Ia Drang
November 14th, 1965
7th/5th Cavalry U.S. Army Vs. NVA/VC
Contents
History
The Ia Drang valley is the first major conflict between US forces and NVA forces in Vietnam. The fight started with U.S. troops being landed at Landing Zone X-Ray while patrols were sent out from the main landing zone. They then came under fire. 2nd Platoon under Lieutenant Henry Herrick gets cut off.
This is going to be where the Sim begins.
Objectives
NVA
Inflict heavy casualties on US Army and overrun landing zone X-Ray
US Army
Defend X-Ray as well as force the NVA/VC back to Chu Pong Mountain (eliminating spawn points on the way)
Rules
Base rules for Vietnam Event!
Though difficult, we will try to be slightly more immersive than past sims; thus there are a few rules:
- No hi capacity magazines*
- Ammo limit at game start is 600 rds per rifleman, 2000 for Support Gunners
- Use of scopes, lazers, flashlights, anything you can put on a rail unless it’s needed (such as a battery box) should be left behind
- Medics will be in play!
- The more Vietnam your kit, the better! As such, simplify your loadouts… if you are NVA or VC, try to go for black/khaki/solid colors. Get creative! Also try to keep your weapons appropriate, armalites and AK's or other gun of the era are always a bit more appropriate than P90's.
If you are in dire need to use them, you must remove hicap to wind simulating reloading (unless you are a support gunner)
US ARMY SPECIFIC RULES
Medics
Medics can heal players with 60 second two hand touch and applying a bandage to downed player. Medics will have a set amount of bandages assigned to them (5). Bleed out is up to 5 minutes for US Soldiers, if bled out, must walk back to respawn (you cannot be revived walking back). Soldiers who have bandages must place their used bandage in the resupply box at respawn when back in the game.
Respawn Rules
For US Army to simulate a reinforcement drop, you must wait for 2+ additional players before respawning back into the game once hit.
Respawn is 200 Feet from Landing Zone X-Ray when X-Ray is under fire at a designated area.
Ammo drops occur every hour of the sim, with ammo and bandages. The middle of the landing zone X-Ray will be where equipment is stashed, only allowed access for 10 minutes to load up to 600 rds per player, or 1000 rds per support gunner. Bandages may only be used by medics.
NVA/VC SPECIFIC RULES
- NVA/VC have many spawn points to simulate tunnel systems. These are designated throughout the field and can be destroyed by US army by removing spawn-flag. Respawns can be retaken, but flag must be replaced (by living NVA/VC only)
- Respawns for NVA are instant
- Respawns may not be spawned from if under direct enemy fire
- No NVA/VC medics!
Order of Battle
3 U.S. Teams
- 1ST PLATOON – 1 medic
- 5 – 10
- Start point: Landing Zone X-Ray
- 2nd PLATOON
- 2nd Platoon under “Lieutenant Henry Herrick” – 2 medics
- 5 – 10
- Start Point: “Cut off Platoon”
- 3rd PLATOON - 1 medic
- 5 - 10
- Start Point Landing Zone X-Ray
NVA/VC
- Numbers depend on total players for the US Army involved, but will be 3 US per 4 NVA
- Starting point for main army (80% of troops) is spawn on Chu Pong Mountain
Up to 20% of team may start at other spawn points to simulate scouts
Admin
Supplies needed:
- Bandages, each medic is given 5 bandages. Bandages after use are then resupplied when there is a supply drop
- Flags for spawn points
- 40 rice hats would be nice
- A little bit of imagination
- 2 NVA Team Leaders to coordinate spawns/attacks
- US Team Leader with 1 leader per “platoon”
Victory Conditions
Game is over when Chu Pong Spawn point is overtaken, or when X-Ray is overtaken.
Respawns
Respawns will be automatic for NVA/VC, marshals won't be needed for them.
I was hoping timers would be used in place of marshals for US respawn.
The ammo will not leave the drop spot, just open up for use every hour instead of being physically moved.
5 minute timer at respawn.
As Airsoft is a game of honor, I would hope they'd honor a 5 minute wait.
I'm trying to make sure we need as minimal admin as possible.
US air strikes
As for US airstrikes, I haven't worked out any mechanics for that except that maybe when called in, anyone within a certain grid gets nailed and has to respawn. But we'd need everyone to have a radio and a map for such a thing. Unless we have smoke cans that when tossed, anyone within 20 feet gets killed simulating napalm.
Supply Drops
The supply drops would always be at X-Ray, if X-Ray is overrun the US forces technically lose. I was just thinking it'd be easier if instead of having a team of admins walking around every hour with a briefcase, everyone would have their own ammo stashed away at the base but only able to reload when the timers go.
This means everyone can have their own supply of bb's they brought and not have to worry about different weights etc.
However an actual supply drop could add a dimension of realism to the scenario. I just want to make this as simple as possible so that lots of people can play without too much issue.
Final thoughts
And yes, having a couple respawn admins might be a good idea to make sure things are smooth. But one issue I can think of is because of how many NVA spawns there (potentially) will be, it might be hard to keep track of them all. US not so much. If we had a resupply/respawn/radio comms admin or two that'd probably do the job.
