25 July 2007

Book: Australian Military Operations in Vietnam

Saw this cracking book today at a conference, a great read filled with good photos and graphics.

AUSTRALIAN MILITARY OPERATIONS IN VIETNAM: by Albert PALAZZO

"From 1962 to 1972 Australia joined the United States in fighting a communist inspired insurgency war in the jungles of South Vietnam against infiltrators who sought to overthrow the local government. Over 50,000 Australians served in Vietnam, 519 lost their lives, and the conflict ended ignominiously in the insurgents' victory.

Over 30 years later, Australia again finds itself joined with the United States in a struggle against an insurgency, this time in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan. Although now in the past, the Vietnam War resonates with lessons for the Australian Army as it strives to defeat not Communism but Terrorism. Australian Military Operations in Vietnam highlights some of the successes and failures of an earlier generation of officers for the benefit of today's leaders."
You can order it here:http://www.warbooks.com.au/IndividualBooks/InVietnam.html

24 July 2007

USMC Rifle Platoon nears completion

My first USMC rifle platoon is almost complete - Ooh-Rah!

The figs look quite good on the sculted Pacific Theme bases by Battlefield Accessories. I'll grab some extra foliage this weekend to finish them off and will post pictues then.

23 July 2007

New FPV BatRep posted

A new battle Report was posted last week, starring FPV author Anton. An NVA vs ANZAC scenario:

" Well we finally get a BATREP for a game played by two fire teams of Flashpoint Miniatures staff and helpers. Anton "Six Actual" Ducrot and Chris "Crunchie" Putan (2000 points NVA and VC including a MiG-17 for air interdiction) and Drew "Dragonfire" Birkmyre and Andrew "Foggy" Fogg (2000 points ANZAC's with a USMC Ready Reaction Force mounted in helo's), played a Free Fire Zone mission. Three allied VC cells held up the ANZAC left flank for several turns before finally being over run by the ANZAC's while the balance of the ANZAC's were face to face with two full strength NVA platoons. The NVA "popped" the recoiless rifles in an ambush on the unsuspecting ANZAC M113's on the ANZAC right flank leaving nothing but a pile of flaming wrecks. The ANZAC's never got a chance to call in the USMC as they could not get a clear LZ with all potential sites well covered by the NVA HMG's and AT-7 Saggers. It was a battle of attrition and a draw was called once resources, the beer, rum and pizza's, ran out. Kim "The Boss" Ducrot watched on in awe (yeah, right) supporting the communist forces while your intrepid reporter, Ken "TailEndCharlie" Cole, played scribe, photographer and waiter."
See some great photos of the action here: