Fall of Keren Jaghur

Last night's board was too pretty to put away immediately, so I decided to do a second playtest, this time pitting the Royal Marines against hardcore locals in the initial strike on Keren Jaghur back in 2002.

Background

March 13^th, 2002. 41 Commando has been tasked with an assault on Keren Jaghur to seize the local Emir's compound and break the local Ansari al-Mawt's control over the community. The Emir, of course, will resist, as will his Ansari. Luckily, thanks to a daring heliborne insertion, the Royal Marines have started very near the town – maybe near enough to seize a battle-winning advantage in the battle for what will, six years later, be the Royal Sherwood's platoon house.

41 Commando's objective, bottom right corner.

View of Keren Jaghur from the north.

A Royal Marine platoon includes three sections of two fireteams with quite high firepower (8 and 12 dice respectively), supported by a sniper team, mortar and two Senior Leaders. They are Elite +9.

The Emir's local veterans have four squads of eight men (10 dice), 2 Junior Leaders, a Superior Junior Leader and the Emir himself, a Senior Leader. They are Green -7.

Despite the Royal Marines' 9pts of support, the Emir's men will have 20 points to oppose them with. The RM choose an unmanned UAV (3), a Medic (1), Air Support (4) and an Adjutant (1). They plan to identify the enemy as soon as possible, and then deploy to destroy before seizing the objective. Their Force Morale of 10 means they have a good chance of pushing through casualties to a successful conclusion.

The Emir's men choose a squad of Tier One Shadow Brigade veterans (6), a 60mm mortar team (3), two snipers (4), two squads of Green insurgents (6), and 6” of barbed wire (1). With over fifty men, they hope to force the RM to deploy unfavourably, and shock them enough to keep them away from the objective. Their Force Morale of 8 means that they are quite brittle, and cannot afford to use the usual suicidal Ansari tactics.

Patrol Phase

Making full use of their five free moves, 41 Commando penetrated halfway into Keren Jaghur from their start line in the western fields before the Ansari had any idea they were there. By awkward coincidence, they were actually alerted by a caravan of cattle herders coming over the central bridge.

The RM jump-offs were located in the two western compounds, and in the green zone to the north. Hopefully the threat of an outflanking manoeuvre and the loss of a jumpoff point would force a splintering of the insurgent mass.

The Ansari al-Mawt (AaM) jump off points in the greenzone, the mosque, the objective and in the fields to the east. This layered defence was designed to give multiple chances to beat the RM off the objective.

Turn One: Royal Marine Phase 64332

Resisting the urge to deploy his manoeuvre sections en masse, Lieutenant Cairn-Wilkes first set up his support section under Corporal Applewell, who put both teams on Overwatch. Corporal Fasil led his section down the southern side of town, leaving one fireteam on Overwatch facing the mosque.

Applewell's support section.

Corporal Fasil's section, Fasil front in the street.

Ansari Phase 66421

A mortar team deployed behind the compound, and further into town appeared Umar Haqqim (SJL) and a squad of fighters. Those behind the mosque were safe, but those on the roof were caught in an Overwatch crossfire which left a man bleeding against the golden dome.

Ansari Phase 64331

The mortar roared into life, spraying chips of masonry into Corporal Fasil's fire group. The Shadow Brigade appeared within the compound under Jallaluddin's command, and Haqqim rallied his men into pouring covering fire at Fasil's fire group.

The Shadow Brigade defend the compound gates.

RM Phase 64211

Sergeant Taggart deployed in the northern greenzone, and began calling in Air Support for the advance. Fasil's team rushed behind the next house as Corporal Anderson's blocking section deployed in the central buildings and fields. Finally, the mortar opened up on the roof of the mosque to no avail.

Ansari Phase 66652

Hussein's fighters opened fire, but they had misjudged the range, and the RM's skills and drills kept them safe.

