Injun Joe, Three stripe Rodriguez and the forrest of assassins

Sorry no posts in a while.  Real life with people's health issues is taking priority right now.    Bought a pier and some gun pits from I-94 enterprises and have been pleased.  Will show those in the next few weeks.  For today wanted to finally get my patrol boats on the table that I painted up 7 months ago!  Decided to us a new marine platoon that I rolled up for Hue but haven't used yet. 

Lt Roer explained the concept to Sgt Rodriguez and Sgt Salvatore.  The VC have been using the Rung Sat region as a hide out since the French were here.  The Navy and ARVIN is trying to put them off base to show them we can get to them if we want.  The patrol boats have been taking fire from this one village so they are going to be a anvil and we are going to come in and hammer a couple of bunkers!  Speed will be important as we have to get to Charlie before he can leave with his heavy weapons.  We will come up to the village; 1st squad will break right to the river and left will break left through the buildings to the river. 

Characters

Lt Roer  Drafted out of college    scholarly/wealth                Avg
Sgt Rodriguez    college dropout      haughty/ govt               Avg    BL
1st FT     Cpl Lucero   petty thief     corrupt/ govt               Below Avg
                                   Volunteered ahead of the cops
2nd FT   LCpl Ellis     Mechanic      corrupt/machines          Avg
                                   drafted out of Detroit
3rd FT  LCpl  Riggins  Son of immigrant     aggressive/ position   Avg
                                      volunteered
2nd sq  Sgt "Red" Salvatore      Above Avg


Injun Joe   Bow gunner of lead Patrol boat.    1/4 Cherokee  Volunteered for the Navy to see the Big Blue ocean.



Rung Sat  1966

1st of the 2 boat section with Injun Joe manning the twin 50s.

One of my Peter Pig Civilians. 
 


Injun Joe was scanning the shoreline.  He was taking deep breaths of the hot humid air.  The boat crew swore he could smell an ambush 9 times out of 10.

Guess this was the 10th time!
[ 10% chance of seeing the ambush}

From the treeline and an elevated hootch rockets and small arms open up on both boats!     One of the rear gunners goes down with a head wound in Joe's boat but everyone else returns fire.  The Navy crews never actually see bunkers but do see the amount of fire slacken after about 10 minutes of fire.
Meanwhile...

In the amtrack Lt Roer is notified that the boats have made contact.  He gives the order to move out and tells both squads to move out quickly according to plan.  He will stay back with the MMG and bazooka to direct the battle.

The Amtrack moves through the swamp towards the small hamlet.

1st squad leaps out and moves towards the river.  Three stripe issuing orders. 

A random reinforcement brings a VC squad up into the village.  Must have come to the sound of guns. 

2nd squad + platoon HQ out of the amtrack.  1st FT to the trees while Sgt Salvatore moves towards the buildings.  They begin to take fire from a hooch 30 yards away.  Lt Roer turns to say something to the corpsman when...

He crumples.   The RTO stands there in shock. 

Meanwhile 1st squad is pushing towards the river.  One of LCPL Riggins men steps on a pungi stick but otherwise resistance is moderate. 

2nd squad however ...

is caught in a crossfire as a VC MMG sets up behind the amtrack.   Fortunately marine training and morale carries the day and they KO the MMG and drive off the VC squad with only 1 WIA. 

A VC with a captured bazooka pops up to take a shot at a boat but fails and Sgt Rodriguez drives off the team. 

Then suddenly there is silence.   The village is searched and 2 bunkers found but no heavy weapons save the 1 MMG.    Certainly not worth the life of Lt Roer who died in the amtrack. 
Quick, fierce battle that I called a draw.   US casualties were light with 1 KIA, 2 WIA and 1 walking wounded.  VC had 10 KIA/serious wounded but lost no recoiless rockets/bazookas or RPGs. 

Sgt Rodriguez takes over the platoon temporarily and manages to upset both of his fellow squad leaders with his haughty " I'm in charge" style.  Thus Sgt Salvatore now dislikes him.  Further things have gone missing from both the squad and the rest of the platoon.  Three stripe suspects Cpl Lucero but has no hard evidence.  Capt Vincent, the company CO, is big into integrity so is upset that Rodriguez hasn't solved this yet.  Thus 1st platoon does get a new LT and he is told to solve the pilfering problem.  Gunny Sgt Gibson has been tasked to help him.  Amazingly the morale of the platoon remains high.   We will see where this all goes.

Enjoy

Joe