan comes sprinting in (top left).  "Where's Banaszak?"

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5PmtkTDHlKg/U4K5nUfeIII/AAAAAAAAFUg/3G5oIYDfmk4/s1600/P1150291.JPG)
As three NVA enter the board from the west side of Hill 65.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ryvojx15lM/U4K5p2tcanI/AAAAAAAAFUo/aj-NPU3cZB4/s1600/P1150292.JPG)
Banaszak (center) is sprinting towards the helo (bottom), as the three NVA (top center) open up.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vQDS4aJLA7c/U4K5yokvYXI/AAAAAAAAFUw/PQ6hy_pLiSo/s1600/P1150293.JPG)
Ham and Thomas both fire, but as the grenades are in flight Banaszak stumbles and goes down...

To see how it turns out, check the blog at:
http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2014/05/in-country-game-12-25-nov-1967.html

V/R,
Jack

A great report, taking hits and risks is costing them. They are running the risk of becoming special forces themselves! ;)
Green recruits added to this bunch?  :( :o that is going to hurt!

Good stuff again!

Given the amount of FNGs coming in, there's not a lot of the original squad left :S

Yes, casualties and transfers out have taken a heavy toll.  If they can make it through the holidays, Harris and Doc White will be coming back.  I didn't have to transfer Bleier out of the squad, but he was injured pretty bad, out for awhile, and Banaszak's been doing such a great job that there was no way I could keep both of them in the same squad.  So, promoting Bleier seemed to be the best/easiest thing to do.

Another thing worrying me is losing so many guys to the '3-time Loser' deal, as all the guys are racking up a tremendous amount of Purple Hearts.  In the game itself there are three 'levels' of casualties: light wound, serious wound, and 'down.'  After the game I roll on a chart to see how bad they really are, from 'back in action,' i.e., just got knocked out or a concussion, to 'KIA.'  So far, if someone was hit in the game, even a 'light wound,' I've been handing them a PH.  I need to revisit this, maybe only guys that get evacuated to China Beach, Japan, or the US get a PH.  That should keep guys around a bit longer.  I hope...

In any case, I've been having a great time, hope you guys are too, and thanks for reading and commenting!

Also, here is my formal solicitation for scenario ideas, I'm running out, I can't keep this going forever!  Aside from what you've seen in the batreps, I've got some Jeeps, M-113s, and M-48s to finish up, then I can use them, but I don't have any Hueys (just a couple Chinooks) or Riverine stuff.  Well, I do have a really cheesy LCVP-looking landing craft, but no PBRs or Monitors, or Vietnamese watercraft.

V/R,
Jack

Interesting to see some of the real paper war command challenges coming out in this campaign. Being a good officer is not all about your performance in combat, you also need to know how to fudge the paperwork if you have to  ;)

Good AAR again, Jack !

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

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

just my two cents,
thank you again !

PaulR - "Fudging Paperwork" Whatever it takes to win  ;)

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

All,

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

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

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

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DzuzzaqEVoQ/U4pgFNSNCkI/AAAAAAAAFVQ/u1QwTAdOmM4/s1600/P1150298.JPG)
Overview, north is up, with village of Kao San at top center.  The squad is entering the board on the trail at bottom, with their pointman almost halfway up the board.  You can see NVA spread all over the top left and right/top right sides of the board, all starting unspotted.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v3fk34fK60s/U4pgOu1nBZI/AAAAAAAAFVo/Rt0sHWkaaX4/s1600/P1150301.JPG)
Kao San, sporting a couple rifles, a 12.7mm HMG, and an 82mm mortar.  Looks like the NVA are not only ready for a fight, they're looking for a fight...

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pfneHAvhMqY/U4pgb_B6cEI/AAAAAAAAFWA/hzoqaQkf0xY/s1600/P1150304.JPG)
The initial set up, with only part of the squad on the table.  Kruczek (top right) is on point, diddy-bopping up the trail, followed by Sgt Russell, Brown (w/M-60), and Bradshaw.  Russell: "Hey, dumbass, get off the trail."  "Wha???"

The fight is on, and it's bloody.  We lose another friend, and this battle...
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N_ehFw7wY3M/U4piPrMGSXI/AAAAAAAAFZA/6vmfLypTuNc/s1600/P1150334.JPG)
Features fire missions (yes, things quickly got out of hand and the squad needed help!).

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

V/R,
Jack

Quote from: bigjackmac on 02 June 2014, 03:00:50 AM
Holy cow, I've had quite the wargaming weekend!  The wife and kids were tied up both days in little munchkin birthday parties, which I fiendishly ducked, and so I got five (FIVE!) more fights in this weekend!  Here's the first one.

