Battle for South Vietnam 1965-75

[Grymme]

September 1965, Round 4, Seasonal interface

Going into the seasonal interface the good news is that my population has gone up from 396 to 418. In kontum province that i have all but liberated SVN controlled population has gone down from 12 to 8. Unfortunatly the South Vietnamese government remains stable.

The bad news is that my morale has only gone up from 28 to 40 although this means that the Free World has committed very little new units to the battlefield it also means i get very little new resources to fight with. I can see that the 197th Airborne brigade has been deployed and also an ARVN divisional HQ in Quang Tri province.

The US tries to bomb the now defended Saravaneh loosing another 3 units of B-52s for little damage.

My small VC company occupying Nha Trang fights to the last man against the 173rd Airborne Brigade causing losses of some 40 US infantry.

In Kontum province the ARVN units have moved beside my blocking VC Company, but they havent gotten far.

In IV Corps US artillery bombards one of my battalions in Laos and causes heavy damage.

I have 16 morale to spend (12 new + the 4 i saved last season). I spent all military supplies last season so i have to create new and send down new supplies if i want to raise any VC units. There are two ways for the Communist player to send down supply to the south. Either via the trail or via sea supply. The efficiency of sending supply down the trail is dependant of the status of the Ho Chi Minh trail. I have 2 bases operating. That would normally give me 8 supply. But since one of them is still damaged from bombing i would only get 7. If i send supply via the sea i get 10 supply but the Free World has a chance to interdict each one of 5 of them depending on how much resources he has set aside for the naval blockade of North Vietnam. For each commitment assigned to the naval blockade the Free World has a 10% chance of interdicting each of the 5 extra supplies (5 will always get through). Since the state of the naval blockade is only 1 i think it will be more efficient to use Naval supply than trail supply. I spend 4 commitment and get 38 military supplies (2 get interdicted).

I also spend 2 commitment on building 6 replacements (i now have 9). Replacements can be used to reinforce units anywhere on the map between seasons and can be usefull

[Grymme]

Shelling across the DMZ causes 210 ARVN casualties in Can Thien. The US does have 175mm Selfprollered Howitzers with the same range as my artillery but it doesnt seem inclined to strike back. I build a NVA regiment in North Vietnam and 3 VC battalions in the border mountains of Quang Tri to at least start to harass the Free World forces in the north. I also build 2 air defense regiments 1 to send down the trail and the other to defend my third NVA base in North Vietnam.

In Kontum province i attack and shatter the last of the ARVN units retreating out of the province more or less destroying it. Some men flee into the mountains. I also place 3 new VC battalions in the mountains to the west of Qui Nhon and destroy the single ARVN battalion waiting to meet the fleeing ARVN units from Kontum province.

[Grymme]

In Tuyen Duc US units are trying to encircle my 323rd VC Division. I retreat west and at the same time i set up an ambush for the lead US cavalry Squadron by deploying 2 new VC battalions and a VC Regiment for a total cost of 16 supplies and 15 personell.

I attack the US Squadron from 3 sides and all but destroy it. A Single M60 squadron escapes.

[Grymme]

In Corps III/IV area i place 3-4 battalions in the Iron triangle trying to find places where they cannot be reached. And finally in the Delta there is nothing to do but retreat.

I save 4 military supplies and 4 commitment for a rainy day.

[Grymme]

October 1965, Round 5

I have been crazy busy the last week. So havent been able to play until now.

Losses during the Free World round are are light with the majority comming from artillery bombardment and an assualt onto one of my battalion in IV corps. I loose ca 370 men for half that number killed but also some vehicles disabled.

In North Vietnam my artillery shifts target towards a couple of US units in rugged terrain close to the DMZ. US losses are intially light with only ca 10 men incapacitated

In I Corps i Khe Sanh is only lightly held by an ARVN battalion. I bombard it with my 2nd NVA division 130mm howitsers and assault it with 2 NVA regiments working with a VC battalion. The assualt is a succes with losses around 50 men for the attackers and more than 300 for the defenders. The VC battalion occupy Khe Sanh while my regulars retreat.

[Grymme]

R 5, II Corps


II Corps area se heavy fighting as i drive out the last enemy units. The ARVN regiment is surrounded and destroyed to a man for ca 300 men in VC losses. Other combat destroys the remains of another ARVN battalion and hurts another badly for ca 100 VC losses.

