European Intifada: Londonistan

This is the second in the series of combat scenarios for the near-future European Intifada setting. The rules presented are for Sangin Skirmish but can be adapted to other games.

“The vast majority of those killed in the Islamic State’s ascendancy in the Middle East were fellow Muslims. This sad fact remained during the European Intifada. The insurgents viewed any Muslim who was not Sunni and/or not sufficiently dedicated to their cause as an apostate and thus worthy of death. Some of the Islamic State’s earliest targets in the intifada were Muslims in the employ of the government (particularly police and military), moderate Imams, and any who opposed their harsh brand of Sharia law in the IS-occupied enclaves. These purges were often prompted more by personal enmity than strategic or tactical thinking on the part of the insurgents.

“One such incident occurred at a suburban London mosque. Imam Rasheed Shakur Alfarsi was an outspoken opponent of the Islamic State and prior to the uprising preached cooperation with government authorities. An Imam at a different mosque, Usama Issa Boulos, had preached against Alfarsi, accusing him of apostasy and the two engaged in a bitter rivalry. Boulos was an active participant in the uprising and led and maintained an active terrorist force during the intifada. Boulos used this combat group to attack Alfarsi’s mosque and take the Imam hostage.

“During the attack, half of Boulos’ forces become separated trying to evade an army patrol, which had only recently been put on the streets thanks to the emergency directive from the Home Office. Despite having only half his usual number, Boulos had no problem taking the unarmed mosque and making Alfarsi his captive. However, local police and a fast-acting section of British Paratroopers were able to surround the mosque and prevent Boulos’ escape with Alfarsi and the insurgents were forced to await rescue. Boulos’s lost group of fighters finally arrived on the scene to find their leader under siege and they mounted a quick and uncoordinated attack on the paratroops, who themselves were just getting into position.”

A History of the European Intifada by Manheim Frye

Scenario

An Islamic State insurgent group has forcibly occupied a mosque and taken an Imam captive. The mosque has been surrounded by a section of Royal Paratroopers and the two sides have exchanged fire. The insurgents in the mosque are unable to leave with their captive unless relieved by a second group of insurgents arriving on the board in armed technicals.

The first group of insurgents includes the group’s leader and he must be relieved and transported off the board with his captive by the second group of insurgents. The Royal Paras must contain the insurgents in the mosque, stop the second group from reaching the mosque, and destroy any transport the insurgents possess.

Board

The fighting takes place in a suburb of London and the board reflects the close quarters of the combat.

The board is 30 inches by 40 inches.

Victory Points and Setup

IS Victory Points

• For every British Paratrooper killed or wounded, 25 points
• IS takes Imam Alfarsi off the board, 100 points
• Imam Boulos leaves the board, 50 points
• Imam Alfarsi is killed by IS, 50 points
• For every civilian killed, -25 points (see Scenario Rules)

Paratroopers Victory Points

• For every IS insurgent killed or wounded, 10 points
• For every unarmed technical destroyed, 25 points
• For every armed technical destroyed, 50 points
• Imam Boulos is killed, 50 points
• Imam Alfarsi is rescued, 100 points

Setup

Boulos’ Force must be placed prior to the start (along with their captive, Alfarsi) on, within, or within 4" of the mosque, including the minaret. The Boulos technical must be placed in the mosque parking lot.

The relief force must enter the board aboard the technical from any road entry. The technical enters the board on the action phase of the driver in the first Action Round.

The British Paras are placed on the board prior to the start and cannot be within 12" of the  mosque. Paratroopers may start within houses. British Para player(s) should determine which direction the sniper fire will come from.

Scenario Rules

Prisoners

The normal prohibition against killing prisoners as stated in the Section Sangin rules does not apply to IS. IS has consistently demonstrated that, while prisoners are valuable, they have no difficulty killing them.

Imam Alfarsi

The Islamic State terrorists have killed the few occupants of the mosque they found except for Imam Alfarsi. Alfarsi begins the game as the prisoner of the IS insurgents. An insurgent must be placed within 4" of Alfarsi and remain with Alfarsi throughout the game. If the insurgent is killed or there is no insurgent within 4", Alfarsi will attempt to exit the board, moving at a running pace toward the nearest edge.

