Friday the 13th

I've been writing up scenarios from 'Attack State Red' over the last while. I ran the first three for Trinity Gamers on Saturday.

A Company’s platoons are scattered around the deserted eastern part of Nowzad. With the prospect of the Taliban outflanking the British troops, securing against possible infiltration is vital.

Company HQ, despite the prospect of danger moves up to a rooftop to direct mortar fire



The isolated Sergeant Holmes feels the heat as the Taliban direct their efforts towards his elimination



The rest of the Taliban join the charge, hoping to overwhelm the British defence of this area, Holmes has gotten out of Dodge, but despite taking fire on the way to the nearby building, safely reaches it without any injury



A Chechen sniper team has shown up, well out of range of any local units, and proceeds to wreak havoc on the British section to the rear



Taliban motorbikes appear (in the newly named "Forest of Death"), but they are picked off before they get a chance to put their RPG to good use



Civilians show up on the battlefield and their presence forces one fireteam to move position to clear them out



That fireteam comes under immediate threat, as the "hunter of gunmen" knock out two of them and the rest are put down by a Taliban group from the woods nearby. Another group enters the building - capturing one and finishing off three



The Chechen sniper team inflict two more casualties on the second fireteam from that section - the medic from HQ rushes to their aid



They fire on another set of motorcyclists, moving in to execute the lone survivor of the fireteam who was nearly captured



Another attempt to capture that squaddie is decline, as a lone Taliban leader enters the building to shoot the stricken soldier



His grisly fate is avenged swiftly as the British sniper team shoot him down



A mine strike from a Soviet-era relic stops the last-gasp attack of this Taliban unit



Five dead and one seriously wounded British soldiers (but miraculously not Holmes or his GPMG gunner!) make this a bad day for the British. They do maintain the connection between the two platoons and keep Company HQ safe, thus winning the game by 19-16.

Lesson for the day: the lack of nearby support for that fireteam meant that no one was available to give first aid, leading directly to the attempted Taliban capture.

Battle of Salamanca

Following the capture of Badajoz and Ciudad Rodrigo, Wellington advanced into Spain where Marshal Marmont’s Army of Portugal awaited him. The two armies sparred for position, each looking to catch the other at a disadvantage. When Marmont threatened the British supply lines, Wellington began a retreat, but still looked for an opportunity. On July 22nd, Marmont found a British force in plain view on a ridge and great clouds beyond the hills to the south. Thinking this was just a rearguard, Marmont made a fatal mistake. He extended his army to try and flank the defenders and catch up to what he thought was Wellington’s fleeing main body.

It turned out the “rear guard” was the left flank of Wellington’s army (the clouds were from the baggage train) and Marmont’s army became badly strung out and vulnerable before the hidden allied main body.



The French cavalry, along with some artillery move slowly through the woods on the right flank



The British, having kep to their ridge, tempt the cavalry to swoop out of the woods and into the flank of the Rifles, foolishly staying in line



With the joining in the general melee of a second French cavlary unit the British left is forced into square



The Portuguese advance en masse in the centre



The French are soon on the ropes and the Portuguese have the scent of a famous victory!



A French surge on their right overwhelms the British there and threatens to overrun the centre as well



The Portuguese General is under fire as the French left, until now spectators join in



The Portuguese cavalry on the British right finally move, putting pressure on the French line



The French counter attack from the hilltop, flanking one unit and driving them into the river!



The French right flank cuts off the Portuguese attack in the centre, which is unsupported by the British reserve units to the rear



Enfilading fire from the French artillery takes a fearful toll on the Portuguese



British light cavalry joins in the general struggle on the French left



But to no avail! French stern defence drives the cavalry from the field



Victory to the French! Perhaps the rest of the battlefield will favour the British...
Mr. Kinch, our splendid host on the night in question relates events on the other flank

Sweep and Clear

Sixth Company has been tasked to take the village of Lezhi, an outlying compound controlling the route deeper into Zhawar. The young lieutenant leading the attack underestimates the task ahead of him and brings just a single squad and its BMP-1 along with the platoon HQ and the attached BRDM-2.

