The Face of Modern Battle

CanGames 2003
After Action Report
Vietnam 1968: Attack on Xom Phuong Village
American Forces Elements of the 196
th
Light Infantry
Squad HQ [10 men]
Captain, FOO, radioman (2) , soldier w/M16 (4), scout w/M16 (2)
Squad A [11 men]
Corporal , soldier w/M16 (7), soldier w/M79, support soldier w/M60, medic
Squad B [11 men]
Corporal , soldier w/M16 (7), soldier w/M79, support soldier w/M60, medic
Support
Phantom w/1000lb bomb (direct support)
Medivac Huey (direct support)
105mm Howitzers (direct support)
155 Howitzers (general support)
Objectives:
Decisive Win: secure the village and both trails
Marginal Win: complete either of the decisive win victory conditions
NVA Forces Elements of the 270
th
Independent Regiment
NVA Squad HQ [9 men]
2
nd
Lieutenant, FOO, radioman, soldier w/SKS (2), bazooka team (2), MG team w/Type 24 (2)
VC Squad B [10 men]
Corporal , soldier w/SKS (4), soldier w/SMG (4), soldier w/DP
NVA Squad E [9 men]
Corporal , soldier w/AK47 (7), soldier w/SMG
Support
82mm Mortar (direct support)
Objectives:
Decisive Win: inflict 15 US casualties and retreat 7 men off the board
Marginal Win: complete either of the decisive win victory conditions
Game information and Deployment
General Info:
3 players on each side
each player commanded one squad
each deck contained 25 cards
there were two Artillery Arrives Now! cards in the US decks (for the 105 and 155)
there was one OffBoard Activity Arrives Now! card in the US deck (for the Phantom and the
Huey)
there was one Artillery Arrives Now! card in the NVA deck (for the 82mm)
playing time: 3hrs
US Forces:
The US team deployed the HQ squad west of the creek, Squad B deployed west of the N-S raised
road and Squad A deployed in the rice paddy. The forces started about 3 inches from the game
table.
NVA/VC Forces:
The NVA team deployed the HQ squad near the eastern end of the E-W raised road and the Type
24 MMG in the jungle, Squad B was deployed at the jungle edge and Squad E was deployed in
the bunkers on the north edge of the E-W raised road. The NVA/VC forces began the game
hidden and were not placed on the board (the force placement was recorded on a map). A soldier
become unhidden if they fired, moved or were spotted.
Weather:
Clear sky. Light breeze from the east.
Map
Turn 1
The NVA were content on waiting out the turn to see what the American plan was. All
NVA/VC squads were hidden. The US HQ Squad ordered some smoke from the 105s
and placed the OBA markers on the raised E-W road. Bad die rolls indicated the smoke
would arrive sometime during turn 2. The 155s could not be contacted. The American
forces moved cautiously towards their objectives.
Turn 2
US Squad A started to take fire from the eastern jungle. They also came under fire from
the Type 24 MMG located at the jungle-road edge. US Squad A was taking a lot of
casualties. US Squad B fired a LAW rocket at the MMG and killed the gunner. Smoke
for the 105s started to land along the E-W raised road obscuring NVA Squad E and
some of US forces in Squad HQ and B. The NVA contacted their 82s and placed them
along the N-S road in the middle of US Squad B. The US forces were having trouble
firing on the NVA/VC in the jungle. The 155s were not contacted. The Phantom jet was
contacted and would arrive on Turn 6.
Turn 3
The US Squad A was still under heavy fire in the rice paddy. More soldiers were INC or
KIA. US Squad A was returning fire to the tree-line but VC Squad B headed north back
through the jungle and left the DP to cover their retreat. The NVA HQ Bazooka team was
also firing into Squad A, killing the M60 gunner immediately. US 155s were contacted
and would arrive next turn. The NVA 82s landed in US Squad B and caused some
casualties. US Squad B was desperately trying to support Squad A with machinegun fire,
the M79 and M16 fire. Due to the range, heavy jungle and well-entrenched NVAs and
VCs, they were having little affect. US HQ Squad was moving north along the creek.
Both US Squad B and the HQ Squad were trying to spot NVAs in the village and
bunkers. The US 155s were contacted and would arrive in turn 5. The smoke mission
from the 105s was cancelled and HE was called. The 105 HE would arrive next turn.
Turn 4
US Squad A was fighting for its life it the rice paddy. Caught in the open with attacks
coming from the jungle from VC Squad B and NVA HQ force, they were barely hanging
on. US Squad B was slowly moving over the road and into the fields north of the rice
paddy. They were also sending a small force along the road to wait and enter the village.
The US HQ force was supporting Squad B and moving into position to cross the creek.
NVA Squad E forces east of the village were inflicting some casualties on the US forces.
The 82mm mortar was causing grief to the US Squad B. The big 155 came down into
eastern jungle around Squad B. Also, the 105 came down into the same area. The NVA
and VC were surviving the barrage due to their well dug in positions. The VC Squad B
had left their starting position and was moving northward along the jungle when it came
under the artillery fire. A couple of well-placed shells decimated the squad.
Turn 5
US Squads HQ and B continued ad hoc spotting in the village. They were unsure if more
NVA forces were hidden in the village. US Squad A in the rice paddy was wiped out.
Elements of US Squad B and the NVA HQ were exchanging fire across the field. Form
the N-S road to the jungle. Most of VC Squad B was KIA or INC so they decided to
cover the retreat of the HQ Squad. The Type 24 would also supply covering fire to allow
the remaining HQ and NVA Squad E forces to retreat.
Note: I reminded players that turn 6 would be the final turn. Neither team had achieved
any victory conditions. The NVA team had 5 more kills and had to exit another 4 men.
The US player was not in control of the village or roads. All players realized that they
had not even reached a marginal victory. The NVA players decided to try and INC/KIA 5
US forces and exit the last 4 men. The US Players unsure of the village status, decided to
wait until the air strike and then take the village. A risky move since they did not now
when the air strike would come. Due to the fog of war (hidden units) the US player did
not know there were no NVA forces in the village.
Turn 6
The US Squads HQ and B were waiting for the air strike before making a mad dash to the
village. Some of the northern point of the US HQ Squad decided to cross the creek in an
attempt to flank the village. The NVA were attempting at any cost to cause more US
casualties and move forces off the board. As cards turned the pressure was on for both
teams to stay, move, fire or advance to their objectives. Commanders for all squads had
to make some tough decisions. The US player was running out of cards and had not
entered the village. The NVA player had only 2 more US soldiers to INC or KIA to get a
marginal win. Suddenly at about of the deck the air strike came and took out the
village. The US player using fatigue moves and any available leadership cards pushed a
small amount of Squad B into the village and secured it. The NVA players ran out of
cards and luck and did not finish exiting forces or inflicting enough casualties. With the
village secure, the US team had a marginal win. The game was over.
My Observations
This was one of the best scenarios I have ever watched. First it was an exiting game, with
the results determined by the final 10 cards. The battle always changed and each forces
victory conditions slipped into and out of grasp. Secondly it was a superb tactical game.
Both the NVA/VC players and the US players played their forces historically and kept
them focused. It was good use of tactics, weapon knowledge, support and the objectives
that kept the game close and very challenging. The game relied more on good player
leadership, period knowledge and instinct, than rules. The NVA and VC hidden units
were tough to play against as it added good fog of war and kept the US players on their
edge.
There were 6 players; 2 novices, 2 players who had played a couple of times and 2 veteran TFoB
players. Considering there were assault rifles, SMGs, bazookas, LAWs, artillery, aircraft, a
wide variety of terrain and more, all players played the game with ease. Even the novice players
were able to grasp the game within the first turn and played unsupervised. The new The Face of
Modern Battle rules for morale and firearms were enthusiastically received.
Mike Ball
May 26
th
, 2003