All,
It's 1400 on 1 Feb 1990, and the CLA's 1st Airborne Battalion, which dropped into Cuba early this morning, is hard pressed. Having fought two battles already (#3 to seize a bridge, and #11 to fight off a counterattack) it finds itself occupied by the enemy's 3rd Infantry Battalion, which is now surging forces south to outflank the paratroopers' lines. Captain Olejandro, acting Battalion Commander for 1st Airborne Battalion (Colonel Lucastro, decorated for valor during the bridge seizure, was seriously wounded in close combat during the enemy counterattack) puts out a call for help.
Having come ashore at Playa Colorada only minutes prior, Colonel Estevante of the 4th Infantry Battalion, responds. He immediately provides a Warning Order to Captain Bronchovio, Commanding Officer of the 1st Air Assault Company: stand by to conduct a helo insertion into a hot LZ to counter enemy mechanized forces skirting 1st Airborne Battalion's southern flank. Captain Bronchovio quickly briefs his men, who gather their equipment, break into their sticks, and mount their flying taxis…
So far we've had:
1) B Squadron SOF destroyed a radar site in support of amphibious landings at Playa Colorada (5). B Sqdn then egressed and linked up with CLA rotary wing assets for their follow-on mission in Havana (6).
2) C Squadron SOF destroyed a the Cuban military's communications center.
3) 1st Para Battalion dropped in and seized a bridge to screen the landings at Playa Colorada (5).
4) 2nd Para battalion dropped in and eliminated a Castro-regime garrison to screen the landings at the Bay of Pigs (just west of (4).
5) 1st Marine Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion, made an amphibious assault at Playa Colorada.
6) A Squadron SOF attacked a Castro-regime SAM site near Havana, which failed to clear the way for B Squadron's helo assault into Havana.
7) 2nd Marine Company, 6th Infantry Battalion, landed at the Bay of Pigs then turned east and ran into a strong enemy force, which it handily defeated.
8) B Company of the UWG pursued and destroyed an enemy garrison in the Escambray Mountains.
9) B Squadron SOF conducted an aerial insertion into Havana to seize a radio station and broadcast news of the invasion.
10) 10th Popular Force Battalion seized and destroyed the Pedroso bridge to protect the Bay of Pigs landing site from the Matanzas garrison.
11) 1st Airborne Infantry Battalion successfully fought off a regime counterattack near the bridge at Sandino, protecting the western (Playa Colorada) landing site from the Pinar del Rio garrison.
12) 6th Infantry Battalion fought through an enemy ambush while pushing inland from the Bay of Pigs landing site.
13) 8th Popular Force Battalion ambushed a mechanized column of the enemy 2nd Armored Battalion, just west of Havana.
14) 2nd Airborne Battalion engaged enemy armored forces of the 6th Armored Battalion in the village of El Rincon, en route to the Bay of Pigs landing site.
15) 4th Infantry Battalion's 1st Air Assault Company conducts an air assault southeast of Sandino to counter enemy mechanized forces of 3rd Infantry Battalion (forcing 1st Airborne Battalion's right flank).
The opposing forces, with regime troops on the left and CLA troops on the right. The CLA are made up of US troops from Pendraken's Vietnam range, while the Castro forces are made up of Argentinians from Pendraken's Falklands range. The BTRs are from Minifigs, while the Panhard is also from Pendraken's Falklands range.
The CLA force, with a Command Stand, seven rifle stands, a TOW ATGM, and a single leader figure representing the battalion commander. The regime force has a Command Stand, six rifle stands, a Panhard armored car (with 90mm main gun), and two BTR-60s (each with 14.5mm HMG).
Overview of map, north is up. At top left (northwest) are the far right elements of 1st Airborne Battalion. They are 'for show' only, they will not be active during this fight, they simply show 1st Airborne Bn's right flank. At top right (northeast) are mechanized elements of the Castro-regime's 3rd Infantry Battalion, on a side road trying to exit the board at bottom left in order to get into 1st Airborne Bn's rear area. 1st Air Assault Company's Landing Zone (LZ) is at bottom right, southeast of the sprawling village of Babiney.
Two CH-47s of 1st Air Assault Company swoop in and flare preparing to touch down in a hot LZ…
To see another crazy fight, please check the blog at:
link
Three more to write up and post.
V/R,
Jack
