It's been a while since a During Action Report, so thought to do one now as we're waiting for Campaign Series: Vietnam 1948-1967 release, scheduled for Jan 20, just a ten days or so off.
I am playing a US vs NVA scenario set in 1965, with me commanding a bunch of seasoned Indochina War band of NVA units. As it happens, for scenario work I have mostly spent my time in writing the Lua Event Engine code for the French Indochina War scenarios by David Galster, after which I expanced my playtesting to Vietnamese Civil War scenarios. This is my first head-to-head PBEM game agains a human US opponent, then.
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^ Picture from Wiki Commons
I am hosting my files at Matrix Games Vietnam forum, as I have a quota there, and can link pictures here. This is a Groggie DAR though, so if you have any questions or comments, please join in. Writing DARs can be fun especially with tactics and other suggestions from everyone around :bd:
Edit: Here's the US During Action Report for LZ Albany by Big Ivan (https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=5126206): do have a peek, do not tell me anything though. Like the B-52 carpet bombing missions he might be setting up :timeout:
To get started, I took a screenshot of the game and added a few things as how I like to portray the scenario in front of me. We've taken quite an effort to provide options for pretty much everything that is under our control. There's a good chance that if you don't like something as how game defaults are set, there's an option to tweak just that thing out there.
Here's what I did:
- Unit list on the left side of the screen. Default is right, iirc. Can be toggled OFF to have more screen estate for map itself
- 2D boardgame view with NATO symbols, but with 3D unit images on unit list. Best of both worlds. There's an option for chits with unit images as well, in which case I would have opted for NATO counters on unit list instead. NATO symbols tell the exact unit type, while the unit image shows what it looks like. Good to have both available.
- Toolbar is the "Static ALL" toolbar that shows each and every icon. With my wide screen monitor, at Normal side, I have all the icons in front of me. I happen to know them quite intimately, so like it that way. There's a new grouped Dynamic Toolbar as well, with icons grouped under Combat, Air, Engineer, etc tabs. There's a colored toolbar as well, with icon groups each with their own (MERDC camo!) colour
For this once, here's a full view of my 21:9 monitor as how it handles the game. Game itself comes with four zoom views per 2D and 3D option: Zoom-in. Normal, Zoom-Out, and Extreme Zoom-Out. If there's a need for even a grander view of the battlefield, the ninth option is the 2D Strategic View, for those extra large maps that there are few here.
Apart from those zoom views, each with their own size for map and unit graphics, the game supports Windows Desktop Scaling, handy if you have a full 4K monitor and want to have say the font a bit larger.
Here's the screenshot:
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Next, to get the battle started. We've tried to make CS Vietnam to match the asymmetric nature of Vietnam War, especially with the use of our Lua based Event Engine, where often it is not the objectives on the map but the battlefield events and how you react to them determining the outcome.
In Vietnam, the situation is not always what it first seems to be, it pays to read the side specific Scenario Briefing with extra care. All hints and tips can be important, in some scenarios it is not the instruction you received, but subtle hints as what may happen that are important.
Here's the NVA briefing for LZ Albany (as visible in the previous screenshot as well):
QuoteBattle of LZ Albany
WARNING: This is currently best played as the SIDE A player unless being played Head to Head. Please restart the scenario as SIDE A.
SITUATION: After the battle of LZ X-Ray, two battalions of Regiment 66 had suffered significant casualties. Your 8th Battalion is to advance down the Ia Drang to rendezvous with the rest of the Regiment before heading to Cambodia for rest and refit.
Friendly Forces: Your primary unit is the 8th Battalion/66th Regiment and elements of the 1st Battalion/33rd Regiment.
Enemy Forces: There is a heavy American presence in the area. Be wary of American gunships operating nearby.
MISSION: Your mission in this scenario is to secure Landing Zone Albany and advance south.
EXECUTION: In the event of running into an American unit, move inside the column, grab them by the belt, and thus avoid casualties from their artillery and air.
Additional reinforcements are not available.
Good luck, Commander!
POLITICAL: You lose Event Points for indirect firing or ordering airstrikes on inhabited hexes (village, city, suburb), whether or not occupied by the enemy.
ADMIN: Supply levels are high at the beginning of the scenario, but expect them to taper off as the situation unfolds. Additional supply is not scheduled.