The Soviet squad approaches the village



The Mujahideen machine gun overlooks the entire village and the approaches



It opens fire as the BMP advances and the vehicle brews up immediately - the crew bail out without injury



Chastened the Lieutenant calls up a fire team from the platoon as reinforcements - they pile into the field to cover the main advance, with support from the company's light mortars



The first fireteam, led by the Lieutenant reaches cover - the platoon's sniper specialist is in the lead



The other rifle fireteam, being led by the Platoon's senior NCo come under a concerted crossfire as they advance through the open ground. Taking serious casualties, they withdraw under the cover of the BRDM. The junior NCO takes command, putting fire downrange from an RPG, taking out a Mujahideen sniper team as he evacuates his comrades.



The Lieutenant still feels that there is potential for victory and an aggressive advance through the fields goes wrong. The Mujahideen behind the compound wall catch the advancing fireteam badly off guard



A pair of reinforcements turn up on a ridgetop, and they train their RPG on the armoured car's thin side armour. A timely strike from the light mortar takes them out before they can do any damage



The Soviets advance to the compound, enfilading the main body of the Mujahideen inside



With help from the BRDM, they clear the compound of resistance



The Mujahideen haven't given up yet, and some additional reinforcements head around the flank



Cruelly, just as the platoon appears to be finishing things off, a heavy mortar round knocks out the BRDM - questions remain unanswered as to where this fire came from...



A final firefight takes place, and control over the main compound is disputed



With none of their main objectives clearly held, this is a heavy defeat for the Soviets. They have taken two KIA and six more wounded (as well as both vehicles knocked out).

*****

Back at base, three of the wounded are appraised as being fit to return to duty almost immediately. The Senior NCO refuses to do more than convalesce in his tent; he may be an evil son-of-a-bitch, but he's tough as hell!. Two are evacuated to Baghram for surgery and will be replaced in due time. Two soldiers arrive from the depot to replace the dead: one of these is green as can be and joins 1st Squad. Another veteran joins 2nd Squad.

Despite their victory the insurgency's losses weigh heavily against the region's defenders - and disillusionment begins to creep in.

Sweep and Clear - Scenario

Battle of Zhawar - Lezhi

DRA forces, chronically under strength and with poor morale have failed in their attack on Zhawar, losing several APCs in the fierce night fighting. Sixth Company have been ordered to take up the slack and are spearheading the assault on the village of Lezhi.

Scenario Information

Duration of Game: 8 Turns
Initiative: Asymmetric – Soviets have Initiative for the duration of the game
Fog of War: Determined normally by Reaction Test rolls
Table Size: 4’x4’

SOVIET MISSION OBJECTIVE
Take control of the village, and prevent any possible escape or reinforcements via the mountain tracks.

SOVIET VICTORY CONDITIONS
Each Mujahideen Unit broken or destroyed +1
Each Mujahideen Leader killed or captured +1
Main Compound under control +15 [X]
Both Trail Exits under control +15 [Y & Z]

SOVIET FORCES

Soviet Motorised Platoon Basic Attributes

Confidence Level: Confident
Supply Level: Normal
Body Armour: Standard (1D)
Troop Quality/Morale: D8/D10

1x BDRM-2 (at A)

1x BMP-1 (at A)

Squad 1 (at A)

Rifle Team 1
2 Riflemen w/AKM
1 Grenadier w/AKM/UGL (Lt. Support, AP:1/AT:0)
1 Gunner w/RPK (Lt. Support, AP:1/AT:0)

Rifle Team 2
2 Riflemen w/AKM
1 Grenadier w/AKM/UGL (Lt. Support, AP:1/AT:0)
1 Gunner w/RPG (Lt. Support, AP:2/AT:1-M.)

Squad 2 (mounted in BMP-1 at A)

Rifle Team 1
2 Riflemen w/AKM
1 Grenadier w/AKM/UGL (Lt. Support, AP:1/AT:0)
1 Gunner w/RPK (Lt. Support, AP:1/AT:0)

Rifle Team 2
2 Riflemen w/AKM
1 Grenadier w/AKM/UGL (Lt. Support, AP:1/AT:0)
1 Gunner w/RPG (Lt. Support, AP:2/AT:1-M.)

