Diversion

Sangin has been pummelled in the first major Taliban offensive in ages, though they slipped away at nightfall, intelligence suggests they’ll be back in the morning. A Company of the Royal Gurkha Rifles is sweeping in between the river and the canal to cut off them off when the Taliban spring a surprise of their own…

The Taliban occupy the outskirts of Sangin



The Gurkha patrol approaches the sturdy-looking compound on this side of the irrigation ditch



Taliban engage the Gurkhas as they cross the open ground to take control of the compound



The leading fire team takes fire as it enters the building from the courtyard - the sniper team look on helplessly, they can't draw a bead on the Taliban inside



Stiff resistance continues in the compound - two Taliban die hard



With the compound secured, the Gurkhas cross the irrigation ditch on the right flank



With control of the compound, a sniper team is on overwatch backed up by a fireteam on the roof



An IED goes off inside, despite the quick-reacting sniper team. The rooftop team scarpered, dragging their wounded man with them



Across the way, the leading section pushes through and clears the market

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Another IED trigger man catches up with the rear party - platoon HQ is organising the evacuation of the seriously wounded. The vigilant fire team on security see off the trigger man's efforts to hit a lucrative concentration



Back at the compound the sniper team takes on the goatherd - but thinks better of just shooting him, they take him prisoner instead



Evacuating the casualties



The lead section clears the green zone across the ditch - shutting down avenues for Taliban reinforcements to reach the area safely



A Soviet legacy mine takes out the remaining Taliban on the battlefield



A clear-cut victory for the British - after seeing the debacle the previous day this was a very disciplined approach by the British player.

We played this again (but no photos) with two complete novices, who showed some good nous and aggression. This time the Taliban came out on top (their player shows an unerring ability to get Fog of War cards!)

I'll post the scenarios here in a few days. Thanks for reading.