Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: CapnJim on May 26, 2021, 10:53:53 PM
-
Yep, back to Vietnam. My first tour was in 20mm. This one's in 28mm. Finished The Giants in Miniature Col. Kilmore and Sgt. Burns and PFC Noble. About half done with Empress' MACV-SOG. Should have pics of all those up by this weekend.
After that, the Empress' SEAL team and Marine Recon boys are all prepped, primed, and ready to paint.
Stay tuned... 8)
-
Looking forward to it!
-
Ok. And so it begins....my 28mm tour in 'Nam!
The first 4 shots are the Giants in Miniatures figures from Wargame Illustrated. For those who aren't familiar with them, the fella in the cavalry stetson is Col. Kilmore, based on Robert Duval's character in Apocalypse Now. The other 2 are Sgt. Burns and PFC Noble. They are based on the Tom Berringer and Willem DaFoe (I think) characters in Platoon. I decided my US Army guys will be from the 1st Cav Division.
The last 3 are the MACV-SOG boys from Empress Miniatures.
The figures are all lovely figs, and were a joy to paint!
Next up are the Marine Recon boys from Empress miniatures. I hope to have them done yet this coming week. After that is Empress' SEAL Team - likely next week. Photos to follow, of course...
-
Nice - well done
-
These are some beautiful figures!
-
A good start...look forward to watching your progress :)
-
Thanks fellas!
A good start...look forward to watching your progress :)
Besides the Special Operator types I'm painting up now, my plan is to build the forces I'll need to play a scenario I wrote for the original Force on Force game's Vietnam supplement. It involves an action by a 1st Cav Div air assault platoon at an old French planation near Quan Loi in August '69. Their opposition will be both VC and PAVN.
And of course, I'll need birds... 8)
-
Well, here are my renditions of Empress' Marine Recon boys...comments/critiques welcome...
Empress' Navy SEALS up next week...
-
They look superb, great mix of camo & greens.
-
Thanks, Ash. That's a real compliment, having seen your brushwork! :D
-
Okay. Empress' Nave SEALs are done - just gotta put the matte varnish on 'em. Pics should show up tomorrow or Friday...
-
Excellent work :-*
-
They look superb. Can I ask what paint did you use on your Giants in Miniature figures. I have a stack of figures ready to be painted and cannot quite find the green that I like. Yours certainly foot the bill😀
-
very nice painting indeed
-
And here is my take of Empress' Navy SEALs.
The last pic is all 3 of Empress' Vietnam special operations teams together in one place...
I must say, these were a joy to paint up...
-
Super brilliant. Gotta love the Levi's :-*
-
Thanks for the comments, folks!
And for Terryb: I used Citadel Base Death Guard Green for the Giants in Miniature uniforms. I used Vallejo Model Color Panzer Series US Olive (70.887) for most of the web gear, and Citadel Base Death World Forest for rucksacks, etc. I know the Citadel stuff ain't historical, but they give the right colors for my tastes for these figs.
FYI, I use a strictly acrylic paints from several manufacturers, applied with a hand brush. I shade using a black wash with a mix of ink wash and floor finish. I then drybrush the highlights with a very light tan. Then I apply a matte varnish. As you can see, I do a very basic neutral flock on the bases. This process works for me, anyway...
-
those look great
note to self stop looking at 'nam threads you've enough to paint :D
-
Looking great!
The thought of wearing jeans in the jungle sounds miserable, but maybe that's why I am not cut out for the SEALs?
-
Thanks for the information on your painting techniques. I really appreciate it 😃
-
Excellent painting mate, they look great all together, can't wait to see the rest.
-
Thanks again for the comments.
I think PAVN and/or VC are next, but I still gotta buy them - probably once Empress' platoon deals show up at Age of Glory here in the states....and I still am deciding whether to use Empress' Marines as Army boys, or to wait for their actual Army guys to come out. Knowing me, I'll likely go for the Marines, as I tend to not have much in the way of patience... 8)
-
Thanks again for the comments.
I think PAVN and/or VC are next, but I still gotta buy them - probably once Empress' platoon deals show up at Age of Glory here in the states....and I still am deciding whether to use Empress' Marines as Army boys, or to wait for their actual Army guys to come out. Knowing me, I'll likely go for the Marines, as I tend to not have much in the way of patience... 8)
lol lol lol lol
-
Great looking stuff, Jim! I hope to see them on the table at a convention one of these days! Love the characters from the movies... :o
Mike Demana
http://leadlegionaries.blogspot.com/
-
I hope to see them on the table at a convention one of these days! Love the characters from the movies... :o
I do too! Perhaps at Advance the Colors in October!
-
Nice work.
Someone is really proud of his new jeans ^__^.
-
Thanks!
Someone is really proud of his new jeans ^__^.
Yes, well, they all have to be new at some point. Besides, back than it wasn't like you could buy jeans that are already tattered and worn (and that cost extra), like you can today....
-
Finally started on my US platoon. Mostly 28mm Empress stuff. Platoon HQ is done, and pics should appear yet this week. The squad leader and MG sections from the weapons squad are next, all primed and ready to paint...
-
Looking forward to some new pictures
-
Very nice!
-
Ask, Ash, and ye shall receive... :)
I had a little extra time today, so I popped over to my Wargame HQ (my wife calls it the ToyBox...), and took these.
First 3 pics are the figs I just painted. All 28mm Empress. Left to right are the Plt Ldr, his RTO, the attached FO, and the medic.
Last pic is the whole platoon HQ. Plt Sgt and runner are WI Giants in Miniatures ("Sgt Barnes and Pfc Noble"), shown previously on this thread.
As I mentioned, weapons squad leader and M60 teams are next - painting on them should commence tomorrow...
-
:-* Lovely work!
-
Stunning work...love the attention to detail, especially the shoulder patch :-*
-
Thanks for the kind comments, folks! :) M60 teams from the weapons squad underway.....
-
Looking good..
-
:-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
-
Thanks, gents! More to follow....
-
Okay - Here are the M60 teams for the weapons squad for my US platoon. The first 3 pics are the squad leader and M60 team 1. The last 3 pics are M60 team 2. Both teams have a spare ammo humper taken from the squad's AT teams (the AT assets will be left behind when the platoon goes outside the wire...). 5 of the 7 figs are Empress miniatures (in fact. most of figs in the platoon are Empress...). The squad leader and one of the ammo humpers are Black Sun figs (by Bob Murch).
Feel free to comment and/or critique, should you be so inclined. Hope you all like them. I've rather enjoyed painting them!
PAVN platoon HQ and DShK team is next up...
-
Nice, unit markings are a great touch.
-
:-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
-
Thanks, chaps!
Next up is on the PAVN side of the war. First 3 pics are the platoon HQ, and last 3 are a DShK team. All are 28mm Empress Miniatures. Again, perfectly lovely to slap some paint on... :D.
Enjoy - comments/critiques welcome...
-
Sweet! Particularly love the AA HMG with crew…
-
Cracking stuff! :-* :-*
-
:-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
DAGADAGADAGADAGADAGA!!!!