MUJAHIDEEN MISSION OBJECTIVE
Defend this mountain fastness to the last man!

MUJAHIDEEN VICTORY CONDITIONS
Each Soviet soldier captured +4
Each Soviet soldier killed +2
Each Soviet soldier seriously wounded +1
Main Compound under control +15 [X]
Both Trail Exits not under Soviet control +15 [Y & Z]

MUJAHIDEEN FORCES
Deploy three Mujahideen units in the main compound, one in the satellite compound and one anywhere else.

Mujahideen Basic Attributes

Confidence Level: Confident
Supply Level: Normal
Troop Quality/Morale: D6/D10

Mujahideen Cell 1
1x Leader w/AK
1x Gunner w/RPG (Lt. Support, AP:2/AT:1-M)
6x Rifleman w/AK

Mujahideen Cell 2
1x Gunner w/RPK (Lt. Support, AP:1/AT:0)
1x Gunner w/RPG (Lt. Support, AP:2/AT:1-M)
7x Rifleman w/AK

Mujahideen Cell 3
1x Leader w/AK
1x Gunner w/RPG (Lt. Support, AP:2/AT:1-M)
6x Rifleman w/AK

DShK Team (No Weapon Team Bonus)
1x Gunner w/12.7mm DShK HMG (Hvy. Support AP:3/AT:1)
2x Assistant Gunners w/AK

Sniper Team (No Weapon Team Bonus)
1x Sniper w/ Dragunov SVD
1x Spotter w/AK

Special Rules

Mujahideen Reinforcements
Insurgency level is 3 and a d6 roll must be made equal to or lower than 3 to bring forces on to the table. If successful, the Taliban player rolls 2D6 and consults the Reinforcement Table.

REINFORCEMENTS RECEIVED

2 1D6 Mujahideen w/AKs, 1x Leader
3 1D6+1 Mujahideen w/AKs
4 1D6+1 Mujahideen w/AKs
5 1x Mujahideen RPG Gunner, 1x Assistant Gunner w/AK
6 1x Mujahideen PKM Gunner, 1x Assistant Gunner w/AK
7 2D6 Mujahideen w/AKs
8 2D6+1 Mujahideen w/AKs
9 2D6 Mujahideen w/AKs, 1 x Leader and 1x RPG Gunner
10 Motorcycle mounted RPG team - rider and pillion with AK and RPG
11 IED Trigger Man with Medium IED: AP:3/AT:2 (4” radius)
12 Motorcycle mounted Dicker - spotter for a medium mortar team

Trail Exits
Reduce the insurgency level for each trail exit the Soviets have a unit at.

Walls and Buildings
All stone walls and buildings provide a Solid Cover bonus (+1D). Buildings are rated at 6D8.

View the pdf

6th Company - Zhawar Campaign

Long-promised, I will begin running a Force on Force campaign tomorrow set during the Soviet-Afghan War. We'll follow the exploits of a motorised rifle platoon, initially against Zhawar, a Mujahideen logistics base in the Paktia Province in eastern Afghanistan.

The Soviet-Afghan War was primarily fought on the tactical level, but the strategic focus was a struggle by each side to strangle the others logistics lifeline.

The Mujahideen and Soviets spent a great deal of time and energy defending their logistics network and attacking the other's. The Mujahideen targeted the Soviet lines of communication-the crucial road network over which the Soviet and DRA supplies had to move and ambushed convoys or cut off roads at critical mountain passes. The first Soviet phase was to eliminate Mujahideen support in the countryside.

The Mujahideen responded by establishing a series of supply depots, transfer depots and forward supply points logistics bases inside Afghanistan. These logistics facilities made it easier to provision the Mujahideen, but these facilities also had to be defended. The second Soviet phase was to find and destroy the Mujahideen logistics facilities.

I'll post a pdf of the first two scenarios when I get back on Monday, and the game reports soon afterwards...

