Deep in the Jungles of Vietnam with the Men of Company B part 2

Venturing yet deeper into the jungles of Vietnam with RFCM wargames rules "Men of Company B".

Continuing on from last post, this second part tells of the fate of our intrepid American platoon commander; leading his men on a search-and-destroy mission through the hamlets that make up the village of "Nha Lam Bang Go" [translates as: little wooden houses].

By now the  Americans, in spite of early successes - uncovering valuable supply caches - found themselves in the midst of firefights that slowed progress further up the valley.

Faced with Dense jungle, laced with the uncertainty of thickets of bamboo, between them and the next hamlet, First Squad proceeded to follow the trails through the jungle to skirt this obstacle. Carrying their prized cache of enemy radio equipment, they pressed on : risking booby traps in an effort to approach the next hamlet. But their run of good fortune abruptly ended and they were stranded among the trees and undergrowth.

Second Squad, still beset from all directions, focused their firepower to inflict casualties on the V.C. unit to their rear.

V.C. in the central hamlet, awaiting the approach of Second Squad (seen at the top of the picture), noted their movement along the jungle trails and opened fire; inflicting casualties. An attempt to add more fire resulted in "a fail" and the remaining V.C. were left with just one dice for actions.

Another unit of V.C., that had been waiting off table, came into the table and, following the footsteps of the American Platoon commander, moved to the nearest hamlet. There, they recruited local villagers and began to open fire on the Americans just outside the village.

3rd squad now joined the table from further up the valley and began by searching the nearest hamlet. As they advanced down the valley, they located "Victor Charlie" in the hamlet ahead and opened fire across the paddy fields; causing further casualties to this unit -already suffering from the earlier artillery strike and, as yet, unable to disappear "off table" to temporarily lick its wounds.

Still caught in the triangle of enemy fire, Second Squad moved aggressively forwards: attempting to assault the softened V.C. in their next target hamlet. Out on the road, however, they were caught in a crossfire and pinned down (by a "failed" result).

Disaster now befell the Americans: the V.C., converging in larger numbers on the village at the bottom end of the valley continued its firefight with the American platoon commander - both bases of which became casualties!

More V.C. approached from up the valley and now engaged 3rd squad in a fire fight from a second direction.

When the V.C. in the central hamlets broke off from their firefights and disappeared, 1st squad finally moved into their next hamlet objective; there to respond to the civilian casualties from the earlier Artillery strike.

With the platoon commander down, second squad, in spite of being pinned down in their exposed roadside position, managed to step up and found a leader to take charge once more.

Grouped in the middle of the valley, the Americans attempted to hold off V.C. attacks: seemingly from all around them. 3rd squad engaged the V.C. in the hamlet up the valley. In the exchange, they receive casualties of their own, but proceed to inflict a high body count on the enemy.

V.C. continued, however, to approach from all sides, pushing forwards through the hamlets and squads were in firefights up and down the valley.

Trying to coordinate some action from the platoon, the new leader struggled to call in fire support, in spite of the artillery liaison officer in the LOACH above the battle.

With the game clock running down, second squad advanced down the valley under fire to secure the dropped cache and the American casualties.

 The platoons new leader comes under intense fire and again, both bases are rendered casualties!

Yet more V.C converge on the battlefield: entering the table from further up the valley, keeping 3rd squad occupied. 1st squad is in its own firefight across the road

Second squad battles forward to secure the caches and the casualties, just outside the hamlet as the game ends.

Victory points amass for the Americans, thanks to the high proportion of  high value caches and the number of villages searched. The V.C. had many points for both the civilian and the white star casualties, but not enough to avoid a really good win for the Americans!

Well I think I got a good flavour of the game rules. The pace of the game got the better of me on  several occasions; with me missing many details and been unwittingly generous to both sides with their action dice.

I was happy with the look and feel of the game... plenty of jungle (maxed out!) and plenty of uncertainty - V.C. were able to both feed units to points all around the table and to disappear, then return from a different direction!

The tactical decisions are plentiful, but it will take me more attempts at play testing to get the hang of these! All in all I was more than happy to indulge a period of preparation for basing, model and terrain making. In a the mean time, the jungle is always out there!

Venturing into Vietnam with the Men of Company B

A return, for me, after a couple of decades, to 15mm Vietnam, courtesy of Peter Pig's latest version of their MoCB rules.

