The scenario is largely the same. The US Forces conduct an air-assault for a subsequent movement-to-contact and end up making contact quite literally on the Landing Zone (henceforth referred to as an LZ). The US forces have roughly an Air Assault infantry battalion with a platoon of UH-1B Huey Hogs, 2 batteries of 105mm guns and of course 81mm battalion mortars on the LZ with the "sky soldiers."
touching down on LZ Mike |
view from the sister-ship "journey three one" |
more slicks touching down - camera photo from the LZ |
A Company moves out |
C Company on the other size |
choppers departing. gunships orbiting under direct control of the Battalion fire support officer (FAC) |
US forces prep for contact! |
battle-hardened NVA troopers burst from the woodline! US Artillery and mortars start to work them over |
within striking distance! US 105 shells land in front of the advancing NVA regulars and keep the lead platoons suppressed. |
US troopers fighting it out! |
first NVA assault starts to break down |
US Fire Support Officer is busy at work. Meanwhile the infantry try and even the odds with their M16s. |
strafing run! the UH-1s cannon attacks were fun. I "had" planned on using the rockets next turn... |
US reinforcements from D Company are suppressed by a 120mm mortar from the NVA's regimental weapons section. |
tracers start zinging by the hog... |
meanwhile to the south of the LZ, another NVA attack is shaping up! |
Fresh NVA troops from the second battalion are pouring over the hill! |
US suppressed by 82mm mortars and some luck |
intense firefight starts to even the odds in the US favor |
and losses force the NVA's second battalion from this battle to fall back. Time for a different approach? |
The NVA's third wave! They must succeed!!! |
And that's it for today's fight. The US infantry have so far managed to hold the NVA at bay in each engagement so a shift in tactics may be necessary. Without the gunship on the LZ anymore, it might be a little easier. The US Artillery isn't making it any easier either as suppressed stands lose half their movement. There are 2 NVA battalions left out there to try and sweep over the LZ. One will attack from the southwest and one will attack from the northeast (thus all 4 corners of the table are covered!)
Tune in tomorrow as we post the conclusion of the battle!
Enjoying the report so far. Tell you the truth, I'm rooting for the NVA. Do you know: I've never before read a wargame account in which the NVA came close, let alone actually won! Sucker for the underdog, I am...
ReplyDeleteArchduke,
DeleteI try playing as objectively as possible since usually it's only me but I have to admit I usually root for the "home team". I'll tell you what - I posted a blog post in early 2012 of a Vietnam game with US GIs against Vietcong irregulars (it was a Coldwar Commander game) and the VC almost carved out a victory. They destroyed the only US armor platoon and literally the only US option was to launch massive air-strikes to extricate their cut off company from annihilation. I would say at least their ambush was entirely successful!
In this game, I am thinking the NVA is going to lose - their attacks were just too ill=timed. However if the battalions struck at about the same time, I think they would have won. In this instance, the US could move platoons around the battlefield and mass appropriately.
I want to play this game with a different timetable for reinforcements and using the Cold War Commander rules. Thank you for commenting!
Yes more please!
ReplyDeleteTime for "Spad" support!
Paul,
DeleteSPAD support not available at this time! (because I don't have any additional models built!!!) Hope you liked the write up. There are some more attacks planned for first light. The NVA couldn't break through today. We'll see what happens tomorrow.
Steven
Great stuff! Great looking tabletop, vehicles and figures mate
ReplyDelete