CapnJim's Modern Stuff - Mission Scrubbed, Black SUV, Signs - Pg 33 - 25 Sep 24

[CapnJim]

Our next mission in Northern Gambola is indeed set for this Friday (31 May).  US Rangers and Marine Force Recon units are set to hit a rebel base to scrub it for intel.

Here are the Scenario Sheets:





Here is a better pic of the map:



Here is the US info sheet:



And here is the Gambolan info sheet:



I've already rolled to see which Gambolans start out off-table.  All 3 armored cars, plus 3 of the Saracens.  One Saracen will have the Leader, his runner (they will crew the Saracen), and the MG3 team.  The other 2 Saracens will have 7 men each (2 each to crew them, plus 3 AKs/rifles, an RPD, and an RPG each).  The 2 remaining Saracens are parked in front of the maintenance barn, uncrewed......

Back in the base, 3 each AKs/rifles will be in the north, east, and south fighting positions.  A 2-man M60 team and a 2-man RPG team will man the front gate.  The DShK is on the roof of the HQ building, while the markman is on the roof of the supply building.The Asst. Leader is just outside the front of the HQ building. 

And, in an interesting twist of fate, the randomly-determined location for the cattle herdsman and his dog and herd is near the NE corner of the base, about 13" from that rocky area where the Marine observation team is.  THAT could get interesting...

SP is 1100 hrs. Friday.  AAR to follow.  Here is the lead-in...

Major Dover sat in the battalion TOC at the Bangerizi airport, waiting for LTC Kurts to appear.  MAJ Dover took over as Battalion S3 just before their deployment to Northern Gambola.  And then, in walked Kurts.  "Ten-hut!" someone yelled.  Everyone stood up, at attention.  "At ease, fellas" was Kurts' response.  "What's up, Ben?" he asked Dover.

"Here, read this, sir.  The latest news from the Puzzle Palace.  It's a Warning Order for another mission.  But look at Page 4."  Dover handed Kurts some papers, and Kurts flipped through them to Page 4.  "You gotta be sh**tin' me..." he uttered.  "Yup.  New RoE's for civilians from on high.  Seems Cahill's boys stirred the pot too much when they ran over those civvies during the aid convoy fight."  "How in Hell are we supposed to follow these?  No engaging anyone in civilian clothes unless they A. have a visible weapon and B. present an "imminent threat"?  S**t, half of these m****r f****rs are in civvies, and most of them have guns."

"Yeah, well, read the Warning Order." said Dover.  We're supposed to hit a rebel base so some Jarhead Force Recon guys can sweep it for intel.  And guess what?  They use civilians at it."  "Great..." was Kurts' response.  "Once we get the Op Order from JTF, gather the usual suspects.  I think Cahill get's this one too.  I reckon he can lie in the bed he just made."  Dover came back "You think that's a good idea, sir?"  "Yep.  But I'm not sure I care.  This is BS.  Cahill will handle it."

And that was that.  The Op Order came down from JTF, the usual suspects were gathered (including B Company Commander CPT Cahill, his LT's, and the Force Recon Team Leader, teh Aviation Battalion rep, and the guys from the Air Force), and they developed the plan.  Now, they prepared and waited for Friday to get here.  At least the S2 had a decent weather forecast...

[CapnJim]

Sorry about the delay in getting going on this.  Real life has been busy of late...

But Here we go...

Rebel Base Attack Part 1:  Looks Good So Far.

As the Rangers and Recon Marines set up their LZ perimeter, the leaders gathered in the center as the choppers departed.  1LT Bartles (Chuckie Blue 6) and CPT Jerome (Eagle 6) had a plan after Eagle 2 (the Marine's Observation Team) reported in.

 

There were tangos on each face of the wire, but no one at the corners (although Eagle 2 couldn't see the SW corner or the main gate).  There was a DShK on the roof of the HQ building, though.  And most of the armor that was there had just left.

Here's the main gate - the only gate really...



