Landing at Point Salines Airport 25th October 1983

The Battle

Following the execution of the Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop on the 19th October in a military coup the U.S. and Caribbean nations put together a force to restore order to the island and bring stability to the region. Operation Urgent Fury would take the form of a twin assault by the U.S. Marines, Rangers and Airborne, preceded by special forces, with a joint Caribbean Peace-Keeping force (C.P.F.) to be deploied once the island was secured.

The plan called for the Rangers to seize Point Salines Airport early in the morning of the 25th, take the ``True Blue" campus buildings near the eastern edge of the runway and evacuate the U.S. students there. They would hand over to the 82nd Airborne and elements of the C.P.F. at dawn. Meanwhile the marines would take Pearls Airport, on the other side of the island. All the fighting should be over by noon on the first day.

Things did not go well from the start. It was found that the runway was blocked and so the rangers, who planed to land in their C-130s, had to rig to jump. The initial drop, between 0500 and 0530, was delayed due to planing & mechanical failures, resulting in the rangers being deploied in a disorganised manner. The last not getting onto the ground until 0700. Once there they had to overcome stubborn resistance from the local militia and Cuban construction workers who were dug in and possessed a number of anti aircraft guns. Fighting in the area surrounding the airport continued for the rest of the day. In the afternoon a number of counter attacks were launched by the P.R.A. but these were limited in size and easily beaten off by the now established rangers.

This initial setback caused a large amount of delay and confusion, and it would be seven days before the whole island was cleared.

The Wargame

The US player should split his forces between the 3 C-130s as he likes. The Path Finders may be placed on the board before the game starts but must be at least 6" from any enemy position. The game starts with the first C-130 arriving over the table. He has the option of having the AC-130 on the table for up to two turns before the first C-130 arrives if he wishes. However, the Spectre still only has a total of 5 friendly turns over the board. On each subsequent turn roll a D6. A 5 or 6 indicates that the next plane will arrive that go. The C-130s follow the same rules as other aircraft, ie. they may have a maximum of five friendly turns over the table. After that they must return to Barbados to refuel whether they have dropped off their cargo or not. They may return 12 turns later.

From turn 8 on the Cuban/PRA player can roll to get reenforcements, needing a 5 or 6 to do so. If successful, roll below. If the unit has already been rolled then it does not appear a second time.

1-2   Motorized Company enters eastern edge of board.
      Support arrives if 5-6 is thrown again next turn
 3    Mobile Company enters eastern edge of board.
      Support arrives if 5-6 is thrown again next turn.
 4    Exploration Platoon enters eastern edge of board.
 5    Rapid Mobilization Company enterns northern edge of board.
 6    Nothing.

From turn 15 the US player can roll for reenforcements, needing a 6 to do so. If successful roll below.

 1    An AC-130 returns for another five turns.
 2    An A-7 from U.S.S. Independence arrives.
3-5   A Cobra from HMM261 arrives.
 6    A C-130 with the CPF arrives.

Victory is determined by how fast the area is cleared by the U.S. forces:

By the end of turn 10 - a U.S. victory,
By the end of turn 15 - a marginal U.S. victory,
By the end of turn 20 - a marginal P.R.A. victory,
By the end of turn 25 - a P.R.A. victory.

Special Rules

At the start of the game a roll a D6. 1-2 the runway is open and the C-130s may attempt to land, 3-6 the runway is blocked and must be cleared before the C-130s can land.

Clearing the runway takes 3D6 figure-turns to complete. ie if you roll 16 then it takes 16 turns for one figure (doing nothing else) to clear, 8 turns for two figures to clear 6 turns for three figures to clear, e.t.c.

The AC-130 ``Spectre" is armed with 1 Auto-can., 1 40mm can. (6 pts on table 4, 3+ to hit. Gun class 5 as per Rockets) and 1 105mm can. (12 pts on table 4, 3+ to hit. Gun class 3 as per Rockets).

The Cuban Construction workers were ordered not to fire unless fired upon first. Before the start of the game a D6 should be rolled, 1-3 these orders stand, 4-6 they may fire as they see fit.

Possible alternative scenarios exist. There were plans in the pipeline for a regular Cuban infantry company to be deploied to Grenada. This would come under the command of Colonel Torolo Comas and consist of 6 Regular figures (1 LAW) plus maybe some heavy weapon support. Secondly there were plans to greatly expand the P.R.A. Thus a company of 6 Poor figures could be deploied. Lastly additional AA weapons (ZU-23-2 AA gun and ZPU-4 quad AAMG) were available but not used as there were no trained crews. The addition of one of these extra AA weapons gives the P.R.A. a sharper edge.

U.S. Order of Battle

75th Rangers (Elite):

CO (Major General Scholts) + 7 figures 

Path Finders  1 Observer team (2 figures) 
 
1st/75th Rangers (20 figures)
     BHQ      CO (Lieut. Colonel Taylor) + 3 figures (1 LAW) 
              1 60mm mort.
              1 Jeep + MG
              1 Jeep + 106mm RCL
              1 Recon 250cc M/C
 2 Companies  8 figures (2 LAD)

2nd/75th Rangers (16 figures)
     BHQ      1 CO (Lieut. Colonel Hagler) + 3 figures (1 LAW)
              1 60mm mort.
              1 Jeep + MG
              1 Recon 250cc M/C
 3 Companies  4 figures (1 LAD)

Air Support:

8th Special Operations Squadron   3 C-130E (20 figures in each, jeep=4 figures)
16th Special Operations Squadron  1 AC-130H Spectre gun ship

Reenforcements:

Caribbean Peace-keeping Force (CPF) (Regular) (16 figures):
Jamaican Defence Force:  CO (Brigadier General Lewis) + 3 figures.
                         6 figures
Barbados Defence Force  Other Police: 
                         6 figures

HMM 261                  1 AH-1T Cobra (1 Auto-can., 3 TOWB)
Carrier Air Wing No.6    1 A-7 Corsair (1 Auto-can., 4 Bombs)

Cuban/P.R.A. Order of Battle

Cuban Composite Battalion (Regular): (27 figures)

BHQ               1 CO (Colonel Torolo Comas) + 3 figures (Military advisors)
3 Companies       6 figures (Construction workers)
Wpns Company      1 75mm RCL (Gun Class 4)
                  1 82mm mortar
                  5 figures

P.R.A. Forces (Poor):

Security Company  6 figures (Capt. Readhead)
AA Platoon        1 ZU-23-2 AA gun
                  3 crew figures (Lieut. Prime)

P.R.A. Reenforcements (Poor):

Motorized Company    1 CO (2nd Lieut. Nelson) + 7 figures
                     2 BTR-60PB
Support              1 75mm RCL (Gun Class 4)
                     2 crew figures
                     1 GAZ Medium Truck
Mobile Company       6 figures
                     1 GAZ Medium Trucks
Support              1 82mm mortar
                     3 Crew figures
                     1 GAZ Medium Trucks
Exploration Platoon  1 Observer team (2 figures) (2nd Lieut. Bridgeman)
                     1 BRDM-2
Rapid Mobilization Company 
                     CO (Lieut. Abdullah) + 4 figures

Vehicle         Armour  Gun     Speed  NF  Smoke

BTR-60PB           E    MG       J     IR    - 
BRDM-2             E    MG       J     IR    -

``Urgent Fury - The battle for Grenada" Mark Adkin, Leo Cooper 1989