GOOD MORNING VIETNAM - The Game

The last post contained the scenario and this one describes the game, played by email and WhatsApp. It’s mainly with maps because my pictures of figures in the jungle are all filled with trees and bushes, the figures hid very successfully behind them.

This is the opening situation, V.C. Cowie has been in country for 7 days, most of the time putting things to rights and has only had 1 day to deploy his forces. I think he was more worried about possible rival VC than anyone trying to rescue the pilot he held as a captive.

So this is where he was as his men bivied on the night of day 7. He had split his forces into a number of smaller groups to try and cover the area better. The regular NVLA have been split into 3 groups SG1, 2 & 3.

SG1 was guarding the base along with a few odds and sods from other squads, SG2 was to check out one of the possible landing sites, LZ C12 and SG3 as you can see, made it to the LZ B10

The VC had been kept in 2 big squads of approximately 12 men each. VC b was to check out the village of Aguioc, and VC c had romped down the track towards Cang.

Early on the morning of day 8, about 03:00 hours all the Vietnamese units saw a plane exploding high in the sky, this was the reason for the scenario and BAT21 ejected and landed in the centre of the map, he hid his parachute and moved 1k north and holed up waiting for rescue.

At 04:00 the satellite passed over and picked up his homing beacon, at 05:00 Owen Snapcase was being briefed and at 06:00 he landed at LZ6, his call sign was BRUCE4X.

The team encountered no opposition and moved out immediately headed North and directly for BAT21’s last known position.

VC c actually saw the Australian team arrive in the choppers in the far south.

At this point I got confused with the scale thinking they were only 4k apart, when they were eventually actually 16k apart and wouldn’t have seen each other, such are the vagaries of war.

Mid day and VCc are following up on the chopper landing, here I used the local NCO’s initiative and V.C. Cowie back at base doesn’t know anything about it. The NCO sent a runner back to base to inform him of the situation.

SG3 in the north send a runner back to base to tell them nobody has used the LZ in a long time and await further orders.

SG2 is still pushing through the dense jungle and has not made it to LZ C12 yet.

Sometime in the morning Bird Dog (the air rescue coordinator) flew over and made contact with BAT21 and then BRUCE4X. He confirms to BRUCE4X that everything is OK with BAT21 and he is safe in hiding.

Bruce4X knows nothing about any of the VC activity and has moved north, directly for BAT21’s last known position. Travelling slowly and carefully to avoid detection and ambush, it would take 3 days to get to their objective.

VC Cowie was ignoring the downed airman and so his radio operator picked up some radio chatter between Bird Dog and BAT21, this indicated that this call sign was highlighted on a list and he should contact Hanoi immediately. They told him he needed to capture BAT21 but it was imperative he be taken alive. So VC Cowie recalled all the northern troops and pulled the VC c squad back to look for the airman who had ejected from the ECW plane and was wanted so desperately by Hanoi, thus leaving Bruce4X a clear run north.

Note VC Cowie’s transmitter could reach all the radios on and off the table but the individual back pack radios had a limited range.

It was at this point I realized I’d cocked up with the scale down in the south when Bruce wanted to know where the trail was, according to the info I gave him he should have fallen over it by now. Dohh!

By day 9 at 12:00 VC c had made good time up the track and were between Bruce4X and Bat21. They had a bit of luck with the die roll to chose a starting point on the track to begin their search for Bat21 and were almost spot on where the plane was hit. VC Cowie was given a choice of where he would like his troops to search and reasonably decided to go North East.

The runner sent to bring back SG3 ran into a wild boar and was injured. This slowed him down reaching the group and had far reaching consequences.

VC b and SG2 were almost back at the base.

I’d realized early on when designing the scenario that the Vietnamese might spend all the game wandering around aimlessly never meeting the rescue team and so I used a random event chart to give them something to do and keep them sharp. Some times it worked brilliantly and added to the story, some times it was a bit lacklustre.

