Rubbish Fire

 

Eurica seems to be a rather violent region.  Our pro-west friends in Wilhelmsland can't seem to catch a break.  Now the Rubishlandian's are getting sporty.

Approaching the North Border Road between Wilhelmsland and Rubishlandia. 

 

Hauptman Pieper, commander of B Troop, 1^st Wilhelmsland Reconnaissance Battalion was feeling every bump of his Scimitar as it sped down the ‘Old North Road’ that would bring his Troop into contact with the East Border Road. Local farmers had reported sighting Rubishlandian armored vehicles on the Border.  His Troop was supposed to be on stand down having just finished a 3-week border deployment and he had tied on the mother of drunks last night at the Officers Club and was now suffering the mother of all hangovers.

 

With the recent Border incursion by Gardenstan still having everyone on edge, the Battalion’s other Scimitar Troop had been deployed to that Border while the two Scorpion Troops still on the Eastern Border were deemed too far away for an immediate response.  As he fought to keep down what little remained in his stomach his uneasiness was added to by the terrain along the Border.  The official Border was on the western edge of the ridgeline that ran the length of the border, affording the Rubishland forces excellent elevated positions for an ambush.  Wilhelmsland had a road that paralleled the border at a distance of about 800 meters.

 

He glanced at his map, and saw they were about 5 minutes from the intersection, he’d find out soon enough what was up.  With the increased rhetoric from Rubishlandia and the recent border incident with Gardenstan there had been some discussions of mining the area between the Border and the road but no decision had been made yet.  “I really hope this mission doesn’t go to shit” he muttered to himself.

 

At least he thought to himself his rules of engagement had been made clear, unlike the cluster that Hauptman Rosen had to deal with during the Gardenstan incursion.  

Unfortunately for the young Hauptman, his command had been under observation for the last minute as it moved closer to the border road.

 

*******************

 

Following is the classified after-action report. 

 

'X' marks the spot, a redacted map showing the general location of the initial contact.

Hauptmann Pieper's Scimitar Kompanie approaches the Intersection with the East Border Road.

The actual Border runs along the hill line, with the entirety of the hills being in Rubishlandia.  The Rubishandian vehicles on the hills are assumed to be in hull down position.

A closer view of the Scimitar Kompanie, while all 5 platoons are still operational.

I may need to consider a new camera if I'm going to do a lot in this scale.  They are tiny.

 

Pieper’s thoughts were interrupted when he heard Lt. Kurtz, his first platoon leader, screaming “Sager! Sager! Sager!” over the company net.  This was followed almost immediately by explosions off to Pieper’s left where 2^nd Platoon was rounding the other side of a nearby hill.  As smoke began to rise over the hill Pieper thought he would be sick again as he shouted “Weapons Free!  Weapons Free! “Over the radio.  

View from the Rubishlandia side.  The BRDM-2AT on the right targeted the 2nd Platoon which can be seen in the distance with a smoke plume.  The BRDM2-AT on the left and the PT-76 targeted 1st platoon in the intersection of the road, and both missed.

'A Fist Full of TOWs 3' could also be called a fist full of dice.  When you roll for kills or suppression you roll a number of dice equal to the difference between the weapons penetration rating and the targets armor value.  In this case, the 4's and the 5 would have required a quality check, however, a 6 always destroys the target, so scratch one Platoon of Scimitar's.

A detached part of his mind was pleased with how his platoons sought out the sparse cover.  But he blanched when he saw first platoon under Lt. Kurtz charge headlong into the PT-76 position to his front.   Pieper was just making a report to his Command when the call of “Sager! Sager! Sager! Came over the radio net again.  This was quickly followed by explosions to his right as 3^rd Platoon was engulfed in a fireball.  

The BRDM2-AT's behind the hill in the upper left score another hit, rolling several 6's and destroy another platoon of Scimitars.  Too bad only one officer in the Company seems to have paid attention in the tactics class in officers' basic.  

Pieper frantically called for artillery or air support, having allowed his command to be pinned down, and slowly being picked off as 4^th and 5^th platoon maneuvered to ‘safe’ positions behind the hill, (thereby ensuring they were unable to engage their tormentors due to the range).  Meanwhile 1^st Platoon, maneuvered around the hill sheltering the PT-76 and opened fire on the thin side armor. Destroying the PT-76 unit.  

Since the Scimitar moved less than 1/2 its movement rate, they still were able to use their full Rate of Fire, in this case, 4 shots, 2 of which hit. (I forgot to add the penetration modifier for close range)

The Side armor on the PT76 is 1, the penetration on the 30mm of the Scimitar is 6, a difference of 5.  The Scimitar rolled 10 dice (5 for each hit).  A 4 or 5 causing a Quality Check, and any 6 resulting in the target being destroyed. In this case, the 6 does the deed.  (I seemed to roll a LOT of 6's, at least for me) 

With the loss of the PT-76 unit and a Platoon of Scorpions on their flank, the Rubishlandian forces began to withdraw.  As the BRDM2 on the far left Rubishlandian flank that had been spotting for the other vehicles began to withdraw they exposed themselves. The commander of the ambush hoped, I mean really, really, hoped that President for Life Sanford wouldn't be too upset about the loss of the PT-76 unit.  His order had been to, "Blow some vehicles up and make them scared."  Hopefully the loss of the Pt-76 unit would be over looked, or he may not still be alive when the war finally started.

Lt. Kurtz still running an adrenalin rush from his first combat attempted to engage the fleeing BRDM2, but it's speed allowed to reach the safety of the hillside before he could engage.  With a heavy heart Lt. Kurtz returned to the Wilhelmsland side of the border.

Scene at the end.  Lt. Kurtz is starting to head back to Wilhlemsland territory and the Rubishlandia attackers are retiring.

About 15 minutes later a Wilhelmsland Air Force Tornado overflew the area.  The Rubishlandian forces were long gone save for the burning wreckage of the PT-76 unit.  The remaining Scimitars of B Troop were rendering aid to their battered comrades.

Typical of the Air Force, too late to help.  

***********

A week later in Wilhelmsland a Military Tribunal would 'medically retiree' Hauptman Pieper, (court-martials look bad in the newspaper and upset the civilians at breakfast).  The same tribunal would recommend Lt. Kurtz for promotion for valor under fire.

A week later in Rubishlandia the Commander of the ambush and his immediate family were executed for disappointing President for Life Sanford.  Idi Sanford is not a forgiving man.

 

*********

 Well, that played fast.  I think I mostly got the rules right.  I just wanted a quick run through of the vehicle combat. Although it would have been nice to get to see the Quality Check in actual play.  As you would expect from a rule set titled A Fist Full of Tows, the anti-tank missiles are brutal in this game.  And as Hauptman Pieper learned, you've got to follow sound tactics.  

This incident goes beyond the minor border incursion last month by Gardenstan.  This time Wilhlemsland lives and equipment were lost.  What will they do?  What will the U.S. Regan administration let them do?  

What will Comrade General Secretary Gorbachev and the Supreme Soviet have to say about this - did they sanction it?

How much longer until I get distracted by the next 'Oooh Shinny' thing and forget all about this?

I hope everyone has a great, enjoyable, safe, summer.

So much lead, so little time