Game of the Khalkin Gol/Nomonhan Japanese Soviet war of 1939.
Using Big Chain of Command in 20mm, loosely based on the scenarios from "The Bear dances with the Chrysanthemum".
Organized, using terrain and models from Jeremy Dowd, Chris Caves and David Maltman. Umpired by Jeremy Dowd.
Main AAR by Gary, with some asides from the Editor, second report from David Maltman.
Players
Japanese : Jeremey Dowd ( CIC), Chris Caves, Tim Snoddy, David Taylor and Gary.
Russian : David Maltman ( CIC ), Ian Anderson, David Brown and Stephen Casement.
Garys AAR.
A Big Battle Chain of Command 2 game set in 1939 in Manchuria with Japanese against Russians.
Game set up and run by Jeremy D and Dave M with several figures from Chris.
Terrain was mix of hills, knolls, rough ground, depressions and couple of light buildings.
Five Nippon players: Jeremy D (CinC), Dave T, Tim, Chris and yours truly against four Ivans: Dave M (CinC), Dave B, Ian and Stevie C.
Nips were the attackers fielding 4 Infantry Platoons (12 man sections) with 3 Chi Ha tanks (under my illustrious command) with numerous support assets (including ATGs, ATRs, Chi Go, a Ruse, Mortar Platoon)
Reds had I think 3 Infantry Platoons (10 man sections) with 3 BT5 tanks and various support assets (not sure what except for a Mortar Barrage).
After Patrol phase Japs had quite favourable Jump Off points especially as their Ruse allowed a Jump Off point to be moved a very flexible option.
Ivans mainly confined to their set up zone but with 2 (of the 4) Objectives looking vulnerable on either flank.
I kept my Tank Platoon off-table at start to see how things developed before committing.
Jeremy D was on Jap right with Dave T on center-right, Tim center-left and Chris on left.
Right to left Ivans had Dave M, Ian, Dave B and Stevie C.
Several Jap sections were deployed early (to threaten those attainable) and in response Ivans done same and indeed their Tanks appeared right way in center-right area but separated into isolated areas.
Use of a ruse allowed Japs to occupy one enclosed field objective right away.
So when able I then deployed on right to support Platoons under Jeremy and Dave T.
Chris on our left launched Banzai charges from get go against a farm objective but after a flurry of dice rolling seemed to be stymied (I was not fully aware of proceedings on left half of table throughout).
Seemingly inspired (and encouraged from sidelines) Dave T launched 2 full sections in another Banzai attack against another enclosed field Objective.
A furious melee (so many dice !) 36 halved to 18 vs 14 in first round but a draw with 2 kills each and some shock, second round it was 24 dice vs 11 and Dave rolled 4 kills and 4 shock but Stevie C rolled 6 kills and 1 Shock to actually win the melee !
This forced Daves sections back with additional Shock but due to losses and shock Stevies section was Broken and also fell back.
Infantry action on this flank sort of stalemated for awhile with both sides exchanging lead but with Stevie C having his Force Morale and Command Dice steadily reduced (ended up on 1 Morale).
Whilst this was occurring one of Dave B tanks was being assailed by my 3 Tanks, 2 Anti-Tank Guns and a Anti-Tank Rifle over several phases but seemed impervious taking only a couple of Shock and dealing out same.
Eventually the poor bugger was forced back, was immobilized, had its Optic damaged and ultimately was abandoned but it felt more like a KV1 than a BT5 !!
Chris had by this time occupied the Objective of left and things looked bad for Ivans, but suddenly a ranging shot for a mortar barrage appeared amidst a mass of Jap infantry which luckily failed to see the barrage fall immediately.
The infantry scattered as best they could but the barrage then arrived pinning 3 sections and causing lots of shock.
Unfortunately time had to be called before game completed and whilst Japanese seemed to be in ascendancy (2 Objectives occupied just about to be declared captured with a Jump Off point nullified) hard to say how things would have ended.
Amazingly my Chi Ha units survived (decent enough in this period)
Great stuff and much kudos to Jeremy D for being able to both play and field the numerous rules questions.
