NOT HERE, NOT NOW!**

VC Assault vs. US-ARVN Defend*
Ben Tre, Mekong Delta, South Vietnam*
January 31, 1968*
Turns: 18**
Scenario Size: Large*
Estimated Playing Time 2-3 Hours**

Design: Wild Bill Wilder*
bwilder@bellsouth.net**

Testers: Stephen Porter, Tom DeShetler**

Player Notes:** 

This battle should be fought from the US side only. It is not suitable for a 2 player game.**

There is a LOT going on in this scenario. You are going to be one busy man. Your task is to protect the MACV HQ and the bivouac of the local ARVN. You must also keep the enemy from taking control of the bridge to move south. You are going to be hit from every side.**

This is a very well planned operation by the VC. Masters at disquise and deception, the enemy is EVERYWHERE!**

You'll have the support of the Brown Water Navy, 3 batteries of artillery and some ARVN skyraiders. Some local militia may show up also.**

In addition, there is a little fiction added to this one. Look at the lower end of the map.**

You'll find the estate of Le Kao, a South Vietnamese General, who has been marked for assassination. Two Seal teams are being brought in by boat to escort him from the area before the VC storm his villa.**

You may be able to get out the same way you got in, but you should keep him and his family protected. Losing him will cost you a lot of points!**


Historical Background**

When The NVA-VC major operation called the Tet offensive erupted on January 31st, 1968, Allied forces all over South Vietnam found themselves in a fierce fight. Every major city and dozens of hamlets came under vicious attack.**

Even the Mekong Delta, at the southernmost tip of Vietnam, fell prey to the assaults. Two PBRs on patrol on the Ben Tre River watched the sky light up as explosions erupted in the Ben Tre area. The Viet Cong pushed forward with three main force battalions attempted to take the steel bridge leading to the south side of the river.**

There the MACV compound for the area as well as an airstrip further to the south were in danger of being overrun. The PBRs rushed to the area and took on the enemy. They called for help and got it. Seawolves (Huey gunship helicopters operated by the US Navy), more PBRs and artillery bases nearby lent their support to the beleaguered ARVN and US troops.**

Sappers and infiltrators on the south side of the river created havoc while the bulk of the VC forces attempted to take the bridge and cross it. Some waded and swam across. Others used confiscated sampans to get to the south side.**

The fight lasted all day, that night and into the next day before the enemy finally withdrew. The town was devastated and would be the focus of Peter Arnett and the news media as a foreboding example of how deadly the war still was at that point.**

