I had such a blast with my last game of PCR [Perfect Company Rules] that I decided to follow up with a smaller game. Unusually, I kept the same unit for back to back games. You can read about the Cavs last battle in my last post. For this battle I wanted to do a Patrol of 1 platoon. Would PCR work with just a platoon? So for this battle I modified the Patrol scenario from PF so that half the blinds set up on the board and half come in as a patrol. So we begin another story...
After the last battle, the company lifted off to chase the NVA as they moved towards the interior. LtCol Duval placed them with a newly constructed FSB. They were to guard the base and check out the area. There were suppose to be VC main units acting as rear guard for the NVA.
Capt Rainer talked it over with First Sergeant Tanner and 1Lt Dunn. Dunn said, "I would send 1st platoon out. Robertson did okay last battle. Let's see if he is becoming the leader he thinks he is. Will also give SSgt Rosso a chance to shine." They all agreed.
The area just outside the FSB. FSB is to the left. Sugarloaf hill is in the center. Plan is to patrol the area between the two villages and return. Again "squares" are 4 hex grouping and are 60 x 60 yards.
Lt Robertson the football star who is a poor leader
SSgt Rosso, draftee who "gets it" and stayed. avg leader
2nd squad is down to 2 bases after clearing the village last battle.
The enemy
Half the markers placed on the board guarding the road. Everyone dug in.
Capt Rainer is concerned that the hill may be heavily fortified. He asks for a fly over to check it out. A scout helo does draw fire so ...
Capt Rainer talks with Robertson. Obviously 1st platoon has to address enemy forces on sugarloaf hill. Rainer requests a Duster from the base as support in case the hill is heavily fortified. He also alerts 2nd platoon to be a QRF in case they are needed.
What is your plan football star?
Lt Robertson decides to send 1st squad [full strength] around to the right while he will take second squad and the duster into the village as a base of fire. The company gives him an extra radio which he gives to 1st squad.
1st squad into position.
Second squad with leadership in position.
Lt Robertson as a poor leader will get one less command and has an increased chance of going last. [ Part of that OODA loop thing.]
Here he gets 3 commands. First he spots the enemy on the hill. Next he sets up his base of fire. Third he radios 1st squad to start the assault...
So 1st platoon settles for crossfire on a dug in VC squad.
During the VC turn a second VC squad with a poor leader shows up on the back side of the hill. What are the odds? [ actually 12%!] The blind on the opposite side of the road moves forward to flank the jungle. It too revels a squad which takes second squad under fire and they are pinned down. [ What are the odds that all three markers would be full squads? 2%]
So now 1st platoon has its hands full.
Fortunately, Robertson get the initiative.
He still manages 3 commands with bullets popping all around. Fortunately, 2nd squad while pinned, is has not lost cohesion yet so will only require 1 test to rally. Afterward, rallies SSgt Rosso and tells him to assault the hill. He uses his last command to move off board to go get 3rd squad. The Duster is not going to be happy to be left all alone with VC 40 yards away!
SSgt Rosso leads an assault up sugarloaf hill.
Casualties are light on both sides as the VC move down the trenches toward the back side of the hill.
The duster ceases fire at the hill as the cavalry climb. They plan to retreat without infantry support in the village. The question is, "How fast will the VC realize there are no US troops in the village?"
Apparently not very fast without a leader!
Duster safe and not wild about following Lt Robertson anymore!
Robertson gets 4 commands because no one is shooting at him. He spends 2 to bring the duster and 3rd squad back up into the village then decides he better go see what is going on up front.
Unbeknownst to Robinson, 3rd squad is in trouble in the village. They have taken casualties entering and now the rest of the [depleted] squad is pinned down with no radio.
Also unknown to Robinson, the VC patrol shows up to see what is going on at sugarloaf.
the gunner nails it!
Second he moves to sugarloaf to ...
get an update from SSgt Rosso. He wonders if he can move third squad up so goes back to check on them. There he finds them in disarray.
During the VC turn...
2LT Robertson and the rest of the 3rd squad go down in the village!!!!!
Now what?!?!?!?!
2nd squad starts to lose cohesion as the bullets fly. SSgt Rosso does his best to keep things together. He is not aware that the Lt is down.
A wounded soldier gets on the radio and tells Capt Rainer what has happened. He tries to move a buddy towards the FSB.
Wow. This was totally unexpected in a patrol scenario. 1st platoon outnumbered and now potentially cut off. Good thing I went through the motions of having a QRF ready.
Capt Rainer breaks into a cold sweat as he orders 2nd platoon forward. "This was suppose to be a patrol?" He tells MSgt Tanner to get 3rd platoon ready and to arrange 105s and air support. He is going forward with Lt Dunn.
Capt Rainer shows up with 5 commands! Time to save this situation.
First he orders Lt Dunn to take over 1st platoon.
Second, he orders the medic into the village.
Third he orders Lt Carlson to clear the village and jungle around the village.
Fourth he orders ambulances to the village to extract casualties.
The brave medic goes to work!
Whew! Those VC in the jungle are good shots but they sure don't act fast. This should give the US time to put Rainer's plan in action.
First up, Lt Carlson.
As a good leader he gets an extra command. He also gets an extra command because no one is shooting at him! [ Note 2nd squad in the back is poor. That is Sgt Watson's squad that wallowed on the LZ last game.]
Nothing subtle here. Two squads infiltrate the village. Infiltration doesn't go so well so they are moving in the open. Several men are pinned down but the VC LMG is already pinned by the duster. The 3rd squad will enter the swamp to surround the VC. Capt Rainer looks on.
3rd squad in the swamp. The combined firepower wipes out the VC squad. The men will continue to fire at shadows until told to stop.
He saves 2 commands as he prepares to go to SSgt Rosso.
Situation end of turn 7. Village stabilized to the left. Battle for the hill still to be determined. VC have the luxury of a squad in reserve in the village to the right.
Rainer only gets 2 commands. He orders Carlson to try to flank sugarloaf on the left and organizes the ambulances.
Lt Carlson gets 6 commands. He orders Sgt Watson into the jungle. He rallies the pinned men of 1st squad and reorganizes the squad. Then he sends a runner to 3rd squad in the swamp and tells them to advance to the hill in front of them.
Lt Dunn makes it up to sugarloaf and talks with SSgt Rosso. The squad is pinned down and has lost cohesion. They have heavy automatic fire from their left and strong forces to their front. He requests permission to withdraw and reorganize. Capt Rainer, not wanting to lose any more men over worthless ground agrees.
1st squad withdraws into the village. Capt Rainer requests 105s and air to pound the hill.
The positions before the US withdraws. Please note 3rd squad/2nd Plt on hill upper center of picture.
What a battle! Certainly was not what I expected. Platoon Forward certainly generated quite the scenario. I was stressed out for sure. The PCRs played very well at the platoon level and had an easy transition to a company game.
Post game Lt Robertson died at the FSB while awaiting A/E. As Lt Dunn said, "He finally did as well as he thought he could."
SSgt Rosso makes his roll to become a good leader.
I am really enjoying the PCR rules. Hope you are enjoying the reports.
Joe
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