Paul's Vietnam Collection.

Evan wrote:Beautiful stuff, Paul! I can't believe how great that looks. I do not have the patience for scratch building something like that!

TBH it does get a little monotonous but you have to keep the end in site or occasionally do something else for a few day. Therefore been working on some shops for FIC/ Vietnam.

Plus we now have a puppy so he has eaten into my time (and some other things. )

Congrats on the new family member. He's sure a cuite!

Paul,
That is one precious puppy! Makes you want to lie down
and cuddle together. And yes, they eat other things,
but after all, that is part of the job of being a puppy.
Congrats. You are in for a lot of fun. Know it is OT
for Vietnam gaming, but you can always keep us
posted as he grows and post other pics.
Thanks for posting this. It has made my day.

Sam

yankee sam wrote:Know it is OT
for Vietnam gaming, but you can always keep us
posted as he grows and post other pics.
Thanks for posting this. It has made my day.

Yes indeed! After all, that's what The Barracks forum is all about. Or for a more intimate audience, The Saigon Gentleman's Club forum.

Congrats on the new little one. They are quite time consuming, aren't they!

The rivercrafts are really nice, indeed. Now you need a wider river I suppose.....

Tomrommel1 wrote:Congrats on the new little one. They are quite time consuming, aren't they!

The rivercrafts are really nice, indeed. Now you need a wider river I suppose.....

I have a brown river already. 4' x 16'

cool

Finished the latest crop of buildings for my Vietnam Town.

The signs and flags are interchangeable so that different periods can be played.

Paul,
These are just incredible. Wonderful job showing the influence
and presence of French architecture. Your city is spot on.
This is just beyond words. Thanks for posting these.

OT: How is life with the puppy going?

best always

Sam

That is a wonderful set up indeed. Marvelous. If you come up with a storage solution, let us take part, as I had to stop my Hue project As I am running out of storage space, too.

yankee sam wrote:Paul,
These are just incredible. Wonderful job showing the influence
and presence of French architecture. Your city is spot on.
This is just beyond words. Thanks for posting these.

OT: How is life with the puppy going?

best always

Sam

Thanks for that

Eddie is becoming a real character and pretty well behaved and best of all not too barky

Lovely stuff.

Paul,
Eddie has the most beautiful and unusual markings. Looks
like he is going to be a good "helper" as well as your
buddy. He is just precious. Thanks for posting some pics.

I just pray that he never gets near those beautiful houses
or any of the incredible terrain you have built. Not to even
think about miniatures.

take care,

Sam

So far he has been fine with things but he has taken a liking for a bridge that he keeps stealing. However I think its the chase to get it back that he likes the best

yankee sam wrote:Eddie has the most beautiful and unusual markings.

Paul, I concur with Sam. Eddie is a handsome fella.

Thanks chaps. Very kind comments

The terrain is great! Eddie is superb!

Great table, cool dog!

French Indo China Urban Game. Colonial Town of Man How 1953.

SCENARIO BACKGROUND.

This is a fictitious game based on the type of attacks that were carried out by the ever bolder Vietminh forces in the early 1950’s. Man How is a French Colonial Town 30 miles south of Hanoi. It has a small local defence militia made up of local French business men. The local Vietnamese population continue to appear loyal to the French however communist influence is silently taking hold and its been very noticeable that in recent weeks the local population have become noticeably quiet and reserved. FFL paratroopers patrol the area to help police the situation but are hard pushed to try and be in the right place at the right time.

The French have limited air support and no artillery within range. Military intelligence has concluded that an attack is likely by Vietminh regular troops.

SCENARIO.

The town is typical of the busy slightly shambolic old French colonial towns with a mix of French and local buildings. Communist activity has been minimal but developing. The local town militia has been warned of an impending attack by Vietminh regulars and has taken up positions to defend the town as best is can. The local Vietnamese population are not trusted. A plea for help has been sent to local French forces and a reinforced French FFL Para troop squad has been sent in support.

The game starts with the French militia in defensive positions of its choice. It has one barricade that it can place on the table anywhere it wants. Must defend the town.

First move French regulars can enter on the western and northern sides of the town. Orders are to support the mayors militia and defend the town.

Local Vietnamese continue about their business but are subject to the Random Events Chart.
First move Vietminh troops can enter along the southern and eastern sides of the table. Capture the town. Kill any French population especially the mayor and priest. Capture the local population and hold courts to see who is loyal to the communist cause.

FORCES.

