The Death of War, Debt and Spear-Shaker (Force on Force AAR)

“Incoming!” Shouted the Uruguayan lieutenant as 107mm rockets roared in from Azmakassar.

 

The terrain.

The farmland and hamlets to the east of FOB Breakbone have been witness to dozens of battles between the UN and the insurgents, and after the Hotakistani’s invaded the British fought several battles holding and eventually pushing back the invaders.  Now, all that stands between the massive Hotakistani invasion force and the UN Engineers repairing the critically important airfield to the south is a Uruguayan infantry company, a British Armoured squadron and a British Mechanised Infantry company.

Following the early British successes the British fought forward to deny the Azmakassar Ford to the Hotakistanis, and thus cut-off the supply route to the southern Hotakistani invading column.  This move, however, proved untenable due to a long open northern flank.  The British soon realized that the reinforced Hotakistani’s would encircle and destroy them, so they began to withdraw.  The Hotakistani’s determined not to allow their prey to escape sent in three infantry companies supported by numerous insurgents.

 

This battle (3) follows the battle "Washing Day in Azmakassar" (2) as the British continue their advance to the rear.

The British fought through the first encirclement (see AAR Washing Day in Azmakassar http://bigfof.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/washing-day-in-azmakassar-aar.html).  Now the British convoy must breakthrough the final encirclement, held open by fatigued Uruguayans and a US ODA team (see briefing at http://bigfof.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/the-ride-of-debt-war-battle-shaker-wand.html ).

To the east the British artillery commander watched the rockets slamming into the Uruguayans, he looked at his radioman who shook his head, still no call for retaliatory fire.  The battle had begun.

The convoy and the six Valkyries

The Mission Summary:  The Uruguayans start setup on the board with the convoy, the convoy then attempts to exit as Hotakistani and UN reinforcements arrive.  Points are not given for the convoy units, but instead become multipliers, so for example if four vehicles remain on board at the end then the Hotakistanis multiply their VP by 1.5

Each side received four reinforcement cards, the UN failed to get two of them and ended up with Fortification of three buildings and the Hotakistanis received a 2S19 Mtsa 152mm SPG and a Quad 14.5mm AA gun.  The Hotakistanis faced a difficult challenge, they had received no armour in support, nor Tank-hunters.  So the best AT they had were their six RPGs with AT1(M) or on a TQ4+ AT2(M).

The Battle begins: The initial bombardment hit the Uruguayans heavily, pinning a large portion of the force.  This allowed the Hotakistani infantry to move up and bring effective fire to bear from above their UN positions on the road.

Hotakistani infantry appear above the Uruguayans near the exit.

Meanwhile, further to the east, the convoys led by the Challenger tanks Battle and War surveyed the hills to the north.  But, on a roof of a close-by two storey building appeared a fire team of Hotakistanis with an RPG.  The RPG hit Spear-Shaker, a Warrior, and damaged its main gun.  As the gun was out of ammo it meant little to the crew and they sprayed the building with their co-axial machine-gun.  This Hotakistani team was to spend half of its time helping wounded comrades for the remainder of the engagement.

An overzealous Mtsa...arrives...and burns (the 2S19 Mtsa from QRF)

Then, through an orchard to the east appeared an overzealous self-propelled Howitzer, a Russian-built 152mm Mtsa.  The Challenger crew was too slow in their traverse and the huge HE shell exploded close-by damaging the main gun, it still, however fire and the Mtsa burst into flame.

End of Turn 2.  In the lower right you can spot the Hotakistani platoon commander, he was only able to bring in two 107mm rocket barrages in the whole engagement, and one of those did as much damage to his own men as the enemy.

Turn 2 to 7 (The UN won initiative from the Hotakistanis in Turn 2, and then miraculously lost it to the Hotakistanis for turn 3 to 7!): 

The ODA arrive and attack the Hotakistani ambushers.

