"Cuba '88: Operation Fearless Eagle kicks off" Topic

mccdevcom.blogspot.com

Check it out if you have time. I'm having trouble with a couple of concepts for the background.

If anyone can suggest a realistic designation for a long range recon team from a Battalion Landing Teams's Recon platoon it would be appreciated. I've gone with "Recon 2-1" off the top of my head, which is meaningless.

Also "VDV Airborne" are made up of "Guards Airborne Divisions"? Same thing or are they different outfits?

Thank you.

Very pretty game!

For your recon team designation, what was the call sign for Clint Eastwood's Recon Marines in 'Heartbreak Ridge'?

Guards are not VDV. Same job, different commanders.

Got a pdf of Army FM100-2-3?

Great AAR ! Nice job on the figures and terrain !

I would second Lion's suggestion but that's Hollywood.

I went through the Battalion level Recon training in the Marines in 1974 but was never with a unit so I forget how it was designated.

Basically, Battalion level Recon (scouts) operated just past the FEBA in direct support of Rifle Companies. They also supply a lot of the Scout Snipers and FO support to Grunt units.

Force Recon supports the Division and is normally operating past the FEBA many times behind enemy lines. They mainly snoop and poop attempting not to engage the enemy and gather real-time info. However, they may spring ambushes or raid enemy HQ and depots. Their training and responsibilities overlap so you could use either in any capacity. Many times it was up to the unit they were attached to as to what they'd do.

The reason I'm mentioning this is that if the recon team in your game is operating by themselves they'd most likely be Force Recon. My recruiter was Force Recon and parachuted into Cuba and was extracted by a sub during the missile crisis (so he claimed).

If there is a Marine infantry unit nearby they more likely would be Battalion level Recon. During VN Force Recon teams normally had a call sign assigned that could be anything. Battalion level teams would most likely do the same. Using a term like "2-1" would be confused with 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment unit. However, you could use "Recon 2-1" for the team assigned to that battalion.

However, if I was a recon team leader I would not want a call sign designating the type of unit or the unit I'm operating with. Something like "Team Ripper" would be fine. A radio call sign of Ripper would work. "Ripper Actual" would identify the team leader.

If operating in Cuba it would most likely be the 8th Marine Regiment (my old unit) as they normally operated in that area. That was 8th Marines with Eastwood in that movie.

If you need more detailed info I could check with my son who was in SigInt and worked with all of them.

Nice setup,

Wolfhag

What figures are you using for the Cubans? I know Liberation has or had some but the site doesn't look active and the ordering process is straight out of the 80's.

Good intel Wolf !

Wow ask and you shall receive. Thanks for all your posts.

Lion in the Stars – Thank you. I didn't have that manual but really should have! Thank you, exactly what I need to flesh out my Soviets a bit more.

Legion 4 – Thanks! Trouble is I'm slow with this stuff so part 2 (involving a lot of infantry and some helicopters) might take a while..

Wolfhag – Thanks to you and Jack's (on the blog) informative and knowledgeable posts. This is what TMP is amazing for, getting primary information from the guys like you and Legion 4 and others that really lived it. Really grateful to you guys.

So from your information my Recon guys would be attached from Force Recon, a team from the Deep Reconnaissance Platoon. Since they're probably out of Hawaii I'm going with "Team Kahuna" I think..

Dennis 0302 – At some point I want Cubans. This operation involves an MRBM site under exclusive Soviet control so we won't be seeing any in Operation Fearless Eagle. As I play out more ops in the Cuba '88 invasion setting I will include Cubans. I would probably get Elhiem Soviets, sculpt out jack boots and sculpt in chicom chest rigs. Then I would give them a basic green scheme.

I'm not aiming for a hardcore background organisation of perfect realism but your posts definately help make some things more plausible and that will make the games more fun. So thanks again all.

Look forward to Part 2 ! And Thank you Uparmored !

(involving a lot of infantry and some helicopters)

Sounds like an average day when I was an LT in the 101 !

Uparmored,
I'm glad to help. Jack is really the go-to guy for Marine Corps stuff. His experience is more recent, mine is all from the last millennium. Legion is the Mech Head.

I grew up in south Florida and could ride my bike to the Everglades and go hunting. In the late 1960's we used to run into Cubans from Alpha 66 (the remnants of Brigade 2506 that invaded the Bay of Pigs) test firing their weapons at the rock pit we used to shoot at before going on a raid. It was just off the Tamiami Trail and Krome Ave. They were pretty cool guys and hated Castro. Sometimes they'd let us fire their weapons. The highlight was tossing a few frags into the water.

Wolfhag

Legion is the Mech Head.

Very true … But I was an Airborne Air Assault guy first … then 3 Mech Bns after that !

Ok, Legion, have it your way:

Air Head

Wolfhag

haha, sh it. cool stuff guys

Uparmored

I think I missed it but what rules are you using? I have been out of gaming for a few decades so I am always curious what rules guys use now. Minis look like 15 mm? Thank you. Great AAR.

Ok, Legion, have it your way:
Air Head

Indeed …

Stephen M, thanks but I really need to improve my photography skills!.

I'm using No End in Sight rules.

Figures are 20mm Elhiem PASGT line and "Soviets in Camo Suits" with a lot of modifications (headswaps, filed down body armor, added equipment), especially on the Marine recon team

I conducted some training exercises for the invasion of Cuba on the weekend. I needed to calibrate the No End in Sight rules before I finally take that express elevator to hell, going down and vertically envelop the enemy. I also need a shitload more miniatures and scenery..

So the first platoon of Golf Company (Heliborne) of 2/6 Marines , part of the II MEF were put through their paces:

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Great idea, background and boards! I just got back from Havana last week so was figuring out how to have some Cubans see action. I was thinking Grenada but this story might fit the bill.
Thanks

Joe

Nice boards!

Thanks, yeah I'm building a Cuban infantry platoon. My buddy made a Russian force and came interstate and I set the game up for him. I wasn't really ready.

We only got through 3 complete turns (scores of phases) but didn't finish the game. So I decided it was a training exercise.

It was a good way to test out the No End in Sight rules in a pitched battle.

We found the basic engine is great but a lot of stuff around the edges needs heavy rewriting and clarification.

It really "felt" right and we had some really fun firefights.

The table turned out better than I thought it would. The sand was cool but cleanup was a PITA so I'm going to redo all my scenery in solid materials. Probably resin and a mix of plastic injection kits. More like a ready to play playset.

My buddy's pics are way better than mine:

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Someone better take those damned BTRs out !!!!

Yeah man, with those exposed wheels you'd think someone could get some effective fire on em. One LAW hit and they're toast as well. My opponent learnt the hard way when he stood and fought and lost a BMD-2 to a 40mm grenade hit (!), from then on he kept me suppressed with accurate PKM fire as well as off table artillery support and used his BTR and BMP in shoot and scoot tactics, never staying in one place long. I couldn't take those suckers out all game!