Mission Briefing: Americans vs. Russians vs. Germans vs. Americans

A three way WW2 Force on Force mission in Normandy.  Is it balanced?  I have no clue.

Café Rouge Lumière

Briefing: Leutnant Axel Merkel did what he did most nights.  He followed orders.  His orders were to ensure the Ost Truppen (Russian) he was given were trained in night maneuver.  Merkel was 52 years old, he was proud of saying, "I am like the Fuhrer, I was a Corporal in France in 1918."  Back to his orders. Each night he selected one of the gruppe in his zug and took them on a night patrol to Café Rouge Lumière, Madame Sophie Allemands-pour-l'argent would take the good Leutnant upstairs, after a few bottles of Calvo' he was ready...to sleep.  Downstairs, the lucky gruppe would get to share a bottle of Calvo' with some home brewed Vodka.

By 11pm on the 5th of June Leutnant Merkel was snorning on Madame Sophie's bed and she was sitting on her sofa knitting, by midnight she had fallen asleep and the gruppe of Russians were outside wrestling the goats.

High above the Café, Private Horace McBride was the 4th man out the C-47's door.  He quickly fell the 400 feet, hit the Café's roof, slid off and landed in the yard, startling the goats and the Russian wrestlers.

The Russian's were soon upon the unconscious McBride.  At first they thought it was their Leutnant, but then they saw the parachute.  They decided the best thing to do was shoot the parachutist.

In the small lane outside the Café, Sergeant Joachim Sterballeine saw the parachute slide down the roof and into the garden.  The Sergeant was at the front of the lead element, on bicycles (the Reich's main mode of transportation after most their horses had died in Russia), of the 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment   He told his men to fan out and went to investigate with one private.  He found a group of "shirtless" Russians gawking and about to shoot the unconscious American.  He ordered them away.  They shot him dead.  The private who was standing next to his now dead sergeant started running and screaming.  All pandemonium broke out.

One hundred yards away Sergeant Trudeau hit the dirt with the report of a single rifle shot.  Then they heard awful screams.  Having seen one of his men hit the roof of the building he feared the worst.  On landing he had quickly found five of his men, and a group of 101st Airborne joined him.  Ordering the men to follow, he ran towards the hamlet.

Leutnant Merkel slept on.

The bakery at the T-junction and in the back Café Rouge Lumière

TURNS: 6
INITIATIVE: US Airborne
CONDITIONS: Moonlit night (pass TQ to fire at enemy beyond double TQ range)
MAP: Small 3x3, three buildings, road, orchard and farmyard
Victory Conditions: Whoever holds the wounded US paratrooper wins at the end of Turn 6.  The wounded paratrooper cannot be killed.

US Airborne
INI D10
TQ D8
MOR D10
Sergeant Trudeau's team, Squad 1, Platoon 1, Kilo Company, 508th P.I.R., 82nd A.I. Division
1 Sergeant w\SMG
4 w\Self-Loading Rifle
1 w\Self-Loading Rifle + Rifle Grenade (+1)

101st Airborne team
1 Corporal w\Self-Loading Rifle
3 w\Self-Loading Rifle

Special Rules: "Loaded With Grenades" (at Optimum range add 2D instead of 1D).  Until fired upon US will not attack enemy beyond optimum range.

Ost Truppen (Russians in German service)
INI D6 (Calvados + Vodka)
TQ D6  (Calvados + Vodka)
MOR D12 (Calvados + Vodka)
Gruppe Team 1
1 w\SMG (Leader)
3 w\Bolt Action Rifle
Gruppe Team 2
1 w\SMG (Leader)
2 w\Bolt Action Rifle
1 w\Bolt Action Rifle & Demolition Charge (8D)
Gruppe Team 3
1 w\SMG (Leader)
1 w\MG38 (+1D)
2 w\Bolt Action Rifle

Special Rules: Demolition Charge 8D with a 4" blast radius.  As punishment Private Ivan Trumfekov has been hauling a DC around on his back.  To make a DC attack pass an Close combat assault, move, drop charge and move as far away as possible (maybe not far enough!)

