Tunnel Rats - Purple Haze, Stand Alone Game

I was so glad that I snapped up the Purple Haze Vietnam boardgame (I got it from Zatu Games as I was too late for the Kickstarter) as it appears to be now sold out everywhere. There is a queue of people waiting around the block for the second print run to come in. On hearing this, on impulse I looked around for the four extensions, but the only one I found still available was "Tunnel Rats". This a more stand alone game based around the US efforts against the likes of The Tunnels of Chu Chi. It appealed (see below, it is as "good" as it "looks"): 

On a "whim" (shiny thing) I got it and I am so glad I did. Atmospheric Vietnam, excellent, but with the format of a Dungeon Hack in cooperative play. Three "rats" explore the complex and for once there is not the overwhelming potential of US firepower to get you out of jail, but rather both sides are armed with knife and pistol - but even using the latter pistol is very dangerous underground (see below, the byzantine tunnel complex unfolds as the "rats" explore): 

Please see: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/431208/purple-haze-tunnel-rats for more game mechanism details.

I my eyes the game is designed to play on your nerves, as in jangle them, it builds up tension. It is not so much the dangers of combat but rather the thought of ending your days entombed under the Vietnam soil because "you never got out" in time. You play against a diminishing deck that represents your mental stamina, being a "Though bastard" (TB). The TB cards are spent as you progress down and backout of the complex. Complete your mission before the claustrophobic horror gets you! Clever mechanisms abound.

Highly recommended. There are three missions in teh game, but you will play each numerous times before they "dry out" and there is much scope to design your own or run as the DM with "rat" friends searching the complex. 

Welcome to the Jungle: Purple Haze - Vietnam Tactical RPG

I was closely watching this game (Purple Haze) , having spotted it a long. long time back and although I did not step in at the Kick Starter phase I joined the fan-base when I pre-ordered it through Zatu Games (after too much sitting on the fence). It is Vietnam, it is very atmospheric, the playing material of of great quality, the mechanisms look very intriguing and apart from the game itself (that looks so good) it meshes with my existing 20mm kit and in the end it was just too good not to get (see below, can you hear the Hendrix guitar rifts and "All along teh Watchtower" kicking off in the background? I can"): 

The unboxing took quite a lot of time, this was a very heavy box! Elements of it will also graduate to teh tabletop.

Battleground 2024 - Pendrakon, Middlesbrough

Hats off to Pendrakon for organising Battleground 2024 in Middlesbrough on Saturday (see link below): 

https://www.battlegroundshow.co.uk/

I had the pleasure of hosting the Wargames Development (WD) Arnhem participation game: "A Bridge Too Far", that went down really well with the 'participation game punters' (see below, the classic well-trodden WD [courtesy of the designers, John Armatys and Jerry Elsmore] game in the foreground and I helped with a second game inspired by Phil Sabin's "Take That Bridge" in the background - where US Paratroopers try to rush a bridge on the outskirts of Eindoven, against randomly generated enemies [which could be fake or real, you don't know unless they start shooting]):

I think this is the furthest north (convention wise) "A Bridge Too Far" has travelled with WD (certainly this year). Everyone who played it remarked on how good it was and brought the story to life in 'ten minutes'. Copies of the WD circular, "The Nugget" was distributed to participants as a taste of what Wargames Developments do. One game was particularly poignant when a player remarked at a point on the map, "This is where we lost my uncle, his body was never recovered, but his Dakota reportedly made it to the jump-off point but didn't return, so we don't exactly know what happened." That made you stop and think, he would have been just be a young lad (see below, in memory, with respect to all that fought): 

One of the pains or requirements of presenting a game is that you never get the time you want to take in all the other beautiful games. Luckily there was this lovely Renaissance game was next to our table so I could periodically enjoy its gameplay (see below, Durham Wargames Group - Display Game C - The Sesia-Italian Wars, lovely 28mm Figures and Scenery, using Pike and Shot rules I think): 