So, the plan was for SFC Jaymes to take 3rd Squad and an M60 team to set up a base of fire near the SE corner of the base, while 1LT Bartles took the rest of the Rangers in through the apparently un-manned SE corner.  CPT Jerome and his Marines would follow ILT Bartles' Rangers.  Once the east end of the base was secure, CPT Jerome and his men could get to work looking for intel in the HQ and Supply buildings.  The trick would be to get as far inside as they could without getting spotted.  It was dark, but there was a full moon in the western sky.  CPT Cahill and LTC Kurts would be overhead in a Little Bird, and Geronimo (the AH64) would be on station, waiting to get called in.

With everything set, the Rangers and Marines stepped out.  SFC Jaymes made to his assigned base of fire...





...while the rest of the force made it to the wire, and began cutting barbed wire, as quietly as possible.  It didn't look like they had been spotted yet.



Eagle 2 went radio silent as a cattle herder and his herd (and dog) approached, very closely.  Eagle 2 was well-concealed in the rocks in the dark, and the herdsman didn't notice them.  The wind was out of the west, so the dog didn't pick up their scent, either.





While SFC Jaymes and his men kept watch, the Rangers made entry into the base (they had cut away a good stretch of the wire, which would make a hasty exfil easier if it were needed).  The M60 teams set up to watch the DShK up on that roof.



The herdsman and his herd kept moving along.



The Rangers and Marines moved further into the base, keeping close to the buildings.  They appeared to be unoccupied.  And the M60 gunners kept watch on that DShK.  Part of 3rd Squad moved up to the wire.  It seemed no one had spotted them yet.





And then it happened.  The DShK team spotted some of the Rangers, and moved their DShK around to face south (and the Rangers).



The M60 teams opened fire on the DShK, putting 2 tangos down.  The remaining 3rd opened fire on the M60 team near the barracks buildings, and wounded both men.



With gunfire now loudly announcing intruders, the Gambolans at the fighting positions on the south face moved toward the sound of the guns, and opened fire.  They dropped CPT Jerome and his RTO, but the Marine's Alpha Team tended to their wounds, and CPT Jerome was back on his feet.



With gunfire in the base, the cattle herdsman and his herd picked up their pace.



Rangers shot the remaining DShK gunner, and returned fire on the Gambolans on the south face.  SFC Jaymes' men opened fire on the Gambolans on the east face.  And the Gambolans on the north face, and at the west gate, moved toward the firefight now underway at the SE corner of the base.  And 2 civilians who were in the building nearest the gunfire (it was the base's mess hall) crawled out a window and began moving away from the fight.







The sun was coming up now, and it was getting easier to see.  CPT Cahill radioed ILT Bartles (from his Little Bird) "Chuckie Blue 6, Chuckie 6.  Truck with tangoes inbound on the road from the north.  Echo tango alfa to your location 1-0 mikes, Out."

The Rangers and the Marines were in, but had been spotted and engaged.  It was light out now, and it looked like more Gambolans were enroute.  Things could get dicey...

Unfortunately, Parts 2 and 3 may have to wait until after I get back from vacation in a week and a half. 

Stay tuned...l

[Cat]

Ah, Rebel scum love nothing more than cliff-hangers....
: 3

[mikedemana]

Sounds like a good game, Jim! Looking forward to the conclusion...or next installment!

Mike Demana

[CapnJim]

Thanks, fellas!  And I'm back from vacation - spent the last week in bourbon country in Kentucky.  I even exercised some restraint - I only brought 7 bottles of bourbon back with me...

Anyhoo, on with the show.  I now present to y'all Part 2: Maybe Not So Good Now...

The Rangers worked their way through the barracks area of the rebel compound.  1LT Bartles sent his Anti-Armor Team toward the main gate, in the event rebel armor showed up.  While moving through the barracks area, his Rangers were able to eliminate the rebels at the south and east fighting positions.  Oddly enough, the cattle herd moved TOWARD the sound of the guns as 3rd squad took care of the east fighting position.  That herdsman would have to work harder to get his herd out of harm's way... 

And Cpt Jerome's search team worked on his RTO, to try to get him back in the fight (they would do so in just a bit).





Meanwhile, CPT Jerome's RTO was back up, and they moved further into the barracks area.  The platoon medic worked on the M60 team, trying to get them back up and running.



