tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77363002618279340702024-03-13T13:59:04.562-07:00War for Slow ReadersWargaming an alternative timeline to the war in Angola 1975-89, the Falklands War 1982, the British Civil Wars 1639-51 and the Russian Civil War 1917-21Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-32518711032527059822022-12-02T18:51:00.003-08:002022-12-02T18:51:46.057-08:00Another Inconclusive Engagment in Northern Angola<p> We had another battle yesterday between the FNLA and FAPLA, and once again it ended with a small difference in victory points, this time only two in FAPLA's favour. So, another disputed victory, with both sides claiming the win.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaUUtqGAoiIa1ByAHCkjvqlx5_FzJTyamaiqjtYmmnkBZDNP68BcjL40pwPbXSCGarGw9OEbF1QmBBQ6ovlgfSZmmwpicvr3bO0xtw0Wka7heBMjy-gVA_-9qUT3JRdWe2SzofbsjDLK040GE-Q6iFfBbE46HfS_MPXun71ViGWLEZ6TWRnJtnMJCxSA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaUUtqGAoiIa1ByAHCkjvqlx5_FzJTyamaiqjtYmmnkBZDNP68BcjL40pwPbXSCGarGw9OEbF1QmBBQ6ovlgfSZmmwpicvr3bO0xtw0Wka7heBMjy-gVA_-9qUT3JRdWe2SzofbsjDLK040GE-Q6iFfBbE46HfS_MPXun71ViGWLEZ6TWRnJtnMJCxSA" width="320" /></a></div><br />This is the table before deployment. FAPLA are attacking and three objectives are underlined running along a diagonal: the Western Union Billboard top right; a wrecked Mercedes at the crossroads in the centre; and a destroyed T-34 on the hill bottom right. We find if the attacker places the objectives like this then he (or she) is guaranteed to be close to at least one obejctive regardless of which table edge he/she comes on. Of course, the defender doesn't know the points allocated to the objectives but this time the FNLA had FAPLA deploying along the table edge marked in red. As luck would have it this put the 30 point objective, the T-34, furthest away and the 20 point objective, the Western Union Billboard, closest. The 10 pointer was the damaged Mercedes at the cross roads.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUcy2CSsnUokzqR9nX4udLchR0rr-tuFNBI2WgLccOM9SoCDSwTLBurkK0KDJpEKqFiuIZLqLES6u6LGdDYDxXhYfeWi92EEE56aNaZGCjb2QRLCLEvpVt6bRdCnoFWmaMFtcCdIXQQHxHBeAeO0W9yn8O6BhTFHkndbjtaPr-9xDq84T7p1bIVeOp4A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUcy2CSsnUokzqR9nX4udLchR0rr-tuFNBI2WgLccOM9SoCDSwTLBurkK0KDJpEKqFiuIZLqLES6u6LGdDYDxXhYfeWi92EEE56aNaZGCjb2QRLCLEvpVt6bRdCnoFWmaMFtcCdIXQQHxHBeAeO0W9yn8O6BhTFHkndbjtaPr-9xDq84T7p1bIVeOp4A=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br />Most of the action took place in the early turns. The FNLA deployed one of their best units in the open around the objective on the hill (seven technicals, two armed with recoiless rifles and five with HMGs, togther with five infantry groups) and FAPLA immediately called in an airstrike as their T-34s and BRDMs began advancing across the table. This proved devastating and softened up the FNLA so much that the tanks successfully rolled up the survivors and secured the objective.<p></p><p>The FNLA did spring an ambush as the communist armour drove past but their recoiless rifles based in the town missed with every shot, much to the chagrin of their commander.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglHp3rS40Z8c7C_XByBj3NHiN4X1rtYTyK_HpgwP9nU-5zhVtm0NjkipjvAFrcvgEQXHEFuRA61jbkC6CmE894oyA472KDMKmENiYKIGy5A3uavc-E056MXwaZwWEQxpKcSsRu2cdTXNlfH5CIK9xf-GoabmYd57qnP5FGQWp70YaxJFASNchd07ZmrQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglHp3rS40Z8c7C_XByBj3NHiN4X1rtYTyK_HpgwP9nU-5zhVtm0NjkipjvAFrcvgEQXHEFuRA61jbkC6CmE894oyA472KDMKmENiYKIGy5A3uavc-E056MXwaZwWEQxpKcSsRu2cdTXNlfH5CIK9xf-GoabmYd57qnP5FGQWp70YaxJFASNchd07ZmrQ" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Things didn't go quite as well for FAPLA elsewhere. They committed the one other unit that arrived on time a militia unit whose Cuban advisors had gone AWOL and so elected to send in the overall commander to bolster their morale. A rapid assault forestalled any FNLA protective fire from artillery but the attack went badly as can be seen from the photo above - only one pin has been inflicted on the defenders but several attacking groups have been destroyed. The pink die of death denotes the morale hits. Shortly after this the unit failed another morale test and routed - taking the overall commander with it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">During the political manoeuvre the FNLA had successfully depayed the arrival of FAPLA reserves so when they did turn up it was too late to take any other objectives. Both sides were very wary as the game clock wound down and as dusk fell the result was inconclusive. The FNLA had denied FAPLA the 20 and 10 points objectives and destroyed a militia unit and killed their overall commander; FAPLA had secured the 30 point objective and destroyed a regular unit. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In hindsight either side could have won but mistakes and luck denied them both a victory.</div><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-29281983721067561372022-11-29T17:38:00.002-08:002022-11-29T17:40:16.093-08:00Colonel Callan and Commandante Roberto in Northern Angola<p> Last night saw Paul (AKA 'Colonel Callen') and Rob ('Commandante Roberto') play their first game of Classic AK47 Republic using my Angolan Civil War & Border War Supplement.</p><p>Commandante Roberton had a mixed force of the military wing of the Angolan Marxist MPLA (FAPLA) and Cubans under his command. Mixed is putting it mildly. He had a unit of crack Cuban Special Forces mounted in GAZ jeeps, some armour and Angolan infantry of questionable quality with attached Cuban advisors to provide stiffening. Fortunately he had successfully secured air support from the Cuban base near Luanda under the command of his good friend Teniente Coronel Wootton...</p><p>The CIA backed FNLA commanded by Colonel Callan were also a very mixed bunch, ranging from a mob of hired thugs and students in a school bus and a commandeered truck, to Callan and his mercenaries, only some of whom had previous miltary experience, mounted in jeep and pick-up trucks as 'mobile hunter-killer groups'. The FNLA leader, Holdon Roberto, had had words with his brother in law the President of Zaire, and the latter had promised a big artillery bombardment if the communists came too close to the Zairian border.</p><p>The FNLA were defending and only three of their five units turned up. To make matters worse, word came through that Callan's second in command, 'Shotgun Charlie' was some way away and unlikely to be avaibale until turn 6 at the earliest. Callan deployed for an all round defence and waited for the Cuban column to arrive.</p><p>Commandante Roberto also had three units on table to begin with. These were all of his heavy armour and a unit of infantry. He elected to secure one objective with the infantry and drive on the town in the centre of the table with his armour. The lack of infantry support was a worry but when plans go awry one has to improvise.</p><p>Two passes by Cuban piloted MiGs dealt to the FNLA militia unit in their Toyota technicals.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVdA4JIHdsdiELRFIOGXc4xo9xCLUUMczasHG4VTQ_knSPwJNbj934EdgVKL2X46vDr4S_kAFzFUI74CQAcZDxaTI6Q2qEofvjw-WcnaTROBTuRLx-r-1C8Vu6KHkHiqyvCCl263yrnnc1iH-PAXOMhTXlWqESZYdUU7QVMG_YF4dPqrxO3cLMqjA0Q/s2973/FNLA%20Militia%20Technicals.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2807" data-original-width="2973" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVdA4JIHdsdiELRFIOGXc4xo9xCLUUMczasHG4VTQ_knSPwJNbj934EdgVKL2X46vDr4S_kAFzFUI74CQAcZDxaTI6Q2qEofvjw-WcnaTROBTuRLx-r-1C8Vu6KHkHiqyvCCl263yrnnc1iH-PAXOMhTXlWqESZYdUU7QVMG_YF4dPqrxO3cLMqjA0Q/w400-h378/FNLA%20Militia%20Technicals.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>In further bad news, the surviving technicals seemed to have run out of fuel and were immobile, rendering them easy targets for the FAPLA T-34 tanks and BRDM armoured cars...</p><p>The T-34s drove into the village and were promptly ambushed by Callan's infantry wielding RPGs and LAWs. This ambush was very successful, so much so that Callan, who had been praying for dusk to allow him to withdraw, could see there was hope after all. Shotgun Charlie still hadn't turned up, probably contemplating a return to his old career of holding up sub post offices in the Midlands, but Callan launched a fercious attack on the FAPLA armour using recoiless rifles and heavy machine guns mounted on landrovers and jeeps.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ptFw-gXD1NNTFJl0rL3SudfSo1CkGfw4e8gZkVUtFxOLSg0KDMW-zlQ41GfGyjlP8KhYxJLIk4KdgNJL8QWYatztqQQRbPoblNKEVxUmu2mkgtsd1_sjjHLXdVPNsPqXAHTgOZfgjMWonCulYaJevolKgcwbJQnPdDtb9gU3rhozJl_qvaOJzaJMGQ/s4000/20221130_133926.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ptFw-gXD1NNTFJl0rL3SudfSo1CkGfw4e8gZkVUtFxOLSg0KDMW-zlQ41GfGyjlP8KhYxJLIk4KdgNJL8QWYatztqQQRbPoblNKEVxUmu2mkgtsd1_sjjHLXdVPNsPqXAHTgOZfgjMWonCulYaJevolKgcwbJQnPdDtb9gU3rhozJl_qvaOJzaJMGQ/w400-h300/20221130_133926.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>This proved spectacularly successful and a whole unit of BRDMs were destroyed or abandoned by their crews. One had merely been peppered with machine gun fire but having seen two of their comrades' vehicles blow up the Angolan crew lost all socialist zeal...</p><p>FAPLA reinforcements soon arrived to take Callan's position in the rear however. The promised artillery bombardment from Zaire had proved ineffectual and there was still no sign of Shotgun Charlie so Callan redeployed and took on a combined force of Cuban Special Forces and MPLA infantry. As the shadows lengthened both sides were showing signs of weakening...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBn4T2hSLsFIHSsnMHW-LcP3lPaZpDRTffZgZVKXEFGpxX2MsJMTa-8c4oBOuhZTX2RtfeBM6VkyVLUhcmB-7JCg01AZttL-PiKAj-BUpsYX1y3dGayCIygC9uwaeDVkRXlhvaFvjWHaVFS9ymYAOaP4eWkl6jDsuI9MsRXWKdao6PlVVSpG47tnAbg/s4000/20221130_134005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBn4T2hSLsFIHSsnMHW-LcP3lPaZpDRTffZgZVKXEFGpxX2MsJMTa-8c4oBOuhZTX2RtfeBM6VkyVLUhcmB-7JCg01AZttL-PiKAj-BUpsYX1y3dGayCIygC9uwaeDVkRXlhvaFvjWHaVFS9ymYAOaP4eWkl6jDsuI9MsRXWKdao6PlVVSpG47tnAbg/w400-h300/20221130_134005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>In the above photo Cuban GAZ jeeps are tradig shots with one of Callan's and supporting a close assault on the few mercenaries still holding the objective. In the foreground FAPLA infantry with RPGs are getting ready to let loose at one of Callan's jeeps.</p><p>Then, in an episode of gratuitous irony, supprt arrived for Callan, not in the form of Shotgun Charlie and his recoiless rifles and ex-paratroopers and postmen, but the FNLA political cadre, AKA thugs, in their 'caravan of courage'. Having got lost behind the Marxist lines they were thirsty so made straight for Timothy's bar in town who, having found fuel for his generator from somewhere, had got the fridge going and could supply ice cold Simba beer...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaNi-4pCpSP4bd45DA1HmDhISNEXa_R-KmkL5767OjdcXBv0zzDa8agQn33qqUWH18kubsPUDFfqSODW4oi9TEt_2ymVWDXGa87VXNS-zQ31M6QvxoOSkM6zNFobnSWsiozd0oJdvXJ7Ld2W4Zn3HX_tEnq4RKbI3zG-CDcTte_G97KzTtwCToVNvIA/s4000/20221130_133804.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaNi-4pCpSP4bd45DA1HmDhISNEXa_R-KmkL5767OjdcXBv0zzDa8agQn33qqUWH18kubsPUDFfqSODW4oi9TEt_2ymVWDXGa87VXNS-zQ31M6QvxoOSkM6zNFobnSWsiozd0oJdvXJ7Ld2W4Zn3HX_tEnq4RKbI3zG-CDcTte_G97KzTtwCToVNvIA/w300-h400/20221130_133804.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>The game clock wound down shortly thereafter and when the wash up was done a mere five points seperated the protagonists. In the words on the rules: 'a disputed military outcome with no clear victor'.</p><p>The political outcome was up for grabs however and both sides propagandists are claiming a resounding win. The fighting isn't over however...</p>Thanks to Paul, Rob and Nigel for coming and playing and being such good sports.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-57899339183108441672020-05-21T16:47:00.003-07:002020-05-21T17:19:04.562-07:00The Spring Recoils: SADF Counter Attack<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 28.0pt;">AK47 Campaign 2020</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">54 Bn
Yankee Base: Eenhana</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Angolan
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Epembe</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 18.0pt;">Scenario 5: </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">After the defeat of the FAPLA forces at Yankee Base the SADF
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forces.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WatYhZGtWFQ/XscSUUVvyKI/AAAAAAAAF20/BG22eiV-2uM1dyvVyf1jtQCmycxAIBBrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/internacionalismo-angola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="278" data-original-width="400" height="442" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WatYhZGtWFQ/XscSUUVvyKI/AAAAAAAAF20/BG22eiV-2uM1dyvVyf1jtQCmycxAIBBrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/internacionalismo-angola.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cuban and Angolan FAPLA soldiers re-group at the border after the defeat at YANKEE Base</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Terrain<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">undulating scrub with the odd native settlement and one road bisecting
the table from the centre of one long edge to the opposite edge <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">1.</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">. </span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Both players roll a</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-indent: -18pt;">die. The
highest-scoring player is the Attacker.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">2. The Attacker picks
a table quarter to attack from. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">3. The Defender
defends from the opposite quarter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">4. Both players,
starting with the Attacker, place one Objective in their own quarter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">5. Both players,
again starting with the Attacker, place one Objective in their opponent’s
quarter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 18.0pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">6. All Objectives
must be at least 8”/20cm from all table edges and at least 12”/30cm from the
table centre.. <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<p class=MsoNormal>
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<table class=MsoTableGrid border=1 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0