In the afternoon I did achieve a "bucket list" conference tick, as I managed to get across to see (and play) Renko's Blood Red Skies (BRS) tournament set-up [beautiful planes and playing map], where my late war Spitfire IX Polish Pilots managed to take down a Spanish Blue Squadron ME 109G Hun, but sadly I was bested by a far better player (Leslie) who is a pleasure to play against (we have a history, flying Gloster Gladiators he managed to shoot down my Me 109E Ace of mine - it is the curse of the BRS dice and my poor rookie tactics). All said and done a brilliant game, BRS is something I must play more of (see below, my moment of glory captured for all to see, winning me a tournament prize of a Warlord Games Heinkel 111 squadron pack, perfect for my Battle of Britain Project): 

The bring and buy had many temptations, but sadly a few of the sprues (I always seem to go for the unmade stuff) were a but vague on the sizes [10mm, 12mm, 15mm so I could not in my heart commit], so I probably passed up on a couple of bargains. Though I did spy a curious one, for a £5 I picked up a copy of Avalon Hill's Flight Leader. Now most flight, particularly jet, simulations are a tad complex unless you love flight (which I see myself more of a BRS abstract passenger, rather than 2joystick jock") but I am hoping to at least get to the basic game level with this (see below, if for nothing else it has a beautiful game board that can be reused, so I have a "Plan B"):

Finally my sin, with a 10% show Warlord discount voucher in hand (another joy of the BRS competition) I saw my Achilles Heel and succumbed gladfully [no "convention day after" regrets here]- 2000AD ABC Warriors (see below, one word describes this set to me "Hammerstein", never heard of "Increase the Peace" so there may be a graphic novel too to buy in the future): 

 

I now know I have to get the complete ABC Warrior set (I do have a chunky Foundry [?] Hammerstein) but the Warlord offerings look impressive resin kits. The fact that ABC Rules are compatible with Judge Dredd seals the deal for me. I tool the opportunity to pick up Mongol too, as the figure looked brilliant. Happy days!  Other "normal" purchases were 20mm Vietnam casualties and 10mm MkVI British Light Tanks for my early war Western Desert Project (Command Decision - Benghazi Handicap). 

Another go at "Ghosts of the Jungle"

In the interests of diverse game play I introduced my D&D group to Ghosts of the Jungle to see how these lads (RPG'ers, aka none mainstream wargamers) played it (see below, I was also experimenting with new novel markers [sourced from the random wood decoration department in "The Works" shop] - 'big feet' markers to say that a square had been entered, and as a "trail" marker [VC tracker to pick up, but teh method was a bit cumbersome]):

As I explained the rules, appropriate beverages [for the Aussies at least] were imbibed (see below, the exotic range of non-standard glassware down to what was left in the cupboard - aka stuff that teenagers like to drink their fizzy pop from): 

Sarge leads his troops off into the jungle and stops when he sees something suspicious. Is it a villager or VC? (see below, green squares are jungle vegetation hiding spots, red ones rural village houses, the warped cardboard sufficed as make-shift road [appropriate as it is a poor quality dirt track]): 

The gameboard gets a bit more complex as the VC and village encounters pose challenges for the strung out ANZAC patrol. The RPG'ers tried not to "shoot first and ask questions later" as the D&D "send the thief scouting forward" strategy came through in droves (see below, edging forward quietly and then ... the shooting started and all hell burst forth): 

Things looked bad as the SAS LRRP got trapped in a mathematical puzzle (insufficient actions to safelt do it and nobody wanted to get stuck in the middle) in trying to safely cross the road (despite all those scary 1970 BBC educational cartoons helping children to cross the road safely), but eventually they "reset" and went round the longer way (see below, the end result was a pile of VC [or are they really just innocent villagers] as the SAS exited safely off table):      

The RPG boys found the rules at first a bit of a challenge in understanding the [simple] game play, but their RPG problem solving skills ensured collaborative play so they got out alive and made devasting use of the "grenade" rule (when the VC attraction to noise makes them "clump" together). All-in-all a  nice diversion, but back to wizards, orcs and fireballs next time!

Platoon 20 - NVA Figures

Inspired by the recent series of "Ghosts of the Jungle" games I visited my silver pile of shame in the loft for Vietnam figures and found pretty much a whole platoon of NVA Regulars to paint up. They had been based and primed so it was just a matter of gritting your teeth and letting go with the Vallejo paints (see below, the finished product or rather formation):  

A labour of love that has took twenty years to finish. Given the old casting quality (as in poor) - I best not drop them too hard!

Apologies for no close ups!

ClearFix Tip - When It Goes Yellow Get a New Bottle!