By now, the Rangers had cleared the east end of the rebel base.  Or so they thought.  While the civilians got into their minivan, the group of rebels from the north fighting positions moved up, and took cover behind the light truck in front of the compound HQ building, led by their NCO.



Over by the east fighting position, 3rd Squad's Leader waved the herdsman and his herd off, and they wisely began moving away from the action.



The Rangers and the Marines moved further into the compound.  They took fire from the rebels at that light truck.  Another ranger went down.  The Rangers, of course, returned fire.







That's when the first rebel reinforcements showed up.  An old deuce-and-a-half full of militia.  And even worse, CPT Cahill (up in his Little Bird) radioed 1LT Bartles, informing him that 3 armored cars and 3 APS were fast approaching from the north!  LT Bartles hoped his anti-armor assets were in the right place.



They weren't.  Not entirely.  The 3 armored cars came down at the NE corner of the compound, while the APCs came down at the NW corner.  The Ranger squads had LAWS, but the Anti-Armor team (with the AT4s) were only in position to take on the APCs.







While that was going on, the herdsman hustled his cattle away from all the ruckus.



Momentarily taken aback by the arrival of the rebel armor, 1LT Bartles' RTO reminded him about the AH64.  A quick call for support on the radio, and Geronimo was on the scene in no time!



While the rebel's Saracen APCs had no trouble breaching the compound perimeter, the rebel militia's truck gut hung up crashing the gate.  The militia, having no choice now, unassed their truck at the gate.



The civilians, who had gotten into their minivan with their driver, now had their escape blocked by the militia's truck.  They got out of the minivan, and headed for cover.  The Rangers and Marines took out the rebels at the truck in front of the HQ building.  Some of the Rangers and the Marines headed for the target buildings, while the remaining Rangers took up positions in the barracks buildings to fight off the rebels and their APCs.  As they did, they took out a rebel LMG team that had come up from the main gate and had taken out another Ranger (that made for 4 WIA Rangers and 2 WIA Marines so far, some of whom were back up and fighting).  They hoped Geronimo would take care of the armored cars...





Thing were really heating up now.  Getting in had been easy. Staying in long enough to complete the mission, and getting everyone back out, would prove to be trickier.  Stay tuned for Part 3 (the finale) which I plan to post here within the next few days...

[carlos marighela]

Jim,

Fantastic write up! I love the inclusion of the dairy herd. Clearly Kentucky bourbon agrees with you.

Amazing how many toys we seem to have in common too.

[CapnJim]

Jim,

Fantastic write up! I love the inclusion of the dairy herd. Clearly Kentucky bourbon agrees with you.

Amazing how many toys we seem to have in common too.

Thanks!  And yes, bourbon and I agree with each other from time to time.  As far as our toys go, perhaps "Great minds think alike"...

As for the herd, I wanted something that stood a chance of discovering the Observation Team.  As luck would have it, they nearly did...

But, it's time for the thrilling conclusion to our Rangers' and Marines' raid on the rebel base.  Forthwith, I present to you, Dear Reader...

Part 3:  And Even Worse, Until It Was Better.

While 1LT Bartles would have liked to have had his Anti-Armor Team in place to deal with the armored cars, they weren't.  But they could deal with the Saracens.  Having occupied the western-most long barracks building, the Rangers' Anti-Armor Team stepped out on the porch and let loose with an AT4 and a LAW. The rockets found their mark, damaging the center Saracen.  Some of its occupants scrambled out.  The other 2 Saracens opened up on the Anti-Armor team, causing both members of the team to go down wounded for their troubles...

The civilians from the minivan scampered into the relative safety of the maintenance barn, while the herdsman and his trusty dog hustled his charges away from the fighting.

   

Luckily, Geronimo had come in from the east.  It let loose with a Hellfire ATGM, which streaked toward the Eland.  And had no apparent effect.  Must have been too close to arm, so Geronimo's gunner switched to the autocannon.  That shredded the Eland, and its crew bailed out and scrambled for the nearby jungle. 



While some of the Rangers and Marines engaged with the rebel counterattack, the other Rangers secured the area near the target buildings.  CPT Jerome, United State Marine Corps, and his RTO went into the HQ building, while one of his search teams went into the other target building.  The search for actionable intel was on...



