AAR Silver Star 7.17.10

[Komissar]

Well, another Cimmerian OP completed, and already half the season over.

Cimmerian OP: Silver Star was well worth the effort! The Ice House AO is a
great location with plenty of trees, rocky slopes, and wooded paths. The
scenario was well laid out for the battle of Lang Vai during the Viet Nam war
where the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) attacked a US Base. Tanks were used by
the NVA to over-run the US positions and a brutal fight ensued.

The weather had been predicted as possible thunder showers; however it was cool, sunny, with an occasional light breeze. Perfect Airsoft weather.

This OP was attended by Diamond Corps troops: Blazed, FlapJack, Kattiana, and
Komissar.

After the morning briefing, our team was assembled. The Diamond Corps troops
were aided by Cutter who acted as our radio operator. We were given the task of
lead squad for the US forces who were to patrol, locate, and report the
positions of NVA forces to the South-East. Blazed on point we moved out,
followed by FlapJack, Komissar and Kattiana. The remaining US forces in line
behind and to our right, we moved toward the location of our A-camp on the map.

The terrain is fairly heavy at the Ice House AO. It is a duel canopy forest
providing brush and boulder cover, beneath tall heavily shaded woods. We patrolled
on a foot trail, until it opened into a clearing which marked the lower area of
the A-camp. Across the upper ridge Blazed had spotted the NVA moving South. After
waiting for the NVA patrol to pass, we awaited further orders from OPCOM. We
were told to continue tracking the enemy, to gather intel, and move to the
A-camp on the ridge. The command squad would approach the A-camp by from the
North.

We began moving up the ridge following the enemy patrol by keeping in the trees. When we reached the top of the ridge entering the A-camp, we heard machine-gun fire and small arms at the North end of the ridge
where the command squad had run into NVA waiting in ambush. Our squad moved to
engage the enemy forces. Having come from the South we had the enemy’s back,
and they were soon destroyed or retreating. After some ‘interesting’ skirmishes
in cover at the North edge of the A-camp, the US forces held the A-camp and
awaited the enemy’s attempt to over-run us. It was quiet for quite a while and
then they attacked from several sides. Small squads used grenades and pushed to
get up the ridge, and then it would go silent again. Awaiting the next rush.

We held the ridge for several attacks before being told to move out on the road to the West. Rumor was that a tank was approaching up this road with infantry escort. We were to set up in ambush so the grenadiers
could knock out the armor. Our team set up on the North side of the road at a heavily
wooded, drop off.

As the ‘tank’ (vehicle mounted M60) approached, it cleared or pinned most of our assaulting troops. Our forces continuously killed squad after squad of NVA infantry trying to keep cover behind the advancing ‘tank’.
Our grenadiers were each killed before they could be effective, and so the ‘tank’
rolled on while we pulled back over the hill to a bunker. The ‘tank’ was unable
to get to this position, so we set-up a perimeter and awaited the advance of
the enemy infantry.

Blazed was constantly on the move engaging the enemy as groups came over the ridge and attempted to flank our command bunker. FlapJack also defended the ridge and the road leading to the A-camp on the opposite
side. Kattiana found an over-watch position where she could defend the ridge behind
Blazed, and also cover the road leading away from the A-camp. Her position dominated
the advance of the advancing enemy, making her the key operator in this firefight.
Several times she was able to kill enemy troops who had broken through the
lines, and could have killed other member of the squad.

Although a determined and long fight at this location, the bunker was never taken! The NVA forces pulled back to the road where their armor had come from, and then retreated South. A successful defense by the US troops who
held on in a very difficult situation. Also at this point Komissar realized we
had been without our radio-man for some time. Cutter incurred a minor injury
and had stayed with the command group since the assault on the ridge. We hope
for him a speedy recovery.

With the NVA on the retreat, Tin-Man gave the order to break perimeter and engage the enemy. We felt as if we had been let off the leash! Moving quickly, we retraced the path the command squad had taken through
the ravine at the A-camp, and back into the heavily woods. We picked up a direction
the NVA was using for retreat, and FlapJack and Blazed led the pursuit. The
enemy had laid ambush points along the whole trail. As soon as you would break
through a firefight and move another 30 meters down the trail, the shooting
would come from a dark area of cover on the opposite side of the trail. In a slow,
cautious, tactical advance we moved, usually losing the man on point before getting
to cover and suppressing the ambushers.

One or two at a time we would suppress, flank, and kill our opponents. It was a wooded, jungle warfare at its finest. Casualties were heavy on both sides, but we continued to press our enemy back down the trail until we
had broken through. This evolution had been one of the team’s favorite missions
of the entire day. It ended on a high note!

Thanks to the Cimmerians, particularly OPCOM’s Tin-Man, and Cutter. Also, always a pleasure working with Sproket, who was with the command squad most of the day. I am hoping he has time to add a little
something from his perspective on here! We hope to see you soon at LZ-5! My congrads
to Blazed, FlapJack, and Kattiana (Recon Squad Troops) who once again showed their
dedication, and shared this opportunity.

Another great event! Looking forward to the next.

-Komissar

[SCRAMBLE]

:"Let off the Leash" -- yes.

[Sproket]

I paired with Ernie - who was in Nevada at the last game - most of the day. Took out several NVA positions together along the route to the A camp N side.

Grenades failed 3 times against the tank. However, very good concealment did make it possible to get VERY close to NVA and the tank.