Crossroads ambush--Afghanistan

 With all the news about Afghanistan recently I decided to pull out my squad and play a game.  Their last battle was a close run thing found on this blog 8 May of this year.   So I rolled up Ambuscale from Grunts Forward.  I have 4 Afghan national police I have never used and wanted to get them involved.  So I decided a foot patrol through a small village with a small detachment of ANP.    Rolled up the board and viola!

Lt Richards Called McMann into his office.  Capt Ross wants us to go to a nearby village and do a foot patrol as a show of force.  Nothing spectacular and no intel.  Should be easy.  We will go tomorrow after breakfast.  There should be ANP there; we can shake hands and then ignore them.    Sgt McMann noticed the LT had said "we" so he would have company.  The LT wasn't bad he was just inconsistent in his dealings with the men.  McCann had mentioned it to him but it hadn't seem to do much good.  Oh well, should be a short trip.   

Capt Ross had told Lt Richards to send more time with Sgt McMann.  See how he interacts with the troops.  They respect him.   I know tactics thought Richards, today I will learn better how to interact with my men.

Characters:

Lt Richards  ROTC son of a wealthy merchant       mercurial       position       Avg ldr

Sgt McMann    Fisherman                                        Cheery          wealth         Avg ldr

Squad morale +1 when FTs are with McMann.  

1st FT    LCpl Schlact    acting FT lead                                                             poor ldr

2nd FT  Cpl  Anderson   son of a miner                  idealistic         wealth         poor ldr

Foot patrol coming back from hobnobbing in the small market.  1st FT in the lead.   Markers are blinds created by the scenario.    ANP set up next to the market.  

 My newly painted ANP.  Ready to rock with poor skills, poor morale and poor leadership!

Lt Richards had learned some by observing McMann.  McMann also, was smart enough to give the LT leeway to be the LT.  It was Richards who had chatted broken phrases with the ANP.  Overall it had been a good day.    [ Lt Richards, Medic, Sgt McMann, SAW and assistant SAW]

From a nearby rooftop a "sniper" takes aim as the Americans enter the crossroads...

Pvt Johnson on point goes down from a shot.  Shots roar out from nearby buildings.  The fireteam's nerve breaks as they hug the ground... [ Figures on the roofs are actually in the buildings.  It is easier for me to have them on top.  These buildings don't have removable roofs.]

The SAW gunner gets hit next.  Suddenly LCpl Schlact feels very lonely at the crossroads.  He crawls to render aid.  Johnson is not badly hurt, the Saw gunner is.   

Meanwhile 2nd FT and HQ was luckier; no casualties.  They were forced back into the market stalls however...

dragging 1 civilian casualty.  Doc works feverishly.  

2FT starts to try to win the firefight but they are stunned.   The ANP start to add their fire.

Well not everyone adds their fire.  1 ANP flees the scene.  [ Had a random event that called for a non combat casualty to the ANP unit.  Thought having someone flee the fighting made sense. ] 

As Schlact is wondering what to do with his 2 WIA his Hummer drives up!   Schlact coolly opens the doors and shoves everyone in.  Despite a couple of RPGs they will get out safe.

Mid game.    Schlact leaving the scene stage left.  Closest hummer moving up to support the LT.  ANP/2FT firefight a draw so far.    LT failed to call in air support.  

Taliban shifting to the US right flank.

1 turn later.  Taliban fire has sent the ANP into hiding.  Accurate fire has reduced fire coming from the building in front of Lt Richards.  With the Hummer in place he decides now is the time to charge.  Sgt McMann concurs...

I thought I had a shot of the charge but don't.   The hummer takes out the last bad guy so our heroes break in to see several KIA and 1 WIA taliban.  

 

 While our heroes secure the building the Taliban take one last shot literally to turn the tide...

it missed!

With the US in charge of the building the ambush is no longer paying dividends so the Taliban retreat back into the village.   

Very fun and very quick game.  I declared it a win for the squad.  1 serious WIA and 1 lt wound against 1 prisoner, 3 confirmed dead.   Not a bad ambush.  Schlact is promoted to Cpl based on McMann's and the LTs recommendations and given 1st FT.  He also makes his leadership roll and is now average.  1st FT's losses are made good.  Lastly Lt Richard's meets Lt Aaron who is the deputy S-4 [ supply] and they become friends.  Good for the platoon to know someone in supply!  

Enjoy

Joe