COMMAND AND CONTROL: Weather is expected to remain consistent during the course of the mission.
Event points come with positive and negative values, certain NO-NOs are better to be observed, like targeting the villages with artillery and mortars. Hearts and Minds, even for NVA!
Apart from that, it seems important I need to secure the LZ Albany area, hit US forces hard (while understanding there's no friendly reserves becoming available). Possibly, there's something in the Southern half of the map, as I am instructed to go there as well.
Then again, I like to rather play with my own bias and enjoy what I do, rather than look for Major Wins. So I think I will just try to hit the US foe with everything I have and worry about other issues later!
That said, what I don't want to do is to feed my units to US in a piecemeal fashion. Step no 1: make a cohesive front with everything close together.
From the French Indochina Wars, I know my strongest weapon is the awesome assault effects my units have. But to do that, I need to see the white of their eyes. So in addition to getting everything together, I will have my Rifle infantry stacked on hexes of their own, with Fire Support weapons right next to them in a stack of theirs. Then, hopefully, as I meet the US forces, I can first suppress them with my weapons teams, then assault them with my rifles.
That's the plan anyway until the first shot is fired!
My HQ is Fixed in a Bunker, I will leave them there. Then, the three battle groups to come together.
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Not much perhaps for my NVA phase of Turn 1, where the US moved first. So I am assuming they are coming towards me. Good good, let them come!
Note the Hex Highlights that I prefer instead of the shadow pattern obstructing the view elsewhere. Here the Yellow Hex Highlights in this case show the Visible Hexes from the hex I have activated, while the Orange unit highlight is for the units of same formation. I want to keep them close together, as we are playing with practically all Optional Rules ON, including the Command-Control-Communications one, where 1st platoon is always the Coy HQ and needs to be close to other platoons.
As for other Optional Rules, we are playing with all the new Enhanced Fog Of War, Reporting, Line of Sight optional rules as well, so the Fog of War will be heavy, while my band of guerillas should be really, really difficult to be spotted in the depth of Jungle.
Let us hope so, the scenario introduction seemed to indicate I am against a strong Helicopter Gunship and Close Air Support strikes here. I better move in, hit, disappear then into jungle. Let us see...
NVA Turn 1 ended, sent over, to be continued!
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Please feel free to join in with your questions and comments! O0
Here's the link to Wiki article covering the battle of LZ Albany as part of the fighting around Ia Drang: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ia_Drang#LZ_Albany
7th Cavalry and Custer mentioned, good good. B-52s, yikes. Not good.
LZ Albany - NVA Turn #2 of 12
... and here's the US phase for turn #2 back from Big Ivan. The US are closer than I thought, their recon elements arrived to LZ Albany. As I had forgotten to check my Opportunity Fire parameters, my fixed Recon Platoon fires at them. Too bad, they are revealed now, likely. Or maybe not? Concealment is on my side.
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Quote from: Crossroads on January 11, 2022, 01:36:01 AM
As I had forgotten to check my Opportunity Fire parameters
Time to that, now. With no unit selected (otherwise this would be a unit specific Op Fire setting), I click at the Set Opportunity Fire icon to reveal this Op Fire Matrix:
- I set the range to "None" with all units regarding their foot infantry. Likely they don't see me as they come adjacent to one of my units. Let us keep it that way.
- Also, set the vs-Helicopters Op Fire to Medium Range for my AA and AT (recoilless rifle) assets. Hopefully to put some fear to their gunships at least.
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And this is it pretty much for my Turn #2. It always feels like maneuvering one's forces to positions you want takes too long, and that I just should go at them. But, the idea was not to arrive to contact in a piecemeal fashion, but as one huge NVA human wave. Let us see how that plays out. At least two more turns before I have my units as I want them.
As a final touch, to showcase some new functionality, I set my revealed(?) Recon platoon to "Defend Weak". Hopefully, that way, the first shots it receives it quickly retreats to jungle...
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That said, over to John for his US phase for Turn #3...
Turn 3 of 12Quote from: Crossroads on January 11, 2022, 01:41:59 AM
As a final touch, to showcase some new functionality, I set my revealed(?) Recon platoon to "Defend Weak". Hopefully, that way, the first shots it receives it quickly retreats to jungle...
Turn received, and no luck for my Recon section, as there's more US units much further towards West as I was expecting!