[Grymme]

R 5, III Corps

Not much action here. My 323rd VC Division retreats slowly to avoid decisive combat. The strategy here is to remain a viable force into the next pacification phase.

[Grymme]

R 5, IV Corps

In IV Corps my units retreat further into Cambodia to avoid the US invasion there. I leave some smaller units to cover my retreat. I also place my 2 VC companies outside the provincial capitol of Vi Thanh and launch an assault because its only protected by a disorganized ARVN battalion.

The ARVN battalion manages to hold the city with 60 men in losses for 80 VC. My men try to retreat back into the swamps.

[Grymme]

November 1965, R6

When i open the round i see that losses are starting to go up with 1 300 VC dead and 1 160 Free World dead.

In Corps I my VC battalion occupying Khe Sanh was driven out and all but destroyed. One of my VC battalions in Thua Thien province was hunted down by the ARVN Paratrooper division working together with ground troops and destroyed to a man with 70 men in losses for the ARVN.

In Corps III area one of my VC battalions were driven out of Dak To by US airmobile and ground troops loosing 230 men. Since it was an frontal assault into urban area they caused high losses in the attacking forces 450 men died or was disabled. Another battalion stood firm, loosing 130 men for 410 enemy put out of action

In Corps IV my 2 VC companies in the delta were all but destroyed.

In the north i use a NVA regiment to occupy Can Thien. The remains of the VC battalion occupying Khe Sanh flees into North Vietnam where i use a replacement point and some produced reinforcemnts to start converting it to a NVA regiment. Artillery bombardment causes ca 50 ARVN losses.My lone VC battalion in Thiua Thien retreat into Laos.

In Quang Nam province i move my entire division into the cultivated and urban areas of the province hoping that the population will shift into my favour, se screenshot.

[Grymme]

R6, II Corps

In Corps II my 2nd NVA division moves of the trail and into Kontum province. I have also occupied most of Binh Dinh province, se screenshot. No combat here.

[Grymme]

R6, Corps III

In Corps III a massive US search and destroy operation now includes the 173rd Airborne Brigade combing through Tuyen Duc province. I dont see much opportunity for victory in the combat field so i retreat towards the Laoitian border. Hopefully my regiment and 323rd VC Division HQ will survive, but i am sure losses will be great.

[Grymme]

R6, IV Corps

In Corps IV i again see the opportunity for offensive action ambushing an ARVN infantry battalion driving it back with 190 losses for 40 own dead. I also place my 2 VC companies around Vi Thanh ambushing the ARVN battalion that destroyed the 2 previous companies. The ARVN battalion flees the field loosing some 350 men in dead wounded and deserters for ca 100 VC losses.

Overall, going into the third pacification season of the game i am in good shape in Corps I and II areas but dont have much presence in Corps IV and in Corps III i am retreating into Cambodia/Laos.

[Grymme]

December 1965 (R7, Seasonal interface)

Realizing that the war was not going to well the US have decided to sent substantial reinforcements to South Vietnam. My forces has identified at least 2 new divisions in the Corps I area; 1st Cavalry Division and 101st Airborne Division and the Division HQ of 3rd Marine Division.

The Free World have used the newly arrived forces to commence operation Cowboy Hat in Corps I area.

Around the DMZ my NVA regiment occupying Can Thien has been driven back out into North Vietnam with heavy losses for both sides (around 500 men on each side). In addition the 3rd Airmobile Brigade (1st Cav) has invaded North Vietnam in an effort to disrupt my long range artillery. They have effectivly all but destroyed one battalion of 152mm howitzers.

In Quang Tin and Quang Nam provinces (lower I Corps area) Operation Cowboy Hat has initiated a huge search and destroy mission against my 324th VC division. Two battalions are caught out on the fields by airmobile forces loosing some 680 men between them for a net kill of less than 60 US troops. The Division HQ is surrounded and attacked in the mountains, holding firm but loosing 320 men for 200 killed. A third battalion suffers high losses (around 250 men) but succesfully retreats inflicting even higher losses (400 men on the attacking US forces).

In northern Corps II area no enemy activity other than retreating is seen. In Tuyen Duc the the 173rd Airborne Brigade penetrates the defenses of Ban Me Thuot killing or disabling 270 men loosing 200.