German patrol, I Battalion, 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment
INI D8
TQ D8
MOR D8 (seeing their leader die they are uncertain)
Gruppe 1 Team 1
1 Leader w\Self-loading rifle
1 w\Self-loading Rifle

Gruppe 1 Team 2
1 Leader w\SMG
2 w\Self-Loading Rifle

Gruppe 2 Team 1
1 Leader w\SMG
2 w\Self-Loading Rifle

Gruppe 2 Team 2
1 Leader w\SMG
1 w\Self-Loading Rifle
1 w\Self-Loading Rifle + Panzerfaust-30 (Medium AP3, max range 20")

Cards
1 One of your men in this team fumbles a grenade and becomes a casualty
2 Flare, a flare turns the map area to daylight for this turn
3 A plane crashes nearby - Distraction - Gain 2D extra defense in next Round of Fire
4 Good Position - The team gains +1D defense in this position for until it moves
5 Mad Minute - Gain +2D attack in next Round of Fire
6 Leutnant Merkel appears at window and will shoot at random target until dead or game ends.  INI6 TQ6

Up The Junction

Paul Unishment stood to attention in his CO’s office, and stared fixedly at a point just over Major Zaster’s head while he waited to hear what ‘exciting’ detail he’d been assigned today. Yesterday he’d had to guard a bunch of Portaloos to prevent them from being stolen; the day before he’d been on traffic duty because of the power cuts, and the local police couldn’t spare anyone. The whole country was going to the dogs, and no-one seemed to care – so long as the cars kept moving, and there was somewhere to shit.

“The police are concerned, Corporal”, said Major Zaster. “There’s a lot of anti-immigrant feeling in Badford at the moment. Shops have been looted, houses set on fire, and people badly beaten. The police are spread too thin to do anything about it. They’ve heard rumours that local gangs are getting their hands on guns and intend to use them. I’m sending out patrols to police the streets and protect the peace. The sight of you and your men should act to deter the violence. Current rules of engagement apply – you’re to shoot only to prevent loss of life. Oh, while you’re out there, check out the mosque; footage from the police drone shows a truck delivering several dozen boxes. If they are weapons, confiscate them”.

TQ/Morale D8/D8; Body Armour 1D

Section 1 - Warrior IFV with driver and commander

Fireteam Charlie1

1x Squad Leader with SA80

1x Gunner with SAW (Lt. AP:1/AT:0)

1x Grenadier with SA80 + UGL + Shotgun

1x Marksman with L129

Fireteam Delta1

1x Assistant Squad Leader with SA80

1x Gunner with SAW (Lt. AP:1/AT:0)

1x Grenadier with SA80 + UGL

1x Gunner with GPMG (Med. AP:2/AT:0) 

Section 2 - Warrior IFV with driver and commander

Fireteam Charlie2

1x Squad Leader with SA80

1x Gunner with SAW (Lt. AP:1/AT:0)

1x Grenadier with SA80 + UGL + Shotgun

1x Marksman with L129

Fireteam Delta2

1x Assistant Squad Leader with SA80

1x Gunner with SAW (Lt. AP:1/AT:0)

1x Grenadier with SA80 + UGL

1x Gunner with GPMG (Med. AP:2/AT:0) 

Mission - protect civilians, search the mosque.

Each turn your forces remain on table (max 6)                          10 points

Each civilian casualty suffered                                                 -1 point

Each casualty suffered by your force                                        -2 points

Search the mosque for weapons                                             20 points

Dave ’Nobby’ Mosley had grown up on the streets of Badford in West Orkshire, and, since he was old enough to remember, things had only got worse over time. Nobby’s Dad had worked in the town steelworks, like his father before him. Unlike him, when they closed it down, he’d never found work again. When Nobby left school, they were still no jobs for him or his mates either, and no future. It only made it worse that there appeared to be an endless stream of ‘f***ing foreigners’ moving to Badford, taking the few local jobs at rates that were worse than the dole, and living three or four families to a house. Nobby couldn’t even get work in the portable toilet factory – ‘a real shit job’, as his mate said; Thommo reckoned it was because it was owned by one of those ‘Hotaki c**ts’, and they didn’t want ‘real Brexitians’ working there. They ‘ought to go back where they came from’.