style='border-collapse:collapse;border:none;mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;
mso-yfti-tbllook:1184;mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:0;mso-yfti-firstrow:yes;height:77.35pt'>
<td width=234 valign=top style='width:175.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
height:77.35pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:
0cm;margin-left:21.3pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:normal'>
<span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Attacker Deploys here and 30
cm from centre of table<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>(place
objectives as above)<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
<td width=227 valign=top style='width:6.0cm;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
border-left:none;mso-border-left-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:
solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:77.35pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
Attacker’s Reserves Arrive Here<o:p></o:p></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style='mso-yfti-irow:1;mso-yfti-lastrow:yes;height:84.85pt'>
<td width=234 valign=top style='width:175.5pt;border:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
border-top:none;mso-border-top-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;mso-border-alt:
solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:84.85pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
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<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
Defender’s Reserves arrive here<o:p></o:p></p>
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none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;border-right:solid windowtext 1.0pt;
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mso-border-alt:solid windowtext .5pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
height:84.85pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
<o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Defender
Deploys here & 30cm from centre of table<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;
line-height:normal'>
<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>(place
objectives as above)<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal>
<o:p> </o:p></p>
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<![if !mso]></td>
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">DEPLOYMENT</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">1. Both players undertake political manouevre<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">2. Both players select up to three of their units to deploy and hold the
rest in Delayed Reserve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">3. The Reserves will arrive from the long table edge adjacent to the
player’s quarter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">4. Both players, starting with the Attacker, then take turns at placing
a deployed Unit in their own quarter, at least 12”/30cm from the table centre. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">WHO GOES FIRST</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Both players roll a die. The highest scoring player has the first turn.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">WINNING THE GAME <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">At game end award 20 points for capturing an objective in the enemy’s
quarter and 5 points per enemy unit destroyed. Player with highest points total
wins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">SPECIAL RULES <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">DELAYED RESERVES (BOTH PLAYERS) Neither side may deploy more than 3
units on the table. The remainder must be held in Reserve. The entire Unit must
be In Command at the end of its Movement in the turn it arrives from Reserves.
Attachments and their core Unit must arrive from the same point, although
Passengers may be Mounted or Dismounted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">ROLL FOR RESERVES At the start of the player’s third turn, they roll a
die. On a roll of 5+ their first Unit arrives from the Reserve. It may be any
Unit of their choice, but must arrive now. The Reserves move on from the long
table edge adjacent to their table quarter at the start of their Movement Step.
At the start of their fourth turn, they roll two dice. Each roll of 5+ results
in another Unit arriving from their Reserves. They keep rolling at the start of
each of their following turns adding one more die than the previous turn, so at
the start of turn five they roll three dice, at the start of turn six they roll
four dice, and so on. Each roll of 5+ brings another Unit on from the player’s
Reserves. If a player rolled three or more dice to get Reserves in this turn,
but failed to score any rolls of 5+, they automatically receive one Unit from
Reserve anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Game Length</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">As per AK 47 Rules<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Order of Battle<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>SADF</b> 800 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>C in C</b>: 25 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Political Manouevre</b>: 36 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">1 x Artillery Bombardment 24 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Unit 1: Tank Troop Regular<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
3 x Oliphants 198 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Unit 2: Infantry Platoon Regular<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">6 x Small Arms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">3 x RPG<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">3 x Unimog Trucks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">120 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Unit 3: Infantry Platoon Regular<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
6 x Small Arms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">3 x RPG<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">3 x Unimog Trucks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">120 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Unit 4: Recce Troop Regular<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
3 x Eland Armoured Cars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">120 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Unit 5: Special Forces Troop Professional<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
2 x Landrovers with HMGs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">1 x Landrover with RR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">3 x small arms groups<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">156 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">FAPLA</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <b>800 pts<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>C in C:</b> 25 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Political Manouevre</b>: 41 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
2 x Arty Bombardment 50 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Unit 1: Tank Platoon</b> Regular <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">3 x T 55 180 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Unit 2: Tank Platoon</b> Regular <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">3 x T 55 180 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<b>Unit 3: Special Forces</b> Professional<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">2 x GAZ jeeps with RR<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">2 x GAZ Jeep with HMG<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">130 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Unit 4 Infantry Platoon</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> Militia (stiffened to Regular)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">1 x Prof Small arms <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">6 x Small Arms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">3 x RPG<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">80 pts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">Unit 4</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"> <b>Infantry Platoon</b> Militia (stiffened to Regular)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">1 x Prof Small arms <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">6 x Small Arms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">3 x RPG<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">3 x URAL Trucks<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">125 pts<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-28924756050438725992020-05-10T18:30:00.000-07:002020-05-10T18:30:06.680-07:00SADF Holds the Line: FAPLA Attack Beaten Back<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Captain van Vleet climbed out of the turret of his Oliphant tank and checked his watch again. There was a low rumbling to the north. 'Smitty! Get on the blower to the loggies and find out when we can expect them.'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The radio operator reported to his commanding officer a few minutes later. It wasn't good news. 'The fuel tankers have been held up sir - apparently SWATF has traffic priority'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Bloody hell. We can't move without gas...'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">________________________________________________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mechanic shook his head at Teniente Lopez, 'I can't fix this without spares,' he said in Russian. Lopez sighed. This was the second vehicle that had broken down in the past hour. They were due to attack at 0700 and that was only two hours away.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lopez turned to the Angolan officer nominally in command of the battalion group. 'We should ask brigade for a postponement,' we're already under-strength and we're beyond the range of our artillery support.' </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Major Marcos shrugged. 'The Boers haven't stopped running for a week. Now is the time to strike hard!'</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great, thought Lopez, today of all days this clown chooses to assert his authority...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">_________________________________________________________________________</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The game started with political manoeuvre and the South Africans managed to upgrade their troop of three Oliphants to professional status and then promptly lost all three tanks to fuel shortages, along with one of the Ratel MICVs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For their part the FAPLA force lost a T 55 and a BTR 60 to mechanical breakdown.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The SADF deployed their mortar platoon on table in the Kraal template, thereby securing the objective there. The two other dismounted infantry platoons were in ambush. The Oliphants were off-table and immobile and played no part in the game. The mechanised infantry platoon (less one Ratel) was also off-table in reserve.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FAPLA massed on their left flank, two tank platoons up, followed by the motor rifle platoon with infantry mounted. The BRDM recce unit was deployed on the road and the mortars in the rear.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FAPLA advances straight into the SADF ambush. Despite losing their most potent anti-tank weapons i.e. three tanks to fuel shortages the SADF have massed RPGs and Recoiless Rifles at the decisive point.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meanwhile reinforcements in the shape of the mechanised infantry platoon arrive quickly and consolidate the hold on the objective in the kraal.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FAPLA's tanks and APC mounted HMGs bang away at the dug in SADF infantry with little effect. As the game clock runs down they send in the infantry in a desperate assault...which fails...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> The result was a surprise given the SADF's lack of anti-tank weapons. On further analysis it was apparent that long range fire tank and machine gun fire wasn't going to kill off dug in defenders. FAPLA didn't have enough infantry to force the issue and carry the position either. Mortar fire was ineffective and there was no heavy artillery support.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it was a case of clever deployment, using the ambush rule, by the SADF and a FAPLA force that was not suited or equipped to take a well-defended position. Heavy artillery and an airstrike may have made the difference but, in keeping with the campaign narrative, FAPLA has out-run its supporting artillery and the Soviet and Cuban advisors weren't sending MiGs over Namibian airspace and out from under their SAM umbrella.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A convincing victory for the defending South African forces!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-36816294616669448462020-05-08T20:00:00.002-07:002020-05-08T20:00:52.708-07:00Hold the Line Axis of Advance Campaign Scenario 4<div class="MsoNormal">
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<b><span style="font-size: 28pt; line-height: 42.9333px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AK47 Campaign 2020<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">54 Bn
Yankee Base: Eenhana</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Angolan -Namibian Border</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Epembe</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Junction</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Contact!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chiede</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Evale</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">PLAN</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Bde HQ</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Mongua</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Township</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;">Xangango</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Front HQ & Airfield</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">< PLAN/Cuban Axis of Advance –
