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

A Week in Binh Long Map

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The Units

A Week in Binh Long Units

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[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.

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

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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.

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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.

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[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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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[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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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[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.

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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.

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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.

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[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.

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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!

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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.

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[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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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[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.

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[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.

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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.

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[Jason Petho]

Turn 3 - 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, this one explains that it is OK not to complete the total mission, but you will have to do so the following day. Keeping mind, you probably won't gain the points for doing so on a day that the mission wasn't assigned.

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Turn 3 - 2d/28th Infantry

Around 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, although I may be able to use the D/1st/4th Cavalry helicopter to transfer troops in the meantime.

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Over to the west at LZ LOUISIANA 5, D/1st/4th Cavalry have arrived on scene and here is the plan to secure the Firebase.

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And the results, fortunately, I didn't run into any resistance.

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Along QL13, the D/2d/28th Infantry and Engineers are still on their tedious task of clearing the highway.

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[Jason Petho]

Turn 3 - 1st/16th Infantry

The 1st/16th Infantry continued organizing for airlift and a convoy. You can see the convoy as it starts its journey, leading the pack are some escorting armed Jeeps.

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Taking off from the airfield are the two companies of 1st/16th Infantry that will fly to An Loc. The Chinooks have the dozers with them, but they will continue to fly north to LZ LOUISIANA 5 to help with the Firebase construction

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[Jason Petho]

Turn 3 - 3d Brigade Headquarters

3d Brigade Headquarters is relaxing here, although I am using the Heavy Machine Gun's to dig in around the area while they spend some time here. The Construction Engineer has loaded into the Chinooks, but it has consumed all of the Action Points available for the Chinooks, so they will start their flight next turn.

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The Jeeps and Dusters continued along QL13 and then headed southeast to eventually link up with the 1st/16th Infantry convoy. And boom, the Duster finds an IED along the road!

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Fortunately, no casualties... and the Task Force continues on its way.

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[Jason Petho]

Turn 4 - General
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The Viet Cong turn was pretty quiet, just some random movements that were out of Line Of Sight. The notice at the beginning of the turn is reminding me about how I should organize my headquarters and where the main headquarters will remain. This will be important for throughout the week.
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Turn 4 - 2d/28th Infantry
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Around the Loc Ninh area, the 2d/28th Infantry companies have spread out and started to secure their objectives. Here is where they moved.
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Over to the west, the Aero Rifle platoon of the D/1st/4th Cavalry is securing the local area around the LZ LOUISIANA 5 Firebase. So far there hasn't been any Viet Cong in the area, although we are close to the border here. I will start to fly in some reinforcements as I can. The Slicks have started the return journey back to Loc Ninh.
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D/2d/28th Infantry and the Engineer Task Force is still meandering up QL13, albeit at a snails pace. The lead vehicles continue to find roadblocks and mines as they advance. This will take all day to clear, by the looks of it!
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[Jason Petho]

Turn 4 - 1st/16th Infantry

The 1st/16th Infantry convoy is completed and is advancing en route to An Loc. I suspect it will take the better part of the day to get there as it is a long haul, which means the heliborne companies of the battalion will be doing most of the work when they get to An Loc to clear the assigned area.
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The heliborne companies are using QL13 for a landmark as they head their way north. Here you can see them flying just south of Chon Thanh. They are still a couple turns away from the landing zones that they are assigned to.
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The reconnaissance and gunships that we sent up early though, they have finally landed at the small strip in An Loc. You can see that I am using some ARVN Supply Trucks to help refuel the helicopters. I will need them to be present for the coming air assaults.
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[Jason Petho]

Turn 4 - 3d Brigade Headquarters
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3d Brigade Headquarters is still hanging out at Lai Khe. The Chinooks are loaded and heading north to meet up with the other flights.
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A little further north, the Jeep/Duster Task Force are advancing towards the lead vehicles of 1st/16th Infantry. Apart from the last IED attack, the advance has been quiet.
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[Jason Petho]

Turn 5 - General
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No movement that was noticed from the Viet Cong. There is another notice at the beginning of the turn is reminding me about how I should organize my headquarters and where the main headquarters will remain. These are hints for the player, they most likely not be repeated in the future, so it is good information to take notice of.
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Turn 5 - 2d/28th Infantry
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Around the Loc Ninh area, the 2d/28th Infantry companies have spread out enough where capturing them in one screenshot is no longer viable. Here is A/2d/28th Infantry operating the east of Loc Ninh and clearing the plantation along the ridgeline that over looks the city. The company has spread out but is still operating fairly close together.
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South of Loc Ninh we have C/2d/28th Infantry clearing the immediate area around Loc Ninh.
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The B/2d/28th Infantry is spread out a little too much, so I will spend the next handful of turns organizing them to be a little more effective. They will operate in the northern part of Area LOUISIANA and make their way towards the Firebase.
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Off to the west, the Aero Rifle platoon cleared the immediate area around the LZ LOUISIANA 5 Firebase and will head into the jungle to start clearing the hamlets to the southwest along the border.
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[Jason Petho]

Turn 5 - 1st/16th Infantry

The 1st/16th Infantry convoy has almost met up with the Jeep/Duster Task Force. So far the route has been clear without any losses thus far.
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The heliborne units are all together south of An Loc and Area ALASKA. The Chinooks will continue north though towards the proposed Firebase at LZ LOUISIANA 5.
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Here is an overview of Area ALASKA. There are two main landing zones in ALASKA, which I will send one company to each to spread out the units and start securing Area ALASKA. There are not a lot of objectives to secure, but the sooner I have finished, the sooner I may be able to send an infantry company north to assist with the clearing of the two areas in the north - if necessary. One company will combat assault into LZ ALASKA 1 and the other will combat assault into the abandoned airfield at the southern part of Area ALASKA.
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[Jason Petho]

Turn 5 - 3d Brigade Headquarters
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3d Brigade Headquarters is still hanging out at Lai Khe. The only thing of note is the Jeep/Duster Task Force and its advance towards the 1st/16th Convoy. Looks like they will be in contact next turn or so.
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[Jason Petho]

Turn 6 - General
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Nothing too exciting has been happening during the Viet Cong turns. I haven't seen any counter attacks or anything of the sort, but, quite frankly, as this is still Day One, I am not expecting anything drastic as it is still the scenario training day.
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Turn 6 - 2d/28th Infantry
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Over in the west, the Aero Rifle platoon of D/1st/4th Cavalry continues to explore the jungle and secure the Viet Cong along the border with Cambodia. So far the platoon hasn't come across any Viet Cong.
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Back around Loc Ninh, here was have B/2d/28th Infantry and its current position. I'll be move the company closer together and they will operate in the northern part of Area LOUISIANA.
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To the east of town is A/2d/28th Infantry. It is working its way up the ridge that over looks the town. It will be important to clear this in case there are any Viet Cong lurking in the plantation before we head off to Area LOUISIANA.
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And to the south of town is C/2d/28th Infantry. I clearly made a mistake and they are far too clumped together to be effective, so I will have to spread them out but they will operate in the southern part of Area LOUISIANA.
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And lastly in this sector, we have the Engineering Task Force still working on clearing QL13 between An Loc and Loc Ninh. It is slow going, as you can see here:
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