Vietnam Combat Operations 2 - Aces8 vs AI

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Turn 4 - August 11th to August 15th 1965

ARVN Operation Dan Thang 5 which started on August 3rd will be continuing this turn with further clashes with NVA troops around Duc Co Camp. There are 5 new Missions this turn some are long term as the US Army and Marines expand their Area's of Responsibility in their search for the Viet Cong and NVA. Several US planes are lost to SAM missiles over North Vietnam over the course of these 5 days. The US plans to counter the North Vietnamese SAM's with a series of missions code named "Iron Hand". Here's the News Summary for Turn 4.

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173rd Airborne Moved to Pleiku, Operation Dan Thang 5 continues

On the 11th of August the bulk of the 173rd Airborne Brigade (HQ, 1/503 Airborne Bn, 2/503 Airborne Bn, 3/319 Artillery) and the 2/18 Infantry battalion of the 1st Infantry Division are ordered to be airlifted to Pleiku from Bien Hoa Airbase to support the relief operation of Duc Co CIDG camp by securing Highway 19 especially the Thanh Binh Pass area. After the arrival of the 173rd in Pleiku the 1/503 Abn secures highway 19 and the Thanh Binh pass with zero contact with the enemy. Also Operation Dan Thang 5 continues further west of Thanh Binh Pass as the ARVN Relief column fights another PAVN Battalion blocking the roads to Duc Co CIDG Camp.

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Operation Dan Thang 5 Battle with PAVN Bn east of Duc Co Camp

As Operation Dan Thang 5 continues the ARVN Relief column managed to inflict tremendous casualties on another PAVN Battalion near Duc Co Camp with the aid of US Navy and Airforce jets which pounded the enemy positions.

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Operation Barracuda - Search and Destroy

From the 11th of August to the 8th of September the 1/18th Infantry at Cam Ranh Bay will conduct a month long search and destroy operation named Barracuda in Khan Hoa Province 10 kilometers west of Dien Kanh. The 1/18th will be joined by Battery B of the 1/7th Artillery who will be setting up a fire support base at Dien Kanh. In the initial stage of the Operation there is negative contact with the enemy.

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Operation Midnight - Search and Destroy

On the 12 of August the 2/3 Marines will launch a search and destroy operation named Midnight in the Song Cu De river valley also known as Elephant Valley. The Marines encounter no enemy troops in the operation.

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Operation 7/65

Beginning on the 12th of August the 1st Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment will begin Operation 7/65 a month long patrolling operation to provide defense for the Bien Hoa airbase during the absence of the 173rd Airborne Brigade which is operating in the Pleiku area. Operation 7/65 will begin 6 kilometers north of Ho Nai. In the initial phase of the operation there is negative contact with VC units.

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ARVN 21st Division Search and Destroy operation in VC Base Area

On the 13th of August the 21st ARVN Division in the Delta is alerted to conduct a search and destroy operation in the Viet Cong Base Area 483 between Vi Thanh and Kien Hung. The ARVN 2nd,3rd, and 4th Battalions of the 31st Regiment 21st Division will conduct the Operation. A ARVN fire Support base is set up at Kien Hung to support the Operation. The ARVN Infantry are helilifted into the base area and come into contact with what is believed to be a Viet Cong Battalion sized force operating in the base area. The ARVN Infantry call in airstrikes from US Navy Carriers operating in Dixie station/WESTPAC and prepare for battle.

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21st ARVN Battle in VC Base Area 483

The ARVN 2nd Battalion 31st Infantry Regiment sets up a blocking Position west of the VC as the 3rd Battalion and 4th Battalion 31st Infantry attack the Viet Cong Position with Navy Carrier Jets bombarding the VC position in Base area 483 causing massive casualties to the enemy. This concludes Turn 4.

[berto]

How much of your VCO game play is reacting to scripted events (following "orders"), and how much is pursuing broader, unspecified, self-selected objectives in other far-flung places across the map?

Do you feel constricted? Are you sometimes tempted to disobey "orders", to ignore history, to go off and do your own thing? What would be the consequences of that?

As a learning tool, as an "interactive history book," VCO has great appeal.

But a free-wheeling, "what-if" game/simulation--to what extent does VCO play like that?

I'm not advocating one or the other. (In fact, I tend to like constricted, history-based game play.) Just curious.

[BigDuke66]

I played a bunch of those scenarios too and indeed as "interactive history book" it is great and I usually read this thread:
http://www.armchairgeneral.com/forums/s ... 43&t=24341
in conjunction with playing a VCO scenario.

Is you want a more "free" play other scenarios(Boonie Rats 1985 - 1972) would fit better especially as VCO scenarios are not very long and the next one usually starts off where the former ended but when playing free the end isn't nowhere near the start of the next.

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ORIGINAL: berto

How much of your VCO game play is reacting to scripted events (following "orders"), and how much is pursuing broader, unspecified, self-selected objectives in other far-flung places across the map?

Do you feel constricted? Are you sometimes tempted to disobey "orders", to ignore history, to go off and do your own thing? What would be the consequences of that?

As a learning tool, as an "interactive history book," VCO has great appeal.

But a free-wheeling, "what-if" game/simulation--to what extent does VCO play like that?

I'm not advocating one or the other. (In fact, I tend to like constricted, history-based game play.) Just curious.

Well you don't have to follow the Missions if you don't want to. They are a guideline to the campaign in general. I want to have a historic "Flavor" to my game so I follow the missions. Also some of the missions/Operations are month long endeavors so you can move around a large area searching for Viet Cong if you so desire. Like the 173rd Airborne is up in Pleiku for a month I will be actively patrolling for enemy forces along Highway 19 but like in real war there won't be an exciting battle everyday as your seeing alot of my operations are turning up zero Viet Cong but I like the general feel and atmosphere of the scenario's I don't know whats out there when I send a unit on a operation because the enemy is well concealed. So to answer your question I don't feel too constricted in the environment of VCO.