SADF / UNITA Axis of Advance ></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scenario 4: Hold the Line</span></b></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Background</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FAPLA managed to outflank the SADF on the Angolan-South West African/Namibian Border and have penetrated into South African controlled territory. At this stage it appears their operation is merely exploitation of an unexpected (and lucky) success and is unlikely to be anything more than a raid. The absence of air support (beyond combat air patrols) and heavy artillery supports this assessment. The situation is serious for both sides however, as this is already something of a propaganda coup for Luanda and Havana.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>FAPLA Briefing</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our success at the border means the enemy has fallen back to defend their battalion base in this sector. They are not organised and their reserves are spread thin. You must crush their resistance at this point to allow us to open a path to victory!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take at least one objective.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>SADF Briefing </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The communists got lucky at the border but they have exploited a gap in our defence system. We have to mount a successful defensive action here or else they raid Yankee Base and claim a propaganda victory regardless of the military result. Reinforcements are on their way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hold the objectives and push the enemy back.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Terrain<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gently undulating scrub. A metalled road runs from the centre of one short table edge to the opposite edge. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is a sparsely populated area with only one native Kraal in the approximate centre of the table.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the rainy season so: </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The scrub is high and provides concealment to infantry.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Victory Conditions & Points<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As per Flames of War 2<sup>nd</sup> Edition p204. Victory points calculated using AK47 rules p42 excluding objectives and the final six criteria.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mvcKhFcrjc/XrYck9ukJLI/AAAAAAAAFyA/grrbaRKJk2s1N31p76QWgZSjeoSmSxq5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/scnario%2B4%2Bphoto%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1541" data-original-width="1600" height="616" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mvcKhFcrjc/XrYck9ukJLI/AAAAAAAAFyA/grrbaRKJk2s1N31p76QWgZSjeoSmSxq5gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/scnario%2B4%2Bphoto%2B1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>The battlefield after the defender (blue) and attacker (red) have placed an objective each </i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Deployment<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SADF are defending.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Deploy as per Flames of War 2<sup>nd</sup> Edition p204. At least two, and up to three, SADF platoons may be held off table in reserve. Up to two one table platoons may be in ambush. The on-table infantry platoons may be dug in modifying the attacker's shooting dice roll by -2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Game Length<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As per AK 47 Rules<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Order of Battle</b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>SADF</b> 800 pts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">C in C: 25 pts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Political Manouevre:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> 32 pts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unit 1: Tank Troop Regular</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 x Oliphants 198 pts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unit 2: Infantry Platoon Regular</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6 x Small Arms</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 x RPG</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 x HMG</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 x RR 125 pts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unit 3: Infantry Platoon Regular</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6 x Small Arms</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 x RPG</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 x HMG</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 x RR 125 pts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unit 4: Mechanised Infantry Platoon Regular</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6 x Small Arms</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 x RPG</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 x Ratel MICV with HMG 195 pts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unit 5: Mortar Platoon Regular</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 x Mortars</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 x Truck 100 pts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>FAPLA</b> 799 pts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">C in C: 25 pts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Political Manouevre:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> 25 pts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 x Arty Bombardment 25 pts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unit 1: Tank Platoon Regular </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 x T 55 180 pts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unit 2: Tank Platoon Regular </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 x T 55 180 pts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unit 3: Motor Rifle Platoon Militia Stiffened</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6 x Small Arms</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 x RPG</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 x Prof small arms</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 x BTR 60 with HMG 212 pts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unit 4: Recce Platoon Militia Stiffened</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 x BRDM armoured cars with HMG</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 x Prof small arms 77 pts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unit 5 Mortar Platoon Militia </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3 x Mortar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1 x Truck 75 pts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-64414041374945495192020-05-07T19:17:00.001-07:002020-05-07T19:17:33.450-07:00After Action Report Scenario 3 Axis of Advance Campaign.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So after a bit of a delay due to real life I finally played out the third scenario in my Axis of Advance Campaign set during the Border War in Southern Angloa and Namibia in the 1980s.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Previous posts outline the scenario and orders of battle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After receiving one upgrade to a unit each during the political manouevre </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">phase </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(SADF tank unit from regular to professional; FAPLA mortar unit from militia to regular) the two sides deployed as follows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The SADF have used both of their dismounted infantry platoons to secure the two FAPLA objectives and have positioned their other infantry platton, mounted in Ratel MICVs on their left, poised to advance to their objective in the right foreground. Their armour is deployed in support but more centrally.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FAPLA have secured the SADF objective in the right foreground with a dismounted motor rifle platoon and BTR 60s. Their two tank platoons and remaining motor rifle platoon is deployed centrally and could go left or right. The mortar platoon secures the other SADF objective in the right background.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A combination of SADF off table artillery and fire support from the tanks and armoured cars took a heavy toll of the FAPLA platton defending their left flank objective.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SADF did make an error by pushing their armoured cars too far forward during what was otherwise a textbook combined arms assault. The error was the cost them their armoured car troop, all of which was destroyed by FAPLA T55s and RPGs. The pink die denotes the end for the FAPLA infantry platoon however - three morale strikes and they are out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So with an objective secure and one FAPLA platoon destroyed the game looked like it had gobe to the SADF. Then FAPLA switched focus and after banging away, largely ineffectually, with tanks and mortars against the SADF platoon holding FAPLA's right flank objective the latter mounted a desperate assault. One squad of FAPLA infantry were hit whilst still aboard their BTR 60 but an Oliphant was brewed up by a luck shot from a T 55 and the defending SADF infantry fell prey to two poor morale dies throws meaning they fled. On the last turn of the game FAPLA secured the objective! The pink die shows the FAPLA platoon that won the day was only one morale point from breaking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, with the honours even regarding objectives captured the SADF had lost two units to FAPLA's one (although FAPLA had lost a couple of tanks and a BTR 60 with a full squad aboard in its other units). Nevertheless the only stat that counted was the two units to one...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A narrow victory for FAPLA.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-76576392794319959422020-05-06T22:18:00.001-07:002020-05-07T19:26:12.874-07:00Narrow win for FAPLA at the Border. SADF mobilises in response.<h2>
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Rand Daily Mail 3rd February 1983</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Reports from the South West African border of several clashes between SADF and SWAPO terrorists backed by Angolan government forces indicate the long running border war is escalating.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Sources in Pretoria yesterday confirmed that elements of 82 Mechanised Brigade were called on to support 54 Battalion as Angolan army units approached the border.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>'The communists were deployed in combat formation and were operating in strength,' stated a SADF source on the condition of anonymity.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>'They crossed the border at several points and our troops engaged them in a firefight and inflicted severe casualties, ' he said.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>'82 Mechanised Brigade as deployed as a precaution in support of 54 Battalion. Several prisoners were taken by our forces, including some Cuban mercenaries.'</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>'Fighting is continuing and the SADF will mobilise more forces to eliminate the communist incursion'</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Andersson put down the newspaper and took a pull on his beer. Outside it was pandemonium. He'd never seen so much military traffic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'Hey Jacob! Another beer, and is that telephone working? I have to call our office in J</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ohannesburg'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He scribbled a few notes and looked outside again. Now they were shifting the big guns...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'Something's up. I think the commie's might be coming south,' he mused.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>FAPLA won a narrow victory and unexpected victory in the latest game in my campaign. Full AAR to follow</b>.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-62120564920072976092020-05-02T19:50:00.002-07:002020-05-02T19:50:39.967-07:00Border Clash!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ak47 Campaign 2020<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">54 Bn Yankee Base: Eenhana<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Angolan
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Epembe</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Junction</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">< PLAN/Cuban Axis of Advance – SADF /
UNITA Axis of Advance ></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scenario 3:
Free For All On The Border<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Background</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FAPLA successfully outflanked elements of SADF 54 battalion at
Epembe Junction. They are now pressing forward and have reached the Angolan-South
West African Border and show no signs of stopping. The SADF has mobilised heavy
armour from 82 Mechanised Brigade to restore the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Terrain<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gently undulating scrub. A metalled road runs perpendicular to
the border and crosses it in the centre of the table. There is a small settlement
at the border crossing and a native kraal on the Namibian side some way to the
south east.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the rainy season so:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The scrub is high and provides concealment to infantry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Victory Conditions & Points<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As per Flames of War
2<sup>nd</sup> Edition p202. Victory point calculated using AK47 rules p42 excluding
objectives and the final six criteria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deployment<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As per Flames of War 2<sup>nd</sup> Edition p202.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Game Length<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As per AK 47 Rules<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FAPLA Briefing<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have broken the racist incursion into our country and
have them on the run. Luanda has authorised us to take the fight to the enemy.