Just needed to be said. ;)
-
Thanks, fellas! I think next will be a PAVN squad...I've got 4 of them sorted out, along with 3 US squads...
-
Brilliant brushwork! You really bring those figures to life. Excellent attention to detail.
-
Many thanks Mr. Gnome. Those Empress figs are sculpted in a manner that shines through with even the most modest of paint jobs... :D
-
Okay then. After a brief pause from Vietnam caused by dipping into some "What if...?" War of 1812 stuff (which, if you're interested, you can read about up in the "Age of the Big Battalions" section here), my first deer hunting trip, and a tasking by Higher HQ to help decorate the place for Christmas, I'm back in 'Nam. Did up my PAVN 1st squad. All 28mm Empress Miniatures. A 10-man squad, with a selection of AKs, SKSs, an RPD, and an RPG. Mostly in sun helmets. Hope y'all like them. Next up is my US Army 1st squad (also all 28mm Empress)...
-
well done :-*
-
Lots of nice work and I'll likely be referring here when - one day - I get busy painting my 10 mm Vietnam stuff. One day.
Oh, it is Staff Sergeant Barnes (Berenger) and Sergeant Elias (Dafoe) - on the first page of this thread. I have watched that movie a 'few' times you might say. Dafoe's performance very deservedly nominated for an Oscar (did not win, lost out to Michael Caine, movie did win four Oscars though: Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing). While better Vietnam movies came later, I remember very distinctly after the movie when using the head seeing a man who was very white from watching the movie, a few actually - then I looked at my face in the mirror and it wasn't exactly flush. But hard to beat the "Ride of the Valkyries" scene. Just classic.
Now you need a Lance character - and some surf boards! lol Oh, and a couple of Playboy bunnies would be pretty cool. o_o
-
Cheers, fellas!
Lance and the Playboy Bunnies could be a trick to source. Might have to do a little Google Fu...
And I def gotta get some Hueys...
-
Well, since I brought it up...
I went and did a google search and Dragon Bait Miniatures appears to have a variety of 28 mm former Dark Fable Miniatures Bunnies and even bunnies, too. Surely, you can find a few that will work - might need some modest modification. Hmm, is modest an appropriate term when discussing Bunnies? :D
Now, as to having once upon a time dated a Bunny, well, that's a very different story. And that is all I am telling. But, yes, I did. A lo-ong time ago.
-
Do you mean she had buck teeth, whiskers and wiggled her nose a lot? ;)
Lovely work on the PAVN, nicely muted palette.
-
Looking good
-
I'll look at those Bunnies. If they'll work, maybe I can come up with a scenario for them.
And thanks for the comments, fellas! :)
-
And now, I've finally completed the US Army platoon's 1st squad. All 28mm Empress Miniatures.
Pics 1-3 are the Squad Leader's team. Pics 4-6 are the Asst. Squad Leader's team. Pic 7 is the whole squad together.
A joy to paint, they were.... :D
With these fellers, so far I have done up in 28mm Vietnam:
- US Army: A MACV-SOG team, a field grade officer, a Platoon HQ, a MG squad, and a rifle squad.
- USMC: A Force Recon team.
- US Navy: A SEAL team.
- PAVN: A platoon HQ, a DShK team, and an infantry squad.
Left to do (for now anyway) are 2 more US rifle squads, and 3 more PAVN infantry squads (2 of which may do double duty at Main Force VC - I haven't decided yet...).
-
They look good
-
indeed they do !
-
Superb job. I liken the white T shirt. ;)
-
Cracking result, and the white T shirt is a nice touch.
-
Fine additions
-
Thanks for the comments! :D
I've decided the guy in the white t-shirt is an FNG. ;) Hasn't been in country long enough to get OD t-shirts. Still wearing his initial issue from Basic at Ft. Benning...I'll sprinkle a few more in the other 2 squads...
-
Okay then. Here's the PAVN 2nd Squad. All 28mm Empress chaps.
Next up is the US 2nd squad. I'm hoping to do them up this coming week...
-
Lovely stuff!
-
Very nice miniatures!
-
Thanks, fellas!
(Edit: Looks like the GIs and the PAVN I have done up so far are gonna see the elephant for the first time this coming Wednesday...)
-
Really love those PAVN.
-
More great painting.
-
Thanks, boys! I'll post an AAR from our dust up this Wednesday. We're gonna adapt the Dak Po scenario from Force on Force's original Vietnam supplement, Ambush Valley.
-
Great job :-*
-
Thanks, Paul!
-
Great models, love the variety of poses.
-
Thanks Ash. And the figs are great. A real joy to paint!
-
LT Parmenter got to the Rally Point a bit north of Dak Po, dropped to a knee, and took a deep breath. He only had his RTO with him, along with Doc, and Smitty from 1st squad. They set up 360 security as best they could, hoping those sonsabitches didn't follow them. Just then, they heard someone approaching in the jungle from the SE. "Seahorse!" he challenged. "Buzzsaw" came the countersign, and SFC Schultz came into view a few yards away, carrying a wounded trooper. Following him was the mortar FO, and the 2nd M60 gunner, humping his pig and carrying another wounded GI.
"That's all you have left, Sarge?" Parmenter asked. Schultz replied "Yes sir - but it looks like you ain't in much better shape...". Doc began looking after the two wounded guys - the 2 ammo humpers for the M60 team as it turns out. "Roger that" said Parmenter, and he turned to his RTO. "Barnes, get Company on the horn. I need to get a SITREP to The Old Man. God, I hope he can have 2nd or 3rd platoon come down here fast and get my guys back." He half-heard Barnes on the radio "Dog 6, this is Red 6, SITREP over".
"Shit. This patrol started out well enough..."
The Set-Up
Ted (one of our gaming group) and I played a Vietnam War game yesterday (Wednesday). It was based on the Dak Po scenario in the original Force on Force's Ambush Valley Vietnam supplement. The terrain consisted of a 4-hooch hamlet (Dak Po) in a clearing surrounded by jungle, with trails leading more or less to the 4 board corners (see the 1st pic below). We used PAVN troops, with the Platoon HQ team and 1st squad (split into 3 teams) split between the 4 buildings. A 2nd squad (also split into 3 teams) was leading 2 supply mules up the trail from the SE, and had to get them off the trail to the NW. PAVN troops were Rangers, and the Platoon Leader was Encouraging. The mules each had to be led by a PAVN fellow, who could not fire if the mules moved that turn. The PAVN had the potential to get reinforcements as/if their wounded were removed from the board (recycling the figures).
A US Platoon was approaching from the north, and had to sweep the hamlet and search the hooches. They also had to interdict the PAVN supply run. LT Parmenter moved in from the NW, with his RTO, medic, and a Kit Carson scout. Accompanying him was an understrength 1st squad, and an M60 team. SFC Schultz approached from the NE, with the mortar FO, and understrength 2nd squad, and another M60 team. The US troops had Body Armor, the LT and SFC both were Encouraging, and the Kit Carson scout could spot booby traps better than the GIs. The FO and the LT (using his RTO) could both call for mortar fire missions of 3 tubes (one mission attempt per turn total between the 2). Of course, the medic was a Medic.
