My French Foreign Legion in Africa is set in the 1990s. They have been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Ivory Coast. These are obviously not imaginary countries and the Legion has intervened multiple times over the years. The real FFL has intervened in Africa 30+ times since 1945. Plenty of fodder for scenarios. That said, I am not a slave to history as this scenario will demonstrate.
This scenario is a modification of the Grunts Forward scenario "One of our Planes is Missing" It is designed for 3 or 4 players. I just felt like getting a lot of toys on the table. I rolled up the talbe as per PF but did not roll for forces.
The latest
teen pop star to take Europe by storm, Britney Shields is visiting The Ivory Coast to raise public awareness of the terrible human
rights violations going on by both the government troops and the rebel
forces. Rebel forces took to the streets
4 weeks ago after elections results showed a landslide victory for the current
president. Government forces loyal to
the president have been fighting in the streets. 2 weeks ago France responded
while the UN dithered by sending in troops to “calm” the situation and restore
order before Europeans (and financial interests) got hurt.
French
briefing
You are Sgt
Bomba of the French Foreign Legion and arrived in country as the tip of that
spear. There has been minor skirmishing
with primarily rebel troops but your presence does seem to have calmed
things. Today you are the Company's rapid reaction. You are called into the company
commander’s office. He launches right
in. “ You heard about that pop singer
touring here? Well her helicopter just
went down. Can you believe that!? Take your squad and go get her before someone
else finds her! The rest of your platoon will crank up shortly.
Sgt Bomba Moroccan romeo run out of town so joined the FFL
Cheery/ Hedonism Avg ldr
Cpl Collins English Cambridge grad who got bored
Obnoxious/ Hedonism Avg Ldr
1 Squad with good training and morale 10/10 for FOF with APC
Cpl Howell attached Milan team. ( from my last scenario. You don't need to add)
Private
Military Contractor briefing
You are Iron
Mike Hennessy formerly of the US special forces. You have a great gig now with better pay,
food and all you have to do is baby sit some teenager and keep goons from
handling her. You are with two other
professionals, Gus and Fast Freddie.
When the pilot orders everyone to assume crash positions you realize
your day is going to get a lot harder…
3 Operators armed with rifles, body
armor and grenades. Elite troops. For Force on Force use
10/12 for Iron Mike and 10/10 for Gus and Freddie. One “pop star” unarmed. She will defend herself in hand to hand using a D6 and needing a "5". The pilots died of
embarrassment in the crash.
The Army
of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
You are Lt
Chiraf of your country’s army. A French
VIPs helicopter has crashed. She will
make an excellent bargaining chip for your negotiations with the French. Secure the crash site and take her into “protective”
custody. This is an opportunity from
heaven; don’t let anyone stand in our way!
2 BTR 70s each with.
a 10 man squad consisting of 1 NCO, 1 RPG, 1 LMG team and 7 rifles with
Grenades. No body armor.
They are poorly trained with average morale. For Force on force use 6/8 confident.
Workers
for a Free Congo.
You are Jean
Claude. You have had enough of the
charade that passes for democracy in your country. How can the president win
with 110% of the vote! You and your
brothers have taken to the streets so that justice will prevail. That hot singer’s helicopter has
crashed.! As an entertainer you know she is liberal and would side with your
cause. You must meet her and introduce
her to your struggle! This is an
opportunity for the revolution too good to pass up.
2 “squads” consisting of an NCO, 1 LMG
team, 2 RPG and 8 rifles. No grenades or
body armor. 1 technical mounting a heavy
Machine gun. . This force is poorly trained but
highly motivated by their cause. For
Force on Force use 6/10 confident.
Satellite view of crash site
French enter from left
Rebels from top
Government from bottom
Roll for turn of entry
Britney climbs out of the helo as the contractors secure the area.
Jean Claude enters with his mates.
Lt Chirac debusses. He sends the other APC directly to the crash site.
Iron Mike holds off the rebels with a little help from the Government. ( They are here to help!)
Rebel fire pins the contractors and messes up Britney's hair!
The rebels are also pinned and fall back!
Sgt Bomba riding to the rescue!
Unfortunately a lucky RPG round immobilizes the french APC. This just got a lot harder!
Lt Chirac, having slowed the french, moves in to mop up some rebels.
The other government squad, being covered by the APC charges to free Britney from the contractors.
I really enjoy the assault sequence in FOF. It shows the morale and training of troops normally...
unless your elite troops CONSISTENTLY ROLL "1s" AND "2s"! Then they are wiped out by 7 government troops and Britney is captured. Poor Iron Mike.
Just to really frustrate me, the french APC blows up; seriously I need new dice!
[ Sgt Bomba had moved towards the crash site with half the squad. Cpl Collins was in the APC firering through the ports at Lt Chirac. Cpl Howell had climbed a hill with his Milan but the APCs were all too close to fire. ]
Sgt Bomba near the crash site. The trip across open ground cost 1 KIA and 1 seriously wounded.
The rebels have rallied and are charging as the Government troops load Britney in the APC. There is a slight delay as she signs a T-shirt for a Cpl but they make it.
Mid game FOW event raises the french morale to 12. Cpl Howell on the hill bottom left. Cpl Collins behind wrecked APC. Ready to move to Sgt Bomba who is at the small factory bottom right. Rebels at helo crash site and on hill top center. Government at crash site and center of board.
Cpl Collins moves towards the factory.
Cpl Howell sets his sites on the APC at the crash site...
Hope Britney survives...
She does! The french and government troops work at beating back the rebels. Sgt Bomba doesn't want to fire at the troops holding Britney for fear of hitting her. [ Never mind Howell just blew up the vehicle she was in]
Hold your fire!
Leaving 1 man back with the casualties Sgt Bomba orders an assault!
The 3 guards are taken by surprise and Bomba's men don't roll any "1s". The french win quickly without losing anyone.
Of course now they are in the open and every african gun open's up on them!
Britney and 1 legionnaire go down. Merde! Bomba carries the singer towards an outbuilding near the factory.
Mercifully both of them have only scratches. Here is where they will make their stand. Sgt Bomba calls for air support but the range of the portable radio isn't strong enough to be heard. [ FOW event canceling air support.]
Things are looking grim for our heros. The troops on the left actually charge but accurate gunfire breaks them before they enter the building.
As Bomba is discussing with "college boy" Collins what to do about the APC the government troops withdraw amid firing from the nearby hill.
A cheer goes up from the trapped legionaries as they see...
Sgt Barrie and Lt Lorray show up in the nick of time!
Great game that played a little long given the large number of forces on the table. I can't believe how poorly the contractors did. It was really exciting and I didn't know if Bomba was going to pull this one off or not.
Post game Sgt Bomba is awarded the Croix de Guerre with gold star. [ Only the 3rd medal every awarded in all my games. Thanks Brian for writing that section in Grunts Forward!] Not bad for a punk kid from Morocco. Also the squads morale raises by 1.
Hope you all enjoyed somehting a little different. I did.
Joe
