2nd Sino-Japanese Wargame (1930s)

Having recently recruited a third battalion of Chinese Nationalist infantry, it was time to stage a wargame. In a previous WW2 game I had adopted a very simple air support system. It involved dropping a cut-out paper bomb from about three foot above the table, the irregularity and fluttering bomb proved to be great fun, and an interesting distraction from the dice. As for the results, they were arguably rather authentic too.

SCENARIO

It is the late 1930s, and a Japanese brigade is seeking to secure an important railway line in China. The Japanese commander's force comprises one battalion of elite infantry, another of line infantry, and a third of pioneer/railway repair infantry. He also has a light tank and an armoured car. More novel, he is supported by an armoured train, with a medium gun. And he may also request air support if meeting any stiff opposition (a dice throw each move, a six will confirm its arrival).

Opposing the Japanese is a brigade commander of the Chinese Nationalist Army.  He has attempted to fortify a railway station. Under his command are three line battalions, a field gun (with an elite crew), and a locally made armoured car. He too has been informed that air support is available should he come under attack by a large number of Japanese (a dice throw will determine its arrival). I should add, there is a number of local police armed with HMGs at the station.

OK, a slight liberty here, the air support is permitted to stay for four moves! And on each move they may drop a bomb and strafe an enemy target. 

THE JAPANESE COME INTO VIEW

MOVE ONE The Japanese advanced. The Chinese commander spotted the Japanese armour and called for air support. MOVE TWO The Chinese gun opened fire on the armoured train, it was a direct hit (D6) but in the follow-on dice, just a crew member was injured. The Japanese advanced, and also called up air support. MOVE THREE The Japanese widened their front, and the train and tank opened fire. The Chinese gun replied. MOVE FOUR In a headlong rush, the Japanese armour advanced, leaving their infantry behind. But heads were raised when a Chinese plane appeared, its bomb fell wide but its HMG took down a soldier. Four machine guns opened up on the light tank, with a measure of success, another crewman was injured (it's a small, early designed tank). A Japanese LMG fired on the plane, putting a few shots through the wing! MOVE FIVE Lots of firing but few casualties! However, the third crewman in the Japanese light tank was silenced!

Situation as of move five.

MOVE SIX The Japanese infantry continued to advance. I don't believe it, the Chinese plane dropped a bomb on the Chinese held signal cabin, causing a casualty! Some medium mortars were now in range. But where is the Japanese airforce? MOVE SEVEN Now the Chinese plane did its job. The bomb took out the pioneer LMG crew, and the plane strafed a rifleman, the whole pioneer battalion scarpered! The plane now departed the field, I think the pilot was waving his arms? MOVE EIGHT The Chinese commander requested further air support. But it was not required, in the round of firing the Chinese infantry threw only D5s and D6s, the Japanese had no cover and fell under this hail of shot. Even their armoured car was silenced. While the Chinese suffered hardly a casualty. With both remaining Japanese battalions reduced to half strength, GAME OVER.

Casualties were Japanese twenty-one, Chinese thirteen. A further nine Japanese were routing. (I suspect there will be one more added to the Japanese losses?) A very enjoyable, fast moving game, and only lasting two hours. I would like to play this game again!

The Victor

The Defeated

                                                                  NEW ACQUISITIONS 

My local collectables trader generously donated nine toy soldiers to my collection, just for classifying and bagging a box of mixed figures. I really did not deserve this, and was only too happy to help. However, I was determined to purchase something in return.

A recent arrival in his shop were a quantity of Lord of the Rings characters, the scale being 54mm. A quick view led me to believe the Lady Galadriel, Queen of the Wood Elves, would make a splendid and useful Medieval queen. It cost £4, and no painting required.

I'm now wondering about others in this range!

My second purchase was this rather nice tin No.2 double arm railway signal, in O Gauge. It looks perfect with my toy soldiers and Timpo railway items. It cost £16, and came with its original Hornby-Meccano red cardboard box (code no.42361). Probably made in the 1930s-40s.

Finally, I put together another stand for my tin aircraft, these really do enhance the table setting and atmosphere.

MGB

REPLYING TO FRIENDS

Thanks Donnie. I just completed the game this morning. It is the first outing for my Japanese and Chinese armies. Having the battalions on both sides in distinct uniforms really does help with the calculations for morale. I sort of wish the Japanese airforce had also made an appearance, oh well, next time!

Hello Roger. It was a good game, and despite some variation in the opposing forces, I thought it balanced out well, but for the lack of Japanese air cover. Yes, the collectables shop is always a joy to visit. All the British home nations are into their hobbies and collecting, so the large amount produced keeps the prices a bit more reasonable. The railway signal is not actually that rare, you do see a fair number..... but it looks perfect with my toy soldiers!

Thanks MJT. Believe it or not, that railway signal was in the shop for several months, and I must have picked it up to view at least six times, lol. Very glad I now purchased it. 

Thank you, Brad. I really enjoyed playing the game. I was planning to invite Chris to choose a side in the evening, but I had some free time this morning (it's raining) and decided to play a few moves, and then it just went on. I guess, I better lay out the table for another game. I would love to play a naval gunboat action using the matchstick firing cannon, but it needs so much open space. Will have to give this some more thought! 