We used Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles, tweaked just a bit. The PAVN team with the supply mules could only move 5" per turn in the jungle. We upped the grenade launcher hit dice to 3, and used tunnel spots a la Ambush Valley. We also put both jokers in the deck, and whoever played the joker (as a wild card) also picked an Ambush Valley Fog of War card (translated into FFoL terms, of course), and applied it accordingly.
It actually felt about right, and we though FFoL:BB worked pretty good for Vietnam. Once I read and digest BOHICA, I think we'll play the same scenario using those rules, and see how it plays out. Now, on with the show...
Part 1: The Patrol started out well enough...
As mentioned above, LT Parmenter, SGT Quinncannon's 1st Squad, and CPL Agarn's M60 team patrolled down the trail from the NW, while SFC Schultz, the FO, SGT O'Rourke's 2nd squad, and CPL Brittle's M60 team moved down the NE trail. Meanwhile, the PAVN in Dak Po held tight, while the PAVN squad leading the mules moved up the trail from the SE.
Things were pretty quiet for the first few turns as the Americans carefully moved down their respective trails toward the hamlet, and the PAVN supply column moved up to the hamlet on the SE trail with their RPG and RPD teams covering the team with the mules.
Things heated up when the PAVN rifle team and squad leader opened up from the eastern hooch on the US 2nd Squad as they took up positions at the edge of the jungle at the NE corner of the hamlet. CPL Brittles moved his M60 team up to support SGT O'Rourke's squad, while SFC Schultz worked to keep the men steady and in the fight. 2nd Squad's M70 grenadier finally got an HE round into the window of the hooch, and that took care of that PAVN team. In the meantime, LT Parmenter and his column continued to cautiously move down the trail toward the NW corner of Dak Po. And the PAVN squad escorting the supply mules moved west along the southern edge of Dak Po, away from the fighting northeast of them.
Then, LT Parmenter's column had finally reached the tree-line at the NW corner of Dak Po, engaging both the PAVN 2st squad's and 1st squad's RPG teams. Back on the east flank, The SGT O'Rourke's squad got ready to assault past the eastern hooch up to a bush-line, to engage the PAVN 1st squad RPD team (who had gotten into a MG duel with CPL Brittle's M60 team on the NW trail) in front of the north hooch. SFC Schultz kept at his leadership role, keeping them men steady, and "encouraging" lightly wounded man back into the fight.
The PAVN squad leading the mules held up at the south edge of the hamlet, as now there were US troops blocking their path to the NW. At this point, things looked good for the Americans. They had gotten a foothold in the eastern side of the hamlet (causing some PAVN casualties), and were squarely in the way of the supply column. LT Parmenter thought they might actually pull this mission off...
To be continued with Part 2...
-
And now (as American commentator Paul Harvey used to say), the rest of the story...
Part 2: ...but it sure as hell didn't end well enough...
We left our brave combatants with SFC Schultz and SGT O'Rourke's squad having a toe hold at the NE corner of the hamlet, while LT Parmenter and ST Quinncannon's squad was knocking on the door at the NW corner.
The PAVN 2nd squad was leading the supply mules on an end-around at the south side of the hamlet, while the PAVN 1st squad was engaged on 2 fronts (and had lost a team in the east hooch due to a well-placed M79 round).
The PAVN 1st squad's RPD team had stepped out of the north hooch to fire down the trail at CPL Brittles' M60 team. Then, SFC Schultz sent SGT O'Rourke and his squad past the east hooch to a bush-line, promptly lighting up that RPD squad, putting 2 members of it down and forcing the RPD gunner back into the hooch.
Over at the NW corner, LT Parmenter, SGT Quinncannon's squad, and CPL Agarn's M60 team were giving better than they got in a duel with both PAVN RPG teams. A stray M60 tracer round then set the north hooch on fire, causing that RPD gunner to leave it (again). And the PAVN team with the supply mules was still lurking about at the SW corner of Dak Po, waiting for their chance to make a run (well, walk actually) for the NW trail. Things were looking up for the Americans.
"Were" being the operative word. Just at that point, a PAVN team that apparently had been in the tunnel complex came out on LT Parmenter's and SGT Quinncannon's right flank, and started causing them some grief.
Over on the east side, SGT O'Rourke led his squad through that bush-line toward the north hooch, while SFC Schultz and the mortar FO cleared the east hooch. Unfortunately, SGT O'Rourke's squad got caught out in the open before they could get all the way to that north hooch. Not a good thing for them, and they all went down.
Back at the NW corner, that PAVN team from the tunnels kept the pressure up on LT Parmenter and SGT Quinncannon's squad. While they were doing that, the PAVN HQ team had ducked down into the tunnels, and emerged over on LT Parmenter's and SGT Quinncannon's flank as well. CPL Agarn's M60 team spotted them and fired but failed to hit anyone. Then, the bugle blew, and the PAVN MQ team charged into close combat with SGT Quinncannon's squad, knocking 3 of them down while only losing one man. CPL Agarn's team rushed to their rescue, but they were cut down to a man. The PAVN HQ team had overrun SGT Quinncannon's position, and LT Parmenter (who called in 2 danger-close mortar missions that did hit a couple PAVN chaps, and almost hit his own men) and his team retreated away (with the medic even resorting to firing his pistol at the PAVN troops!).
The gig was up. LT Parmenter ordered a retreat to the Rally Point (RP) north of the Hamlet. He was not in a position to take any of his wounded with him, but SFC Schultz and CPL Brittle's M60 gunner were able to grab the wounded CPL Brittles and M60 loader to beat feet for the RP. The PAVN did not follow. While they held Dak Po and got the supplied through, they were in no position to chase anyone.
The Butcher's Bill
LT Parmenter had gone in with 21 members of his platoon and a Kit Carson Scout. Of that only 9 men made it to the RP - LT Parmenter, his RTO, the medic, a member of 1st squad, SFC Schultz, the mortar FO, and the 3 men from CPL Brittle's M60 team (2 of whom were wounded). He left 12 of his platoon and the Kit Carson scout to the tender mercies of the PAVN in and around Dak Po...
But the PAVN paid for it. Of the 24 original PAVN on the field and 6 reinforcements, only 12 were left standing (well, and 2 mules).
It was anybody's game, though. The first 2/3 of the fight had the Americans with the upper hand, but it was randomly timely reinforcements (and the tunnels) that ultimately swung the fight in the PAVN's favor. US mortar fire almost allowed LT Parmenter to pull a rabbit out of his hat, but it was not to be...
Like I said, we thought FFoL:BB (coupled with the Ambush Valley tunnel spots system and jokers/AV Fog of War cards) did a good job of giving the game a Vietnam War feel. As I mentioned, we'll give the scenario a try using BOHICA once I've finished reading it...of course, I will report here once we do that!
-
Great report and pictures :-*
-
Thanks, Paul!
-
And now on to some VC. Rubicon chaps (mostly anyway - I did put in a Warlord Bolt Action Mauser and M1 carbine, with Warlord arms, just to mix it up a bit...). Enjoy!
-
Love the natural and realistic-looking paint jobs. Be curious to see your 20mm Vietnam minis, do you have a link where one could see them as you said: "My first tour was in 20mm".
