Red Afternoon

Gary stopped by this evening to play some Force on Force. I quickly threw together a scenario to try out some new things. Essentially, I used the “Contracting Trouble” scenario from the main rulebook, except that instead of Iraq it was set in Occupied America circa 1986 (think Red Dawn – the original one, I haven’t seen the remake…). Instead of contractors the party needing to be rescued were two crew from an armoured vehicle that had been hit and disabled by American Insurgents. The rescue team, instead of being Marines, were Soviet VDV troops. And the insurgents… well… instead of being Iraqis, they were Americans! WOLVERINES!!

We used the Cold War Gone Hot fog of war cards – which didn’t always turn out to be appropriate – but I haven’t actually printed off a set of generic FoF cards…

The scenario called for a 2’x2’ table, but I thought I’d try playing it on a 4’x4’ table and double all movement and optimal range distances, etc. Also my buildings are a bit bigger than the one room shacks I assume the buildings in the original scenario are supposed to be, so a few of the buildings I divided into two sections (usually front and back) and treated them as though they were two smaller adjacent buildings.

SITUATION

America has been invaded by Soviet Russians as well as Cubans and other central American communist countries. In the occupied territories a fierce resistance movement has hampered the Soviets at every turn.

SCENARIO

Duration: 6 turns

Initiative: Soviets have initiative for the whole game.

Fog of War: Determined normally by Reaction Tests

Table Size: 4’x4’ – but we doubled all distance – so it was the same as a 2’x2’ game in the book.

SOVIET MISSION

An APC of a nearby Motor Rifle Regiment on patrol in town was caught in an ambush by American insurgent terrorists. The vehicle was disabled but the crew was able to keep the insurgents at bay for some time. They are now wounded and out of ammunition.

A squad of Soviet VDV  are in the vicinity and have been tasked with locating the wounded crew and escorting them off the south or west table edge.

SOVIET VICTORY POINTS

Per Crew escorted off the table by the VDV: 5 points

VDV leave no friendly casualties or POWs behind: 5 points

SOVIET FORCE

Initiative Level: NA

Confidence Level: Confident

Supply Level: Normal

Body Armour: 1D

Troop Quality/Morale: D8/D10

Soviet Forces

Fire Team 1

1x Squad Leader w/AK-74

1x Gunner with RPK-74 (Lt. AP1/AT:0)

1x Grenadier with AK-74 UGL (LT AP:1/AT:0)

2x Riflemen w/AK-74

Fire Team 2

1x Team Leader w/AK-74

1x Gunner with RPK-74 (Lt. AP1/AT:0)

1x Grenadier with AK-74 UGL (LT AP:1/AT:0)

1x Riflemen w/AK-74

AMERICAN INSURGENT MISSION

Prevent removal of commie APC crew from the table. Due to poor command and control, the American Insurgent player may not attempt to seize the crew before the VDV reach them.

AMERICAN INSURGENT VICTORY POINTS

Per Commie Invader Wounded: 1 point

Per Commie Invader Killed: 2 points

Per captive held at the end of the game (VDV or Crew): 5 points

AMERICAN INSURGENT FORCE

Initiative Level: NA

Confidence Level: Confident

Supply Level: Normal

Body Armour: None

Troop Quality/Morale: D6/D12

American Insurgent Forces

Area #1 (behind the Credit Union): 6x Insurgents w/Small Arms

Area #2 (Joey’s Service Station): 4x Insurgent Leaders

Area #3 (Curt’s Comic Cave): 1x Insurget with RPG (or equivalent)

Area #4 (between Wales Theatre and Flower Shop): Insurgent Leader, 1x Insurget w/ RPG (or equivalent)

Area #5 (Back of Ivan’s Convenience Store): Insurgent with RPG (or equivalent)

THE GAME

(Remember: click on the pictures for a bigger version)

Soviet VDV (Air Assault Troops) wander down the main street of Littletown, USA – the wrecked APC can be seen up the street in front of Super Pawn.

Overview of the table.

Hot Spots #1 (behind the Credit Union) and #2 in Joey’s Service Station.

Another shot of Main Street.

And another shot (with the solitary Insurgent with a LAW rocket hiding out in Curt’s Comic Cave).

TURN ONE

Fire Team #2 rapid moved up the street to the corner of the Flower shop and brought fire down on the insurgents hiding in the alley between the building. The Insurgent in the back of the Ivan’s Convenience Store had tried to interrupt but couldn’t pass a Troop Quality test (couldn’t figure out how to arm the LAW rocket he had… or maybe just didn’t’ want to draw attention to his position there with a whole squad of Soviet VDV troopers just out in the street while he was all alone in there… regardless, he took no action).

The Insurgent team in the alley attempted to interrupt, but were unsuccessful…

…and they were gunned down where they stood.

Fire Team #1 also rushed up the street taking up a position in front of the Credit Union. The Insurgent in Curt’s Comic Cave also failed a TQ test and was unable to interrupt.

In the End Phase The insurgent mob behind the Credit union ALSO failed a TQ test and just milled about, perhaps completely unaware that there was anything going on.

