CapnJim's Modern Stuff (Aid Convoy Escort AAR Complete...Pg 27 - 30 Apr 24)

[carlos marighela]

Nicely done! Thank you, that was a fun read.

Any game that starts with thwocka-thwocka sounds has an immediate headstart of course.

[mikedemana]

Good stuff, Jim! At least there was no, "Super Six One going down, Super Six One going down..." 

Mike Demana

[CapnJim]

Thanks, guys!

We're going back to Northern Gambola this coming Friday.  It appears that reports of Gen. Isgood's demise have been a bit premature....details to follow...

[CapnJim]

Thanks, guys!

We're going back to Northern Gambola this coming Friday.  It appears that reports of Gen. Isgood's demise have been a bit premature....details to follow...

Allow me to explain.  During the fight, the ranger LT, RTO, and Gambolan guide did in fact look in the car.  The guide confirmed the General's identity, and they snapped a few pics.  But they were under fire, so they ducked into the nearby plantation building.  They neither i ensured the General was indeed dead, nor did they take the General with them.  So, Ted suggested we roll for him as we did for the wounded rangers - we use character survival table in the campaign section in FFoL's core rules.  We did that, and he survived with a flesh wound...

So, the General is still out there, alive and (more or less) well, and the US doesn't know it just yet.  But they will, soon enough (like Friday, for example...  ).  I will post the lead-in to Friday's fight one of these next few days...

[flatpack]

What a rollercoaster ride this is.

[CapnJim]

What a rollercoaster ride this is.

Indeed.  And Ted's blood is up.  He wants another shot at the good (bad?) General.  And he'll get it, but not before the General plots his revenge...

Which leads us to this Friday...

LTC Kurts was getting briefed by the JTF commander (A US Navy Captain) on his battalion's next mission (an aid convoy escort mission through Bangerizi - more on that later...).  "One more thing, Henry." said the commander.  "We're not sure General Isgood is dead".  "WHAT?" exclaimed Kurts.  "Cahill's Platoon Leader said his local guide confirmed it was Isgood they put down."  The commander explained "Yup.  It was definitely that rat bastard. But CPT Smart in the 2 shop showed the photos of him your Lieutenant got to the JTF surgeon.  He didn't think the General's head wound was fatal - just a graze that knocked him out."  "Shit." said Kurts. "What now?"  The commander answered "Business as usual, but..." and right then a master sergeant burst in the door "Sir, turn on GFN.  You're gonna want to see this."  The commander gave an order to no one in particular "OK, Somebody turn on the TV to GFN."  Somebody did, and sure enough, there was Captain General M'Gumbo Isgood, his head bandaged, railing against the imperialist American dogs, and swearing the mother of all revenge.  "Well, Doc was right - he sure looks alive to me", said the commander.

"Well, back to the mission.  Put your best platoon on it.  The loyal Gambolans are gonna throw in a squad of their regulars, and a Saladin.  The 160th will have a Little Bird flying top cover, and you'll have a Marine recon team on Ready 5 as a QRF if things go south.  And we're moving the convoy date up a day to this Friday.  Tell your guys to keep their heads on a swivel, but that aid convoy has to get through to the distribution point in Bangerizi.  And need-to-know, Henry.  Nobody that doesn't have to know about it should know about it."  "Yes, sir" responded Kurts "But I don't have a good feeling about this."  Well', mused the commander "If that bastard hits this convoy, the gloves are coming off.  I can guarantee that.  Now go get you guys ready.  I'll have the Op Order to you by COB today"  "Roger that, sir"  LTC Kurts saluted, about-faced, and left the commanders CP.

And there we have it.  Friday's mission is an aid convoy mission into Bangerizi.  The convoy, with 3 trucks loaded with relief supplies, will leave the Bangerizi Airport, head east intio Bangerizi proper - crossing the Dewitumi River.  The Main Supply Route forks left after the bridge over the River, but a Secondary Supply Route veers right at that fork.



Here are a few shots of the are in question.


This shot is looking east down the MSR across the bridge.


This shot looks east down the MSR, after it crosses the bridge.


This shot looks east(ish) down the Secondary Supply Route, where it forks off the MSR.


This shot looks west down the Secondary Supply Route.


This shot looks west down the MSR.


And this is a shot if the central market, in the middle of the table.

There a several civilians in the area, especially in the market area.  But, there are a few others milling around in various places, - some walking along having a smoke, one reading a newspaper, and another out on a balcony enjoying the sunny weather.   Some are innocent civilians, some less so.

