Binh Gia 3 - The Sacrifice - 12/31/64 - AAR (Berto vs. AI)

[berto]

Why am I getting fined EPs for not flying the attack helos off the board? It doesnt say anything about that in the mission statement...

See here:

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 1#p4967741

The revised version of this scenario, with fixed Scenario Briefing, will be included in the forthcoming CSVN v1.11 patch, due out soon.

[berto]

TURN #23

The VC (left yellow circle, screenshot following) twice assailed the 3rd Platoon, 4th/38th Rangers (green circle) at the west end of Binh Gia, and both times failed in the assault.

Another Viet Cong platoon emerged from the darkness at the VC center left (upper right yellow circle). Other VC moved to reinforce the threatened Objective hex in that sector.

At the far left end of their line, the VC platoon there (lower right yellow circle) fired at the ARVN Marines to their front but did not assault.

Otherwise, things were pretty quiet. In the Hex InfoBox, note the low, and diminishing, Ammo & ArtyAmmo stocks. This engagement is gradually winding down.

The situation following the VC phase, at the beginning of Turn #24, Side A ARVN phase (with the Low/Conserving Ammo unit highlights toggled ON):

[berto]

TURN #24

Attempting to repel the enemy reinforcements, and thinking I might force them to retreat northward, I carefully route the Gunship Helos (turquoise circle, screenshot following) in circuitous flight first to the southeast, then northward. From High level and, more closely this time, one hex distant, the helos direct rockets at the enemy platoon one hex up, and miss.

This elicits opfire from the VC to the east (yellow circle). They fire, and ...



... score a hit. A Marine recoilless rifle platoon (magenta circle) is eliminated! Not the result I wanted!

I send the second helicopter squadron (turquoise circle, screenshot following) around by the same circuitous route. They fire at the enemy (yellow circle), and ...



... score a hit? Difficult to say, because the result says "Unknown effects vs. unknown units". But it does induce the enemy to ... (green arrow) advance? Here too, not quite the result I expected! LOL

You gotta love it. The game is full of surprises like that. You think you can micromanage your moves oh so carefully and effect the desired results. But you can't!

Okay, forget the helos. From two different directions, let's try an assault:



Defenders overrun. Success! And 25 more EPs awarded!

Elsewhere, on the ARVN far left and also at the center, the firefights heat up.

The situation at the close of the Turn #24, Side A ARVN phase (with the Fired/Fought Units highlights toggled ON):



The ARVN are well positioned to assault that Objective (turquoise circle) next turn. Unless enemy fire drives them back beforehand.

I have two ARVN arty units available this turn. I target the Objective, four planned strikes. Risky perhaps, because it being night and with visibility limited, might the ARVN rounds drift, go off intended target, and friendly fire the nearby Marines?

Note all the gun flashes. Note especially the gun flashes behind enemy lines to the northeast. More hidden enemy forces are lurking about, but at what strength?

[berto]

TURN #24

Realizing (?) the danger they face, that VC platoon breaks out of its encirclement, drawing ARVN opfire as it leaves:



Danger indeed. Without drifting, four ARVN artillery strikes pound that now abandoned Objective hex:



Escaping from the entrapment, smart that enemy AI?

Apart from that (upper yellow circle, screenshot following), and apart from some hidden movement along their center, the only other Viet Cong activity is that lone VC unit continuing its firefight to the south (lower yellow circle).

Elsewhere, in and around Binh Gia, the VC are content to lie low, and to hold their fire.

The situation at the start of Turn #25, Side A ARVN phase:

[berto]

TURN #25

ARVN Rangers assault the VC at Binh Gia's west end. No dice.



American Gunship Hogs at NOE fire rockets at those infiltrating VC from one hex away. Again with uncertain casualty effect, and again the VC advance (green arrow, screenshot following).

The other Hog squadron drops down to NOE and -- in the same hex -- shoots at the VC. No apparent effect, no advance or retreat.



Elsewhere, firefights continue up and down the line. By now, most of the ARVN units are Low/Conserving Ammo. That and it being night, the firing accomplishes little except perhaps to keep the townspeople awake.

I target the available ARVN artillery as shown (crosshairs, screenshot following).

