Week in Binh Long Q's

[basilstaghare]

Enjoying the "Week in Binh Long" Scenario. Very immersive and challenging. It really gives you a feel for the challenges of the period. A couple of questions in regard to overnight laagering.

Q All Day 1:
1. After entering a specific hex, I got a pop up that 3 trucks entered a certain area and need to stay there for 5 turns. Do they need to stay in that specific hex (which is about 10 hexes away from their laager area) for 5 turns or can they go ahead and move to their laager area and still qualify as being in position for 5 turns?

2. There are some scattered 3rd Brigade units that start the scenario away from the 3rd Brigade HQ in Lai Khe. Example: the 2 Civilian Affairs Units in Loc Ninh. Where are they supposed to laager or does it matter? Hopefully I dont have to get them all the way to Lai Khe to be with 3rd Brigade HQ?

3. If I miss getting one or two objectives by turn 40, will I fail the whole mission or just be penalized a few VP's? Ie., big deal or little deal?

4. Do I have to be in the laager with every single unit area by turn 40 or do I have a cushion of turns 41-60 to finish up?

Thanks!

[Jason Petho]

Q All Day 1:
1. After entering a specific hex, I got a pop up that 3 trucks entered a certain area and need to stay there for 5 turns. Do they need to stay in that specific hex (which is about 10 hexes away from their laager area) for 5 turns or can they go ahead and move to their laager area and still qualify as being in position for 5 turns?

If you were close to the laager area (which can be 10 hexes, depending on the size of the laager area), then yes, 5 turns and you should get the laager bonus.

They can move into the central area if you want to be safe.

2. There are some scattered 3rd Brigade units that start the scenario away from the 3rd Brigade HQ in Lai Khe. Example: the 2 Civilian Affairs Units in Loc Ninh. Where are they supposed to laager or does it matter? Hopefully I dont have to get them all the way to Lai Khe to be with 3rd Brigade HQ?

The Civil Affairs units will eventually receive their own missions, so no worries there.

3. If I miss getting one or two objectives by turn 40, will I fail the whole mission or just be penalized a few VP's? Ie., big deal or little deal?

You miss out on 2000 points, they won't be available the next day. Is it the end of the world? No. Is it recommended? No.

4. Do I have to be in the laager with every single unit area by turn 40 or do I have a cushion of turns 41-60 to finish up?

You have a few turn buffer.

[basilstaghare]

Thanks. Good work on this scenario. Very immersive!

[Jason Petho]

I'm really glad you like it!!

Let know how it goes! I'm excited to hear!

[basilstaghare]

I'm really glad you like it!!

Let know how it goes! I'm excited to hear!

Day 1 turn 1-30: It has been quite a learning experience and many mistakes have been made as well as some tactical successes. Highlights so far (without too many spoilers):
* Engineer Convoy ran into some trouble and was ambushed on the way to Loc Ninh. Engineers and heavy weapons got drafted into a 20+ turn firefight where I took many heavy weapons losses along and near the road. Ultimately had to chopper in a makeshift force of 2 platoons to deal with the mess.
* My aero rifle platoon held off what I think was an entire battalion of VC near an LZ. I had to chopper in 2 companies w/ heavy weapons coming up on the jungle roads to deal with the problem.
* I wish I had more LRRP's! Those guys are quite useful...
* I have underestimated the time it would take to clear Area Louisiana and I am not sure I will make it before dark. It will be very close.

One issue I did have was where I didn't understand (wasn't watching) that I was so close to the Cambodian Border. I was allowed to launch an assault and crossed over the border (42,59 assaulted to 41,59 and then assaulted to 40,58) and had a whole company frozen (interned?) across the border. I had to go back to a previous save and redo making sure I didn't cross over the border.

Merry Christmas!

[Jason Petho]

Day 1 turn 1-30: It has been quite a learning experience and many mistakes have been made as well as some tactical successes. Highlights so far (without too many spoilers):

Muhahaha, that's good. Yay for learning. Things will get more complex as the days move on, with more units being added to the fray.

* Engineer Convoy ran into some trouble and was ambushed on the way to Loc Ninh. Engineers and heavy weapons got drafted into a 20+ turn firefight where I took many heavy weapons losses along and near the road.
Ultimately had to chopper in a makeshift force of 2 platoons to deal with the mess.

Oh no, that's not good. But yay for making a counterattack force to help!

* My aero rifle platoon held off what I think was an entire battalion of VC near an LZ. I had to chopper in 2 companies w/ heavy weapons coming up on the jungle roads to deal with the problem.