The Insurgent Leaders that were meeting at Joey’s Service Center decided to get things moving and split up to go and try and whip those pansies into shape. One headed for the group behind the Credit Union, another to the corner of Super Pawn – to take cover before dashing across to Curt’s Comic Cave. Another crossed and went in the back door of Super Pawn.

TURN TWO

Reinforcements began arriving, having heard the shooting downtown.

Another Leader, along with a Machine-gunner and three other insurgents with small arms arrived at Joey’s Service Center.

Three more insurgents armed with rifles also wandered in the back door of Curt’s Comic Cave.

Fire Team #1 pushed forward with some bold and aggressive maneuvering – they rushed to the APC and grabbed the two crewmen before retiring into Super Pawn. The four insurgents in Curt’s Comic Cave were too busy introducing themselves to each other and trying to decide who shouls take up positions where to notice and missed their opportunity to react (failed TQ).

The Insurgent Leader in the back of Super Pawn, however, fired on the Team as they entered the front of the building causing one casualty before being riddled with bullets.

Fire Team #2 dashed across the street to take up a position in the Credit Union. This time the insurgent in the back of Ivan’s Convenience Store got his nerve up (or figured out how to take the safety off) and fired his rocket at them, blasting ahole in the front of the building, but causing the team no harm. The Soviets returned fire but likewise had no effect.

In the end phase the leader hiding at the corner of Super Pawn dashed across the street to join the Insurgents in Curt’s Comic Cave and shouted at them to pull their heads out of their asses!

The Insurgents at Joey’s Service Center attempted to fire on the Commies in Super Pawn. Rolling a one on the reaction test brought a Fog of War card out and and Air Strike on the Insurgent at the back of Ivan’s Convenience Store (Apparently a Hind gunship was passing by and saw the insurget fire on the VDV in the Credit union and decided to light up the building. No more was heard from that fellow!) In the exchange of fire (between the VDV in Super Pawn and the Insurgents in the Service Center) the soviets took another casualty and the insurgents took two – including one of the leaders there!

TURN THREE

The VDV in Super Pawn checked their wounded and found one to be totally okay (dust from a brick being hit by a bullet had flown into his eyes, but after a quick rinse they were okay) but the other was seriously wounded. They would only be reacting to fire this turn…

The insurgents in Joey’s Service Center were both lightly wounded.

Another group of reinforcements arrive at Curt’s Comic Cave including a leader, an M60 gunner (the roll was for an RPG, but I didn’t have another so I threw out an M60 which also has an AP of 2) and SIX more armed with small arms!

Fire Team #2 moved to the back of the Credit Union and exchange some rather ineffective fire with the group of insurgents milling about behind the building.

In the end phase the Insurgents poured fire down on the Commies holled up in the super Pawn. In the exchanges the insurgents in the Service Center suffered two more casualties and one of the groups in Curt’s comic Cave suffered one casualtiy and lost another due to morale. The Insurgents fire on the VDV troopers was more or less ineffective.

One of the Groups of Insurgents in Curt’s Comic Cave moved out across the street and took cover behind the wrecked APC.

TURN FOUR

Both the insurgents in the Service Center were KIA. Failing their TQ Test they would only be reacting to fire this turn. Across the street in Curt’s Comic Cave the casualty turned out to be only lightly wounded.

More reinforcements poured in; an RPG Gunner and two with small arms arrived at the Service Center and another insurgent with a rifle turned up behindthe Credit Union.

Fire Team #2 was on Overwatch.

Fire Team #1 dashed out of the Super Pawn to join the other VDV in the back of the Credit Union. Insurgents failed to react and the Soviets were gone before they could bring effective fire down on them.

The Insurgents behind the Credit Union decided to fire on the Commies within but the VDV on overwatch lit them up causing five (FIVE) casualties. The few that were still able to fire caused the Soviets no harm.

TURN FIVE

Of the insurgents shot out back of the Credit Union three were seriously wounded and two were only lightly wounded.

Fire Team #2 fired on the insurgents in at the service center and then left the table. The insurgents just took the fire, hoping to get a shot at the other Soviet team (with the Crewmen). While waiting for that they took two casualties from team #1 (the RPG-gunner and an insurgent with a rifle).

Fire Team #1 then made their break for it. the Insurgents failed their reaction roll and the team was gone off the table with their dependant Crewmen and casualties!

End of Game.

The soviets left the table with both crewmen and no friendlies left behind for a total of 15 points. The insurgents caused one casualty for 1 point. A pretty decisive victory for the Soviet Occupiers.

The insurgents suffered two killed in action, three seriously wounded and five lightly wounded. Three others were unaccounted for at the end of the game (the leader and gunner shot in the first turn and the insurgent that had been blasted by the air strike!)

A second Fog of War card had come out at some point which had no effect.

A fun game overall and I think I’m starting to really get my head around the rules – though I think I forgot about the bonus die for being within optimal range a few times.

I need to make some better Hot Spot markers... and finish up my roads and some more buildings. I think I might make some rulers marked out at 40mm intervals - not quite doubling the regular inches used in the game. I thought doubling it might seem like crazy distances - rapid moves of up to 24' for infantry!? But it didnt' seem too out of whack for the scale we were playing with. 

Coming soon on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog:

More painting... likely Moderns...

Hopefully I might get in a few more games over the holidaze.