This means we will cross into Namibia and any fascist force encountered must be
dealt with ruthlessly before they stabilise the line. Our victory will demonstrate
the superiority of our system over apartheid!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You must seize one of your objectives before the enemy takes
one of theirs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SADF Briefing<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">54 Battalion encountered unexpected opposition form regular
FAPLA units during their external operation against PLAN. All reports indicate
they have had to execute a tactical withdrawal. The exact whereabouts of the
pursuing FAPLA units is unknown. We have mobilised elements of 82 Mechanised Brigade
to support 54 Battalion. FAPLA cannot be allowed to cross the border in any
strength – this would be a propaganda disaster and undermine our authority all
across South-West Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You must seize one of your objectives before the enemy takes
one of theirs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Order of
Battle</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SADF 800 points<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charlie Company (-) 54 Battalion (Modular) + elements
of 82 Mechanised Brigade<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Command + HQ Support 25 points<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Political manoeuvre 33 points<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x Command team<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x HQ team<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Up to 2 artillery bombardments @ 25 points each: 50 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Platoon: Regular 195 points<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x Ratel APC @ 35 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 x small arms teams @ 60 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x RPG teams @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Platoon: Regular 198 points<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x Oliphant Tanks @ 66 points</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 Platoon: Regular 90 points<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 x small arms teams @ 60 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x RPG teams @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 Platoon: Regular 90 points<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 x small arms teams @ 60 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x RPG teams @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recce Troop: Regular 120 points<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x Eland Armoured Cars (tank gun) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span></u></b>
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>FAPLA 800 points</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Command + HQ Support 25 points<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Political manoeuvre 33 points<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x Command team <b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x HQ team<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x Airstrike @ 40 points<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Platoon Militia 185 points<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 x small arms teams @ 42 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x RPG teams @ 21 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x APC with HMG @ 105<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x Cuban advisor ‘stiffening’ @ 17 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Platoon Militia 185 points<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 x small arms teams @ 42 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x RPG teams @ 21 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x BTR60 APC with HMG @ 105 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x Cuban advisor small arms team ‘professional stiffening’
@ 17 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 Platoon Regular 120 points<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 x T55 @ 120 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 Platoon Regular 120 points<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 x T55 @ 120 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 Platoon Mortar Militia 92 points<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x mortar teams @ 60 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x Cuban advisor small arms team ‘professional stiffening’
@ 17 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x URAL truck @ 15 Points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wco-wddntg0/Xq4wyYjh1SI/AAAAAAAAFws/uXov3XT3Jm0Ca7f4B95j-c5J2zVdtziAwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Scenario%2B3%2BPhoto%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wco-wddntg0/Xq4wyYjh1SI/AAAAAAAAFws/uXov3XT3Jm0Ca7f4B95j-c5J2zVdtziAwCEwYBhgL/s640/Scenario%2B3%2BPhoto%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<b><div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Border crossing seen from the South West African side</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9CdCMCm4f8/Xq4wyENcNpI/AAAAAAAAFw0/FUolO68ywA49XSFySyq-qpjp2-ZYgG-KgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Scenario%2B3%2BPhoto%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g9CdCMCm4f8/Xq4wyENcNpI/AAAAAAAAFw0/FUolO68ywA49XSFySyq-qpjp2-ZYgG-KgCEwYBhgL/s640/Scenario%2B3%2BPhoto%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And from the Angolan side</span></b></div>
</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-70151645588319819642020-05-01T22:15:00.001-07:002020-05-01T22:15:35.366-07:00FAPLA Victory at Epembe: the drive is on to the border!<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ak47 Campaign 2020<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 66.0pt;" valign="top" width="88">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">54 Bn Yankee Base: Eenhana<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 66.0pt;" valign="top" width="88">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Angolan -Namibian Border<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="background: #D9D9D9; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 217; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 66.0pt;" valign="top" width="88">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Epembe</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Junction</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="background: white; border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 66.0pt;" valign="top" width="88">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Contact!</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Chiede</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 66.0pt;" valign="top" width="88">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Evale<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PLAN<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bde HQ<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 66.05pt;" valign="top" width="88">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mongua<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Township<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 66.05pt;" valign="top" width="88">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Xangango<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PLAN Front HQ & Airfield<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td colspan="7" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 217; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 462.1pt;" valign="top" width="616">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">< PLAN/Cuban Axis of Advance – SADF /
UNITA Axis of Advance ></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scenario 2:
Encounter Battle Epembe Junction<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Background<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days ago elements of an <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SADF Modular Battalion on an ‘External’
operation in Southern Angola was roughly handled by PLAN. FAPLA has mobilised
and is driving south in pursuit of the SADF. The SADF have regrouped and are probing
forward. A clash occurs at Epembe Junction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Terrain<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gently undulating scrub. There is a small settlement at
Epembe junction with permanent building and some native huts a short distance
to the north.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the rainy season so:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The scrub is high and provides concealment to infantry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Victory Points<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As per Flames of War
2<sup>nd</sup> Edition p203. Victory point calculated using AK47 rules p42 excluding
objectives and the final six criteria.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deployment<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As per Flames of War 2<sup>nd</sup> Edition p203.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Game Length<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As per AK 47 Rules<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Order of
Battle</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SADF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bravo Company 54 Battalion (Modular)<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Command + HQ Support <i>Callsign Sierra 6</i><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x Command team<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x HQ team<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">720 Up to 3 artillery bombardments on call @ 25 points each;
1 x Airstrike @ 50 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Platoon: Regular <i>Callsign Sierra 1</i><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x Unimog Trucks @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 x small arms teams @ 60 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x RPG teams @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Platoon: Regular <i>Callsign Sierra 2</i><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x Unimog Trucks @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 x small arms teams @ 60 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x RPG teams @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 Platoon: Regular <i>Callsign Sierra 3</i><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 x small arms teams @ 60 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x RPG teams @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 Platoon: Regular <i>Callsign Sierra 4<o:p></o:p></i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 x HMG Teams @ 40 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 x RCL Teams @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recce Troop 54 Bn Group: Regular <i>Callsign Charlie 1</i><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x Eland Armoured Cars (tank gun) @ 120 points (<i>Callsigns
Charlie 1, 2, 3</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">South West African Specialist Unit: Regular <i>Callsign
Charlie 4</i><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 x Technicals RCL @ 40 points <b><i>Callsigns</i></b> <b><i>Charlie
7 & 8<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x small arms team @ 10 points <b><i>(one of which is
nominated Charlie 4 and may be mounted in Charlie 5)</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x Technical HMG @ 25 points <b><i>Callsign Charlie 5</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>FAPLA</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Command + HQ Support <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">698 points + 25 political manoeuvre 723 points<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x Command team <b><i>callsign Delta 6</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x HQ team<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Platoon Militia <i>callsign Delta 1<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 x small arms teams @ 42 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x RPG teams @ 21 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x APC with HMG @ 105<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 Platoon Militia <i>callsign Delta 1<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6 x small arms teams @ 42 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x RPG teams @ 21 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x BTR60 APC with HMG @ 105 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 Platoon Regular <i>callsign Delta 3<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x T55 @ 180 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mortar Platoon Militia <i>callsign Delta 5<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x mortar teams @ 60 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x Cuban small arms team (professional ‘stiffening’) @ 17
