SLA B Company vs FSNL 2nd Company
This is a rematch between the South Leon Army's B Company and the FSNL's 2nd Company, which was repulsed by the SLA troops yesterday morning. The remainder of yesterday saw the two antagonists shadow-boxing and jockeying for position, until finally both sides committed to an attempt to finish the other off. This is a meeting engagement, with both sides working to eliminate their foes. The SLA defenders are bolstered by a team of commandos from the Cuban Task-Force 23.
Overview, north is up. There is a hardball road running north-south to a T-intersection in the north, with a detour around Hill 111 (bottom left) and Hill 63 (right), with villages at far right and top left, as well as several knolls/hillocks. Other than that we've got several cultivated fields and scattered jungle.
The opposing forces, allies on left and Communists on right.
The figures are all 10mm from Pendraken, Minifigs UK, and Butler's Printed Models. I'm using Ivan's "5Core Company Command," playing on a 3' x 2' surface with simple terrain to speed up the process. The hootches are from Jimmi at Flashpoint Minis, the roads are from Fat Frank, the hills are from Warzone, the fences are from Sarissa, the fields are from Hotzmats, the trees are cake toppers, and when you see the rivers, they're from Wargamers Terrain. I'm playing solo and will randomize enemy deployment using a system of blinds borrowed from Joe Legan's "Platoon Forward."
In terms of caliber of forces, the SLA, FSNL, and FLA troops will all be treated equally, except for the fact the FLA troops will be treated as fanatics, in terms of their willingness to advance into close combat. The Cubans are more tactically and technically proficient, and so they will receive extra firing dice, better rallying capability, bonus in close combat, and sometimes will have a second command stand on the table.
The SLA's B Company consists of: a command stand, five rifle teams, an M-48 main battle tank, two M-113 "ACAVs," and a TF23 team in support. These troops are Pendraken US from their Vietnam range, except for the TF23 team, which is Minifigs' Australians from their Vietnam range, and the M-48, which is from Takara.
B Company's commander was killed in action in the last fight, so their Executive Officer has taken over.
SLA's B Company also has some heroes amongst its ranks:
The M-113's vehicle commander (known as Rhino 13) was awarded the Medal of Honor
Bravo 05 Team Leader was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross
An MG Team Leader was awarded the Bronze Star w/V (though he is not present in this fight)
Overview, this time with troops. The SLA troops are on the left side, advancing, while the Communist forces are on the right table edge, attacking south.
The SLA starting positions: Bravo 01 and TF23 are at top center left, Track 01 and Bravo 02 are behind them (far left), the tank is just right of the road (left), with Bravo 03 and the CO right of it, then Bravo 04 is atop Hill 111 (right bottom) and Bravo 05 is east of them (bottom right), with Track 02 behind them (bottom center right).
The Communists have two rifle teams at top center, with their BMP right behind them, a rifle team at center with their CO and the BTR, which is carrying two more rifle teams, right behind them, and their last rifle team at the intersection (left), with their tank behind them.
Let's get at'em! The game begins with the SLA pushing forward on the right.
And then on the left.
The enemy responds by pushing rifle teams forward in the center (bottom left and center, atop Hill 63).
Bravo 03 (bottom left) spots the bad guys on Hill 63 (tp right) and opens fire.
The SLA (top left) fire is ineffective and the Commie riflemen (bottom right) return fire, pinning Bravo 03.
While from the other side of the road, the enemy's left-hand rifle team (bottom right) spots Bravo 02 (top center, with the pinned Bravo 03 at top left) and opens fire, putting them 'men down.'
While on the SLA right, the CO continues pushing forward on the far right.
But the bad guys on Hill 63 (bottom right) spot Bravo 05 (top left) and cut loose...
Suppressing them (red bead at bottom center, with Bravo 04 above them and the CO at left). Track 02 pushes up to get in the fight...
But a nearby enemy rifle team (bottom right) launches an RPG...
And BAM! the track is knocked out!!!
Meanwhile, on the left, the TF23 team moves over to check on the 'men down' Bravo 02 (white bead)...
But they melt away, knocked out!
