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Turn 61

A reflection of the big surge after I disbanded 12 Cadres on the trail at once a couple of turns back is that VP's jump to +17 for the VC with activity recorded in a record 10 provinces...I need to really try and keep the pressure on now.....The EVV pops up again to 63 as a result of the VP's being above 10 and I really want to try and keep it above that number, even at the cost of losing several VC units a turn to counter insurgency.

This turn more shelling from Cambodia and Laos destroys the 1st Bttn of the US 28th Infantry and 68th ARVN Border Rangers in Thua Thien and the 2nd Battalion of the unfortunate 28th Infantry takes over 60% casualties in Quang Tri.

Further south in Tay Ninh the US 9th Engineering Battalion, attempting to repair a bridge close to the Cambodian border is repeated rocketed by the VC and also is wiped out.

Next turn should see a further influx of VC and if a monsoon could arrive to keep the US air power out of the way that would be appreciated.

The NVA continues to regain combat strength away from the border.

Turn 62

EVV remains at 63 with VP's increasing a little to +19 but activity this turn is subdued. ARVN units are much more numerous than previously and only in two or three provinces in the West is VC presence anything other than token....if this continues then things could reverse quickly.

During Larry's turn a lot of VC battalions were again taken out and this is starting to affect replacements.I

In Quang Tri very heavy US interdiction causes a lot of casualties to the NVA as they try to return to the front but sustained artillery fire from North of the DMZ does destroy an ARVN supply unit and heavy casualties are caused to the 28th US Infantry battalion again.

What I really could do with to be able to take and hold some regional capitals is some NVA armour but I suspect this is a pipe dream [:)]

Turn 63

A better turn for the VC as activity again steps up with VC pacification noted in 5 provinces pushing the EVV up to 65 and VP's up to +20.

The NVA, anticipating an imminent monsoon sweep across into Quang Tri again supported by long range artillery. 61st ARVN Border Regiment is destroyed by artillery fire and Infantry assault and the NVA swing around to encircle an ARVN Armoured Cavalry Regiment dug in west of Khe Sahn which is back under NVA control.
Just to the west of Con Thien the major ARVN artillery presence in the area, that of 1st Corps 105mm Artillery is destroyed with the loss of 40 guns.

In the VC hotbed province of Tay Ninh the isolated 15th ARVN Regiment is destroyed by rocket fire from Cambodia.

Interdiction was less this turn which is a very welcome development though unlikely to continue without the rains...

Turn 64

EVV=66 and VP's stable at +20 as the next Monsoon arrives prompting another NLF offensive.

The NVA aggressively attack in Quang Tri overrunning 3 Border Force militia units before a weakened ARVN regiment is hit at Con Thien and destroyed.

The VC however have the biggest impact of the turn with a VC rocket unit sneaking to within range of two of Bien Hoa's airfields just north of Saigon...by the end of the turn 94 US fighter bombers have been destroyed or disabled which should help the interdiction problems a bit at least. The turn ended before the VC Rocketeers could slip away however so I expect revenge to be swift and brutal......

There is now significant VC presence in 4 provinces bordering Cambodia and it is vital I try and maintain the pressure so disbanding of units is kept to a minimum to try and keep the ARVN/ US stretched.......

Here's what the DMZ looks like just now. This is the start of the monsoon season and the NVA are active and

I've got an ARVN regiment in trouble and I need to move him out of there to save him and I've got to pull back

everybody further south. My planes are almost useless during the monsoon season and my support for the troops is iffy

right now.

Turn 65....April 1970

EVV pops up again to 69 with VP's remaining at 20

There is VC activity in 5 Provinces and as Larry indicated above aside from some artillery and a Border Militia in Dong Ha the US/ARVN have pulled back a few clicks south towards Phong Dien so the NVA re-occupy Quang Tri for the Victory point and also enter an abandoned Regional Capital in the south west of the country near Tay Ninh where the VC are strong.

After a heavy fighting Dong Ha is overrun with the garrison destroyed and the 1st Regiment of the 1st ARVN Division south East of Khe Sahn which is surrounded is decimated by artillery fire but before it can be eliminated the turn ends through a failed proficiency check...[:@]

Larry mentioned he may need to pull out the 1st US Marine Division soon (to reduce the EVV a little) which will be welcome.