-
The Rubicon figures look great :-*
-
Very cool! Thanks for sharing the Rubicon.
-
Thanks, fellas! I start a squad of Rubicon US later today...
-
The Rubicon look really good
-
Thanks, Tom. Should post pics of the Rubicon US fellas next week...
Be curious to see your 20mm Vietnam minis, do you have a link where one could see them as you said: "My first tour was in 20mm".
Unfortunately, I don't maintain a web presence (no FaceBook or blog or anything like that). I'd have to take a bunch of pics and post them here...who know - maybe I will...
-
And here is my 1st Rubicon squad. Organized as US Army, but without shoulder patches. Thus, they could be just about any US Army or Marine infantry unit...
The box of 30 will provide me with a Platoon HQ, a MG squad, and 2 rifle squads. This will be in addition to the mostly-Empress 1st Cav Div platoon I'm working on...all in due time, or course...
-
Those look really good! :-* Don't think I could justify many/any more USMC but it does hold decent prospects for their forthcoming US Army box.
-
Nice US Marines you did there.
-
Thanks, fellas! Those chaps were quite enjoyable to put together and paint.
It looks like the Rubicon US Army boys will be similarly posed as their USMC guys, but sans flak jacket and with several loaded Ruck rigs One could hang on those poor fellas' backs....I'll def be getting a box...
-
Great work on those rubicon figures - I’m guessing you still have plenty of spare kit that can be used to further customise the Empress minis as well?
-
Good looking stuff, Jim! Just finished reading your teaser part one of the battle report in The Herald...
Mike Demana
-
Thanks, and sorry abut the delay fellas, I was on vacation for a couple weeks, and am still playing catch-up.
Great work on those rubicon figures - I’m guessing you still have plenty of spare kit that can be used to further customise the Empress minis as well?
Yep - plenty of bits to save for future projects!
Good looking stuff, Jim! Just finished reading your teaser part one of the battle report in The Herald...
Thanks, Mike. Glad you enjoyed it. Part 2 will be in the next issue....
-
Well, we played our first game of BOHICA yesterday. We used the same scenario as this thread's earlier game using FFoL:BB. Quite the different outcome, though. I'll post an illustrated AAR soon, likely Sunday.
I must say, we were impressed with the rules. Quiet playable and thorough. I'm sure we dicked a few things up as we went - but we figured things out by the end...
2 things got reinforced though. 1. Don't get caught out in the open when there are units on overwatch that can see you. And 2. M79s and mortars are not pleasant experiences when they land on target...;)
They may become our modern-ish rules of choice now...
-
Glad you like them. ;)
Did you use the example Random Events Chart provided or make your own up?
There is a Facebook page dedicated to BOHICA if you are interested.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1213127089208316
-
Glad you like them. ;)
Did you use the example Random Events Chart provided or make your own up?
There is a Facebook page dedicated to BOHICA if you are interested.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1213127089208316
Thanks, Paul. I put together a master Random Event Table in an Excel spreadsheet, with about 30 events inspired by Ambush Valley's Fog of War cards and the example Random Event Tables in the BOHICA rulebook. I then pick 20 of them to make up a Random Event Table relevant to the scenario in question. I'll add to the master Table as I'm inspired to do so.
As for the FaceBook group, well, I don't have a FaceBook account. Not yet anyway. It seems my resistance to social media is waning...
Anyhoo, on with the show!
LT Barnswallow approached SFC Gridley at the center of the hamlet they had just taken. "Status?" he asked. Gridley responded "One of the M60 guys got it. Dodsworth took him back to the CCP. You?" "God Damn Mulligan. One of his f***in' rounds fell short. Took out most of 1st squad. 3 dead and another wounded" the LT replied. Gridley snorted "Mulligan? Shit. He ain't never on time or on target."
The LT was pissed. If it wasn't for that stupid mortar round, he'd only have 2 wounded guys. "I'm gonna have a, um, word with Mulligan when we get back". Gridley cam back with "Good. Maybe the guys will see you're taking care of them that way. They ain't took to you too good yet, sir."
"I know. I know"...
As I mentioned, we played our 1st game of BOHICA this Thursday past. We had a great time, and played the same scenario covered by the AAR earlier in this thread. In essence, The fight was in and around a small hamlet of Dak Po, carved out of the jungle somewhere in South Vietnam. The US forces were a Plt Ldr (with RTO, medic, and Kit Carson Scout) and 1st Squad (buffed up with an M60 team) attacking Dak Po from the NW, while the Plt Sgt (with the mortar FO) and 2nd Squad (also beefed up with an M60 team) attacking from the NE. The US mission was to sweep Dak Po of any PAVN of VC, search the hooches, and close off any tunnel entrances they come across.
The PAVN had the Plt HQ (with officer, bugler, M79 gunner, and runner), and their 1st Squad hiding in the hooches, while their 2nd squad was leading a pair of pack mules from the SE to the NW. Their mission was to defend the hamlet, and get the pack mules off the NW corner of the board.
It was possible that both sides could get reinforcements through the Random Events Table. Too bad neither did...
It all started out quiet enough. The US unit fanned out and carefully approached Dak Po from their respective corners, while the PVN pack mule squad come up the trail from the SE. As in the other game, first contact was the PAVN team in the NE hooch firing on the US 2nd squad, wounding a member of the M60 team. The US M79 gunner took care of that problem with a well-placed HE round through the window of the hooch. No more PAVN team...
The PAVN then repositioned the remaining members of 1st squad to cover the intended path of the pack mule squad. While they were doing that, the US Plt Ldr and 1st Squad set up in the edge of the jungle at the NW corner of the hamlet, putting 3 guys on overwatch covering a gap between the buildings in the hamlet. Too bad that's where the pack mule squad went (all bunched up, too)...2 bursts of M16 fire and an M70 HE round later, the PAVN pack mule squad had 3 KIA, 2 WIA, and a mule down. Ugh...the other 2 guys from the US 1st Squad closed off one of the 5 tunnel spots...
Back at the NE corner of the hamlet, the Plt Sgt and 2nd Squad moved up into the area around the hooch their M79 gunner had taken care of, while another M60 crewman hoisted the wounded guy up on his shoulder, and headed back up the trail with him to the CCP.
The PAVN did manage to put some effective fire (including from their RPG and RPK) on the Plt Ldr and 1st Squad, suppressing a few guys (including the LT, who apparently hadn't impressed his men yet - Random Event Table), and wounding one. Once the LT got his s**t together, he called in mortar fire on the PAVN in the hamlet, but it would take a few minutes to fall. But fall it did, taking with it 3 PAVN KIA and a WIA. Too bad one shell a bit short (Random Event Table) and landed right on top of 1st Squad, killing 3 - including the poor sod who was already wounded just as the medic got to him - and wounding another). Maybe the Lt needs to have a chat with the Mortar Section...
By then, the fight was out of the PAVN. They had taken heavy casualties, and lost their 2 mules (one was wounded and one panicked and ran off - it failed its morale roll!). What was left abandoned Dak Po to the Americans.
the Americans, out of 22 men, had 3 KIA (from the errant mortar round) and 2 WIA. Once the PAVN di-di-mao'd, the US fellas could search the hamlet and close off the area tunnels.
