FOW Vietnam AAR

Played a 1000 point game of FOW Vietnam today with Gary A. at 7th Dimension Games in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.   This was our second game of FOW Vietnam and we're still learning the rules.  There's quite a bit to learn.

Gary played a U.S. Infantry Company, backed up by an Armored Cavalry platoon, 2 Huey Hog Gunships, and an off board battery of 155mm guns.  The beautifully painted and modeled US armor and Hueys are by Gary, a very accomplished modeler.

I played the NVA.  An Infantry Battalion of two companies, one with 2 platoons, the other with 3 platoons.  An anti-air platoon of 3  x 12.7mm AA guns, a Mortar Platoon of 3 82mm mortars, and one HMG nest.

The scenario was Blocking Force.    In this scenario the attacker has been cut off by a blocking force to its front and additional enemy forces are coming on from its rear.   US was the attacker.   The US wins by taking either of the two objectives on the north side of the table.  The NVA wins by preventing them from doing so.

I started with only the 3-platoon infantry company and the 82 mm mortars on the table.  The other two companies (platoons-- NVA companies are the equivalent of US platoons) were in Guerrilla Reserve.

Battlefield looking south towards the US deployment area.

Looking North toward NVA deployment area.  The objectives are on the North side of the table.

Looking East

NVA Infantry Company deploys hidden in the jungle on the Northeast side of the table.

NVA Infantry lying in wait. 

NVA mortars deployed in the Northwest corner of the table.  Their FO was deployed in the jungle  further east

US Infantry advance northward on the west side of the table. 

The Armored Cavalry is a daunting sight to the NVA.  The US attacked  with two platoons abreast, the  Armored Cav. platoon in the center,

And the Huey Hogs watching from above.

The silence is broken by an NVA HMG nest concealed in the jungle.  It opens fire on the  US Infantry platoon moving up the west side of the table. 

US Infanty hit the dirt under fire from the concealed HMG next.

Shortly thereafter the NVA 12.7mm AA guns come on from Guerrilla Reserve, right behind the Huey Hogs and shoot both of them down!

  

Dead Hogs!

The Armored Cav have reached one of the objectives (the purple smoke is the objective)  and the NVA Infantry have to confront them or lose the battle.  The NVA swarm from the jungle firing their B40's.

 

Two Sheridans are bailed by B40 fire while an ACAV is destroyed.

NVA attempt to assault the bailed Sheridans

But are driven off by defensive fire from the ACAV's and supporting US Infantry

The US Infantry platoon on the east side of the board assaults the NVA that have just failed to close with the Sheridans.

A rash decision as the larger NVA, which is also rated Fearless for Morale, takes the blow, counterattacks and  swamps the Americans.   They wisely choose to break off after one turn of combat.

After several back and forth turns of fighting for the clearing  in which the objective was located, the  second NVA Company comes on from Guerrilla Reserve.

We played seven turns when I had to leave due to time.  By that time I'd lost the AA Platoon (they'd finally been taken out by the ACAV's after having killed the two Hogs and an ACAV) and the Infantry Company that had started the game on the table.  (I'd voluntarily withdrawn that when it was down to 3 stands--unfortunately I failed the Motivation test and thus it counted against my Company Morale).  

The US had lost the Helicopter platoon, 2 or 3 Sheridans  and a handful of ACAVs.   The US Infantry had taken a few casualties from each platoon. They hadn't been of much help as they'd spent a good part of the game pinned.  (These must have been short timers as they were simply not interested in moving again after taking a few hits).

I think that the NVA had he upper hand, although the result was still in doubt.  Kiling the Huey Hogs before they'd had a chance to unleash their Rocket Pods and Miniguns was huge.

Battle of Hanover Court House

Today Brian C., Rich and Byron P. played a Regimental Fire & Fury game at 7th Dimension Games in Jenkintown.

The scenario was the Battle of Hanover Court House, May 27, 1862, from the "On To Richmond" scenario book written for the Guns at Gettysburg Rules.  The rules used were Regimental Fire & Fury and the figures were 15mm.

This is a small scenario (only 6 Confederate regiments, 3 Union regiments at initial deployment).  The Confederate objective is to destroy the 3 Union regiments, the rearguard of the Union IVth Corps, before the reinforcements arrive.  They have 8 turns to do so.   There is a chance that the Union will receive two regiments in reinforcement from turn 4 on.

You'd think that outnumbering the Union 2 to 1 the Confederates wouldn't have much trouble, but then you wouldn't have counted on all the "1's" rolled by the Confederates or the amazing stand by the 44th NY.

Initial Union Deployment

Confederate Deployment

Rebel's attack Union Right

Confederate Left Advances

Union line moves back in an to avoid being outflanked.  Martin's Battery is silenced and damaged by Rebel Musketry

View from the Union Right

44th NY and 18th NC trade fire

Confederate Left flank, artillery in the center

The Union Commander decides it's better to take the fight to the enemy than wait to be outflanked.  The 44th NY supported by the 25th NY charges the 18th NC

18th NC driven back as the Union take their position.  All Disordered

While the 44th NY and 18th NC charge and counter-charge in the open, the 37th NC has moved through the woods and prepares to take the New Yorkers in the flank

Meanwhile over on the Union right the Rebels close in on the 2nd Maine.

The 44th NY taken in flank by the 37th NC while the 18th NC with support prepares to charge its front.  The New Yorkers look doomed.

The 44th NY's defensive fire disorders the Rebels charging them from the  front, but their charge is not checked and they close.

Miraculously the 44th stands, driving all the Rebel units back!  (the 44th changed into line formation  in their turn).

The 44th follow up its repulse of the charge by counter attacking,  but suffers a withering fire from the  combined  shooting of two Confederate regiments and a battery.

Shortly after this action the 9th Massachusetts arrived on the filed to reinforce the hard pressed Union force.  We ended the game at turn 6 when it became apparent that the Rebels would not be able to achieve their objective, which was to overwhelm the rearguard and drive it from the field. 

Another enjoyable RFF game.