Turn 66.....May 1970

EVV = 69......but as a result of the capture of Moc Hoa in Kien Thuong province last turn VP's pop up for now to +27 though despite the VC managing to hold it during Larry's turn against a counter attack by the 3rd ARVN Division it will fall next turn so VP's will fall back again.
The VC artillery supporting the attack on Moc Hoa manages to inflict over 50% damage on the 3rd Divs 2nd Regiment this turn however so all was not in vain.

Larry destroyed a lot of VC last turn so this turn is restricted to inching forward in Quang Tri and some minor artillery harassment in the Delta and of an unfortunate ARVN militia also in Quang Tri. In an attempt to split up some of the better US and ARVN units some NVA are now operating further South in Laos and Cambodia in the hope of being able to support the outgunned VC in the area.

Here's what I Corps looks like now. It's still in the monsoon season and I'm expecting the NVA to attack me

or bombard me again next turn and I may have to back my people up and let him have Hue. I have some plans to build

a beautiful wall along the DMZ and have Mexico pay for it.

Turn 67....

We have reached halfway in the scenario.....68 turns to go.......

EVV ticks up to 70 and VP's are back at +25 as five provinces have new VC activity partially offsetting the ARVN recapture of Moc Hoa. Sadly the Monsoon ends this turn so Hanoi orders a cessation of VC activity in the south after last turn's destruction of many VC battalions by efficient and hard hitting ARVN attacks.
This will mean the VP's will drop further next turn but I have a reasonable cushion to allow some consolidation as the NLF have bigger fish to fry ....A new masterplan......Operation Underbelly is being planned and the existing VC units need preserving for this later in the year...

A failed proficiency check means the NVA only manage to eliminate a single ARVN Border Force unit in Quang Tri and deal some damage out to a battalion of US 1st Marine Divn (whose promised withdrawl by Gen Westmorland appears to have been cancelled for now...) before the turn ends......

The MiGs in Hanoi had a profitable turn however combating US interdiction attempts with over 40 planes downed.

Here's I Corps as it is now. It's June of 1970 and the monsoon season has ended so I have reason to believe

I can hold onto the territory near the DMZ and so there's no more pulling back and I can deploy the airplanes to direct

bombing missions again. I like to bombard the NVA arty units and their HQ units especially. There's some

NVA equipment in-country and vulnerable and I'm thinking of doing some simple probes just to inflict some damage on the

NVA. The reaqusition of lost territories is the next question. I'll need more troops to take back the DMZ territory so I

think I'll relieve the Marines and call in another division for the moving near the DMZ.

I thought I'd get rid of the Marines as they are in tatters and the MAF support staff can go with them. I'll

have to move some of the lift helicopters from the middle of the country to near Da Nang and make themselves

available for the movement of the 25th Division units when they arrive. I hope they are mobile via helicopter. I

have no idea what this is going to do to the EEV variable. It's probably going to go up again.

Turn 68 EVV = 71

The EVV pops up by just +1 as Larry brings in the 1st Infantry Division and simultaneously withdraws the battered 1st Marines and Marine Amphibious Force. There were instantly attacks on NVA lines in Quang Tri but it wasn't all one way and there was some tough fighting.Larry wondered in the chat why his aircraft didn't fly but I can confirm they did as several were shot down during the attacks on the NVA according to my combat report.

The 3rd Mech brigade of 1st Infantry Division 20Km south of Quang Tri town is targeted for a surround and destroy operation after some effective bombardment and loses over 50% of its strength though Allied air power saves it being eliminated completely.

VC activity is again subdued in the south with just 3 provinces showing VC activity and the Vietnamisation process is evidently bearing fruit for the ARVN whose troops are much more plentiful than earlier in the war.

Turn 69...EVV=72 .....VP's fall back to +24

For info of anyone wondering +40 is needed for a Marginal Victory.

The ARVN surge continues this turn and 3 VC battalions are wiped out as well as a murderous air strike being carried out on the unfortunate 812th NVA Division in the north. In reponse the NVA in Quang Tri reposition away from the ARVN and US Naval capability and manage to destroy 2 more battalions of the 1st US Infantry Division by shellfire but the VC go to ground to try and preserve strength for the next big surge that is planned.