Turn Two – Ansari Phase 55322

Haqqim rallied his men. The Shadow Brigade had found the range now, and raked Anderson's men with a frightening hail of fire. Haqqim's men, full of new heart, poured fire into Fasil's fire group again.

RM Phase 66653

Anderson rallies his men

Turn Three – RM Phase 43211

Sergeant Taggart continues his directions to Bastion. The UAV finally flies in overhead and immediately spots armed men in the greenzone. Bastion replies: an AH-64A Apache is inbound. The support section pours fire into the target compound. The mortar kills a man, and Lance-Corporal Masters, the sniper, actually scores a hit on Jallaluddin Hussein himself, spinning him to the floor with a 7.62 round. Anderson's men advance with fire through the field, trying to put a building between them and the Shadow Brigade. Fasil's men keep going down the south road, still using buildings for cover.

The UAV-eye's view of the battlefield.

The spotted insurgents.

Fasil's men reach the T-junction.

Ansari Phase 44331

Seeing Fasil's advance, Haqqim orders the men in the street into the fields, and returns his concentration to Anderson's fireteam. Fasil's men skid to a halt as a mortar shell bursts in front of them.

RM Phase 65432

Fasil leads his men into the house and opens up on the insurgents opposite. Anderson's section are much more effective, knocking out Haqqim and one of his compatriots (This was the second time a -2 was rolled for a Junior Leader injury, putting the Ansari at FM4 after only a few phases). Sergeant Taggart began easing his way forward.

Ansari Phase 4322

Dragging their wounded leader, Haqqim's men on the mosque roof disappear inside. The Shadow Brigade fired ineffectually at Fasil's flanking team, and the Emir finally appeared, directing even more fire at them.

RM Phase 64431

Fasil's men fired at the fields, injuring the Neta leading the enemy and killing the man who went to help him. The mortar he called in did not do any appreciable damage. Taggart moved to a roadside hut.

Ansari Phase 6544

The Emir screamed, cursed and pleaded, but all his efforts were in vain. His men shot worse than they day they first picked up a rifle.

RM Phase 62222

With the mosque suspiciously quiet, Anderson's men turned their attention the objective and fired at the Shadow Brigade, appropriately supported by the support section. Masters claimed another victim. Cairn-Wilkes then deployed to rally Fasil's fire group and direct their attention to the men shooting at their corporal. In what men of their grandfather's generation would have called a serenade of fire, they killed two and routed the rest from the battlespace.

Ansari Phase 4211

Two snipers opened up from the greenzone, pinning Anderson's fireteam. Seeing this, the compound defenders opened up on them as well, nearly breaking them. The men in the greenzone began working their way forward, toward Taggart's position...

RM Phase 66421

The support section kept up its fire against the compound. Fasil's men ran to seize the enemy jump-off point in the field. The lieutenant led the firegroup deeper into Keren Jaghur.

Fasil's men lay charges on the drainage ditch that led Ansari to the field.

RM Phase 66633

Fasil and Anderson rallied their men. Fasil's daring rush paid dividends and really shook the enemy morale.

Turn Four – RM Phase 66221

Anderson rallied his men, and the whole section moves 9” to seize the mosque.

RM Phase 42211

The promised Apache finally arrives and gives the compound a desultory spray of minigun fire. Anderson's fire group seizes the roof of the mosque, while he rallies the manoeuvre group inside. The final section finally appears, Corporal Vincennes leading them in Cairn-Wilkes' rush through town.

The Apache fires into the compound.

The rush down "Main Street".

Ansari Phase 534

Back on his feet, Jalalluddin seizes the reluctant Emir and disappears with his surviving veterans, to the puzzlement of the circling air assets.

Anderson's men control the mosque - the compound is empty.

RM Phase 53211

Anderson and Fasil both send their men hurtling pell-mell for the compound gate. Vincennes' section leap-frogs the Lieutenant.

Ansari Phase 614

The mortarmen fire at Anderson's team trailing in the open and fail miserably.