As the runner from VC c arrived back at base he rolled on the event table and had an encounter with Poachers or Bandits further rolling and there was no actual contact, just a sighting.

Close of play day 9 the VC c have bivied for the night. You can see that they are going in a NE direction but will miss Bat21. BRUCE4X had changed his line of march taking him slightly NW, he had been getting reports from the Bird Dog that there were enemy troops around the area that shows the SAM site, although at this point no one knew it was there. Bird Dog knew about the troops because he was getting shot at flying from the SE to BAT21’s position but he hadn’t seen anyone. I was just testing to see if he got shot down.

The other key thing to happen during the day was that there had been no answer from BAT21 on the two occasions that the Bird Dog had flown over his position, they did however know that his homing beacon was still in the same location. I rationalised this event because it was obvious that the NVLA troops around the SAM site would be looking for him and he went to ground to avoid detection.

I also thought it would add to BRUCE4X’s tension rating.

I had to have a SAM site to shoot down the ECM plane in the 1st place, so the story was that the NVLA were building a road down from the north and the SAM’s were to protect the building crew. The ring around the site was the limit of the defenders area of control.

VC Cowie didn’t know they were there and he was out of radio range of VC c’s small radio so they couldn’t tell him but his radio was powerful enough so they could hear his commands, just not respond.

In the North VC b also had an encounter with Poachers or Bandits but again further dice rolling and no actual contact just a sighting and they returned to base uneventfully. Then SG2 returned for the night as well.

The event for the base was distant gunfire, which coincided nicely with the event for SG3 which was ambush.

SG3 walked straight into an ambush, VC Cowie was expecting rival VC’s and so was I, because there were enemy troops on my event table and enemy for the VC had to be bandits, VC or US troops and I didn’t want the complication of US troops.

My rational with ambushes was along the lines that provided the ambushers stayed still the ambushee’s would find them very difficult to see, I was using an opposed dice roll but heavily weighted towards the guys waiting in ambush. Anyway SG3 was ambushed by 3 VC and they killed 3 out of the 4 of VC Cowie’s team, the other one got away and reported the debacle back to base.

The rival VC made off in a random direction, going South quickly and leaving a trail that was easy to follow, again random die but I did think it would be ideal for it to lead to another ambush.

BRUCE4X had changed the direction of his march again following information from the Bird Dog. I think I mentioned him a couple of times but VC Cowie was too busy cleaning his house to sell it and I think this went over his head. He then tried to set fire to it and this probably meant that he couldn’t worry about Bird Dog who was a small plane used by the Americans to guide downed pilots to helicopter rescue.

VC c entered the zone of control of the SAM protectors and the dice decided that they didn’t end up in a fire fight. As I said earlier they had seen the airman come down in a parachute and tried to find him, not very energetically because that was VC Cowies job but they had found the parachute that BAT21 hid and decided to loan him 48 men to help with the search.

Ignore the counters down in the bottom left are just spare parked ones.

Bird Dog had made contact with BAT21 in the morning run and in his evening run he facilitated BRUCE4X making direct radio contact with BAT21. They arrange a meeting for the following morning, tea and cakes were not mentioned. By this time Bat21 had not eaten for 3 days but had been drinking stream water through his sock at BRUCE4X’s suggestion.

BRUCE4X also finally finds the track.

In the north SG2 guided by the survivor from the ambush and VC b were sent to examine the ambush site and follow up the enemy.

In the mean time the Poachers walked into VC Cowies base demanding to see the old Camp Commandant. This was very tense because VC Cowie was probably quite paranoid by now, and who can blame him. He insisted that they drop their weapons and my initial die roll said they wouldn’t. It was the stand off at the OK corral and VC Cowie insisted they drop them. After looking at the situation, they were out numbered 2 or 3 to 1 I rolled again and got a slightly more favourable die roll and things calmed down.

They were known to one or two of the old VC who were around the base and VC Cowie quizzed them on local events and they all had a good time and drank too much alcohol.