A VC battalion does however storm the port Provincial Capital of Tam Ky in central South Vietnam forcing out an ARVN artillery regiment (3 VP's) in an attempt to keep VP's stable.
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I really need the EVV to keep rising towards 100 here as that will force US troop withdrawal completely.

Here's what I Corps looks like now. The two forces are facing each other in a kind of Mexican standoff. I always

thought you needed a Mexican as part of your side to have one of those.

Turn 70

EVV=74 and VP +21

The VC Cadres are still taking their time plodding down the Ho chi Minh trail apparently so the VC offensive has to wait another turn but nonetheless the NVA decide to try a probe into Phuen Loc province and capture An Loc (+1 VP) and destroy a couple of Border Militia Battalions whilst the few VC just try and keep their heads down and capture a bit of territory close to the Cambodian border.

NVA artillery targets and destroys a Brigade HQ from 1st US Division with all its howitzers in Quang Tri and causes some damage to an ARVN regiment in the mountains but otherwise the situation remains stable.

The ARVN continue to multiply and it makes me wonder whether Larry's early Vietnamization Theatre Option may have swung things for him.

Turn 71

As the EVV jumps past 75 and up to 77 there is a newstring that indicates the US has increased the draft (+1 VP) and so despite minimal VC activity last turn the VP total only calls 1 to +19 as NVA manage to hold on to An Loc.

This turn is very different however as another VC offensive is launched across the entire country so there is a hope that enough VC survive the inevitable onslaught to push VP's up through increased activity.

In Quang Tri more NVA reinforcements arrive and a full regiment of ARVN is destroyed by concentrated shelling along with a brigade HQ and it's 35 howitzers from 1st US Infantry Division. Attempts to attack regular ARVN artillery battalions further South are stopped by effective combat support operations by the US Air force. Several border force battalions are destroyed by the VC however.

Only two combat rounds are unfortunately possible before a failed proficiency check means there are lots of juicy targets for Larry to take out ....

Here's I Corps now-a-days. The NVA are cautiously keeping their backs to the trail and are killing my units

with their artillery which is just excellent. Outstanding. They, the NVA are just out of reach of my ships I notice. I

arrived in-country in November of 1970 at Bien Hoa so I expect some rocket attacks about once a week from the

VC while I'm there.

Turn 72 ...November 1970

EVV= 78

GO's = +22

Four provinces continue to register new VC activity despite a furious assault by the ARVN and Americans that hits the VC in particular hard.

I try to attack weakened ARVN regulars in both Quant Tri and down in the Delta with both VC and NVA infantry but the results are not good so it is back to bridge blowing, territory grabbing and artillery attrition.

This is particularly effective in Quang Tri where the 30th Korean Regiment gets reduced to a quarter strength and in Quang Tri city itself where the howitzers of the US 25th Divn HQ are targetted.

An attempt to take out an ARVN concentration in Con Tho wipes out a supply unit but counter battery fire makes the VC think better of it and they melt away after hitting some ARVN Rangers nearby instead...

I really need the US to withdraw to make much progress given the effectiveness of US air so the EVV needs to push up towards 90+

Turn 73

EVV=80 but I forgot to take a note of the VP's this turn.

Larry launched armoured attacks against my lines in Quang Tri which just about held and my turn was spent trying to preserve the vC in the south whilst raining down artuillery on the unfortunate 25th infantry Division in Quang Tri which lost 2 battalions and some VC rockets took out an ARVN Popular Front battalion in the Port city of Chu Lai.

An attempt to rail extra NVA reinforcements down south was scuppered by US air interdiction though the NVA MiGs had a profitable turn claiming 30 US planes downed for the loss of just just 3 NVA planes.

By the end of 1971 I am hoping the EVV will exceed 90 and the US forces will start withdrawing en masse.

The EEV is now up to 80 and my net victory point award is -4 so I'm in trouble and there's no easy solution.

It's now just a matter of time until he overwhelms the ARVN and wins the game. It's not going to be too long now when I'll

have to pull out the Americans and let the ARVN dudes try to make a difference. And in my considered opinion the ARVN

dudes aren't up to it.