I had a go with Martin and Stewart at Alumwell Wargames show in March and succumbed, not too unwillingly, to the lure of another - intended to be small - project.

So with new terrain: jungle, dense jungle/bamboo, villages (with customary wooden hooches), paddy fields and some adjusted basing of my very old Nam figures, it was off to the boonies!

Some pictures follow of my first working through the rules...


The village of "Nha Lam Bang Go": a string of Hamlets along the valley, either side of the road.

The game pits five units of Vietnam Cong Guerrillas: each of up to 6 bases, against three squads of Americans and a platoon commander in a search and destroy mission

The village of "Nha Lam Bang Go": a string of Hamlets along the valley, either side of a small road.. A light, observation-and-command helicopter (LOACH) flies an Artillery liaison officer over the intended area of operations. Also in the air is a HUEY having just inserted the platoon.

The platoon prepare to leave the L.Z. and move off into the jungle.

Having picked their way across country, the Commander (on the road, sends his first two squads right and left into the nearest hamlets. The small stone - as yet unturned - shows that this village has not yet been searched for caches of supplies or weapons.

V.C. gather reinforcements from the villagers and head along the jungle trails to intercept.

Others occupy a hamlet and round up the villagers as potential recruits.

First squad, having found a strategically important cache of radio equipment, moves off through the jungle toward the next hamlet.

The platoon commander searches and finds a cache of weapons, and ponders whether to destroy these in place or carry them out to the pick up L.Z.

Second squad moves cautiously into the village, their search yields supplies of rice, that are destroyed in place. This takes longer than planned and the squad takes no further action.

The V.C. Converge on the hamlets further up the valley.

And wait to confront the advancing Americans.

The LOACH spots this target- rich environment but fails to heed the civilian peasants among  the hooches. Artillery lands as directed, and hammers the Vietnamese. The Americans, already notching up the victory points for caches, relish the V.C. casualties but are then struck by the horror of so many civilian bodies.

Second squad advancing through the jungle opens a firefight with V.C. in the hamlet.

The V.C. unit, now reduced to just two bases, disappears into the surrounding boonies, its casualties disappearing with it, but another, incoming unit comes to the hamlet ready to stand in the Americans' way.

As the Americans direct their attention to the contact to their front, another unit of V.C. emerge from the village to their rear and second squad is now in the midst of the firefight!

A seemingly simple search and destroy has now escalated to fierce fighting.... part two to follow!

From Our Own Correspondent: Robert Cappa reports “Deeper into Normandy”

From Our Own Correspondent:

Robert Cappa reports “Deeper into Normandy”

Poor Bloody Infantry, or PBI as it is known, is a great set of WW2 Wargame rules (Rules For the Common Man - published by Peter Pig). The sense of getting men to operate some kind of cohesive plan in the face of the enemy is almost palpable!

Somewhere in the Normandy Bocage region

The small French village of Maisons-de-Bois, sitting at the crossroads (Obj.1) had, along with its surrounding farms, been eyed thoughtfully by both sides. Mr Cappa and his camera were positioned to the N. of the Battle field.

The Germans had got there first, just two days ago, and elements of the 4th Coy. 52nd SSPzr. Grndrs. had built a substantial MG bunker (Obj.2), principally to defend the road E. of the village. To the N. a bombed-out farm building served as a forward Obs post (Obj.3). The infantry had also hastily dug some defences in the fields to the N.E., to the W. and to the S. of the village.

Forces

The German Coy. Cmdr was confident he could defend Maisons de Bois with two Rfl. Pltns and a support Pltn of 3xHvy MG’s. There was also Arty support promised and, as the British threat became immediate, Armour was dispatched N. to rendezvous at the village.

The British were attacking with elements of C Coy.3rd Bttn West Surrey Rgt. namely: 2xPltns plus Coy. HQ Pltn. Having reconnoitred that morning and seen the extent of the German defences, Coy. Cmdr requested a 3rd Pltn be directed towards the village to bolster the attack. Armour Support came as 1xCromwell, 2xSherman. Arty barrage was also planned to commence the attack.

Deployment

The Germans had deployed with a Pltn in the village and its walled gardens, in the hedged field to the W., and in the field defences to the W. and S. (Obj.1). 

The 2nd Pltn was deployed in the ruined farmhouse (Obj.3) to the N and in the fields and field defences to the N.E. 

