Sweep and Clear in Phuoc Mei

Piers is working on a new Vietnam supplement for Ambush Alley and Force on Force: "Ambush Valley". He ran his playtest scenario at the Ambush Alley Ireland Day last Saturday.



The US force is tasked to search the seemingly peaceful village of Phuoc Mei. The Rules of Engagement forbid targeting civilians or calling in any artillery fire near buildings unless taking fire from them.

(As a player) I know that the VC must move supplies via porter off the table, but unless I split up my force four ways to cover all the roads I know I really have no way of preventing it. I reckon that opening fire on them first thing is definitely unsporting - they appear to be civilians after all!



A Local Monk and his attendant pray at the Statue of Buddha



A squad of local force Viet Cong lurk behind one of the larger hooches.



2nd Squad move cautiously along Western Road. In with them is a two-man OP team.



1st Squad advance up Southern Road. Leading them is the platoon command: Lieutenant Vanderbolt, his Radio Operator and the Medic.



The VC squad at the far side of the village move into the large hooch overlooking 1st Squad's advance.



Joe from 2nd Squad stands on a land mine. The first of the VC's cunning traps hits the US force.



With no idea of where the enemy is, but knowing something is going on 1st Squad fan out leaving the road.



Land mine causes two serious wounds in 2nd Squad. This is not good!



As 2nd Squad advance around the corner, a VC Sniper pops up out of spider hole, but he's gunned down immediately.



The OP Team hit by a grenade trap as they line up possible mortar targets inside the village. The Radio Operator is killed outright, but the observer takes over control of the radio.



The VC squad driven out of hut and back across the road by 1st Squad, taking heavy casualties.



A handful of VC emerge from tunnels east of village. This is just what we need!



2nd Squad advance on the hut, which is occupied by the Viet Cong commander, controlling a machine gun.



Just as 1st Squad begins to come to terms with the tactical complexity facing them, a full strength VC squad led by officer comes out of the tunnel next to the Buddha.



2nd Squad have taken heavy casualties, but have wiped out the VC's officer and the machine gun.



1st Squad take hut overlooking crossroads. They're now in a position to continue pouring fire onto the VC they've pushed out of the village, and take an overwatch position to control the crossroads.



The VC squad sneaks past monk. This is looking dangerous for 1st Squad. Whoever makes the first mistake in these close environs will surely be in a hurt locker.



2nd Squad takes casualties as it assaults hut in centre of village where three more VC have just appeared - there must be a tunnel leading into it!



1st Squad have moved into a small hut overlooking the Buddha statue but despite their success, there's still signs of activity from the VC officer there. Lieutenant Vanderbolt races around the corner to finish off this dangerous element himself, but is hit from the other side of the village. The Doc puts two rounds from his .45 into the VC officer himself, and turns around to slap the LT back onto his feet!



VC Machine Gun pops out of tunnel, but being far from the action makes the decision to go back into the tunnels to try to make it to the hut in the centre of the village 2nd Squad is now approaching...



2nd Squad make it there in time and seal the tunnel with C4. An Aid Station is set up once the hut is cleared and searched. The LT has had no luck in getting a Casevac chopper in, apparently battalion command thought this one would be a piece of cake, which would also explain the lack of mortar support (or could that be my inability to roll 4+ on a D8)



Another VC Squad turns up, but it may be too late.



The VC Machine Gun team takes fire before it can set up. With five hutches searched and secure, no civilian casualties and 32 confirmed VC kills. The platoon counts this as a victory. But at a high price: 4 KIAs and 8 WIAs, most of them from booby traps.



PFC Hogg contemplates the prospect of a BLT



Medevac finally arrives (after the game had ended!)



Some flavour shots post-game:

Village returns to peaceful ways



Getting buddy out of danger



VC bodycount



A great game, a narrow victory for the US, and I'm sure a successful supplement in the making. Plus my first order of 20mm ever has gone in to Britannia for some Vietnam stuff!

Ambush in the Sarobi District

Ambush in the Sarobi District

The 'Green Machine Gamers' down in Kildare ran Ambush Alley Ireland Day yesterday.
(See more of their stuff on The Guild here)
Had a blast, and it was great to finally meet, game with and chat with guys I'd been online with. They had three scenarios set up; the quality of the miniatures and terrain was top-notch. This one was run by Cyril.



A French column of four APCs has been ambushed by two large groups of Taliban while passing through an valley. The first APC has been hit by an IED, killing the driver and the gunner. The game begins with all the French infantry having debussed (sensibly!).

I played the Taliban on the left hand side of the French column. Our plan was to attempt to react as much as possible to elements at the front and rear of the enemy force, whilst doing enough to interfere with the central elements. With any success there, an option to move down from the slopes of the valley and assault from the rear of the column might present itself.

The rear of the French column is overlooked by a heavy MG on its right and a Taliban team in the compound on its left.



The front of the French column started off damaged, but all the other APCs were still mobile and still had their .50 calibre MGs manned. Initially these MGs attempted to suppress our squads, but good and measured reaction fire seriously wounded two of the three gunners.



The 2nd French squad takes casualties as it moves out. The French have chosen to move to their right, closing with the Taliban there and taking cover from the significant wooded areas.



The sniper team from the first APC looks for targets. We respond to their fire in a devastating manner, killing the shooter outright and seriously wounding the spotter.



Heavy MG takes aim along the French column, it will be very effective at punishing French fire-teams in the open.



French tail unit's attempt to shoot and scoot ends disastrously. The Taliban unit in the compound scores three kills and a serious wound, only taking one casualty in return.



French withdraw towards cover in good order. At this stage, whilst they've taken some serious casualties they look to be in good shape. They've found cover. Have wiped out one Taliban unit and the Taliban MG on their right and look like they'll be able to assault the Taliban unit right in front of them.



Despite protection of APCs French casualties continue to mount. The French brought the APCs off the road to act as cover from the fire coming from across the valley. At this stage the Taliban intercept some French radio chatter indicating that they're expecting support soon.



French APC and fireteam work their way around Taliban flank, well protected by the trees and in a good position to support an assault up the valley sides.



Taliban group take casualties as French consider their assault options.



French spearhead takes fire from multiple groups behind them.



The last operational APC is knocked out.



With burning APC hulk as cover Taliban rush across road to cut off French line of retreat. They have no idea what kind of support is coming, nor how quickly it's coming, so only this group makes the crossing, as it's judged that any other groups might be caught in the open.



Last intact French fireteam takes some hits.



French Tiger gunship arrives over battlefield.



It finds only three French infantrymen still fighting.



Tiger aims to wipe unit blocking road back to base, but takes heavy fire from the MG on the other side of the valley ans is forced to withdraw.



A spectacular victory for the Taliban. My units only took two casualties - my colleague on the other side of the valley took 11 or 12 (no surprise in the disparity in that since the French chose that side of the valley to close with). That for 23 infantrymen taken down.