V/R,
Jack

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

Cool report! 8)

Great stuff again, Jack.
Cheers - Phil

All,

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

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

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_GoYMDwn9VU/U4pljq7GtgI/AAAAAAAAFaM/NBClxTgpcPo/s1600/P1150343.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  Far right is main gate, with Bunkers 1, 2, and 3 top to bottom.  To left of Bunker1 is a command post bunker, which is on fire; to its left is an arty position of two 105mm howitzers.  At top left is a truck park, and just below it is the Base Operations Center.  Bottom left is the beginning of the helo revetments, with a CH-47 sitting there.  To its right is the Flight Operations Center.  Between Flight Ops and Bunker3 is an ammo bunker and a communications bunker, both burning.  Two NVA teams are moving forward about halfway east to west, with a number of VC milling around behind them.  There are downed Americans and Vietnamese everywhere, but that's not the squad's concern: there mission is to evict the intruders and seal the perimeter off.  The squad is entering at bottom left at the Chinook.  It's pitch black except for the burning buildings, so spotting is affected, and everyone is starting unspotted.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QTH0fEmjvBE/U4pljnoolII/AAAAAAAAFaI/wj0pHz1ip3s/s1600/P1150344.JPG)
Arty and CP bunker, with four NVA moving forward.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qLL55wCu2zk/U4pljhAiB5I/AAAAAAAAFaE/2X98lTGcsZ0/s1600/P1150345.JPG)
Ammo (left) and Comm (right) bunkers burning, with NVA moving up.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HMMhOps67tE/U4ply-TJ1GI/AAAAAAAAFak/gQ6Io4RbY00/s1600/P1150347.JPG)
Perimeter bunkers (left to right, 1-3), with VC milling about.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kcFp0XGdg3k/U4pltwjtDUI/AAAAAAAAFac/B5e4qGkWmxg/s1600/P1150346.JPG)
The squad moving forward, not knowing exactly what's out there but knowing the enemy is there.

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

V/R,
Jack

All,

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

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

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

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-15tjduLGC0k/U4tWznWwGDI/AAAAAAAAFfU/fFX9wo7MmW8/s1600/P1150387.JPG)
Overview, North is up.  This is Highway 14 (I made that up, don't look for it on a real map) running east/west, and it heads west (left) straight into Kham Duc.  There is a small hamlet at far right, and the LZ is at bottom center.  You can see NVA and VC all along the top of the board.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNx3UfNq1iQ/U4tWzsaS2KI/AAAAAAAAFfc/_n5AWw4ayj0/s1600/P1150388.JPG)
NVA in the northwest.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dp5-E3WJVdo/U4tWz9WpAFI/AAAAAAAAFfY/SBnfV8TgZgo/s1600/P1150390.JPG)
VC in the north, a couple rifles with four porter teams bringing up heavy weapons (mortars/MGs).

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0NKl1Q8-Bf4/U4tW9zKZUyI/AAAAAAAAFfs/vdXZKKL629M/s1600/P1150391.JPG)
And NVA in the northeast, all moving west to reinforce their comrades in Kham Duc.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dzk52BVo6o0/U4tXDvIi67I/AAAAAAAAFf0/S9wrRSOMZZQ/s1600/P1150392.JPG)
The squad's helo, inbound.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KpIBDDlBudc/U4tXDwtWGII/AAAAAAAAFf4/Af6z6E8kx3o/s1600/P1150394.JPG)
The bird touches down and Banaszak leads them out: from far left, Sgt Malone leading Team 1 to the left (replacement for Sgt Russell, KIA; Malone is a 'real' NCO, not 'Shake and Bake,' returned for his 2nd tour in the 'Nam), Bradley (w/M-60, now a S&D4), Bradshaw (if he keeps it up I'm going to make him S&D4), Thomas, and Kruczek, then Sgt Banaszak in the middle, with replacements Abercrombie and Hinkle, Clack, Kolb, and Sgt Ham leading Team 2 to the right.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9LSjpXYL6lE/U4tXT54pTPI/AAAAAAAAFgU/pHg5L62FKZY/s1600/P1150395.JPG)
The fight starts with Bradley (using his S&D4) sprinting north, flopping prone, and getting the Pig in action, putting a VC rifleman down and laying some stress on the nearby porters.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j8kvnjLHLYY/U4tXQmMLnRI/AAAAAAAAFgI/0wDXEELGy_U/s1600/P1150398.JPG)
Banaszak sprints left to the top of the knoll (bottom center, with Thomas to his left and Malone to his right); because I wanted him to fire (he missed), I had to forgo him going prone, thus making him harder to hit.  Was this a mistake, a tactical error?

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

Hope you like it guys.

