Art
Some pencil sketches of my grandson Kato done off photos a few years back.
He's doing fine so far in the States. Losing his baby fat from a recent photo taken while getting a haircut.
Vietnam War solo scenario
Further development of my next solo game saw me drag out my 15mm Vietnam War collection earlier today. Well, most of it - figures, vehicles, terrain, buildings. All for one item - this Buddhist statuette I found by accident at Pet Barn in their fish section last week. Removed the hose at the back, and voila!
It will form the centrepiece for this new scenario. As for the temple complex? Well, that may or may not happen depending upon further research and my very dubious hobby crafting skills. It will be challenging, but that's something I need right now to shake me from my mental lethargy and depression.
I could go all out and devise something a bit more substantial and complex such as the plan view shown below (while keeping the ornamentation bare-basic simple):
Or I could go even more "rustic" and simply have the item as a lost statue from a forgotten time. Maybe it's even a cursed statue (unlikely). Any number of likely possibilities abound with this scenario and, in particular, the use and placement of the centrepiece.
As for the area map, I've come up with something simple. The main objective (in Red) is the main district town - Vuon Nuoc Hoa. It's English translation lends it to the name of this clearing operation - Operation Perfume Gardens.
Backstory: Used to do morning runs not from our home barracks in Singapore through a particular "fragrant" leafy area that we affectionately called Perfume Gardens. Reminiscent of the Anchorman scene with the eau de cologne, Sex Panther by Odion. Smelt like Bigfoot's Dick all right. Certainly woke you up.
An Overview Briefing by General Headquarters
...The strong Special forces team will be dropped off just east of the hamlet of Lang Phia Bac and set up ambushes covering the roads therein as part of their mission. At the same time they will report on all enemy movement in and out of their area of operations by conducting several scouting patrol due east of Vuon Nuoc Hoa.
An air cav deployment will deploy while the main operation is happening and centre itself on the small hamlet of Ap Xa Phia Bach with the aim of cutting all escape routes north by road or water. They will have the support of a river force consisting of a single Tango boat transporting a platoon of infantry plus heavy weapons and engineers escorted by a Monitor. Once the ground troops are deploy, the helos will provide air support for the remainder of the operation.
The main clearing force will make for Vuon Nuoc Hoa approaching from the south by air, river and land. In support will be a troop of M60 Bulldog tanks and APCs (reserve).
Operations HQ (on the ground) will be quartered at Lang Dong Nam once it is taken and cleared by A company ANZAC battalion with C company in APCs in support. Artillery and air support will be provided for the taking of Lang Dong Nam which will be Stage 1 of the offensive.
Stage 2 will be the taking of Vuon Nuoc Hoa. For this a second riverine force consisting of D company ANZAC mounted in Tango boats supported by Monitors will capture the docks with part of the company moving on to capture the district village to the west, Lang Huen Tay Bac.
The main clearing operation will be conducted by D company ANZAC battalion with the 2/54 South Vietnamese "Tiger" battalion. D company will land by river and secure the northern road exit. The 2nd battalion of the 54th will drive in from Lang Dong Nam and move through Ap Mo and approach Vuon Nuoc Hoa from the south. D company 2/54 will demount and swing south and secure the river crossing from Ap Suoi Trang. Air and tank support will be given but the timeframe will be brief however as that support will then switch to the main clearing operations to be conducted by the remaining three infantry companies of 2/54th. Their goal will be toward the Golden Temple complex situated on the northern outskirts of the town. A and B companies move east of the northern road through town with C company in reserve. D company, once achieving their task, will move up the northern road and clear the western side of town up to the templex complex.
Overhead, a flight of gun helos will provide air cover coordinated by an Early Bird helo who can call on a flight of F4 Phantoms should things really heat up and local forces provide resistance.
The surrounding terrain is relatively flat and open with an abundance of wet rice paddy fields. Small stands of trees dot the landscape. Further north the terrain climbs into the surrounding foothills. The rivers are slow and often shallow in many parts facilitating crossings without too much trouble or reliance on the road bridges which are of good construction. The single main road runs from south-east to north-west and junctures with a newer road that connects from the north-east. Running south from Lang Huyen Tay Bac is an old colonial post road that is usable but in various stages of neglect. All other roads are merely dirt and gravel roads cleared, usable, but should be treated with some degree of care and caution.
A large triangular-shaped forest exists due east from the objective and encompasses a fairly large area. We suspect this may be the base for the VC and NVA operating within this area but we need further confirmation this is so. Hence the Special forces team's presence. They will scout the area carefully to verify our suspicions. Nevertheless the area is quite dense underfoot and sparsely populated. The hamlet of Ap Song is known to us but intel on the place requires updating.
Anti-vehicle mines are expected. Anti-personnel mines (the trip variety) are expected also so exercise caution when entered such areas. Engineers will accompany the companies.
The local population are neutral, so Intel reminds us. But it's apparent they are also "quietly" hostile toward our aims of pacification and integration into the policies of the legimate South Vietnamese government. The authorities therefore are having a difficult time trying to win them over. Hearts and minds, gentlemen. We must be mindful that this operation is for their own benefit and must be pressed with utmost force if necessary. Are there any questions?....
End of briefing...
The main problem now concern the rules for use. CDS is okay but there are elements I'm not happy with such as the Big Guy concept. It does lend itself to solo play and someone did a solo version shortly after the release. Having played a few solo games however I am not a real fan of CDS. It needs tweaking to suit my play style. So this scenario will help identify those sore points and offer clues on how to modify it more to my tastes. Cheers.