will be nothing to slow our advance, victory will be
Section Commander Jamal Aspinada, Grade I, D6 10 man Assault Rifle section. One BTR-60
Umpires Notes
The terrain is almost entirely flat, with the river running through a depressed area about seven foot deeper than the surrounding terrain. It’s banks can be used to gain cover, they are impassable for vehicles. The bush is scattered, blocking visibility rather than impeding movement, with trees, bushes, scrub and tall grass being present. An old Portuguese villa, now abandoned, is on the north side of the bridge with a small rear garden enclosed by a four foot wall. This is well constructed from brick and block and offers good cover.
The UNITA forces start the game anywhere on the bottom half of the table on blinds. They are not dug in as they had not been anticipating an attack. They do, however, have three landmines which they may lay before the game begins.
The South African Engineers are fully occupied under the bridge setting the charges. They will complete their work on the ninth turn of the blank card at which point the UNITA platoon must withdraw across the bridge before it is blown. The Engineers may function as an eight man rifle team if circumstances become desperate, however this will delay the work on the bridge if they do this.
The FAPLA forces arrive on the road in column on the first turn deployed on the table. They must use all of their turns to drive towards the bridge until fired upon. Until that time they may not spot, fire, leave the road, or do anything other than drive straight down the road.
The South African Engineers do have a “Thousand Footer” flare with them that, it under pressure, they may use to call in air support from some Impalas that are operating in the area. These can be on the scene in just two turns of the Air Support card. However setting off the Thousand Footer will delay their work on the bridge by one turn.
Once the work on the bridge is complete and the UNITA forces have withdrawn it is assumed that the demolition will happen automatically.
The FAPLA win a major victory if they take the bridge intact. UNITA win a major victory if the bridge is destroyed. Losses of men are not overly relevant in this scenario.
Cards
UNITA FAPLA General
Tenente Manuel Machado Sargento Dingani Santa Cruz
Cabo Eduardo Tunga Cabo Pedro Flavio Sergeant Piet van Els
Unit Cards Air Support Rapid Deployment
B’Maso Dynamic Commander
Blinds
Platoon Commander Raol Malengwe Section Commander Jose Xosa Section Commander Jamal Aspinada
Unit Cards Armoured Bonus
Blinds
Sundowner Blank Card
If you fancy going large to turn this into a scenario for IABSM, why not increase the FAPLA force to Company size and do the same with UNITA but adding three Eland 90 armoured cars to support them. If you do this then the FAPLA forces will suffer from the “technology gap” when it comes to aimed anti-tank firing.
Introduction
South Africa’s 32 Battalion was one of the most effective units serving on the South West African border due to its outstanding ability to undertake both pseudo and conventional operations. Indeed it spent most of the war inside Angola, where its Portuguese speaking former FNLA soldiers were in their element. In October 1987, during Operation Modular, it took part in the South African Army’s first combined tank and infantry battle since 1945. This scenario is set at that time, and whilst it does not replicate that historical battle completely there is much in there to make it a really enjoyable and, for Africa, unique situation, with British and Soviet Main Battle Tanks from the 1960s meeting on the African veldt in a miniature Cold War. It also gives us the opportunity to deploy some of Fidel’s finest.
FAPLA Briefing
The bridgehead across the Lomba River is critical for the continuation of the advance into UNITA held territory, and clearly the South Africans know that as well as we do – you have been under fire from their heavy artillery for most of the morning, and you can only assume that they will be launching a ground attack before long. You can only hope that the armour support that you have been promised arrives in time!
Your force is currently dug in and anticipating an enemy attack. This is likely to be a South African force with armoured cars and infantry. Whatever happens you must hold on until armour support arrives, once we have tanks the South Africans will have to withdraw and the advance can continue. Do not let the enemy push you back across the river!
Your force is as follows.
Angolan Big Men
Capitão Paulo de Carvalho, D4-1 Tenente Olengwe Mendes, DAv-1 Tenente Augoustino Ferriera, D4 Cuban Big Man Attached Ramon y Estíbaliz, D6+1 Company Headquarters
SA-7 Anti-Aircraft team (2 crew) 14.5mm Anti Aircraft HMG (3 crew)
Anti Tank Platoon
Three 82mm Recoiless Rifles (4 crew each) Platoon One
Three ten man Assault Rifle Sections Platoon Two
Three ten man Assault Rifle Sections Platoon Three
Three ten man Assault Rifle Sections