Operation Utah - Divided Ground - Vietnam

On 3 March ,1966 General Platt was informed that the 21st NVA Regiment had taken up resistance in an area roughly 10km NE of Quang Ngai City. Platt, eager to tangle with the NVA for the first time in the war, quickly drafted the plans for what was to be named Operation Utah. After negotiation, it was agreed that Utah would be a combined ARVN/USMC effort using the 2/7 Marines and the ARVN 2nd Airborne Battalion. Despite heavy bombing of the LZ area, the NVA stayed in position and delivered heavy 12.7mm AAMG fire on the first wave of UH-1's delivering the 2nd Airborne just south of Chu Nhai ( 5 ).Once on the ground the ARVN secured the LZ and moved through to capture the forementioned village unopposed. All went according to plan until the 2nd Airborne manuevered to Hill 50. As 2/7 started to land in the LZ,to the suprise of even experienced Combat Marines, NVA fire intensified. Meanwhile ARVN was getting chopped to pieces on the Hill just NW of Chu Nhai ( 5 ) by an extremely dug in and determined enemy. Hotel 2/7 manuvered to assist ARVN at this point, but suffered the same fate as the NVA waited to open up on them until almost point blank range. While the battle for Hill 50 raged, the remainder of 2/7 started their drive on Hills 85 and 97 meeting the same stiff NVA resistance. General Platt then ordered 3/1 to land in a LZ NE of the fight, and 2/4 to land SE of the LZ to encircle the 21st NVA and seal them off from escaping. ( A feat the 1st VC Regiment accomplished during Operation Harvest Moon in November 1965 ). When 3/1 went to link with ARVN at Hill 50, they found nothing but NVA. When Lt. Col.Young radioed the ARVN commander to assist in the assualt, the brave soul answered plainly with "no". Mike 3/1 continued to be cut up by point blank NVA fire but 3/1 eventually managed to kill every last defender on the Hill, finding over 125 NVA bodies in their wake. 2/4's landing in their LZ was no less rugged, as the intense fire downed 3 more Choppers in the landing alone. The remaining 2 days continued to be the same. On 7 March it would be ended, the area secured and the NVA routed .NATO would claim a victory, but the price was high. The Marines would suffer 98 dead and 278 wounded. ARVN 30 KIA and 120 WIA, at least 4 Choppers were downed and an F4 Phantom crew ditched their bird in the South China Sea.143 NVA bodies were accounted for, and 5 POW's were detained. ( casualties were estimated at 600 ).Though the Marines fought bravely, NATO's first bought with the NVA was far less succesful than anticipated. **US-ARVN player needs to keep Hueys on the map to pick up reinforcements, but should exit CH 47's as they did historically. Refraining from using the CH-47's in an unhistorical recon type role also adds to quality of the scenario. Use your Loach.