Flames of War Vietnam - Fair Fight

Over the weekend Strom and I played a game of Flames of War Vietnam.  The last Navy SEAL scenario we played took longer to setup than the actual gameplay, so we wanted to try a regular, normal Fair Fight this time.  I took the Americans, running this Infantry Company at 1000 points:

• 35 Rifle Company HQ 
• 150 Rifle Platoon 
• 150 Rifle Platoon 
• 145 Aeroscout Platoon (25th) 
• 260 Field Artillery Battery 
• 260 Field Artillery Battery 

Strom took his NVA and Local Forces.  I placed one platoon on each of the two objectives... and waited. Except on the first turn, where I ventured out to interrogate some villagers.  I succeeded on both rolls, removing them from the play.  The first of many fortunate rolls on my behalf.  Then I waited.  My White Team was used to harass and pick off stray teams as he moved carefully under the heavy jungle canopy toward the Americans.  Eventually, through my heavy artillery strikes and precision targeting by the Loaches, I forced his Local Forces team to run and regroup (off table reserves).  

He took out one Loach and I kept the other back to save for later, better opportunities.  My platoons were still hanging tough, concealed and dug-in in the tall grass and jungle.  As he approached, he threw three units at one of my platoons. The MGs and M-16s lit the units up, despite being pinned.  The next turn I unpinned and let the NVA have it.  One more NVA team removed off the table (and later brought back on from reserves).

Strom regrouped and prepared for a second wave.  This time softening up the Americans with some artillery strikes of his own.  Between assault waves, the medic saved a few teams, which helped in the upcoming firefight. After having to pull back for a moment to address a fake-out by my other platoon (they double-timed it in a race toward his unsecured objective), Strom's units were in position.  His second wave included three units, but again was repulsed due to the MGs.  Pushing near twenty turns, Strom resigned and the game was over.  

Victory to the Americans!  I do have to admit that my rolling was a major factor in my win - it was good when I needed it to be. I made critical rolls to unpin.  I also rolled well on my infantry saves consistently over a number of turns, (where just one bad turn of failed saves could have made for a disaster).

We are looking forward to playing some more Vietnam games before we assemble our Team Yankee forces.