RM Phase 65321

Fasil leads his men to capture the jump-off objective. Anderson's men move into the cover of the compound walls, and Vincennes' section rounds the corner of the mosque.

Ansari Phase 525 – CoC Die unlocked!

In the very moment of defeat, a large team of callow youths leap from the fields to ambush Vincennes' men. Before they flee again, they shock them and critically injure Marine “Coffee” Coughlin. Another group reveals itself in the greenzone and opens fire of Anderson's sudden exposed fireteam. Luckily his pointman sees them coming, and they suffer no serious casualties.

Anderson's assailants.

RM Phase 65331

Anderson rallies his men and directs their return fire, killing four and pinning the rest. Vincennes rallies his section, and Coughlin's comrades drag him back around the corner of the mosque.

Vincennes in the street, firegroup Anderson on the roof.

Ansari Phase 116

The snipers open up on Anderson's beleaguered fireteam, but succeed only in chipping the wall above them.

RM Phase 66541

The Apache turns its predatory gaze on the men beneath it. In seconds the few survivors flee, giving Anderson's men the breathing space to duck inside the compound.

Anderson's men cram in with Fasil's.

Ansari Phase 22

In view of their shattered morale, the seeming invulnerability of the Royal Marines, and their terrible 3C, the Emir's men ruefully quit the field, singing songs of older days, when courage alone could still bring victory.

Butcher's Bill

British: Marine Martin “Coffee” Coughlin, critically wounded.

Ansari al-Mawt: 15 confirmed KIA, believed 40.

Overview

First off, Man of the Match definitely goes to Corporal Fasil. What a wunderkind! Right from the beginning, his forwards elan opened up the Ansari defence line, forcing them to divide their attention. Following that up with seizing TWO jump-off points with no casualties makes him a definite MiD in my book – maybe even a military medal?

Otherwise, this played very historically (I usually lose too many men). The British managed to keep their enemy on the back foot the whole game, largely through effective choice of assets. The problem with the Ansari list was that there were too many Teams clamouring for 1s, and not enough leaders to adequately redress the shortage, particularly once Lance-Corporal Masters and the others started knocking them out willy-nilly. I was amazed at how few casualties the Marines took, but then I have never really played with Elites before – they hug their terrain like no-one's business. Despite that, there was a palpable tension while they were moving forward. The chance of a critical casualty was always there, and only my masses of 3s and 4s allowed my sterling NCO cadre to keep their men going under the rain of unnerving fire thrown out by the enemy. In the end, the Royal Marines did not lose a single Force Morale point, though they never got a CoC die either.

Really, the Shadow Brigade should have used their 9” deployment radius to set up a crossfire from the greenzone, setting up an L-shaped fireforce dominating the town and making any advance a lethal proposition. Any unit could have set up inside the Heavy Cover of the compound – I should have sent the few elite troops at my command out on a wing. The other huge error I made was not using the local Taliban's On Our Ground special rule to go Tactical whenever they don't move.

So, while Keren Jaghur has fallen, the Emir is safe. His righthand man Haqqim is wounded, but alive – as is the merciless Jallaluddin Hussein. There will be no peace in the district until the leaders of the Alephstani resistance are dealt with, either in a shura or in a firefight.

CoC Herrick - Game I

Today saw the first playtest of my adaptation of Rich Clarke's Chain of Command, provisionally and Lard-ily named “CoC: Herrick”. As the name suggests, it is an update for COIN and asymmetric warfare in the modern period. The game is in two parts, because the first part was between Kieran and I (I played Brits) before a meal to celebrate my birthday tomorrow, and the second half was me playing solo after I got home.

View from the eastern side of the board.

View from the north - Ansari al-Mawt board edge.

Background

The game took place in my imagi-nation of Alephstan, 12th February 2008. 1 Platoon, 3 Royal Sherwood Rangers, are engaged in a platoon house in the village of Keren Jaghur. The local Emir of the Ansari al-Mawt, an anti-coalition militia, has decided that today is the day to assault, while the majority of the platoon are outside its walls patrolling. It is said that the decision was not his, but that of the commander of the foreign fighters in his area, Jallaluddin Hussein.

The Attack & Defence scenario pitted a British platoon with barbed wire and Air Support against a large number of foreign fighters, supported by a sniper team, some locals, a mortar and an MG team. The patrol phase was over quickly, leaving the attacking Ansari al-Mawt (AaM) stuck on the far riverbank, and the British defenders strung out through town. My initial plan had been to keep to the south-eastern quarter and defend a small perimeter around the platoon house. Unfortunately, my desire to lock down Kieran's probes left me out of position.

Part I

The game started with a series of double sixes for the Ansari al-Mawt, which saw their main squads deploy on a broad front down the table. Luckily, the Brits had left a fireteam in the platoon house, and the rest of the squad came back down the east road from their patrols post-haste, only for the group to come under heavy fire from the AaM on the far bank. Despite the mortar crew rolling out of their bunk to join in, and Lieutenant Raith and medic deploying with them too, the section spent the whole first half getting Pinned and rallied.

Platoon House begins its duel.

Macaulay's men seize the south of Keren Yaghur.

Foreign fighters move forward.

In the west, the AaM advanced rapidly, outflanking the two squads under Sergeant Malone in town and deploying an MG and snipers with a moved jump-off point. The AaM anchor in the riverside compound were kept in check by a fireteam on overwatch, while Sergeant Malone led another fireteam over a compound wall to deny it to the enemy. This led to the first Force Morale checks of the game as the Ansari charged in guns blazing. In the torrent of bullets that followed, Sergeant Malone was the only Brit to emerge unscathed. His corporal was wounded and the rest of the squad was critically injured in the close confines of the courtyard. Luckily, the enemy were slaughtered and the few survivors fled the field rather than follow up their advantages.

The courtyard was thick with death.

The MG team was swiftly pinned, and then destroyed, by the other half of the fire team blocking the riverside compound. The third turn ended on a British CoC die, opening the way for their Air Support to arrive. It also ended Part I, as we had to go have dinner in town. Hurrah for birthdays!

Both sides were down to a Force Morale of 5, due to the compound slaughter. Sergeant Malone was out on a limb with several critical casualties, more insurgents just a field away. Lieutenant Raith and the platoon house were engaged in a tense duel with an enemy squad and mortar team. The ACM position was similarly awkward, as they need to “seek out, close with and destroy” to win the scenario, but were without the means to do this effectively. The key to the battle was now Sergeant Malone's compound. If it was taken, the British morale could be crushed. If the incoming Air Support did its job, the ACM could be denied their victory, or even comprehensively beaten.

Part II

British Initiative: 66411 – 664411 – 54421 – CoC Die achieved!

Lieutenant Raith rallies both fireteams in the platoon house as the mortar continues its apparently futile counter-battery fire against the enemy 60mm. At the other end of town, a fireteam rushes to Sergeant Malone's assistance.

FAC Andy Maclain's requested Air Support finally arrives, in the form of an F-16 flying low in a show of force. The insurgents are within sixty yards of the British lines at every point, so dropping munitions is not an option. The foreign fighters engaging the position are however barely phased, though their Force Morale drops to 4. The riverside compound is kept under fire, and troops keep moving to support Malone.

Fire continues to be poured into the riverside compound, distracting them from the four men joining Sergeant Malone in the far compound. His gruff welcome shakes them out of the disorder of their pellmell run to help their friends. At the eastern end of town, Raith orchestrates a symphony of fire from the platoon house that leaves three men dead, the enemy Leader pinned, and the unit as a whole nearly pinned.

ACM Phase 5541

The Emir finally arrives on the board to rally the group in the compound. The sniper reveals himself, but misses his crucial first shot.