ClearFix is obviously a bit like snow - when it goes yellow beware what you can use it for! To be fair you typically use so little of it at a time, unless you are making a plane per week you may never ever use a whole bottle. In my case, years will go by before you pull it out of the storage tin (which may or may not help being away from direct sunlight). Indeed as I found out to my cost when making my Vietnam helicopters, ditch it if it goes gloopy and yellow. Clearfix (though slow in drying and bonding clear plastic to normal plastic) is however the way to do aircraft canopies .. otherwise the terrible chemical affect that I do not understand ruins the cockpit look. ClearFix is a wonder chemical when clear but buyer beware avoid the yellow (see below, RHS clear and "Good", LHS gloopy-yellow and very bad!):   

I had to resort to covering up a smeared mess on one helicopter's side windscreen [reconnaissance Gun-Ship Loach, if you really wanted to know] with Tamiya X-25 transparent Clear Green. Note, authentically it was used on top horizonal window covers of Vietnam Huey's and Loach's alike to cut down on glare from the sun above [?] I am guessing - but I don't think side windows were typically covered - but I think the "look" seems to work (see below, my Italeri 1/72 "Little Bird" festooned with decals - grinning shark mouth underneath):  

You have to be careful when handling Italeri as they are delicate, but beautifully made!

Vietnam War - US News Broadcast of the (Surprise) Tet Offensive (NBS News Saigon) - You Tube Footage

Sometimes history is thrust upon a sleep walking nation and they are rudely awakened to unpalpable truths (see below, incredible News footage from 1968): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=wA8n114eYXc&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo

Amazing that was shown as a "special broadcast" to the US people outside of direct political control!

Audible Book - Street Without Joy

I seem to be continuing along with the Vietnam theme, or rather more a wider Indo-China theme, as I have just finished listening to a "Street Without Joy". This is a book really 'of its time' (written by the French journalist Bernard B. Fall who covered the war during this time for the French papers). It describes the ill-fated, tragically French led (but American backed and bank-rolled) prequel to the more famous Second Indo-China War (which then lead into the Vietnam War). The French Indo-China war was covered by the Max Hastings "Vietnam" book, but I felt the flavour of the time really came through in trumps with Bernard B Fall's book. It is an epic story of the demise of an eighteenth century colonial adventure that had out-lived its time and purpose post World War II (see below, I can highly recommend it, being poignant in the extreme as from his privileged perspective Bernard B. Fall saw the train crash coming but could do nothing to advert it): 

To me there was a frightening sting in the tail of the book, written in 1964/65. This was after the detailed description of the numerous reasons of the French defeat: be it the gradual and inevitable destruction of the of various forms of the remote defensive French outpost chains; after chronicling the one-by-one demise of the elite French mobile groups as they were continuously ambushed (each valiantly fighting a forlorn campaign to their deaths); after the tragic vulnerability of South Vietnamese citizens not being protected from Viet Minh intimidation (as the Viet Minh came as visitors in the night); after seeing the under performance of the much vaunted "American made" French air power with its inability to dominate the jungle battlefield as promised and after seeing the ability of the Viet Minh to dissipate back into the jungle when conventionally outmatched. It was the last chapter that chronicled the way that the American administration was rinsing and repeating the same pattern of behaviour. The tragedy of the next phase of Vietnam was already written in the stars.     

Audible - Vietnam, Max Hastings

I knew I needed to read this book, so I bought it, but it sat on the shelf (as it is no small volume) for  a long time. I knew I needed something to complement the numerous first hand accounts I had read, to try and to get a wider picture of the conflict. I relished Ken Burns marvellous TV documentary series and it stands out for its graphic imagery and cinematography. The hurdle of "reading about it" (a much more intimate process) defeated me though. As a second best (listening to it) Audible came to my aid. Max Hasting's "Vietnam" via Audible has become a friend on car journeys and dog walks, telling a very dark history with my hard copy flicked through for reference points of maps and pictures (see below, Max Hastings certainly pulls no punches with his views on the American politicians and Generals, which in his capacity as a reporter, he met first hand, from the likes of President Lyndon B. Johnson and Robert McNamara; absolutely fascinating): 

Update I: Just over a third of the way through this book and it is truly an epic journey, masterfully told. Starting with Vietnams earliest modern colonial history and disputed WWII ownership, through the French post WWII period in Indo China and finally into its most turbulent and troublesome times with the active American involvement. Still twenty hours to go! Gripping! Highly recommended.

