INEPTT Genre 3 - South China Sea

[Shawnt63]

**INEPTT War Room, Chicago Illinois.

IMS (International Monitoring Satellite) picked up Chinese naval activity in the area of the tiny the disputed Island of Huan Ho.
Roughly a month ago reports had been sent in by Philippine fishermen and Japanese coast guard vessels of odd lights near the island. More recently Philippine and Chinese fishermen report sighting large creatures both in the water and on the shore of the tiny island. INEPTT officials contacted the Chinese defense department to inquire about a joint venture into the area to determine what was going on. Chinese officials politely declined the assistance of INEPTT forces but agreed to take a team of three genetic scientists in with their own forces.

**Friendly Forces**
2 x T54 amphibious tanks (trial versions mounting a remote 12.5mm heavy mg and 100mm cannon)
1 x Tac Car - remote controlled 20mm cannon. Car is primarily a laboratory on wheels.
6 x Blue Dragon Special Forces (China's equivalent to INEPTT)
6 x Chinese Marine Recon (Elite Chinese Special Forces)
3 x INEPTT Genetic Scientists
1 x Chinese Patrol Boat (1 x ASG17 Grenade Launcher Forward, 1 x 76mm cannon aft)

**Enemy Forces**
UNKNOWN

**Possible Friendlies**
There was a small native tribe living on the island up to 10 years ago, there was also a small research station on the island but it is thought to no longer be habitable.

**Terrain**
The island is covered for the most part in heavy jungle type vegetation which will make it difficult to move. There are some fairly significant elevations that would be difficult to climb. There was some minor roads at one point but mainly foot paths criss crossing the island, made mainly by local natives and animals.

**Mission**
PRIMARY: Land on the island, recover any information that may still remain in the research station. If any "unusually sized" animals are found, attempt to capture or kill one and bring it back from testing.
SECONDAY: locate and safeguard any local native population if required.


Huan Ho Island, with the Patrol boat Shing Dao rear right of the photo. Note the Swampy area in front of the Shing Dao. It is traversable by foot but only at a walk. It cannot be traversed by heavy vehicles like the tanks, but the patrol car can move slowly and with a chance of bogging down.


The research station, two buildings with a water wheel main structure just to the rear of these two.


Hmmm, satellite imaging can't quite determine what this might be, but it has a rather sinister look to it.


Shing Dao, note the ASG 17 forward and manned. The six troops are the Chinese Marine Recon troops!


Closer look at the forward weapon system of the Shing Dao!


The only real landing area on Huan Ho island.


Here come the heavies, two T54 amphibs and the Patrol Car. Note the car is entering the swampy area while the two T54's move towards the rocky pass to their front.

[Shawnt63]

The Marines and Blue Dragons hit the beach and start moving inland - the scientists are in the patrol car with a Chinese soldier driving.


Blue Dragons moving inland at the ready and supported by one of the T54s.


Marines moving on the right of the Blue Dragons again with the support of a T54.


The Shing Doa slowly swings about after unloading the Marines. She will give instant fire support should anything come into view!


Sliding into the swampy area is an enormous Crocodile! How can something that big go unnoticed by the combined forces of the Chinese landing party and naval support?


Moving rapidly through the swampy mud, the Croc is approaching the patrol car, this could be ugly unless someone spots it! You can see the size of it compared to the car! Oh Boy!

[pocoloco]

Seeing that croc made me understand the inclusion of MBTs in the force

[Shawnt63]

Yes the tanks were needed!
Small arms fire isn't working so far against the croc (couple shots have penetrated the thick hide but the croc has a lot of wounds as well) - game is still in progress. Its rough going for the Chinese forces but they are managing so far! More to follow!

[Shawnt63]

As the Blue Dragons moved around the edge of the swamp the Giant Croc attacked! Hitting the Car with the force of a locomotive and then crushing it with its giant jaws the three scientists and the driver were killed instantly!


Small arms fire with supporting fire from the grenade launcher on the Shing Dao caused massive damage to the Croc but not before its tail decapitated a Blue Dragon. Finally the T54 managed to swing the 12.5mm mg into action and put paid the Croc for its attack!


Marines continue to press inland, they can hear something akin to a hum but are unsure of what it might be?


More denizens are drawn to the smell of humans and start to move towards the approaching forces.


Another rapid attack on the Blue Dragons, this time by a massive snake. The Dragons lose another man, but their fire is accurate and deadly and before the Snake can withdraw it is killed.


The Marines stop dead in their tracks. There in front of them is the cause of the humming sound, giant ants! Some more than 8 feet long have made a nest of the old water wheel building. This does not look good!

[Shawnt63]

The Marines scout the hilltop and realize that the ants are nearly everywhere!


Giant ants nearly surround the Marines!


As one of the T54's moves through the research station, a huge snake attacks it. The Tank has little trouble destroying the snake regardless of the enormous size of the beast!


Blue Dragons close on a native hut but see no signs of life.


The ants are quick to respond to the intrusion of the Marines. Rapid fire doesn't even slow down the giant bugs, although four or five are destroyed they overwhelm a Marine who is killed by painful stings and bites!


Swarming the Marines, the ants are found to be slightly more susceptible to grenades than they are to small arms fire.


One of the T54's opens up with all weapons on the ants. The 100mm takes out a couple with HE.


Two more marines fall to the attacking ants!


Swarming the tank, it seems the ants will have no chance of doing anything significant, but the acid starts to eat at the armour and the soldier ants powerful mandibles shred the 12.5mm mg with ease.


The Dragons can hear the gun fire and screams from the Marines. Fearing the worst they slowly approach the chasm.


There it is, a huge hole black as the pits of hell and a giant spider sitting near the surface, but worse, a silver disk sitting on the ground!


The disk in plain view the Dragons rush as quickly as possible back towards the Shing Dao.


The last two Marines are trying to get to the Shing Dao, pursued by ants, the crew of the Shing Dao open fire with the AGS 17 and the 76mm cannon. This seems to discourage the ants from further pursuit!


The Disk comes to life and is hit by fire from the remaining T54. Damaged but still flying the Disk returns fire easily cooking off the T54 and its crew.


Both T54s were lost, the other was destroyed by ants, not spectacular but deadly none the less as the crew was killed by corrosive acid from the ants.


Scrambling aboard the Shing Dao, the Dragons and Marines look on wonder struck at the remaining ants. They know they will have to come back, next time with more forces and stronger weapons to take out the Disk. But what is the Disk carrying and why is it there?

Total game time about 1 hour, mainly because I changed some things mid course to make it work a bit better. I allowed the acid to eat through the armour at roughly 15 armour points per turn, but if the ants rolled a 8+ then it was 30 points of armour penetration which meant in most cases two turns allowed the acid to eat through. Two crew tried to escape but were eaten by the ants.

Was a great game and let me tell you the lads were none too happy to see all those ants, but they didn't run off like I thought they might, instead they lost the better part of the Marines for little gain.

[gary42]

I love the pic of the tank covered with ants!  Total B-movie!

[commissarmoody]

Pretty Cool! Who makes the tanks? And what scale are they?

[Shawnt63]

They are 1 43 scale, diecast I got on Ebay. Made in China.

[commissarmoody]

Thanks.