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A Double-Blind CQB AAR Members of the Dulles Wargaming Club gathered to play a game with Britton Publishers’ modern squad-‐level rules, SOF Warrior. Mike and Roger, pictured above, each controlled a 4-‐man U.S. fire team, while Stan had six insurgents. Using a floor plan I found from a gorgeous home in Dubai, I went to Kinkos and bought two laminated posters. We used 20mm modern figures by Elhiem. So, the proportion of the building and figures was perfect. Foam Core, held in place by two bookends, became the barrier between the opposing forces. I acted as the game master and sat between the two sides. It is very compelling to observe the way players behave, when they do not have an omniscient perspective of the battlefield. What follows is a story that chronicles one of the most cinematic games in which it has been my pleasure to participate. I hope you enjoy it.
The Setting Assad Kahlil was born in Fallujah in 1984. A precocious child, he studied the violin and was a gifted athlete. In the fall of 2000, he was the youngest student to ever receive a scholarship from the Bartlett School of Architecture in London. He was
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well financed by his uncle, who was a high-‐ranking officer in Saddam’s Republican Guard, and he had the best that money could buy. In 2003 when the Americans came, Assad’s world of privilege crumbled. At his family’s request, he returned to Fallujah, where his uncle owned a beautiful home in the Old Soldiers District. Our story begins on 2 November 2004: Assad has never considered himself to be a religious man, but rather a fervent nationalist, and his homeland has been invaded. His uncle is killed when a Navy SEAL team attempts to capture him, and now Assad is determined to keep his home from falling into enemy hands. Using trip wires, he booby-‐traps the lower level with hand grenades. He rigs the main entrance, the kitchen and the stairwell leading to the upper floor. His cousin’s dog is a Mastiff, mixed with some unknown breed. At 135 pounds, the animal is huge and particularly vicious when someone it doesn’t recognize comes calling. Assad is certain the Americans will kill the dog, but at the very least, it will provide an early warning. To control the animal and “destroy the infidels,” Assad’s cousin, Jahmal volunteers to remain downstairs. He is armed with an AK-‐47 and is wearing a vest wired with explosives. Although Assad argues against this insane tactic, Jahmal is adamant. Upstairs, Assad positions his four fighters. Faruq and Hamza will guard the north and south terraces, while Kedar, his best fighter, and Yacoub cover the stairwell. Assad stations himself in the middle, where he can manage the overall defense. For his Alamo, Assad has scavenged some American gear. He equips Kedar and Hamza with NODs and body armor, and he reserves a pair for himself. His team is armed with Soviet era weapons that include grenades, AK-‐47s, an RPK and a PKM machinegun. Assad carries his uncle’s AKS-‐74U. Assad is certain the Americans will not attack until the sun goes down, when they usually have the advantage, but he is ready for them.
The Americans Move into Position Sergeant Roger Burley orders his fire team to stack on the main north entry. As they move cautiously into position, a dog begins to bark. Lt. Mike Ottenberg moves to the south side of the home and notices an upstairs terrace. He orders his team to ascend the wall. His men make several failed attempts to secure a hook, but finally they succeed and begin to climb. Assad calls out to Hamza, “Do you hear that? They are climbing the wall.” Welcome them for me.” Hamza nods and pies around the corner with his AK-‐47. With the precise coordination that only comes from intensive training, the Americans begin the attack.
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From the picture above, you can see Mike’s fire-‐team at the second story south terrace (right).