Update II: Coming to the final few chapters and I honestly cannot believe the twists and turns - trials and tribulations that South Vietnam went through. As much as the pre-American deployment history was new to me, the post American withdrawal, political cynicism and huge battles (AVRN supported by US air power) that followed were equally "new" to my previously selective history (Platoon and The Deer Hunter) of the period. Everyone could see it was not going to end well and it didn't! I literally don't want to hear the next chapter unfold.

Update III: Finished. And the avoidable horror happened all the way to the end of this tragic period of history. The gut-retching senselessness of it all and then the haunting words that Max Hastings penned, to parallel the folly of the 1960's and 10970's to the subsequent Iraqi and Afghanistan events. To quote a US Cavalry Troop commander from Iraqi, "There was nothing to hang any success onto". No fabric or structure that was not alien to the indigenous peoples - that we (the Western World) were supposed to be helping!

A Package from America: "Fire in the Lake" COIN Board Game - GMT P500

In the hedonistic (pre-Covid) days where the UK pound was much stronger than the dollar, so transatlantic shipping(*) from America was offset by the nice GMT P500 discount, I saw the jewel of the COIN crown was being reprinted so I jumped on that P500 train without hesitation. Now, my long term investment (years of waiting/forgetting) has paid off as the postman passed on a suitably (or dare I say delightfully) heavy parcel to me (see below, the box art is beautiful, the Huey is so iconic of Vietnam [got to make one of those in 1/72] and the scene below seems straight from "Apocalypse Now" - the red setting sun and steaming jungle):

(*) Note: Appreciation and kudos goes out to Second Chance Games as they partially offset this cost with their Euro Friendly Shipping arrangement with GMT.  

Inside the geography jumps up from a beautifully mounted map board (see below, a geography map straight from teh classroom, bended with some lovely photo art, class!): 

Then there are the meeples, the event cards, the rules, the bot instructions and the scenarios (see below, a long winter night or two will be spent around this one for sure): 

It is a thing of pure beauty to behold and a nice companion to "A Distant Plain". 

Painting US Vietnam Infantry - My Platoon 20 Collection (PART 1) Notes to Self

Background: Sometimes I acquire a "collection of figures" over time rather than for a project, knowing that at a point in the distant future when a critical mass/event is attained they will be painted (when the stars align and the "painting interest bug bites"). That ably described the relationship I have with my Platoon 20 Vietnam figures. I collected them [along with plastic vehicles models and plastic helicopter models] when I could - knowing "their" time has would come (see below, first in line for action - a US Infantry Officer): 

Their time has come. The annoying thing about painting US Infantry in Vietnam is that it seems to be a futile exercise in painting various shades of green and then murkier green - everything seemed to fade and be stained differently. I am left with the feeling that "everything looks right and wrong at the same time", a bit like the war I guess.

The challenge for me is to make a distinct transition between the uniform and the webbing/flak jacket. It does seem to be a question of  "Which of the fifty shades of green is it today? I am currently bouncing around with variations on the following painting recipe: 

Uniform Tunic: Vallejo Model (924) Russian Uniform WWII [Base] with Vallejo Model (881) Yellow/Green [Highlight]

Webbing: Vallejo Model (887) Brown/Violet - although this seems to be a controversial choice in some quarters, as it may look too brown, with Vallejo Model (988) Khaki [Highlight]

Tunic and Webbing Wash: Vallejo Wash - Green mixed with Citadel Shade Nuln Oil, applied over all tunic/webbing area then repeat [Base] and then add [Highlight] -- Note: This step seems to make a real difference (++)

Flesh: Vallejo Model (927) Dark Flesh [Base] with Vallejo Model (955) Flesh [Highlight] - alternatively Vallejo Model (872) Chocolate Brown [Base] with Vallejo Model (983) Flat Earth [Highlight] 

Gun: Vallejo Model (950) Black [Base] and Vallejo Model (995) German Grey [Highlight] - plus additional Vallejo Game Gun Metal [Edge Highlight]