French Town Militia
Commander mayor, Priest and 6 other townspeople. Mission to defend the town. Various basic weapons SMG, Bolt action rifles, shotguns. S&D 3

French FFL Paratroop reinforced Squad.
Every French para has one grenade.
Sous-lieutenant Piere Thrulewindow. RTO, Sergent-Chef, Medic, 1 X 30 cal two crew. S&D 4
FIRE SQUAD: Squad Leader Sergeant – SMG, 1 x LMG, and No2 with carbine. 3 x Riflemen, 1 x SMG. S&D 4
SHOCK SQUAD: Fireteam 1 Leader Corporal – SMG, 2 X Riflegrenadiers, 2 x carbines, 1 x SMG. S&D 4
Fireteam 2 Leader Corporal – SMG, 1X LMG, and No2 with carbine. 1 x SMG, 4 x Riflemen/ carbines. S&D 3

French Town Militia.
8 men Assorted weapons ranging from pistols, rifles, SMG, shotguns. S&D 3
Local Vietnamese. If they become hostile assorted weapons. S&D 3

Vietminh Force. Weak platoon
HQ – CO, Medic, Bugler for comms, Standard bearer, runner. S&D 4
Support squads.
50mm mortar. 2 crew. S&D 3
MMG 2 crew. S&D 3
75mm RR 3 Crew. S&D4
Squad 1. 8 men. Mix of bolt action rifles and SMG’s 2 grenade per squad. S&D 4
Squad 2 8 men. Mix of bolt action rifles and SMG’s 2 grenade per squad. S&D 3
Squad 3 8 men. Mix of bolt action rifles and SMG’s 2 grenade per squad. S&D 3
Squad 4 8 men. Mix of bolt action rifles and SMG’s 2 grenade per squad. S&D 4
Squad 5 8 men. Mix of bolt action rifles and SMG’s 2 grenade per squad. S&D 4

GAME.
The table starts with the Vietnamese civilians scattered about their business around the table. If a 1 is thrown they will arm themselves and then we roll to see who they attack.

The French player opts to place his town militia, including the mayor and priest in two defensive positions. Half defending the Blue Angel Bar (yeah right!) the other half a barricade thrown across main street.

The initial moves show some seriously good initiative throws by the French and the FFL arrive first move from the market corner. The Vietminh are tardy, or is that careful and sneaky? no its tardy. They arrive from the opposite corner and start to move along the edge of the table intent on getting to the church and petrol station as the main attack as well as sending two squads towards the bar.

For the first few moves there was no contact as troops manoeuvred into position and got closer to their opposition. Move two the French gain a Stuart 105mm support tank. Move three and the French get air support. This needs radio communication to guide it to an attack and cannot just attack anything it wants. After all this is French property. Unfortunately move four the French radio fails for two moves and so the plane is left to carry out an air display for a few moves. This gives the Vietminh the chance to continue their advance without fear of an attack from above.

The Vietminh take up positions in the buildings opposite the bar and in the church and a fire fight begins between them and the town militia with the militia getting the worst of it, especially from the light mortar. Move five sees the militia make a run for it having suffered a few casualties but fear not the mayor runs to safety and future electoral victories.

By now the French had taken up positions in the main street near the temple and sent the tank and two squads around the left flank to capture the petrol station and night club. These bumped into the advance squad of Vietminh and in the ensuing firefight the French, supported by the tank pushed the Vietminh back and captured the nightclub. However the French squad who moved into the club became the target of the following Vietminh supported by their recoilless rifle and were forced to retire having taken casualties. This flank was to become stand off with pot shots being taken but little opportunity for one side to dominate. The tank held back due to the threat of the RR.

One the other flank the Vietminh chased the town militia from its positions defending the bar and began to move around that flank to attack the French defenders in the centre of the town.

Move seven saw the petrol station burst into flames following the roll on the random events chart.

In the centre a carefully positioned Vietminh MMG (its had taken seven moves to get into position and set up.) took aim at the French 30 Cal. Having won the initiative it spotted and fired, rolling a 1. Bum! The French 30 Cal spotted and took carful aim and fired back,. Rolling a 1. Merde! But no matter the radio was now working and the pilot directed to bomb the MMG. However it failed to spot it and flew over the target. Next move the radio failed again and after flying around it did a victory roll and flew back to base for coffee and pastries.

On move ten the French player decided to evacuate back towards his entre point. And moved through the market. Move 11 and the random events chart rolled the scary point 1 and the locals grabbed their weapons. The following roll to see which side they would support was tense.
They rolled in favour of the Vietminh and the French player found himself surrounded in the market place. An even bigger Merde! And the game ended.

Great fun and both sides saw success and failure swing back and fourth with the end only becoming obvious in the last two moves. Both sides suffered from good and bad dice but one of the best games yet.

Now to pack the scenery away.

Cheers,
Paul