The artillery woes for the Hotakistani started early and hardly gave up.  Their radios worked...most of the time.  Their artillery crews?  The laziest bunch of lazy bastards on Planet Artillery (They had a fatigue of 2+, so rolling a D8 I needed anything but a 1, on turn 2: rolled a 1, turn 3: rolled a 1 and on turn 4: rolled a 1!).  The Hotakistani commander had many thoughts of  "going commissar" and head back into Azmakassar and shoot some artillery men.

The firefight near the exit had begun to get very hot, the Hotakistani's had snatched one of the fortified buildings and the Uruguayans were not allowing this to continue.  However, both sides gave and received (This battle was too have the highest KIA and WIA out of all the games we have played with regular vs. regular).

The fierce firefight at the Uruguayans defenses.

The second ODA team arrived and moved to bolster the Uruguayans against the increasing Hotakistani attacks.

At the other end of the engagement the Hotakistani's pushed a Quad 14.5mm AA gun down the road to engage the soft-skin vehicles, but the ammo-less Challenger blocked the road.  The AA gun, however blasted the rear of the Warrior "Spear-Shaker", but to no effect.

The Quad fires at the Warrior.

The Hotakistani's then started to suffer at the east end, the Uruguayans had recovered from the initial attacks, and with the ODA now in support they brought heavy fire to bear and pushed one of the Hotakistani units out of their position.

The Hotakistanis attempting to close the road take very heavy fire and start to break.

The Warrior IFV "Spear-Shaker" continued to take fire, and wounded one of the Hotakistani gunners in response.  Four Hotakistani fire teams now tried to take out the Land Rover Snatch and WMIK.  They poured in fire, ventilating the two vehicles, but the Snatch started it miraculous life.  The WMIK was not as lucky and was destroyed.

A WMIK dies.

Around about now a British SAS team arrived to assist (REACTION CARD), they moved into the three storey building and helped to inflict casualties on the Hotaksitanis attempting to close the road.  But, just after they moved into the building the building caught fire (CARD), the SAS and Uruguayans ran for their lives from the conflagration giving the Hotakistani's a much needed respite.

A fire erupts destroying the three storey building (much laughter from said Hotakistani player and grumbling from the UN :)

Finally, after much swearing, the Hotakistani lieutenant finally made contact with his artillery and the barrage was fired.  Unfortunately, the 107mm rockets landed on both the Hotakistanis and the UN forces.  The Hotakistani fortified building collapsed injuring many, a rocket landed next to both the SAS team and the ODA team causing several casualties.

Hotakistani 107mm land indiscriminately among both sides, destroying the Hotakistani fortified building.

The Barrage from down the road.

The ODA CCT teams started to rain 81mm mortar and 105mm howitzer shells on the Hotakistani HQ and eastern attack force, but with little effect.  Later on the combined mortars and artillery would put an end to all idea of the Hotakistanis advancing down onto the road and blocking the exit.

And then it happened.  That which cannot be penetrated was penetrated (I pulled a Golden BB card at the perfect moment!).

A measly RPG (2D and M) hits the Challenger on the bridge and the Challenger explodes (played Golden BB card!).  Laughter!  Bill asked for a burning Abrams, he gets a burning Challenger.

An RPG strikes the Challenger and miraculously finds a weak spot causing the tank to explode.  Even better, the tank was on the bridge, so the following convoy would now need to go back to the ford to cross the canal and escape eastward.

On the road to the west an RPG hit the lead Warrior causing the crew and passengers to bail out.  The second Warrior moved in to give them cover.  Meanwhile, a group of five Hotakistani's tried to swarm the debussed British soldiers but were all shot down.  All five Hotakistani were killed.

The ODA team in the south (top of the photo below) overran the downed Hotakistanis in the fallow field and captured three of them (a very useful 9VP).

The struggle around the bailed Warrior (at the top you can see the ODA overruning the downed Hotaksitani.

The debussed squad and crew mounted their Warrior, but the Warrior was hit again and immobilised, the crew and squad abandoned the vehicle and escaped on foot.  Unfortunately, the Warrior which had given them cover was hit and destroyed.  This was the end of the engagement.  The Uruguayans now fell back as a rearguard as the half the British convoy escaped.  The Hotakistani's managed to overrun and capture one of the ODA CCT team members, I am sure they will milk this POW for maximum propaganda benefit.