Boots: Vallejo Model (950) Black [Base] with Vallejo Model (995) German Grey [Highlight] although others would say that is far too neat and should be "dusty brown" reflecting all the trudging through the mud

Helmet: Vallejo Model (924) Russian Uniform WWII [Base] with Vallejo Model Yellow/Green [Highlight] although I have yet to experiment with the four colour camo helmet look ... using Vallejo Model colours [(983) Flat Earth, 50:50 (882) Middlestone and (833) German Camo Bright Green, (924) Russian Uniform WWII, (890) Reflective Green]

Useful "Painting Guide" video links discovered to date, both of which produce works of art, disturbingly opting for Brown rather than Green Flak Jackets (variety is the spice of life): 

• Rubicon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaeZFtxHL-c
• Wargames Soldiers and Strategy (WSS) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hi6kc5gi9s

Painting Templates (think they are Flames of War): 

• https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/831336412451931402/

1/72 Scale Airfix Sheridan - Vietnam Era

I have been quiet on the blog posting front but I have been pottering along quietly in the background, with of all things the "Vietnam era", courtesy of an Airfix 1/72 scale Sheridan (see below, now this thing had been assembled for ages [a decade?] and primed black but I had not been given a reason for it's final coat of paint): 

So instead of Cold War era Europe paint job it swings across to the jungles of South East Asia instead. I know from photos an ACav style gun shield and turret topped ring of sandbags, plus a few on the front are scheduled modelling additions. Heavily armoured it was not, so the crews improvised additional measures. 

Vietnam 20mm ACav M113 [JB Models]

I seem (understatement) to have been somewhat distracted last month(or months) with the Ukrainian-Russian War being constantly on the news and Easter holiday travel find time to actually get round to regular blogging. Plus the added pain of too much screen-time associated with home working making extra time at a computer be a bit of a bore. This is a pity, as I think (my) blogging is more a question of relaxation habit - off loading ideas and accomplishments, definitions of "done for now and move on" than a finalised artistic product (such as paid/free electronic-digital content). Preamble over (more for my benefit than anyone else) I have "out of the blue" painted up a Vietnam M113 that I have had lying around for ages (see below, for "ages" read over a decade): 

Quite please with tis knock up paint job, decals as ever to come later. It is a 1/72 JB Models (a mould that at one time was taken up by Airfix I believe) that will constitute part of my "armoured response troop" for Vietnam skirmish rules (which I am not sure yet: Jim Webster's "Hell by Daylight", Buckle for Your Dust and home-brew are all options at this moment.

model Shop Bliss: 1/72 Plastic (Pegasus Miniatures) 1965 Vietnam USMC Figures

To my delight in a local village across from me I discovered [well I was "tipped off" about] a new little model shop (or rather one that had relocated out of an urbanised centre), you know the kind filled to the brim with an eclectic collection of scales, types and periods. Along side Scalextric, Hornby and radio controlled models I found the precious plastic, paint and glue. A good rummage I did have and found a pack of Pegasus 1/72 scale Vietnam USMC figures that can supplement my ESCI/Italeri range (see below, the finding of something was half [or more than half] the thrill - very, very nice figures): 

Reflection: There is something unfulfilling about internet shopping and by the power of the search engine being, swamped for choice, meaning there is less certainty in knowing what you want, or rather - wanting it all instead and getting frustrated by what you can afford. Whereas finding something amongst a heap of 'other' stuff and then convincing yourself you actually do want it has an "effort and reward filter" - plus that random element of pot-luck. As (I thought) Bertrand Russell once said, "into every system a little chaos should be sown" but I have not managed to source this quote on Google!

10mm Vietnam Game: Take That Village Playtest

Something in the pipeline, play tested once with a friend and it was good, then lots of other interesting things got in the way, but it is about to be picked up again (see below, the jungles of Vietnam created on Kallistra terrain): 

A Vietnam game without a Huey? Never! (see below, which a chemistry see through paperweight, hurriedly pressed into (very effective) service as a flying stand): 

The wide expanse of the "jungle table" means that the figures seem lost in its midst. which feels about right (see below, it it only possible to spot the troops, because of the camouflage, with teh aid of counters - which again seems about right): 

The Pendrakon 10mm figures although small are beautifully sculped (see below, US Blue - NVA/VC Red, naturally): 

