At the same time as the Belleau Wood was holding its own, the SF element
of the MEU was attempting to cut off the retreating Baluchi mercenaries
who were withdrawing to the west along the coastal highway towards
Khemikal.
This game also featured some civilians cluttering up the battlefield,
with some cars appearing at random intervals and turns at either end of
the highway. During the game they would move at a steady 20cm per turn
no matter what else was happening around them and would only go around
something if it was directly blocking their path. There was also a group
of civilians on foot in the farm who would move in a random direction
and distance each turn. Due to the USMC rules of engagement, if they
blocked LOS to a target, then the target could not fired upon.
The Marines successfully deployed, the SEALs began to move east and the
infantry south east, attempting to skirt the farm. This was an error,
the SEALs should have moved south straight away, ready to intercept the
mercenaries on their last stretch to exiting the table. The Marines HMG
team made for the high ground.
The mercenaries' response was to stop with their T55 and mortar and
start firing at the SEALs and infantry, suppressing the Marines HMG for
a move. The mercenaries clearly weren't good at indirect fire support
and their mortar didn't manage to score a single hit in the 3 turns
before it was knocked out by close range fire from a SEAL team. Both
sides exchanged fire, with the Marines moving up under cover and
crossing through the cover of irrigated crops and drainage ditches,
attempting to get into a position midway on the table where they could
get some fire down on any units moving along the highway. For two of
them, by the time they had gotten into position, the civilians fleeing
the farm managed to randomly run right into the Line of Fire between the
Marines and a 4x4, thus stopping them from engaging!
The turning point of the game was Turn 4, where the American HQ and CO
both blundered, and it looked as if the Baluchi 4x4s and infantry riding
in them were going to speed off, however, before the US blundered, the
HMG team got a long range burst of sustained fire in and were able to
knock out the lead 4x4 at maximum range. It then managed the same again
at the second escaping 4x4 in Turn 6, reducing it to a flaming wreck,
with some brave Khemedi motorists making their way around it and
speeding onwards.
Total losses at the end, after the post-battle rolls had been made were:
No losses for the USMC
The Baluchi mercenaries had lost 1 4x4 and 1 infantry stand, with the
second 4x4 being damaged and out of action for 3 days.
The Mercenaries encounter traffic, mirror,signal, manoeuvre..