A Week in Binh Long - The forever AAR

[Jason Petho]

As you all know, CS Vietnam has two A WEEK IN scenarios in lieu of the more traditional campaigns that have been found in the Campaign Series games.

The 1.11 UPDATE includes a new two page PDF called: BINH_LONG_PLANNING_MAP.pdf

This is something that can be printed to help your following along with the daily missions and have a good understanding of where your units are and should be. The first page has a planning map with the key areas, the primary roads and main towns/airfields. The second page has the units in counter form that will allow you to place on the map. They are attached for you to see.

The Map:



The Units:

[Jason Petho]

What is A Week In Binh Long?

It is a scenario that has you commanding a number of units over the course of a week, 7 days. Each day every battalion under your command will be given a task that needs to be completed during the day turns (40 turns in total) while it has the opportunity to rest during the night turns (20 turns in total).

Your infantry battalions have a primary headquarters and a task force headquarters. It is recommended to leave the primary headquarters with the weapons company in the city described in the instructions and use the task force headquarters to accompany the rest of the battalion in the field and at the firebase being built.

Typically, each battalion task force will be assigned an area where they will be securing all the objectives, building a firebase to laager at for the night, secure a supply route to that firebase and ensure the area is clear of any Viet Cong. Additionally, engineer groups will be tasks with clearing primary roads and you will have to move logistics units to ensure that your ammo and arty ammo levels are maintained.

A reminder that while securing all the objectives is important, your primary mission - if you have time - is to perform search and destroy missions within the daily Area of Operations.",

As you play, you will find your resources are spread thin, there is a lot of management you will have to undertake to ensure all the missions are being completed. Depending on how you manage your resources, you may not complete each mission by the end of every day. If you do not finish the assigned mission, you will have to complete the mission the next day plus the new mission. You will not gain the points if you clear the area on the following day, but, you will prevent the enemy from gaining points.

During the course of a day, you may forget about a helicopter and it will force itself to the ground with 0 moves. You can attempt to recover it by moving a supply truck or headquarters into the same hex. Of course, if it has landed in a hex that you cannot gain access to, it will remain lost for the rest of the scenario.

Every night you will be expected to laager your units in specific areas. As a general rule, in order to successfully laager, you must have all your designated units within 1 kilometre (4 hexes) of the described firebase, or 2 kilometres (8 hexes) of the designated cities or bases.

[Jason Petho]

And so it begins.

The very start of the scenario will reveal the tasks at hand for the first day of the week.

Here is the scenario briefing in the scenario list. There are two things to take away from the introduction:

• 1. What the overall intercepted suspected plan is of the VC and NVA.
  
  
• 2. It says that the days will start out fairly straight forward and get more complicated as the days progress.
  

After loading up, we are provided with the SMEAC, outlying the first days instructions. Here they are:






There is a lot to take away from this mission briefing. Here are some of the highlights that I am clearly paying attention to:

• 1. I am in command of a brigade sized unit, to start.
  
• 2. Each battalion will be assigned a new area every day. The areas are defined by the red "=" signs on the map as labels.
  
• 3. The 3rd Brigade HQ will remain at Lai Khe while the 3rd Brigade TF Headquarters will move to Loc Ninh
  
• 4. 2/28th will be operating in Area ALABAMA and LOUISIANNA during the day and construct a firebase at LZ LOUISIANNA 5, where it will laager for the night.
  
• 5. There is an engineering group that will clear the road from An Loc to Loc Ninh
  
• 6. 1/16th will find its way to Area ALASKA where it will secure the area and laager for the night.
  
• 7. We are not in a free fire zone, so I have to be wary of where I plot artillery and airstrikes.
  
• 8. Supplies will dwindle as the scenario continues, but it appears that I will be keep an eye on logistics.
  Let's take a look at the scenario map. This is the jump map, showing just how much area the scenario covers.
  
  
  
  
  As mentioned above, the primary operating area is split up in the named areas, as in the screenshot below. Each of these named areas will be a mission for the battalions as the week progresses.
  
  

[Jason Petho]

Let's take a look at an overview of simplified map with the units at their starting positions and the areas that need to be cleared during first day.



We have 2/28th in the north, 1/16th in the southeast, the 3rd Brigade HQ and Logistics in the south at Lai Khe. I have not included the numerous ARVN units that are scattered in the area, as they won't be in play at the moment. Let's focus in detail on the starting positions for each of the units.

Here is a screenshot of the Lai Khe area. The 3d Brigade primary headquarters is here, with the 2d/33d Artillery battalion headquarters. The artillery battalion headquarters will be the one for the various batteries that are attached to the 3d Brigade battalions.



Over at Phuoc Vinh, we have the 1st/16th Infantry battalion ready to be transferred by elements of the 1st Helicopter Battalion. Not everyone will be flying by air, as some elements will need to move up the QL13 to An Loc to assist with clearing Area ALASKA.



And finally, all the way in the north at Loc Ninh, we have the 2d/28th stationed around Loc Ninh, with D/1st Squadron/4th Cavalry - which is an helicopter unit. This battalion has a large job ahead of it on the first day, attempting to secure two Areas, as well as build a firebase in Area Louisiana.

[Jason Petho]

After the review above, it was time to start.

