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Round 1
rattler (u.s) vs tide (nva)

Operation Strike

Initial Landings:

Flying high above the column of APC's strapped into a huey i was taking note of the steam rising from the jungle as if it were a dragons breath. I hoped this was not an omen of things to come. The CO ordered us in saying "this one will go close to ending the war if we can give the nva a hard lesson in warfare so they lose the will to fight." I had heard that before of course! With support from the flyboys and fresh eager recruits morale was quite high. Suddenly from the mists a flash then a terrific explosion. The APC's had been ambushed and RPG's were whistling this way and that. I saw the infantry disembark with m16's chattering and then some nva rifles opened up point blank range. I saw a whole platoon drop to the ground with no life left all happening within a split second. I bit hard on my cigar and ordered the hueys in for support. A hail of rockets and machine gun fire pushed some nva back with losses but all of a sudden the enemy had vanished into the jungle.Some more drops of infantry and chasing the enemy we were fired upon taking more losses.Then someone tripped a wire and a chain reaction of explosions erupted followed by deadly fire from the jungle depths, causing 2 more platoons to no longer exist.The enemy was tough and smart. This wasnt going to be easy. The recon plane Bird dog reported fire from ground units to the north and east and the hueys were sent to disrupt and dislodge these small nests of resistance. Infantry were dropped and inflicted losses on the enemy but 2 hueys were shot down in the process when assaulting with one crashing to the ground on top of a whole platoon. The other just exploded in mid air it must have been a RPG. Circling above the conflicts decisions had to be made and still we were nowhere near any of our objectives.Some AA units had opened up disrupting some of our air transport, it was getting obvious we had kicked over an an ant nest. It was now a question of priorities.
Will do another report after a few more turns.

NVA COL Majog sat on the rise looking out his spider hole over the valley below. The morning mist was rising like smoke from a dragons breathe as he heard the sound of incoming heuy's carrying the US Tigers. A worried look creased his brow as NVA AA fire along with 120mm RR opened up on the advancing armor column accompanying the Heuys. Within seconds the dragons breathe spit fire and vehicles erupted in flames along with heuys. The Tiger was careful though and quickly retreated into the brush hoping the Dragon would follow. But the Dragon had hunted Tiger before and new better than to enter the Tigers domain. Yes COL Majog though.... before this is through it will be a fight to remember... :smg:

Rattler (u.s) v Tide (nva)

The Ambush party that attacked the APC's were dealt with by means of our air cavalry swiftly with little more losses in the process. It was a relief to rid that threat to our reinforcements. But tradgedy awaited. Fire from AA guns suddenly opened up when the recon plane Bird Dog was probing forward positions. I saw the stream of smoke form the port wing through my binoculars and then suddenly dropping from the sky like a stone, Bird Dog exploded on impact with the ground. Our eyes and ears were gone. I cursed and proceeded to send the loaded APC's up the highway to the next objective. With little resistance this was a success and ordered the hueys to drop some more platoons nearby for support. We attacked in force with air and artillery support but the enemy were tough and i could see this was going to take time to dislodge the NVA Dragon from it's lair. A hidden AA battery opened up during the drop and we lost 3 hueys before the guns were made silent. Some more smoke in the sky to the west ment more AA fire had hit our hueys in transit so a small detachement was sent to deal with this. Upon landing the NVA dashed from behind cover and launched an assault that sent a Chopper spinning out of control in flames while another took damage and had to retreat. Another smoke trail and more AA fire.The losses to our air cavalry were mounting.Our troops took some time to rally but eventually held of the marauding force and with some added support via another drop of U.S m16 platoons quickly surrounded the enemy and were waiting for the green light to assault. I now spyed the far objective and could see nothing but jungle green and that worried me. But loaded up we moved off towards the mountain range that hid the bulk of the NVA command structure(according to intelligence) and to the tune of "ride of the valkyries" we braced for our biggest test yet.

Ghost player stikes again,,,,
As late comer NVA col Tiger88 steps to the plate, he soon finds the US tiger is has learned well to stay clear of the NVA dragon.

As the mist clears in the road the NVA get ready to spring their ambush but wait what is that... the Tiger senses danger and pulls off into the kunai. The high grass hides his infantry and only the tell tail flags of the antenna's bobbing like the tigers tail, give aways their position. As the slow NVA react APC's open on the MG nest and hiden AA guns. The NVA react with 90mmRR fire and a lead APC goes up in flames. RPG infantry spring out but run into M16 fire and die where they stand.