Looking forwards to play testing this home-brew rule set of a friend ;) 

10mm Vietnam Game

The objective, pacification of a Vietnam village that has been reported as "taken over" by teh NVA and VC but still has "friendlies" inside it or so what the precursory Huey overflight can tell us (see below, Kallistra terrain again serving up the goodies - water = paddy fields no cover; Orange with scatter = broken ground which offers partial cover;  green = dense jungle counting as cover; huts = hard cover; brown tracks = roads or raised bridge over paddy fields; grey = secret tunnels): 

Each hex in the set up is scaled to represent 50m across and each figure represents approximately five men. Two figures to a squad and four squads to a platoon with a heavy weapons squad assigned to each ans a light mortar tagged along for the ride with the Company Commander (see below, first and second platoon cover ten hexes of the baseline to give the US the maximum amount of fire support - to give back plenty if they took any "incoming fire"):  

The "blue" counters represent what Charlie see, a lot of US strung out in a continuous skirmish line and opens opens up, also revealing "his" position. First blood went to Charlie but the intense retaliatory fire cleared the dense jungle outpost and the VC/NVA threw forces forward to bolster their 'point position' (see below, there were no clever scouting rules but recon by contact): 

This VC/NVA tactic ran into a stream of American firepower as the US MGs hard a beaten zone cutting down and pinning any visible "enemy". The exchange cost the US too, especially as the VC/NVA brought some mortars down (see below, a 10:3 ratio was within the 3:1 (min) to 4:1 (preferred) trade the US were prepared to pay as per their Victory Condition [although the term "victory" in itself seemed a trifle dubious for this scenario]): 

xx

The VC/NVA resistance stiffened as they received an additional two platoons of infantry - as the America testified to higher level of incoming fire coming in from around the flanks. The US Commander at first engaged in the fire fight but then pulled back and informed the umpire of his intention to assume a more defensive position and let the VC/NVA come to him. Either than or until he received reinforcements. To go forward would be to court disaster. In the meantime he requested and plotted an artillery strike on the VC/NVA positions outside the village. The umpire announced battalion had committed a platoon of M113s to help push towards the village and a Huey Gunship was "on call" (see below, the M113's were a huge morale boast to the US having MGs and effectively gaving hard cover to US troops behind them - the left flank received one M113 to "pin" the enemy, while two M113s were allocated to the right flank along with the artillery strike and Huey with the intention to punch through to the village on the right): 

The concentration of force on the tight flank played dividends as the defending VC/NVA troops were wiped out by the unexpected artillery "stonk", followed up by the Huey and armoured infantry assault (see below, the track/path to the village was now open):  

The quiet village itself lay dormant in the background (see below, no signs of any activity as nothing above ground was spotted but in Vietnam appearances can be very deceptive):

The Huey took incoming fire from two HMGs hidden in the village (see below, the AA fire missed but spooked the chopper to call the "on call" Phantom to eradicate this threat): 

"The Air don't care" about friendlies when heavy weapons are being fired at fellow "fliers" and the bomb run came down with sadly a bit of drift variation missing the HMG nests (see below, one tunnel complex was taken out which included some friendly prisoners and a luckier hit on the NVA/VC mortar positions):     

The final line of VC/NVA resistance was a series of poorly constructed booby-traps was "driven through" by the M113s leaving the remaining VC/NVA troops to disappear back into the jungle (see below, all that remaining was to take a tally of casualties to ascertain the "winners" in this chaotic mayhem):  

In total the US took seven squad hits, but that Phantom killed four poor civilians rather than VC/NVA - although it did convince the VC/NVA it was time to "bug out". This was a total of eleven, to forty seven NVA/VC casualties. 11: 37 was a greater than 3:1 so no US loss (of face) but below the desired/preferred 4:1 required by Westmoreland. The only thing to add would be that the war was getting attritional for the US as one thing was for sure, "Charlie would be back" and the US platoons would have less or be filled out with rookies learning their trade.

It did feel like Vietnam although the rule mechanisms lacked patrol/cover nuances it did play well with a "flip-flop" rather than IGOUGO sequence of play. The rules were a home set that was ad-libbed and in development but showed really good promise. I think I will take another look at Peter Pigs "Men of Company B" rules and "Buckle for your Dust" by the late Paddy Griffith. Many thanks to Ian for putting the game on and Adrian who was a worth VC/NVA opponent.  