Thank you, Mark. Well, you have a claim in recruiting most of those serving in the third (Buff coloured) Chinese battalion, thanks to your kind donation. The 2SJW is a project that has slowly developed using fairly limited funds. Yes, the aeroplane stand is a vital piece to my small (and yet large) contingent of 1/32ish models. As you know, for me, the game comes second to the visual spectacle, having the ability to now indicate they are in flight was VITAL to my game senses and enthusiasm.

Thanks Quinn. I know your interests are more 19th century gaming. This month I am planning a few Dominion/Schleswig/Ruritanian games. I do miss the more formal lines and colourful uniforms! Mind you, I would love to have a gunboat action!

Thanks Tim. I will keep an eye out for your Shanghai game. Very much enjoyed your recent SCW siege!

CHARITY SHOP PROJECT, come fly with me.

Just popped into a local charity shop (Nov18) and spotted this toy rescue helicopter. Not sure if it is all there, but I do see some real potential. 

The side openings will only add to this model. I won't link it to any particular nation, I can then attach it to my post-WW2 British, French, Ugandan, and Israeli collections. Have placed some 1980s Airfix British Army figures nearby to show the scale. Am I alone in seeing something of a 'Gazelle' look to this toy (I'm not, Chris said the same, it's the tail rotor).

The charity shop only wanted 50p, I gave a £1 coin. Now that is useful, the cockpit window lifts up, so I can add a generic pilot and some cockpit controls. Will start this project off with a grey spray undercoat.

 Further research shows that it is made by a company called PLAY LIVE, possibly a Polish company, but previously sold in the UK by the supermarket chain LIDL. New examples seem to sell for just over £10, when you can find them.

Couldn't resist a quick undercoat spray, even though it is spitting rain outside! I'm always in a rush, lol. Just with this somber grey it has already acquired a military look. This toy really does fit nicely with 54mm and looks superior to Lego and Playmobile alternatives. Can't help thinking, three of these would look even better! (Why am I humming the Ride of the Valkyries?)

(Nov19) I carried out some internet research on the Gazelle. It has been in common service during the period 1970 to the present day, and by quite a few nationalities. They have been engaged in a fair number of conflicts during this period, in various capacities. Wikipedia has a convenient page on this helicopter. Conveniently, the British Army Air Corps often utilised a grey and dark green camouflage, well that will speed up the painting. And here it is with some green added.

Not perfect, but close enough for toy soldier wargaming.

I'm using one of my heavy tinplate aircraft stands. But this plastic model can utilise a lighter version......why not paint it as a fast-rope, perhaps even add a figure or two using the rope to slide down?

 

A WINTER'S TALE

(NOV 21, 9am)The Helicopter has now been painted, and given a coat of varnish. As regular visitors know, my 54mm collection is a 'toy' hobby, and a gloss finish just seems more appropriate (My large collection of 28mm historical miniatures has a matt finish). 

The helicopter also has been supplied with its own flying stand, which hooks onto the winch, serving as a fast rope. Next job, to construct and fix some generic crew figures.

At 10am realised I needed a loaf of bread, as Chris takes pack lunches. Decided to go for a walk..... in fairly heavy snow. While out, popped into the collectables shop to see if I could find some figures suitable for conversion into a helicopter crew. Rummaging through the shopkeepers 'odd toy soldiers' box. He gets a call to pick up the kids, their school is having to close due to a heating failure. The honourable trader  says, take the box, bring it back when you can!

Decided to work my way through the box, bagging and classifying the contents. Ended up with nine figures, none quite suitable for this project, but still some useful extras.... (Another three figures for my RAF Regiment).

Fortunately, in my own spares box was a well oxidised Lone Star paratrooper, part converted for service in a Bren gun carrier, it will make a suitable helicopter pilot. And (Nov22) here it is. 

Winter service!

Very much enjoyed working on this project. I can see a load of scenarios for the gaming table.

MGB

REPLYING TO FRIENDS COMMENTING BELOW

Hello Brad. I was visiting charity shops for vintage Christmas decorations, then I spotted the helicopter. I really did enjoy working on this, and with the new stand it enhances the look and atmosphere of the gaming table. Rather appropriately for Frankenstein's monster, I shall replace the head, my idea is he should become some kind of surgeon. Brad, I am enjoying the snow, aware it 'might' be the only white stuff this year. In the West Country, our climate is mild but damp, more so than most of the British Isles.

Hello Roger, I was very lucky to find the helicopter works with 54mm. Yes, I too was thinking a machine gunner is needed, and it will enhance the model. But it must be a loose figure, to better represent the uniforms and ethnicity of several armies, for example Ugandan. Still some figure conversion work to be done!

Thanks Donnie. I know it was hardly a gamble at only £1 for the helicopter, but it turned out to be perfect in scale for 1/32 figures. Have placed it on the gaming table, and the height gives added depth to the terrain. Will return the toy soldier box to the shop tomorrow, and settle-up on the nine I have chosen. 