Thommo knew a lot of people who felt the same way as Nobby – bitter and angry, and feeling in need of taking action. The ‘Young Orkshire Brigade’ had started by beating up the occasional ‘Hotaki’, throwing rocks through shop windows, and setting fire to houses, but this had led to a tit-for-tat escalation. Knives and baseball bats were now the norm, and some of Nobby’s mates had been seriously hurt or killed. There also seemed to be more of the ‘Hotakis’ than locals. So when Thommo said he knew a man who could get them some guns, Nobby jumped at the chance (he’d been quite good on the rifle ranges at the fairs he’d been to…). A couple of ex-Army guys called Ron and Reg had driven up from somewhere down south with a truck full of AK74’s, loads of ammo, and three RPGs; they’d even been taught how to use them. (Better than that, Thommo said that it had all been paid for by a ‘well-wisher’). They decided to test their new strength by marching on the mosque, and destroying it – ‘That would teach those Hotakis whose town it was !’

TQ/Morale D6/D10 Irregulars

Team 1

1x Leader with AK74

8x YOB’s with AK74

1x Gunner with AK74 and RPG

Team 2

1x Leader with AK74

8x YOB’s with AK74

1x Gunner with AK74 and RPG

Team 3

1x Leader with AK74

8x YOB’s with AK74

1x Gunner with AK74 and RPG

Mission

Each ‘Hotaki’ wounded or otherwise incapacitated                     1 point

Enter the mosque and destroy it                                                 10 points

Abdul al Maliki had not had an easy life. Growing up in a small village in Malikastan, he had seen many of his friends and family killed there in the ‘peace-keeping’ operation, and the Hotaki invasion that followed. There had been a point where he – or, rather, his mother – had wanted him to become a martyr (Malikastan Week 10 – Save the Day), but God had spared him, and given him a chance to marry and start a family. His wife’s father, Uncle Rafi, had advised him to get out of Malikastan and go somewhere safer (his mother’s ‘life insurance policy’ on him hadn’t yet paid out…), so he decided to go to the West. After all, from what he had seen of their soldiers, if they could give away so many bullets and bombs, they must be rich, and wouldn’t mind giving him some of their wealth. It would be better than herding goats…

It took months to walk to the sea – through several other war zones – and a long wait in a refugee camp. Finally, someone took pity on him and his family, and put them on a plane. He ended up in Badford, just in time to see Grande Brexitia disintegrate, and law and order break down. However, for many like Abdul, this was ‘life as usual’, and they knew that security only came from the barrel of a gun; the Brexitian Islamic Front found many recruits from former refugees, keen to protect their families and new lives from violent thugs. Abdul had fought the Americans, Brexitians and the Hotakis, and was respected by his peers. When he heard that ‘infidels’ were on their way to destroy the mosque, and burn the holy books, he knew that he had to prevent it. Calling his brothers to arms, he led them down the street…

TQ/Morale D6/D10 Irregulars

Team 1

1x Leader with AK74

8x ‘Holy Warriors’ with AK74

1x Gunner with AK74 and RPG

Team 2

1x Leader with AK74

8x ‘Holy Warriors’ with AK74

1x Gunner with AK74 and RPG

Team 3

1x Leader with AK74

8x ‘Holy Warriors’ with AK74

1x Gunner with AK74 and RPG

Mission

Each unbeliever wounded or otherwise incapacitated                  1 point

Prevent unbelievers from desecrating (entering) the mosque     10 points

Still Crazy After All These Years (intermission)

Bright was in trouble - the prisoners did not include Ronnie and Reggie. The fireteam on the railway embankment reported seeing two men running away into the woods, and believed they had wounded one. Also two prisoners had been shot dead 'while resisting'.

Corporal Hansen's voice came over the PRC; 'Sir. I think you should see this'. 'This' being the ten (or more) tonnes of 'white powder' in plastic bags, filling the inside of the truck. Bright's spirits rose a little; he'd have something positive to report...

Bright's superiors were unhappy that the Krays had escaped, and weren't interested in the prisoners, or the dead gangsters at all. However, they seemed to be very excited about the 'white powder', and eventually told him 'Seal the truck up, leave it, and tell no-one - we'll send our men in to pick it up'. Bright didn't even get a chance to tell them about Delta fireteam's indiscretions... He quietly withdrew his men and their prisoners back to barracks, and submitted a bland report; his men's role in the affair was quickly forgotten. (Private Fratton eventually made a full recovery).

