Operation Silver Bayonet - la Drang - 14 Nov. 1965

[Michielson]

Operation Silver Bayonet - la Drang - 14 Nov. 1965

Turn 1:
Gunships fly towards LZ X-Ray to provide preemptive fire.
1st, 2th and 3rd platoon, B Coy are boarding the Hueys.
21st FA is preparing.

Turn 2:
21st FA provides an artillery bombardment on LZ X-Ray.
A Coy is released.
Gunships of 9th Cavalry are strafing LZ X-Ray.
So far no enemy contact.
B Coy approaches LZ X-Ray from the SE.

Turn 3:
21st FA provides an artillery bombardment on LZ X-Ray.
Gunships of 9th Cavalry are strafing LZ X-Ray.
1st and 2th platoon, B Coy, land at LZ X-Ray and start securing the objective.

Turn 4:
21st FA provides an artillery bombardment NW of LZ X-Ray.
1st and 2th platoon continue securing the LZ.
The Hueys return to Plei Me to refuel and pick up A Coy.

Turn 5:
The Hueys are refueling and picking up 3rd platoon, B Coy, B Coy Mortars.
A Coy is preparing for the airlift.

Turn 6:
The Hueys are on their way back to the LZ.
1st and 2th platoon, B Coy, have secured LZ X-Ray and start digging in.
Gunships of 9th Cav are still at LZ X-Ray to provide support.
So far no enemy contact.

Turn 7:
Contact!
The enemy fires their first rounds.
Our gunships return fire.
The Hueys arrive at the LZ and prepare to land.
The gunships return to Plei Me to refuel.

Turn 8:
The gunships are back at Plei Me.
B Coy is still trying to build some IP's at LZ X-Ray.

Turn 9:
The gunships are returning to LZ X-Ray.
B Coy succeeded in building 1 IP at LZ X-Ray.

Turn 10:
The enemy attacks the SW corner of the LZ and takes (37,33).
The gunships arrive back at the LZ.
21st FA prepares to bombard the SW corner and adjacent hexes at the LZ.

Turn 11:
2th platoon, B Coy is under attack at (37,32).
21st FA manages to destroy some enemy elements.
Gunships start shooting at the enemy at (37,33).
2th platoon pulls back.
1st platoon manages to engage the enemy. One enemy platoon pulls back.
Hueys are refueling and picking up elements of A Coy at Plei Me.

To be continued...

[Jason Petho]

Sounds like an adventure and a half!

[Michielson]

Operation Silver Bayonet - la Drang - 14 Nov. 1965

Turn 12:
Hueys with A Coy departing for LZ X-Ray.
21st FA keeps on pounding the W side of the LZ.
Incoming mortar fire.
The enemy pulls back after some air strikes.

Turn 13:
The enemy fires at our gunships from (35,32), but retreats after returning fire from the helos.

Turn 14:
The enemy attacks the SW corner of the LZ with continuing waves of infantry.
Our gunships return to base to refuel.

Turn 15:
We try to defend the LZ and keep dropping artillery on the SW corner.

Turn 16:
Defence of LZ X-Ray continues.

Turn 17:
Fighting is and has been intense. So it's time for a sit rep.

LZ:
We've now lost the Western side of the LZ to the enemy (37,32 and 37,33).
Our bravo platoons were unable to hold on there without suffering major casualties, so where pulled back.
Current enemy strength there is estimated at 2 full strength platoons and two at half strength.
Due to the conditions we are unable to reconnoiter, so more of the enemy is expected to be around.
A and B Coy platoons are holding on to the center and Eastern edge of the LZ.
The platoons took some hits, but morale is still high. B Coy mortars suffered some heavy casualties due to enemy artillery fire.

FS:
Gunships have been refueled and are on their way back to the LZ.
We've ordered an air strike on hex (30,34), expected enemy artillery position.

Reinforcements:
The Hueys have loaded more infantry platoons and are ready to fly over to the LZ from Plei Me.

Turn 18:
Gunships arrive at the LZ and prepare to provide supressing fire.
Our platoons in the N of the LZ take some casualties.

Turn 19:
The enemy assaults the Western side of the LZ, but takes some heavy casualties.
We concentrate all of our artillery and air support over there and manage to push back the enemy.
Our platoons in (38,32) are disrupted.
We launch an assault and retake the entire LZ (hexes 37,32 and 37,33 again under our control).
Helos arrive and drop some urgently needed reinforcements.

Turn 20:
We strengthen our positions in the W of the LZ.
Gunships provide FS.
Hueys on their way back to Plei Me for additional supplies.


To be continued...