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5.3 Hidden Placement

The following rule covering the use of VC/NVA camouflage is added to the hidden placement rules:

  • Camouflaged VC/NVA trenches, bunkers and spider holes which are deployed in terrain areas such as woods, jungle etc are not automatically detected. To represent the effective use of camouflage the spotting player must throw 1D6 and refer to the following chart. Troops unable to identify the target may only use recon by fire against the terrain feature in which it is concealed
Target is: Score to Detect
Within one base width (or two base widths if dog team attached) Automatic
Outside one base width 6+
Outside one base width but occupants are firing 3+
  • VC/NVA units may enter and leave, or move in, camouflaged trenches, bunkers and spider holes without being seen unless the observing unit is within one stand width of the moving unit or they have already been detected. If they have already been detected then any movement is treated as a Retreat Move This is to represent their better use of camouflage when compared to US/ARVN forces.
  • Caches, spider holes and tunnel entrances may also be hidden, and will require a successful Search action to locate them. The searching player throws 1D6 for each searching fire team and consults the following table:
Searcher is: Score to Detect
Green 6+
Regular 5+
Veteran 4+
  • Only Fire Teams and Dog Teams may attempt a search action. A search area is 3 base widths by 3 base widths and may be searched by a maximum of three fire teams who must be part of the same squad. One Fire Team must be located at the centre of the search area, other participating fire teams or controlling command groups must also be placed in the search area. All searching stands must remain stationary during the search action.
  • A Platoon Command Group may add +1 to the dice throw for Green troops if the PCG is within the search area. This bonus may only be applied to the two or three fire teams that make up any one squad in the platoon, and may only be applied if the fire team has not taken any casualties. Regular and Veteran troops are assumed to be well trained in searches and in no need of close supervision.
  • A US dog team attached to the platoon and within 1 stand of a searching fire team will add +1 to the search dice throw.
  • A search action may draw reactive fire.
  • A failed search action does not lose the initiative but an area may only be searched once during a player's initiative.
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