It took time for a suitable team of  'inspectors' to be found, briefed and sent out by the 'authorities'; by that time, Ronnie Kray had been busy. His twin, Reggie, had been shot and wounded, but that just made them both mad. Ronnie wanted to recover the truck full of drugs - it represented a major investment, and its loss would have meant a blow to their business diversification. He called in all his favours from local hoodlums, issued them with guns, and set out for the factory. The inspectors were ambushed, and withdrew. More police were sent in, but by this time, the local thugs were beginning to have fun; even Ronnie and his men had trouble getting near the factory, as the streets were filled with excited gun-toting youths.

Things took a turn for the worse when Prince Roger (not known for his tolerant views, i.e. 'Hang all the commie plebs, and shoot the rest', and only well-known otherwise for falling out of nightclubs at three in the morning in the company of semi-naked bimbos), decided to take a hand. He volunteered to fly his personal helicopter to the scene, and help identify the main ringleaders. He also decided to take a couple of his 'chums' as sharpshooters on board ('Just like big game hunting in Africa'), in the hope that 'warning shots' would quickly restore order. A number of troublemakers were shot in this way, but his low flying antics came a cropper when he ran into some telephone wires, causing the helicopter to crash close to the factory. Prince Roger and his two chums are pinned down in the helicopter. A Regular Army Rapid Response Force is dispatched to rescue Roger from a rowdy rabble of vengeful and armed 'yoofs'.

Prince Roger's helicopter on the tracks. (When is the train due ?)

A rare sighting of the Golden Holden (Prince Roger's helicopter is just visible in the background).

Still Crazy After All These Years

After the troops returned from Hotakistan, they found a country in disarray.  Austerity was the word of the day, and the government was looking for ways to save money.  Defence cuts were popular after the UN 'withdrawal'; troop numbers were drastically cut, voluntarily and otherwise.  Ronnie and Reggie Kray found themselves back in 'civvie street', at a bit of a loose end, and without sufficient funds to hand.  Fortunately for them, the government came to their aid by simultaneously cutting the police forces, and by relaxing gun ownership.  Their entrepreneurial skills came to the fore when they set up an 'insurance' company in a disused factory, using some of their ex-Army boys as a militia to enforce 'law and order'; those shops and houses that didn't pay them to be protected mysteriously burnt down, or their owners had 'accidents'.

All went well, business boomed, and they were untouchable.  They could afford the best lawyers.  The police were happy to accept 'donations' to turn a blind eye, as they didn't have the manpower that the Krays could command.  However, the twins became too successful, and, with success came arrogance. And, if there was one thing that 'authority' disliked, it was a couple of loud, low class 'chavs' who thought that new money could buy their way into society.  It was decided that they needed to be taught a lesson about who was in charge.  They would be arrested, in the course of which, incriminating evidence would be 'discovered' which would consign them and their gang to prison for many years.  It was recognised that the police were not reliable or capable, and the Krays were likely to be well armed.  The idea was, therefore, to raid the factory with soldiers from the local Army base; the Krays would be caught off guard, surrender to a superior force, and led off to face justice.  A simple plan...

Mission Briefing: The Rescue

The UN was a tad optimistic with their estimation of how rapid their advance would be.  They heralded the liberation of the Mithraist's in Ghani Bayt on the news channels of the world.  Unfortunately, they became bogged down in their advance.  Unfortunately, the Mithraists swarmed into the streets celebrating their liberation.  Unfortunately, the Woz Insurgents were in the vicinity.

So, the UN has thrown together a British flying column with orders to rescue two dozen Mithra men trapped in the Mosque and communal Grape Drying building in Ghani Bayt.  The Woz insurgents are intent on exterminating the last of this long diminished sect in Hotakistan.

The UN know that the Hotaki Woz are 2-3 dozen, and are likely to have IEDs.  The Woz have intelligence that are Mechanized Infantry platoon is approaching the town.

Map Overview

The mission has a "blind" aspect to it, with regards to forces and objectives.  So each side should not look at the map of the other side.


