Sneak Peeks, Coming Attractions, Works-In-Progress

[wodin]

ALPHA? Well I'll be...

Can't wait to see the final release then!

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: ALPHA graphics. Master Maps.

Here is the current progress of the III Corps master map that is going to be included for the 1.00 release. The primary area to complete is the area to the west and southwest of Saigon, the rest is complete. Like the DMZ master map, this is quite extensive and covers a lot of well known battlefields that will be trimmed down for each of the various scenarios.

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: ALPHA Graphics: SCENARIO DESIGN

New scenario:

The Hunt - Operation All the Way - Ia Drang
1 November, 1965
Plei Me, Route TL6C, Pleiku Province, South Vietnam]: [SIDE A][HIS][CSL]: After the relief of the Plei Me Special Forces camp, elements of the 1st Brigade/1st Cavalry Division were tasked with Search and Destroy missions to the west of Plei Me in hopes of catching the retreating 32nd and 33rd NVA Regiments. A number of combat assaults were performed from Plei Me to the border, leading to little to no contact. The morning of November 1st was turning out to be much the same until elements of B/1st/9th Cavalry Squadron while screening the southern operations area spotted some NVA in the area around Ia Tae. Using scouts, gunships and the aero-rifle platoon on the ground, the Cavalry unit engaged the North Vietnamese, killing and wounding a number. During the action, the aero-rifle platoon had stumbled upon an aid station about regimental strength. The fight intensified around the makeshift hospital as both sides continued to funnel in reinforcements before the North Vietnamese broke contact at dusk. [ALL][CSEE, Variable Objectives][1.00]

[Jason Petho]

The next scenario on the hitlist is Day 1 of LZ X-Ray, that happened 13 days after the above engagement.

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: ALPHA Graphics: SCENARIO DESIGN

New scenario:

Rendezvous with Destiny - Operation Silver Bayonet I - Ia Drang
November 14, 1965
[Chu Pong Massif, Pleiku Province, South Vietnam]: [SIDE A][HIS][CSL]: After the actions at Plei Me had subsided and 1st Brigade/7th Cavalry had spent a few weeks looking for the remnants of the NVA Regiments that had conducted the attacks, the 3rd Brigade/7th Cavalry had taken over the area. Starting on November 9th, the 3rd Brigade battalions had started off their phase of the operation by performing search and destroy missions to the east of Plei Me. With the area clear, all eyes were focused west of Plei Me. Intelligence had surmised that three NVA Regiments were still in the area and were determined to find them. With that, 3rd Brigade instructed 1st/7th Cavalry to perform and combat air assault into the Ia Drang valley just north of the Chu Pong Massif. After a reconnaissance of the area, the commander of 1st/7th Cavalry chose Landing Zone X-Ray, with enough room for 8-10 helicopters at a time in which his battalion would have to land in multiple waves to conduct the search and destroy mission. The Landing Zone was prepped with an artillery bombardment from LZ Falcon and aerial gunships from C/1st/9th Air Cavalry. At 1050 on the morning of November 14th, 1965, B Company was the first to land in LZ X-Ray, starting their rendezvous with destiny. [ALL][CSEE, Variable Objectives][1.00]

[Jason Petho]

Starting positions for the Americans for the above scenario

[Jason Petho]

And the Fire Support Base FALCON that has the two 105mm batteries that will support the landings at LZ X-Ray

[Big Ivan]

This is getting real good Jason! The alpha graphics are superb! Nice work indeed!![;)]

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: ALPHA Graphics: SCENARIO DESIGN

New scenario:
Broken Arrow - Operation Silver Bayonet I - Ia Drang
November 15,1965
[Chu Pong Massif, Pleiku Province, South Vietnam]: [SIDE A][HIS][CSL]: The 1st/7th Cavalry had landed in Landing Zone X-Ray, and survived the multiple assaults by the eager 9th Battalion/66th Regiment. During the night, positions were dug, ammunition was resupplied and the wounded and dead were evacuated. At dawn, the 1st/7th Cavalry commander orders his company commanders to meet him prior to an attack to rescue the still cut-off platoon. Before this meeting takes place, the PAVN launch a heavy attack which shatters the early-morning stillness like a huge explosion. The attack is carried out by the 7th/66th Regiment and the H-15 Main Force Viet Cong Battalion. In the chaos that ensues, it isn't long before the code word "Broken Arrow" is sent out over the radio by the Battalion Forward Air Controller. Within minutes, all available fighter bombers in South Vietnam are headed for X-ray to render close air support to "an American unit in grave danger of being overrun". [ALL][CSEE, Variable Objectives][1.00]

[Simulacra53]

Getting hyped!

[Jason Petho]

That's great to hear!!

Lots of action coming for everyone!