As this was our first time playing, the first few turns went slow, as we looked up rules, and worked our way through the spotting, firing, and casualty charts. But we figured it out, and were impressed by now complete the rules are. Since BOHICA is a (very) fleshed-out and Vietnamized version of Danger Close, I think we may have found our go-to modern-ish rules. We're looking forward to playing them again!
-
That'll teach you to bunch up lol
The mules are a great idea.
-
That'll teach you to bunch up lol
Yup... ;)
The mules are a great idea.
The scenario called for civilian porters, but I don't have any of those painted up. I did have the pack mules, so that's what we used. They were susceptible to being fired at, becoming casualties, and having to do morale checks, along with the PAVN leading them...it worked out just fine...
-
That AAR sounds exactly like our first few games. The gameflow is really nice once you have thew rules learned.
It gives the same feeling you have when you read one of the many books about Vietnam small actions.
Really well written rules.
-
That AAR sounds exactly like our first few games. The gameflow is really nice once you have thew rules learned.
It gives the same feeling you have when you read one of the many books about Vietnam small actions.
Really well written rules.
:-* Shucks ;)
-
Got more painting done! This time, it's my 1st Cav Div aero-rifle platoon's 2nd squad.
The 1st 2 pics are the squad leader and the M79 gunners (Empress, except for the kneeling M79 guy - he's a Black Sun fig from Crucible Crush)
The 2nd 2 pics are the riflemen from Team A (all Empress).
The 3rd 2 pics are the riflemen from team B (again, all Empress)
The last pic is the whole squad.
Enjoy!
-
really nice additions to your collection
-
Nice !
-
Lovely painting fella!
-
High speed, low drag!
-
Thanks, chaps!
So far, that gives my A decent US platoon. A Platoon HQ (with LT, SGT, 2 RTO's, a medic and a runner), the squad leader and 2 M60 teams from the weapons squad, and 3 rifle squads (2 1st Cav Div and one generic)...
-
This thread gets better and better - lovely sculpts & great paint jobs 8)
-
A nice addition!
-
Thanks, boys! A batch of WW2 odds and ends is on deck at the painting desk, so more painted Vietnam stuff will have to wait until after that.
BUT, I will be running 2 BOHICA Vietnam games at Drums at the Rapids (Fort Meigs, In Perrysburg, OH, USA) May 21. I plan to post AAR's after that. So, stay tuned...
-
Got more painting done! This time, it's my 1st Cav Div aero-rifle platoon's 2nd squad.
The 1st 2 pics are the squad leader and the M79 gunners (Empress, except for the kneeling M79 guy - he's a Black Sun fig from Crucible Crush)
The 2nd 2 pics are the riflemen from Team A (all Empress).
The 3rd 2 pics are the riflemen from team B (again, all Empress)
The last pic is the whole squad.
Enjoy!
Missed these. Super good. Really look the part. :-* :-* :-*
-
Thanks, Paul. starting with well-sculpted figs makes painting them much more enjoyable... 8)
-
I've got the scenario formally done up (in BOHICA format) for Drums at the Rapids May 20-21. The US and NVA/VC Scenario Sheets, The Scenario Map and Reinforcement Tables, and Random Events Chart are attached below. Please note (again) that this scenario was adapted from the Search & Destroy at Dak Po scenario from the original Force on Force Ambush Valley book. The scenario map and the intro text on the Scenario Sheets are taken from that book.
If anyone happens plays this scenario, let us know. I'm particularly interested, as I helped write some of the scenarios in that book, and playtested several of them for the publishers.
-
Fantastic. Very detailed Random Chart which is brilliant. :-*
Have a great game. ;)
-
Thanks, Paul. As previously mentioned, illustrated AARs will, of course, follow the games.
-
Great stuff!
-
brilliant
-
Cheers, fellas! Thanks...
-
Okay. I ran my Vietnam games at Drums at the Rapids Saturday. 2 very different games. I will do up proper AARs (hopefully Wednesday), but a bit of housekeeping first. A glaring typo was pointed out to me on the US Situation sheet (remember- ALWAYS have someone else proofread your material... ::)). So, I fixed it, and present it to anyone interested here.
Anyway, here's a little teaser from the first game...
"Mulligan, gimme some mortars on that hooch." SFC Hooper said to his Mortar FO, pointing at one of the hooches in the hamlet spread out in front of them. "Roget that, Sarge." Mulligan replied, lifting the hand set to his face. "Bravo two-niner, this is Foxtrot six-seven, over". To his surprise, the handset crackled back right away "Foxtrot six-seven, Bravo two-niner, over". "Bravo two-niner, Fire Mission, troops in a building, grid 428056, fire for effect, over." His radio answered back, "Fire mission acknowledged, over."
"Sarge, I got 'em coming." "Good", Hooper replied. "LT thinks their command cell is in there." As rounds flew in both directions in Dak Po, SFC Hooper kept his 2nd Squad in their tree-line at the east end of the hamlet. "The LT is pressing them from the Northwest. We'll keep 'em occupied from here".
Not more than few minutes later, Mulligan heard on his handset "Foxtrot six-seven, Bravo two-niner, on the way, over". "Roger, over" Then they could here those whistley shrieks overhead, and heard and felt 3 near simultaneous explosions erupt from the hooch that was their target. "Bravo two-niner, Foxtrot six-seven, splash, I say again splash. Target destroyed. Over" "Foxtrot six-seven, splash, out."
"Well, that oughta do it" Hooper said out loud, to no one in particular...
-
Okay. Here we go.
The Tale of Two Lieutenants.
First, a note about the venue for Drums at the Rapids. It has been held at Fort Meigs, near Perrysburg, Ohio, US for the last several years. Fort Meigs is the largest reconstructed wood palisade fort in the US (and Canada, I think). It was the site of 2 War of 1812 sieges. The con is held in the Visitors' Center. A perfect venue for a wargame con.
Anyway, the first shot below are the table placard I used to identify my game at the con, and the second is the table layout. The other 6 shots were taken during game one (I ran 2 games). Same rules and scenario, 2 different games. As you'll see here shortly...
Game 1
LT Walsh had just gotten back from getting his OpOrd from the Old Man. He gathered SFC Hooper and his squad leaders to go over the mission. It was to move in on the small hamlet of Dak Po, clear it of any PAVN or VC, search for supplies, and close any tunnels they come across. He had done missions like this several times, and knew what to do.
"OK. We'll chopper in to an LZ a bit north of Dak Po, and move in on foot. Sgt. Hooper, you take 2nd squad and the mortar FO, and move in along the trail from the northeast, and I'll take 1st Squad, Doc, and our Kit Carson Scout and move in from the northwest. I've given each squad an M60 team. We'll attack simultaneously, and clear the place as we go. Any questions?"
"LT, how aggressive do you want us to be?", asked SFC Hooper. "C'mon, Hooper. you know the drill. Get going and get in and take care of business." replied Walsh. "Yes, sir" came Hooper's tepid reply.