The battle blow by blow.
The hilly, knolly and watery battlefield before the combatants arrive. The road is only a dirt track. Manchuria is not the most hospitable place on the planet, bare in mind it is next door to Siberia - Editor.
Russia's finest ( Editor - bare in mind Uncle Joes purges of the Russian officer class after the revolution. The Lardies tagline being "Play the Period, not the Rules". The Russian commanders were fairly novice at CoC and their CIC has only played 3 games and has only been a platoon commander in a Big CoC game. So we were playing the period and the Peter principle ** was in operation, in spades. ).
Japanese right wing with my Chi Ha fleet in action (the wannabe KV1 just visible beside rules to right rear).
Nip infantry occupy central hill from which they launched Banzai charge.
Some of Chris lot on left (and lots of dice......so many dice........)
The enclosed field taken by Chris (after a fierce struggle I believe).
Fearsome Chi Ha......hear us roar !!............ok whimper.
Tims Platoon in center.
Another BT5 behind the broken Russian section.
Nip adversaries have fallen back onto hill (a Senior Commander was lost in this charge action !!).
Jeremys sections flank the large hill and occupy an objective with 37mm ATG in support.
Central Jap positioning before the Banzai.
Ruse ability allowed this Jump Off point to be moved to enable capture ground well into Russian area.
Left half of table seemed so far away and someone has dropped smoke ( Editor - Chris's mortars dropped the smoke ).
The view from the other side, AAR number 2, by David Maltman.
The other side in 2 ways, the other side of the table and the Russian side of the battle.
Chris Caves, as usual rushes headlong at the nearest enemy, launching a banzai attack on the small farmhouse with 2 platoons, having laid down smoke to allow him to get in close.
After a vicious battle the Japs drive the Russians out of the field, sending them heading for the rear, with Commissars waiting to shoot them.
Meanwhile Ian's platoon are holding Tims Japs off in the center. His troops, a section and an MMG, are all in the farmhouse, which is nicely obscuring them. Behind the farmhouse are a 76mm infantry gun and a section which are harassing David Ts platoon.
Section at the knoll holds Chris's 2 sections in the field, but Japanese small arms fire finally whittle them down to the point where they are pinned and then rout.
They are then pinned in place by my 2 mortars with the MMG is moving up to the knoll now the section has gone.
My other section in the scrub is keeping Chris's 3rd section in the scrub near the field under attack with its LMG and the rifle team keep a section in the centre busy. The photo is after the section at the knoll has routed, with an MMG moving in to take their place ( knoll is to the right hand side ).
David Brown sent a lone BT5 over to aid in driving Chris's merry men out of the farm house. He was dead keen to get over the wall and run the infantry over, but did not roll enough on the movement dice, so ended up firing HE at them.
We finally get to use a battalion asset with a mortar barrage on the large hill with 2 sections of David Taylors infantry ( Ed - after he had to leave the field, being called away by his real CIC ) and had transferred command to Gary, much reducing what he was able to do ).
At that point time was up. 2 of the objectives were held by each side, the Japanese had more assets on the table . So a minor Japanese victory.
Editorial comment.
Here is a picture of the front of the large farmhouse which Ians troops defended.
Note the dog looking out for the sly Japanese creeping up on him. He's heard the rumors of they do when they take a place over.
As an aside, I worked for a while in Hong Kong and got the Chinese guys to teach me bits and pieces of Cantonese. Like everyone would, I asked what is the worst insult you can say to someone in Cantonese. It sounds like "poke-eye". What it translates to in English is "Fallen in the street". I said that does not sound that insulting. But, it comes from the Japanese treatment of the people on Nanjing in 1937 where amongst other things they would just shoot people and leave the bodies lying in the street. So effectively what you are saying is I hope you die and rot in the street.
To give you an idea of the geography of the area, here are a couple of photos from the Bear dances with the Chrysanthemum.
** For those who could not be bothered to look up "The Peter Principle". it says that you get promoted to the level above your competence, i.e. where you cease to be competent at what you are doing.
___________________________________________________________________________
Photos curtesy of Gary and the Editor.