IF YOU ARE THE WOZ PLAYER LOOK AT THIS MAP

IF YOU ARE THE UN PLAYER LOOK AT THIS MAP

Mission Briefing - Cake Walk/Milk Run

The plan: The UN force will steam-roller a motley collection of routed rabble and capture the small airstrip between the half-built presidential palace and the Ma'tafil dam.

The UN SOFORCE will advance along the southern route to the main airfield to the west, the first step of this long sweep will be the taking of the Ma'tafil airstrip, power plant and dam.  To the north NOFORCE and the Russians will attempt to advance through the city of Hotakimadina and take the shorter northern route to the airfield.  The Russians are not under UN command.  A light paratrooper force followed by an airlanding force will assault, take and hold the main airfield until relieved by NOFORCE and/or SOFORCE.  Good luck....you poor bastards.

The mission is designed for 4-players and contains a hidden agenda on each side.

The route of Soforce and Noforce around the Kabir Massif - Target - The main airfield soon to be renamed UN Base Heidi Clare.

The first step in SOFORCE'S advance: The Ma'tafil industrial park, airstrip and dam.

The UN Vanguard, SAS in WMIKS leading an Australian force of Abrams and MRAP Infantry, along with the first of the British Warriors.

The Mission Map

I forgot to add that all units of Hotakistani Player 2 (Technicals, Golden Holden and BMP-1) enter on turn 1 within 6" of A on the map.

SMAFU (Mission)

Situation Malikastan AFU

After a long break we are back to the Malikastan campaign.  So a little sideshow which will also introduce the Russians to the campaign.  In an earlier mission (http://bigfof.blogspot.com.au/2013/07/aar-they-are-like-zombies.html ) the Russian ambassador was captured by the insurgents.  This mission will see the Russians arriving in the chaos which is Malika City to rescue the ambassador.  Players, review and send in any comments.  The game will see the debut of my Eureka Miniature Russians and Colonel D. Zaster's QRF BMP-3s.  This could be as balanced as a two-legged dog, but the narrative is what counts :)

Briefing

The leaking of General Phil Graves “off the record” comment: “I will flatten Malika City” has handed the insurgents in Malika City a propaganda gold mine.  Outrage has swept through the Malika City streets with the insurgents fanning the flames: the new AUSAF force will flatten the Azure Mosque.  In response the western prisoners in the insurgents hands have been herded into a park behind the mosque.  They have been locked in a stockade and a film has been spread across the cellphone network.  The footage shows that the Russian ambassador has been placed inside or near to the mosque itself.

In response, the Russians have moved.  Early in the morning the UN and AUSAF forces at the Malika Airport were woken by a low flying MiG fighter, the “bomb” was several thousand leaflets.

“Refrain from alarm, the vozdushno-desantnye voyska will shortly be landing at your airfield.  They will secure the hangars at the eastern edge.  We come in peace.  Do not interfere.  Interference will result in mortal danger.”

Ten minutes later a low flying Antonov dropped 300 paratroopers in an airdrop.  Several minutes later four large Antonov’s landed on the main runway and taxi’ed to the hangars.  One of the large aircraft veered off the damaged runway and burnt, another was damaged and would never fly again.  The UN commander at the airfield, still unsure of the new command structure failed to contact either General Phil Graves or Colonel D. Zaster.  He decided that he was not about to start WW3 and decided to leave the Russians alone.

The Russians unloaded several mechanised vehicles and a helicopter gunship.  They assembled and a company left the airfield heading to Malika City.  The UN base commander decided it was a good time to have a whiskey.  Though this turned into a vodka when a Russian VDV Captain arrived with a salutary bottle of vodka.  After a hug and kiss they became best of enemies.

The Russian convoy headed towards Malika City from the SW, driving in past the massive ruined fort complex to the south of Malika City.  They then headed towards the Azure Mosque.

Sitting on the 4^th floor of the ransacked Grand Vacation Tavern Hotel across the road from the Azure Mosque is a US special forces A-team.  The team is in Malika City to neutralize a HVT who attends the Azure Mosque.