The Warrior "Debt" burns

Result: Half the convoy was destroyed or delayed, so VP counted 1 for 1.  In the end the Hotakistani's suffered 68VP and the UN suffered 36VP.  So a victory for the UN.  The numerous serious wounds and POWs resulted in a high VP game.  An enjoyable game, artillery though ineffective most of the time played a critical role in turning the tide in local struggles.  The Hotakistani's drew some beautiful cards, Burning Building, Golden BB and Offboard Sniper Team (the Sniper team was able to neutralise one of the ODA teams).  A surprising number of dead and seriously wounded in this game.

A fun game.

This was a big game, basically four infantry platoons and ten vehicles.  Though we took 9 hours to play (with a BBQ, thank you Shane) the Force on Force rules worked well.

We have added a new Bog rule.  If a vehicle using tactical movement bogs it may expend 4" to try to unbog.  If it fails and still has remaining movement it can attempt a second unbog.

Mission Briefing: The Ride of Debt, War, Battle, Shaker, Wand-wielder and Spear-shaker

Mission Briefing: The Ride of Debt, War, Battle, Shaker, Wand-wielder and Spear-shaker (v2)

Well, Ride of the Valkyries was already used ... here be the mission for this weekend.  As usual it could be as balanced as a two-legged dog...but when you are riding with the six Valkyrie babes, who cares.

To the east the British armour and mechanized infantry at the Azmakassar Ford have escaped being overrun by Malikastani’s and insurgents.  They are now heading at speed towards Patrol Base 55, around the south of Azmakassar.  The Hotakistani commander infuriated that the British slipped past the useless Malikastanis has sent two infantry platoons to block the retreating convoys path.  From the FOB, a Uruguayan UN platoon, bolstered by artillery and a US ODA team, rushes eastward to keep open the fast closing trap.

The Challenger tanks Debt and War each lead a convoy of Warriors and soft-skinned support vehicles (the Warrior’s are named Battle, Shaker, Wand-wielder and Spear-shaker.

The mission starts with the Uruguayan infantry infiltrating into the house each side of the Azmakassar road and the convoys heading westward.  The first convoy decided it would be safer to go the slower route across the fields, while the second convoy decided the safer route would be across the bridge and down the main road.

The Map v2 (added a ford between the bridges, 2' from the western edge, this should allow a little more flexibility in the mission.

The Legend...well just Legend really

Convoy 1: Setup on road and must use the road as first route option.  Convoy consists of a Challenger, Warriors x2, Soft-skin x1, Squad x2.

Convoy 2: Setup off the road and must use the fields as its first route option.  Convoy consists of a Challenger, Warriors x1, Soft-skin x2, Squad x1.

Convoy Rules: Convoy vehicles main guns are out of ammo, their MGs are still at full strength.  Convoy vehicles may only move as a convoy (except when scattered) and will react to fire.  Even if a vehicle reacts to fire it may still move as a convoy.  Vehicles still have smoke.  When a Medium or Heavy vehicle in the convoy is destroyed/immobilised in a fireball the convoy makes a TQ, if it fails the convoy scatters, each vehicle moves D6” from its present direction in a random direction.  In the next convoy move the vehicles must first regroup and then use remaining movement to continue moving.  A convoy only moves when each unit is within 2” of each other (front to rear).  Once a convoy loses a vehicle it may break from its predesignated path by passing a TQ.

Reinforcements: Both sides draw 4 reinforcements cards from a double set of reinforcements cards.  So in the end it will be 43 reinforcements, assigning a D8, D10, D12 and D20.  All reinforcements must enter from offboard by passing a TQ 4+.  UN reinforcements may enter on the Exit, Entry or SF entries.  Hotakistanis enter using the normal dice method for this mission.

Turns: 10+1(D6 4+)

Initiative: Hotakistani for turn 1, roll for initiative from turn 2.  Convoy vehicles do not count towards initiative dice.  Convoy moves at the end of the turn, no matter the initiative order.