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: ALPHA Graphics: SCENARIO DESIGN
New scenario:

By the Belt - Battle of Landing Zone Albany
17 November, 1965
[Landing Zone Albany, Pleiku Province, South Vietnam]: [H2H][HIS][CSL]: With 1st/7th Cavalry helicoptered out of Landing Zone X-Ray, the battle had ceased. The other two Cavalry Battalions, 2nd/7th and elements of 2nd/5th, were tasked with leaving the area as the Chu Pong Massif was designated to be hit by multiple B-52 strikes. Both of the Battalions meandered along a trail to Landing Zone Columbus (which was also acting as a Fire Base for the defence of the Landing Zone X-Ray battle), where 2nd/5th would continue on to LZ Columbus and 2nd/7th would take the west fork in the trail and sweep the area towards the Ia Drang, with the intention of being helicoptered out from Landing Zone Albany. As the 2nd/7th Cavalry began entering Landing Zone Albany, a couple of NVA were captured. While the interrogation revealed little, elements of A/2nd/7th secured the Landing Zone while the remainder of the Battalion waited along the trail. Shortly after, all hell broke loose as the alerted NVA 8th/66th and 1st/33rd Battalions had maneuvered into ambush positions and assaulted the American column. Using lessons learned a couple days before at Landing Zone X-Ray, the NVA companies were intermingled within the American lines, effectively nullifying support from the air or artillery. [ALL][CSEE, Variable Objectives][1.00]

[Infierno]

Can't wait to get my hands on this!

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: ALPHA Graphics: SCENARIO DESIGN
New scenario:

The Swarm - Battle of Dong Xoai
10 June, 1965
[Dong Xoai, Phuoc Long Province, South Vietnam]: [H2H][HIS][CSL]: Even with the political turmoil plaguing South Vietnam, the Communists knew that there was still a large and function South Vietnamese Army to contend with. After the successes gained during the Binh Gai battle, the Communist leadership decided to launch a Summer Offensive with the goal of destroying the South Vietnamese Army units throughout the country. Starting in May 1965, elements of the VC 271st and VC 272nd Regiments had been on the offensive throughout the Phuoc Long Province, including the provincial capital of Phuoc Binh, capturing and destroying various strategic hamlets and engaging various South Vietnamese Army units. The 9th Division was ordered to capture the District Capital of Dong Xoai, about 30 kilometres north of Phouc Vinh, which was an important intersection of Highway 1, Highway 14 and Inter-Provincial Road 13. A CIDG camp was opened at Dong Xoai in May 1965 and operated by Special Forces Detachment A-342, who commanded a few CIDG companies (including one from Cambodia), a platoon of armoured vehicles, a handful of SeaBee's and a half battery of ARVN 105mm field guns. Aware of the growing presence of the Viet Cong in the area, the Special Forces had stepped up patrols and improved the defences of the camp while they waited the impending attack, even though requested reinforcements were not answered. As the rain and fog fell on the evening of June 9th/10th, the Viet Cong 272nd Regiment had assembled into their attack formations and unleashed a heavy barrage from the mortars they hauled into the province. The assault that followed was one unseen before, with the Viet Cong swarming over the berms of the camp in waves, the A-Team barely hanging on until gunships, airstrikes and reinforcements could arrive. [ALL][CSEE, Variable Objectives][1.00]

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: ALPHA Graphics: SCENARIO DESIGN
New scenario:


Ring of Fire - Battle of Ap Bau Bang
12 November, 1965
[Ap Bau Bang, Binh Duong Province, South Vietnam]: [H2H/SIDE A][HIS][CSL]: In an effort to secure Saigon, one of U.S. 1st Divisions tasks were to fan out north of Saigon, clearing the area of Viet Cong and secure Highway 13. Securing Highway 13 would create a security zone between the Viet Cong Sanctuaries of War Zone C and War Zone D. As part of this operation, the U.S. 2nd Battalion/2nd Infantry was tasked with securing a portion of Highway 13 for the safe transit of ARVN 7th Regiment/5th Division as it was en route to the Michelin Plantation. The 2nd/2nd Infantry was divided into three sectors, with B Company in the north, C Company in the south and A Company in the center. A/1st/4th Cavalry Troop and C/2nd/33rd Artillery Battery were attached to the task force and were laagered at A Companies position. Operating from these positions for a couple of days, all was uneventful with the exception of the passage of the ARVN 7th Regiment and some civil operations at Ap Bau Bang and other scattered villages in the area. The commander of the VC 9th Division had learned of the American's presence and was itching to fight them. He ordered elements of the VC 272nd and VC 273rd Regiments to engage and destroy the Americans. Marching hours the previous day, the dispositions of the Americans were found to have a changed a new plan was formulated. The attack set to start the morning of November 12th. As the 2nd/2nd Infantry was preparing to move out, mortar rounds started landing the position and the Viet Cong started charging the position. Up and alert, the Cavalry Troop's M113's, armed with 0.50 caliber and M60 machine guns responded in kind, blazing away from the ringed positions around the laager. [ALL][CSEE, Variable Objectives][1.00]