Hmm, I am still like two turns before I have maneuvered for an all-out mass assault. Hopefully they won't be able to run too many airlifts with reinforcements to this LZ hex there. We are playing with
Historical Landing Zones optional rule on, so landing is possible only in historical LZs in the map.
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Quote from: Crossroads on January 13, 2022, 08:17:11 AM
Hmm, I am still like two turns before I have maneuvered for an all-out mass assault.
Some harrassing action is called for though! Eye for an eye, Recon section for a Recon section!
I set my two Rifle platoons to assault the isolated section there, with selecting them both, and moving them (or the cursor, in this case, as the hex is occupied by enemy) into the hex I want to attack. Assault Dialog is not too helpful with all possible Fog Of War features turned on, which the purpose of having turned them all on in first place!
Resolving the attack with the little Hand Grenade icon with an Exclamation mark, I see my two platoons easily overtaking the recon unit there.
Edit: Added a little snippet from the Unit List where, if you have a stack of many units, you can see which units are assaulting and who's not by the little Assault icon there. Note the lower unit has the Radio icon, indicating that's your 1st Platoon which also serves as the Company HQ unit for the game, if Command-and-Control Optional rule is on. The actual HQ units begin at Battalion level.
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Quote from: Crossroads on January 13, 2022, 08:17:11 AM
Hmm, I am still like two turns before I have maneuvered for an all-out mass assault. Hopefully they won't be able to run too many airlifts with reinforcements to this LZ hex there
Here's the end of play for the NVA phase for Turn #3. Note that since NVA can move further in Jungle terrain than US I take advantage of that and move my two platoons out of Line Of Sight to the adjacent US platoons that I know from there, from the replay.
Meanwhile, double timing to have everyone closer to action. An all-out assault maybe in two turns?
Finally, a look at the Victory Dialog. With CS: Vietnam, it pays to keep a close eye on Event Points tally. Should you notice a sudden uptick on enemy Event Points, there's certainly something going on that you are supposed to prevent from happening!
So far so good. Sending the file over to Big Ivan with my favourite Asterix quote of "Ain't nobody here in the forest but us squirrels!".
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Really enjoying this! O0
Quote from: Boggit on January 13, 2022, 08:35:26 AM
Really enjoying this! O0
Thanks @Boggit! Things are about to turn ugly I am sure. For which side though...
Crossroads: "Ain't nobody in this forest but us squirrels."
Me, reading the DAR: "SQUEEEE...! :D uh, eek. Squeek. I did not just sqee, this is a joke about the squirrels. Conveniently!"
^^ Thanks guys! No doubt you'll enjoy this even more as the 7th Cavalry is about to change the pages of history here. Wounded Knee ridge looks terrifying for us natives here. See:
LZ Albany - NVA Turn 4 of 12QuoteMeanwhile, double timing to have everyone closer to action. An all-out assault maybe in two turns?
Time's run out, unfortunately. Here's how everything looks like after replay of US phase for Turn #4: The cavalry has arrived! Just one platoon, but where there's proverbial smoke, there's fire?
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Quote from: Crossroads on January 16, 2022, 04:32:46 AM
Time's run out, unfortunately.
Time to rely on the Wisdom of the Old, then. When in doubt assault! I am all over the place still, though.
Do they have Op fire left, or did they just arrive? Time to find out. First, let us try to sneak a Recoilless Rifle unit next to them. It works, no one saw them going next to them. Firing at the revealed US platoon, with all the Fog of War options toggled ON, I do not know what effect if any I had, but can certainly observe their returning Op Fire: one step loss for my RR section.
Not only that, there's incoming light arm fire from all over the ridge line. I marked the postions with red arrows to remember them going forward. Time to select the assaulting units, which is only two rifle platoons and their leader. Frontal assault, that always works out well though, doesn't it!
Before clicking at the Resovel Assault icon I thought to move my MMG unit next to them as well for some supressing fire. Did that, they fired back, a retreat but no losses (yellow arrow).
Frontal assault then:
Tienlen! with apologis for missing out on all accents while typing that out!
No visible result. No friendly losses either, which marks this as perhaps not such an assault with impossible odds after all. Let us try to maneuver into better positions for next turn!
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QuoteLet us try to maneuver into better positions for next turn!
