NOVICE TRAINING GAME FOR CROSS FIRE

For various reasons there were only 3 gamers at the club on 3/17 so I decided to take advantage of that to have another training game for Cross Fire. Jack has played many games so he took the Defense and Dick Messier who has little experience took the attack.

CROSS FIRE Scenario for Novices was taken from Steve Thomas' Balagan website for Cross Fire http://www.balagan.org.uk/war/crossfire/scenarios/novice.htm. I modified it for the Korean war as that is what I had for available troops on the day of the game. 

Key features are:

  The American defenders deploy to the east of the line A-A.

  The North Korean attackers deploy west of the line A-A.

  The hill marked X is the terrain objective; it starts in American control.

  Fields and Orchards are in-season.

  Remember that any stands on the hill can see over fields, crests, walls and

  hedges.

  .

Pre-game preparation

Attacker will use North Korean Troops

Defender will be American Marines

 

American Player (Defending)

Objective

Defend the hill marked X by holding the hill itself and inflicting high

casualties on the North Koreans.

Deploys first, hidden, but NOT dug in, east of the line A-A.

Forces Available

2 x Rifle Platoons: each with PC (+1), 3 x Rifle Squads.

1 x HMG

1 x FO for off-table 81 mm mortar (12 FM – NO SMOKE)

Morale: Regular

Command and Control: U.S.

North Korean Player (Attacking)

Objective

Capture the hill marked X without suffering excessive casualties.

Deployment

Deploys second, visible, west of the line A-A. Begins scenario with initiative.

Forces Available

1 x CC (+1)

1 x FO for off-table 3"/81mm/82mm mortar (12 FM)

1 x on-table 2"/60mm/50mm mortar (12 FM )

1 x HMG

3 x Rifle Platoons: each with PC (+1), 2 x Rifle Squads, 1 SMG Squad.

Morale: Veteran

Command and Control: US

Victory Conditions

Terrain and Casualty (D) objectives

The game ends when the NKPA achieve their victory conditions or after the

NKPA lose six or more fighting stands (CC, Rifle Squad, HMG, but not PC, FO or

on-table mortar).

The NKPA player wins if they can hold the hill marked X for five consecutive

friendly initiatives. The hill must be uncontested during this entire time, i.e.

no U.S. stands on it.

Scenario Special Rules

  Crests and Orchards are from Hit the Dirt.

   As per Hit the Dirt, Fields and Orchards are in-season, hence block LOS.

  Any stands on the hill can see over fields, crests, walls and hedges.

THE RESCUE OF GENERAL WAKSHISMAMA

The KI had its second tutorial game using SeeKreig V rules – this lesson was on how to use torpedoes. 

The situation is that General Wakshismama and a small contingent of his men are starving on the bypassed island of Lackanookie, just to the SW of Bendova. A small task force of  the CL Naka and two DEs, the Kiri and the Sakura under the command of Cpt. Tuckitume(Dick White, better known as “Iron Bottom Sound Dick” )is tasked with his rescue. Headed west, this force is found by radar contact from the US DD Bache, Cmdr Pug Mahone (Jack Breen) who is commanding a two DD search and rescue operation looking for downed flyers reported in the area. Accompanying Cmdr Mahone is the DD Daly, commanded by Cmdr Rip Trousers (Dick Messier).

Intending to skirt the island of Klandestine and head toward Lakanookie, Cpt. Wakshismama  spot the DDs at 1004and turns to the NW, opening fire at 1010 hours, obtaining a straddle. The next barrage by the Naka gets a hit on the Bache at 1016, starting a small fire – it was to be the last hit by the Naka as it came under the combined firepower of the two Fletcher class destroyers. While the Naka had enough guns, the ship was a 1928 rethread and it showed in its fire control capability. The Naka was hit twice and her damage control teams were overwhelmed. Many secondary explosions caused  loss of an engine room and the original 50 point fire began to escalate.

All three Japanese vessels fired torpedoes between 1014 and 1018. The DE’s did not carry long lance and they were soon out of the picture. A long lance fired by the Naka was narrowly avoided by the Bache as the two American ships advanced toward the enemy. Cdr Tuckitume’s force turned away to the East to fight another day.

As of the date of this report, General Wakshismama is still awaiting rescue!