Once they were on the ground at the LZ, they split up per the plan. As they approached the Village, LT Walsh kept his men moving, heading straight for the hamlet. But, He realized Hooper was taking his time getting into position. Walsh turned to his RTO "Get Hooper on the horn. Tell him to get the f*** off that trail, and get into position at the east edge of the hamlet." "Roger that sir" "Red 5, Red 6, over"...
"LT!" Sgt Maxwell from 1st squad yelled. I think we got a tunnel entrance here. Walsh replied "Good. Shut it down". So, Maxwell and one of his privates did. Dumped a couple grenades and sprayed down the hole with M16 fire.
It was then that they started taking fire from the hamlet. He could hear that Hooper's men were under fire, too. His men got into position near the edge of the jungle, and returned fire. He only hoped Hooper was doing the same.
Then he heard that tell-tale "thump", and then the explosion among some of the men in 1st Squad that was with him. "Jesus! They got a thumper? Shit." thought Walsh. That hooch must be where the enemy commander is, he guessed. "COVER!" he yelled. His men went to ground, but he could see that 2 were wounded. Worse, he got a glimpse of men (and mules?) moving through the jungle straight at him. "Contact right!' Walsh yelled.
"LT, the FO's calling for Mortar fire on that hooch. Should be inbound a 2 or 3 mikes." "Thanks", Walsh said. But he had other things to worry about. He just had another man go down. But, on the bright side, it looked like his men were giving better than they got. All of a sudden, he could see several of the enemy, pack mules in tow, not 20 yards away, moving right toward them. He could see 1st squad's M60 gunner level his pig, and let loose a burst dropping one of the enemy a few yards from him. And another made it to that M60 gunner, trying to stab him with his bayonet. The M60 gunner dodged it, and used the M60 to butt-stroke that enemy soldier, dropping him like a sack of bricks. Shouldn't have tried to hand-to-hand with the biggest guy in the squad...
Then, those mortar rounds hit. 3 of them. Right dead on the hooch the M79 was firing from. That hooch was no more. Between the US mortar fire, and the failed attack on his 1st Squad, Walsh could see that the enemy was slinking away, retreating south of Dak Po.
And that was it. Lt. Walsh and his men had won the day. The PAVN had conceded defeat. He had 2 men dead, and one wounded to show for it. And he would have to have another chat with SFC Hooper. Way to cautious...at least the mortar FO had his shit together over on that end...
-
Very atmospheric report :-*
Those mules get everywhere lol
-
Very atmospheric report :-*
Those mules get everywhere lol
Thanks, Paul. Those mules do get around. They've been to Vietnam, the Wild West, and to our fantasy RPG world...
And, here is the other game AAR...
Game 2
SFC Hooper could see his new LT coming back from the Old Man's OpOrder briefing, a befuddled look on his face. "What's the word, LT?" LT Walsh responded "We have to do a search and destroy mission on some little hamlet. Just us, and then we won't have 3rd squad to start out with. They're the company reserve. I'm not sure what to do." "Okay, sir, I'll go grab the squad leaders, and we'll figure it out."
After a bit of confused "Why don't we do this", and "Why don't we do that?", Hooper chimed in "Sir, we're getting choppered in north of this little shithole. How about if you take 1st squad, and come at it from the northwest, and I'll take 2nd Squad and Barnes and his radio and come in from the northeast. We can hit them at the same time." "Okay" said Walsh. "But we gotta shut down any tunnel entrances we see, too. I don't know what to look for". "Roger. But I do" Hooper replied. "Then you take the Kit Carson Scout. He'll know what to look for". And, thus, they had their plan.
Once on the ground, they split up according to their plan. LT Walsh and 1st Squad approached from the northwest, and SFC Hooper and 2nd Squad came at Dak Po from the northeast. Just as they were approaching Dak Po, the platoon got word that the Company 1st Sergeant had been killed by a sniper. Word spread, and the guys were pissed now, and ready for a fight. Everybody liked Top. Those NVA better watch out.
Abd then, just as they started taking fire from the hamlet, the LT froze. Hooper could hear him on the company net talking to the Old Man, and Walsh wasn't getting it. He ordered everyone to hold tight. "Damn it" Hooper thought. And just as the LT got his shit together and they started moving again, he saw some of the guys in 2nd squad passing a joint around. "GOD DAMN IT! Put that thing out!" he ordered.
Then, Hooper almost tripped in a hole. "Well, what do we have here? A tunnel?" He turned to the 2nd Squad leader, who was nearby "Sgt. Baker, take care of this" he said pointing to the hole he had almost stepped in. A couple grenades and some M16 fire, and that was that.
But it was too late to do anything about it the dope. The guys were still pissed, but now a bit high. The fire coming from the hamlet was slackening off just a bit, but now Hooper could hear a lot of fire in the jungle at the east end of the hamlet. He got a SitRep from LT's RTO, and the LT had frozen again. But 1st Squad's Sgt Maxwell was on the ball, and dealing with the NVA trying to flank them.
Then the good news. Barnes (the mortar FO) told him that the Old Man told the LT a SF team was in the AO, and here to help. "No shit. Well, that oughta help, for sure." was Hooper's reply. And then there they were. Hooper could see fire coming from the jungle at the north edge of the hamlet. It was our guys, and it had to be the SF guys. Nobody from 1st platoon was up there. Then, Hooper saw them cross the trail, dump grenades into the hooch at their end of the village, and assault it like they knew what they were doing.
"Barnes, get me mortars in the center of that damn village! Now!" "Okay. bravo two-niner, this is foxtrot six-seven. over" "Shit" Barnes said. "They ain't answering". Barnes said "Keep trying."
Then it got quiet. The fire, from both directions, quieted down. They must be bugging out, he though to himself.
And that was that. Game 2 was over, another US win, and with only 1 US casualty (who the medic successfully treated). But 2 very different games.
In the first game, due to the playing style of the US players, the LT was aggressive, and the Platoon Sergeant was, shall we say, overly cautious. In the 2nd game, due to both US players' playing styles and the Random Event Chart, it was the other way around. And, the US mortars were very effective in Game 1, while they were a non-starter in game 2.
Also, in the first game, the Random Event Chart was relatively benign, while in the 2nd game, it affected the US side, both good and bad.
Last, in game 1, the NVA player playing the squad with the mules was much more aggressive, getting within 1 turn's move from getting the mules off the board. But, instead of focusing on his mission, he got sidetracked and tried to go into hand-to-hand with the M60 team (who was on overwatch!). The NVA casualties caused by that attempt forced a morale check, which they promptly failed. In the 2nd game, the NVA player playing the squad with the mules held up as soon as they came under fire, and never really got going.
There you have it. Hope you enjoyed these AARs. Comments and critiques welcome...
-
Brilliant reports with great character :-*
-
Loving it! Great stuff!
-
Great looking game - really love the reports
:)
-
Thanks, fellas! 8)
-
An enjoyable read CapnJim as are the other games you've posted. Keep up the good work.
If I may, I have a couple of questions.