Mm, not good :hide:
My right flank is quite weak, while my left flank is still too far away from action. Marking the concealed US hex with a red arrow for the coming turn. Concealment does play out for US units as well, what you don't see will still hurt you, at these Jungle hexes.
I did move two Rifle platoons to their left flank for a diversion. Hopefully that makes them assume there's more to come from that direction as well.
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Here's the situation at end of play NVA Turn #4.
For the little indirect fire support I have, all tubes are loaded as I had saved them for this moment. Not much there, though, as revealed by clicking at Indirect Fire Dialog icon, then selecting each battery and plotting their targets.
Quite risky what I did here too, we've made artillery much less a precision strike tool it previously was, with nation specific Adpative AI parameters for artillery drift etc. Here's hoping it mostly hits them, and if not, empty hexes instead.
As you can observe from the screenshot here, they've got quite a nice position here to defend. They sit at reverse slope, which I need to climb and thus use Action Points for that too. Only one assault per turn for my NVA units, where on the same level it would be often two.
They've also got a nice MSR with the road they have on top of the ridge, while I have still two small streams to cross with my left flank.
Lots depends now on what kind of concealment die rolls I get next. Big Ivan will likely see at least some if not most of my units while they fire at him, but hopefully many of them become concealed after he's watched his replay. Then, at least with light arms direct fire, he can fire at "empty" hexes too as he knows the NVA is there, but with modifiers to CRT die rolls.
Hopefully he has not much of indirect fire assets either. If he has, and he's set them to fire at front of this forward line, they will hit me next, too.
Close Air Support remains a threat as well, hopefully he's not called any of that on empty hexes during previous turn, but waits until he sees where I am at. If he plots them come his turn #5, they will arrive at earliest on turn #6.
That said, my position looks quite vulnerable at the moment. To use contemporary tactics, I better have my units assault and get into the mix with them, making indirect fire and CAS a risky business for him, too. Blue on blue does happen in CS: Vietnam.
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PBEM file sent. Oh my, much will depend on what happens during next couple of turns :hide:
Quote from: Crossroads on January 16, 2022, 04:51:35 AM
As you can observe from the screenshot here, they've got quite a nice position here to defend. They sit at reverse slope, which I need to climb and thus use Action Points for that too. Only one assault per turn for my NVA units, where on the same level it would be often two.
They've also got a nice MSR with the road they have on top of the ridge, while I have still two small streams to cross with my left flank.
How did I miss that! They have a road running between Albany and Columbus. They don't really need to airlift to Albany under enemy guns, just fly to Columbus and double time from there. I should have cut that as a priority from the very beginning :wow:
Not cool,
comrade Crossroads, not cool at all.
Dear Grogheads! Please allow me to introduce myself: I am Political Officer N.N, I have taken over callsign "Crossroads" with immediate effect. Political Office previously in charge of the account has been dealt properly, for his defeatist attitude.
NVA Turn #5 of 12We go again! Watching the replay,
QuoteHopefully he has not much of indirect fire assets either. If he has, and he's set them to fire at front of this forward line, they will hit me next, too.
... we observe some 105mm fire missions landing on us. No effect, for most part. A step loss for one of the platoons, but who's counting! Good thing there are no 155mm in play at least yet.
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With the replay for US phase for Turn #5 done, time to observe the friendly Artillery phase dealing some grief to them, hopefully.
Starting with my 82mm Mortars (it is a good idea to start plotting the artillery with your heaviest pieces, as they hit first, possibly causing retreats, too. Then, with smaller calibers. Do try to hit the stacked hexes with your heavies, first), there's at least one retreat, leaving the hex empty of revealed US units. Then, the 60mm light mortars, with one Fire Mission drifting to hit my own forces. No casualties. Wakey wakey! Time to assault, next!
Before that, I start with the westernmost edge of their defensive line, with my little distraction there. The first platoon moves down to this small valley, next to the revealed US rifle platoon there. Op Fire, retreat. The second rifle platoon then finishes the turn next to them.
"Moves down to valley", he said? Yes, the previous Political Officer, the defeatist he was, or a Western agent, even! He got the elevations wrong. It is us on reverse slope! Duh.
With that, I then move my Fire Support teams adjacent to hex I am about to assault, direct firing at the three US units there to soften them up. A commander, and two Rifle platoons.
Next, Assault! The fierce warriors the NVA are, the remaining US soldiers begin their long march North to PoW camps.