The support Pltn of HMG was deployed in the courtyard of houses to the S., along with the Coy. Cmdr., and occupied the MG Bunker (Obj.2).

British deployed swiftly, with 1st Pltn moving rapidly S. along the road, across the open ground. 1xSctn approached through the coppice to the N.W. The infantry crossing open ground were afforded some cover by the supporting Cromwell.

2nd Pltn deployed to the N.E. of the fields with 2xShermans to give weight to their attack. Coy. Cmdr directed the attack.

Magic view to the N.W.

Turn 1

Arty began pre-ordered barrage: salvo landed too far S. of (Obj.3).

From their exposed position on the road, 1st Pltn put up some tentative suppressing fire. Sctn in the coppice unable to add their fire.

Both Cromwell and 1xSherman gave support with H.E. on the enemy in Maisons de Bois whilst laying down covering fire with MG’s.

2nd Pltn opened up a lively suppressing fire across their front, aiming to pin German elements in the field defences ahead. The remaining Sherman also used MG’s to assist.

Turn 2

British Arty was being adjusted and 2nd salvo was delayed.

2nd Pltn gained fire superiority and pinned the German LMG’s in the field defences. 1xSherman advanced towards the observation post and using H.E. managed to pin the defending Germans there.

Cromwell advanced S. along the road to assault the Germans pinned in the village. 

However, German infantry Anti-Tank deterred attack and Cromwell retired to support 1st Pltn when Pltn Cmdr. was shot: he was replaced by a Pltn Sergeant who struggled to lead the Pltn to assault the village under fire.

Turn3

The Supporting Pltn requested as back up, had, as yet failed to make contact.

British Arty landed directly on the farm buildings (Obj.3) and in the fields and lane to the E. causing casualties and pinning the German defenders. 

 Coy. Cmdr. ordered 2nd Pltn to advance through the fields and along the stream to their E. 1xSherman gave support with MG.

1xSherman advanced towards the village and used H.E. to support 1st Pltn.

Following the Arty. salvo, the Germans tried quickly to rally the pinned infantry to defend the anticipated British advance. German Coy. Cmdr. received a message that Armour was on its way, but none could not yet be seen by those anxiously looking S. down the road.  

He was, however, able to call in his own field Arty which landed accurately across the road N. of the village, causing grievous losses among British 1st Pltn and knocking out Cromwell. 

Their temporary leader was himself hit and a Pltn Cprl. took over to rally the remaining troops in the face of determined sniper fire and attempt to move them to attack the village and thereby get out of the open ground.

Turn 4

British Arty was reluctantly called upon the village to clear infantry defenders from their positions in the field defences, the streets and the walled gardens. 

Some stubborn Anti-Tank armed infantry remained in the village. the remnants of 1 st Pltn were gathering themselves to leave their fallen comrades and cross the daunting open ground between them and their objective.

2nd Pltn advanced under HMG fire from the Bunker (Obj.2), to capture the German field defences with heavy losses.

Elements of 3rd Pltn then arrived and Coy. Comdr. waited to check the way was clear to advance and capture the forward Obs post (Obj.3). The German Suppt Pltn. kept trying to intervene with HMG fire from the cluster of buildings to the S. of the road.

Turn 5

German defenders in the village, outflanked by the British 3rd Pltn in the forward Obs post to the E. and by 12nst Pltn in the fields to their W. then retired to the crossroads (Obj.1).

2xShermans carefully advanced through the village and against the field defences in the open ground to the S.W.

Coy. Cmdr. led the remaining 1st Pltn in the wake of the Sherman.

Turn 6

As the British were approaching the S. end of the village and fighting hard to secure the crossroads (Obj.1), some of the German Armour finally arrived. 

1xPzrIV rolled N. along the road and 1xStuG crossed the open ground to the S. Immediately, 2xShermans were engaged in an armoured duel to prevent these beasts dislodging the infantry from their, as yet, slim hold on the crossroads (Obj.1).

 3rd Pltn with the remains of 2nd Pltn were being hampered by stiff resistance from the HMG’s from the Bunker (Obj.2) and the houses to the S.

The game ended and the victory decided by British 21 dice and German 18 dice. Result British 78, German 65, so a narrow victory by the British and, conceivably, in another turn the result might turn the other way if the German Armour continued to thwart the British attack on Obj.2 and loosened their hold on Obj.1

A frustrated attack facing dogged defence; a great game.