Operation Possum Dagger Part 3

Blogger still entering the rapture at the moment leaving me free to post articles etc but unable to post comment, even on my own blog. I also note that my own headbar at the top seems now to be locked in Greek, at least Thanos will be happy with that. Here is the last of my posts on Al and I's last game. Excuse the photo's but I forgot to take a lot of shots as it was supposed to be Al's turn at Press Officer.

The two beachhead assault and heli insertion on Ping Pong Island was carried out simultaneously within about 5 minutes of each other. No Naval gunfire support was used in order to surprise the Garrison and try to stop any destruction of the WMD. Air support was to be provided by the Cobra’s on station.

Bootneck Beach at the south end of the island was overlooked by the garrison gardens and undefended for 300 or so metres. Here 43 Commando landed without incident and proceeded to advance inland to the rear of the harbour area.

NK Coastal troops deployed on the outskirts of the harbour soon made contact with the Marines and P Company was particularly targeted as they had to break cover and advance up a slope into a lightly wooded area. Each Platoon suffered casualties and it was only the élan of the troops that they continued to attack without pause. Morale was high for the Commandos and the NK troops were soon retreating into the harbour area itself with moderate casualties and failing morale.
Meanwhile on Koala Beach to the north the 1st Commando Regt too had advanced after the landing into contact with elements of NK Coastal troops. The Beachhead here was smaller and the Regt split into three forces with four Platoons of each Company advancing on each side of the island while the two Recon Platoons went up the guts towards a known AA Battery and the compound. Like the Marines the Aussies soon took hits and one platoon was forced back, however after a mêlée the NK’s were soon in full retreat leaving the Companies to probe ahead and look for the weak spots in the crumbling defence.

The heli assault on the knoll in the centre of the island went in without incident, and the Support Platoons of the Marines and Australian Commando’s soon were organized and in particular the 43 Commando Mortar Platoon and Sustained Fire MG Platoon were supporting the other forces in the assault with accurate and telling fire.

A hasty assault towards the LZ was crushed without delay, then the NK changed tactics and sniped at the hill with medium and heavy weapons from an abandoned vile. This was little more than annoying to the forces here and soon attempts were being planned to eliminate this weapons Company however these plans proved to be unnecessary as events transpired.

On station above the LZ the Huey Cobra “Snake” Flight soon had the feared Elite NK NBC Company in its sights and permission was given for strafing runs at the human elements inside the compound. 2.75 inch rockets were soon raining death and destruction without mercy on the defenders and when the Cobra switched to guns the NBC Company ceased to pose a worry to Allied troops, and those who survived managed to scurry to the harbour with shocking morale. For the Allies this was the turning point in the battle.

The advance of the Bootneck Beachhead soon reached the harbour area and again P Company was in the thick of the fighting losing a Platoon of Marines against a stiffening NK defence. In a 600m extended line the Marines charged into the NK Coastal troops with bayonets fixed and the defenders broke and ran towards the pier to surrender.

Mortar support from an 82mm Battery proved ineffective and the Royal Marines soon were advancing towards the compound to hook up with the Aussies, leaving the two surviving Platoons from P Company to guard the prisoners.

Meanwhile at the Koala beachhead a few Platoons of NK Coastal troops soon replaced the shattered NBC Company in the compound but they were soon surrounded then overrun by the advancing two Australian Companies with seven Platoons effecting surrender on the surviving defenders.

The two Recon Companies managed to destroy the Northern AA Battery without mishap before being poised to support the assault, however they were unneeded as the mission had been completed.

So ended the battle of Ping Pong Island, a relatively short game, completed in four moves or about three hours in actual time. Lessons were learnt this night and a few new skills were put to the test.

1. If you have lots of Infantry use mass to isolate and destroy smaller pockets of resistance. This is a game winner against smaller or less trained opponents. The steam roller process creates panic amongst your enemies and sends them into retreat.

2. Helicopter Gunships or Attack Choppers can turn a tightly defended position with crack troops into a graveyard. Spread your defenders out to eliminate mass casualties, and use SAM stands wisely.

3. Remember to plan ahead and hold troops back for admin purposes such as surrender monkeys.

4. If you build something, use it. I have had my LCM3’s and LCVP’s for about five years and two paint jobs yet never used them. It’s more fun using them than storing them.

5. Have fun with short games. The games do not have to go on for days, sometimes little is more than enough.

Cheers to my partner in crime Al who is dropping off some aircrew figures for me next week.