With rifle teams ensconced on either side of the main road (top center and center left bottom) and doing damage, the Commie T-72 pushes ahead (left, from far right).
Bravo 04 fires a LAW...
But the 66mm rocket misses and the enemy tank returns fire, putting Bravo 04 'men down' and suppressing the SLA commander!
The nearby enemy rifle team (bottom center) adds their fire to the mix, to no effect.
But then the bad guys atop Hill 63 (bottom right) get in on the act, too.
And they force Bravo 05 to fall back (bottom left, from far right)!
Bravo 03, on the slope of Hill 111 (left bottom) opens fire on the enemy team atop Hill 63 (top center right), to no effect...
With the situation rapidly deteriorating, the SLA tank pushes forward (center, from far left).
The T-72 (bottom right) spots it (top left) and fires...
The M-48 is immobilized, but the crew stays, so the TF23 team moves over and rallies them.
The M-48 (bottom left) returns fire on the T-72 (top right).
And the Communist tank goes up in flames!
On the SLA right, the CO (red bead at right, with Bravo 04 'men down' below them) and Bravo 05 self rally: the CO is good, but Bravo 05 only manages to get 'up' to pinned.
Bravo 03 (bottom center left) continues firing on the enemy rifle team atop Hill 63 (top center left), exchanging ineffective fire with the Communists.
The Communists push their BTR up behind their burning tank (left bottom, from right top).
Where it (bottom right) opens fire on the SLA tank (top left) with its 14.5mm HMG, suppressing the crew and the TF23 team!
The Communist rifle team on the east side of the road (bottom center) lays down fire...
And the pushes forward (center, from right bottom), looking to collapse the SLA right (top left) before they can rally.
Bravo 03 pushes ahead to counter (bottom right, from trees at left) as the TF23 team (far left) self rallies.
But the bad guys on Hill 63 (bottom center) spot them (top center) and open fire, keeping them pinned.
And as Bravo 03 is taking fire (top center), Bravo 05 pushes ahead (yellow bead at bottom right, from far left) and the CO moves up to check Bravo 04 (right), and they're back in the fight!
The BTR (bottom center) spots the movement on the SLA right (top center/left) and opens fire with its HMG...
The fire is ineffective and the BTR pushes ahead (center bottom, from top right)...
Where Bravo 04 breaks out their LAWs...
And busts open the BTR, knocking out both rifle teams inside!!!
*You won't believe me, but I rolled to see how the two rifle teams were affected and I rolled boxcars on 2K dice, so both knocked out. That certainly helps things.
Stunned by the violence and dramatic change in the tactical situation, the nearby enemy rifle team (bottom right) returns fire, suppressing Bravo 04 and pinning the SLA CO (top center left)!
Before pushing forward, up to the burning Track 02 (center, from top right).
On the SLA left, the TF23 team rallies the tank crew (left, with Bravo 03 pinned at bottom center).
Then pushes up to rally Bravo 03 (top left), drawing fire from the enemy riflemen atop Hill 63 (bottom right).
The fire is ineffective and Bravo 03 moves up to rally their pinned CO (TF23 team is at far left, Bravo 03 is at center, the CO is the yellow bead at right, and the Bravo 04 is suppressed at far right).
But the bad guys behind the burning track (bottom right) spot Bravo 03 (top left) moving up and open fire.
But Bravo 03 pushes through and rallies the CO, who immediately sets about rallying Bravo 04.
But they panic and fall back (far left, from far right)!
The CO moves over and rallies Bravo 05...
The brave team leader of Bravo 05, who previously won the Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry, pushes his men forward, into the raging guns of the Communist troops taking cover behind the burning track...
The SLA troops take heavy casualties and go 'men down,' and the Communists immediately pounce, leaving the shelter of the burning track to close assault Bravo 05!
The 'men down' SLA troopers didn't stand a chance and are easily dispatched, and the rampaging Communist rifle team charges uphill, into the SLA Command group!
Knocking them out and then running down the fleeing Bravo 04!
Bravo 04 goes down (far left) and the Commies charge Bravo 03, who opens fire at point-blank range...
But the determined enemy troops close the distance and enter close combat...