Vietnam - Tour of Duty: Major Robinson's Challenge

Covid-19 social distancing rules are a game changer fro the tabletop wargaming experience, but where there is a will there is a way (see below, weather permitting you can always go outdoors - note hand sanitiser for the post figure/dice exchanges - each player having "their own" side's set of dice): 

The venue is Vietnam and a beautifully modeled A3 terrain piece to model a Firebase and three "friendly" villages [from Pendrakon] - (see below, the jungle mat and trees courtesy of the  https://www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk/ with the trails made with the assistance of an electric razor, I kid you not): 

The figures were from Prendrakon's 10mm Vietnam Range (https://pendraken.co.uk/post-war/vietnam/) range and enhanced with flags denoting nationality and factions (see below, red VC and NVA and blue US):

The ubiquitous Huey .. essential for any Vietnam game, transporting the troops from Firebase to village and adding additional support fire (see below, not sure what manufacturer, I just remember it was a very heavy piece of metal): 

The big thing about the helicopter is that it gets the troops there and back in the same turn, not one turn out and one turn back with the constant danger of a VC/NVA ambush (see below, it certainly looks neat):  

The final touch was the playing cards, a normal deck but with nicely styled decals (see below, the game itself is based on Wayne Thomas' Small Wars, in particular .. "Six months in the Sahara" courtesy of the History of Wargaming Project https://wargamingco.blogspot.com/2018/01/small-wars-new-perspectives-on.html (see below, I can highly recommend the book which is available at https://www.amazon.com/Small-Wars-Perspectives-Wargaming-Insurgency-ebook/dp/B079QRN5QV): 

The game is ready to start, the US safely in their Firebase and the friendly villages with orange intelligence counters for the US to collect (see below, oops one of the villages already does not seem to be so friendly with VC and NVA "educating the villagers", so much for a quiet start): 

The Americans have the advantage in the firepower department, hitting on 4, 5, or 6; the NVA on 5 or 6 and the poor old VC needing a six. To the US Player's horror "Charlie" (VC) should never be underestimated in his ability to throw sixes at the most awkward of moments (see below, the US Player gets a nasty wake-up call early on, two boys not going home - also note the flags denoting ownership of the villages, "all bells and whistles" for this game): 

Mid-game action shot, VC and NVA presence in all three villages, the US Player has to clear them out while the garrison is small and before they "grow" too big [the US Player does not want to be drawn into a sucking firefight] and the twist is that only "cleared villages" can start generating the vital intelligence (see below, the game is very attritional for the US Player - intelligence helps generate reinforcements [a positive reinforcement mechanic])

The Huey is not guaranteed (a six being required at the start of each turn) but when it comes it is a good safe way of getting to a village and adds an additional firepower punch (3d6) which is a welcome to the grunts intrinsic squad firepower (see below, "fun-time" here is over quick-time for Charlie): 

As the game progresses the danger is that the US Player gets drawn into "sucking firefights" that draw in resources and linger over several turns. This means that the VC/NVA Player gets stronger elsewhere and the US Players finds himself running from firefight to firefight (see below, the US Player prefers 2:1 odds in his favour .. it just takes one lucky dice throw to upset the balance):   

Night time falls, in character to the setting jungle midges appear in swarms (my bite count was close to twenty [a bald head was a killer here] akin to the tally of US casualties but nowhere near the NVA/VC losses) and the game is lit by an atmospheric "false moon" on the table (see below, the game sequence "pack of cards" has almost run its course and the last turn "Tet Offensive" is about to start): 

After the last normal card is turned "The Tet Offensive" begins in earnest. All on table VC and NVA attack the fire-base, US troops on patrol cannot assist. That caught the US Player with six defenders against ten [4 VC and 6 NVA] attackers, but the attackers needed a natural six to hit, the VC are the first wave and hence are killed first. The dice is rolled and all go down by of the ten NVA/VC dice three natural sixes are rolled. Four more round follow, with shamefully poor US combat dice. Major Robinson and his staff are captured by the remaining three NVA (see below, epic ending to a great game [yes, I was the VC/NVA Player]):  

A great start back to face-to-face wargaming, with hopefully much more to come as normality slowly resumes!