Mission:

Russian VDV platoon (mech.): Rescue the ambassador, his family and staff.  Failure to rescue the ambassador is a defeat.  The ambassador is either in the mosque or in the stockade to the rear of the mosque. Casualties or lost vehicles are of no importance, the Russian President has said the ambassador will be rescued and he will be rescued.  The VDV gain 5VP for the ambassador and wife, and 1VP for other staff.  The Russians must either move the ambassador and staff of the south edge (roads) or fly them out with the HIND.

US ODA A-TEAM: Neutralize the insurgent leadership.  Victory points are gained for each insurgent leader neutralized (1VP), and 5VP for each HVT (even if the Russians do the dirty deed on the HVT).  The Russian ambassador has been disguised as an insurgent leader…

Insurgents: The insurgents gain VP for each enemy killed (2VP) or captured (4VP).

Time: 8 turns

Forces:

Russian VDV & Spetnatz (INI8/TQ10/MOR10) and (INI10/TQ10/MOR10)

The Russian player has a full mechanized Russian VDV platoon (mounted on BMP-3 or other), have a Nona (120mm) and a HIND on call.  The HIND contains a Spetnatz team of four.  The HIND will fast-rope the Spetnatz onto the Azure Mosque Roof on a D8 on a TQ 4+ (try from Turn 1).  If the helicopter is damaged it will land the team on a random building roof.

US ODA A-TEAM, a full 12-man team (INI10/TQ10/MOR10)

The team setups hidden on the 4^th floor of the hotel.  They have access to the heavy artillery.  They have two AT-3.

Insurgents

The insurgents start with four regular insurgent guard teams (INI6/TQ8/MOR12) onboard

1xLdr AK, 1xAK, 1xRPK, 1xRPG (AP2/AT2M)

And one sniper team

1xSpotter, 1xSniper (INI6/TQ10/MOR8)

Each time an ODA or VDV/Spetnatz team engages with automatic rifle fire roll a D6, on a 5+ a team of insurgents will arrive at the start of the next turn.  Each reinforcement is randomly selected from Primary or Secondary reinforcements.

Reinforcing insurgents are on a D6

1-2 Regular INI6/TQ8/MOR10

4-6 Irregular INI6/TQ6/MOR12

From turn 4 onwards roll a D6 4+, if successful the insurgents receive a T-55 (INI6/TQ8/MOR8)

Mobs

Each time an AP3 or AT3 weapon is used within 6” or fired at a target with 6” of the Mosque roll a D6, on a 5+ a mob of 10+D10 will arrive.  Mobs will attack all combatants within 12” of the mosque once they become violent.  They become violent on seeing an attack from or at a target within 6” of the mosque.  Mobs are game controlled, and will attack the target or firer, whoever is closest to the mosque.

Mission Special Rules:

Where is the ambassador, he is either in the stockade or mosque, one arriving at one of the other the VDV/Spetnatz roll a TQ, on a success roll a D6, on a 4+ the find the ambassador, if he fails to be at one location he is automatically at the other location.

Who is the ambassador, the ambassador is dressed as an insurgent leader.  If the ODA Sniper team has LOS to the ambassador at any time they roll a TQ, on a failure they will try shoot him.

Ivan Ivanovich?  The stockade and mosque each contain 6+D6 prisoners, each group contains 3 Russians, a successful TQ is required to obtain each of the Russians.

Who is a suicide bomber, at both locations the insurgents have planted an insurgent suicide bomber, AP5/AT1.  The bomber can be spotted by the VDV/Spetnatz on a successful TQ when activated, otherwise the bomber will explode on a TQ6 4+ without allowing an interruption.

HIND.  The HIND can be called in to attack or pick up the ambassador.  The three locations where the HIND can be landed are marked on the map.

Confusion.  Each time the ODA attack in LOS of the Russians the Russians will attempt to interrupt on a successful TQ.

HVT.  The HVT is in one of the guard teams, the insurgent player records which team he is in.  Each insurgent team which arrives may have a HVT on a D6 roll of 1.  The HVT will upgrade the TQ by +1DShift.

SMAFU - Situation Malikastan – AFU.  The streets of Malika City are full of traffic, like the mobs vehicles are moving.  If the insurgent player rolls a VBIED one of the cars in the city becomes the VBIED, randomly and secretly selected, all vehicles on the road (not parked) are moved.  A VBIED is difficult to spot and requires a successful TQ with a -1DShift.