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Operation Dumbo

25mm Vietnam Participation Game

In 1968, as the war in South-East Asia continued, the Indian Government decided to make a gift of two elephants to the indigenous Montagnard Tribes. These people, living close to the infamous Ho Chi Minh trail, supported the South Vietnamese Army in the fight against communist North Vietnam under the nominal control of American Special Forces. The gift of the elephants by the Indian Government, whilst welcome, presented a huge logistical problem to the U.S. Forces. How to get them across the war zone to their new home?

The movie portrays the difficulties experienced by some special forces soldiers, led by two officers, played by Danny Glover and Ray Liotta, in attempting to deliver an Elephant to its destination. The game is based on scenes not included in the final cut of the film.

This exciting episode can now be re-constructed following the chance discovery of what are allegedly early rushes in a box of unpainted modern wargame figures bought at the SELWG 2004 Bring and Buy by Peter Edlin, a member of the Jersey Wargames Society.

The Jersey Wargames Society presents a game inspired by the film 'Operation Dumbo Drop' by Walt Disney Pictures which is based upon the original story that appeared in Soldier of Fortune magazine written by Jim Morris, who served three tours in S.E. Asia with US Special Forces, called 'Operation Barroom'.

The figures are from Baker Company and West Wind and have all been painted by Peter Edlin. The terrain was constructed by David Humphries who also built the buildings along with Rob Le Vesconte. The palm trees are commercially available from Barry Carter. Rules and scenario have been developed by Edward Rodhouse with help from Alan Kirk, Derek Henderson and Paul Jeune. We are grateful to the Jersey Privateers wargaming club in helping playtest and fine-tune the game before its premier at SELWG.