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... and that's the action I can do this turn. No worries, with how the actual lay of the map goes, I will try to flank the defenders from both ridge sides to their positions, from North and South. That is quite a difficult position they have, at least at the easternmost edge of their line. Let us see how things heat up as I get closer to LZ Albany. Maybe another Wounded Knee for the 7th Cavalry in the making, after all?
(Having observed the faith of the previous Political Officer, I will not comment on US Close Air Support quite likely showing up next turn. Ugh.)
Here's the status at this stage, at first look, not too bad. The Kill Ration is definitively working for my advantage.
But, with Events, this is not a linear battle for the Objective there. They've occupied the Objective for five turns now, so looks like they gain the objective value per turn. 5 turns, 50 points. Events, however, tell a different story. They've been quite likely rewarded for managing to hold onto LZ Albany with additional Event Points, while my NVA command has taken negative Event points, likely.
Yet, I look at this with Affection and Determination to Win! (https://cslegion.com/vietnam-comrade-giaps-clever-nuggets/comrade-giaps-clever-nuggets-6-political-indoctrination/) As I should. The next Political Officer is watching this with a keen eye...
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So, with high hopes, and not a little intrepidation for the feared US Close Air Support, it is ...
NVA Turn #6 of 12 - Halfway there!
No Close Air Support! Plenty of Artillery, though. A full Battalion had their tubes full for six fire missions, all of them more or less landing on my troops. Big Ivan's plotted artillery on the likely NVA avenues of approach, I think.
And properly so, too. Not an fire mission wasted on my feeble diversion on his western flank :))
I took some losses from his Direct Fire as well during his turn, so better to mark that hex down there as occupied, although I can't see anyone there. Jungle is a place to hide for those cavalrymen too...
Unfortunately, not very good die rolls from Disruption recovery. One of four back in play.
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Quote from: Crossroads on January 19, 2022, 12:23:22 PM
I took some losses ...
Here's a closer look of units available for the turn. Two MMG and three Rifle Platoon B steppes lost, and the disrupted units right where I want to attack him...
That said, I was
very lucky to only take two Disruptions and two MMG losses on that way overstacked hex. There's a defensive penalty if there's more than 12 Strength Points in a hex, I was at double that...
In what is better news, I have to mortar batteries available of three, with the 82mms included. Good good.
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Time to hit him back, then!
(1) That shallow stream is quite a PITA where it goes, it costs quite a few Action Points to cross it. To cross it I have to, so planning to do that, and then put some suppressing fire on those US units there, before assault. It looks like two Rifle platoons and one Recon section, telling from the little colored bars on chits that mimic the NATO symbol background color on chits.
(2) Doing that, I find out Big Ivan's put a proper firing position at the ridge as well. A MMG perhaps? Marking the hex so I won't forget it. No losses though! So firing at those units there with what I can.
(3) Assault time! Having also fired at him with the two Disrupted rifle platoons on that overstacked hex, hoping he's spent his Op Fire now - he had not, but no effect! - I next set the two undisrupted platoons to assault. Gogogogo! Pushed back, with losses! Two further Rifle platoon steps lost.
(4) What remains there then is still quite an overstacked hex, so instead of having another go at them - I had 49 Action Points remaining, so not able to assault a second time by a smallest of marging - I choose to withdraw. That CAS will arrive I am sure.
So not much gained it seems, of course I do not know about his losses without having a look at the Strength and Victory dialogs...
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Quote from: Crossroads on January 19, 2022, 12:33:44 PM
... of course I do not know about his losses without having a look at the Strength and Victory dialogs...
-- which I do next, upon ending my turn. Not without trying a little diversive attack on the western perimeter of his forces, which fails as the first platoon retreats after his defensive Op Fire, and I decide to move my second platoon out of harm's way for now as well.
The ever important Kill Ratio? I took 7 step lossese, the US Side A took 5 step losses. That's more than I thought!
If only I would have been able to assault his position one more time...Twenty further Objective points for him, maybe that Objective is 20 points for Side A, and 10 points for Side B? That is indeed possible, Objective values do not need to be symmetric for both sides. No more event points for him, his losses are more dear to him as well, yet I fall back a bit in overall Victory Points.
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That's turn 6 done, then. Thoughts, observations, questions, comments? :smiley6600:
Moving on!
