TURN #24
Attempting to repel the enemy reinforcements, and thinking I might force them to retreat northward, I carefully route the Gunship Helos (turquoise circle, screenshot following) in circuitous flight first to the southeast, then northward. From High level and, more closely this time, one hex distant, the helos direct rockets at the enemy platoon one hex up, and miss.
This elicits opfire from the VC to the east (yellow circle). They fire, and ...
... score a hit. A Marine recoilless rifle platoon (magenta circle) is eliminated! Not the result I wanted!
I send the second helicopter squadron (turquoise circle, screenshot following) around by the same circuitous route. They fire at the enemy (yellow circle), and ...
... score a hit? Difficult to say, because the result says "Unknown effects vs. unknown units". But it does induce the enemy to ... (green arrow)
advance? Here too, not quite the result I expected! LOL
You gotta love it. The game is full of surprises like that. You think you can micromanage your moves oh so carefully and effect the desired results. But you can't!
Okay, forget the helos. From two different directions, let's try an assault:
Defenders overrun. Success! And 25 more EPs awarded!
Elsewhere, on the ARVN far left and also at the center, the firefights heat up.
The situation at the close of the Turn #24, Side A ARVN phase (with the Fired/Fought Units highlights toggled ON):
The ARVN are well positioned to assault that Objective (turquoise circle) next turn. Unless enemy fire drives them back beforehand.
I have two ARVN arty units available this turn. I target the Objective, four planned strikes. Risky perhaps, because it being night and with visibility limited, might the ARVN rounds drift, go off intended target, and friendly fire the nearby Marines?
Note all the gun flashes. Note especially the gun flashes behind enemy lines to the northeast. More hidden enemy forces are lurking about, but at what strength?
