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Do you appreciate we’ve been hanging around this thread for a month so we can reply within minutes of you posting?
So, how come Shady didn’t get any medals, huh? He singlehandedly took out three enemies waiting in ambush then spotted the enemy in the final action, thus saving his commander from certain death. Not like he shot anyone on his own side. Any failing on his part were the fault of his superiors for not providing sufficient motivation and direction. The kid has the makings of a general, he should get medals and a promotion.
Great reports as always. 🙂
Stop being a Shady Lover!
I am so going to use that as a username somewhere, and then regret doing so.
All,
And now for Operation Geronimo, which began right after Operation Currahee.
It’s 0630 on 27 July 1990 and Operation Geronimo has kicked off. The goal of this operation is to parachute infantry into blocking positions to screen the landing beaches where Cuban Liberation Expeditionary Force (CLEF) forces will be landing later this morning in response to forces of the Fédération Socialiste Nationale de Leon (FSNL) invading South Leon three days ago. The CLEF, which already had a small Task Group (under Major Fulgencio) on the ground, assisting South Leon government forces in counterinsurgency operations and guarding the DMZ between South Leon and FSNL, is being reinforced in order to throw FSNL forces out of South Leon and end the insurgency carried out by the Communist “Free Leon Army” (FLA).
Earlier this morning, Lt Villagrosa’s ODA 212 (Task Force Dusty, in Operation Currahee) parachuted in further north to secure a vital traffic hub and draw FSNL forces away from the actual amphibious landing site. Now Lt Espinale’s E Company, 6th Para Bn (Task Force Hawk) is parachuting in to secure blocking positions screening the landing beaches. The parachute landing went nice and smooth owing to Lt Villagrosa’s men doing an outstanding job; Lt Espinale’s men quickly formed up and began moving on their objectives.
Overview, north is up, with Cubans entering the table in the west (left). There’s a crop field in the southwest, the northern edge of a local village at bottom center right, a dirt road running east-west, a small knoll at top center left, and a river that’s only a few feet deep at bottom center running to riht. Other than that there are only stands of trees and bushes breaking up the landscape.Lt Espinale is with the forward elements of Task Force Hawk, moving west to east on the dirt road, looking to defeat any enemy forces encountered and clear the route for follow-on forces to continue movement east to the blocking positions. There are no FSNL regulars in the area, they’ve all been drawn north to deal with TF Dusty, but there are plenty of FLA insurgents around. Bad guy riflemen are at:
-bottom left, just right of the field and below the tree
-center left, on the edge of the river, just below a stand of three trees
-center, below a stand of four trees, with bushes below him and to his right
-top center, in the corner created by bushes running north-south and east-west
-bottom center right, just below the river, just right of a building and just above a tree with some pots
-the Technical is just to his left, between two huts
-the enemy machine gunner is at bottom center, in the corner created by two wooden post walls, just left of a hut
Cubans pinned down in the bottom left hand corner struggle to return fire on the insurgent positions in the village. To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2018/02/operation-geronimo-1.htmlSo a decent start to TF Hawk’s campaign in South Leon. Lt Espinale quickly re-formed the company and got them on the road moving east towards their blocking positions. But on the way they came across a large farming compound that locals confirmed was occupied by FLA insurgents. Lt Espinale immediately grasped that bypassing the farm was not an option, it had to be dealt with, but before an assault on the farm could be made, a bit of high ground further east needed to be secured. Lt Espinale ordered Lt Gonzalez to ready his men to assault the farm compound as soon as Lt Candelario’s men had secured the high ground; things wouldn’t go quite as planned…
V/R,
JackAll,
It’s 0730 on 27 July 1990 and Operation Geronimo has kicked off. The parachute landing went smoothly and Lt Espinale’s E Co, 6th Para, AKA Task Force Hawk, quickly formed up and began pushing east, clearing the area of enemy forces and moving to blocking positions to screen the amphibious landings scheduled for later this morning. An hour ago the TF Hawk commander, Lt Espinale, ran into enemy forces, insurgents of the Free Leon Army (FLA). The Cubans suffered two very serious casualties, but killed six FLA soldiers, captured one, and destroyed a Technical, thus opening the route east.
