nnascati  | 27 Nov 2015 10:13 a.m. PST |
All,
Both of the above are periods which I know a bit about, and have a along standing interest in. I have become a big fan of the Songs of… game system and have Flying Lead on order. That being said, which of the above conflicts do you think offer the greater potential for squad versus squad level actions? My inclination is to say Rhodesia, as most of the the Indochina War seems to have been large actions. Either choice would be gamed in 28mm.
Nick |
| Weasel | 27 Nov 2015 11:01 a.m. PST |
Both have plenty of patrol actions and whatnot.
Indochina is going to be better documented though. |
| darthfozzywig | 27 Nov 2015 11:20 a.m. PST |
I thought you were going for a showdown between those two. :) |
| Andoreth | 27 Nov 2015 11:33 a.m. PST |
As Weasel says there are plenty of patrols, convoy escort, long range recon and insurgent infiltration missions in each theatre. However I disagree about the amount of information available, in my experience there is a great deal of information available on Rhodesia and it has the benefit of being in English, while much of the information on small scale actions in Indochina tends to be in French. |
| Goonfighter | 27 Nov 2015 12:00 p.m. PST |
Another vote for skirmishes in the Rhodesia-Indochina War. I'd go Rhodesia personally as it also leads into Wild Geese style games…. |
| Royston Papworth | 27 Nov 2015 12:30 p.m. PST |
Ok, my thoughts are that Indochina will be more 'gameable' The kill ratios for the Rhodesians at 10 to 1 seem to make it too one sided for an enjoyable game, while for Indochina, you always have Dien Bien Phu to fall back on… That said, I am part way through painting a load of Eureka's rather wonderful Rhodesians, so what do my opinions count for! :) But, if you like these sort of periods, be a man amongst men… |
| nnascati | 27 Nov 2015 12:36 p.m. PST |
Bindon, You raise a good point about gameability. I try though to look at post WWII games in an imagination sort of sense. Of course if I do Indochina, I can also use the French for Algeria. |
| ITALWARS | 27 Nov 2015 1:19 p.m. PST |
both periods very romantic…Rhodesia a last side show of the Coldwar and Indochina a retro colonial army alone Vs a tide …"non…je ne regrette rien..rien de rien" |
| hocklermp5 | 27 Nov 2015 1:24 p.m. PST |
Talking about French for Algeria I just watched a French movie titled "Intimate Enemies" on Amazon set in Algeria in 1959. A patrol outpost in the mountains of the "Forbidden Zone" where a mixed French/Algerian platoon has the job of hunting down a FLN leader who was a former French Algerian soldier. Very well done on all levels. Not light entertainment by any means. Spectacular scenery and action so realistic every time they had a firefight I found myself flinching from the incoming. A lot of scenarios to choose from. |
| Just Jack | 27 Nov 2015 1:37 p.m. PST |
I'm with Bindon on game-ability too, Rhodesia seems like some guys that were really good at what they do against some guys that really weren't. I'd certainly give the French an edge, but I think the Vietminh enjoyed a well-deserved reputation as tough soldiers. And regarding Indochina being larger actions, I'd say larger actions are nothing but a bunch of squad-sized actions ;) V/R,
Jack |
| Cattle Dog | 27 Nov 2015 6:37 p.m. PST |
Long Tan Company sized D Coy 6RAR vs elm of 275 Regt, elm NVA Bn elm of D445 Bn. Fire Support Base Coral and Balmoral 1 RAR, 3RAR, elm 1ATF vs 7Div NVA plus elm VC. These two come to mind there are others well reported, visit the Australian War Memorial web site. Regards Allan |
| nnascati | 27 Nov 2015 6:45 p.m. PST |
Allan,
Thanks, but I'm talking about the French war. |
 PaulCollins | 27 Nov 2015 8:18 p.m. PST |
Gotta like those Red Star French and Vietnam Minh figures. For me, I think that would play a big role in the decision. |
| darthfozzywig | 28 Nov 2015 1:58 p.m. PST |
Talking about French for Algeria I just watched a French movie titled "Intimate Enemies" on Amazon set in Algeria in 1959. I saw that one, too. It was pretty good. |
| Tgunner | 28 Nov 2015 6:15 p.m. PST |
And regarding Indochina being larger actions, I'd say larger actions are nothing but a bunch of squad-sized actions I would point out that Indo-China was a much larger war too. The French routinely deployed battalion + forces that engaged regimental VM forces. But there was a lot of room for small actions though. Rhodesia was quite small. Did the RSF even have full brigades? Most of the actions I've read about were company or so level at the largest. |
| nnascati | 28 Nov 2015 7:32 p.m. PST |
What I really need, is a source of small actions in the Indochina War. In English. |
| Cattle Dog | 28 Nov 2015 7:58 p.m. PST |
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| PeloBourbon | 29 Nov 2015 12:40 a.m. PST |
Hi everybody, Not a documentary source but maybe good for inspiration the following movie
La 317 eme Section (Squad 317) There's probably an english version.
YouTube link Cheers Alberto |
| ITALWARS | 29 Nov 2015 6:03 a.m. PST |
company size or platoon size possibility of game…in 28mm..it's the smoothest solution |
| Blutarski | 30 Nov 2015 6:58 a.m. PST |
Re small unit actions in French Indochina, read "Street without Joy" by Bernard Fall, then his follow-up work, "Hell in a very small Place", which is an account of Dien Bien Phu. Lots of small unit actions to be had in this war, just as with the US experience in Vietnam. B |
| Royston Papworth | 30 Nov 2015 11:54 a.m. PST |
I think if you have a platoon worth of Rhodesians, you have enough. That said, you'll probably want a platoon of RAR and RLI and Police and…again, you get the idea… I confess, I am intrigued about the possible conventional invasion that could have happened, if the situation hadn't been resolved politically. The Rhodesians think they would have won that easily too and they were probably right, but the idea of ZIPRA (I think, I always get ZIPRA and ZANLA mixed up…) invading from Zambia with T34s and BTR152s could be more fun! But, then it wouldn't be Rhodesia, would it? |
takes inspiration from Doctor Who.
