Desired scans : Rank and File supplements Harpoon 3 & 4 supplements Force on Force supplements Hind Commander At Close Quarters War and Conquest Modern Spearhead The Face Of Battle General d'Armee (TFL version) Swordpoint
Connor Butler
January the 2nd in military history:
366 – The Alemanni cross the frozen Rhine in large numbers, invading the Roman Empire. 1492 – Reconquista: the Emirate of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain, surrenders. 1777 – American Revolutionary War: American forces under the command of George Washington repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek near Trenton, New Jersey. 1863 – American Civil War: The Battle of Stones River (a.k.a. Battle of Murfreesboro) resumes in central Tennessee after a day's respite, resulting in a significant Union victory. 1865 – Uruguayan War: The Siege of Paysandú ends as Brazilian and Coloradans capture Paysandú, Uruguay. 1905 – Russo-Japanese War: The Russian garrison surrenders at Port Arthur, China. 1942 – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) convicts 33 members of a German spy ring headed by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in the largest espionage case in United States history. 1942 – World War II: Manila, Philippines is captured by Japanese forces. 1945 – World War II: Nuremberg, Germany is severely bombed by Allied forces 1963 – Vietnam War: The Viet Cong wins its first major victory, at Ap Bac. 1992 – Leaders of armed opposition declare the President Zviad Gamsakhurdia deposed during a military coup in Georgia. 1993 – Sri Lankan Civil War: The Sri Lanka Navy kill 35-100 civilians on the Jaffna Lagoon.
Wyatt Ortiz
It is 55 years since the battle of Ap Bac, the first major victory for the Viet Cong in the Vietnam War. It was fought in Định Tường Province (now part of Tiền Giang Province), South Vietnam.
A week before the battle, US intelligence had detected the presence of a radio and a sizable force of National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (NLF/Viet Cong) soldiers, reported to number around 120, in a hamlet in Dinh Tuong Province, home of the Army of the Republic of South Vietnam (ARVN) 7th Infantry Division. To destroy the NLF force, the South Vietnamese and their US advisers planned to attack from three directions by using two provincial Civil Guard battalions and elements of the 11th Infantry Regiment, ARVN 7th Infantry Division. The infantry units would be supported by artillery, M113 APCs, and helicopters.
On the morning of January 2, 1963, the South Vietnamese Civil Guards spearheaded the attack by marching toward the NLF hamlet at Ap Tan Thoi from the south. However, when they reached the hamlet of Ap Bac, which is situated southeast of Ap Tan Thoi, they were immediately pinned down by elements of the Viet Cong 261st Battalion. Shortly afterwards, three companies of the 11th Infantry Regiment were committed into battle in northern Ap Tan Thoi, but they too could not overcome the NLF soldiers who had entrenched themselves in the area. Just before midday, further reinforcements were flown in from Tan Hiep. The fifteen US helicopters ferrying the troops were riddled by NLF gunfire and five helicopters were lost as a result.
The ARVN 4th Mechanized Rifle Squadron was then deployed to rescue the South Vietnamese soldiers and US aircrews who were trapped in the southwestern end of Ap Bac, but its commander was highly reluctant about moving heavy M113 APCs across the local terrain. Ultimately, their presence made little difference as the NLF stood their ground and killed more than a dozen South Vietnamese M113 crew members in the process.
Jaxson Ramirez
Late in the afternoon, the ARVN 8th Airborne Battalion was dropped onto the battlefield and in a scene that characterized much of the day's fighting; the paratroopers were pinned down and could not break the NLF's line of defense. Under the cover of darkness the Viet Cong withdrew from the battlefield.
Shortly afterward, more than 18 hours too late, the South Vietnamese hit Ap Bac with an artillery barrage. The artillery rounds killed another five South Vietnamese soldiers and wounded 14 others.
American advisor John Paul Vann, who had made key decisions during the early phases of the battle, blamed the South Vietnamese for the debacle. "It was a miserable damn performance, just like it always is. These people won't listen. They make the same mistake over and over again in the same way". According to Moyar (2008), in blaming the South Vietnamese, Vann wanted to conceal the Americans' flawed intelligence and poor leadership. He hoped to pressure the South Vietnamese to accept future changes he favored.
South Vietnamese casualties included 83 killed in action and at least 100 wounded. The American participants, who included advisors and aircrews, counted three dead and eight wounded. Of the fifteen American helicopters sent to support the operation, only one escaped undamaged, and five were either downed or destroyed.
For the Viet Cong, the battle marked the first time they decided to stand and fight a large South Vietnamese formation, although outnumbered by more than five to one. Against overwhelming odds, the Viet Cong achieved their first major victory. They successfully stopped the well-equipped South Vietnamese army, supported by a combination of artillery and armored units as well as American airpower. Their casualties were just 18 soldiers killed and 39 wounded, despite the fact that the fighters were hit by more than 600 rounds of artillery, napalm and other ordnance released by 13 warplanes and five UH-1 gunships.
Zachary Williams
Most wargame simulations of the Vietnam War cover US vs PAVN stuff from the later 60's. But Ap Bac provides the chance for an interesting early war ARVN vs NLF/Viet Cong encounter. The VC player is seriously outnumbered and will have to make full use of their mobility and experience to survive. The ARVN player has to struggle with poor leadership, corruption and court politics while trying to pin down their elusive enemy.
For further analysis, read "A Bright Shining Lie" by Neil Sheehan, which is about John Paul Vann and looks at Ap Bac in great detail. The second episode of the recent (and excellent) Ken Burns Vietnam War documentary also spends a lot of time on the battle with some graphic primary accounts.
Looking at PSR it seems that even WW2 is a bit patchy in terms of range coverage. Although Zvezda Brits seem to be ideal for early war which could be very good fun.
Asher Campbell
>WW2 is a bit patchy in terms of range coverage
I use plastics for the bulk of riflemen and generally MGs and other support options youre better off with metal
Lincoln Sanders
I have a few of their British kits. Small in numbers, but really great figures. Wish they'd just do big kits, making an all Zvezda BEF army would be fantastic. If they would just make a second infantry box with more riflemen, that'd suffice as well.
As for late war heavy weps, HaT has a machine guns and a mortars box with every weapon you need. Lifebuoy, Vickers, some Brens, a 3" mortar, a 2" mortar, a PIAT, even a Boys rifle. Somewhat different in style, but since they wouldn't be closely mixed, I'd say they are fine.
Also, HaT will do some BEF in the future as well, you can see the greens on their site under WW2.
And an unrelated note: thanks, whoever still seeding that Squadron/Signal torrent on Piratebay, may your soul be blessed.