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: ALPHA Graphics: SCENARIO DESIGN
New scenario:


A Tale of Two Hills - Battle of Hill 65 and Gang Toi

8 November, 1965
[Gang Toi Hills, Bien Hoa Province, South Vietnam]: [H2H/SIDE A][HIS][CSL]: By the fall of 1965, the junction of the Song Be and Song Dong Nai rivers had become a major communist staging area for men, equipment, and supplies for Viet Cong units based around Saigon in War Zones C and D and in the Mekong Delta. Westmoreland planned to use the US 173rd Airborne Brigade to keep the Viet Cong off balance and to target their base areas, and consequently a search-and-destroy operation codenamed "Operation Hump" was planned, named after the half-way point in the twelve-month tour of duty of the US 173rd Airborne Brigade. The operations plan envisioned the 1st Royal Australian Regiment and 1st Battalion, 503rd Airborne being inserted by helicopter during an airmobile operation into War Zone D, in an area about 20 kilometres northeast of the US airbase at Bien Hoa. The 1st RAR would be operating to the south of Song Dong Nai, while the US 1/503rd Battalion would conduct a helicopter assault onto a Landing Zone northwest of the Song Dong Nai. Both of these battalions being supported by the 3rd/319th Artillery Battalion, including the 161st New Zealand Artillery Battery, from Fire Support Base ACE. Both of the battalions were tasked with a search and destroy missions of any bases and caches in their respective areas with the hopes of catching elements of the VC 274th Regiment that were suspected to be in the area. The first couple days of the operation seemed to reveal little except for a few exchanges of fire and a handful of abandoned or booby-trapped base camps and supply caches. November 8th started out much the same, but would be the last day of the operations. US 1/503rd Battalion was tasked with sweeping the area west of Hill 65 based on intelligence and possible sightings of Viet Cong moving in the area as the companies of 1st RAR would clear the area around the Gang Toi hills. By the end of the day, the hunters would become the hunted. [ALL][CSEE, Variable Objectives][1.00]

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: ALPHA Graphics: SCENARIO DESIGN
New scenario:

The Mauling - Battle of Ap Nha Mat
5 December, 1965
[Long Nguyen Secret Zone, Binh Duong Province, South Vietnam]: [H2H/SIDE A][HIS][CSL]: After the disaster that befell the ARVN 7th Regiment in the Michelin Plantation on November 27th, 1965, the U.S. 3rd Brigade was sent to their rescue. The 3rd Brigade's mission had changed after intelligence surmised that the VC 271st and 273rd Regiments were still operating in the Long Nguyen Secret Zone, east of the Michelin Plantation. The 1st/16th and 2nd/2nd Battalions of the 3rd Brigade were tasked with clearing the area under the guise of Operation Bloodhound (later changed to Bushmaster II). On December 1st, both of the battalions conducted an air mobile assault into the Michelin Plantation and began their sweeps to the east. Over the course of the next few days, while expecting to run into the VC Regiments, the two battalions had managed to uncover a number of camps and caches. A Viet Cong prisoner was captured who revealed that the units were retreating east. On December 5th, while clearing between phase lines Arizona and Colorado, both of the battalions had began running into heavier resistance. The 1st/16th uncovered a training centre, hospital, messhall and other supplies, while the 2nd/2nd engaged some Viet Cong in entrenched positions not far from the village of Ap Nha Mat. Artillery support from Fire Support Base Lai Khe and Fire Base Dallas, airstrikes and gunship support helped the two battalions to accomplish the mission. After contact was made, both the Americans and Viet Cong were jockeying for position, attempting to outflank each other before the ensuing mauling. [ALL][CSEE, Variable Objectives][1.00]

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: ALPHA Graphics: SCENARIO DESIGN
New scenario:

Murphy's Law - Battle of Soui Bong Trang

24 February, 1966
[Xom Cau Binh, Binh Duong Province, South Vietnam]: [H2H][HIS][CSL]: During February 1966, as part of an American road-building program designed to challenge the Viet Cong's ability to maneuver in the areas around Saigon by constructing an all-weather road between Route 13 and Route 15 in central Binh Duong Province, on the northern apex of the Viet Cong base area known as the Iron Triangle. This road was planned to cut the communist supply routes between War Zone C, the Mekong Delta, the Iron Triangle and War Zone D, while it would also link the two forward brigades of the US 1st Infantry Division between Phuoc Vinh and Lai Khe and help to extend the authority of the South Vietnamese government. Viet Cong Local Force elements began harassing the sappers, subjecting them daily to sniping, laying mines and carrying out sabotage in an effort to hamper construction. A large American security operation known as Operation Rolling Stone was subsequently launched by elements of US 1st Division, where the US 1st Brigade, with the 1st Royal Australian Regiment attached, was assigned to guard the engineers on a rotating basis, while the other two would probe the Viet Cong positions nearby in order to keep them off balance. Aggressive patrolling by the 1st RAR determined that a Viet Cong Main Force regiment was operating in the area and the American and Australian forces consolidated in two different areas near the village of Xom Cau Dinh, the Australians to the west at the Engineer camp and the American 1st Brigade temporary base camp by Xom Cau Dinh. Meanwhile, at Ap Bo, three battalions of Viet Cong 9th Division were massing for a decisive blow, preparing a regimental attack on the American and Australian positions. After a barrage from the 82mm mortars, the battalions would attack on multiple axes, with the hopes of surrounding the American position and destroy it, but with the Americans already alerted to their presence, Murphy's Law ruled the night. [ALL][CSEE, Variable Objectives][1.00]

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: ALPHA Graphics: SCENARIO DESIGN
New scenario:

Alabama Tics - Battle of Hill 50
4 March, 1966
[Chau Nhai Village Complex, Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam]: [H2H][HIS][CSL]: Following Operation Double Eagle, an unsuccessful search and destroy operation in southern Quang Ngai Province, the 2nd ARVN Division had received intelligence the 21st NVA Regiment had moved and was operating northwest of Quang Ngai city. Task Force Delta, consisting of 1st ARVN Parachute Battalion and the 2nd/7th Marines was assembled to perform a search and destroy mission along Route 527. The 1st ARVN Parachute Battalion would land at Landing Zone ALPHA and secure it for the arrive of the 2nd/7th Marines. Both battalions would then advance southeast along Route 527 to Highway 1, with the Marines on the right, the Para's on the left, looking for the 21st NVA Regiment. They would be supported by the 105mm and 155mm artillery batteries from Fire Support Base BINH SON. The primary objectives where the low lying hills to the north and south of Route 527, in particular Hill 97 and Hill 85 to the south of the road and Hill 50 to the north, as well as clearing the Chau Nhai Village complex. A-4's and F-4's from the Marine Air Groups, plus US Air Force B-57's strafed and bombed the objective area prior to the 1st ARVN Parachute Battalion air assaulting into LZ ALPHA, utilizing Marine helicopters from HMM-261, from Quang Ngai City. Despite the airstrikes, the Marine helicopters met heavy anti-aircraft fire as they discharged the ARVN Para's, most of the helicopters had taken hits as they shuttled the ARVN Battalion to the landing zone. As the 2nd/7th Marines were brought to Landing Zone, the 1st Para's started their advance towards Hill 50. They met little resistance passing through Chau Ngai (5), but as they closed in on Hill 50, fighting became so intense they called the Marines for help. The 21st NVA Regiment had decided to stand and fight from their positions from Hill 50, complete with bunkers and trenches, the NVA were dug in like Alabama tics. [ALL][CSEE, Variable Objectives][1.00]

[Jason Petho]

Campaign Series Vietnam: ALPHA Graphics: SCENARIO DESIGN
New scenario:

Tightening the Noose - Battle of Hill 50 - Day 2

5 March, 1966
[Chau Nhai Village Complex, Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam]: [H2H][HIS][CSL]: The 21st NVA Regiment had defended Hill 50 with spirited determination to the point that the 1st ARVN Parachute and 2nd/7th Marine battalions ceased the attack on the Hill and set up night defensive positions. During the evening of March 4th, additional reinforcements were flown in to the north and south of the battlefield; the 2nd/4th Marines setting up blocking positions in the south while the 3rd/1st Marines setting up in the hills to the north. The 37th ARVN Ranger Battalion, supported by an APC Company, had arrived by truck and set up blocking positions to the east of the railway, near Highway 1. Saigon had decided to send the 5th ARVN Parachute battalion in the morning to Quang Ngai Airfield and with the task of being transported by helicopter to Landing Zone ALPHA and then assist 1st ARVN Battalion to take Hill 50. A wrench was thrown into the plan when the 21st NVA Regiment decided to attack the 1st ARVN Parachute Battalion positions at the base of the Hill 50. The attack was eventually forced back from heavy artillery and air support. The Marine battalions in their blocking positions were ordered to advance and assist in taking the Hill 50 complex. Vicious fighting continued throughout the day as the noose was tightened around the 21st NVA Regiment. [ALL][CSEE, Variable Objectives][1.00]