Force on Force: 20mm Afghanistan Skirmish

Doug staged an excellent Afghanistan War skirmish game on 22 August at the Centre, between the British (Paul and Simon) and the Taliban (Rob and me), using his very good 20mm figures, while Richard assisted with the Force on Force rules.

 

Game One

A Taliban compound on the edge of the cultivated Green Zone (marked by trees), initially garrisoned with a hidden squad of men, was the target of a British operation aimed at capturing the enemy commander, and a Stinger missile. The compound had two buildings – ‘A’ and ‘B’ (which had a second storey).

Taliban forces consisted of six squads and an HMG, which would appear randomly at ‘hotspots’ along the treeline or in the compound via tunnel.

The British had four squads, a Jackal jeep and a Viking mobile command post. The British had to comply with rules of engagement which allowed them to open fire only if fired on. A squad member who was injured had to be looked after by another member of the squad.

 

The British Arrive

The British advanced from the hill, Simon taking the right flank with the Jackal and two squads, as Paul advanced from the left with one squad (another left in reserve) and the Viking. A sniper took up position in the centre on the hill.

Both forces approached the compound walls. Paul sent two men over the wall, as four of Simon’s sheltered behind another.

 

The Taliban Appear

I rolled in a squad of Taliban along the tree line close to Simon’s Jackal.

Simon put the Jackal on overwatch, and Paul did the same with the Viking on his own flank.

Rob rolled in another Taliban squad, which appeared at the compound via underground tunnel from the Green Zone. As yet the game was a Wildwest-style stand off as no firing had taken place.

 

British Recce, Taliban Advance

Paul’s men peeked around building B and looked inside.

I now deployed another Taliban squad on the tree line in the centre of the table. And an HMG soon followed, facing the compound from a distance.

My first two Taliban squads now began to advance, as yet without firing.

 

British Hold, Taliban Open Fire

As Simon’s two British squads maintained their position by the compound wall, Paul’s other two men from his squad took up position around the other corner within the compound.

More Taliban appeared where the HMG was, and I continued to move up the first two squads. The action began as I fired the HMG against Simon’s men by the wall, but caused no damage.

Rob had two squads of Taliban in building B, and these fired at Paul’s men causing one casualty.

 

Taliban HMG Destroyed

My third Taliban squad also advanced. However, Simon’s Jackal let rip and took out two crew members of the Taliban HMG.

Simon’s first man by the wall also fired, sealing the fate of the HMG.

 

British Assault on Building B

Paul’s first two men now fired on the occupants of building B, dispatching one Taliban fighter. The other two from the British squad notched up two more dead.

 

Taliban Fire Ineffective

My Taliban squad near the destroyed HMG fired 12 dice against the British by the wall, but missed.

The 50 cal gun firing from the Viking vehicle took out two of this Taliban squad however.

Six Taliban controlled by Rob in building A or outside fired on Paul’s squad but were ineffective.

 

Jackal Immobilised

I unleashed an RPG from my first Taliban squad against the Jackal, but missed. However, seven AK47s fired from the same squad and caused two casualties on the Jackal’s crew, meaning the vehicle was suppressed and immobilized.

 

The Jackal fired on the first Taliban squad twice but missed. Even so, this Taliban squad was being decimated, as it took two casualties from the British squad by the wall and the sniper. The Taliban appeared to be just sitting ducks in the open exposed to more accurate British fire…

 

Simon’s British Take Heavy Losses

Nonetheless, my second squad of fighters unleased an RPG on the Jackal (shot missed), and seven men fired on the British by the wall, luckily inflicting seven potential (and four actual) hits. This was one dead and three wounded, necessitating the second British squad to evacuate the casualties. The game had turned on a sixpence…

Still, the Taliban were taking the majority of casualties – three dead in the compound building, and others three lost from squad two, to British fire from Simon’s wall position.

 

Paul’s British Overwhelmed

But Paul’s four men were not secure. The first half squad was suppressed and received one and then two casualties. Paul decided to pull the second half-squad out.

Still, the Viking caused a casualty to my third Taliban squad, whose RPG fire was ineffective against it. Rob now rolled in the final Taliban squad, arriving via tunnel, at the compound

The game was a defeat for the British, even though they lost six casualties (including three dead) to the Taliban’s 13 casualties.

 

Game Two

It seemed the British approach had failed owing to splitting their infantry and not quickly entering the compound, which allowed the Taliban to concentrate and attack. The four casualties on one of Simon’s squads had led to the second squad effectively pulling out in order to take care of their wounded comrades.

So we played the game again, this time Rob and I were British, and Paul and Simon were Taliban.

Rob lined up all the British infantry (16 men – 4 squads) by the compound wall, as two Taliban squads appeared by the tree line.

The British all jumped over, and fired on two Taliban squads in the buildings – three Taliban were killed, compared to two British casualties (only one of which was actually severely wounded).

The British blew holes in building A, while two squads fired on building B – causing 7 fatalities (the entire Taliban garrison there was wiped out).

The replayed game ended in a British success, as Taliban fire was largely ineffective.

Debriefing

Thanks to Doug for devising an elegant and enjoyable yet unpredictable scenario, using nice figures, and Richard for assisting. Overall, this was one of the best Modern games staged at the club in my memory. While this War is still fresh in many people’s minds, it is precisely through wargaming (and the research and discussion that accompanies it) that we can begin to grasp the challenges and motivations of the combatants on both sides, growing in understanding.