V/R,
Jack

 8) again, Jack !
Cheers - Phil

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

Ouch :S

Noooo not Banaszak!

All,

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

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

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

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TdWsb7zUNfE/U4tZhNTRdMI/AAAAAAAAFi4/pTBsXxM4IwI/s1600/P1150419.JPG)
Overview, north is up.  The east edge of Kham Duc is at far left, and is occupied by the enemy.  The NVA also have infantry at top (north) and bottom (south) center, while the squad enters from the right (east), right down Hwy 14.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hJH3JnaHgbo/U4tZiMEQu3I/AAAAAAAAFjE/IZr7gnuYDMs/s1600/P1150421.JPG)
In Kham Duc, a recoiless rifle team (it looks funny, you see two heads because the gunner and assistant are practically on top of each other).

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3fSrIM5OIOc/U4tZ1QrSqCI/AAAAAAAAFjo/Z8c62O4d2dk/s1600/P1150427.JPG)
On the north side of Hwy 14, Kruczek, Thomas (w/M-79), Hinkle, and Bradley (w/M-60).  Sgt Malone is on the road behind the tank.  I don't usually put unit markings on my vehicles because I like to use them for various units/periods, but I couldn't help myself.  If you look at the M-113 you can see my feeble attempt at the 25th ID's "Electric Strawberry." (the vehicles look kinda goofy as I haven't given them a wash yet)

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qdJu2T1MQ10/U4taAs7kFbI/AAAAAAAAFjw/5uWvHVqv7k4/s1600/P1150428.JPG)
South side of Hwy 14: Bradshaw (now S&D4), Kolb, and Abercrombie.  Kolb has been in enough fights to be S&D4, so has Thomas, but they've both been so shaky.  That is, fantastic one mission, then break your heart the next...

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GoDGXr3Iy2o/U4taBGIYFfI/AAAAAAAAFj0/f4E4Y0iEZFg/s1600/P1150429.JPG)
The fight starts with the enemy recoiless rifle (bottom center firing on the tank, and missing by a hair.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KS9ZobUo31g/U4taC5uBGMI/AAAAAAAAFkA/obohLgFrqJc/s1600/P1150430.JPG)
Then the south NVA slam an RPG into the M-113 there.  Bradshaw goes prone and, amazingly (I've been notoriously bad at spotting rolls for the squad in past games), spots the NVA on the hill.  For this he receives a bunch of NVA fire, though it all misses.  Then the ridiculous strikes again; the third NVA rifleman on the hill opens up, puts Kolb down and seriously wounds Abercrombie.  @#$%!!!  The track tests and decides to sit tight and think things over (yes, I believe in having vehicles make morale tests too)...

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

V/R,
Jack

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

Keep up these great reports sir.

All,

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

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

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

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

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

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

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NAisyhpfufU/U4tcAzVUXJI/AAAAAAAAFl4/MN0FXtzWntA/s1600/P1150446.JPG)
Overwview, north is right (west is up).  The squad enters from the left (south), with the goal being to exit off the right baseline.  The only enemy on the board is a sniper in the top right corner, and he will be almost impossible to spot, and the enemy also has an off-board 82mm mortar.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kscdEjjZTbA/U4tb_zXIkPI/AAAAAAAAFl0/jgZy-V9HcV0/s1600/P1150447.JPG)
The dastardly, bush-whackin' enemy sniper, hidden and prone.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SFFeWOTLmbk/U4tcBOw4pOI/AAAAAAAAFmA/KvHYcr1zyNg/s1600/P1150448.JPG)
The squad, looking south, left to right: Hinkle, Bradley, Sgt Malone (on road behind tank), Bradshaw, Thomas, and Kruczek.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SfTG_6kwNns/U4tcHZGWFgI/AAAAAAAAFmM/paT0LGWR840/s1600/P1150449.JPG)
Fight starts on the left: sniper fires, and Thomas (center) stumbles, lightly wounded.

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

V/R,
Jack

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

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

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

Good AAR as usual !

I like your terrain, very realistic :
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NAisyhpfufU/U4tcAzVUXJI/AAAAAAAAFl4/MN0FXtzWntA/s1600/P1150446.JPG)

All,

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

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

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

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7s2cy1hw7aQ/U5T7_aA7rCI/AAAAAAAAF00/EwW20wYtZ4g/s1600/P1150458.JPG)
Overview, north is up, squad enters on the right, NVA own the rest of the map.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fKgGBiIUCUg/U5T7_Eaog3I/AAAAAAAAF0w/gMxo_4ulGBk/s1600/P1150459.JPG)
NVA to the north of the crossroads; there is a 12.7mm HMG in the top building, and an RPG in the ruins just below it.  All other NVA in the picture have rifles.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zHuH-deMs2Q/U5T7_UGfWUI/AAAAAAAAF04/XoHJQqxUHNI/s1600/P1150460.JPG)
NVA  to the south of the crossroads.  Position at top right has an RPG, all others are rifles.