During the afternoon the VC c and their NVLA helpers were conducting an organised search for BAT21, the NVLA had already found his parachute and so they had a good place to start.

This was the search map sent to VC Cowie, you can see the location of the parachute and if you blow the map up you can also see where I rubbed out Bat21’s location which was a mile north of the chute. The VC and NVLA under Doug’s direction had searched an area going in a NE direction but had missed Bat21.

I realised later that they had searched the area that he had moved through, and so I thought he might have left tracks or some trail from where his chute was, to where he was currently hiding.
I rolled a die with high being some trail, 5 faint and 6 clear and I rolled a 6 so someone had seen tracks but had not said anything at the time. This was rectified during the evening bivi and as this is the map at the end of the day, in the morning they would go back and see if they could locate the trail.

Day 11 dawned and the Bird Dog saw the SAM site and called in an air strike on it. He had already seen the road that was under construction and I decided he would try and follow it and the die roll determined he saw the SAM site.

This was loads of fun for me as I called it out on the radio real time for BRUCE4X, I would have loved to see Martins face because he had no idea what was going on and then about half way through he twigged it.

This is a transcript of the call that I put out real time over WhatsApp.

Day 11 7:00

Bat21, Bruce4X this BIRD Dog.

Put your Tin Hats on. I’ll be back. Bird Dog Out.

Bird Dog calling any Jocks out there near position !!!!!!!!!, I have a present for you. Over

(Martin) Jocks? We’re Aussies mate, fair dinkum.

Bird Dog this is Major Domino we are 5 min away from your position. Over.

(Martin again) sorry not quite with it. What’s happening?

Major Domino, drop your bombs on my smoke, but be careful I have friendlies down below. Over

(Martin again) right bird dog is guiding in a friendly air strike.

Wilco Bird Dog what colour smoke. Over.

Purple. Over

Wilco, we’re on our way.

(Martin again) right we take cover.

My next post to Martin was – Back with you Bruce, I’ve done playacting.

You see a plume of purple smoke about 10k ESE of your current position.

Shortly followed by the plume of smoke from the bombs dropped by 2 Phantoms that come screaming in from the East over your position, curve fast to the SW and disappear.

I then went on with out radio conversation between Bird Dog and BRUCE4X, informing him of the SAM’s etc etc. This was for me the highlight of the game, being able to play act in real time and get some energy into it as a real time event.

This action meant that the NVLA helpers would withdraw to their SAM base and leave team VC c on their own and then the loss of the SAM’s meant that the road building crew were vulnerable and so would pack up and go home tomorrow.

BRUCE4X then met up with BAT21 and they started to withdraw in a westerly direction tending a bit north. This was to be a major problem.

There were 2 encounters for VC Cowie in the late morning VC b ran in to a possible ambush, map on left, this turned out to be a red herring and there was no actual ambush but the VC had a masterly set piece manoeuvre to flank it and at the same time pin it frontally. It’s a shame there was no one there.

SG2 heard a patrol coming up behind them, map in centre, originally I was going to make this the rival VC group but rolled some dice and came up with a NVLA patrol, they were obviously being recalled to the SAM site.

Anyway VC Cowie created the perfect ambush, this was one of the pictures I sent to him, the 2 blurred figures in the foreground are his SG2 ambushers, and the chaps in the green berets are the NVLA patrol. They came straight towards him obviously following his tracks and without asking if he could recognise the figures just opened fire. They walked right into the ambush and he killed and wounded 5 of his own side, only realizing his mistake when they started shouting in Vietnamese.

I probably shouldn’t have used Royal Marine Commando figures, as it was a bit misleading. ;)

The ambush part way through, the guy here at the front was shot down a few moments later. VC Cowie had 3 men blocking the line of advance and a couple of men at the rear closing the back door, as I said a very good ambush, that would only have failed if the enemy had been spread out in a line across their direction of march.