points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 x URAL truck @ 15 Points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recce Platoon Regular<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 x BRDM (HMG) @ 90 points<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FAPLA achieved a clear victory when the dust settled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was however, in some ways a lucky one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly the SADF largely didn't turn up - or rather three of their six platoons didn't show and crucially these were three of the four infantry platoons - one of which was the heavy weapons platoon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Put this down to the vagaries of the threat generation system, which creates 'friction' and 'fog of war' very well. There was one dramatic development three turns from the end of the game (itself an event that is partly determined randomly) when a motorised infantry platoon arrived on table very close to one of their objectives - the one marked by the blue Mercedes model near the Kraal or native village. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This unit, which must have been lost but then had driven hard towards the sounds of battle - and doubtless the columns of smoke from burning tanks and armoured cars (about which more anon) - successfully disembarked from their soft skin transports and almost took the objective. The FAPLA Recce platoon engaged them with their BRDM armoured cars but one fell prey to an SADF RPG and another was pinned by determined infantry. The SADF then had to engage a platoon of FAPLA motorised infantry and were getting the better of them (2 morale fails to 1) by game end. The FAPLA unit also lost its three BTR-60 APCs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until this point the SADF had been fighting a losing battle. They had only three armoured cars and three technicals on table taking on the eventual full strength of the FAPLA force all of whom arrived by turn six.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three Eland armoured cars versus three T55s was always going to be a fight stacked in the tanks favour and so it proved. Both sides lost two AFVs but the sole surviving T55 secured the objective on the SADF left flank. The SADF had the advantage of air and artillery support but couldn't make it count. One tank was destroyed in an air strike but the remaining T55 wasn't budging. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two Elands were brewed up by the FAPLA tanks but the survivor wasn't giving up - in fact it shot up a FAPLA APC and almost caught the FAPLA mortar platoon aboard their Ural truck but missed at point blank range. That miss was costly, as the loss of a FAPLA platoon would have probably justified the result being called a draw as FAPLA losses were higher than the SADF overall - not an unusual result in this war - and a whole platoon being being wiped out in addition to the losses endured up to that point would have swung the pendulum in the SADF's favour.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As it was it ended with a narrow but clear win for the FAPLA.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm unsure about the Threat Generation system as there is a fair bit of messing around and AK47 is pretty well suited to solo play with the random game length, alternative unit activation and political manoeuvre. It is a good idea though and I want to try it with other rule systems.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some pictures follow. They should be self-explanatory from the above:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-7716902671680772632020-04-25T22:57:00.002-07:002020-04-25T22:57:45.587-07:00Encounter at Epembe Junction<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>FAPLA Orders:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The successful action at Chiede meant we've advanced rapidly this past week but the fascists have decided to make a stand here at Epembe junction. Reinforcements are on their way but the Boers are no fools - they will have help on the way too. We must attack now while they are still weak.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have to crush them and seize key terrain here so we can take the initiative once more and strike a decisive blow"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>SADF Orders:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Errors were made at Chiede and now the commies' tails are up. We have to stop them here. They're advancing in strength but support is on its way. You have to be fast and aggressive and dominate the battefield here at Epembe Junction!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next battle in my Axis of Advance solo AK$& campaign - Encounter (from the Flames of War 2nd Ed rules)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H8697b3tUWw/XqUiYtC55QI/AAAAAAAAFts/15lJfb429OYx0eR6jMymhPZ7vurolkrFACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Epembe%2BJunction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1600" height="291" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H8697b3tUWw/XqUiYtC55QI/AAAAAAAAFts/15lJfb429OYx0eR6jMymhPZ7vurolkrFACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Epembe%2BJunction.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Battlefield</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-26082417975635063692020-04-25T19:55:00.001-07:002020-04-25T19:55:16.807-07:00Contact! Game One of an Axis of Advance Campaign<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I used the idea of an Axis of Advance campaign from Flames of War 2nd Edition because a) working out a map movement system and order of battle for two (possibly three) forces was too hard and b) I had a copy of the those rules and they seemed to offer the opportunity of generating battles and providing a narrative.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Axis looks like this. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">54 Bn Yankee Base: Eenhana<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Angolan -Namibian Border<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Epembe<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Junction<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: black;">Contact!</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="color: black;">Chiede</span></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Evale<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">PLAN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bde HQ<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mongua<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Township<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Xangango<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">PLAN Front HQ & Airfield<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<td colspan="7" style="background: #D9D9D9; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-background-themeshade: 217; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 462.1pt;" valign="top" width="616"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">< PLAN/Cuban Axis of Advance – SADF /
UNITA Axis of Advance</span>></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If anyone wants to get a idea of what the terrain is like I suggest having a wander around on Google Maps or <a href="https://www.map.army/">MilitaryMap</a> . It's pretty sparsely populated and rugged country.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o16yRblKTLs/XqTwWhWqj6I/AAAAAAAAFs4/5m0vYLUNcaQQ0U_fLtxrxKSMvZsbz-oNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Okongo%2BArea.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1365" height="193" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o16yRblKTLs/XqTwWhWqj6I/AAAAAAAAFs4/5m0vYLUNcaQQ0U_fLtxrxKSMvZsbz-oNgCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Okongo%2BArea.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>This is a screenshot from MilitaryMap: Okongo is 54 Modular Battalion HQ in my campaign</b>.<br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The idea is to fight the first battle and then the winner 'advances' along the axis of advance and in the next game is the attacker. I randomly chose the attacker for this scenario and made up a couple of force lists for PLAN (the armed wing of SWAPO) and the SADF. The SADF were the attacker so the scenario was as follows:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<b>Background<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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A SADF Modular Battalion on an ‘External’ operation in Southern
Angola receives reports via aerial reconnaissance of potential hostile activity
near a flooded watercourse crossing and trading settlement on their axis of
advance. They are instructed to proceed to the area as quickly as possible and
conduct a sweep to verify the report and engage any hostile elements.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Terrain<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Gently undulating scrub with a waterway running roughly
diagonally across the table and bisected by a metalled road running between the
short table edges. The crossing point is a bridge and there are three building
templates nearby.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is the rainy season so:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The watercourse is flooded but can be negotiated by men and
vehicles. Both use 3 “ movement crossing and vehicles bog on a roll of 1 on a
D6 (4+ to unbog in subsequent turns).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b>Victory Points<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As per rules ignoring the final six conditions and any
conditions relating to objectives. The SADF receives 5 points for every unit
that exits the short table edge opposite its entry edge. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Deployment<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The SADF is the attacker and enters on any short table edge
of their choosing on turn 1. They roll for and execute movement as per normal
rules i.e. they don’t have to ‘wait’ a turn.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The PLAN is the defender and deploys as per the threat
generation system. Any destroyed units composed entirely of small arms or RPG teams
return via the ‘Guerrilla Reserves’ rules from the Tropic Lightening Supplement
to ‘Flames of War’.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Game Length<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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As per AK 47 Rules<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Order of
Battle</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>SADF<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Alpha Company 54 Battalion (Modular)<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>544 Points + 56 political manoeuvre<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Command + HQ Support <i>Callsign Sierra 6*</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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1 x Command team<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 x HQ team<o:p></o:p></div>
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Up to 2 artillery bombardments on call @ 25 points each<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>1 Platoon: Regular <i>Callsign Sierra 1</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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3 x Unimog Trucks @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></div>
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6 x small arms teams @ 60 points<o:p></o:p></div>
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3 x RPG teams @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2 Platoon: Regular <i>Callsign Sierra 2</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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3 x Unimog Trucks @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></div>
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6 x small arms teams @ 60 points<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 x RPG teams @ 30 points<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Recce Squadron 54 Bn Group: Regular <i>Callsign Sierra 3</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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3 x Eland Armoured Cars (tank gun) @ 120 points<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>South West African Specialist Unit: Professional <i>Callsign
Charlie 1</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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2 x Technicals HMG @ 70 points <b><i>Callsigns</i></b> <b><i>Charlie
2 & 3<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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2 x small arms teams @ 34 points <b><i>(one of which is
nominated Charlie 1)</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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1 x Technical RR @ 30 points <b><i>Callsign Charlie 4</i><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b>PLAN<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Command + HQ Support <o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>437 points<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>88 points political manoeuvre<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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1 x Command team <i>callsign Delta 6</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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1 x HQ team<o:p></o:p></div>
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3 x Artillery Bombardments @ 75 points<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>1 Platoon Militia <i>callsign Delta 1<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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6 x small arms teams @ 42 points<o:p></o:p></div>
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3 x RPG teams @ 21 points<o:p></o:p></div>
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1 x Cuban small arms team (professional ‘stiffening’) @ 17
points<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>2 Platoon Militia <i>callsign Delta 2<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6 x small arms teams @ 42 points<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 x RPG teams @ 21 points<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 x Cuban small arms team (professional ‘stiffening’) @ 17
points<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>3 Platoon Militia <i>callsign Delta 3<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6 x small arms teams @ 42 points<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 x RPG teams @ 21 points<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 x Cuban small arms team (professional ‘stiffening’) @ 17
points<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>4 Platoon Militia <i>callsign Delta 4<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
6 x small arms teams @ 42 points<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
3 x RPG teams @ 21 points<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 x Cuban small arms team (professional ‘stiffening’) @ 17
points<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Mortar Platoon Militia <i>callsign Delta 5<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 x mortar teams @ 80 points<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 x Cuban small arms team (professional ‘stiffening’) @ 17
points<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Mobile Platoon Militia <i>callsign Hotel 6<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 x Technicals (HMG) @ 50 points <b>Callsigns Hotel 1 &
2<i><o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 x Technical (AA) @ 30 points <b>Callsign Hotel 3<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2 x Technicals (RR) @ 40 points <b>Callsign Hotel 4</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 x Cuban small arms team ‘<b>Hotel 6’</b> (professional ‘stiffening’)