The fight with the Saracens went on.  A rebel MG3 team dismounted the left Saracen, and added its firepower to that which was raking the barracks buildings and the Rangers and Marines in and near them.  But the Rangers and Marines raked back.  Rangers and rebels (both regulars and militia) went down...



The AH64 turned its attention to one of the Saladins, blowing it to pieces with the minigun.  There were no survivors.  The other Saladin breached the perimeter fence and got under the Apache, safe for now.



Rangers continued to keep the target buildings secure while the Marines inside searched them...



Geronimo, unable to see the Saladin underneath him, turned its attention to the Saracens, KO'ing the far one and forcings its passengers out...



The observation team in the rocks, and some of the Rangers securing the target buildings, fired everything they had at the remaining Saladin, forcing it to retreat back toward the fence.



The fight with the Saracens went on.  More rebels and Rangers went down...  The Rangers' and the Marines' medics were kept busy.



And then, another ripsaw sound, and minigun rounds from Geronimo slammed into the middle Saracen, brewing it up.  The Americans had taken the steam out of the Gambolan counter-attack.



CPT Jerome signalled to ILT Bartles that the target buildings had been fully searched, and the exfil could begin.  Rangers and Marines began to fall back toward the breach in the perimeter wire at the SE corner of the compound.



Geronimo kept the Gambolans at bay as the Rangers and Marines pulled out.



The remaining Gambolans kept up the pressure though.  The Rangers and Marines had to carry 4 of their men out, and one of the WIA had succumbed to his wounds.





The Americans slowly fell back toward the fence breach...





...leaving a mess behind. 



Once the Americans cleared the compound, a flight of USAF F16 Fighting Falcons rolled in and levelled the place.

And that was that.  The Rangers and Marine Recon guys accomplished their mission, extracting valuable intel from the target buildings.  But it came at a cost.  Two of the Marines had been wounded, but both were able to get back up and into the fight.  10 Rangers were wounded (7 of which would get back into the fight) and 1 Ranger was KIA.

The Butcher's Bill

In the 6 engagements that the Rangers and Force Recon Marines have been involved in, 20 Rangers have been KIA, and 27 WIA.  For the Marines, they've had 7 WIA.  But, they have essentially taken out the better part of a small Gambolan armor/infantry battalion, as well as a few dozen militia.  They've also taken out 2 high-ranking rebel leaders, and have Gen. Isgood on the run.

We'll have to wait and see what kind of valuable intelligence they found in this raid.  I'm sure it'll be quite useful for our JTF...

[Lord Raglan]

Love what you are doing here Jimbo 👍🏻

[mikedemana]

Just as I expected, an Apache is Hell on wheels (rotors?) in modern warfare. Without it, the good guys may have been outclassed by all that armor.

Fun game report, Jim! Reward yourself with a hot of bourbon (or seven... ).

Mike Demana

[flatpack]

Great game and write up.

[has.been]

Wonderful set up Capt. Sounds like you are having fun.

Thanks to my mechanic (Vodkafan) I have a lot of the same vehicles.
I hope to use a lot in Wild Boys, though I have yet to write vehicle rules.
They will look nice, even as window dressing.

[carlos marighela]

Yep an Apache is going to do a whole lotta damage.

[BaronVonJ]

Only seven bottle?

[CapnJim]

Thanks, fellas!  And yes, that AH64 likely saved our Ranger's bacon...

Only seven bottle?

Of bourbon?  Yes.  But I failed to mention that Da Boss also brought back 4 bottles of flavored rum and a bottle of Tequila Anejo...so technically, we brought back 12 bottles of hooch....

[carlos marighela]

OK, so now I understand your obsession with Prohibition era games. You've been cosplaying as bootleggers haven't you?

One day we will have to get you onto cachaça, Brazil's main contribution to dipsomania. Not the cheap pinga like stuff that typically gets exported for cocktail making like 51 or Pitu, sells for $2 in Brazilian supermarkets and ten to twenty times that overseas. No, some good old artisanal booze like Maria Cruz or Germania.