You mention Ambush Alley and Force on Force, to be honest I've never read a bad game report by folk using these rules but you're not using them! Why not? I know next to nothing about rules for recent conflicts so am interested in your thoughts.
I like your written storylines but wondered why you put the pictures at the end rather than within the body of the text. Just curious because what you do works well. :)
This isn't my natural viewing place when I visit LAF but I'm looking forward to the next action packed scenario in a hot spot near you and I'll make sure to look out for it.
Cheers
-
Thanks, Vagabond! I play (and paint) several periods, so just keep your eyes peeled for future reports (here, in the WW2 Board, the Age of Big Battalions Board, the Pulp Board, the Old West Board, and so on....)
You mention Ambush Alley and Force on Force, to be honest I've never read a bad game report by folk using these rules but you're not using them! Why not? I know next to nothing about rules for recent conflicts so am interested in your thoughts.
Good question. I really like Ambush Alley and Force on Force. Heck, I was one of their play-testers, and even co-authored some the scenario books for FoF. But, as I advance in my wargaming experiences, I've grown to appreciate some of the simpler rules, like Fistful of Lead. BOHICA falls in between those, complexity-wise, so I thought I'd give it a whack.
I like your written storylines but wondered why you put the pictures at the end rather than within the body of the text. Just curious because what you do works well. :)
I'm lazy! :D I've found it a bit easier to caption and attach the photos to the post, in lieu of posting them in the gallery here and imbedding them into the post.
In any event, I'll keep posting AARs as we play our various games!
-
I'm lazy! :D I've found it a bit easier to caption and attach the photos to the post, in lieu of posting them in the gallery here and imbedding them into the post.
I wondered if that might be the reason. :D
-
I wondered if that might be the reason. :D
Yes, well, I am what I am... ;)
-
Well, being inspired by Ash's recent pics of his Vietnam War collection, I decided to take pics of my own various collections, and post them in my various threads here. My 28mm stuff is first, and in that, I'll kick it off with my Vietnam War minis.
Here are my US regulars. Mostly Empress metal, with some Rubicon plastic and a few Black Sun metals. The M48 is a Corgi diecast - it is scheduled for stowage, weathering, and dismounted crew later this week or next...
-
And here are my US Special Ops troops - all Empress so far.
-
And here are my NVA and VC so far. The NVA are Empress metals, and the VC are Rubicon plastics.
That does it for my 28mm Vietnam War stuff. Next, I'll start posting pics of my modern stuff on my "Modern stuff" thread...
-
Out-fricking-standing! Now that is a high speed, low drag collection. Hoo-ah! 🫡
-
:-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Brilliant job ;)
-
Super collection, great to see a nice group shot.
The use of a gaming matt for a backdrop is a cool idea, may have to try that...
-
Thanks, chaps!
-
Looks good, Jim! I expect to see some of them troopers on the tabletop in the coming year...!
Mike Demana
-
Thanks, Mike - you never know what games I'll be running at cons this year... :D
By the way, Ash, the use of that gaming mat was kinda accidental. I had been using the back side of a neoprene mat, but it was buried under terrain on my gaming table. So that one filled in. But I like it, and will keep using it for a backdrop... :D
-
I finished tarting up my Corgi 1/50 M48A3 today. Painted up its dismounted crew, as well. The tank comes out of the box looking like it just came off the wash rack. So, I weathered it up a bit, and added some stowage. The stowage is a mix of Empress metal and resin, and Rubicon plastic (from their Allied WW2 box).
The only thing I don't like about the tank is that its gun is fixed in that elevated position. The turret and the commander's cupola both traverse, but the main gun is fixed. Oh well, I bet I get over it... :D
The Crew is Empress.
This oughta give my GIs some support...enjoy!
-
Brilliant thread Cap! Nice work.
-
nice additions
-
Sharp! 👍
-
Thanks, gentlemen!
I'm working on a bridge from Miniature Building Authority right now. But I just got some of Gringo40s 28mm MACV-SOG boys (delivered yesterday!), and it looks like they may be next after I finish that bridge...they are some lovely sculpts!
-
CapnJim
many thanks for the kind comments about my SOG figures!
regards
Ged
wwww.gringo40s.com ;) ;) 8) ;) 8)
-
Ged,
They are in progress. They paint up nicely so far...pics to follow in a bit...
-
As I mentioned, I got some 28mm MACV-SOG figures from Gringo40s. Here is the first batch.
I decided to paint them in a mix of ERDL (both brown- and green-dominant versions) and Tiger Stripe uniforms. A few of the fellas have their faces and arms camo'd up.
These guys yare very nice sculpts. As I'm sure most of you already know, they are a bit taller than Empress or Rubicon figs. But in these guys' case, I don't think that'll matter much (not to me anyway...). Also, with the ERDL (particularly the brown-dominant version) being very similar to Woodland BDUs, and the XM-177 resembling an M4 (with the carrying handle/rear sight attached), I may use these guys as far forward as till about 1990. We'll see...
The next batch will have those XM-i77s and suppressed Uzis. This batch has snipers and spotters (first 2 pics), and a point man, patrol leader, and M60 gunner (middle 2 pics). The last 2 pics are this batch altogether.
Hope you all enjoy looking! I know I enjoyed painting them...
BTW, a shout-out to Mick_in_Switzerland and his new book. I used it while painting these chaps. It was very handy. :D
-
They look good, Jim! Retirement seems to suit your productivity! lol
Mike Demana
-
CapnJim
splendid work on my Gringo40s MACV SOG figures,,,keep up the good work
regards
Ged
www.gringo40s.com
-
They look good, Jim! Retirement seems to suit your productivity! lol
Pretty much! Had a bit of a lag in painting between our Spain/Portugal trip in September and Christmas, but I'm back on it! And thanks!
Splendid work on my Gringo40s MACV SOG figures,,,keep up the good work
Thanks, Ged. Batch #2 is ready to start this coming week! Pics to follow...
-
Great work yet again, Cap'n! 🫡
-
Capn Jim really looking forward to Batch two! :D 8) :D 8)
regards
Ged
www.gringo40s.com
-
Looking good - I have them in my lead pile fir later in the year!
-
Thanks again, fellas!
-
And, as promised, here is Batch #2 of the Gringo40s MACV-SOG boys I (finally) got.
The first 2 pics are the guys I put in tiger stripes. The fellas in the 2nd 2 pics are in ERDL.
Then, the 5th pic is Batch #2 all together, and the last pic is both batches all together.
Enjoy! ;)
-
Brilliant work Cap'n! 🫡
-
Thanks, Mr. Gnome. :D
I have a scenario in mind for them. Gotta paint up some medical staff and some more civilians first...
-
CapnJim
splendid work on my Gringo40s MACV SOG figures.! :o :-* :o :-* :o :-*
regards
Ged
www.gringo40s.com
-
Thanks, Ged. Appreciate it!
-
They do indeed look very good!
-
Thanks, Carlos!
-
LT Blutarski saw SP4 Jones running up to him. "What's up, Jones?" inquired the LT. "The Old Man wants everyone at the CP. Got a mission." "Roger. I'll get Sergeant Throckmorton, and we'll be right over."