@ 17 points<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the end I didn't bother with the political manoeuvre part and just used the force lists as above. This was because I used Martin England's ingenius 'Threat Generation' system to deploy the PLAN (look it up on Google).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two things became apparent once I started playing:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. The SADF would have a tough job exiting the table. The watercourse meant they would lose time crossing it or be funneled onto the bridge. I play AK47 vehicle movement as 2D6 in inches per move across country or 3D6 in inches per move on a road. Even with good die rolls and no resistance they would have their work cut out getting to the opposite table edge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. The Threat Generation system meant there was a fair bit of time messing around before contact - this is always going to be the case fighting lengthways down the table - but the PLAN got lucky and three out of four infantry platoons turned up, as did their mortar platoon and all but one of their technicals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With only four platoons and difficult terrain the SADF were on a hiding to nothing - one of those games best played solo I think.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway here are some action shots:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The SADF have advanced into a swarm of PLAN. In the foreground the Recce armoured cars have hit a Cuban Recoilless Rife Technical and scored one morale hit on the PLAN Technical platoon - that's the pink die. But the PLAN have consolidated a couple of platoons on the settlement and the SADF infantry aren't getting across the bridge. In fact one of their platoon has also suffered a morale hit.<br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nevertheless, the SADF pressed on and tried to storm the bridge:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The results are pretty obvious. The shell crater is a pinned marker and the dead guys are destroyed foot groups. They never got over the bridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The only real highlight for the SADF was the destruction of a Cuban foot group that was 'stiffening' a PLAN platoon form militia to regular status. This was achieved by the SADF special forces on their ultimately suicidal thunder run as they tried to drive through a mass of PLAN and exit the table.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The dead guy behind the bush to the right of the burning SADF technical is the destroyed Cuban group.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By the time I reached game end the result was embarrasingly bad for the SADF. PLAN will now take the offensive and move towards Epembe junction. FAPLA, alerted to the presence of SADF forces on their turf may get involved...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">*The call signs are related to the cards assigned to units/vehicles under the Threat Generation system. Instead of the six of spades I called them 'Sierra 6' and so forth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoyed this and are inspired to play some similar games yourself!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-91243502873362903202020-04-22T17:14:00.002-07:002020-04-22T17:14:36.131-07:00Contact!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Photos from this mornings aerial reconnaissance over sector King Zulu King east of Chiede.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Three hostile vehicles identified confirms ELINT that PLAN is present and on the move.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elements of ALPHA Company 54 Battalion will sweep the area from south to north, and engage and neutralise any hostile forces.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a while but COVID19 has meant I'm playing some solo games and even campaigns - see my other blog <a href="https://southpacificblackpowderbattles.blogspot.com/">here</a> that details operations in Northern Italy in 1796 - and so I decided to resurrect this blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've drafted a 'Border War' Supplement for the first edition of AK47 by Peter Pig that covers the fighting along the Angolan-Namibian border from 1975 to the early nineties. I have special rules, army lists and political flowcharts for SADF, PLAN (the military wing of SWAPO), UNITA, the Cubans and some freelance mercenaries. You're not going to get to see those yet but may do eventually when I playtest and amend them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As far as scenarios go I've sourced background information and orders of battle and intend to use an axis of advance mapless style campaign. The basic scenario ideas come from Flames of War 2nd Edition and the Vietnam Tropic Lightning Supplement. Why those, well they are sitting on my bookshelf here in lockdown. I'll also be using Martin England's intriguing 'Threat Generation' system to add some solo spice (if you haven't come across this Google it, you'll thank me).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the first scenario is 'Contact!' from Tropic Lightening, suitably modified for the Border War and gives an SADF infantry company the task of clearing an area that includes a small settlement and a bridge across a watercourse in the rainy season. The watercourse is flooded, and therefore is difficult but not impossible to cross other than at the one bridge. The surrounding area is generally flat with a few folds in the ground and covered in scrub that makes spotting troops on foot hard to spot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The victory points sytem will mean the SADF cannot afford to sustain anything like the casualties of their PLAN opponents. Whoever wins will have the initiative for the next scenario. There are three points both north and south of this scenario i.e. three going south take us towards and across the border into Namibia and three going north deeper into Angola. Whoever gets furthest north or south and wins there wins the campaign. Simple.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The aim is to generate a narrative that provides some games, have fun and avoid lockdown fever...</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-50991942890795927932014-10-21T21:02:00.000-07:002014-10-21T23:59:31.869-07:00More AK 47 in Angola<h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sources in Luanda claim an invasion of Angola's southern Cuando Cubango province by South African forces has been halted after fierce fighting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'For several weeks the apartheid regime has been sending tanks and mechanised troops over the border in support of CIA backed UNITA terrorists who are challenging the authority of the legitimate MPLA led Government of Angola,' said a spokesman in Havana.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'Cuban soldiers have assisted their Angolan comrades to fight off this assault, and after a series of battles have successfully expelled the South Africans from Angolan territory' he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'The South Africans have suffered heavy losses, particularly in their armoured formations, whilst Cuban and Angolan casualties have been minimal,' he said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sources closer to the front line in Angola's southern town of Menongue report heavy military traffic, all heading south, over the past week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If Havana has committed combat troops this could represent a major escalation of the so called 'border war' that has dragged on in this region for the best part of a decade since Angolan independence in 1975. Since the mid seventies, Cuban forces have largely been confined to garrison duties as well as providing training and logistical support for the MPLA Government forces. Most of the actual fighting in Angola has been between the western and South African backed UNITA rebels and the MPLA forces. Additionally, Pretoria has been fighting a low intensity war along the Namibian - Angolan border with SWAPO guerrillas who use bases in Angola for their efforts to destabilise South African occupied Namibia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Washington alleges that East German and Soviet pilots and aviation technicians have recently been deployed in Angola. If true, this is further evidence that that Moscow is escalating a proxy war in southern Africa.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cuban tanks take the objective - a destroyed MPLA T-34 marks the crest of the hill</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cuban Motor Rifle troops seize the railhead - UNITA militia take cover in the background</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A murderous little battle for a territorial objective - SADF mechanised infantry fight off enemy T-34s, BTR 60s and infantry</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other words we've played three more games using the original AK 47 Rules. This has really given us fresh enthusiasm. Whether this will manifest itself in renewed interest sufficient to breath more life into these blog posts we'll see. When I started this blog the narrative was a much bigger part of things - we'll see...</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-68785041685433561592014-10-05T17:33:00.000-07:002014-10-05T17:34:55.401-07:00<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Tank Battles on Namibian - Angolan Border</span></b></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Guardian 19/8/1985: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reports of heavy fighting between South African forces and Angolan troops on the Namibian border indicate that the South African army is under pressure and taking heavy casualties.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Correspondents in Luanda and Havana allege that South African mechanised columns crossed the border a month ago as Pretoria launched a major offensive against SWAPO guerrillas operating in northern Namibia.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'There are a number of refugee camps in southern Angola and the South Africans have bombed these as they've retaliated against several successful operations by SWAPO in occupied Namibia,' said sources in Havana.</span></div>
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'<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cuban soldiers, carrying out their international duty in support of our Angolan and Namibian comrades, have provided assistance to the anti-fascist fighters and have been victorious every battle. We have also provided air defence forces to strike back at the aggressive bombing of unarmed refugees and civilians'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sources in Warsaw released this aerial photograph of South African armour operating in Southern Angola</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cuban armour and infantry fighting in a built up area, In the centre of the picture there are several destroyed South African armoured fighting vehicles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're having lots of fun with the classic AK47 ruleset. Three games in and some of the subtleties are becoming apparent, particularly around where to concentrate one's efforts given the fog of war factor regarding objectives i.e. the defender knows what features the attacker is aiming for but he doesn't know their relative worth (to the attacker). Allied with alternate unit activation, randomly determined movement distances and simultaneous exchanges of fire this is providing us with some very enjoyable weekend afternoons.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-1099395010751327322014-09-15T02:37:00.000-07:002014-09-15T02:37:03.124-07:00AK-47 Original<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday we tried out the original AK47 Rules for the first time. Peter Pig have released these as a pdf and I bought a set for the princely sum of GBP10.00. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a quick read through I found myself asking why they ever bothered writing a second edition? The rules are really good - simple, and fun to play - definitely a game rather than a simulation, but who cares?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One nice touch is the pdf is personalised with a neat little cross reference to Kubrick's <i>Full Metal Jacket:</i> 'this copy of AK47 belongs to John, there are many like it but this one is his'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are enough web accessible modifications for anyone who wants more complexity or chrome to add as they see fit, even extending the rules to other periods like the Russian and Spanish Civil Wars and World War II. There is even a Cold War Central Front variant that looks very intriguing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our game pitched the Cubans and SWAPO against the South African and Namibians in northern Namibia in the mid '80s. The background was a major SWAPO incursion had attracted a lot of attention from local forces and their South African backers and the Angolans and Cubans had got in involved in a fit of internationalist solidarity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> As a result of the political flowchart being played out in the pre-game sequence, the SADF/Namibian forces benefited from increased determination, resulting in their one militia graded unit being regraded to regular, . For their part the two big SWAPO militia graded guerrilla units acquired an HMG apiece. The flowcharts worked well, gave a few laughs and resulted in the SADF/Namibians being on the offensive. Much better than the clunky pre-game in second edition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Above: the table after The Cuban/SWAPO deployment. Comrade Jeff was terribly unlucky and only started with one - three BTR 60s and six stands of infantry- of his five units on the table. This meant he could only secure one of three objectives. He elected to deploy on the reverse slope of the hill in the top right of the photo; leaving the road junction in the village unsecured and the hill in the top left corner exposed to the South African advance which would begin from the board edge on the left,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Uncharacteristically, SADF Colonel Chris was very cautious, advancing slowly down the centre with three armoured cars and even more slowly towards the village with three Buffels full of troopies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the photos above the South African armour is grinding its way across the board whilst a small unit of Special Forces walk up the hill top left, thereby securing the objective, and lie down in the grass to watch the fun. Comrade Jeff was frantically throwing dice to try and bring on his troops but the commander of those T55s must have failed his map reading course. We know that this part of the word is big and easy to get lost in but this was beyond a joke.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The South African Buffels finally make it to the village about the same time as a unit of friendly Land Rovers and a bunch of local forces infantry arrived from off table. The infantry were short of a truck and were presumably late because half their number (probably the native troops...) had to walk. I'm unsure what excuse the guys in the Land Rovers had...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About the same time a large group of SWAPO guerrillas chose to appear, took one look at the dust cloud heralding the advance of the SADF armoured cars, and promptly ran for the nearest area of thick bush to hide in. Three GaZ jeeps toting heavy machine guns drove on the table at high speed and promptly got stuck into the Land Rovers and the territorials. Clearly their commander had been schooled in the Che Guevara heroic style of leadership. Sadly he and his brave men came to the same sort of sticky end, despite inflicting some casualties on the enemy infantry, for once Chris found his mojo and started using the recoiless rifle on one of the Landies it was all over very quickly</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The clock was ticking down rapidly and it was only after the Commissar riding with the Cuban tankies demoted the Lieutenant in charge and grabbed the map and compass that the T55s made an appearance. They were all set to shell the living daylights out of the SADF Kommandos sunning themselves on the hill when darkness fell and hostilities ceased.