In the mean time VC c had marched on a compass bearing to where they thought BAT21’s tracks were, rather than go back to his parachute and start from the known point, which would have been the most accurate thing to do. Anyway, no one can walk on a compass bearing without some deviation and the roll indicated they were slightly off their compass course to the north. Maybe you can see where this is going.

And that was the point that Bruce4X heard the pursuit and decided to change direction from going west to going north to get out of the way of the pursuers and then Bat21 fell, creating the noise that alerted VC Cowie. This is the map on the right above.

So essentially a series of mistakes and die rolls that could have gone either way left us in the situation that VC c with 11 men were within a couple of hundred metres of Bruce4X with 4 men and Bat21 and they had heard a noise.

VC Cowie sent 4 men to investigate the noise and the rest of the squad remained stationary, they walked into Bruce and didn’t walk away. The chap in the red Beret is BAT21, just to make him stand out to me, and there are 3 of the team waiting in ambush, the 4th member is over to the right as we look at it.

You need to look carefully but there are 4 of VC c out their, I can only see 2 of them. They were advancing quietly in a line abreast 3 wide with the 4th man bringing up the rear.

After the ambush there are 3 wounded and 1 dead VC, BRUCE4X sent a man to search each of the enemy collecting food, weapons and the squads radio, then he interrogated the 3 wounded, before killing them with a silenced .22 pistol. This proved to be a serious mistake, but at this stage I imagine he was fairly confident that he had eliminated the enemy who he knew were following him.

VC Cowie then advanced the remaining 7 men on a line parallel to the one the original 4 men had taken but slightly to the north of it, so he wouldn’t fall into the same ambush. I rolled some more dice and he arrived close to BRUCE4X position 2 min before they were due to leave. Both sides heard sounds that were fairly certainly human. VC advanced on the SAS who had changed their line of axis and were waiting in ambush again. 7 men v 4, not counting BAT21 who was sitting behind the line holding his pistol with the safety on. BRUCE4X didn’t trust him not the cock up after the falling incident. I was fairly certain with the way the previous ambushes had gone that the SAS would win but maybe take a casualty, which would slow them down and enliven the rest of the game.

The final fight was vicious, VC Cowie had spread his men out over a long line and they advanced straight to where they had heard the sound of Bruce’s men packing up, unfortunately for them Bruce heard them as well and so was prepared and in ambush mode. As with all the ambushes the victims walked right in to it.

Just to remind you.

Snapcase's men were the cream of the service all grade 5 except Snapcase who was 6.

The Team - Left to right

Specky Brown - Specialities Pointman and Demolition duty. Armed with an SLR assault rifle, bayonet, throwing knife, 2 frag’s, 2lb’s of plastic and 2 Claymore Mines.

James ‘Jimmy’ Green – Specialities RTO and Medic. Armed with SLR assault rifle, bayonet, 2 Frags, 2 Stun grenades and 2 Claymore Mines. Plus his Radio.

Mike Jones – Specialities Pigman and Medic. Armed with an M60 GPMG, 9mm Browning Automatic, fighting knife and 2 Claymore Mines.

Owen Snapcase call sign Bruce4X – Specialities Intelligence and Point. Armed with an Owen SMG, .22 pistol with suppressor, Fighting Knife, 2 Frags and 2 Claymores.

The VC were all grade 3 apart from the lead NCO who was 5 and the LMG man who was 4.

Sgt Owen Snapcase looked left and could see Brown nearest and Jonesy with the M60 in the distance, well hidden by the foliage.

Looking right he can see Green, looking alert and ready for anything.

Here follows another transcript from the game log.

Snapcase “I’m very proud of these boys, lets not get any of them shot today. Is the noise getting any closer.”

Me “Yes you hear a noise, sounds like something stood on a twig. Nothing to see yet”.

Snapcase “OK we wait patiently”

Snapcase “tell BAT21 to face the rear, just by swivelling on the spot, just to keep an eye on our rear.”

Me “OK – You think you spot something, looks human but disappears before you can be certain.”