A Good Day to Die

A HCPS patrol has encountered a strong SLA presence near the failed mining centre of Sagatay and in moving in to clear out the insurgent forces. Unbeknownst to the HCPS they have happened across a major stronghold of the rebellion…

Art by KaanaMoonShadow

A brief recap of the setup can be found here.

The Human Co-Prosperity Sphere make their first moves on their right flank, but the first squad over the top takes some serious return fire as they make it to the top of the ridge



A combination of their fire with the APC backing them up destroys the main gun of the sentry bot on this side of the Sakhan defences



The Sakhans in the bunker begin to get a bit worried as they see the strength of the HCPS' other flank



But accurate fire from the outer defences put the first HCPS fireteam to ground



The rest of the assault on that flank begines to take shape as the scout squad hits the ridgeline



The Sakhan gunbots trundle into action, going past the disarmed pillbox



The technicians on their coffee break! Right before they head inside the bunker to begin sanitising the data



The armoured car on the ridgeline overlooking the base takes a long-range missile shot at the APC. Meanwhile on the Sakhan right the outlying team discover that their position behind some mining spoil is actually useless, and they withdraw to find more useful cover.

#

The shot hits true - brewing up the APC, the crew bails out - one is dead but the other two are only lightly wounded and they run. It would seem that most of the patrol's spare ammo was kept in the APC [The HCPS now counts as poorly supplied, costing its squadss two firepower dice!]



Return fire from the AT team knocks out the armoured car's drive system, leaving it perched on the ridgeline



The Sakhan sniper team, hidden in the brush choose their target wisely



Taking down the HCPS team no the extreme flank



Another team get a bird's eye view of the complex



The first of the Power Armour pairs gets into action, advancing through cover making a beeline for the second sentry bot



As this happens though an intense dust storm messes with sensors and makes long-range gunfire all but impossible - though vehicles and emplacements with high-end thermal sensors are able to cope. At the extreme end of their range the power armour pair and the gunbots trade fire, one gunbot is knocked out but one power armoured trooper also goes down



The light tank comes down off the ridge, firing at the sentry bot, but with only partial damage

#

It would seem that the HCPS equipment is made by the lowest bidder, as its machine gun conks out, it take a long-range missile shot from the immobile armoured car on the ridge and the tank explodes



The power armour shows how its done, taking out the second turret without too much trouble



The cover of the sandstorm, which seems to be slowing down the advance, now is recognised as a serious problem - the defensive fire will be ineffective and the attackers will be close-in before they can be stopped!



The second armoured car turns the corner and trains its autocannon on the rear-most squad



The Sakhan heavy infantry have withdrawn into the bunker proper and are nervously looking for targets



The second line of defence is realiging itself near a likely gap the attackers will have to cross



The defensive fire forces one of the HCPS teams back up the ridge into cover



The attack is blunted, and as the initiative passes to the Sakhan defenders they take the offensive



An aggressive move by the armoured car near the bunker sees him advance to seek out the enemy over the ridge. It has some success, though at the cost of some destroyed wheels, cutting it speed and manoeuvrability down significantly



As the tide turns, there is a break in the clouds and the battlefield clears. The defenders find the HCPS forces in open ground and a deadly concentration of fire proves the power armour all too vulnerable!



Holding the left flank, this lone fireteam hunkers down



Things are too hot for these guys, as they withdraw from the fight, even if the armoured car is backing away it's 30mm autocannon is out of their league. Back in the centre of the battlefield, the power armour duo are in the zone, and they begin to inflict some serious casualties on the Sakhans, including wiping out the sniper team. It's too little and too late though



The attack has been turned back and the database has been sanitised. Before pulling back the defenders even have the time to set demolition charges on the bunker to deny other, less vital information to the HCPS



Overlooking the battlefield, Commander Li berates himself. Using the power armour in pairs may be good for intimidating miners or overawing militia, but against serious opposition they amount to penny packets. The attack will be fatal to the career of Lieutenant Chen, but he was not liked back in the Prefecture HQ in any case...