Turn #7 of 12 - Tide is turning...
Here's another busy screenshot with how things stand out after having watched the US replay for turn #7. Gunships! It is getting hot here.
As for the replay itself, two 105mm batteries continued to drop their greetings on top of my men, after which further Direct Fire caused a total of 2 step losses for the North Vietnamese Army.
Not so bad as such, but Big Ivan's also making sure he has suppressing Direct Fire at my most threatening units enough time so they'd become / remain Disrupted.
One of the neat details for the upgunned Fog of War options here is that with current settings, you can't see which enemy unit is Disrupted, and which one is not, anymore. I love that, things are much more, err, foggy, in this war now!
Oh, but those gunships are about to turn this into a slaughter. Two light reckes with four flights of gunships. That's a lot of grief heading this way!
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Keeping the intel from my men however I command them to keep closing down the US troops in front of them.
For the friendly Artillery phase, I observe my Indirect Fire hit their designated marks, no visible damage, no retreats, but maybe some scored hits too?
Also, as the Concealment die rolls are made per unit, I now get a better look at that Ridge position they are holding: Commander, first, and after the Op Fire gets back at me, (at least) one Rifle Platoon, too.
I move one company to that Ridgeline as well, pepper both positions with Direct Fire, and having considered the options, decide to call for another (weaker than what I would like) Assault on their main position.
Resolve Assault - no advance, two step losses for my attacking Rifle platoons. Oh well. Gotta keep at'em. No option. People's Army allows no retreat!
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Another busy screenshot for the end of play NVA turn #7 as well.
At west, I am moving my little diversion back towards the LZ Albany Objective, while put some movement arrows here to remind me to spread out more come next turn.
It will be nasty though, the US forces are truly alerted now for NVA presence: Artillery support from the Firebase, Gunships, Close Air Support, it will get brutal next!
At the end, I took four step losses this turn against their two, so am keeping my advantage on Kill Ratio. No further Event point awards / penalties this turn, but the Objective hex keeps adding Objective points for them.
File sent! It sure look likes my "LZ Albany" window of opportunity is closing down, and "LZ X-Ray" window of opportunity is opening for them. Broken Arrow?
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NVA Turn #8 of 12 - Enter the Huey HogYikes. So. Watched the US replay for their Turn #8.
Artillery, spot on again.
[Side note: the high standard of US artillery is modelled in Adaptive AI. Much less chances for US fire missions drifting.]
No Close Air Support missions this time around, either. That's what the SMEAC says as well: Get at them! Mind the Hogs. B-52 missions were a general historical comment, not in SMEAC.
I am replaying my role as a shaken NVA commander after how it played out just previously at LZ X-RAY. As it happened, I watched "We Were Soldiers" just a few weeks ago.
Rest of replay: Hogs appeared, did their damage. I had saved a couple of MMG missions to them but no hits. They certainly got me.
Here's the sitrep:
- The Good : All my Disrupted units recovered. They are getting angry! Good good.
- The Bad: They scored another 100 Event Points, likely for again holding LZ Albany objective for four consecutive turns. That is hurting me badly, I am not filling my mission here.
- The Ugly: None. Good fun so far!
I switched to Unit Images on Counters option for a change. I have a good idea what's out there, I don't need the NATO symbol intel that badly now.
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Then, things got interesting.
So let us spend a bit more time here. My plan was to spread out more come this turn, so starting with the western edge, let us start to threaten LZ Albany, again.
I have two units there, a SP3 (three strength points) Rifle platoon, and a SP6 Rifle platoon.
Expecting Op Fire, I moved the weaker one in first. Not a shot. Are they spent? Did they not see such a small unit approaching? More SPs in a hex, more likely they are seen.
And true enough, I move my SP6 platoon there, they are op fired, resulting in a Retreat. Rats.
Interestingly enough, as their Op Fire revealed the defending unit, I fired at it with the remaining SP3 platoon, and the US unit there scored a Retreat dieroll!
I got some Op Fire back from the adjacent hex, with no results. So another unit there.
But: is the objective now empty? Let us try to find out!
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I toggled "Movement Range = ON" - see the "Range" toolbar icon group.
Great, I can move there even without doubletiming anyone. From two hexes, even!
So here's the plan:
- Ensure the US stack I have had problems for several turns now is out of Op Fire, by suppressing it with my Fire Support units.