Seriously, yes, they are excellent indeed, but you only have one. So be careful - and also make sure you're keeping it at Loc Ninh for the night as it is part of D Company!

* I wish I had more LRRP's! Those guys are quite useful...

They are awesome! Heck yes! I think you will get 2 more later in the scenario.

* I have underestimated the time it would take to clear Area Louisiana and I am not sure I will make it before dark. It will be very close.

Be careful using double time in the jungle. IED's and mines are going to be your worst enemy.

One issue I did have was where I didn't understand (wasn't watching) that I was so close to the Cambodian Border. I was allowed to launch an assault and crossed over the border (42,59 assaulted to 41,59 and then assaulted to 40,58) and had a whole company frozen (interned?) across the border. I had to go back to a previous save and redo making sure I didn't cross over the border.

Alas, regular infantry and troops cannot cross the border, nor can they land in LZ's across the border. Only LRRP's, Special Forces and their supplies can land and operate in Cambodia.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

[basilstaghare]

If you were close to the laager area (which can be 10 hexes, depending on the size of the laager area)...

So just to make sure Im understanding the distance required to laager:

As long as you are within a few hexes (you say 6 or 8 in your youtube intro video) from where the hex labeled "XYZ Base" you should be fine, correct? At first, I thought you meant you had to be adjacent to the base hex to qualify.

Thanks.

[Jason Petho]

Laagering in the cities, yes.

Laagering out in the field is no more than 4 hexes!

[basilstaghare]

Thanks!

Q: All of the 33rd Artillery assets that start down at Lai Khe should remain with the 3rd Brigade HQ in Lai Khe for day 1, correct? The two batteries have been moved to support the 2/28 & 1/16 as instructed. Thanks.

[Jason Petho]

Yes, that is correct!

[basilstaghare]

Hi Jason,

Q: The 1st Aviaton/1st Div Battalion HQ and Assets can laager anywhere?

Q: The notes and pop ups indicate that you should search for supplies and bases. I have yet to find any. There are actual VC supply units and bases on the map? Or are we just talking about taking the objective hexes and those represent the supplies and bases?

Q: Prek Kaya @ 94,89 is showing to be a "0" Objective and off limits. It is on QL13. Is this supposed to be a "0" value objective on Day 1?

Q: Do Helicopters fly at night? Goodness sakes, I hope so!

Thanks.

PS: I was doing so poorly in my 1st playthrough that I restarted at Turn 30. Im just about caught back up in my second playthrough. Doing better of course, since I new more of what to expect but from here its back to unknown territory!

[Jason Petho]

Q: The 1st Aviaton/1st Div Battalion HQ and Assets can laager anywhere?

Yes, they can laager anywhere from what I recall, although I think they will eventually end up at Quon Loi (east of An Loc).

Q: The notes and pop ups indicate that you should search for supplies and bases. I have yet to find any. There are actual VC supply units and bases on the map? Or are we just talking about taking the objective hexes and those represent the supplies and bases?

Oh yes, there are. There are objectives AND there are supplies out there. Securing all the objectives is essential for each zone, but doing additional searches beyond those objectives is important.

Q: Prek Kaya @ 94,89 is showing to be a "0" Objective and off limits. It is on QL13. Is this supposed to be a "0" value objective on Day 1?

Yes, that's off the road, technically. That may be something I revise in the future to give a 500 metre buffer of the main supply routes for villages to secure. At the moment, it is just the main road.

Q: Do Helicopters fly at night? Goodness sakes, I hope so!

Oh yes, they do! They will suffer a penalty for flying in NAP OF THE EARTH (instead of 3, I think it is 5 Action, but there are no penalties for LOW and HIGH flight.

PS: I was doing so poorly in my 1st playthrough that I restarted at Turn 30. Im just about caught back up in my second playthrough. Doing better of course, since I new more of what to expect but from here its back to unknown territory!

Excellent! I hope you're enjoying the experience so far!!

[basilstaghare]

Excellent! I hope you're enjoying the experience so far!!

Yes, I am absolutely enjoying the game. Reading over various forum comments (ie., youtube, Wargame Design Studio, etc..) CSV is purported to have one of the best AI routines within the wargame world. I believe it! If Day 1 is the easiest day, I may be in trouble! I have made it to turn 38. I think I will have all victory objectives by days end. We will see. Lots of losses, especially in heavy weapons (from the convoy ambush on QL13), moderate platoon strength points, Loaches and a UH-1...

[Jason Petho]

Yes, I am absolutely enjoying the game. Reading over various forum comments (ie., youtube, Wargame Design Studio, etc..) CSV is purported to have one of the best AI routines within the wargame world. I believe it!

Holy wow, that's a huge compliment!! Thank you!!

If Day 1 is the easiest day, I may be in trouble! I have made it to turn 38. I think I will have all victory objectives by days end. We will see. Lots of losses, especially in heavy weapons (from the convoy ambush on QL13), moderate platoon strength points, Loaches and a UH-1...

There are a few options for that ambush, so I'm glad to hear it was somewhat effective. Well, not for you, I mean. *laughs*.

On the bright side, you get more units as the days go on.

On the not so good side, you don't get reinforcements for your existing battalions, so those losses will carry over through the week.

[basilstaghare]

Yes, I knew that losses could not be replaced by watching some of your videos.

Its been a long day and nighttime has finally come. Captured all the objectives, at least for now. Will I hold them thru the night? Got credit for laagering in the right areas. Lots of enemy activity around LZ La 5.

In order to take all the objectives and get everyone back to their proper laager areas, I chose to use the LRRP & Civilian Affairs units to take objectives. Imagine the Civilian Affairs guys surprise, when the Major burst into their office area and ordered them up from their desks and out into the field!

One such CA unit is out in the night trying to make their way to a LZ to get back home when they ran into a VC Bicycle unit out in the middle of nowhere.

Q: Once you have received credit for laagering, could I use the Aero Platoon to try and go rescue the poor desk jockeys out in the jungle? Or should they remain in their laager area for R&R and the CA unit is on his own?

I have one LRRP unit near La 5 holding an objective under constant sniper and mortar fire...really hoping he will make it thru the night!

[Jason Petho]

Yes, I knew that losses could not be replaced by watching some of your videos.

Oh good! Thank you so much for watching them! There is a way I can add replacements, but I figured for only a week, replacements wouldn't be likely normally.

Its been a long day and nighttime has finally come. Captured all the objectives, at least for now. Will I hold them thru the night? Got credit for laagering in the right areas. Lots of enemy activity around LZ La 5.

You'll most likely hold them through the night. In most cases *coughs*

In order to take all the objectives and get everyone back to their proper laager areas, I chose to use the LRRP & Civilian Affairs units to take objectives. Imagine the Civilian Affairs guys surprise, when the Major burst into their office area and ordered them up from their desks and out into the field!

Careful not to lose that Civilian Affairs unit, it will be essential for additional points later in the game.

One such CA unit is out in the night trying to make their way to a LZ to get back home when they ran into a VC Bicycle unit out in the middle of nowhere.

Uh oh, don't get killed!

Q: Once you have received credit for laagering, could I use the Aero Platoon to try and go rescue the poor desk jockeys out in the jungle? Or should they remain in their laager area for R&R and the CA unit is on his own?

You will receive the credit in the morning, so you'll have to leave the units in their laager positions for the night. The CA unit is free for today, but I think it will have a mission day 2.

I have one LRRP unit near La 5 holding an objective under constant sniper and mortar fire...really hoping he will make it thru the night!

I hope so too. Those LRRP units are GOLD! Don't forget about the ultimate mission for the LRRP teams is to be operating in Cambodia.

[basilstaghare]

I hope so too. Those LRRP units are GOLD! Don't forget about the ultimate mission for the LRRP teams is to be operating in Cambodia.

Q: So, I will eventually get orders to move the LRRP's & SF Supplies to Cambodia or am I supposed to go ahead and deploy them to Cambodia ASAP? Looking thru the briefing notes, I dont see them specifically mentioned unless I just missed it?

[Jason Petho]

You would have received the instructions on turn 3. It would have looked like this:

" There are two LRRP units available at the start of the scenario. These will load into helicopters and be inserted into a landing zone in Cambodia. \n"..
" The LRRP mission is to watch the trails on the Cambodia side of the border and see where the supplies are flowing. While remaining out of sight, the LRRP will call in airstrikes to hamper Viet Cong supply efforts when possible. Avoid combat with the LRRP teams, use the LRRP stealth to circumvent the patrols that will inevitably attempt to hunt down your teams. Move them around to the various Landing Zones as necessary. \n\n"..
" NOTE: Only the LRRP units will be allowed to operate in Cambodia. You can fly the LRRP's in and out, but you cannot send in additional infantry into Cambodia to assist with the LRRP tasks.", US_SIDE, US_SIDE)

[basilstaghare]

You would have received the instructions on turn 3. It would have looked like this...

Yes, I did receive those instructions early on. I misinterpreted the urgency of getting them inserted and figured I would get a prompt later on when they were needed....oops....

Thanks.

[Jason Petho]

You still accumulating points when you land, so no worries!