HEROES OUT OF THE DARKNESS**

US SF Assault vs. NVA Defend*
Son Tay, North Vietnam*
November 21, 1970*
Turns: 15**

Scenario Size: Medium*
Estimated Playing Time: 2 Hour+**

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

Testers: Stephen Porter, Lars Remmen, Tom DeShetler**

Designer Notes: This should be played as a one player game only from the US side.**

This scenario is a recreation of the US Special Forces raid on the NVA prison camp at Son Tay. Historically it proved futile as the prisoners had been moved just prior to the attack.**

The battle here, however, takes a "what if" posture. Suppose there had been United States prisoners at the compound, and suppose the NVA action was swift and violent. What might have been the outcome? Now you can determine that for the US side.**

After a C-130 gunship hits one guard post, an HH-3 enters and its mission is to further surpress the enemy guards.**

Next The two helicopters carrying the attack will appear on the left. From this point you are on your own. Your helicopters have limited movement. This is to portray the time needed to find a spot to land, get in there, loaded and out again, should you choose to evacuate your prisoners.**

SPECIAL NOTE (Please Read!)**

Objective hexes will not win this one for you alone. Keeping the prisoners is also imperative. If at the end of the battle you have kept alive most of your prisoners, it is assumed that they will be evacuated safely and you have done your job.**

Lose too many of them and you have failed in your mission.**

Historical background:**

The rescue attempt of US prisoners of war by US Special Forces at Son Tay, though futile in nature, because the prisoners were not there, still proved to be of value. The North Vietnamese realized now that their territory was not as inviolate as they had earlier thought.**

It also made them aware that their inhumane treatment of the prisoners was not a wise thing to do. They might be found out before they were ready. Thus treatment improved slightly after this event.**

The whole project was under the control of General "Bull" Simons. His group was called, "The Joint Counter Contingency Task Group (JCTG) and the mission was codenamed "Ivory Coast."**

It was executed on the night of November 21st, 1970. After preliminary attacks by a US C-130 Gunship and an HH-33 helicopter, three groups landed at or near Son Tay. The Meadows group landed within the compound and began their attack. Nearby a flight of A-1 Skyraiders circled, waiting to act in support if needed.**

A few minutes later the Sydnor Group landed just outside the wall, blasted a hole in it, and gave support to the first group. A short distance to the south, Simons and his men landed near a secondary school, took out the enemy garrison (which included Chinese and Russian advisors) and began working their way north to the compound.**

The NVA garrison was wiped out at the cost of one man wounded and minutes later the HH-53 helicopters appeared to evacuate the American force.**

For winning hint, scroll down:**
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To Win this Battle:** 
Keep the prisoners alive and intact and avoid excessive casualties. You can't afford to lose too many men and your air assets are worth a lot of points. Be careful with them. You can win this one but it will be a tough fight!**
