Sunday 25 May 2014

Attack at Woody Knob. Kokonut #2

The situation

After Lt Duex's heroic capture of the supply truck the Dutch have been forced to withdraw to Woody Knob and wait on resupply. Grand Rouge has decided to assault and capture the village and so relive some pressure on his home base on Eagles Squat Mountain. 
The initial attacking force will be Lt Massena's untried green platoon plus a technical and light mortar if they can get it set up. The Defenders are estimated as a weak platoon. 

The situation looking south with 6 possible enemy positions. Each marked with a red EP
Massena decides to send his 1st Platoon to the right of the road to act as support and reserve.
2nd platoon through the woods on his center left and
3rd Platton with the MG armed technical to sweep around the hill on his left.
With luck this could catch the first enemy position in a cross fire.
1st Squad takes position and is immediately spotted and fired on.

 2nd Squad moving through the woods.
 3rd Squad and their technical reach the hill.
 A section of green reservists open up on 1st Squad.
2nd Squad take two casualties as they emerge from the woods.
The rest of Massena's Platoon begin firing on the fire team dug in on the hill.
They are forced to withdraw.

The rest of the section is not in line of sight so test for movement. 
They get a withdrawal which makes sense.
Meanwhile the strong left hook continues behind the hill.
 The section continues to withdraw.
1st Squad moves up the right. They will try and support the attack on  the village.
 2nd Squad captures the hill and attempts to move into the village using the first hut for cover.
Taking more casualties.
3rd Squad round the hill and engage the enemy to the south.
A Dutch Panhard armoured car moves up from reserve.
(My initial reaction to this was Where are my RPG's?)


After a tremendous close range shoot out the decimated both 2nd and 3rd Squads 
Lt Messena fearlessly leads forward the reminates of 3rd squad supported by the technical.  
These manage to push the Dutch fire team out of the solid government building. 
In to the open where 1st Squad was waiting for them. 
With the last of the infantry retreating the armoured car withdraws.
Lt Massena is promoted to 1st lieutenant. 
With this win KILA retain the initiative for mission selection.











Saturday 17 May 2014

First Egyptians

Ever since I bought WRG 6th back in the 70's I've wanted an Egyptian army. Last week the figures arrived and I've started painting.


They are the Spear and Archers belonging to the Ptah Division.


Sunday 4 May 2014

Raid on Woody Knob. Kokonut #1

Kokonut Island

Kokonut Island is a fictitious Dutch colony off the west coast of Africa.  A former French colony it's exports are hardwood timber and coconut oil. Its white sandy beach's and mild weather also make it a popular tourist attraction.  It is currently being prepared for independence although the date seems to moved further and further back by each new government in Amsterdam.
For some this has become intolerable. One group called The Kokonut Island Liberation Army (KILA) was established by a local charismatic leader called "Grand" Rouge and has begun nuisance raids in protest soon after establishing their base in the mountainous and forested area called Eagles Squat. Dutch army units have began sweeping this area in an attempt to break the group up before they become too established. In the mean time they (KILA) have received both training and equipment from Cuba. And on the May 1 1966 they were ready too begin operations.

The Mission

The Dutch have left behind a small force guarding a truck full of supplies in the village of Woody Knob. It is rumored to also include a medium mortar.  Grand Rouge wants it and has sent Lt Duex and part of the 1st Platoon behind Dutch lines to capture it.

Woody Knob

T marks the location of the truck. The 4 EP's shows possible locations of enemy troops including two dug in areas guarding the roads into town,  the government admin office and near the truck itself. The Dutch are conscripts and are rated green.

The Plan

I will take the side of KILA because they have the initiative at this point of the campaign. They have two squads rated as green and with touchy moral. I'm going to attempt a night time operation and hopefully reduce the amount of fire they take. Also because of their inexperience I am going to keep them close together and try to systematically reduce the enemy positions. 
2nd squad will enter from the south and provide covering fire and 1st squad will attack from the SE.
                                                              Turn one. no enemy spotted
Lt Duex with his new binoculars accompanying 1st Squad. 
One fire team of which has taken up an over watch  position in the elephant grass.
Eventually 1st squad have spotted some enemy troops located in the field works.
And with a tremendously bad start to the mission and the campaign  for KILA
the first enemy encounted is a dug in HMG!
The 2nd squad manages to open fire on the HMG before its ready.
 Their fire causes a casualty and pins the Machine gun group.
 Seeing them pinned part of the 1st Squad moves forward to assault. 
Loosing one of their fire team members.
All the shooting from second squad has brought them to the attention 
of the enemy troops dug in to the north.
 The trucks guard detail has spotted fire coming from of 1st Squad.
 The concentrated fire has managed to reduce the HMG group and the last survivor flees.
Though one fire team of 1st Squad is pretty shaken with two casualties.
The northern sentry group continues to pin down parts of 2nd Squad.

2nd squad takes its first casualty.

 While the other half of 2nd Squad moves through the village towards the admin building.
1st squad occupies the old HMG position.
The admin building turns out to be empty and 2nd squad occupies it.
They then start firing at the troops dug in to the north.
\
The rest of 2nd Squad moves into a house and adds its fire against the troops guarding the truck. 
 The guard  have taken a casualty and am now caught in a cross fire.
 Eventualy their moral fails and they retreat.
The same with their comrades to the north.

Lt Deux's troops capture the truck!

And manage a clean get away!

I used the Force on Force rules for the first time and I really enjoyed them. My solo rules did a good job of providing the suspense of not knowing what I was facing just its general location. 
As for the campaign. Well KILA wins and so keeps the initiative
 and Lt Deux receives a promotion to 1st Lieutenant.
Next scenario is a full scale attack on Woody Knob.