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 Bandit Country

South Armagh 1982

"Sunray Down"


Scenario

It's the summer of 1988, and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) barracks and joint British Army base at Crossmaglen (XMG) village in South Armagh, has come under mortar attack. A British RAF Lynx helicopter that was flying to the base reports that it has been hit by ground fire and the pilot attempts to land before losing communication with Crossmaglen barracks.  On board is the Lt. Colonel and Sergeant Major of the battalion with three crew of the Lynx.  This is "Bandit Country" where the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) hold the initiative in a war that started in 1969.  By the mid 1970s, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and the British Army have been forced to abandon using the roads due to IEDs and mines destroying security forces' vehicles and inflicting casualties. As a result, all operations and resupply of police/Army barracks is conducted by helicopters.  Police and Army patrols into the countryside are dropped and picked up by helicopter.  

In time, the Army erected large watch towers along the border with the Irish Republic to conduct surveillance, inserted troops in concealed observation posts (OPs) to gather intelligence, and deployed the Special Air Service (SAS).  The downing of the Lynx compelled the security forces to quickly respond using the roads, and an Airborne Reaction force is deployed to find the crash site and rescue their CO and colleagues. At Bessbrook Barracks, the battalion HQ, (14 miles to the east of Crossmaglen) additional helicopters take off in response to the emergency.  Information is non-existent, but time is limited, and the crash site is close to the border (Crossmaglen is 1.3 miles from the border on the Dundalk Road, and to the southwest the border is just beyond Cullaville 2.2 miles on the B30).

The IRA have excellent intelligence on the ground, and have prepared for any military movement by road.  There is a concern that this mortar attack is a "come on" to lure the security forces to react, but the downing of the helicopter compounds the anxiety, and forces the military to throw caution to the wind. 


RUC/British Forces

2x8 man fire teams (FTs) (The Royal Green Jackets) Saracen APCs

A 4 man RUC Mobile Patrol Unit  (Hotspur Land Rover)

1 4 man Airborne Reaction Force (ARF) 3 (Royal Regiment of Fusiliers) soldiers and 1 medic.

1 SAS Fire team in a Closed Observation Post (COP)

Reinforcements:

3x4 man FTs


                                                        Two Fire Teams of RGJ Regiment
                                                        (Empress Miniatures)

    
                                                Saracen Armored Personal Carriers (APC)

    
                                            Armored Land Rovers (Snatch Land Rovers).


                                            Airborne Reaction Force (ARF) Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
                                            (Empress Miniatures)


                                            RUC Special Patrol Group (SPG)
                                            Figures sculpted by John Murphy.


                                            A Hotspur RUC Land Rover

IRA

4 8 man squads (2 RPG teams)

1 DHSK MG

1 50 Cal MG

3 man OP/IEDs 

1 Mortar team  (3 man team)

                                            Sculpts by John Murphy.





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