TF Hawk continues towards its blocking positions when the point man calls a halt; they’d come to their next objective, so the troops posted 360 degree security while the leaders huddled up. Just south of the road was a farm that needs to be cleared, but you can’t clear the farm without first clearing the high ground to northeast of the farm. Lt Espinale’s group would hold place in support while Lt Candelario led his group to the north to clear the high ground (this fight). Once the high ground is secured, Lt Gonzalez’ group will take the farm from the south (next fight).
Overview, north is up. The northern edge of the farm is at bottom center, while just right of it is a canal running north-south. At top right and far right is the troublesome high ground Lt Candelario’s group must take. The dirt road runs from far left to top center right; there are a few cultivated fields throughout the area, as well as some boulder-strewn patches of rough ground, as well as a few stands of trees and plenty of bushes.The Cubans are in two wedge formations (top center and top left), and again there are bad guys everywhere, a total of six riflemen, an RPG gunner, a Lieutenant, and a Technical. The riflemen are at:
-bottom left, where two of them are in the fields. Someone in the farm (bottom center) saw something and ordered some sentries out to check on things to the north
-bottom center right, just right of the canal and below a stand of three trees
-the RPG gunner is just right and above that guy
-at right, atop Point 2
-the enemy Lieutenant is just above and to the right of that guy
-two more riflemen are atop Point 1 at top center right
-the Technical is in the farm at bottom right. The Technical will not move, but it will engage the Cubans. The whole issue is that the Cubans need to clear Points 1 and 2 without becoming decisively engaged by enemy troops in/around the farm, which will be assaulted from the south by Lt Gonzalez’ troops once Points 1 and 2 are secured.
The Cubans are pushing forward under heavy fire…
But bad guys (bottom center and right) have crept in behind them (top left) and are opening fire, plus the Technical (off camera to right) is hammering away with its heavy machine gun. It’s gonna be a long day… To see how it started, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2018/02/operation-geronimo-2.htmlMore to follow.
V/R,
Jack3) The Cubans here are Army, not Marines
I believe this is the sole reason they aren’t rated as ‘elite bullet proof heroes’.
I’m looking forward to the action at the Western edge of Northeast South Leon (West was feeling neglected so I had to include it), I checked out the Blackhawkhet post you mentioned and I’m wondering where the civilians fit in?
All,
It’s 0750 on 27 July 1990 and Operation Geronimo has kicked off. The parachute landing went smoothly and Lt Espinale’s E Co, 6th Para, AKA Task Force Hawk, quickly formed up and began pushing east, clearing the area of enemy forces and moving to blocking positions to screen the amphibious landings scheduled for later this morning. Earlier the TF Hawk commander, Lt Espinale, ran into enemy forces, insurgents of the Free Leon Army (FLA). The Cubans suffered two very serious casualties, but killed six FLA soldiers, captured one, and destroyed a Technical, thus opening the route east. Then TF Hawk continued east towards its blocking positions, coming across a farm south of the main route that needed to be cleared. Lt Espinale ordered Lt Gonzalez to prepare to clear the farm, but first Lt Candelario was tasked to continue further east to clear some high ground that would threaten Lt Gonzalez’ assault on the farm. But Lt Candelario and his men ran into a buzz saw, taking heavy casualties from the high ground and a heavy machine gun mounted on a Technical on the north end of the farm. Lt Candelario and his few remaining men, shocked at the ferocity of the FLA insurgents’ resistance, fell back into a hasty defensive perimeter and got on the radio to plead for help.
The commander, Lt Espinale, ordered Lt Gonzalez to assault the farm immediately. “But Sir, that high ground is still in enemy hands, we’ll get torn to pieces.” “I know, but Candelario is about to be overrun, we’ve got to do something now. You assault the farm, and as soon as you’ve got the compound under your control I’ll push through on your right to secure the high ground and relieve Candelario and his men. If you can take the north end of the farm, great, if not, we’ll handle it. But I need you moving as quickly as possible to take that compound.” “Roger, Sir.”