Imam Rasheed Shakur Alfarsi, Prisoner

Body	Morale	Cbt Phases
13	75%	3, 5, 7, 9

Houses

The residences on the board are row houses and have a front and back door, although the back door is technically off the board. Characters may enter and exit a house only through the doors. Entering a house costs 1 AP. Characters inside a house and not at a window or door have Full Cover.

Moving through a house costs 3 AP once it has been entered, including moving to the second floor from the first floor (and vice versa). Characters may fire from the doorway or windows of a house and those doing so have Medium Cover.

For example, Lance Corporal Loper enters a house on Combat Phase 3 and on Combat Phase 5 moves to a firing position at an upstairs window.

Garden Walls

Garden walls are assumed to be 1 meter tall and provide Medium Cover. Going over a garden wall costs 1 AP and does not require a ladder or other tools.

LAW 80

The LAW 80 is a disposable light anti tank weapon used by British armed forces. For game purposes, it has the same stats as the AT4 listed in Section Sangin.

Complications

The area has been evacuated by police but there are still some civilians in the combat zone. Any time a character enters a house after the start of the game, there is a 20% chance that they encounter a civilian. Para characters must spend 3 AP escorting the civilian off the board. IS characters must roll vs. Morale to avoid shooting and killing the civilian and losing 25 Victory Points.

Briefings

IS Briefing

"The battle against the kafir is raging and the army has been sent to the streets in a futile attempt to stop us. This is part of our plan and will give us many more targets to strike at. But, we must not ignore the enemy in our midst. The apostate Imam Alfarsi teaches poison and must be punished. Our own Imam Boulos has led a force of believers to Alfarsi's mosque and has taken the devil prisoner but he is now besieged by kafir soldiers. We will unleash the weapons and vehicles we have kept hidden and take our enemies by surprise."

Boulos Force at Mosque

Imam Ussama Issa Boulos, Mullah, 110 points

Body	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
12	90%	AK74	3, 5, 7, 9

Pistol 48%, Rifle 58%, Spot 100%, First Aid 20%, Heavy Weapon 36%, Throw 48%, Forward Observer 36%

Salim Karim, Veteran Zealot, 120 points

Body	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
15	95%	RPK	2, 4, 6, 8

Pistol 60%, Rifle 70%, Spot 100%, First Aid 20%, Heavy Weapon 45%, Throw 60%, Forward Observer 45%

Guda Kader, Average Zealot, 80 points

Body	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
17	75%	AK74	2, 4, 6, 8

Pistol 51%, Rifle 61%, Spot 100%, First Aid 20%, Heavy Weapon 34%, Throw 51%, Forward Observer 34%

Zakirraya Rasim, Novice Zealot, 55 points

Body	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
13	55%	AK74	3, 5, 7, 9

Pistol 26%, Rifle 36%, Spot 100%, First Aid 20%, Heavy Weapon 13%, Throw 26%, Forward Observer 13%

Kazam Rasim, Novice Zealot, 55 points

Body	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
15	55%	AK47	3, 5, 7, 9

Pistol 30%, Rifle 40%, Spot 100%, First Aid 20%, Heavy Weapon 15%, Throw 30%, Forward Observer 15%

Relief Force

Ammar Amirmoez, Veteran Zealot, 120 points

Body	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
13	95%	RPG	3, 5, 7, 9

Pistol 52%, Rifle 62%, Spot 100%, First Aid 20%, Heavy Weapon 39%, Throw 52%, Forward Observer 39%

Sajjad Saab, Average Zealot, 80 points

Body	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
15	75%	AK47	3. 5. 7, 9

Pistol 45%, Rifle 55%, Spot 100%, First Aid 20%, Heavy Weapon 30%, Throw 45%, Forward Observer 30%

Widad Ajam, Novice Zealot, 55 points

Body	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
13	55%	AK47	3, 5, 7, 9

Pistol 26%, Rifle 36%, Spot 100%, First Aid 20%, Heavy Weapon 13%, Throw 26%, Forward Observer 13%