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B0y7SPQbUrA/U5T8Jtle_cI/AAAAAAAAF1I/xRwUe9MtK5k/s1600/P1150461.JPG)
NVA at the west end (far left): top left is an 82mm mortar, top right are rifles, and bottom center is a recoiless rifle.

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qs0Is4DRWH0/U5T8PnJiZHI/AAAAAAAAF1Q/6qY2UCTq0wo/s1600/P1150462.JPG)
Looking east at the squad, just coming onto the board.  From left: Nickerson (replacement that ran last fight), Sgt Malone (been here for about three missions), Hoge (with M-60, brand new replacement), Worley (brand new replacement), Kruczek (been around a few missions), Bradley (been around awhile, started as a Sgt, busted down due to cowardice, worked his way back up, very reliable as the M-60 gunner of late, just worked himself back into a team leader position), Brister (brand new replacement), and Lipps (brand new replacement).

(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SkYodWkPROA/U5T9IwZju7I/AAAAAAAAF24/WoqE1-fe-ZA/s1600/P1150477.JPG)
Things didn't go very well.  Scratch that, it was a royal ass-whoopin,' the likes of which I hadn't seen previously (in this campaign).

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

V/R,
Jack

Ouch!
Just...
Ouch!

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

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

All,

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

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

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

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

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

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

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZR562WMhR8I/U5UCcSiYWgI/AAAAAAAAF5c/S5qgL9p7qqU/s1600/P1150501.JPG)
Overview of Kham Duc, north is up.  US forces are on right, VC are on left.  It appears the NVA, happy to have taken Kham Duc from the ARVN, and happy to have held it so long against the Imperialist Yankees, decide to save their strength for another day rather than allow the Americans to eliminate them, and so the NVA pulled out last night, slipping through holes in the US cordon scouted the previous night.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_foN4nFv4qo/U5UCcvj4tPI/AAAAAAAAF5g/YS_Zn0LNzS8/s1600/P1150502.JPG)
All that's left in Kham Duc are a few VC stragglers that didn't get the word, and now that they realize they've been left to die, they are didi-mau'ing to the north, just as the squad spots them.  These VC are in the northwest, three porter teams and three infantrymen.

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ewM5iAeM_x8/U5UCkJFYkGI/AAAAAAAAF50/IxQag4216X4/s1600/P1150504.JPG)
Looking east at the remains of the squad as it passes Tiger 1, still burning in the street.  From left to right: Lipps, Sgt Malone, Hoge (w/M-60), SFC Bleier, Nickerson (w/M-79, ran last fight), and Abercrombie.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CXgF6Rhcr4o/U5UCsrM8xpI/AAAAAAAAF58/EcOLA3Qlsjw/s1600/P1150505.JPG)
And the fight is on!  Sgt Malone (foreground) spots the VC, sprints ahead into the ruins of a house, and opens fire.  He seriously wounds a VC rifleman (red bead at center) and lightly wounds the porter team above him.

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

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

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

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

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

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

V/R,
Jack

Congrats on the arrival Jack. Family first, always. :D
Good reports, but look after the little one now! ;)

Hear, hear ! :)
Cheers - Phil.

First of all - grats on a safe delivery and all getting back home :) Also, well done on slipping a game in so soon; took me six months before I managed to even get to the club for an hour, let alone play anything!

Still can't quite believe it and it's been nine really good months :)

On to the game :D I think the squad, and by extension the Platoon, Company and Battalion have earned a full rotation back to the World; albeit a pretty painful and sorrowful one. It's gonna take a lot of rebuilding to get them back into anything coherent...

Really good stuff, and nice to see its reached a natural end point. Look forward to your next set of games!

Quote from: toxicpixie on 27 June 2014, 08:58:12 AM
First of all - grats on a safe delivery and all getting back home :) (...)

I can not agree more!   :)

Quote from: mad lemmey on 27 June 2014, 05:58:57 AM
Congrats on the arrival Jack. Family first, always. :D
Good reports, but look after the little one now! ;)

And don't forget Mum  :)

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it. 

I didn't get a game in, TP, the fight occurred pre-baby, I just finally got around to writing and posting it.  I've been able to paint for a few minutes here and there so far, but that's it.  Not sure when I'll get another game in, but I must admit, much to my personal shame, that I'm jonesing to get another game in  ;)  Only time will tell.

V/R,
Jack