Japanese Long Campaign

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Situation at Turn 33

A coy has been on the backfoot. The enemy looks to be in battalion strength. They have fully given up the Wooden Bridge and the flank to their south. In fact, they are almost at risk of being split apart. Pl 2 is on the south side of the dirt road and the only force in direct defence of the victory locations. Pl 1 and 3 are holding the enemy in the hamlet and delaying for as long as possible, while support is coming elsewhere.

B coy's position has somewhat stabilised. The enemy is taking a long time to re-org before coming out from the woods. In the mean time, they have detached Pl 6 to march towards A coy's sector. Our Armour pl is also moving towards A coy's sector, after they complete their resupply.

C coy's position has hardly changed. Pl 7 is holding the enemy superbly. They have hardly taken any losses (lack of enemy artillery attention). Pl 8 is moving towards A coy to support, while Pl 9 remains in good support of B Coy.

D coy has battered the enemy inf coy and are pursuing routing units towards north of B coy. Similarly, they are detaching Pl 12 towards A coy's sector.

[sigeena]

Situation at Turn 43

I'll cover the action from South to North.

The enemy bn is finally stopped by my armoured platoon. My HMG coy (3 platoons) are in good LOS, overlooking the enemy battalion.

Pl 2 and 8 will support the armoured platoon attack on the enemy battalion.

Pl 6 will attack and attempt to recapture the hamlet, to cut off the enemy's line of retreat..

Pl 1 and 3 are resupplying. They are all shot out and will take another 10 turns before completing their resupply.

Pl 7 has fought the enemy to a standstill. They are also almost all shot out and half the platoon are cycling back to resupply, leaving the other half to delay the enemy.

Pl 9 was originally ordered to march towards A coy's sector but due to the developments up north in B coy's sector, they will march back towards B coy.

Pl 4 and 5 of B coy are almost all shot out and will delay long enough for Pl 9 to take over the firing line, before pulling back to resupply.

Pl 10 and 11 are in position to close on the enemy coy that's pushing along the north road.

Pl 12 is still marching towards A coy sector. I doubt they will be able to influence the fight in any way.

[sigeena]

Situation at End Battle

Soon after our armour pl began attack on the enemy bn along A Coy sector, they crumbled. From then on, it was just pursuit and we bagged alot of prisoners.

Overall body count was some 90+ (Japanese) to 1800+ (Chinese Nationalists).

After this battle, our timeline was July 1938 and we had a choice to either continue sticking to China or move on to the steppes of Manchuria, to fight the Soviets.

The choice was obvious. Time to fight in another forgotten battle in another un-important landmark.

Changkufeng http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lake_Khasan

[sigeena]

Mission
To Advance through Changkufeng and secure the area of operation within 3 hours (roughly 59 turns).

Enemy
To expect approx. 2x enemy inf battalion and 1x armoured squardron, and up to 2x light/ medium artillery batteries.

Troops
Degawa Battalion will be supported by 1x 105mm Medium Batt (off-board), 1x 75mm Light Batt (on-board), 1x Manchuko Cavalry Squadron, 1x Light Armour Coy (Type 95 Ha-Go), 1x Medium Armour Coy (Type 97 Chi-Ha). We will also be able to call on 1x Spotter Plane to support us in long-range recon.

Terrain
The Changkufeng AO has its usual mix of wooded areas and open ground. The main axis available for use E-W is along the southern flank of the map.

The centre of the AO is dominated by a imposing ridge-line that runs approx. SW-NE, topped by 3 knolls, highest elevation being 40metres. This ridge will allow full observation of the road along the southern flank, and the immediate open valley infront of our start line.

Close woods cover most of the area north of the ridge-line. It allows us to move un-noticed around the enemy flank, and access towards his rear.

Battle Plan
A Coy will advance from the centre of the map and though its movement appears to be a direct frontal assault. They will not carry it through, but demonstrate and remain as reserve.

B and D Coy will move along the road in the south and assault the ridge from the south. Once they capture the ridge, they will press on and push into the enemy rear, and link-up with our north flank. They will be supported by the Medium Armour Coy. This force will be named Hammer Force.

C Coy will move along the northern woods and attempt to go deep and prevent enemy units from fleeing the AO. C Coy will be supported by the Light Armour Coy and the Manchuko Cavalry Squadron. This force will be named Anvil Force.

Bn Inf Gun will push up along the road in the south and attempt to support Hammer Force where possible.

[sigeena]

Situation at Turn 5

My recon plane is paying dividends. We located what looks to be the enemy armour park in what looks to be C Coy's sector. This is a light armour unit, which doesn't mount any main guns that should be of danger to my light armour coy in the north.

As for the south, the recon plane has also managed to uncover enemy ATGs and HMGs on top of the ridge in B Coy's sector.

Based on spotting activity, I believe the enemy first line of defence is somewhere along the red line.

All units will continue as planned.

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Situation at Turn 16

Hammer Force has destroyed the enemy infantry coy directly opposing them and have captured the first knoll with almost no casualties (except for losses from enemy artillery). The enemy ATGs were destroyed by our artillery and most of the enemy infantry took to flight after taking the first 2 casualties.* Soviet morale is probably as low as the Chinese Nationalists units that I've fought previously. D Coy has extended into battle line, but B Coy has been delayed by enemy artillery and are about 3 turns away from full deployment.

Further north, the spotter plane has found another armour park and this time, its some of the early light and medium Soviet armour that is potentially dangerous to our own armour. This will be the artillery next priority to take out.

Anvil Force is slowed down by the terrain more than enemy activity. That said,, the Manchuko cavalry has finally encountered the enemy lines and fortunately, they are moving dismounted and clearing the enemy with welcoming swiftness.

*The yellow unit denotes destroyed enemy.

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Situation at Turn 26

Both B and D coys are deployed into line formation and advancing as planned. They will take approx. 10-12 turns to traverse the wooded area infront of them.

Having destroyed the enemy light armour platoon, A Coy is also on the move to close in with the enemy.

C coy and the Manchuko cavalry squadron moves deeper behind enemy lines and will set up a block force in approx. 5 turns.