There is little fighing in Corps III but for the city of Bo Duc where one of my battalions is surrounded and holding out despite losses of some 150 men but inflicting at least 340 losses on the ARVN forces assaulting the town.

In the delta (Corps IV) area enemy artillery shells my shelters in Cambodia killing or disabling some 50 soldiers. Finghing in the delta itself is light around Vinh Thanh where i loose 170 men for 110 enemies. On the southern tip of South Vietnam in An Xuyen province ARVN forces attack my lone VC battalion there and drives it back with 240 men in losses for 200 own.

All in all losses are at an all time high with some 7 000 men wounded, missing, killed or deserted for the month. At the same time at least 6 000 enemies have suffered the same fate.

As for the allegience of the South Vietnamese people the VC controlled population has risen from 418 to 427. There is an substantial VC or NVA presence in 10 out of the 36 provinces or Special regions. Bao Dai remains the head of State. South Vietnam is still plagued by low morale (64) but it might rise somewhat as an effect of the new infusion of US troops. My morale has risen from 40 to 59 giving me 19 more potential commitment to spend.

[Grymme]

R7, I Corps

In Corps I/ North Vietnam i temporarily retreat from the DMZ front inwards to repell the invasion. I use 4 replacements to restore one of the shattered NVA regiment to near full strenght and strengthen the other with recruits produced in the North Vietnam cities. I use 6 commitment to place 2 new NVA regiments around Vinh Linh and 2 commitment to buy 6 new replacements.. I also spend 4 commitment to ship military supplies using Sea supply. Luckily and since the US sea blockade is weak i loose almost no supply on the way down and recieve 39 (of 40 possible) Military Supplies.

One of my Air Defense Regiments have arrived at Ban Tasseng. I want to expand the Ho Chi Minh Trail by activating it as an NLF base. I costs 8 commitment but will hopefully result in more supplies and recruits for the battlefield so i invest in it. Expanding the trail to the next step will cost 10 commitment.

In Quang Tin province i order 2 VC battalions to disperse to salvage what can be done from operation Cowboy Hat. This reduces my draft level by 5 (of the 6 used to create them) but doesnt return any of the 4 military supply used. The rest of my 324th Division tries to scramble for cover or take up defensive positions. They will die, but will try to sell their lives dearly.

[Grymme]

R7, Corps II

My 2nd NVA Division arrives in Kontum of the trail. I order it to take up defensive positions around the city and attach a VC battalion as local support. this area and Binh Dinh province sees little action beoyond mopping up the last 20 or so survivors of an ARVN Battalion. They are essentially liberated. But take up defensive positions since i fear they will be the next target of the new US units in Corps I.

I use 26 military supplies to create the 325th VC Division with 1 attached regiment, 5 battalions and a company. They take up defensive positions around the provincial capitol of Phu Bon, Hau Bon. I also create 2 new VC battalions and place in the Quang Ngai province occupying the provincial capitol with the same name.

[Grymme]

R7 Corps III

In III Corps area my 323rd VC Division HQ and main regiment retreat over the border to Cambodia but i set up an ambush against a US and ARVN battalion. Losses are high on both sides with some 300 killed for 450 enemy troops.

I disband the surrounded VC battalion in Bo Duc, but only get the draft reduced by 1. I also place a new VC battalion on the coastline near Long Khan, more as an harassment than anything else.

[Grymme]

R7, Corps IV

In IV Corps area my 322nd VC Division moves up north in Cambodia after destroying some patrolling ARVN i build 2 VC battalions and place a VC company that assaults an ARVN mechanized battalion which disolves and looses 350 men for 50 of my own.

My battalion in An Xuyen disperses reducing the draft by 1.

At the end of the month i have saved 3 commitment, 2 military supplies and have 10 replacments. I control 427 population and my draft level is 189.

[jomni]

Subscribed

BTW: How does the AI cope with the rules?

[Grymme]

Thanks for your encouragment Jomni. The AI cannot play either side at all. So this scenario is human vs human only. I am thinking about adding a Communist AI scenario variant. But its not certain.

[lion_of_judah]

I must say Grymme you have done a fantastic job turning this board game into a great scenario for ATG. I have the board game and you have mastered this almost perfect. Good job....