Snapcase “Jones and Green are watching to our right and left”

Me “OK”

Me “ All along your line you see men pointing to their eyes and then in various directions, you see a chap in a boonie hat and shorts.” He’s a vague shadow in the distance”

Snapcase “Can I identify who they are?”

Me “Not clearly”

Snapcase “OK we wait for them to get closer”

Me “VC, this is the one you can see, he’s 20m away”

Snapcase “OK my plan is to open fire just before they see us, I want us to be ready with grenades at hand”

Me “I’m not sure how you will know just before they will see you”

Me “You spot another one who steps from behind a tree only 15m away”

Snapcase “OK we open fire and banjo them.”

Me “Green has already gone for his banjo because 1 of the 2 men he’s clocked went for his guitar”

Snapcase “Duelling banjos!”

Me “On your right you see Green hit, the first VC you saw you are sure you hit him but he remains standing. On your left you hear Jones open fire with the M60 LMG, followed immediately by the sound of a RPD LMG in reply”

Snapcase “Throw a grenade in the direction of the RPD”

Me “You shoot at the same chap as before and he drops, but you see leaves shredded from the bushes around your hiding place from someone you haven’t located yet.

Snapcase “Shoot back in that direction and then throw another grenade”

Me “Specky Brown shouts he has taken his targets down and will move left to cover Jonesy”

Me “You have no visible target”

Me “ the incoming fire is now coming from your 2 flanks, the centre is quiet.

Snapcase “OK, I crawl to Greens right, towards that body and shoot anything I see”

Me “The M60 has stopped firing”

Me “A grenade explodes on your left”

Me “You hear a scream, sounds like Specky”

Me “Then it goes black as I threw a 6, 6 and 5 to hit you and I’m afraid you are dead.

Snapcase “Bollocks”

Snapcase “ is that the end”

Me “I’m afraid so, what a shock, I’m gutted”

Snapcase “Great fun though”

A similar dialogue went on with VC Cowie.

For a more dispassionate re-telling of the action, read on.

At the last minute the VC NCO saw Jimmy Green in front of him but as he raised his rifle Green was faster and fired first, missing completely, the tension had taken it’s toll, the NCO fired back and Jimmy fired no more, badly wounded and out of the action.

Snapcase and Specky Brown were in the middle of the SAS line and they both hit and either wounded or killed a couple of VC’s although it took Snapcase 2 attempts before he put his man down. Over on the left of the SAS line, was Jonesy with the big M60, he fired on 2 VC but missed both. He needed 5’s or 6’s to hit and had 4 dice to do it with. Further to Jonesy’s left was the VC’s LMG and he had managed to avoid detection as he approached.

Seeing the flash from the M60 meant he had no trouble locating his target and he opened fire, also missing, he needed 6’s with 4 dice so a bit more excuse. At this point there were 3 VC firing on Jonesy and he was returning it but was obviously rattled because he couldn’t put any of them down. Eventually Snapcase heard Specky shout that he had no targets and was going left to help Jonesy, which he did just as the big man was hit and also badly wounded.

Specky threw a grenade but rolled a 2 so fumbled it and the return fire killed him outright. Snapcase was taking incoming fire and couldn’t locate the shooter, then everything went black. The VC NCO was the shooter and rolled 6, 6 and 5, three hits, killing Snapcase instantly, he would never see Australia again.

Sgt Owen Snapcase was awarded the VC, posthumously, Private Brown was awarded the DCM, posthumously, Green and Jones were also awarded the DCM, the Australian War Office are not sure if their awards are also Posthumous awards or not. Their bodies have not been recovered and there are some rumours that they are held North of the border in a POW camp, if there is the slightest hint of these rumours proving true there will be a reckoning.

According to Sgt Snapcase RIP the local Australian SAS motto is GO HARD OR GO HOME. Snapcase and Brown’s bodies were recovered and flown home, will Green and Jones be Hard or Home?