After Action Review (AAR) #5: The Battle of Vianda--The Initial Phase

Stardate: Fiday, 104-130 ABY/TAg Market Island Security Forces

Subsector: Shannekam

Planet: Zenya

Region: The Tau-Tau Autonomous District

Situation Report:  Opening Phase of the Battle of Vianda

Morning, Local Time 

As the battledroids from the 1st and 2nd Maniples (companies) of the 7th Cohort, marched out across the open fields, they came under intense fire from constabulary squads inside hastily fortified buildings.

Despite any losses, the droids marched onward, blazing away at Viandan homes and businesses to little or no effect.  In less than fifteen minutes the 2nd Maniple launched its first assault against constabulary-held strong points.

Meanwhile, the 3rd Maniple maneuvered around the northern perimeter of the constabulary defensive line. 

However, impromptu defensive works blocked key bridges and intersections throughout the town, which slowed the battledroid advance.

As the 2nd Maniple was fighting house-to-house and the 3rd Maniple picked its way past roadblocks, the 1st Maniple appeared to stand stock-still along the Vianda Pass Road.  

Apparently, the commander of the 8th Cohort/599 DIL discovered Ooverton was abandoned earlier than anticipated.  Instead of occupying Ooverton, the 8th's 2nd and 3rd Maniples about-faced and marched on Vianda. 

As battledroids marched through Vianda's eastern Tau-Tau suburbs, the 1st Maniple/8th Cohort was spotted marching along the Vianda Jungle Highway.  

As the 1st Maniple/8th Cohort continued its march, the Vianda Constabulary was now in danger of being cut off from the evacuation site.

Situation Report (Sitrep) #2: The Defense of Vianda

Stardate: Fiday, 104-130 ABY/TAg Market Island Security Forces

Subsector: Shannekam

Planet: Zenya

Region: The Tau-Tau Autonomous District

Situation Report:  Initial Dispositions of Tarsan Forces Around Vianda

Early Morning, Local Time

(Image: Tarsan defenses of Vianda and evacuation site)

Thanks to advanced warning of the Bongolaanian attack, the TAg Market Island Security Forces have been mobilized and managed to prepare some defensive positions on Vandalla Island.  

(Image:  Alpha Company of the Vianda Constabulary occupying defensive positions)

The Vianda Constabulary (a police/light infantry unit consisting of two companies), lacks the manpower to defend the entire town.  Since the objective is to fight a delaying action to allow civilians to be evacuated, Major Lazar has decided to established roadblocks around the most-likely access routes around Vianda's southern district.  

(Image: Bravo Company guarding the mountain pass)

Bravo Company (B/VC) has deployed several squads along Vianda Pass to safeguard the avenue of retreat and provide some defense in-depth.

(Image: The roadblock on Vianda Peak)

A roadblock has been constructed at the entrance of Vianda Pass.  This is guarded by two squads from B/VC. 

(Image:  Elements of Alpha Company/Ooverton Constabulary safeguarding the bridges) 

While the Vianda Constabulary holds the southern part of town, along with key terrain along Vianda Pass, elements of Alpha Company of the Ooverton Constabulary Battalion (A/OC, identical in composition to the Vianda Constabulary) have been tasked with safeguarding the access of retreat through the Vandalla Jungle and the perimeter of the evacuation site.

(Image: The Constabulary command post overlooking Vianda)

The Constabulary Task Force Commander, Colonel Foulon, has entrenched his command post, along with 3rd Platoon/A/VC on the peak of South Mountain.  

As dawn begins to break, Constabulary scouts report the entire 7th Cohort/599th Droid Infantry Legion (7/599DIL) is on the march from the west.  

(Image:  7/599DIL prepares to assault Vianda) 

The Battle of Vianda is about to commence.

Game Master's Notes:

It is now 104 days after the events depicted in the webcomic Breakout from Bongolaan.  In other words, we're back to the campaign's "present."

Since my gaming space is limited and my time available to game even more so, I chose to play out this battle using odds and ends from various boardgames.

The map boards come from Avalon Hill's Squad Leader, while the counters representing individual leaders have been cannibalized from remnants of copies of GDW's Snapshot and Azhanti High Lightning.   The infantry counters used to represent the Tarsan and battledroid squads were scratch-built using the Land Unit Counters Rendering Machine by The Zhodani Base.