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Turn 5 - August 15th to August 18th 1965

The Battle continues in the Viet Cong Base Area 483 as Turn 5 opens. US Jets continue to pound the area around the Duc Co CIDG camp as it appears that the PAVN Forces around the base may be slipping over the border to avoid further losses. The Marines receive more reinforcements at Chu Lai this turn. There is one mission this turn and it involves the 101st Airborne Division in a search and destroy operation. On the 15th of August as North Vietnamese air losses mount Hanoi orders a complete stand-down of its Air Force between August 1965 and April 1966 for its pilots to receive better foreign training. During this time, North Vietnam also gets its first MiG-21 fighters and Il-28 Bombers. On the 17th of August MACV see's progress in the country as more Viet Cong and weapons were captured than government troops missing in action and government weapons lost. The Viet Cong also continued to avoid initiating any actions by major units although they kept up their heavy harassment of villages and outposts. A little progress was made by South Vietnamese troops in clearing lines of communication. Here's the news summary for Turn 5.

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ARVN Operation in Viet Cong Base Area 483

The ARVN 21st Division which initiated an operation in Viet Cong Base area 483 on the 13th of August have finished up the operation and declared victory after the Viet Cong force in the area between Vi Thanh and Kien Hung have been defeated. A large amount of Viet Cong bodies are found in the fortified position they occupied. Massive US airstrikes from Navy carriers helped the government troops clear out the Viet Cong position.

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7th Marines Arrive at Chu Lai

The 7th Marine Regiment HQ under the command of Colonel Oscar F. Peatross along with the 1st Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment have arrived at Chu Lai on the 15th of August. General Walt commander of the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force based at Da Nang has plans to use the 7th Marines in a major operation in the coming days.

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Operation Anvil - Search and Destroy

Between the 16th and 18th of August the 1st Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division using two of its Maneuver battalions will conduct Operation ANVIL a search and destroy (Shake-down) operation in the mountains northwest of Nha Trang. The 1st and 2nd 327th Abn Infantry battalions are helilifted into the area and have negative contact with Viet Cong troops during the operation.

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Operation 8/65 - Artillery Raid

On the 18th of August the guns of the 161st Battery Royal New Zealand artillery are ordered to conduct an artillery raid. The guns of 161 RNZA bty are established in a temporary gun position forward on the southern side of the Song Dong Nai river 8 kilometers north of Bien Hoa airbase. Hopefully the guns will disrupt any VC troops operating in the area of the raid. This concludes turn 5.

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Turn 6 - August 18th to August 22nd 1965

As I mentioned at the beginning of Turn 5 it appears that the PAVN units around Duc Co CIDG camp have mostly withdrawn as the 173rd Aiborne Brigade units in the area have taken over the patrolling as most of the ARVN units in the area have withdrawn after the success of Operation Dan Thang 5. There are several missions this turn one large operation by the Marines at Chu Lai, Another by the 101st Airborne and the opening of a new CIDG Camp. Here's the News summary for turn 6.

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Operation Starlite - Search and Destroy

Throughout July the 3rd Marine Divisions S-2 (Intelligence) office had repeatedly turned up information regarding a large Viet Cong buildup south of Chu Lai. Even MACV's intelligence staff reported that the VC might attack the Marines garrison at Chu Lai with as many as three regiments. The Enemy's intent became clear on August 15th when a member of the 1st Viet Cong Regiment surrendered to the ARVN. During his interrogation the enemy soldier revealed that his regiment, numbering almost 1500 men with supporting units, had established its base in the Van Tuong Village complex, fifteen kilometers south of Chu Lai and about two kilometers inland. The Attack on Chu Lai would be launched from there. When Marine General Walt learned of this he leaped into action ordering the 7th Marines with 1/7 Bn, 2/4 Bn, 3/3 Bn, and the special landing force 3/7 Battalions to conduct an operation on the Van Tuong peninsula and destroy the Viet Cong there. The Operation will begin on August 18th but 3/3 Bn begins on the 17th as they board ships for an amphibious landing. Marine 3/3 bn lands south of An Cuong at a landing site designated Green Beach and proceeds inland and begins an attack on An Cuong where 3/3 quickly encounters the 1st Viet Cong Regiment. The 3/7 Bn SLF lands to support the attack. The 2/4 Marines are helicoptered into the area to attack the VC as well at LZ's that are pounded by guns of the 3/12 Bn Marine Artillery. Marine Jets and attack helicopters are called in to strike the VC position at An Cuong. Also US Navy ships off shore provide Naval Gunfire support.

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Operation Starlite - Battle at An Cuong

Here are the results of the battle at An Cuong. The Marines took heavy casualties in the beginning phase of the battle but the Viet Cong took heavier casualties as they defended their fortified position at An Cuong. Marine Jets from Chu Lai and Da Nang pound the VC as they provide airstrikes. The Battle will continue as the Marines hope to destroy the 1st VC regiment now that they are pinned on the Van Tuong Peninsula.

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Operation Cutlass - Search and Destroy

Between August 19th to the 22nd the 1st Battalion 327th Airborne Infantry of the 1st Brigade 101st Airborne Division and elements of the 5th SFGA are ordered to conduct Operation Cutlass in the hills south of Nha Trang. 1/327 Abn and 5th SFGA have negative contact with VC units as they search the hills for any sign of the enemy.