AAR: Quang Tri

[Aeraaa]

Turns 21-30



4/147 battalion assaults the citadel (1). One company moves towards the west, the other towards the south. The fight is inside trenches, slow and bloody, but the ARVN troops make progress. The goal is to encircle the citadel by capturing the entire trenchline, then assault the citadel proper. Battalion casualties are 40 men.

1/147 battalion (2) completes the capture of the firebase and moves south-southwest. The goal is to capture the compound to the south and the Pagoda. Battalion casualties are 47 men, many of them due to a friendly fire incident when an A-1 ground attack plane napalmed several of my troops.

ACAV platoon (3) cannot advance any more, due to mines and enemy resistance. Casualties are 7 men and 1 M113 ACAV APC that stepped on a mine (all crew survived though).

5/2TF para battalion (4) splits into two parts. One will aid the ACAV platoon in capturing the outskirts of Quang Tri, while the other will capture the southern part. Advance is slow and it is only with heavy artillery strikes that the paras make any progress. The battalion suffers 55 casualties.

1/11/2TF para company (5) secures their objective. One platoon stays back to defend it, the rest of the company moves forward. They come under fire from 37mm AA. Thanks to M60 MGs, attack helos and artillery, they manage to neutralize the majority of their opponents (snipers, heavy MGs and infantry is also included in the mix). The company suffered 16 casualties so far.

7/2TF battalion dismounted troops (6) move towards the bridges. They encounter heavy AAs (37mm), infantry and dug in positions, but a combination of mortars, flamethrowers, attack helicopters and determined infantry attacks overcome most resistance. ARVN paras are only about 150 meters from their objective. One company lands further north with their goal being the capturing of the northern part of the city. Battalion has suffered 34 casualties so far.

The AA guns at (7) are finally eliminated after a lot of air strikes. My air units can move much more freely now.

[Aeraaa]

Turns 31-40



These turns are characterized by significant counterattacks by NVA units. They are shown on the map and they are in detail:
1-A two company sized counterattack, hitting the advancing elements of 1/147 marine battalion. The counterattack is defeated by massive amounts of artillery fire from 105mm and 155mm artillery. A T54 tank also aids in the counterattack, but it is knocked out by a side hit from a M72 LAW from the citadel, used by the marines of the 4/147 battalion.
2-Several platoon sized counterattacks hit the troops of 5/2TF paratrooper battalion. The close range of the combat means artillery and air force cannot be used efficiently (in fact one air strike that I used did more harm to my men than the enemy). The counterattacks by both NVA and VC units were eventually beaten by close quarters fighting (with many melee actions to boot) and suppressive fire from my sole surviving M113 ACAV (which used all of its Claymore mines, showing that it also fought up close and personal). This battle is the bloodiest from all formations of the ARVN, since only two combat effective platoons remain in the area (out of 4), but they do manage to repulse the attacks.
3-The last remaining platoon of the 5/2TF is attacked as well by a platoon sized element of the VC. They beat their opponents with the use of 60mm mortars and UH-1 gunships.
4-One platoon of the 1/1/2TF is attacked by a platoon sized element of the NVA. Aided by a Cobra flight, the ARVN paras prevail.
5-One counterattack by two platoons of NVA troops intending to recapture the western part of the bridges. They are beaten by 60mm mortar fire and small arms fire.
6-One counterattack by an NVA platoon. They manage to destroy one support squad, but accurate MG fire halts their advance.

In addition to the counterattacks, one platoon of the 7/2TF lands by helicopters at the northernmost edge and captures the objective there, while two platoons of the 4/147 assault the inner compound of the citadel. They are successful after brutal close range fighting, and they also eliminate the enemy HQ. NVA is severely demoralized after losing their command and the counterattacks are a failure.

[Aeraaa]

Turns 41-46 (end)


The final turns are just mopping operations, eliminating the last demoralized NVA units inside the city. Final dispositions are:




The yellow line shows the areas still controlled by the NVA at the end of the scenario.


And the final results:



The casualties per formation are:

ACAV platoon. Total casualties: 21 soldiers. The unit is at 36% strength, is combat ineffective and is not visible on the map.
4/147 battalion is (1). Total casualties: 53 marines. Approximately at 57% strength*.
1/147 battalion (2). Total casualties: 56 marines. Approximately at 89% strength.
5/2TF battalion is (3). Total casualties: 97 soldiers. Approximately at 36% strength*.
7/2TF battalion is (4). Total casualties: 69 soldiers. Approximately at 78% strength.
1/11/2TF company (5). Total casualties: 17 soldiers. Approximately at 84% strength.
Other formations: 26 men in total, mostly pilots.

*started at 66,667% strength.


Equipment losses are 6 37mm AA guns, one T-34-85, one PT-76 and one T-54B for NVA. For ARVN, 2 M113s ACAV, one Cobra attack helicopter, 4 UH-1 helicopters, one OV-1D Mohawk observation plane, 2 A-37 Dragonfly ground attack planes, one F-4 Phantom fighter-bomber and one AC-130 gunship.

Looking back at the battle, I can say that my superior firepower gave me victory. Whenever my advancing infantry encountered any serious resistance, they would fall back and a hail of artillery fire would fall on my enemy. The position then could be easily taken by an infantry assault. When the enemy counterattacked, by MGs and infantry would fix the enemy and my artillery would destroy him.

Air force was also quite effective (with the only exception of the AC-130, which was shot down without firing a single salvo). The B-52s created enough carnage in the beginning and the tactical air strikes knocked out a significant number of weapon systems, including two tanks. My attack helicopters would also support my infantry several times, although they did need to make a trip to the HQ (that had the ammo depot) 3-4 times. The intensity of the operations was the reason for the high air losses, but it meant that the infantry had an easier task ahead.

My UH-1s carrying one para battalion performed the only maneuver for my force. These units managed to encircle the NVA force and capture the vital objective that was the two bridges connecting the two parts of the city.

NVA infantry was a formidable opponent and a dare say that had I not the monstrous fire support available, the battle would be much different (either different outcome, or much more casualties). They could fight up close and they were hard to break morale, at least until they had significant total casualties and their HQ was destroyed.

The battle is an ARVN minor victory, although remaining NVA units will be hard pressed to offer any meaningful resistance.