It is a firey battle as the NVA dragon breaths his flames of death but the US tiger has a friend and by round 2 the cobra strikes from above maming the dragon. Everywhere the Dragon turns awaits the tiger and with bite after bite slowly wears done the dragon as it retreats to the safety of the jungles.....

rattler(u.s) v Tide (nva)

"Incoming!, take cover!" The sky filled with rocket artillery and plumes of smoke were rising from the ground as a landed group of Hueys were hit while refueling. Six more Huey transports damaged or lost along with trucks carrying some reinforcements that never made it to the front lines. How did the NVA know this was one of our mobile supply points? Obviously some VC were in the area supplying information. Further north a hail of mortar fire hit our front lines and such was the accuracy great losses were taken by the infantry.I bit down on my cigar and ordered the capture of the objective we were assaulting. The boys went in hard and unfortunately some civilians thought to be VC were caught in the firefight which will be bad press for us back home.The assault was a tactical success and all NVA were destroyed such was the inspired actions of the assaulting troops after seeing many of there own perish. APC's and loaded trucks moved forwards for further operations to the north.In a Cobra heli I proceeded along with other hueys further forwards to the great mountains and jungle and took some small arms fire as a welcoming from the NVA. Circling above i peered through my binoculars and spotted some hidden mortars and infantry on the outskirts of the jungle and called Skyraider for a run at the Area. "This is Skyraider we are coming in hot, repeat,coming in hot" . Approaching at low level Skyraider lined up the outskirts of the forest and i hoped this display of firepower would shake the foundations and make the enemy scatter before we landed.Some tracer was seen directed towards Skyraider. I held my breath..........
The jungle erupted in flame and surely nothing could survive such a barrage. We approached with Gunship support and dropped behind the disrupted and dazed enemy with speed and precison. A few minor injuries later and the enemy was parceled up and prisoners shipped to the rear for interrogation including some battalion commanders. Only another 500 metres and we will have another objective under control. I received news that the small force of NVA occupying a hill to the west that was previously surrounded had been all but defeated and only some minor resistance was left to mop up.Tallying up results so far i could see that at this rate losses in expensive heli's was getting costly due to the enemies artillery and AA fire. Surveying the maps I looked ahead to the next stronghold where artillery gun flashes had been sighted. I had no idea what sort of strength of force was lurking in that dense jungle but expected the worst as we prepared to move out once again.

Rattler(u.s) v Tide (nva)
The APC's heading north along the highway were ambushed by NVA infantry wielding rpg's and the losses were extreme. Wrecks of vehicles littered the highway delaying the whole process while a desperate drop of infantry pushed the NVA back into the jungle. I shouted over the radio to Colonel Grillo to get those APC's moving to the bridgehead further north as soon as possible.Col Grillo in a huey surveying the situation and reporting back to me as events unfolded was cut short in his reply. A hail of machine gun fire from one of those nasty AA batteries hidden in a hollow sent the huey with Col Grillo spiraling out of control. The machine last seen out of control crash landing in a valley. No word from Col Grillo since. Remaining Forces made a dash for the bridgehead and took the nearby objective but losses had mounted in the firefight with many casualties sustained.
En route to the supposed artillery centre of the NVA more fire from the ground caused some of our air cavalry units to retreat with damage but the rest of us managed to drop nearby the jungle outskirts for an assault into unknown.Cobras launched an attack disturbing many platoons of NVA. Further to the east we had infantry in place for a go at the objective on top of a hill and with gunship support hoped to resolve that soon.
Currently due to losses inflicted by the NVA only achieving more objectives will appease high command of the losses sustained by us so far.The NVA dragon was a formidable foe. Currently held locations were still being counter attacked by small groups of NVA infantry but the U.S gunners had to hold with what they had.No further reinforcements could make it in time for this engagement.I called up another skyraider run for the bridgehead to clear a path. Time was running out for the U.S and so were the supplies of man, machine and ammunition.

Oh no not Col Grillo....... Rattle do what you must! Call out the Marine! Call John Wayne or Clint Eastwood but save Col Grillo. Without him we are all doomed to a life sans DGVN. Oh woooo is me, what will we all do?

LMAO

Lmao, we shall try a rescue team but alas no word from the crash site.Surely a distinguished service cross for gallantry in leading the intitial major assaults successfully.

Major Applequist was watching his men as they once again boarded their Hueys. The battle for the unnamed hill east of highway 55 was over. Sporadic gunfire could still be heard as the last NVA stragglers were mopped up.
Victory on the hill had as always come with a price. Alpha company had taken serious casualties and an entire platoon in dead and wounded was being medevaced.

Not that HQ seemed to care. They were too busy with their statistics, celebrating a 20-1 kill ratio. This was of course attributed to the Gunships, never mind the grunts. Applequist had an uneasy feeling that HQ would call off the operation and claim victory after analysing their graphs and diagrams. Despite the fact that it was still a long way to go before the highway was secured.
With Pogues in the rear running things anything could happen.

On the radio, Captain Wetherholt could be heard reporting that he had captured the village Ap tran Vinh 2. Applequist signalled his men to hurry up, it was time to move out..

[attachment=1034][attachment=1034]Rattler(u.s) v Tide(nva)

The Assault on the bridgehead was made but just as infantry with APC support engaged the enemy more NVA appeared on both flanks and with a barrage of fire caused great losses to the armour. The confusion and chaos caused nearly stopped the assault dead in it's tracks but I gave the order for the reserve companies in hueys to drop behind the marauders and in doing so inflicted losses on the enemy. Manouvering in my Cobra along with 3 others in support we then made a dash at the enemy and all but wiped out the threat. Highway 55 was now considered taken but reports were coming in of fresh attacks mounted in areas we had already passed through. Two assaults on hilltops were still continuing and with some more drops on the far sides behind the enemy's entrenchments hope was that with some more time and air support eventually the objectives would be met. But the losses sustained so far had been more than was acceptable and victory looked as though it would belong to the fire breathing dragon.