Wargaming in the North Isles: Battle of Ap Bac

A scenario for the Battle of Ap Bac, adapting it for the Cold War Commander rule set with a few tweaks of my own.

This is essentially four battalions v two companies played purely to the rules would produce a very one sided game, so i have introduced a few event triggers/rules that will slow the ARVN down and try and simulate the US advisers trying to push the ARVN into combat and the ARVN commanders trying to ensure they take few casualties.

Some events like the airlift and para drop happen in a similar way as the engagement.

The two Civil Guard battalions can only move once per turn to simulate their slow movement during the battle.

Background

In November 1962, the National Liberation Front's Military Region 2 ordered the Viet Cong 261st Battalion and the 514th Battalion, the home battalion of Dinh Tuong Province, to destroy the strategic hamlets in their region and at the same time to attack South Vietnamese sweeping operations.

Between 28–30 December 1962, an American aircraft equipped with eavesdropping equipment located a Viet Cong radio transmitter. It intercepted radio signals in the hamlet of Ap Tan Thoi in Dinh Tuong Province where the ARVN 7th Infantry Division was headquartered.

The radio intercept and other information obtained by Jim Drummond, Vann's intelligence officer, indicated that the Viet Cong were using Ap Tan Thoi as a headquarters location.

Furthermore, South Vietnamese and American intelligence personnel believed the Viet Cong had deployed a reinforced company of about 120 men to protect the transmitter.

Certain that the Viet Cong unit was no larger than the reported number, the ARVN 7th Infantry Division was instructed to attack Ap Tan Thoi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ap_Bac

ARVN Command Units

Colonel Bùi Đình Đạm - CO (CV 8) - Colonel Dam is in overall command of the operation.

Dinh Tuong Provincial Chief Major Lam Quang Tho - HQ (CV 7) In command of the two Civil Guard Battalions designated as Task Force A & B

Captain Ly Tong Ba - in command of the 4th Mechanised Rile Squadron. Ba will only take orders from Colonel Dam/Major Tho or act on his own initiative.

US Advisor's

Lieutenant Colonel John Paul Vann - LTC Vann flies above the battlefield in an L-19, he cannot directly command ARVN units so i have given him the abilities of an FAC/Recce unit CV 7

Sergeant Arnold Bowers - with the Airlift company acts as an FAC/FAO CV 7

Units

2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry - 3 companies Set up on the North (short edge) of the board
3x Companies
3x Infantry (Regulars)
1x 81mm Mortar
1x 57mm RR

Civil Guard Task Force A - Enter using mobile deployment on the south (short edge)
3x Companies
3x Infantry (Militia)
1x HMG

Task Force A can only move once per turn.

Civil Guard Task Force B - Also using mobile deployment on the south (short edge) and west of Cong Ba Ky canal.
3x Companies
3x Infantry (Militia)
1x HMG

Task Force B will only move once per turn and will not move closer than 20cm to a known enemy location.

1st company 1/11th - see below for deployment.
4th Mechanised Rifle Platoon - see below for deployment
8th Airborne Battalion - see below for deployment

Air:
2x UH-1 Gunships escorting airlift can both make two attack runs (Red & Blue Teams)
5x CH-21 carrying 1 company 1/11th Infantry (Call-sign: Mardigras)
1x attack run per turn, may be called in once each turn roll 1d6:-

1 - 3 = Skyraider
4 - 5 = T28 Trojan
6 = A-26 Invader

Artillery: (off-table)
1x Battery 105mm
1x Battery 107mm Mortar

These Units arrive on noted game turns

1st Company 1/ 11th Infantry (Air Assault into LZ1):
3x Infantry (ARVN Regulars)
1x HMG
1x RR

This happens the turn after the 11th Infantry make contact with the VC.

American aircrews had a tendency to disregard the instructions of advisors, especially Vann, who was regarded as domineering. This will result in an automatic command blunder for the air assault and deviation direction for the assault will always be directly toward Ap Bac.

One CH-21 is always disabled, its position marked on the table at the deviation mark and Sergeant Arnold Bowers (FAO/FAC) is placed next to it, he cannot act until the next turn.

The remaining CH-21s can attempt to rescue the downed aircrew, this is achieved by making a successful air assault, Sergeant Bowers is also removed from play.

4th Mechanised Rifle Squadron - special deployment rules* - south (short edge) and west of the Cong Ba Ky canal. Move north along the canal until opposite Ap Bac then attack from the west. It takes 1 turn to cross the canal, must perform and engineering option in initiative phase.

3x M113

3x Infantry (Regular)
1x M125
1x M113 + RR

1x M132

The M132 flame-thrower only works on a 1 or 2 (d6), at Ap Bac, due to improper fuelling, it failed to work at all.

*After the Airlift has landed LTC Vann must make a successful CV -1 roll to get General Cao to order Captain Ba to advance. Their initial job is to recover the downed air crew.

8th Airborne Battalion (Timed Arrival) - The last roll of the Dice!

1x HQ

4x Companies

3x Infantry (Regulars)

*Starting Turn 8, each turn LTC Vann must make a successful CV -1 roll to get General Cao to order the 8th Airborne to land at LZ2.

Roll d6: 1-3 aim point LZ1 otherwise LZ2.

Roll 5 dice for deviation direction is always towards Ap Bac.

VC Command Unit

Colonel Hai Haong - CO (CV 9)

Units

1st Company 514th Provincial Battalion

3x Infantry (Regulars)

1x HMG

1x Mortar (60mm - 2/80)

1st Company 261st Regional Battalion

3x Infantry (Veterans - 4/30*)

1x HMG

1x Mortar (60mm - 2/80)

Local Guerrillas -

2x Infantry (Regional Guerrillas)

Snipers

3x Sniper Teams

All units count as in full cover while in position by the dykes/canals.
VC units never Fall Back.

A very rough map, the lines are canals,just need to make them now..