**Dammit, I missed a picture: Bravo 03 is knocked out by the charging enemy rifle team, which then moves on the TF23 team, but they open fire and put them 'men down,' stopping them in their tracks. At this point I realize maybe the bad guys on Hill 63 should have fired to try and pin or suppress the TF23 team BEFORE their comrades began their close assaulting spree...
So they (bottom left) do now, except instead of trying to pin or suppress the TF23 team (top right) to keep them from firing on their rampaging comrades, now they're trying to pin or suppress the TF23 team so the Cubans can't close assault their very vulnerable, formerly rampaging comrades.
The fire is ineffective and the TF23 team (bottom left) returns fire, pinning them (top center).
The enemy commander pushes up Hill 63 (center left, from right), trying to get up there and rally his pinned rifle team.
But it's too late for the Commies that did so much damage on Hill 111: the TF23 team moves into close combat...
And easily puts them (bottom left) out of action, before pushing ahead, into the street (center, with Track 01 and Bravo 01 at top center).
Where they (bottom left) are joined by Track 01, which opens fire on Hill 63 (right) with it's .50-cal HMG, suppressing the enemy riflemen there.
The enemy CO gets up on Hill 63 and rallies his men.
As the rest of the Communist force pushes forward strongly on their right.
The good guys respond with Bravo 01 (top left) and the TF23 team (left) taking up defensive positions as Track 01 pushes into the enemy's rear (bottom right, from left).
As the M-48 crew (far left) spots the BMP (in trees at far right) and fires a 90mm round...
It doesn't hit the enemy vehicle, but it manages to suppress the BMP crew and nearby rifle team, and pin their commander!
The TF23 team (bottom left) opens fire on enemy infantry (top center), pinning a rifle team.
The un-pinned enemy rifle team moves over (left) to rally the BMP crew as the Communist CO (bottom let) attempts to self rally.
The enemy CO is good, but the TF23 team (bottom left) spots the movement and opens fire, pinning the enemy rifle team before it can rally the BMP crew!
This immediately draws fire from the pinned enemy rifle team on their far right (top right), which pins the TF23 team (far left).
Bravo 01 (far left, with the TF23 team at center left bottom) lays down fire...
Then pushes forward and rallies the TF23 team...
Which promptly charges up Hill 63 (right bottom, from left)...
The Communists have had it, throwing down their weapons and throwing up their arms!
*I actually played it out, but the TF23 easily rolled up the bad guys, which consisted of a suppressed rifle team, a 'men down' rifle team, a suppressed BMP, and their CO, so I figured I'd just have them surrender, rather than go through all the different close combats.
Despite the victory, both sides are exhausted and both battlegroups are removed from the campaign map as they no longer constitute effective fighting forces (B4).
An entertaining little fight which saw some decent back and forth, outcome very much in doubt. It was kind of funny how neither side was really able to get all of its armor into play, and even when it did it didn't work out very well. Things were looking pretty grim when that Commie team went on a rampage on Hill 111, though I must admit a certain amount of comfort in the fact that I knew ultimately they would reach the TF23 team and that would be the end of the line, so long as I didn't have some extraordinarily poor dice rolling for that close combat. That's not to say there wasn't danger, though, as even though the Communist counterattack on Hill 111 was stopped, they still had a relatively counterattack on their right, in and around Hill 63, when they managed to get their CO, BMP, and three rifle teams on line, they just got stopped cold by the SLA tank, which didn't knock anybody out, just suppressed a whole bunch of bad guys. Pretty fun!
Cuban: ~30 men, including the acting commander and the Distinguished Service Cross-winning Bravo 05 team leader, with one M-113 destroyed and one M-48 damaged
Communist: ~25 men, one T-72 and one BTR destroyed, and ~25 men and one BMP captured
"Porter" and "Robo" of the TF23 team were both awarded the Silver Star for halting the enemy counterattack on Hill 111, then launching their own counterattack on Hill 63 that captured the enemy commander, a BMP IFV, and three Communist rifle teams, securing victory in the battle.
Next up we have Lt Ordonnez' and Task Forde Redleg attempting to force the River Shalabi against the FLA's 6th Company, which was quite a doozy...
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