- Then, move out unhindered from the two hexes into the Objective (if empty!).
Only possible, if the defending stack is out of Op Fire. Gamey? No, this is how suppressing fire works at this level. Pin them down first, they do want to respond to that, then move out with other units.
Firing at them, I get Op Fire back, no effect. As usual per Fog of War rules, I don't know if I hit him. I did cycle through all his units on that stack, though.
Charge!... and the "empty" hex fires back. Opportunity fire. There's someone there, I just don't see him.
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Time to prepare for the inevitable US next phase, then.
I am moving my MMG platoons to a sector just out of line of sight of the US units out there. I have four MMG units, plenty of Op Fire to fire back!
Double check: yes, Opportunity Fire at Helicopters set at Medium range. With a firing range of 5 hexes (1250 meters) for my MMGs, Medium range will fire at them at two, three hex distance.
That by the way includes both the distance of the hex a helo is at, and then its flight level:
- Helo, two hexes from me, Nap of Earth: 2 hex firing distance
- Helo, two hexes from me, Low: 3 hex firing distance
- Helo, two hexes from me, High: 4 hex firing distance
Light arms Fire results at High level are penalised, so don't want to fire at that height anyway. Should be a good setup. Wish I had SAMs, they excel at High flight level!
Anti-aircraft setup I have is pictured Highlighted with selecting the AA NATO symbol from Toolbar Highlights group. There's plenty of higlight options, from Anti-tank to Engineers to Disrupted or Fixed units, the lot.
That's the end-of-play situation.
Spread out, no overstacking anywhere (more than 12SP in a hex), hoping desperately to down a gunship or three next turn!
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End of Play NVA Turn #8
With the losses I've taken, it is getting hot here. I did take out some US strength as well, so not too bad when it comes to Kill Ratio itself.
See the Event points, though. If the US Event Points Reward is indeed 100 Event Points per holding LZ Albany for four consecutive turns, I need to do something about that!
Also: the US Side A player is often heavily penalised for losing Helicopter crews out there, so there's that to possibly increase my Event Points stack.
File sent to John / Big Ivan.
"Oh, gunships. So that's why I have these MANPAD units!"
Gotta try!
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Apologies, Real Life hit me like a flight of Phantoms with a napalm load :crazy2:
Here goes again!
NVA Turn #9QuoteApologies, Real Life hit me like a flight of Phantoms with a napalm load
That jinxed it, maybe not Phantoms but A-4s at least, followed by Hogs doing their damage. My air defense setup of MMG sections did their best, they are firing at three hex distance with Medium Op Fire setting, maybe that's too far.
But who's counting casualties anyway.
To add an injury to all other injuries during this replay, my mortar park remains unavailable. On a positive, managed to have many units recover from Disrupt status.
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To get back at hurting them, too, I have another go at their defensive setup at the Objective.
First, move in with two new platoons, take opfire, fire at them, hopefully some hits! Not a text book assault this time either, but I did pound that hex first.
And what do you know! First, commendations from the HQ - thank you very much, I never doubted this (ha!) - and a boost to morale too as an Event - much needed!
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With the morale boost still fresh in their minds, adrenaline running, let us take that ridge top as well! Charge!
No.
No friendly losses though, it might have been a close one!
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NVA End of Turn #9
Here's a busy screenshot again, this time in 3D Zoom-in View to appreciate the tactical situation here better. Not many men standing at this stage, anymore...
I am assuming the US side took a -100 EP penalty for losing their ride to home with the LZ, while the kill ratio is even enough to cause some US consternation. Let us try to keep this up!
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Quote from: Crossroads on February 08, 2022, 06:38:13 AM
I am assuming the US side took a -100 EP penalty for losing their ride to home with the LZ, while the kill ratio is even enough to cause some US consternation. Let us try to keep this up!
See that, I did not tell in my report I took 15SP worth of losses that turn. Hush, no need to bother the High Command with unnecessary details :timeout:
NVA Turn #10 - Two turns to go after this one!
Watching replay, no airstrikes come this turn, they must have been out of airpoints. Artillery in full force, though, lots of direct fire, Hogs hovering above us too.
Eight Strength Points gone again, a mad 13 Disruptions - John is doing a stellar job trying to suppress my men - but with the new Morale 9 my men shake it off. Otherwise I would have beem stopped right there on my tracks.