The Attack Begins Jahmal trembles as he hears his dog bark. He knows it won’t be long now. The weapon he holds reassures him, and he glances down at the explosive vest wrapped tightly around his upper body. He thinks about taking it off and running, but there is nowhere to go, and the vest has a secondary detonator that will prevent the Americans from disarming it, should he fall before it explodes. No, his fate is sealed. Then he hears the shattering of the front windows as a machinegun opens fire. With the glass now broken, the US fire-‐team makes entry at the north end. Simultaneously, the dog growls and lunges for Sgt. Burley, who is attempting to enter through the front widow. But, before the animal can reach his throat, he fires a full burst from his assault rifle and kills the beast. The lead soldier in Lt. Ottenberg’s fire-‐team reaches the top of the terrace and pauses to scan the master bedroom. Seeing nothing, he tries to hop over the wall, but snags his foot and tumbles loudly on the tile floor. A split second before the American SAW opens fire at the north end, Hamza thrusts his head around the
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corner and sees a man sprawled on the floor. He sees two more heads poking up behind the terrace wall, so he opens fire. Assad hears the firefight erupt in the master bedroom, and he moves to reduce the command radius. The Americans return fire, and a grenade rips through the room. Hamza is dead, but two Americans are also hurt. Just then, another grenade rolls next to Assad’s feet. Quickly, he dashes into the bathroom just before it explodes. He is temporarily blinded by the blast, and the pall of smoke further obstructs his NODs. He searches for his own grenade, pulls the pin and rolls it into the master bedroom. Downstairs, Jahmal hears the crunch of boots walking on broken glass, and he knows the end is near. As the American stalks into the kitchen, Jahmal opens fire. The wild burst does nothing other than reveal his presence. He should have waited for a better opportunity, but fear and adrenalin combined to cloud his judgment. A fusillade of return fire causes him to duck down below the kitchen island. Then he calls out in English. “Don’t shoot, I surrender!” As he stands up slowly with his hands in the air, the US soldier studies him carefully. When the smoke clears, the American notices the suicide vest and opens fire. Jahmal’s body is riddled with bullets, but he manages to pull the cord. Instantly, both he and the US Soldier are eviscerated. The blast also renders another of Sgt. Burley’s men unconscious at the kitchen window. The American hears Assad’s grenade and instinctively runs in the direction from which it came. Before Assad can shoulder his AKS-‐74U, the man is next to him. Assad reaches for his knife and launches himself at the enemy. As he slams into the man, he stabs blindly. The blade sinks deep into the soldier’s neck, and he crumples to the floor. Assad gathers himself and runs back to the bathroom. Sgt. Burley doesn’t have time to ponder the tragedy of the events downstairs. His gear is stuck on the jagged glass in the window. No matter how much he struggles, he cannot break free. Finally with one colossal effort, he falls inside the house, next to the carcass of the dog. His groin is bleeding, but he pushes on. He clears the first room on the right and calls for his men to stack at the bottom of the stairs. The one soldier dazed by the suicide vest recovers and enters the kitchen. As he dashes around the corner, one of Assad’s booby traps is tripped. A smoldering grenade rolls onto the floor. That same instant, another of Burley’s men begins to ascend the stairs, tripping another grenade. The men yell “FRAG!” and all three of them run for their lives. They barely make it to the safety of the corner when the two grenades explode. The men are dazed, but otherwise alive. Lt. Ottenberg stalks through the master bedroom and sees a figure dash across the open door. Contrary to his training, he has switched the selector to full auto, and he squeezes the trigger. Seventeen bullets rip into the wall and several slam into
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Assad. His life is saved by the American body armor he wears, but he is now severely wounded in the right leg and left hand. Followed closely by his two men, Sgt. Burley grabs the SAW, and begins to stalk up the stairs. Because of his wounded groin, one of the riflemen takes the lead. As the soldier crests the top of the stairs, Kedar and Yacoub open fire and throw a grenade. The Americans tumble backwards in an attempt to escape the blast of the enemy grenade. When the smoke clears, another American soldier has fallen. Incensed by the loss of his man, Sgt. Burley shoulders the SAW and charges upstairs. Assad self-‐administers rudimentary first aid and miraculously reduces the flow of blood from his hand and leg. Another enemy grenade tumbles near the bathroom door and Assad manages to pull himself into the tub. Although he escapes the deadly fragments, the overpressure knocks him unconscious. Now, Lt. Ottenberg sends the only other surviving member of his fire team in to kill the stubborn insurgent bastard. As the US soldier creeps inside the bathroom, he first looks to his right and fires into the shower stall. But, he chose poorly, and this is clearly a case where the double-‐blind mechanics had a realistic impact on gameplay. Assad regains consciousness and props his rifle on the side of the tub, just in time to shoot him in the back.
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This is the insurgents’ map with individual placement.
Finale Assad is exhausted, and he is bleeding again. He senses that the Americans will soon overwhelm his tiny force, but he will fight until the end. His daydream is interrupted as a grenade lands in the tub. He picks it up, but he is not in a position to toss it out of the bathroom. So, he pitches it into the shower and flattens himself down in the tub. Meanwhile, Sergeant Burley moves upstairs with his SAW blazing. Kedar attempts to meet this madman with a burst of his own, but the American’s machinegun cuts him down. Yacoub also attempts to return fire, but he too is destroyed by Sergeant Burley’s gun. Then, an explosion rocks the upper floor and Burley’s ears begin to ring. As he creeps near the bathroom, Lt. Ottenberg greets him, “It’s over. How many casualties do you have?” The sergeant replies, “Two dead, sir!” Lt. Ottenberg shakes his head and mumbles, “I’ve got two dead and one wounded. We must evacuate him at once. Let’s get outta here.”