Battlefield Boundaries
South – 10 metres south of track south of pine forest, must not be visible from road

West – Track used for the Kokoda trail mission

North – Creek

East – Bottom of pine forest and any major clearing being the University Land

101^st Airborne Briefing

Background

The location is the jungles of Vietnam about one mile east of the Laotian border. The date is May 1969. It is just after a major battle which resulted in hill 937 once again falling into American hands. The battle was fought by the troops from the 101st Airborne with hard determination and a bloody spirit to match. Hill 937 is also known by various other names including Ap Bia Mountain or Hamburger Hill. We christened it Hamburger Hill after the way it chopped our soldiers to pieces during our attack on it.

Fortunately enough we were victorious in our mission and some of us walked away from the decay. Unfortunately those of us remaining were sent on another mission which proved to be as if not more brutal than Hill 937.

A squadron of troops from the 101st Airborne have been sent into a large 45km long valley known as Ashau Valley. Its location is in the south western Thua Thien province along the Laotian border. According to intel. somewhere in the valley is Base 611 which is a terminus for the Ho Chi Minh trail. The mission is to use a selected squadron of the 101st best men and send them on a search and destroy mission for the base 611. According to sources the base is concealed near a bridge built for the VC as a distraction for the Americans.

Upon detection of Base 611, the selected force is then ordered to fire upon the base and destroy as many VC as possible as well as sweeping for any signs of information which could be of use. This mission will be extremely dangerous, as the troops will be entering a previously uncharted area. We do not have any intel. As to the size of the force, they will meet but we are sure it will be relatively small.

Based on Radio latest radio transmitted orders, the exact mission for the 101^st airborne and starting location will be determined once deployment begins.    The referee in secret makes Mission option determination and start point  

Mission Option A - Recon

Given the reports of large numbers of NVA activity in the area from elements of the 3^rd Marine Force Recon, you mission has changed to a stealth operation.   You mission objectives are:

• Locate Base 611 (Identify the flag flown in base – worth 100 points

• Avoid enemy detection – worth 50 points

• Find concealed and undetected fire position to base 611 – worth 50 points

Loose 10 points for every soldier of the unit lost.   No Replacements are available with this option. 

Mission Option B - Assault

Option B is:

• Capture the base and any enemy (200 points for controlling base represented by flag).
• Destroy NVA units (if all are killed add 200 points)
• Failing a & b, 25 points can be earned by determining exact location of enemy flag for the use of the USAAF

Add 5 points for each surviving soldier or unused replacement.

2 sets of replacements are available after 10 minutes of being called in by either Corporal.   Up to 6 replacements on each call (one UH-1H has a lift capacity for 6 fully loaded soldiers) must be taken immediately that are available, as chopper will not remain on the ground.

Mission Option C – Capture Plans

Option C is:

• Retrieve bobby trapped box containing plans from Base 611 – 150 points

• Control Base 611 at end of mission add 100 points

1 set of replacements (6) is available after 10 minutes of being called in by either Corporal.

Asset Allocation

2 Fire Teams consisting off

•  2 x Corporals – each leading a fire team M16A1

• 2 x Privates with M16A1 with Grenade Launcher (SMG)

• 1 x Private with M60 (SmartGun configured as a LMG)

• 3 x  Private withM16A1

Hit Points 3 

Possible Start Points – Randomly determined

• Eastern extreme of pine forest.
• Old Australian base for the Kokoda trail mission
• On track south of pine forest

North Vietnamese Army

The Ashau valley is a vital line of supply into the South Vietnam.    You have concealed trails and bases throughout the valley providing many supply routes through.   Unfortunately, if the Americans detect any base or bridge etc, then they will schedule a devastating bombing raid.    The good news is that the American’s cannot detect movements and bases from the air however; teams of American Special Forces frequently drop in by chopper, provide intelligence, and even perform sabotage.

Your unit of the NVA frequently patrols the valley to detect and eliminate the American recon forces.    Your current orders are to stop the American’s finding the vital Base 611 and failing that destroy any Americans in the area to prevent them reporting the information back to their commanders.

Fortunately, you can call upon considerable reserves if contact is made with the enemy.

Your initial forces consist of 7 NVA regulars armed as follows

•  1 x Dragunov Sniper Rifle (Spartan Morita)

•  1 x AKSU-74 (SMG) – Force Leader

•  1 x 7.62mm RPK (Smart Morita) – SFMG – 99 rounds per clip (HMG Config 6)

•  3 x AK47 - (Pro) Assault Rifle

•  1 x 9mm Makarov (Predator) - Pistol    

The NVA always start with 4 hit points.

5 minutes after first contact, 7 more NVA replacements are available

15 minutes after first contact, 7 more NVA replacements are available

Replacements can be taken at any time after being made available.

Hit Points 3 per soldier.

NVA Leader places flag in a clearing anywhere in the designated battlefield.

•  Prevent Airborne or Pro-American Laos forces identifying the flag    250 points
•  Detect Enemy 50 points

• Control Base 611 at end of mission - 250 points
• Prevent identification of flag by Airborne or Pro-American Laos forces - 50 points

• Keep the Box in the NVA base until end of Mission 200 points
• Control the Base at the end of the mission add 100 points

LAOS FORCES

Because the operation is so close to the Loas border interference either by pro-Communist or pro-American forces from Laos is included in this mission.   There is a 50% chance of either.

No replacements are available to the Laos forces and Laos’s forces start 5 minutes after started mission start.    Only the Laos leader is allowed to communicate verbally with the Americans due to language problems.

Laos forces can lie about their allegiance

Pro-American Laos objectives:

1. Link up with American forces 50 points

2. Report on position of Base 611 100 points

3. Destroy all NVA 200 points

Pro-Communist objectives

• Detect and report present of American forces to the NVA 50 points

• Prevent Base 611 falling into American hands 100 points

• Destroy all Americans 200 points

Hit points is 3 for each soldier

Armament consists of

• 1 x M60 (LMG)

• 1 x M16A1 – Captured M16 with Grenade Launcher

• 5 x Colt 1911A1.– (Long Range Pistols)

Start Point is the trail leading from the Armoury.