Japanese 3rd Division assaults the Russian left flank
The main changes from the original scenario are
- reduced size of table from 8x5 feet to 6x4 feet
- reducing the number of infantry and cavalry bases by about 50%
- reducing the Japanese artillery by 75%
- reduce the number of turns from 15 to 12
Looking west across the battlefield
The streams are fordable by infantry and cavalry and the hills are steep. The ground level is difficult going for movement as it is cut down kaoliang.
Japanese Forces
| Bases | Type | Traits | Morale | Weapon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3d Div | 1 | Ldr | |||
| 6th Regt | 4 | Inf | S,A | Trn | RR |
| 35th Regt | 4 | Inf | S,A | Trn | RR |
| 18th Regt | 4 | Inf | S,A | Trn | RR |
| 24th Regt | 4 | Inf | S,A | Trn | RR |
| Div Art | 2 | Art | Trn | BLA | |
| 4th Div | 1 | Ldr | |||
| 8th Regt | 4 | Inf | S,A | Trn | RR |
| 37th Regt | 4 | Inf | S,A | Trn | RR |
| 9th Regt | 4 | Inf | S,A | Trn | RR |
| 38th Regt | 4 | Inf | S,A | Trn | RR |
| Div Art | 2 | Art | Trn | BLA | |
| 5th Div | 1 | Ldr | |||
| 11th Regt | 4 | Inf | S,A | Trn | RR |
| 41st Regt | 4 | Inf | S,A | Trn | RR |
| 21st Regt | 4 | Inf | S,A | Trn | RR |
| 42nd Regt | 4 | Inf | S,A | Trn | RR |
| Div Art | 2 | Art | Trn | BLA | |
| 1st Cavalry | |||||
| Regular | 4 | Cav | Raw | RR | |
| Divisional | 4 | Cav | Raw | RR | |
| Army Art | 3 | Art | Trn | BLA |
Russian Forces
| Bases | Type | Traits | Morale | Weapon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Div | |||||
| 1st ESRR | 5 | Inf | Raw | RR | |
| 2d ESRR | 5 | Inf | Raw | RR | |
| 3d ESRR | 5 | Inf | Raw | RR | |
| 4th ESRR | 5 | Inf | Raw | RR | |
| Div Art | 2 | Art | Trnd | BLA | |
| 9th Div | |||||
| 33d ESRR | 5 | Inf | Raw | RR | |
| 34th ESRR | 5 | Inf | Raw | RR | |
| 35th ESRR | 5 | Inf | Raw | RR | |
| 36th ESRR | 5 | Inf | Raw | RR | |
| div Art | 2 | Art | Trnd | BLA | |
| 35th Div | |||||
| Tobolsk | 5 | Inf | Trnd | RR | |
| Marshansk | 5 | Inf | Trnd | RR | |
| Zaraisk | 5 | Inf | Trnd | RR | |
| Div Art | 2 | Art | Trnd | BLA | |
| Cavalry | |||||
| Cossacks #1 | 3 | Cav | S | Raw | RR |
| Cossacks #2 | 3 | Cav | S | Raw | RR |
| Samsonov #1 | 3 | Cav | S | Trnd | RR |
| Samsonov #2 | 3 | Cav | S | Trnd | RR |
| Art | 1 | Art | Trnd | BLA |
The Japanese plan of attack was for the 4th & 5th Divisions to roll up the Russian right flank whilst 3rd Division demonstrates against the Russian left flank.
(A word on the Smiley faces - Yellow is Disrupted, Green is Low on ammo and Red is Spent)
The "Unlucky" 4th Division advances towards the entrenched Russian Cavalry
The initial assault is halted with both sides taking casualties
The Japanese 5th Division assaults the junction of the Russian cavalry and the 9th ESRD
5th Division storms the trenches ...
..reforms on the hill...
... and stands it's ground whilst attacked from front and rear
Meanwhile the Russians quickly form a new defensive line on their flank from the remaining cavalry, part of the 35th Division and 2 batteries.
As Japanese 5th Division is hammered by the Russian line, the 4th Division reforms and joins the attack
4th Division takes over the attack from 5th Division,which presses on for Telissu, but fails to capture the the Russian guns
A new Russian defensive line halts 4th Division's attack
5th Division's advance on Telissu is halted by another Russian gun line covering the approach to Telissu and it disintegrates.
The Russian right flank at the end of the game - a standoff
Until it gets fed up with demonstrating and decides to have a go
As it advances against the 1st ESR Division it is supported by it's artillery
The entire left flank of the Russian line collapses under the onslaught
and on the penultimate turn it storms Telissu
So a victory for the Japanese at the last possible moment and from an unexpected direction.
Admittedly most of the Russian force had disappeared as it was Raw and it was only the 35th Division plus artillery that was hanging on. The entire Japanese 5th Division was out of action but the 4th had recovered it's strength due to high-rolls on the Movement table.
A very good scenario which I hope did justice to the original. The original scenario is available on ScribD but they wanted me to enter my card details so I could download it. Fortunately I found an old copy in my backups
As usual I do have one complaint. This is a common wargaming one - the table-edge of the world. I've noticed it especially in the RJW battles where the Sedan-fixated Japanese generals are always attempting to outflank the Russians. I will have to have a think about how to handle this.
Thanks to Dave, Mike, Rodge and Shaun for playing
The figures were all from Pendraken's 10mm ranges
