Operation Amber Watch - Asymmetric warfare battle report

 For quite a long time i wanted to tried Spectre operations and Spectre Operations 2nd edition and even i owned miniatures and rules i never quite conviced anybody to play it. That changed this year when we started playing INX and SO3. But i still wanted to try old Spectre ops or its newest incarnation. All that being said i read the rulebook and prepeared scenario. By that time we decided to play AW i had on mine painting desk two sets of model - more russian PMCs and Ground Branch Operators as i lacked US tier one element.

So we decide to run mission where Ground branch will be escorting VIP and in movie style they must leave before they i swarmed by enemies. So lets jump into briefing and then to the game itself

Briefing:

Abkhaz-Georgian border 2024

Your team has been sent to Abkhazia to pick up Russian scientist Minkovski Lavrentiy Fyodorovich one of the leading members working on the Manticore project. During the extraction, however, there was a clash with pro-Russian forces, and during the pursuit the escape vehicle was disabled. 

The US Army QRF is approaching the border but due to the nature of the situation they cannot cross the border. Your mission is to get Fyodorovich to the Georgian side of the border. ISTAR shows that your position is approached by Abkhazian troops but also by Russian Federation forces, there are no heavy armoured units in the area yet speed will be the key, as soon as they discover your position they will direct all available CSTO units there. 

The Reaper drone moves into position to provide support against any light armour that may appear on the battlefield.

The Game

The Team infilitrated area and escorted scientist through old trainyard avoiding Abkhazian patrols in area until some patrols bunch out around the border crossing. In that moment Fay give order „light´em up“ Grizzly answared light´em up!. The Saw and Carabines started barking and Abkhazian troops started falling down, however it wasnt enough and alarm was raised up.

In that moment GAZ Tigr and foot team of FSB troops entered the battle space. Team now locked up between Border guards and FSB in GAZ on flank decide to push through. Caught in open the fay was struck by deadly AK-fire. While Grizzly was hit by MMG fire from TIGR. 

Now to surviving members start to performing withdrawl using bounding overwatch tactic. The GAZ TIGR now must flank around the buildings and was hit by missle from Predator drone, the vehicle survived the blast but crashed into building and then exploded in burst of flames. Two Abkhazian squads entered the area and sporadicaly fired into SAC operatives but they managed safely withdraw with scientist from area.

Overview:

We played for the first time so some rules were played wrong but that is always, but overall we had great time, the game was quick and intense, the rules are solid. Now normally i am not fan of IGOYGO systems but here it work perfectly, you have chance the prepare to the enemy even by move deploying smoke screens etc. The game itself looks on paper were heavy but when you actually play it you realize how easy the basic system is which is fantastic.

On other hand we will be playing the Spectre Operations 3 game soon so will we be trying to compare those both system and then i will wrote article about it.

Here are some more photos from game

INXcountry narrative game - Clash in Adjakistan

-This is Hunter 2-1 for Crossroads, we are moving towards objective ETA 1 mike.

-This is Crossroads be advised substential enemy forces moving towards Kiritlar, expect contact with enemy in few minutes. ISTAR shows enemy mechanised unit also moving into area. CAP unit Raptor 2 moving onto station and will be availible in few mikes.

After very long time we played some INX we consider it good and solid system, and while its not as detailed as Spectre Operations or Asymmetric Warfare the games are fast and brutal. The scenario was pretty simple seize ground - 4 objectives on table 12" from center. When both Russians and US hold objective random was is removed - who controls more objectives win. We also have special rules after this happens both player rolls D3 after how many turns their support arrive. The Russian had Alpha Group Squad in BTR while Americans had F18 on station. We simulated airstrike by giving it two missle launchers, firing on normal or hard grip and needing to mark target by smoke otherwise random unit on table will be selected.

But now to the forces: US forces fielded 3 Ranger assault teams and Support element with AT4. 

Russian forces controlled by me forced 2 Wagner Wannabe teams, Alpha Group Team and Alpha Group specialists with RPG.

Both forces advanced to center of table in hoping to secure the village with both players making use of cover so two turns without single gunshot.

Automatic fire pierced air along with loud shouts from nearby woods Тревога! Американская пехота! Огонь! Огонь!. Pvt Mays was knocked down by enemy fire while bullets were drumming on the wreckage of the vehicle from which the squad was taking cover. Meanwhile, Sgt Peterson rose from cover and barked the order - RETURN FIRE!

US forces now secured both objectives on their side of table but first Wagner team established firing position in small wood targeting Ranger team taking cover behind vehicle and struck down one ranger and pinning down the team. After some maneovering both sides now holding objectives the one on the Russians was removed chaning score from 2:2 to 2:1 in benefit of US.

Russian had no chance but to push towards US Rangers in order to win. Second Wagner team deployed smoke in order to cover their advance in center of board. The other wagner squad was still firing on Ranger team behind the wreckage and killing another US Ranger.

Alpha group squad tried to push through buildings on left trying to flushout Dugin Rangers and met with counterattacking Ranger squad where brutal CQB ensued . The Americans althought with heavy losses managed to almost wipeout Alpha Group unit.

The US Air support arrived on station and BTR was still turn away but we run out of real time and called it a day as US victory.

INX is great system for ultramodern skrimish, it is easy, have very good flow, and its enjoyable ofcourse if you want to add support you must come up with your own house rules but still you can beat the price - its free. Unfortunatly you cant get this rules from Enemy spotted studios shop but it is availible with all addons on their discord.