Action at Port Grenville

The southern advance of TF Kroesen was met with a force of Cubans advancing from the port town. Their aim was to delay and hinder the advancing US forces before withdrawing. 

The battlefield. The Cubans plan was to secure some of the buildings as a base of fire. 

TF Kroesen consisted of 1 full infantry company (4 infantry, 2 Gama Goats), an understrength company of 3 infantry, a support company of a Dragon, 2 mortars and a HMG platoon, with Gama Goat transport. They were supported by an FAO and FAC. 

Cuban forces were an infantry company in BTR60s, a company of PT76 light tanks and an FAO with 3 122mm guns in support. 

The Cubans began, with a number of failed command rolls, so their advance was slow up to the buildings. The 82nd forces were equally slow. 

In turn 2, the FAC, with support from one of the advancing Recce jeep units (M151 MUTT jeeps), called in air support from an A7 Avenger II. However, this was driven off by AA fire from command units. 

                 the first failed strafing run. 

The Cuban FAO on the smaller eastern hill, called in some accurate artillery fire, destroying 3 Gama Goat transports, a mortar and a Dragon stand as well as suppressing 2 infantry. The remaining infantry were slowly advancing to the buildings to their front but were hampered by more command rolls. 

However, the air support was more effective on a second strike. Again, an Avenger II rolled in, suppressing all 3 PT76 tanks, with one tank taking 5 hits and saving 4 of them on rolls of 6! 

The 82nd FAO called in smoke to cover the advancing paratroopers, who were lions led by donkeys, if the HQ rolls were anything to go by- again, it took the CO to get them moving. A second air strike was driven off by AA fire. 

The 82nd forces moved up into the buildings and were ready to start taking the fight to the Cuban infantry. Another air strike was successfully called in on the tanks again, destroying one. The tank that saved 4 hits in the previous turn took and saved another hit! 

By turn 5, Real Life was starting to intrude on the flow of the game. It had arrived at a crucial juncture - the US forces were at a point where they could start firing and close assaulting the Cubans, who had lost 1 of their 3 tanks and would struggle to call in artillery without risking themselves. I rolled a D6, a 1-3 would mean a Cuban withdrawal, satisfied with having dealt the capitalists a blow, 4-6 would see them fight to the death for blood and soil. I rolled a 3. An entertaining little game, TF Kroesen had been slowed, losses had been inflicted and the Cubans had lost just a tank. 

This was the game that I promised I would fight this half term. Real life commitments will now take precedence for the rest of the week!