Product Review: Vietnamese Huts (BB169)

PAVN and Free World Forces Clash over a “Strategic Hamlet”

 I have been playing Flames of War “Vietnam” ever since the publication of “The Battle of Ia Drang” in Wargames Illustrated 266. Though I purchased both the initial PAVN Bn and US Airmobile Co sets and have gamed with them for years, I never got around to adding Vietnam terrain to game with.  I simply used my European based terrain and made do. So I was excited to see Battlefront producing some terrain for its Vietnam range. But, I was also a bit apprehensive about getting the Vietnamese Huts (BB169) because they looked so similar to the earlier Rural Farm Buildings (BB139) which Steven reviewed on WWPD.

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Vietnam AAR: Indian Country (Airmobile)

Sean and I were able to get in a Memorial Day game of 'Nam, and with my 2 Cobras, 2 Loaches, and 2nd PAVN company (almost...) complete, we decided to do an Airmobile battle. We settled on the mission "Indian Country". It was my turn to play the Americans, and I was excited to have so many gunships on the table!

Steven's Airmobile Infantry HQ + Medic Airmobile Platoon Airmobile Platoon 4x Slicks Pink Team w/ 1 Loach and 1 Cobra Pink Team w/ 1 Loach and 1 Cobra Heavy Hog w/ Grenade Launcher

Sean's PAVN Infantry Battalion HQ + 4 Booby Traps 2 Platoon Strong PAVN Company w/ 2 LMGs 2 Platoon Strong PAVN Company w/ 2 LMGs 3x Type 54 AAA Guns 6x 75mm Recoilless Guns

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Product Review: Battlefront PT-76 (K-3)

Soviet PT-76 using shipping containers for cover after an Amphibious landing!

With Battlefront's release of Vietnam Tour of Duty kits, it is such a blessing for folks like me who do a bit of 'Cold War Gone Hot' and the PT-76 release is no exception.  I have to admit, I knew next to nothing about Soviet armor, and initially thought these were BMP personnel carriers (A bit of knowledge from playing Battlefield 3) but turns out they were one of the very first amphibious light tanks, used as recon and by the Soviet Navy for landings.  Since I am doing Cold War gaming as the 'Red Team', I knew these would be right up my alley!

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OH-6 Loach Plastic Kit Review and AH-1G Cobras

The OH-6 Loach is one of Battlefront's earliest forays into an all plastic kit, and I am a really big fan.  The kit is easy to assemble, is comprised of few pieces, and is relatively inexpensive at $26 for two Loaches (including 2 flight stands, magnets, and a sheet of decals).  Also included are two optional metal door gunners.

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Paper Terrain Grass Shacks and Huts

As I was building up my Vietnam terrain, our pal Scott Washburn on the forum contacted me about reviewing some of his paper shacks that he sells through his company Paper Terrain.  Scott sent me his Grass Shacks set as well as the Grass Huts set.  I've used Paper Terrain landing craft for years in my D-Day games, so I was happy to give them a shot!

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Know the Mission III: Breakthrough

Click here to download!

Here it is!  The third installment of our Know the Mission series.  This time we take a close look at Breakthrough.  If you haven't signed up for the WWPD Premium service- maybe now's the time!  

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US Tank Destroyers vs German Pioneers

On Memorial Day, Luke and I decided to play a quick FoW game.  As we usually do on Holidays, we let the dice decide our armies and the mission.  He ended up running Tank Destroyers (ha!) and I, German Pioneers.  The Mission is Free For All.  Because we played quickly, I don't have as many pictures as usual, but will do my best to describe the action.

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Suggested Posts for D-Day

To celebrate this momentous day in History, I've compiled a list of WWPD articles and battle reports related to D-Day for your weekend reading.  Don't forget to sign up for our Operation Overlord which is set to begin at the end of this month!

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D-Day Special - Paper Normandy Buildings

With the up coming Operation Overlord Campaign I thought it best to help people prepare. For those of us who don't have stacks of terrain but still want to participate. I threw together some very modest paper  templates (4 buildings and 1 bunker). They are nothing special, designed to be simple and fast to put together, but a sure way campaign participants can take part in the beach and town battles.

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Reveiw: Peter Pig PBR - Patrol Boat River

Patrol Boat River (PBR) was a heavily armed river boat used by the American Navy during the Vietnam War to patrol the rivers of Vietnam.  Armed with forward facing twin .50 cal machineguns, one rear deck .50 cal, up to two side mounted M60 machineguns, and a Mk19 grenade launcher, the PBR’s crew of four was capable to laying down a huge volume of fire.  The boat itself offered little protection to its crew, who relied on the PBR’s speed, approximately 28 knots, to escape danger.  PBR crewmen were some of the most decorated men of the War, but also suffered one of the highest casualty rates.  By wars end one in every three PBR sailors would become a casualty of the War in Vietnam.

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