Diggers At Work After Action Report Part I

[Bishop746]

This is my first AAR but it looked like alot of fun to write one up. Its for WBW's Diggers at Work. Great scenario; if you havent played it then be aware that reading this AAR will spoil some of the surprises and there are several that are really good and Im not even done yet.

Here goes.
04-20-05
The platoons started moving forward until they reached the wooden structures at the edge of the open gap in the trees. C Platoon (middle) began to receive heavy small arms fire immediately to their front. I moved them into position with two squads up with the LMG section and one squad in reserve in the rear with the HQ.

D Platoon (bottom) moved forward maybe 150 meters after first contact before being hit with heavy small arms fire. D Platoon deployed the same as C Platoon except I had the advantage of moving my scouts forward to get a good idea of the enemy’s strength. My plan was to hold with C platoon and move forward with B and D platoons to seize the objectives to their front and put pressure on the enemies flanks.

The best laid plans of mice and men.

After several turns, both D and C platoons were facing increasing small arms fire and some heavy weapons. Enemy fire was inaccurate but plentiful and causalities began to mount in both platoons. The number of visible enemy troops was increasing as was the volume of fire; which now included mortars.

I moved the Company reserve out of the Refinery to 200 meters behind C Platoon (middle) to act as a mobile reserve.

B Platoon (top) was the only unit faring well. I set my scouts range to 0 and crept them forward with the platoon not far behind. The scouts made it to the edge of the open area between the rubber trees without receiving any fire from the enemy. An NVA platoon was crossing the open area heading SSW towards C Platoon. They had not seen my scouts yet. Within one turn I had two squads and a LMG section up and firing into the NVA caught in the open. Most turned and moved back into the treeline but two squads were pinned in the open. This action alone prevented an entire enemy platoon from hitting C Platoon from the north(screen wise).

C and D platoons could not prevent the capture of two victory hexes and casualties had totaled a squad in each platoon so I pulled both platoons back to prevent being overrun. The Australians moved back in good order and are still combat effective.

It is now turn 8 and I’m waiting on my artillery to fall which should be this turn. Reinforcements have arrived to the south. I hope to keep the company intact until reinforcements are in position.

More later.