Vietnam Combat Operations 2 - Aces8 vs AI

[comte]

Operation Shiny Bayonet - Search and Destroy

Beginning on the 3rd of October the 3rd Brigade of the 1st US Cavalry Division under the command of Colonel Thomas W. Brown is ordered to conduct Operation Shiny Bayonet. The Operation is to be conducted in two phases: from 3rd-8th October the 3rd Brigade will secure Route 19 from An Khe to Binh Khe and conduct search and destroy operation in the Vinh Thanh Valley. From the 10th-14th of October the 3rd Brigade will join the Vietnamese Marine Corps TF Alpha Brigade to search the Suoi Ca and La Tinh Valleys. The Task Force Organization for this operation consists of the 1st Battalion 7th Cavalry, 2nd Battalion 7th Cavalry,, 2nd Battalion 12th Cavalry, and the 1st Battalion 21st Artillery. VNMC TF Alpha is made up of the 2nd and 5th VNMC Battalions. In the initial stages of the Operation Highway 19 is cleared and 1/7 and 2/7 have begun making their way north up the Vinh Thanh Valley with negative enemy contact. 1/21 Artillery have set up a Fire support Base (FSB) at An Ninh. The 3rd Brigade set up there HQ at Binh Khe for the operation. This concludes Turn 19.

[comte]

Turn 20 - October 6th to October 10th 1965

Operations Golden Fleece, Good Friend I, SAYONARA/GOOD FRIEND II/SPREAD OUT, and Big Red continue with negative contact with the enemy. Operation OPORD 12-65/Ben Cat 1 is terminated. The 1st Brigade HQ of the US Army 1st Infantry Division arrives this turn at Vung Tau they set up shop at Phuoc Vinh in Binh Duong province where Operation BIG RED is taking place. There are two missions this turn. Here's the news summary for Turn 20.

[comte]

Operation Happy Valley - Search and Clear

Beginning on October 6th the 2nd and 3rd Brigades of the US Army's 1st Cavalry Division are tasked with reestablishing Government of Vietnam (GVN) control over the Vinh Thanh Valley. The units involved in this search and clear operation are the 2nd Bde: 1/5 Cav Bn, 2/5 Cav Bn, 1/77 Artillery; 3rd Bde: 2/5 Cav Bn, 1/7 Cav Bn, 2/12 Cav Bn, and the 1/21 Artillery. After the Valley is cleared a new CIDG Camp will be constructed at Vinh Thanh. As the operation begins the 1st Cav Division units that helicopter in quickly encounter enemy units in town of Vinh Thanh they prepare for battle and call for artillery support and airstrikes on the enemy held town.

[comte]

Battle for Vinh Thanh

The 1st Battalion of the 7th Cavalry have taken Vinh Thanh after airstrikes and artillery support pounded the enemy position at Vinh Thanh causing a route of the VC unit there. The Cav units will continue their operation in the Vinh Thanh valley and will hopefully encounter some more enemy units. Here's the battle summary for Vinh Thanh.

[comte]

Operation OPORD 25-65/IRON TRIANGLE - Search and Destroy

Beginning on October 8th the 173rd Airborne Brigade of the US Army along with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment are tasked with entering the Viet Cong Iron Triangle area southwest of Ben Cat in Operation OPORD 25-65/IRON TRIANGLE. The Operation is attempting to protect the establishment of the 3rd Brigade of the US 1st Army Division as it establishes its base at Lai Khe in Binh Duong Province. As the 173rd Airborne enter the Iron Triangle they encounter fierce resistance from Viet Cong units operating there. Several airstrikes are called on the area and the FSB guns at Ben Cat are fired into the area. The 173rd Airborne and the Aussies have a tough fight ahead of them.

[comte]

Battle in the Iron Triangle

The 173rd Airborne brigade along with 1st RAR initially encounter fierce resistance but the VC withdraw deeper into the Iron Triangle after airstrikes and artillery pound them. Here's the battle summary. This concludes Turn 20.

[berto]

Good to see you posting these AARs again. Always appreciated.

[comte]

ORIGINAL: berto

Good to see you posting these AARs again. Always appreciated.

Thank you [:)]

[comte]

Turn 21 - October 10th to October 13th 1965

Operations Golden Fleece, Good Friend I, SAYONARA/GOOD FRIEND II/SPREAD OUT, Happy Valley, and OPORD 25-65/IRON TRIANGLE continue with negative enemy contact. Operation BIG RED is terminated. More units of the US Army's 1st Infantry Division arrive this turn. There are several small search and destroy missions this turn one near Chu Lai and another around An Khe that turn up nothing. The VC that were found in the Iron Triangle last turn have disappeared. Here's the news summary for Turn 21.

[comte]

1st Infantry Brigade 1st Infantry Division troops Arrive

Several units of the 1st Infantry brigade of the US Army 1st Infantry Division have arrived at Vung Tau. The 1/16 Infantry Battalion, 1/28 Infantry Battalion, and the 1/5th Artillery Battalion. They were moved up to join their HQ unit at Phuoc Vinh in Binh Duong Province. This concludes Turn 21.

