Vietnam Combat Operations: Volume 7 - Playtest AAR

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Here's a detailed playtest AAR of the upcoming volume in my Vietnam Combat Operations series. This one covers the Tet Offensive and the allied counterattack of February-March 1968. It's very short compared to the preceding volumes with only 18 turns but sees a lot of intense combat, especially in the first 6 turns. The debug tests have been completed (although some more errors will surely surface [;)]) and this is the first true playtest of the scenario.
For those who never tried it, this series is specifically built to be played from the allied side against the PO controlling the Northvietnamese and Viet Cong forces and the human player is rewarded for conducting historical combat operations.

Elmer gets to play first on turn 1 and will unleash his fury on South Vietnam with a series of 72 attacks detailed below. Better grab your helmet and flak vest, the VC is coming to town and he means business! [8D]

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[center]Attack #1[/center][left] [/left][left]The first VC attack hits the small town of Phu Hoa Dong where an ARVN battalion (3/7) is on a revolutionary development operation. Despite low readiness (50%) due to the Tet truce, the southvietnamese, backed by divisional artillery, stop cold the attack by the C65 Sapper Company and destroy it.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #2[/center][left] [/left][left]The second attack is directed at the RVNAF Joint General Staff in downtown Saigon. The 2 Go Mon Local Force Battalion fails to penetrate the compound and the defenders, quickly reinforced with the American 716th MP Battalion and the Southvietnamese 7th Airborne Battalion, inflicts heavy casualties to the attackers.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #3[/center][left] [/left][left]Next is the small coastal town of Tuy An in II Corps. Here the defenders of the 822nd Regional Force Company prevent the DK7 Local Force Company from overrunning the town but the VC will surely renew its assault.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #4[/center][left] [/left][left]In the Central Highlands, the VC H3 Local Force Company attacks the small district capital of Duc Xuyen but is repulsed by the surprisingly combative 864th Regional Force Company.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #5[/center][left] [/left][left]The NVA K1 Battalion, Regiment 48, launches an all-out assault on the district capital of Cam Lo, just below the DMZ. The defenders (the 21st Ranger Battalion and 711th RF Company) are reinforced by 3/4 Marines and a company of the 3d Tank Battalion from the nearby Camp Carroll Combat Base. Despite the retreat of the RF Company, the defenders easily repulsed the NVA with heavy losses.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #6[/center][left] [/left][left]Back in the Highlands, the VC C303 Company attacks the village of Phu Thien held by a Regional Force Battalion. Despite heavy casualties, the Vietcongs manage to capture their objective, forcing the Southvietnamese to retreat.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #7[/center][left] [/left][left]While on operation southeast of Phu Loc, the 1/5 Marines is attacked on its night defensive position by the K48 VC Battalion. Backed by the tubes of 2/11, the leathernecks inflict heavy losses to the attackers, piling VC bodies three-deep in front of their foxholes.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #8[/center][left]
In the Mekong Delta, the small town of Tri Ton south of the Seven Mountains in Chau Doc Province is overrun by a local force company. Without support, the ruff-puffs didn't have much of a chance.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #9[/center] 
In I Corps, the 3/5 ARVN Battalion defending the Quang Ngai City airfield is attacked by the D83 VC Local Force Battalion. Despite the support of divisional artillery, the defenders are routed and take refuge at the divisional heaquarters compound. The VC have paid their success dearly though, losing 3/4th of the attacking force.

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[center]Attack #10[/center][left] [/left][left]The DK11 VC Local Force Company attacks Song Cau south of Qui Nhon. Despite support from a VNN coastal division, the RF company defending the town is ejected with ease.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #11[/center] 
In Sa Dec Province, the Vietcong attacks the town of Le Ha and despite support fires from the 9th ARVN Division, ejects the 591th RF Company defending the place.

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[center]Attack #12[/center] 
The D512 VC Local Force Battalion launches a deliberate attack on Chau Phu, capital of Chau Doc Province in the Mekong Delta, but is repulsed by two Mobile Guerilla Force companies and a Regional Force company.

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[center]Attack #13[/center][left] [/left][left]The D764 VC LF Battalion attacks the heaquarters of the 21st ARVN Division located at Bac Lieu in the southern Delta. With all its infantry battalions on operation and with only a regional force company to defend it, the HQ unit is expelled from the city and forced to retreat to the airfield to the north.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #14[/center][left] [/left][left]The next VC target is the ARVN Artillery School at Tan Khanh but the 81st Airborne Ranger Battalion stationed nearby quickly counterattacks and destroys the C548 VC Company.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #15[/center][left] [/left][left]The H6 VC Local Force Company attacks a suburb of Ban Me Thuot but the 844th RF Company, supported by the artillery of the 23rd ARVN Division holds firm and inflicts heavy casualties on the attackers.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #16[/center] 
A single VC battalion, D506, attacks the headquarters of the 25th ARVN Division at Duc Hoa just west of Saigon. Despite the defense of the 1/49 ARVN battalion soon reinforced by 2/49 and the fires of a 105mm battalion, the Vietcong captures the town. The 25th Division once again confirms its reputation of worst division in the ARVN.
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[center]Attack #17[/center][left] [/left][left]The village of Thien Giao north of Phan Thiet is quickly overrun by the 89 VC LF Company.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]

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[center]Attack #18[/center] 
The 3/51 battalion and 725th RF Company defending the strategic Hai Van Pass north of Da Nang are attacked by the D8 NVA Sapper Battalion and are overrun despite air sorties of intruders from VMA(AW)-533.
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[center]Attack #19[/center][left] [/left][left]The VC Phu Loi Battalion attacks a basecamp of the 5th ARVN Division at Ben Cat on Route 13 but is quickly repulsed by two battalions of the 8th Regiment.[/left][left] [/left][center][/center]