I'm pleased to say that the final Marines at the Chosin - East Hill scenario is now up and running.
http://www.wargamer.com/gamesdepot/details.asp?sid=4174
Design: Wild Bill Wilder
bwilder@bellsouth.net
Testers: Sgt Walrus, Andrew Weeble Weaver, Tom DeShetler, Massimo Rocca, Fabio Prado
Player Notes:
This battle is suitable for a 2 player game, but Chinese must be set at 80 percent efficiency. If played solitaire, take the USMC side.
This is a small piece of the action that took place during the early morning hours of December 6th.1950
In this scenario, you are the commander of 2nd Platoon, Able Company of the 5th Marine Regiment. The rest of your company is stretched to the west of you.
You and your platoon are part of the rear guard for the massive column of Marines leaving Hagaru and
heading for the coast. You are late arriving to your position due to your guide getting lost in the dark.
You are going to need to hurry to get into place before the enemy is upon you.
You will find that you are heavily outnumbered as masses of Chinese troops storm your defenses.
The purpose of this scenario, in addition to a challenge, is to show the effectiveness of the Marine
concept of the "Fire Team."
Your forces are divided into fire teams from each squad. This was the basic Marine TOE for the squad at
this point in the war. Each fire team consisted of four men with a leader for each, and another of the
four who carried a Browning Automatic Rifle.
This organizational change was effected during the last year of the Second World War and helped to keep
the normal rifle squad well controlled and much more effective.
The Chinese after being run off East Hill are returning in great strength to retake the Hill and get off some rounds at the departing Marine column.
Your task is to hold the base of East Hill at it's southernmost point, near the MSR (Main Supply Route)
leading south.
Historical Background:
During the early morning hours of December 6th, the 5th, 7th and what part of the 1st Regiments remained
in Hagaru-ri began their perilous journey south.
1st Battalion, 5th Marines, including companies Able, Baker, Charlie, and the weapons platoon, had taken
up blocking positions down the slope of East Hill all the way to the other side of the road. When the
Chinese came, the night was exceptionally black. Riflemen of Able heard noises to their left. There were stacks of crates and barrels in that area, supplies that could not be carried with them and were destined to be destroyed, once the Marines were safely out of Hagaru.
When some of the riflemen fired, a fire was started among those supplies and munitions. The flicker of
the flames revealed hundreds of Chinese of the 74th Regiment, 59th Division, shoulder to shoulder, coming
straight for them. They had come quietly, with no mortar barrage, no whistles or bugles and no shouting.
It was the same along the entire line up to the heights of East Hill. The Marines again opened fire.
Tanks, bringing up the rear of the column proceeding along the road, headed south, detoured and backed up
the infantry. 2nd Lieutenant Abell had watched as a large group of Chinese near the road assembled for an
attack. All of his men were busy fighting and he had no one to meet this new threat.
Running to the road, he grabbed the intercom phone at the rear of the tank. Clambering aboard as it slowly lumbered down the road, he began beating on the turret hatch. Finally it cracked about an inch.
A voice inside echoed, -Who’s there?- Feeling himself to be the butt of an out of place -knock, knock-
joke, the officer shouted, -You idiot, open up!- The tank commander looked relieved -What’s going on?- he
asked.
-Do you think you can hit those people over there by that embankment?- as Abell pointed to the Chinese.
-Oh sure,- replied the tanker, -nothing to it.- The turret motors whirred electrically as Abell dropped
to the ground and scrambled to the other side of the roadway. The 90mm gun was lowered a few degrees.
There was a brief pause, then a -carumph- as the tank’s main gun barked once and again.
The Chinese in the distance literally disappeared in the resultant explosions. The tank commander smiled,
waved to Abell, buttoned up again, and moved on down the road.
Once the column was on its way, the remainder of 1st Battalion loaded up and then hooked up with the tail
end of the line of trucks, infantry and tanks headed south.
At Their Finest #2 Now ready!
Linear Mode