Hadi Al Amin, Novice Zealot, 55 points

Body	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
18	55%	AK47	1, 3, 5, 7

Pistol 36%, Rifle 46%, Spot 100%, First Aid 20%, Heavy Weapon 18%, Throw 36%, Forward Observer 18%

Technical, (3 Average Crew, Driver), 300 points

Body	Armor/IED	Morale	Type	Cbt Phases
13	0/0	55%	Technical	3, 5, 7,9

Primary Weapon: 39%, Weapon: .50 cal. HMG, Pen/Damage: 2/4d10

Para Briefing

"The Home Office has given us the opportunity to do our job. Terrorists have attacked a mosque and taken the Imam hostage. He's one of the good ones and we can't let the bastards think that they can kidnap or kill whoever they want. Our job is to seal off the area and take out any of them we can. We’ve got sniper support to help out but word is that there is another group of scumbags out there, so keep your heads on a swivel."

Para Section

Fireteam 1

Sgt. Trevor Parry, Section Leader, Elite, 175 points

Body	Armor	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
14(12)	1d10+4	105%	SA80, LAW80	3, 5, 7, 9

Pistol 70%, Rifle 90%, Spot 100%, First Aid 40%, Heavy Weapon 56%, Throw 70%, Forward Observer 66%

Pvt. Jerrold Frank, Veteran, 130 points

Body	Armor	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
11(9)	1d10+4	75%	SA80, UGL, Shotgun	4, 6, 8, 10

Pistol 44%, Rifle 54%, Spot 100%, First Aid 40%, Heavy Weapon 33%, Throw 44%, Forward Observer 33%

Pvt. Pravin Battacharya, Average, 70 points

Body	Armor	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
12(10)	1d10+4	55%	SA80	4, 6, 8, 10

Pistol 36%, Rifle 46%, Spot 100%, First Aid 40%, Heavy Weapon 24%, Throw 36%, Forward Observer 24%

Pvt. Dobro “Doby” Miazga , Average, 85 points

Body	Armor	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
16(14)	1d10+4	55%	Minimi	3, 5, 7, 9

Pistol 48%%, Rifle 58%, Spot 100%, First Aid 40%, Heavy Weapon 32%, Throw 48%, Forward Observer 32%

Fireteam 2

Corp. Michael Wood, Fireteam Leader, Veteran, 140 points

Body	Armor	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
16(14)	1d10+4	75%	SA80	3, 5, 7, 9

Pistol 64%, Rifle 84%, Spot 100%, First Aid 40%, Heavy Weapon 48%, Throw 64%, Forward Observer 58%

Pvt. Sajjad Sharma, Veteran,130 points

Body	Armor	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
13(11)	1d10+4	75%	SA80, UGL, Shotgun	4, 6, 8, 10

Pistol 52%, Rifle 62%, Spot 100%, First Aid 40%, Heavy Weapon 39%, Throw 52%, Forward Observer 39%

Pvt. Harry Adamson, Average, Sharpshooter, 110 points

Body	Armor	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
13(11)	1d10+4	75%	SA80	4, 6, 8, 10

Pistol 39%, Rifle 69%, Spot 100%, First Aid 40%, Heavy Weapon 26%, Throw 39%, Forward Observer 26%

Pvt. Mervyn Vaughn, Average, 85 points

Body	Armor	Morale	Weapon	Cbt Phases
18(16)	1d10+4	55%	Minimi	2, 4, 6, 8

Pistol 54%, Rifle 64%, Spot 100%, First Aid 40%, Heavy Weapon 36%, Throw 54%, Forward Observer 36%

Sniper Team, 100 points

British Para player(s) should determine direction of fire before play.

Rare Commentary: ISAF Mission in Afghanistan Ends

Small Plastic Rage is a blog about war gaming, particularly focused on modern and near-future conflicts. As a rule, I try to avoid other, more divisive subjects like politics or world events. There are other blogs for that kind of thing and usually written by better minds than myself.

