NAM: Up the River

By NDNG_Dane

Lieutenant Dan here,

This past weekend, I was able to get in my second ‘Nam game.  This game had a completely different feel than our first game.  Again I faced off against Comrade Paul, Fearless leader of the Local Force Battalion.  We played the Up River mission at 65 points each.

The Riverine River Assault Squadron

• Riverine  Assault Squadron HQ
• Armored Transport Carrier
• Assault Support Patrol Boat
• Patrol Boats (2)
• Riverine Rifle Platoon
• Riverine 81mm Mortar Platoon

Support:

• UH-1 Huey C&C OP Helicopter
• Gunship Aeroweapons Platoon (4)
• OH-6 Aeroscout Platoon (2)
• M551 Sheridan Platoon (3)

 

Paul’s PAVN Infantry Battalion

• PAVN Infantry Battalion HQs
• PAVN Infantry Company (x3)
• PAVN 82mm Mortar Platoon
• PAVN HMG Platoon
• PAVN 75mm Recoilless Gun Platoon
• PAVN 14.5mm AA Platoon

Support

• PAVN Local Resistance Teams (6)
• PAVN HMG bunkers (x3)

Mission:  Up River!

Special Rules:

• Meeting Engagement (Both players)
• Ambush (Nationalist player)
• Immediate Reserves (Free World player)
• Immediate Scattered Reserves (Nationalist player)
• Search or Evacuate (Both players)
• Triage and Medevac (Free World player)

 

Turn one:

Free world player is the attacker:  Turn 1 roll for reserves is unsuccessful.  The Rifle Platoon disembarks from the Armored Transport Carrier toward the nearest objective. The AH-1 Cobra gunships provide over-watch to the disembarking infantry. The OH-6s hover over objective#2, trying to see it under the jungle canopy.

Comrade Paul cleverly maneuvers his Local Resistance Teams towards the two easternmost objectives. He reveals his HMG bunkers from Ambush, catching the GIs in the open as they scramble off the ATC.  Don’t get off the boat, man!

Turn two:

The Sheridan Platoon comes on from reserve.  One tank gets stuck (failed cross check) in the dense underbrush as it enters the jungle.  The M60 MG team lays down suppressive fire on the VC HMG bunkers as the rest of the rifle platoon scrambles to find what little cover is available.  The OH-6s attempt to get low enough to search objective#2 under the jungle canopy.

Comrade Paul receives his first PAVN Infantry Company from reserves and heads for Objective #2.  Rifle and RPG fire brings down one of the OH-6s.  Ouch!

Turn three:

Lima-01 declares the jungle over objective #2 is too hot and departs north for airspace over objective #5.   The AH-1 Gunship platoon engages the Local Force Company advancing on objective #2. The M60 MG team continues to engage the VC HMG bunkers.  Now unstuck, a Sheridan takes out a HMG Bunker with its 152mm Brutal Gun.  Teams from the Rifle Platoon successfully search objective#1. Two of the Sheridans attempt to search objective #3.

Comrade Paul successfully moves objective #2, 8 inches by his Local Resistance Team.    Paul’s PAVN Infantry Company successfully removes the objective.

Score:  Lieutenant Dan: 1; Comrade Paul: 1

Turn four:

The Rifle Platoon moves back toward the Mekong, to get back aboard the ATC.   The AH-1 Gunships engage the Local Force Company leaving only two teams where objective #2 was evacuated.   A Sheridan takes out another HMG Bunker.  The two Sheridan’s successfully locate and search objective #3.   The OH-6 unsuccessfully attempts to search for objective #5.

Comrade Paul disengages the first PAVN Infantry Company to have it “regenerate” in the North.  A successful reinforcement roll brings in two platoons from reserve.  The second PAVN Infantry Company appears where Paul’s first PAVN Infantry Company just disengaged.  Paul’s third PAVN Infantry Company comes out of the jungle near objective#4.

Score:  Lieutenant Dan: 2; Comrade Paul: 1

Turn five:

The Rifle Platoon embarks the Armored Transport Carrier and moves up the Mekong headed for objective #4.   The AH-1 Gunships engage PAVN Infantry Company #2 caught in the open where PAVN Infantry Company #1 just retreated.  As the gunships had not moved, they put on an awesome display of free world firepower and eliminate PAVN Infantry Company #2.  The Sheridan platoon advances toward objective#5.  Lima-01 unsuccessfully attempts to search for objective #5.

Comrade Paul is successful in bringing on his PAVN 75mm Recoilless Gun Platoon very close to objective #5 and his   Uncle Ho was unsuccessful in regenerating PAVN Infantry Company #2.   However, Comrade Paul is successful in moving an objective by a Local Resistance Team and delivers it into the waiting hands of his PAVN Infantry Company #3, who are successful in removing it.

Score:  Lieutenant Dan: 2 ; Comrade Paul: 2

Turn six:

 The Rifle Platoon embarked on the ATC receives a FRAGORD to remain on the boat and proceed up the Mekong, as objective#4 no longer exists.  The Sheridan platoon arrives in the AO of objective #5.   The AH-1 Gunships engage the PAVN AA and HMG platoons.   Lima-01 unsuccessfully attempts to search for objective #5.

Comrade Paul is successful in bringing on his PAVN 75mm Recoilless Gun Platoon very close to objective #5.  Uncle Ho is successful in regenerating PAVN Infantry Company #3, bringing the total to five companies!   Comrade Paul fires on the Patrol boats with every available weapon system.  The Recoilless Gun Platoon is unsuccessful in destroying any of the Sheridans.

Turn seven:

The Sheridan Platoon successfully searches objective#5.

Lieutenant Dan calls in “Mike-Charlie”.

However, it’s not over for the Riverine Force, there is another mission, just around the next bend of the Mekong!

Score:  Lieutenant Dan: 3; Comrade Paul: 2

 

Observations:

This was my second ‘NAM game.  This game played completely different than our first game. It was a lot of fun!

The OH-6 “Loaches” have the Low Bird ability, which allows it to effectively search (capture) an objective on a die roll of 6.

This game was all about objectives.  The Search or Evacuate special rule adds some fog of war to the game.  In this game, objective#1 was “stolen” (evacuated) out from under two OH-6’s, moved 8 inches by a Local Resistance Team, and delivered to one of Paul’s Local Force Company, who successfully rolled to evacuate the objective!

Each of the PAVN Infantry Companies was larger than my rifle platoon.  The special rule Born in the North, to Die in the South allows PAVN Infantry and Local Force Companies to regenerate when destroyed. Paul successfully regenerated two of these companies, almost doubling the size of his original force.

Charlie Mike!  This is November, Delta, Delta, Out!