Cut Off - Free Scenario and AAR

CUT OFF

As part of completing Despatches II, we had a raft of articles that just didn't quite make the final book, due to us reaching the maximum page numbers way earlier than we expected. When you write any book as a team there are always favourite articles that get left behind. Articles that while great just don’t make the cut because we reach the maximum page count way before we wanted too. This of course has led us to believe we will create Despatches III.

However as this is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2015 we couldn’t wait that long to show you, our loyal readers, some of the cool things we wrote so we have decided to release a new scenario every month. These scenarios will be PDF only of course but we hope it will give you something to look forward to, while waiting (patiently!) for the next Despatches.

 The first of these scenarios is Cut Off. The original ideas was Chris’s but as with everything Sangin, it did a round robin to fill it out and shape it into the great scenario it is now. Nothing in Sangin is a one-man operation but this scenario was definitely one of Chris’s favourites and it fair to say he politicked hard for it to be the first scenario.

 Each scenario when released will have an AAR played to go with its release, as we know everybody enjoys them and to show you how our games go.

(NOTE) In this and all of our scenarios to date, we do not write "balanced" scenarios in the traditional wargamer sense. Our scenarios tend not to be a X hundred points vs X hundred points battles, because in reality forces are never balanced. Instead they are designed to be a challenge for both players. This month's scenario is no exception, it is a tough game for both players, there are no easy wins here!

Forces
Colin took the Insurgent forces (All Sangin figures) and fielded some beautifully painted figures by our good friend Ray who has been one of our chief play testers in SD 1 and 2.

I really wish I could paint that well!

Chris took the role of ISAF using our Australian figures that he had painted himself, again a terrific paint job, so much eye candy in this game. We will have a closer look at those figures next week.

As you can see from the board we set up pretty much as described in the scenario but using the terrain we had. The Taliban started on table and hidden, so they had all the advantages to start with, but they had neither numbers or skills in this game so would need every advantage to swing this one.

Hiding in the corner fields and on top of buildings the Taliban made best use of their home ground knowledge to select the best cover.

This was a Taliban ambush so they decided to make the most of it. They were bunkered down and waiting, knowing through the village grapevine that the enemy was approaching.

So the first Australian entered the board, scouting the route out, walking carefully looking for the Terries. He didn't spot any, but they did spot him and one lone gunman opened fire, springing the trap too early.

(Below)  The Australian responded with a 40mm grenade which while missing his target on the roof, caught a Taliban hiding in the cornfield that he didn't even know existed. Injuring him slightly and really shaking him up.

(Below) The shooter who sprung the Ambush early I am sure if he survives there will be strong words from his playmates.

(Above)  The next Aussie seeing how effective grenades were, even when they miss, decides to throw his own. While on the right flank other members of the team begin to make there way through the fields.

(Below) The Australians used a three prong attack, probing the ambush to try and find its weak point.

(Below) With the sound of gun fire, the patrol firing and manoeuvring, although so far on the right flank they had not spotted the insurgents.

(Below) The Bushmaster ( A great model from our friends at Company B) drives on the board and realises all is not well with what they thought was a standard pick up operation.

(Below) The HMG sings out and manages to kill a Taliban but unbeknownst to the vehicle team they are being hunted by an insurgent with an RPG. Meanwhile the left prong of the Australians  are still lobbing grenades at the insurgents trying to force them out of the building.

Which a whoosh of rocket engine the RPG ploughs into the Bushmaster. The Insurgents  abilities wasn't high but the target was just too big and the penetration too good that when we rolled on the penetration chart the vehicle was totally destroyed. Scratch one Bushmaster!

Colin insisted on several picture of this as it was major victory for the Taliban. The Australians are never ones to back down from a fight nor take things lying down, so returned with withering fire from a wide selection of weapons. Unfortunately at this points the Insurgents brought their PKM to bear, swiftly followed by their sniper, and casualties began to mount on both sides.

(Below)  Chris' Australians seem to have an affinity with grenades.

(Below) Casualties mount in the cornfield. For this game we ignored the MEDEVAC rules in the wound chart.

(Below) The Australians realising they needed to take control of the roof tops as they where being cut down in the corn fields began roof to roof clearances with their usual effectiveness.

(Below) This grenade forces the sniper to bolt. But the PKM keep up its monstrous fire.

At this point after one action packed combat turn we called the game. Casualties were 5 Taliban to 4 Australians but to be far to Australians they were just beginning to bring there heavy weapons to bear although time was definitely not on their side. They had succeeded in driving off the sniper but the PKM was still wreaking havoc in the cornfield. At this point it was a victory to the insurgents.

You can download the scenario from this link and feel free to send us your AARS, we would love to see how you tackled this game can you do better than us? Having played this through once there lots of thing we could both have done better but having had a 6 week break we were both a bit rusty on the old thinking. I am sure we will be far more tactically astute for next months scenario!

Cheers and enjoy,

Colin and Chris.