"2 units low on ammo" is my mortar park. What are they smoking there! I need you guys!
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Let us hit that ridge top again, that would be a blow to them.
Suppressing fire at them again, hopefully morale and Disruption hits at least. Assault!
No. Man, the US 1st Air Cav are no push overs.
So, like two tired boxes, that's all I can do now, apart from firing at each of his units on my behalf, to keep them Disrupted and from counter-attacking
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End of NVA Turn #10
That was the action, so let us just look at the stats again.
Five US Strength Points ticked off, the kill ratio is definitively turning against me. With their airpower and artillery, they are gaining an upper hand now.
I think I might break from contact come next turn, after all the shenanigans here, Draw is not a bad result.
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NVA Turn #11
Another replay, another 10 Strength Points gone the PAVN will not be seeing again :buck2:
I did observe one of their Artillery fire missions landing on top of a US hex thought. Blue on blue does happen to them too, then.
Looking at stats, no casualties with them. Just a Retreat. They got lucky.
Their Objective points are ticking down with my men sitting on top of the Objective though. So there is a per-turn award for my side as well for holding the LZ objective O0
What else? My artillery park is back, just in time for the final turn, if I plot them now. And plot I shall.
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So, what damage is there to be done come this turn?
That isolated US position at their western edge looks sooo tempting. I don't have that much strength left, with Disrupted units unable to participate in the Assault. I have the Disrupted ones do the suppressing fire, then: Assault!
No. I take one step loss to add an injury to insult.
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Decision time. To break from the battle, or to stay ???
While there are many stacks of friendlies there, they have taken a beating. Depleted units all around.
That ridge top looks even more isolated now though. Should I stay or should I go... With apologies to the Clash!
Battle on :knuppel2:
Move in - put in some suppressing fire - assault! Seems there was just the Recon section there, it had no chance. Ridgetop secured :clap:
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End of NVA Turn #11 Quote from: Crossroads on February 08, 2022, 06:56:12 AM
Battle on :knuppel2:
With Disrupted units highlighted again, it sure does look like the 7th Cav will counter attack for a recapture of the objective. I moved my units back a bit for - maybe - a final counter counter attack of my own...
After some consideration, I decide against plotting all my artillery against the Objective though. Maybe, just maybe, I can hold on. The eternal optimist :dreamer:
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NVA Turn #12 - The Final Push!
Watching the reply, the good news first - LZ Albany holds! It is a long walk home for the 7th Cav.
That said, artillery, Huey Hogs, Direct Fire - lots of it - what a storm of steel again :buck2:
But, crucially, it could have been way worse. Also, the final NVA push becomes with everyone having recovered from Disruptions.
One. More. Time. :knuppel2:
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Quote from: Crossroads on February 08, 2022, 07:01:57 AM
One. More. Time. :knuppel2:
So, it was them who broke out, but not everyone. Why would they leave such an isolated position out there alone?
No preparing fire available, instead, one all in assault, from two hex sides, with all the muscle I can still muster. Which is not that much. Here we go then...
Who are we!? The PAVN!
What do we do!? Assault!
And dang, there they fall. A long walk north to those capture troopers, six Strength Points worth of them, A full Platoon, in other words. Ouch.
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Since I do enjoy the last mover advance, let us bound them all the way back to their base then :knuppel2:
Move in... Charge!
No. Casualties for both sides, this was a close one as well.
And so it ends. A Draw it is. I can certainly live with this, given I did lose some precious time with my dithering in the first quarter of the battle.
It was nice to see there was enough time to recover from that, even if for a Draw. :)
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Quote from: Crossroads on February 08, 2022, 07:08:30 AM
And so it ends. A Draw it is. I can certainly live with this, given I did lose some precious time with my dithering in the first quarter of the battle.
It was nice to see there was enough time to recover from that
... but for a final twist! As I end my turn to send the final results to
Big Ivan for review, a final Event kicks in. As I have not seen this Event Dialog before, it must have taken place in this final turn. 200 EPs for the People's Army of North Vietnam!
While the US can claim a tactical victory with their kill ratio, it turns out their own casualties were too much for the home front to appeciate :wow:
A Minor Win for NVA, then, at the final click of the battle. :clap:
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Thank you for playing me, John, this was a hoot! :hug: