Operation Junction City

Operation Junction City - 1967 (Vietnam War 1955-1975).

Become A War Blog Patreon
or

This is complete to a first draught, however, I think the map is too cramped. I think its off center too. I based it on the 212  Warriors and Paratroopers of the 50's sites but upon reflection doesnt compliment the Wikipedia map. I might leave it, but I dont want this to turn out like Operation Masher, the Vietnam period needs a lot more consideration. I still dont have paratroopers in play so more compromise.

However, this is an interesting operation, described as a hammer and anvil where the US paratrooped units to the North West and created a full surround with flanked blocking forces and armour that then moved intot he pocket.

The idea was to get the Viet Cong HQ which they thought was in this area.

The border is Cambodia.

Whilst its a reasonable representation of the play, there isnt enough space to reflect the dynamics of what happened. The Viet Cong did do some counter attacks but they most hid on the defensive. The losses were quite low and there were few major engagements. Most importantly, the Viet Cong were able to slip back into Cambodia which I dont think is reflected in theri game set up i think if you play this the Viet Cong will be eliminated as they will be encircled. In reality the US had a hard time finding the Viet Cong which you wont in this set up.

As such, I think there should be a soft rule that the Viet Cong just have to get into Cambodia and that the US cant take too many casulties. You can interpret that as you like. In reality they took significant casulties but it was nothign like Tet

I do find it hard to place the Viet Cong though as they seem portrayed as peasents with AK47's but I think they were a fully organised army, just lower tech, and so they do have air defence, ie quad mounted hmg's and artillery and rockets. I just think they didnt have much armour of any kind.

I think in conclusion that this current set up should really be used to analyse the hammer and anvil strategy together with the air mobile landings to the North West which included the only parachute drop in the war and the first since the Second World War at market Garden. You can clearly see the enveloping strategy and comprehend how the US felt they would be able to crush the Viet Kong 9th Division which is what is fielded. I think maybe there should be a special rule to allow the Viet Kong to pass through the US troops. Im not serious about that as I cant program it, but if it were an option it might make this game a little more plausable as it is. The thing is, even if I expanded this game to its fullest North and South it would only have gained a hew extra hexes.

However, as a non historical game, I think theres a lot of play in this, from a purely technical level.

see Wikipedia

see Paratroopers Of The 50s

see 212 Warriors

Facebook Comments

Discus Comments

Units (United States)

Units (North Vietnam)