Let's start up in the north with 2d/28th Infantry at Loc Ninh. This battalion has two Area's that it needs to clear, which seems like an impossible task with only three infantry companies. I guess we will see!



First things first is using elements of Aero Rifle platoon, with an escort, of D Troop/1st/4th Cavalry to fly over to LZ Louisiana 5, where we are instructed to build the Firebase. The battalion will laager there. The rest of D Troop will remain at the airfield in case the infantry companies require assistance.




The infantry companies start the morning by fanning out from Loc Ninh. A/2d/28th Infantry will remain in Area ALABAMA, heading first to the east, while B & C/2d/28th Infantry will start heading west and southwest to eventually work their way into Area LOUISIANA. The assigned 105mm Battery, B/2d/33rd Artillery, will remain at the airfield in Loc Ninh and wait for the chinooks to carry it to LZ Louisiana 5.

The rest of the battalion will remain around Loc Ninh. The LRRP's, of which I have two, will remain in Loc Ninh until I can get some helicopters. They will both assist in securing Area LOUISIANA before venturing towards Cambodia.




Just north of An Loc is D/2d/28th Infantry along QL13. It will be escorting some engineers as it clears QL13 from An Loc to Loc Ninh.

[Jason Petho]

Down to the south, let's check in with 1st/16th Infantry down at Phuoc Vinh. Their goal is to move by road and helicopter to An Loc. That is where their primary base of operations will be and their first task is to clear Area ALASKA, where An Loc is located. Much the Area ALASKA is already under ARVN control, but there are some areas that are not that the 1st/16th Infantry will need to secure.



Here you can see the 3d Brigade Task Force HQ and some supply units belonging to 2d/28th Infantry leaving the An Loc Base Area. The An Loc Base Area has an ARVN battalion in the town, securing it. They are currently fixed, so won't play in any action any time soon. It is up to the 1st/16th Infantry to complete the tasks.



Down at Phuoc Vinh, you can see that 1st/16th Infantry is highlighted, with all subordinate units. I have decided that I will fly two companies, A & B/1st/16th Infantry, to An Loc and load up C/1st/16th Infantry onto the supply vehicles to escort the road convoy that will have to make its way to An Loc. You can see I have started to assemble the vehicles along the road south of Phuoc Vinh. I don't think the whole road is secured yet, so it is wise to ensure I have some infantry tagging along. I have moved some dozers to the Chinooks at the east end of the runway. The other Chinooks have flown over towards Lai Khe.

[Jason Petho]

Over at Lai Khe we have the 3d Brigade HQ, 3d Brigade Logistics and the 2d/33d Artillery headquarters and logistics. You'll see some loaches and ravens on the tarmac at Lai Khe, those belong to the artillery battalion. There are the two Construction Platoons and dozers from the brigade engineer troops. I will move one construction platoon to the airfield and prepare for a Chinook ride to LZ Louisiana 5 to help build the Firebase that is requested. Having both a dozer and Construction platoon will hopefully expedite the process.



Most of the units that are there will remain so, although I will utilize a couple platoons of armed Jeeps and my only M42 Dusters to help clear to the road for 1st/16th Infantry as it travels north. I have to remember to bring these back to Lai Khe before the end of the day though!



Here you can see where the little jeep/Duster Task Force will be operating. I'll head north towards Ap Bau Bang and then swing southeast to meet up with the lead elements of the 1st/16th Infantry.

[Jason Petho]

Turn 2 - General

One thing I have added with the 1.11 UPDATE are some additional notes and reminders as you play through the turns about current tasks, especially the minor ones like the following.




Turn 2 - 2d/28th Infantry

Fortunately, things are pretty quiet at the moment up in the Loc Ninh area. The 2d/28th Infantry companies have spread out and started to secure their objectives. Here is where they moved. The LRRP's have moved to the airfield, waiting for helicopters that will arrive in a handful of turns after 1st/16th Infantry has been dropped off at An Loc.



The lead elements of D/1st/4th Cavalry have arrived in the skies around LZ LOUISIANA 5. The Aero rifle platoon will land in the landing zone, hoping to secure it after I have softened it up using the escorting Hogs.



Not too far north of Loc Ninh, D/2d/28th has run into some roadblocks as they advance north along QL13. The Engineers from the task force are unloaded and ready to clear the roadblock while the advance elements continue along the road to see what else the Viet Cong has done.

[Jason Petho]

Turn 2 - 1st/16th Infantry

The 1st/16th Infantry continued organizing for airlift and a convoy. I sent a couple of Loaches and Hog's north, following QL13 - as I figured that was safest - to head towards An Loc and be prepared to assist in any operations in Area ALASKA when the helicopter borne units from 1st/16th arrive in a few turns. The rest of the battalion was loaded into trucks and a convoy was created, as shown below.

[Jason Petho]

Turn 2 - 3d Brigade Headquarters

Most of the 3d Brigade Headquarters has remained stationary, but something to note is that I have landed the 6SP Chinooks here to pick up the Construction Engineers. They are also refueling and preparation for their long flight to LZ LOUISIANA 5 to help build the requested Firebase.



Further to the north is the small Task Force of armed Jeeps and the Duster, aiming to clear highway and help the 1st/16th Convoy arrive in An Loc safely. You can see the Task Force here arriving close to one of the ARVN checkpoints along the highway.