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By the time we'd totted up the victory points, even after penalising Chris for all sorts of trumped up transgressions (chief among which was him playing cautiously for once), the South Africans could claim a decisive victory. In fact, as the rules put it 'the victor will be writing the history book on this'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm sure we'll be doing this again soon.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-40729815226341641432014-08-04T14:13:00.000-07:002014-08-04T14:13:48.440-07:00Somewhere North of the Border...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chris and I had a game of DBR on Sunday. It was a 300 pointer on a 3 x 4 foot table - a bit of a practise for the forthcoming Harquebusiers & Hussars gathering that the indefatigable Keith McNelly organises.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chris played Montrose, leading an army of Scots Royalists against my Covenanters in 1645. The terrain was pre-set but as Chris was the defender he got to choose which side of the table he would deploy on. He wisely chose the table edge with two closed flanks, a wood and a steep hill, leaving me to deploy with an open flank. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This meant he could do what Montrose and McColla do best - a head on frontal attack (in DBR the fact you're the 'defender' doesn't stop you taking the offensive tactically). I anticipated this and opted to greet his massed warband and fast shot with a line of frame guns and then massed ranks of shot deployed in depth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the picture above the Covenant are in the foreground with the frame guns on the left enfilading the McColla's Irish foot as they charge in. A couple of hundred Irish have swung away from the main body to get to close quarters with their tormentors- the attackers they are about to die gloriously in the face of grape shot. To the right the massed Highlanders are advancing on the Covenanter position.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst the Covenant eventually fought Montrose's Highlanders to a standstill,l the Irish Brigade hit the defenders at the boundary between their two commands - McColla himself, accompanied by 200 of his best men led the charge through the Covenanter ranks and fell upon the baggage train. The screams of Covenanter merchants and their wives rent the air and led to a thundering collective nervous breakdown in the ranks of Hodden Grey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a close run thing - Montrose was only an element from breaking - but victory went to the Scots Royalists....</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-36970651827715590772014-07-15T17:03:00.000-07:002014-07-25T13:26:39.391-07:00Review of 'The Red Effect' Trilogy by Harvey Black<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the last couple of weeks I've read all three of Harvey Black's books about a Soviet led invasion of West Germany in 1984, titled in sequence: 'The Red Effect; 'The Black Effect' and 'The Blue Effect'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Readers will remember that back in the late seventies and early eighties there was a number of novels and so called 'future histories' that purported to cover this very subject: Hackett's 'Third World War' books; Coyles's 'Team Yankee'; and Ralph Peters's Red Army, to name but three. None of these works have entered the canon of great literature, but then I doubt that was ever their authors' ambition. Some were written as military-techo thrillers and at least one, Hackett's, with the aim of influencing public opinion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What they all had in common though was that they were writing about the future, a future that has since passed, mercifully without the war they described breaking out. Of course, one of the protagonists in that war collapsed at the end of the 1980s, an event that was entirely unpredicted by the western intelligence and foreign policy community. This is a nice irony given the narrative that most of these books spell out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Harvey Black's novels are an altogether different proposition in that he is writing about a past that never happened from the perspective of today. As such, Black has the benefit of his experience as a former British Army intelligence officer, serving in the British military mission in West Berlin, and also that of hindsight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His books are self published, probably because such an esoteric subject (in 2014) won't find a ready mass market. This is no shame, after all, one of the advantages of e-books is that works that perhaps wouldn't see the light of day for purely commercial reasons do get published, and Black as gone a step further and published his books in hard copy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The disadvantages of this approach, even when done through a company that specialises in so called 'vanity publishing' , are however painfully evident. The books are riddled with errors that are simply screaming out for a professional editor and proof reader to correct. For example, characters and institutions are introduced more than once in consecutive chapters using virtually the same phrasing. There are many more, too many to list.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Secondly, this is not great literature. It barely even qualifies as airport lounge bestseller literature. Characterisation is week and one dimensional, the plot is thin and the descriptions of events repetitive and cliched.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The underlying fault with these books, one that they share with their cousins in the 'future history' canon, is that they are not about World War Three - rather they are about World War Two, or even the early days of World War One, fought with 1980's weapons. The future historians had a excuse in this regard, although not much of one, as the events they purported to describe lay ahead of the time they were writing in. The tendency for military bureaucracies to prepare for the last war and why they do so is well known. Black however, has no such excuse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We now know that if fighting had to broken out in central Europe in the period in question it was much more likely to have been </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">politically and militarily</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">far messier</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> than these books, and their 'future history' predecessors, describe. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That said, there is much in Black's work that is useful to the wargamer, and that was the reason that I kept reading</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Read together with Google Maps, it's possible to follow the action on the ground right down to platoon level. The reader can work out the order of battle in various encounters and zoom in and examine the ground over which these are fought. The books are replete with battalion and company level engagements involving mainly British and Soviet forces, together with a few more that feature the U.S. and West Germans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, if you're bent on playing out 'Cold War Gone Hot' scenarios featuring what was arguably least likely to happen in the event of direct NATO-Warsaw Pact hostilities in the 1980s, you could do worse than get hold of Black's books.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Otherwise I wouldn't bother. You won't be missing anything.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-82498434757594133242014-07-14T16:56:00.001-07:002014-07-14T16:57:33.015-07:00A Hill West of Stanley/Puerto Argentina<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The battlefield looking east. This represents a gentle upwards slope from this angle with the Argentines dug in around the rocky peaks in the background</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This weekend we played a Force on Force scenario I'd written up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A platoon of British Paras assaults an Argentine hilltop position. The Argentines were a platoon HQ, a squad of conscripts (TQ: D6 Morale: D6 supported by a couple of sustained fire machine gun teams, and a recoiless rifle team with another squad off-table in reserve. They had night vision goggles, and weapons pits and slit trenches that provided + 3 Defence Dice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Paras had a Platoon HQ, including a D12 morale platoon sergeant, and two sections with the option to take a third section in reserve or start with either two sustained fire GPMGs or two MILAN teams on table. No night vision goggles but TQ was D8 and morale D10. There was also three salvos of light artillery and two of medium mortars zeroed in on the Argentine positions for a pre-assault stonk just before zero (which was at 0200 local time, 2300 ZULU).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m2bhWF0DUUA/U8Rsm0E_mWI/AAAAAAAAAfA/UiAGeVEz1VI/s1600/2014-07-13+15.26.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m2bhWF0DUUA/U8Rsm0E_mWI/AAAAAAAAAfA/UiAGeVEz1VI/s1600/2014-07-13+15.26.27.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paras hook left and go straight up the middle</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is only the second game we've played with these rules and whilst the concepts and basic mechanics are excellent we're finding the layout of the rules terrible. No wonder there are all those questions and player aids on the various forums. We'll persist but I think many must be giving up - it speaks volumes that there is a wiki index on line. Given the resources of the publisher this really isn't good enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway the Argies lost badly: six KIA, seven wounded and seven POW. The Paras had three guys lightly wounded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The artillery did the damage, as well as my misreading the rules - which severely downgraded the protection the defenders received from their field works.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll tweak the scenario for a re-run before posting. Perhaps give the Argies the option of mines or write up some Fog of War cards for the Falklands - we didn't use the ones in the book for this game.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to Chris and Jeff (especially Jeff, who was commanding the defenders) for their patience and good natured sportsmanship.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-18307467025212423792013-09-12T21:19:00.000-07:002013-09-12T21:19:59.184-07:00Fight at St Johns Parva September 1643<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For this little battle I decided to do something slightly different. Readers who play English Civil War games will be aware that the Royalist armies often had a greater proportion of cavalry than their opponents. Phil Barker goes as far as to say that in some cases their forces were often cavalry supported by commanded shot. Parliamentary armies, at least until the formation of the New Model, tended to have a better balance of horse and foot but, with certain notable exceptions (Haselrig's 'Lobsters' and the Eastern Association horse being two), their cavalry was often of an inferior quality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our campaign has arrived at a point in late 1643 where the main field armies of both sides are engaged in the manoeuvrings that culminated in the First Battle of Newbury. Much of the Royalist cavalry and the best of the infantry from Borsetshire are serving with the King. Felpersham, the Royalist stronghold and county town is looking vulnerable - there aren't enough troops to man its extensive fortifications and earthworks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Parliamentarians in the county have mounted a scratch offensive to try and seize Felpersham by coup de main, and their little army marched on the town from the north west, moving quickly without baggage or heavy artillery. Sir Charles Moncrief, acting Royalist commander, sensed the danger and responded quickly. He marched out of Felpersham, also without baggage and heavy guns, with a force comprising local militia and what mounted troops he could muster.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Royalist Army was therefore an unusual one - a mere 400 horse and 200 dragoons but supported by nearly 3000 foot - in other words a reversal of the usual proportions of foot and horse. The foot suffered from a shortage of muskets. such that the ratio of shot to pike was 1:1.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Parliament by contrast fielded 1100 horse, mainly 'trotters' trained to caracole, and fewer infantry than their opponents but with twice as many shot as pike. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The battle that followed was remarkable for the Royalists' lack of ability to force a decision - their usual offensive arm was weak and accordingly what followed was, to paraphrase a later general of the horse and musket era a 'long hard pounding'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Full AAR to follow</i></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-70895185092981814812013-09-11T18:02:00.000-07:002013-09-11T18:02:10.618-07:00Borsetshire September 1643<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We left the war in Borsetshire in stalemate </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in late May 1643, with the Royalist forces based in Felpersham, and their Parliamentary opponents controlling Borchester, the other major town in the county.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The drawn battle of Ashby Street had, as predicted, proved a strategic setback for the Roundheads, as their scheme to invest Felpersham by occupying the villages around the city had been thwarted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">During the early summer there was little fighting, aside from the odd skirmish as opposing patrols of dragoons or cavalry encountered one another in the villages between the two major settlements.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">In June 1643 the Royalist commander in the county, the Earl of Grantham, received orders from Prince Rupert to muster all the Royalist cavalry and best of the infantry in Borsetshire and to join the King's offensive that culminated in the storming of Bristol the following month.