However, on occasion the real world intrudes on the my fictional gaming universe. This happened on Sunday, December 28, when the ISAF's mission in Afghanistan came to a quiet end, at least officially. Many NATO nations that had combat and support personnel in the country have already withdrawn their forces. Although roughly 10,000 troops will remain in support of the Afghan national government and the army, defense of the country will be under Afghan leadership. The patrols, raids, and other combat actions previously conducted exclusively by ISAF forces have, for the most part, ended.

That doesn't mean that the war games and scenarios have to end. I'm going to continue playing, gaming, and writing as if nothing had changed. Maybe nothing really has.

Learning Skirmish Sangin AARs

As I am new to Skirmish Sangin,  I have been running solo scenarios to test out ideas and concepts and get a better feel for the game. I use small units to simplify matters and have yet to include vehicles.

Below is an After Action Report of one such scenario, including the units.

ISAF Forces (Combat Authors)

Corp. Ralph Peters, Veteran (unpainted German fig w rifle high)

Body: 16 (14)
Armor: 1d10+4
Morale: 85%
Weapon: Assault Rifle (2d10)
Combat Phases: 2, 4, 6, 8
Rifle: 84%
Throw: 64%

Pvt. Tom Clancy, Average (unpainted German fig w rifle low)
Body: 14 (12)
Armor: 1d10+4
Morale: 55%
Weapon: Assault Rifle (2d10)
Combat Phases: 3, 5, 7, 9
Rifle: 52%
Throw: 42%

Pvt. Harold Coyle,  Average (unpainted German fig kneeling)
Body: 20 (18)
Armor: 1d10+4
Morale: 55%
Weapon: Assault Rifle (2d10)
Combat Phases: 1, 3, 5, 7

Insurgent Forces

Pedo Phile, Veteran (painted English fig w rifle high)
Body: 17
Morale: 75%
Weapon: Assault Rifle (2d10)
Combat Phases: 2, 4, 6, 8
Rifle: 78%
Throw: 68%

Phil McKrack, Average (painted English fig w rifle low)
Body: 13
Morale: 55%
Weapon: Assault Rifle (2d10)
Combat Phases: 3, 5, 7, 9
Rifle: 49%
Throw: 39%

Mo Lester (painted English fig w/ bayonet)
Body: 20
Morale: 55%
Weapon: Assault Rifle (2d10)
Combat Phases: 1, 3, 5, 7
Rifle: 70%
Throw: 60%

All have one fragmentation hand grenade.

Dusk Shootout

ISAF S2 (intelligence) has learned that insurgents are preparing a Vehicle Borne IED (VBIED) in a local village. Three experienced combat authors are chosen to investigate, and, if possible, to destroy the VBIED.

Meanwhile, three oddly named inurgents (and yet appropriate considering the insurgent's well documented affection for little boys) are prepping the VBIED.

The sun sets just as the authors enter the board from a randomly determined side of the board. All Spot rolls will be at a -25% due to the dusk lighting.

Combat Round/Phase 1.1

Pvt. Coyle advances to the edge of the nearby house and takes a knee.

Mo Lester sees Coyle move and Snap Fires, missing but forcing Coyle to make a Morale check his next active phase.

1.2

Corp. Peters runs to the cover of a truck.
Pedo Phile successfully spots Peters and shoots him (a roll of 06%), causing 13 points of damage. Peters' armor absorbs 7 points, leaving him with a Medium Wound. He is knocked unconscious and Clancy and Coyle must make a Morale test. The mission changes for the authors to getting Peters to safety.

1.3
Mo Lester cannot act as he snap fired before.
Phil McKrack walks to the Medium cover of the nearby wall and attempts to spot Coyle but fails to do so.
Pvt. Clancy fails his Morale check and retires to the dubious cover of a nearby bush.
Pvt. Coyle makes his Morale check and successfully spots McKrack. He aims and fires but a roll of 97% stunk.

1.4
Corp. Peters remains unconscious while Pedo Phile runs to new cover and stops.

1.5
Pvt. Coyle yells at Clancy to get his shit together and then misses his shot at McKrack.
Mo Lester jumps off the vehicle he was standing on and moves to the wall.
Clancy barely succeeds his Morale check and runs to assist the unconscious Corp. Peters.
Phil McKrack fails his Morale check, craps his pants and drops prone behind the wall.