LT Blutarski found SFC Throckmorton, and they headed to the Co. CP. Once all Company leaders had assembled, CPT Johansen spelled out their mission. It seemed the battalion was doing another sweep. 2nd Platoon, LT Blutarski's platoon, was tasked with seizing a bridge over a creek, as well as an adjacent hill and hamlet. They would only have 2 of his squads (3rd Squad was doing perimeter duty), but would have both M60 teams. They would also have an M48 tank from one of the tank platoons, and could use their RTOs to try to get fire missions from the Company mortars. Of course, they could expect to run across both PAVN and VC units, thus the sweep.
SP was in 1 hour. He and his Platoon Sergeant set about getting things ready.
My brother Mark was up from Florida for his annual visit last month. We game, shoot, smoke cigars, and do a bit of drinking, as well. On Sep. 20, we were joined by Ted and Gene (my regular gaming group) to play a Vietnam game using Fistful of Lead: Bigger Battles. Ted and Gene decided they wanted to play the two of us, and we randomly determined that they would play the PAVN/VC, and Mark and I would play the US. The scenario was taken from the rulebook. I'm just now getting to this, as my wife and I left for a vacation in the Canadian Maritimes just as me brother left to head back to Florida.
Here are the Scenario Info and Troop List sheets for the US force:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-081023212426.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-081023212357.jpeg)
And here are the PAVN/VC Scenario Info and Troop List sheets:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-081023212338.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-081023212316.jpeg)
And here are the Scenario Special Rules:
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-081023212250.jpeg)
That's the set up. I'll post the AAR here in the next few days. Stay tuned...
-
Once LT Blutarski got SFC Throckmorton, his squad leaders, and the TC together, they came up with a plan. 2nd Platoon/Charlie Company would advance in patrol column up the path leading to the objectives. Once they got close to the objectives, they would deploy with the attached M48 going left to get up on the hill, and SFC Throckmorton would take 2nd squad and an M60 team right of the path. It would be 2nd squad's mission to assault the hamlet. The LT would lead 1st squad and the other M60 team up the path and left of it. It would be their job to protect the M48, and to assault the bridge. Their medic would be where he thought he needed to be. Either the LT or SFC Throckmorton could call for mortar fire with their RTOs. Mind you, contact with the enemy could change things, but that was the plan.
With that in mind, 2nd Platoon hit the SP right on time. Here's the battlefield they came up on...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023171022.jpeg)
As they advanced in patrol column up the path, LT Blutarski heard shouts of "Contact front! Infantry in the open!" He looked north, and could indeed see enemy infantry advancing south down the same path they were advancing northward on. It looked like a platoon-sized element of mixed PAVn and VC. And it looked like they had RPGs and a DShK!
"Deploy! Deploy!" shouted the LT. With that, his Platoon Sergeant, Squad Leaders, and the TC all did as planned and ordered.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170955.jpeg)
His opposite number on the other side of the stream did the same thing.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170924.jpeg)
Most of the PAVN and VC went east, toward the hamlet. And they were bunched up. LT Blutarski grabbed the mic from his RTO: "Black 6, White 6. Fire Mission, over" "White 6, send it, over." "Black 6, fire mission. Infantry in the open. Grid 184832. Fire for effect, over." A minute or 2 later, 3 81mm mortar rounds landed among the bunched up PAVN and VC. From where the LT was, it looked like several PAVN and VC were taken out by the mortars. "That oughta do it", the LT thought to himself. "Black 6, White 6, Target destroyed, mission complete, over." "White 6, roger, out".
While LT Blutarski was calling in the mortars, his men were advanced according to the plan.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170850.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170816.jpeg)
Meanwhile, it took the PAVN and VC a few minutes to sort themselves out after the mortar barrage. What the US LT didn't know yet, was that the mortar fire had killed the PAVN commander and his bugler, as well as almost all of the DShK crew, not to mention several PAVN regulars and VC.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170639.jpeg)
But, once they sorted themselves out, the PAVN and VC got back on the move. 2 RPG teams went right to go tank hunting, while most of them went left, toward the hamlet.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170748.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170712.jpeg)
LT Blutarski and his RTO hurried up to catch up with his men, who by now had reached the stream, while the M48 provided overwatch from the small hill.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170549.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170459.jpeg)
The PAVN and VC tried to put up a fight, even wounding a few GIs - the US medic was busy for a short while. But after the US mortar strike, and the pounding they were getting from the M48, they couldn't quite get it going.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170423.jpeg)
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170254.jpeg)
With US troops holding the bridge and the stream, 2nd Squad assaulted the hamlet. After a hot little firefight, they took it.
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170344.jpeg)
The remaining PAVN and VC had finally had enough. They melted back north, leaving the hill, bridge, and hamlet in US hands...
(http://leadadventureforum.com/gallery/60/16550-091023170220.jpeg)
And with that, the fight was over. And it went about as we thought it might. US firepower and tactics won the day, and their flak vests saved a few of them from serious wounds. BUT, it could have gone very differently.
The evening before we played them game, my brother and I played 6 turns of the scenario so my brother could brush up on the rules. By the end of the 6th turn, RPGs had roughed up the M48, and the VC were in sole possession of the hamlet. And the bridge was contested. Both sides had taken quite a few casualties, and the company mortars apparently were too busy to bother with the requested fire missions. A PAVN/VC win was possible had we played it out to the 10th turn. Unfortunately, we were focused on getting my brother up to speed on the rules, so I didn't take any photos... ???
Hope whoever read this enjoyed it.... 8)
-
Fabulous AAR Jim!
It's the Bridges of Madison County that Clint really wanted to make isn't it?
-
Great AAR Capn.
28mm Vietnam and FFOL BB, what a lovely recipe.
I feel a game coming on.
-
Great AAR Capn.
28mm Vietnam and FFOL BB, what a lovely recipe.
I feel a game coming on.
Thanks, Carlos. Not to mix movies, but Gunny Highway did fight in Vietnam, so that could be...
Great AAR Capn.
28mm Vietnam and FFOL BB, what a lovely recipe.
I feel a game coming on.
Thanks, flatpack! Carry on then, lad! :D
-
I’m sure I read thro the AAR the other day, but now most of your data sheets, and some of the photos have disappeared. Is this just happening to me, or are other people seeing the same ? Very odd.
-
Huh. They show up for me....
-
Well, Advance the Colors was a good convention, in terms of my modern stuff. I picked up 3 pre-painted 28mm buildings from Miniature Building Authority (from their Shanty Town range), as well as a painted 28mm Russian Ural truck. I also picked up a die cast UH90 Blackhawk helicopter and a diecast CH-46 helicopter (which will double as a CH47...) from them, both usable in 28mm games. I also got 2 Humvees (1/43 diecast - but they will do fine for 28mm games), with armored weapon stations and gunners. I will re-paint the Humvees in proper NATO tri-color schemes, and will paint up the weapons stations and gunners tp go with them. I think they will be up next, so will appear here not that far down the road...
I also played in a modern game set in A French intervention in Africa. I and another player played the French, and we won!
MODERATORS: please repost this in my Modern thread, if that's possible. It should be there. My bad... ???