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><strong>A Parliamentary Dragoon prepares his carbine whilst in the background pikemen prepare to fight</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The garrison of Felpersham was thus reduced to largely local militia, whose terms of service meant they would not leave the county. Sensing an opportunity whilst the King's main field army pursued the Earl of Essex after the relief of Gloucester, the Borsetshire Parliamentarians decided to march on Felpersham once more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The harvest was in and the Roundheads were on the march as the local Royalist commander, Sir Charles Moncrief, weighed up his options. His problem was that were not enough troops to man the fortified villages and earthworks that protected Felpersham without the absent regiments that were fighting with the King. He did know however, the direction of the Roundhead thrust, thanks to intelligence from his scouts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Accordingly, in mid September of 1643 Moncrief led his men to meet the Roundhead advance. The subsequent battle was fought near the village of St Johns Parva.</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">A game of DBR is scheduled for this evening</span></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-41989234790962968952013-09-06T21:20:00.001-07:002013-09-06T21:20:09.494-07:00Battlefield Visits: One - Naseby<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've not been posting as frequently in recent weeks because I spent the end of June and all of July visiting Britain and Europe. Part of this was work related but I did manage to take four and a half weeks' holiday and indulge myself cycling in France as well as visiting friends and relatives in Britain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also contrived to visit four places of English Civil War significance: York, Marston Moor, Chester and Naseby. I'll try and cover these visits in my next few posts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like all battlefields (to a greater or lesser extent), Naseby is only interesting if the visitor has a reasonably good understanding of what happened there. This is assisted by some good interpretation material (much of it culled from Osprey publications) that is positioned at key points. This means that an ordinary looking hedgerow assumes much greater importance in the eyes of the visitor. When you know you're looking at Sulby hedges, and in your mind's eye at least you can see Colonel Okey and his dragoons lined up and shooting at the Royalist cavalry, it stops being just another hedgerow.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rrKRyrfLaMo/UiqkRYTrRFI/AAAAAAAAAeU/Yasy7wmeK08/s1600/Britain+2013+June-July+194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rrKRyrfLaMo/UiqkRYTrRFI/AAAAAAAAAeU/Yasy7wmeK08/s400/Britain+2013+June-July+194.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Above: one of the interpretation boards around the battlefield.</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DRW1Cgpsq0c/UiqkHZZgVyI/AAAAAAAAAeM/7P8txKRhc3A/s1600/Britain+2013+June-July+197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DRW1Cgpsq0c/UiqkHZZgVyI/AAAAAAAAAeM/7P8txKRhc3A/s400/Britain+2013+June-July+197.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Above: Sulby Hedges looking from behind the New Model Army Dragoons' position</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Above: The battlefield looking from the centre of New Model Army's position at the beginning of the battle- the Royalists were drawn up on the rise behind the hedges in the distance</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The battlefield is compact and can be easily traversed by car or bicycle in an afternoon using the network of country lanes in the area. The interpretation sites are invaluable in orientating the visitor and are a big help if you or your companions' knowledge of what happened is sketchy. They were certainly useful for me in explaining it all to my mother as the illustrations on the boards go some way to bringing the scene to life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My single greatest insight from this visit came from justt how undulating the ground was directly to the rear of the centre of the Royalist's initial position i.e. where the King's infantry made its last stand. With the smoke and confusion of battle, the restricted lines of sight as a consequence of the undulations would have considerably added to the 'friction' that the opposing commanders had to contend with. No surprises if low PIP dice were rolled... </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-67467541736909302702013-08-26T00:52:00.000-07:002013-08-26T00:52:02.929-07:00Once Upon a Time in the East...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday, a murderous little battle was fought in a remote Siberian village east of Tobolsk. The remnants of Admiral Kolchak's 1st Army was retreating to the line of the river Ishim and in a series of desperate encounters in freezing sleet the 3rd Red Army tried to stop them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A company of CheKa managed to hold the nameless village in the face of the ferocious White assault but not before their commander was butchered by White Cadets. The losses inflicted on the Whites were crippling, one company of militia that ran at the first sound of gunfire was caught in the open by Red artillery and scarcely a man survived. White cavalry outflanked the Bolshevik's main position but were in turn surprised by a company of Red conscripts that stumbled on them in the half light. Horses proved no match for machine guns...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great fun was had by all and thanks to Jeff for coming over to play a literal 'pick up' game using my homebrew RCW rules,"Komrade Commissar!', based on AK-47 Reloaded. The bad weather reduced visibility and shooting to 8 inches which made things very bloody - no sooner had your enemy got into sight than the fighting was hand to hand...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't take any pictures but it was good to get back into gaming after a little break occasioned by a trip overseas.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-19484104362733796142013-06-02T21:22:00.001-07:002013-06-02T21:30:01.943-07:00Battle of Ashby Street May 1643 AAR<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The idea was to play out an encounter battle as described in the narrative leading up to the game. We used the following modification to the standard DBR deployment rules on a 4" x 3" table with 300 point armies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em>Invader enters from anywhere on long table edge on first bound (all baggage is classed as (I) and mobile). PIPs must be used to maximise entry of elements onto the table i.e. no second march moves until all elements are deployed<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em>Defender enters from anywhere on opposite long table edge on subsequent bound (all baggage is classed as (I) and mobile). PIPs must be used to maximise entry of elements onto the table i.e. no second march moves until all elements are deployed<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><em>If PIPs do not permit whole of army to enter on first bound, PIPs in subsequent bounds must be used to enable elements to enter table until whole army is on table. Elements not arriving in the first bound are assumed to be straggling and do not arrive until their command is allocated a PIP die score of 6, when they must do so or be lost.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
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<em>n.b. Artillery (O) and (S) without teams cannot deploy and are discarded although they count towards command and army total ME for purposes of break points.</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">My long suffering regular opponent Keith had some misgivings about this scheme, as he argued it would encourage ahistorical formations marching on the table. I didn't think this would be too much of an issue as even with a PIP die of 1, any command marching on good going could deploy in at least two groups, using the command's general's 'free' PIP...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">At it happened I think we were both correct and all the deployment did was negate the advantage of the 4" x 3" table, that is we ended up fluffing around before closing with one another.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Here are the armies as deployed after a bound each. Apologies for the poor photo. The Roundheads are deployed in the background, very sensibly choosing to position two regiments of foote on the hill and anchoring their left flank on the enclosures by lining the hedges with dragoons and placing what artillery had managed to stay with Edward Dighurst's little army during the approach march across the road. The Royalist army is largely mounted, with only 8 elements of commanded shot not on horseback. They've deployed in a conventional style with the cavalry on the wings and the shot in the centre. A couple of elements of dragoons have entered the enclosed fields in the lower right of the photo.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7iJr8B63Zg/UawTVyZN2QI/AAAAAAAAAds/DGTwvVsRVWk/s1600/20130519_145424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7iJr8B63Zg/UawTVyZN2QI/AAAAAAAAAds/DGTwvVsRVWk/s400/20130519_145424.JPG" width="400" yya="true" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">In the above picture the Royalist shot have advanced to the foot of the slope and, having subjected the Roundhead infantry to withering volleys of musketry, have drawn their enemy off the hill. Unfortunately for the King's men, the Roundheads have also trotted forward their pistoleers who are caracoling in front of the Royalist musketeers. The Royalists have brought up a couple of troops of horse to try and bolster their infantry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">It wasn't long before the Royalist centre broke, but the Roundheads had taken a pounding on their right flank and it too broke. The Royalist army, its morale on the verge of breaking, had no hope of victory. It did have a slim chance of seizing something from the defeat though as one of the peculiarities of DBR is the so called 'revenge bound' i.e. a command breaks when it has lost one third of it's 'morale equivalents' at the start of any of its bounds or the <em>end of the game </em>(my emphasis).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">And so it was that a final desperate charge by a company of dragoons and two troops of cavaliers took the Roundhead guns and got amongst their baggage train. The result was both armies broke simultaneously and streamed from the field.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The fight had been bloody but the overall casualties were light as neither side rode down their fleeing enemy for the simple reason they were pre-occupied with their own flight!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Tactically it was a drawn battle, but the destruction of the Roundhead guns meant their strategic purpose was defeated. Without heavy ordnance their was little hope of a successful investment of Felpersham...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">And so, as spring 1643 gave way to summer in Borsetshire, matters seemed to be at something of an impasse.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">That is, until the Earl of Grantham received a messenger frorm Oxford who had ridden on the orders of none other than Prince Rupert...</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-58209733148626326372013-05-18T22:22:00.002-07:002013-05-18T22:27:59.800-07:00Great Slaughter at Ashby Street<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Felpersham May 1643</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thomas Fletcher, printer's apprentice and Parliamentarian sympathiser, has learned to keep his political beliefs to himself this past year, given that he lives and works in a city that has declared for the King.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A few days ago there was much talk in the taverns of the Roundhead army's excesses in the villages near Felpersham, some not five miles from the city walls. Only three mornings ago he witnessed more than a thousand cavaliers leave the city by the Fishergate, followed by a lesser number of foot, all of them musketeers, clad in the blue uniforms of the Earl of Grantham's lifeguard and the yellow coats of Sir Charles Moncrief's regiment of foote.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now many of those horseman are lying broken and bleeding in the City's hospital, a former convent that passed into the Earl of Grantham's estate in the reign of Elizabeth. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fletcher drinks in 'The Golden Pheasant', a tavern off Pudding street, and one frequented by Moncrief's men. There he strikes up a conversation with one of the musketeers who marched out of Felpersham to fight the Roundheads.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">That night he writes by candlelight of what he has learnt and in the morning passes it to a man he knows only as Master Nuttall, a travelling peddler, who seems much troubled this day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The gist of Fletcher's report, for that is what it is considered by the Parliamentarian Scoutmaster General, is thus: there was a great slaughter of Royalists at Ashby Street and many gallant men fell but just as the battle seemed lost and the King's army appeared broken, a few score cavaliers and dragoons fell upon the Roundhead artillery train and baggage. The Roundhead guns were spiked and their baggage train sacked, the powder and shot blown up, and the treasure pillaged.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The King's cavalry have been dealt a great blow, it will be many months before his supporters could consider going over to the offensive, but equally it appears that Parliament's men have lost their siege train and with it the means to force a decision in the county...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em><strong>Full DBR After Action Report to Follow</strong></em></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7736300261827934070.post-64291856709088843342013-05-16T12:56:00.001-07:002013-05-16T12:56:31.753-07:00Fight at Ashby Street<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img height="264" id="il_fi" src="http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Britain/History/Stuart/RoundheadPikes.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="400" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ashby Street is a small village five miles due east of Felpersham in Borsetshire. In the spring of 1643 it was the scene of a battle between Parliamentarian forces led by Edward Dighurst and a Royalist army under the command of the Earl of Grantham.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The Parliamentarians were seeking to secure the villages and towns around Felpersham, the main Royalist base in the county, in order to invest the city. A skirmish between Parliamentarian dragoons led by Captain Harbottle Grimstone and a detachment of cavaliers under the command of Charles Marchmain preceded the main battle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The clash was was one that modern military professionals would describe as an 'encounter battle', both sides having liiterally 'marched to the sound of the guns' on hearing of the skirmish between Harbottle and Marchmain's forces, and deployed off that march to fight.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Arial;">In other words a game of DBR is scheduled for this weekend...</span></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0