The aid convoy consist of 3 trucks, loaded with supplies. Each has a driver, who is armed (pistols and shotguns). The convoy escort will consist of 2 .50-cal armed Humvees, one with the Platoon Leader, RTO, and Gambolan interpreter, the other with the Platoon Sergeant, RTO, and medic.  In addition, each Humvee has a driver and gunner.  There will be 2 Ranger squads, each mounted in a 5-ton truck.  The loyal Gambolans are providing a leader and a small squad, mounted in a light military truck, as well as a Saladin armored car.  An OH-6 Little Bird, with 2 Mini-gun pods, will be flying top cover.  And, a 11-man marine recon team, in a UH60 Blackhawk, will be available to come to the rescue in teh event things go south for the convoy.

Now, as you can probably imagine, the convoy will not get through unmolested.  Gen. Isgood (who considers himself too important to be present for this fight) will provide a welcoming committee of a leader and his aide, 2 squads of Gambolan regulars, and a Gambolan DShK team.  They will also have a VBIED, driven by a gambolan regular, as well as 2 static IEDs (hidden in trash heaps at the side of the road).  These 2 IEDs will be remotely command-detonated by 2 of the civilians.  In addition, Isgood's Gambolan leader may try to manipulate the civilians at the market square to harass the convoy.  Last, there is the chance for a goodly amount of Gambolan militia to come on the board to assist in the ambush.

That about does it.  The convoy SPs at 1100 hrs Friday.  An illustrated report will, of course, follow... 

[carlos marighela]

Love the set up.

Might I make a suggestion? Civvies are not always that good at predicting speeds and distances, especially if the target is moving at any pace. Even experienced guerillas like the Viet Cong were known to prematurely detonate command initiated mines. Might be worth rolling to see if the Gambolans initiate at the right moment.

[CapnJim]

Might I make a suggestion? Civvies are not always that good at predicting speeds and distances, especially if the target is moving at any pace. Even experienced guerillas like the Viet Cong were known to prematurely detonate command initiated mines. Might be worth rolling to see if the Gambolans initiate at the right moment.

Good suggestion.  Fortunately, I've already thought of that.    Wouldn't it be unfortunate if an IED blew up the wrong people?  Or nothing at all?   

[carlos marighela]

Good man!

[mikedemana]

Looking forward to it, Jim! 

Next time, tell the guys to toss a grenade in the car with the general's "body"...

Mike Demana

[Lord Raglan]

That table looks mighty fine mate 👌

[CapnJim]

Thanks, fellas.  We'll see how tomorrow goes.  But as the JTF commander told LTC Kurts, once this fight's over, the gloves are comin' off....and Ted and I have already talked about ensuring the good General's demise or capture, should that opportunity arise again...

[CapnJim]

Well, we played the aid convoy escort game earlier today (Friday).  Ted and Gene played the Aid convoy and its escorts, and I played the rebelling Gambolans.  We played 20 turns using Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles, in about 3.5 hours.  I took 48 photos.  I plan to post the AAR in 3 parts, hopefully starting tomorrow (Saturday).  But first, here's a teaser of the action...

1LT Garner wasn't sure he had made the right decision, taking the Secondary Supply Route.  The shit had hit the fan, and he had the makings of a real clusterf**k on his hands.  The convoy had taken fire from the buildings and the streets up and down its length, and things didn't look good.  Everything was all bunched up on the tight street on the outskirts of Bangerizi.  He turn to SP4 Hollister "Gimme the mike, and get me on the company net".  Once he had the handset - "Black 6, Blue 6, SITREP, over", he said a bit excitedly.  The speaker in his handset sounded back "Blue 6, send it, over".  "Black 6, We are just east of Phase Line Gunsmoke.  Request quebec-romeo-foxtrot.  I have 2 victors kilo-oscar, 2 victors damaged, and 5 rangers down.  Taking fire the length of the convoy.  I say again, request quebec-romeo-foxtrot, over."  "Blue 6, roger.  Affirmative on quebec-romeo-foxtrot.  Echo-tango-alfa 1-0 mikes.  How copy, over?.  Lt. Garner responded, still somewhat excited "Roger.  Lima tango.  1-0 mikes. Over."  CPT Cahill replied "Roger, Black 6 out."

Lt. Garner tossed the handset back to Hollister in the back set of the Humvee.  He looked out through the bullet-pocked windows of the Humvee, and could see the burning 5-ton to the left rear to his vehicle.  His Rangers that had been on the truck were alternately returning fire from the street and trying to tend to their wounded.  The Loyal Gambolan Raiders in the truck in front of them were firing to their left as well.  And PFC Arness was up on the .50-cal, pumping rounds at the enemy to their left.  And he could hear small arms and machine gun fire behind him.  Lt. Garner rather fervently hoped the QRF would get there in time...

As I said, full 3-part AAR to follow...       

[carlos marighela]

Built the tension nicely there Jim.

Now, if any of the aid trucks contain the members of Band Aid, could you please ask the Gambolans to make sure they kill Geldoff, Phil Collins, Sting and Tony Hadley?

[Kourtchatovium104]

Hands off !