Units:

Uruguayans (use full US Platoon) TQ8/MOR8/INI8 Fatigue 5+ (one squad must pass TQ to enter)

ODA (two 6 man teams, with JTAC) TQ10/MOR10/INI12 Fatigue 4+ (each team only enters on passing TQ)

Support: UN Medium Artillery Battery 1+

Support: UN Light Artillery Battery Fatigue 1+

Hotakistani Infantry Platoon 1 TQ8/MOR8/INI6 Fatigue 2+ (one squad must pass TQ to enter)

Hotakistani Infantry Platoon 2 TQ8/MOR8/INI6 Fatigue 2+ (each squad must pass TQ to enter, and enter from Turn 2)

Support: Medium Rocket Battery 1 2+

Support: Medium Rocket Battery 2 3+

 

The organization of the Hotakistanis (sans M113)

Turn 0: Uruguayans/ ½ reinforcement’s setup in their zone (blue area).  Roll Fatigue on one squad, a failed TQ results in that squad being delayed and enters on road on a TQ from Turn 2 onwards.

Turn 1: First Hotakistani platoon and reinforcements arrive using a D8 to find the location for each squad/vehicle.  On a D6 4+ the UN player can select the colour (green or red), otherwise the Hotakistani players decides.  Roll Fatigue on one squad, that squad is delayed until the following turn and only enters on a TQ.  Hotakistani forces may choose to delay entry until Turn 4 (see Turn 4) and then use a D10 to roll entry.  Hotakistani's enter within 6" of the location point, and must be more than 4" from a UN unit.  If they cannot enter they reroll, the UN does not control the colour on the reroll.

Turn 2: SF arrive at two possible locations (roll fatigue or be delayed on one fire team).  2^nd Hotakistani Platoon arrive using a D6 to find the location. Hotakistanis may choose to delay until Turn 4.  Roll Fatigue on one squad, that squad is delayed until the following turn and only enters on a TQ.

Turn 4: Delayed Hotakistanis may use a D10 to find entry and ignore colour rule.

VP: Casualties count as normal.  Convoy vehicles and crew are not considered towards VP, but are multipliers to the VP.  For each convoy vehicle and convoy infantry squad exited gives a multiplier to the UN.  For each convoy vehicle destroyed/immobilized or remaining on board at the end of Turn 10 give the Hotakistanis a VP multiplier (there is a total of 11 convoy units):

               Two Convoy Units: x1.25

               Four Convoy Units: x1.5

               Six Convoy Units: x1.75

               Eight Convoy Units: x2

Gunfight at Malika City Airport

Introduction

The Hotakistanis had been been slowly infiltrating insurgents into Malikastan for several months, and then in the last few weeks everything from helicopters to main battle tanks had been joining the insurgents.  Throughout Malikastan the UN troops had been noticing a general increase in activity, it was at first explained away as the regular "mid-summer" increase in activity.  Then parachutes were seen blossoming over Malika Airport, the road to the airport was cut and car bombs exploded across the city.

Major Heidi Clare had at first reported that the parachutes were UN, but this was soon found to be wrong when the dozens of parked aircraft at the airport began to explode and burn.  By the time the main fuel dump exploded sending a massive black plume of smoke into the sky Malika City itself was in chaos.  The UN HQ had been all but flattened by a massive truck bomb, and hundreds of sleeper cells of Haqiqa had revealed themselves.  A desperate struggle for survival has begun in the capital and airport of Malika City.

S and M played the UN and K took the Hotakistanis.  The primary UN unit was the TQ8-MOR10, and they became British, the secondary unit was a TQ8-MOR8 and they became South Africans. For support the UN received an Apache, two batteries of light artillery and a medical team.  The Hotakistani primary unit was a Paratrooper TQ8-MOR10, support by Haqiqa insurgents TQ8-MOR10.  For support they selected Firepower+1 and a medium tank.  The only objective was for the Hotakistani's to push the UN out of 2/3s of the board, otherwise victory was down to casualties.