1.6
While Peters remains unconscious, Pedo Phile walks to the edge of the building and does a quick look around. He spots Clancy and Peters.

1.7
Clancy fails to notice Pedo Phile and attempts First Aid on Peters. Unfortunately, he rolls a 97% and tries to give the wounded man an enema. Phil McKrack fails his Morale check and so remains prone behind the wall. He decides that it's a good time for a cigarette. Coyle, not seeing anything in his area and suspicious of Clancy's medical skills, moves to the other side of the house. Mo Lester moves to the Land Cruiser in front of the big house.

1.8
Pedo Phile preps a frag grenade and successfully throws it at Clancy and Peters.

1.9
Mo Lester walks to the corner of the house where Coyle had recently been and kneels. Clancy sees the grenade, shits his pants, makes his Morale check and flings the grenade back at Pedo Phile, who belatedly regrets not letting the grenade cook a bit before he tossed it. The grenade detonates and turns Pedo Phile into carnival splatter art with 25 points of damage. Everyone else will have to make a Morale test but are otherwise protected by cover and unharmed.

1.10
No characters go this phase.

2.1
Mo Lester fails his Morale check and drops prone. Coyle succeeds at his and moves forward to the front of the house to make sure no one survived the grenade.

2.2
Peters remains unconscious and Pedo Phile remains dead.

2.3
Clancy makes his Morale check and finally figures out that Peters is unconscious because of gunshot wounds and not constipation. Peters returns to the waking world. Mo Lester fails to see Clancy working behind the truck and moves closer. Phil McKrack finally succeeds at a Morale check and leaps into action, getting closer to the action at the next wall. Coyle utterly fails to see this (a 97% roll).

2.4
Peters, at 1/2 skills due to his wounds, fails to spot Mo Lester.

2.5
Coyle realizes that McKrack is crossing the road and shoots his ass, doing 12 points of damage and giving Phil McKrack a Critical Wound. The insurgent remains concious but wishes he wasn't. Meanwhile, Clancy sees Mo Lester at the house corner and fires, missing. Mo Lester fails the subsequent Morale test and drops prone.

2.6

Peters fails to see Mo Lester.

2.7
Mo Lester stands and charges Clancy, engaging in hand-to-hand combat. Unfortunately, he sucks at it and fails. Coyle turns and runs to help Clancy, scoring a Critical Success (a roll of 01%) and scores the maximum damage against the hapless Mo Lester. The insurgent takes a Critical Wound and is knocked unconscious.

Resolution

The combat ends at that point. While Clancy preps Peters to move out, Coyle tosses a grenade into the VBIED. Clancy carries Peters out while Coyle carries Mo Lester out as a prisoner. In the end, the insurgents lose big time with Pedo Phile sent to his 72 virgins (which, it turns out, to be just one virgin who is 72 years old), Phil McKrack is left to bleed out in agony, and Mo Lester is sent to an Afghan prison where sweaty tattoo guys take turns being his personal proctologist. Corp. Peters recovers and retires to become a talking head on Fox News.

Images of Kolonit Neighborhood Battlefield

In my post of The Tulip and the Crescent,  I showed a map of the Kolonit neighborhood for the ambush and subsequent combat. I am working on creating that game board for use at Tacticon. Here are some pics. Note that I will be using 20mm miniatures (really 1/72 scale) rather that the 28mm miniatures suggested in the Skirmish Sangin book.

I can see that my map isn't quite right as the buildings are improperly sized. I will have to correct that. 

Looking from the west at the ambush site. 

The police cars are gray.

An unfortunately blurry image from the south looking north. The cars parked on the side of the road provide Medium Cover. 

A view from the northwest corner of the board looking east. I haven't put in the HO scale playground, but even with that, this avenue of approach for the DSI is pretty open with not much cover. I may add something after a few play tests. 

A view from the southwest corner looking north. The southern open space is supposed to be a football pitch (soccer field to us Americans) and open. The space between the housing blocks is narrow but the trees provide some cover from shooters on the rooftop. 

I will be doing some play testing of the scenario over the Christmas break and may make changes to the board and/or the scenario itself.