[comte]

Turn 22 - October 13 to October 17th 1965

Operations Golden Fleece, Good Friend I, SAYONARA/GOOD FRIEND II/SPREAD OUT, and Happy Valley continue this turn with negative enemy contact. Operation OPORD 25-65/IRON TRIANGLE is terminated. The Monsoon season in Vietnam has ended. The recently arrived US 1/16 Infantry Bn and 2/28 Infantry Bn of the 1st Brigade of the 1st Infantry Division conduct several small search and destroy missions around Phuoc Vinh in Binh Duong province they have negative contact with the enemy. There is one mission this turn that involves the US 1st Cav Division. On October 16th of this turn Anti-war rallies occur in 40 US Cities and in international cities including Rome and London. Here's the news summary for Turn 22.

[comte]

Republic of Korea Capital Division Cavalry Regiment arrives in Vietnam

On the 14th of October the ROK Capital Division Cavalry Regiment made up of 3 battalions plus the 10th field artillery battalion arrive at Qui Nhon. They move up Highway 19 to Binh Khe where they will be based. This greatly increases the Korean presence in Binh Dinh Province.

[comte]

Operation Lonesome End - Road Security

Beginning on October 14th the 1st Brigade of the US 1st Cavalry Division made up of the 1st Battalion 8th Cavalry and the 2nd Battalion 8th Cavalry are ordered to secure the Mang Yang Pass along Highway 19 so that a 1,000 truck supply convoy can reach Pleiku from Qui Nhon. The 1st Brigade secures the pass and patrols the road there is negative contact with the enemy in the opening phase of the operation. This concludes Turn 22.

[comte]

Turn 23 - October 17th to October 20th 1965

Operations Golden Fleece, SAYONARA/GOOD FRIEND II/SPREAD OUT, and Happy Valley continue this turn with negative enemy contact. Operation Good Friend I is Terminated. The Infantry elements of the 3rd Brigade of the 1st US Division (1/2,2/2,1/26 Battalions) have arrived at Vung Tau. The USS Kittyhawk has joined the US Carrier fleet off south Vietnam bringing the total of carriers on station to seven. There is one Marine Mission this turn. Also there are several small search and destroy missions conducted by the 1st Brigade of the 1st US Division in Binh Duong province that have negative contact with the enemy. On the 17th of October of this turn 5 US Navy jets from the USS Independence have destroyed what was believed to be the first operational surface to air missile installation located 52 miles northeast of Hanoi. Here's the news summary for Turn 23.

[comte]

3rd Brigade 1st US Army Division Infantry arrive

The Infantry of the 3rd Brigade have arrived in Vietnam they will be based at Lai Khe. The 1st Brigade is based at Phuoc Vinh. The 3rd brigade is made up of the 1st battalion 2nd Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion 2nd Infantry Regiment and the 1st Battalion of the 26th Infantry Regiment. With the arrival of these troops the US 1st Division presence in Binh Duong province has grown substantially they will begin conducting operation soon.

[comte]

Operation Triple Play - Search and Destroy

On October 18th the 3rd Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment is ordered to conduct Operation Triple play northwest of Chu Lai. 3/3 Bn finds small signs of enemy activity and also is shot at several times but doesn't find any big enemy units in the area it searches.

[comte]

Operation Trail Blazer - Reconnaissance in force

On October 18th the 3rd Recon Battalion of the 3rd Marine Division is ordered to conduct Operation Trail Blazer a reconnaissance mission. The Operation will be conducted in the "Happy Valley" northwest of Hoi Vuc in Quang Nam province. In the beginning part of the operation the 3rd Recon found signs of enemy activity but no sign of actual enemy troops but this soon changed.

[comte]

Viet Cong Company Spotted in "Happy Valley"

As the 3rd Recon was searching Happy Valley a Viet Cong company was detected moving into the valley. 3rd Recon will attempt to engage the enemy before they evade contact. As 3rd Recon detects this VC Company there are reports of all over South Vietnam of enemy troop movements it seems with the Monsoon season over the Viet Cong may be planning a several big attacks in the coming days....

[comte]

Plei Me CIDG Camp Attacked by NVA

The Plei Me CIDG camp in Pleiku province was attacked by what is believed to be the 33rd PAVN (Peoples Army of Vietnam) Regiment. The PAVN Regiment caused 10% casualties on detachment A-255 at the camp but the defenders hold on for now bravely in the face of superior enemy numbers. A relief force will be needed to relieve the camp from this large well organized North Vietnamese attack. The US 1st Cavalry Division and several ARVN units will lead the relief of the camp as plans are made to stop the NVA from proceeding further into South Vietnam. This concludes Turn 23.

[Boonierat]

Always tricky the attack on Plei Me. Elmer should only just besiege the camp but sometimes decides to attack glad he didn't push that one too hard. Historically the camp was reinforced by Project DELTA from Nha Trang, looks like the 1st Cav Div will be busy in the coming turns