The situation at the close of the ARVN phase, at the beginning of the Turn #25, Side B VC phase (with the Fired/Fought Units highlights toggled ON):



I am not overly concerned by that VC platoon (yellow circle) behind our lines. What can they do?

[berto]

TURN #25

What can they do? They can go on a rampage!

That isolated VC platoon assaults ...



... and fails.

Another assault, this next one in the center:



A one SP reduction and a disruption but no dislodgement.

A third assault, and ...



... defenders overrun. Stike one ARVN Marine platoon!

The victors of that third assault fade away into the jugle (right yellow circle, screenshot following).

At Binh Gia's west end, the surrounded VC platoon (leftmost yellow circle) makes its escape.

At the conclusion of the VC phase, the situation at the beginning of Turn #26, Side A ARVN phase:



In the screenshot, I have toggled ON the Low/Conserving Ammo unit highlights. 16 ARVN units low on ammo. 3 HQs unable to provide supply. Overall Ammo levels down to 34 & (Arty) 36. With ammo so low and fire in general so ineffective, even more so because it is night, the ARVN are hard put to drive away the enemy.

Well, if the enemy can assault, so too can we!

[berto]

TURN #26

ARVN Marines assault that VC platoon in the center, and ...



... accomplish nothing. (As far as we know. "Unknown Effect" might mean loss of SP(s) and/or Disruption, but with FOW, we simply don't know.)

The assault was head-on. By moving that green encircled platoon one hex to the northeast, we could have achieved flanking, and the added benefits from that. But it was decided better not to break the line. The turquoise encircled platoon could not join in the assault, because it is Disrupted.

You win some, you lose some. And some are neither. This was neither.

Other possible assaults were considered but decided against. The ARVN just fired into the night. One lucky hit destroyed a VC platoon (magenta circle, screenshot following).

After firing a few parting shots, the Gunship Hogs fly off to Bing Gia Airfield for refueling.

The situation at the conclusion of the ARVN phase, their final phase (with Fired/Fought Unit highlights toggled ON):



One more phase to go, the final VC phase. Almost done!

[berto]

TURN #26

Quite unexpectedly, the Viet Cong advance from the southeast:



But rather too late, because the end of scenario popup flashes, then a video sequence displays this welcome news:



The situation at scenario's end:



I am surprised to see so many VC to the east, in and around Ap Guang Giao and the Plantation. Far to the southeast, at Hill 152, note the VC regimental and battalion HQs, hiding underground!

The butcher's bill:



The Viet Cong lost a ton of SPs, and units. Many of those 248 Side A (ARVN) EPs were special awards for destroying entire VC companies.

282 Total Points, but not a 400+ point Major Victory. How is that even possible? If the ARVN had fulfilled their original mission

Your primary mission is to save the US helicopter crew, secure the rescue LZ (HEX 59,46), and wait for the arrival of the slick to take the downed crew out. You must clear the Quang Giao Plantation and capture Ap Quang Giao (HEXES 62,45, 63,45 and 64,45) [emphasis added]. Your secondary mission is to defend Binh Gia and Hill 101, patrol around the village, and destroy any remaining Viet Cong in the area.

perhaps they would have earned enough EPs to give them the Major Victory. On the other hand, so far from their supply sources and attacking in unfortified terrain, wouldn't the VC (near their supply sources) have cut the ARVN Marines to shreds? Probably. So all in all, I'll take the Minor Victory. For the ARVN, not bad!

[Crossroads]

Wow, well played, Berto! And thanks for a most detailed AAR report! Lots of details to be observed and learnt about the game mechanics here

[Big Ivan]

Very nicely done AAR berto! Lot of game action to consider and review. Thank you!!

[Rosseau]

This AAR is certainly the place to come to learn more about how the game plays, as well as the tactics involved in winning.

It also better illustrates more than anything I've seen or read just how far the AI scripting has come in this game.

CS:VN is really a brilliant effort - kind of like Shadow Empire goes to Vietnam in the Campaign Series. A poor example, but the best I can come up with.

[berto]

Thanks for the kind words, fellas.

Jason's new A Week in Binh Long "forever AAR"

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 2&t=381849

will be a real blast. With good game play tips to be had there also.