So the reviews have been well received but of course this blog has mainly been about AARs using my Forward rules. So to hopefully make this useful to all I thought I would touch on how I am attempting to combine O group and Battlefront into my perfect ruleset while showing you a battle report of a game. For those of you that play either O group or Battlefront you might take away something that you like and want to add to your games. Either way hopefully all will be entertained by the 7th Cavs attempt to take Rock Hill.
I call this "many moving parts" for 2 reasons, first the operation has 7th CAV, ARVN and RUFF/PUFFs. Second I am trying to combine both rulesets in Vietnam, which neither are written for, while also starting to try out ideas for Battalion Forward.
This project is somewhat inspired by a good book
Many people have criticized Marshal now but I find his books good reads and a treasure for scenarios.
You would normally be the battalion commander but I wanted to start small so you will be Capt Jaroz, A company in the 7th Calvary. you are relatively new in country and this will be your first big operation. LtCol Duval is your battalion commander and he is gung ho. [ I swear I rolled it up using Platoon/Grunts Forward.] Your 3 platoons are trained and led by
Lt Hendricks from Virginia. Son a a Korean war hero. His dad retired as a 2 star. This kid has more conections than you will ever have. You sense you have to be careful.
Lt Alvarez ROTC from Texas. Tough kid. Rumor that his dad runs some type of cartel back in Texas.
Lt DeRoos ROTC from Wisconsin Dad is a state senator. 5 months in the position. You think he can teach you a thing or two.
Last night a Ruff/Puff camp was attack by Rock Hill. It is unclear if they still control the camp but intel thinks so. ARVN refused to send a relief convoy last night but has 2 platoons ready to go at first light. They will move by truck to go and relieve the camp. Duval said they will do little else. He sees this as an oportunity to get your feet wet. He believes that the VC are waiting to ambush the convoy and then will camp out at Rock Hill. He said there is a chance they will stay in the town of Duc Bien as well. He wants you to wait till after the ambush and go kick Charlies ass. There is a back up company if you need it but it is clear Duval thinks you can handle this on your own.
What is your plan?
While you ponder that I will tell you how I am running my rules. I am using the order activation from O group and all their orders including reinforcements and combat patrols except for rally. Rally is actually done as part of movement because I am using the maneuver chart from Battlefront. The only exception is with a disordered unit. If a disordered unit rallies it can undertake no other action. If a pinned unit rallies and it allowed to take a second action, it may either move 1 hex or fire with a -1 modifier. If a unit gets to do 2 actions on the maneuver chart it can fire as per rules or can move and fire with a -1 modifier [or fast move per O group]. In addition, it's fire is really more like overwatch as it's firing comes after any defensive fire against it. [ It was too powerful the otherway round, particularly tanks.]
Combat is per Battlefront with the above exceptions plus I am using the obscure rule from O group. If the target is obscured you -1 from the attacking strength. NVA and VC are obscured in the jungle on 1-4. In addition to spot VC in the jungle you need to win the recon roll by 2.
Vietnam specific rules included 2 ARVN dice today out of the free worlds 9. If either die was a "1" then ARVN could only receive 1 order, if both were "1" then ARVN could receive no orders other than defensive fire. If ARVN roll a 6 they had to be give at least 2 orders. For the revolutionary forces, if they rolled 3 of the same die "triples" they received a sniper per O group optional rules. Snipers have a range of 6 inches and a strength of -1 for battlefront players. They are placed anywhere in covering terrain. After they fire they are picked up till next time. If they roll a "1" they are removed for the rest of the game. The PAVN also have 1d6 hot spots that function as permanent combat patrols for the purposes of bringing on reinforcement platoons unless these are captured by the free world player.
A sniper so well hidden you really have to look. His helmet it to the left of the tree.
Alright, do you have your plan?
Capt Jaroz decide to land 1st platoon on the "s" of route 1 on LZ Lima. This would act as the anvil for 2nd platoons attack on rock hill. Furthermore it would expedite contact with the ARVN relief force and be in a good position to move against either the village or Duc Bien if needed. He would land here. 2nd platoon with Lt Alvarez would land NW of the RufPuf camp on LZ baked and explore/assault Rock hill from the north, supported by 1st platoon if needed. 3rd platoon would be in reserve.
Town of Duc Bien
"Downtown Duc Bien"
Ruff Puff camp at 7am.
All the potential places for Charlie to start. He rolled 5 hot spots. LZ Lima marked here. I rolled for PAVN deployment and 5 units started on board hidden. This was a variation on Platoon Forward. PAVN ended up with 2 NVA platoons (experienced) 2 main force VC platoons (trained but -1 to fire) and 1 VC 57mm recoiless rifle on the board. Everything else had to be brought in through reinforcements. It needs some tweaking but overall worked well and I wasn't sure what I was facing and where.
The VC set up Company command in Duc Bien and the NVA set up company/battalion CO on the hills west of the city. They also deploy 2 combat patrols which can be used as reinforcement spots per O group. The highway is be the demarcation line between the 2 companies but they work very closely together and if the NVA need help the main force will be there.
7:02 Radio reports confirm they are hit by small arms fire from the village. It appears to be a platoon of VC. [ It could have been 2 but 1 was a dummy] 1st platoon is promptly scattered.
7:10 The battle continues in the village. 2nd platoon makes some headway against the VC. A NVA platoon with LMGs "uncloaks" on rock hill in case they are needed...
7:20 WhumpWhump Whump of choppers is heard. A company of the 7th Cav is coming to town...
I literally have 25 photos of the battle so I thought I would break this story into 2 parts.
How will Jaroz fare in his first combat command? Was his plan sound? Was your plan better? How much help will ARVN be? Will he need and second company to help? Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion of the battle of Rock Hill!
Enjoy
Joe
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