Hotakistani platoon's A1 and A2 take on the UN MA1 and MA2

Day 2 - The Malikastani Incident

Following the fight around the hangars on Day 1 the UN forces had fallen back on the administration and accommodation blocks.  A British lieutenant found himself in command, he had no vehicles, no air support and his radio was on the fritz.  He rallied his platoon.  A surviving Apache contacted him and asked if he needed assistance, his radio gave out before he could finish his affirmative.  The sound of an approaching tank gave him hope, especially when he saw it was a Malikastani T-55.  His hope was soon shattered when he saw foreign paratroopers moving up in formation with the tank.

The initial moves and fire

The British moved forward to take up positions to repulse the attack.  A platoon of South Africans, the reserve, were ordered forward, but they would take time to arrive.  However, a South African fire team with a MGL and GPMG took up positions in a derelict bunker, they were to prove themselves invaluable throughout the fight.

Another view showing all the UN positions and advancing forces.

The T-55 advanced scanning the buildings.  The commander of the tank was not willing to expose himself and so he failed to spot the UN forces.  A squad of paratroopers flitted between the buildings to the north of the road.  The British held their fire.  Then up from a drainage ditch leapt a squad of paratroopers and a unit of Haqiqa insurgents.  They sped across the open field between the ditch and the first administration building, only to be met with withering fire from the SAfer FN-MAG.  The British moved up to the windows overlooking the open field and joined in the fire.  This British team, combined with the FN-MAG team, were instrumental in stopping the Hotakistani's from crossing the open field, and it soon would become a killing ground from which there was no escape.  The South African FN-MAG supported by the MGL was a continuous thorn in the paratroopers side, it seemed as if they could not move anywhere without suffering the attention of this small team.

The British at the Golden Holden about to be assaulted by the four insurgents at the blue BMW.

Several insurgents made it to the cars parked next to the forward administration building, and were involved in a bitter close combat, resulting in four British infantrymen dying.  But, before the insurgents could enter the forward building they were cut down by accurate British fire from a fire team which had taken up a position behind a pile of storage containers.  The paratroopers failed to cross the open ground.  The paratrooper PKM team located at the HESCO barrier proved a major threat to the UN defence until they finally suffered two casualties.

The T-55 (Peter Pig) continues to pummel the building.

A view from the other side, a formidable defence, a patient defence.

The T-55 proved extremely hard to kill, firstly the British JTAC struggled to contact the Apache, and when the Apache arrived it managed to loose of three Hellfires, all failing to destroy the tank.  The British fired nigh a dozen LAW and AT-4 at the tank, and the South Africans added several more RPGs.  The tank survived the maelstrom, damaged it continued to rule the fight.  The infantry supporting the tank were soon stripped away by British and South African MG fire and finally a South African RPG slammed into the turret, wounding three of the crew, as they bailed the MAG opened up and the crew fell next to their tank.

The T-55's luck finally ran out.  A RPG destroyed the vehicle and the GPMG finished off the surviving crew.

The PKM fire team arrives to rally the stalled paratroopers.

The paratroopers staged a late rally, but by this time the British and South African's had more firepower located forward and the regrouped paratroopers were destroyed.  A final surge of Haqiqa insurgents arrived to late and only managed to add their bodies to the carnage.

The British bolster their frontline.  Making any further attack by the paratroopers an impossibility

By the end of the morning the fighting had died down, both sides had sustained heavy casualties, but the Hotakistani paratroopers were worse for the wear and fell back across the open ground under fire.  The British and South Africans had repulsed the first attack on the administration block.  It would not be the last.

The UN had been supported by two batteries of mortars, but they did not manage to fully utilise these assets due to poor radio communications, though the mortars were instrumental in delaying the paratrooper regrouped attack and allowing the British to move into position to finish them off, with the assistance of the overheating South African FN-MAG.  The T-55 led a charmed life, surviving up to a dozen and half attacks with LAW, RPG, Hellfire and AT-4.  The paratrooper Colonel at the air field found the supporting Haqiqa and gave them a severe chewing out over their lack of support for his attack.

UN: 26VP (win by 8VP) [Fatigue: +1, fought mission]

Hotakistan: 18VP [Fatigue: +3, fought mission, lost mission, gave away +25VP]