British Phase 44422

Malone decides to risk it and urges his men out of the compound, carrying their injured comrades. Under Raith's direction, the mortarman continues his rain of fire into the lush greenery across the river, and the fireteams keep pounding the enemy opposite – breaking them! The third section keep the compound under fire, and the medic leaves the platoon house to try and rendezvous with Malone in town.

Malone's men move out.

The medic starts his lonely walk.

Raith moves his men out.

ACM Phase 22

With his men's morale near breaking, the Emir knows that despite Jallaluddin's flight, nothing good could come of this day – but perhaps he can save it from being altogether bad. He urges the callow youths in the field forward to capture the injured Angrezi, and kicks the surviving men in his compound into shape – enough to pin the men in the house opposite.

British Phase 66651

Mortar fire continues apace.

British Phase 65422

Malone urges his men down the back road. The blocking force, now thoroughly miserable, keeps up a desultory fire on the Emir's compound. Raith, in a daring move, leads the section in the platoon house out around the fire to counterattack across the bridge.

ACM Phase 34

The Emir rallies his men and gets them firing again – and they critically injure one man in the blocking section and severely injure the corporal too! Wilkinson is a popular man, and hearing his screams on the radio puts a real dent in the platoon's morale.

British Phase 66322 – 433 (should have been 3 dice the first time too)

Macaulay, Malone's second, sees movement in the fields and hustles his men onwards. They are pinned in place however by the paralyzing knowledge that one of the compound survivors has died in their arms. Raith's squad carries on gung-ho across the bridge, while the medic travels on, alone, into town.

Raith leads his men fearlessly into the Green Zone, while Macaulay again chivvies his men on towards the medic trying to find them in the streets. He also finally gets a trooper to drop smoke and cover their escape.

The Brits enter the Green Zone.

ACM Phase 51

The mortar team fire at the oncoming Brits, and by incredible luck manage to place the round just right, killing two and critically injuring a third.

British Phase 543

Raith leads a fireteam in a charge on the ACM mortar personally. He loses another man, but routs the mortar squad. The medic finally reaches Malone, Macaulay and the casualties. A CoC die ends the turn with Raith on an enemy jump-off point, and the Emir is decisively beaten off with -2 to his force morale. Or not so decisively, since the British FM was hanging by a thread at 3 at this point.

Malone and Macaulay finally rendezvous with the medic.

In any case, the Ansari slink away, the firing dies down, and the fields near the platoon house are declared clear for casevac helicopters to take the wounded to Bastion, and from there to Selly Oak.

The battlefield at the end of play.

Too late for the men of 2/3 RSR, an Apache circles the battlefield.

Butcher's Bill

British: 4 KIA, 6 WIA, 1 wounded Leader

ACM: 12 confirmed kills, 33 suspected KIA.

Overview

CoC: Herrick played really well, as I thought it would. I made minimal changes to the rules to bring it forward, most of which were about air support and Western casevac. Kieran was a little worried to begin with by the casualty difference (at that point 12 KIA to 3 WIA), but appreciated that the Force Morale mechanic made a relatively bloodless victory very achievable. This is really crucial, I feel, to modelling a modern firefight.

The main difference that affected the game – other than the aforementioned casevac – was the change from Routing to Battle Shock for the Coalition troops. This traps troops with double shock in place and renders them useless, as well as vulnerable to enemy action. I made this change after reading several memoirs of Afghanistan, none of which mention fleeing – most of which mention a state beyond pinning, where good troops temporarily snap under intense pressure and require a good scream from an officer or an NCO to get them back in some semblance of order. That, or for the fight to be won without them.

Having got The Sharp End as an early birthday present, I look forward to integrating CoC: Herrick with it. In a COIN and asymmetric context, I think a campaign is vital to make any sense of the various engagements, particularly when it comes to the nauseating, permeating paranoia of platoon house operations. I will also be adapting the Charlie Don't Surf Military & Political Victory charts for modern use.

If you're interested, please do keep coming back. If you want to look through some of my notes, please contact me at infoatmorningstar at gmail dot com.