Overview, north is RIGHT. The objective, the farm compound is at left/top left, with a small fish farming pond at top center, and the north end of the farm (with the Technical) at top center right. The southern high ground, known as Point 2, is at bottom right, with the canal running north-south (right-left) from the fish farm to the far right.Lt Gonzalez’ men will enter at bottom left, their mission to take the farm compound and, if possible, silence the Technical at the north end. The bad guys will have a group of riflemen (amount unknown) in the farming compound, but they’ll also have a rifleman in north end of the farm (he can fire on Lt Gonzalez’ men, but the Technical’s HMG is firing off screen to the north -right-, keeping Lt Candelario’s men pinned down), and the bad guys have a light machine gun atop Point 2. It will be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to kill the enemy soldiers on Point 2 and in the north end of the farm.
Here is a new set of buildings I picked up for Christmas, from Crescent Root Studios. That’s also where I got the trees and hedges; they’re awesome!!!
The Cuban assault element manages to push onto the objective (top right), but the base of fire element is getting its butt handed to it by flanking fire from Point 2 (off camera to bottom left) and the north end of the farm (bottom right). Can they do it? Can they take and hold the objective, relieving pressure on Lt Candelario’s beleaguered force long enough for Lt Espinale to pass through and assault the high ground? Check the blog to find out:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2018/02/operation-geronimo-3.htmlI’ll do my best to get the fourth fight posted tomorrow night, but I’m a bit behind and can’t promise…
V/R,
JackI can recall a certain someone’s better angels being severely offended when KG Klink saw several soldiers summarily executed for cowardice on the battlefield!!!
I think it was Cubans doing the executions then too, but I might remember incorrectly. See what a bad influence you are on me, calling for extreme punishments now? :p
Don’t think I read any of your Klink stuff, I need to complete your back catalogue of greatest hits. 🙂
All,
It’s 0805 on 27 July 1990 and Operation Geronimo has kicked off. The parachute landing went smoothly and Lt Espinale’s E Co, 6th Para, AKA Task Force Hawk, quickly formed up and began pushing east, clearing the area of enemy forces and moving to blocking positions to screen the amphibious landings scheduled for later this morning. So far this morning Lt Espinale was pushing east and ran into contact, clearing the route with a couple casualties. Then the Task Force approached a farm that needed to be cleared, and Lt Espinale detailed Lt Gonzalez to take the farm, but he was worried about some high ground a bit further east, so he sent Lt Candelario forward to take the high ground, and after that was done he’d send Lt Gonzalez to take the farm. But Lt Candelario’s troops got shot to pieces and had to hole up and call for help, in danger of being overrun.
Lt Espinale immediately launched Lt Gonzalez’ attack on the farm in order to relieve pressure on Lt Candelario’s men; Lt Gonzalez’ attack succeeded but, as predicted, with the high ground in enemy hands, they suffered mightily. But now the farm is in Cuban hands, Lt Espinale is leading his men forward to take the high ground and rescue Lt Candelario and his men.
Overview, north is up. The northern edge of the farm is at bottom center, while just right of it is a canal running north-south. At top right and far right is the troublesome high ground Lt Candelario’s group was supposed to take (Point 1 at top right and Point 2 at far right). The dirt road runs from far left to top center right; there are a few cultivated fields throughout the area, as well as some boulder-strewn patches of rough ground, as well as a few stands of trees and plenty of bushes.Lt Candelario’s survivors are huddled at top center left, just left of the canal, while Lt Espinale’s men are entering the table in the southeast (bottom right). Lt Gonzalez’ men took the farm compound, just off camera to bottom center left, but that damn Technical (bottom center) is still hammering away from the north end of the farm, Lt Gonzalez’ men were exhausted from their fight and simply couldn’t get to the north end. Lt Espinale’s men need to whack all the bad guys and save their comrades in the north.
A Cuban rifleman (bottom center) catches a pair of insurgents crossing the road (top center) and opens fire. To see how the operation concluded, please check the blog at:
http://cubalibrewargame.blogspot.com/2018/02/operation-geronimo-4.htmlSo, that series of fights was a lot of fun for me. I kinda want to play more, but I’ve got too much other things going on, and this isn’t the end of TF Hawk, just the beginning. This was simply to set the stage for some other stuff I want to do with them (this ties into the 10mm Modern French stuff I just bought and posted on Blackhawkhet: http://blackhawkhet.blogspot.com/2018/02/some-progress-but-not-there-yet.html ).
Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and stay tuned, more fights on the way.
V/R,
Jack
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