CHINESE NATIONALIST ARMY 1930s-40s

Thanks to the kind donation of some unpainted Airfix figures by Mark, of the ManofTin Blog, have just completed my third battalion of Chinese Nationalist infantry. I'm looking forward to staging my first wargame set in the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.

The figures are mainly my conversions of Airfix Japanese, having been given German Afrika Korps fatigue hats and helmets and British 8th Army Tommy helmets. When it came to painting the uniforms, decided this third battalion should have shades of khaki, as their distinction. The Chinese adopted a several seasonal uniforms, but all of these came in at least three colours. And if that was not enough, issues then arose in producing a uniform dye, and coupled with fading, this increased further the range of potential colours. I have one battalion in their original 'grass green' issue, another in the popular bright blue, and the third has been given a range of khaki shades. (Distinct battalions will help me in working out game casualties.)

There is a superb video on Youtube which really does help clarify and classify the uniforms adopted by the Chinese during WW2. It is strongly recommended, even if it is not your period of interest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6POc4yxKV4

So here is my Chinese Nationalist Army, note the use of both German and British style helmets, now that is something you don't often see!

The vehicle is a converted civilian die-cast car. Local Chinese warlords are known to have constructed ad hoc armoured cars.

To the three battalions above, I can add a colonial British unit in Desert uniforms. These were supplied to entire brigades of Chinese via Burma. (see right figure). 

Strangely, I can also add a small unit of British WW1 infantry, these can represent the Shanghai Volunteer Corps 1932-42, comprising independent companies raised from the foreign merchant communities in the city.... here are some members of the Independent Jewish Company.

MGB

REPLYING TO COMMENTS FROM FRIENDS

Thanks MJT. It's something a bit different, a theatre from the Second World War which is often overlooked. And the Chinese certainly ended up with some bold uniforms. Yes, it was a broken civilian car, perfect for a conversion!

Thanks Donnie, I needed to do something with these figures which would catch my interest. When I fight WW2 actions I rarely use more than three battalions, and a few independent companies per side. I do like their distinctive uniform colours, but a few more flags would be even more colourful.

They most certainly have, Mark. With two new units having already been recruited from your kind donation, I have plans for the following, (bagged and ready).....

Gurkha Battalion 12

A second US Para battalion, understrength, 8

British Para Regiment command 2

 Two companies of British-Polish Paras 6

 British Military Police recruits 3

 Indian National Army recruits 3 or 7

 US Para command for my first battalion 2 

Thanks again for your support!

Thanks Brad, for the morale boost. I think this collection is pretty well finished, perhaps a handful more armed police would be interesting. Next step, to see them used in a wargame!!!!!

Hello Roger. I picked up the broken die-cast car for £5.20 in April 2021. I originally only wanted the wheels but then decided it was too good to scrap. Completed it about a month later. The additions were made out of plastic-card, and a plastic bottle cap. Here is a photo.

I think, Roger, the making something out of rubbish, or broken toys is a vital part of my hobby!

THE INDIAN LEGION (WW2)

This week I have used my hobby time to complete two units. A few months ago a box of unwanted WW2 soldiers arrived from Mark, who runs the ManofTin blog. This generous gift included figures drawn from six distinct Airfix 1/32 scale boxes, but I wanted to see what unusual units could be mustered out of them.

The Indian Legion

Decided to use the Afrika Korps figures to raise a WW2 unit little known in the UK. The Indian Legion was raised in Europe by the Third Reich. The original recruits were Indian students and others who supported independence from the British Empire. Later, some fifteen thousand Indian prisoners of war were captured in North Africa and sent to Europe, where they were also encouraged to enlist, and about three thousand took up the offer.

Photos for education, no profit, no copyright infringement intended.

Quite a few photos exist and they show that the unit received a mixture of German tropical and desert uniforms. Both Helmets and fatigue caps were used on active service. In distinction to British Raj policy, this unit had no ethnic, religious, or regional exclusivity. Some were Sikhs, wearing turbans. The unit emblem was a tricolour shield with a springing tiger, worn on the right arm. The helmets also carried their colours.

Interestingly, the original instigator behind this formation was Subhas Chandra Bose, who was actually a pro-Soviet communist, but very anti-British. The original contract of service stated that they were to be trained and equipped by Germany only for active service in India, but this never occurred.  In fact, the Germans used the three battalions as garrison and coastal defence troops in Denmark, Holland, and France. Their reputation with the local civilians in all three countries was not of the highest. 

Towards the end of the war, two battalions were actively engaged in opposing the French Resistance. In one French village there occurred some atrocities. Details are confused, but women were r...., and children were murdered. Later, about twenty belonging to the Legion were captured by a band of anarchist resistance fighters, no prisoners were taken. Some of the locals were shocked witnessing this, others clapped. Fearful of capture by the British (due to their broken oath to the Emperor) one battalion sought to enter Switzerland, but were refused entry by the Swiss border guards. They ended up captured by French Algerian troops, and some of them may have been shot, others were tortured. Eventually handed over to the British Army, they were immediately despatched to India. Considered a political embarrassment, the survivors were eventually released. Strangely enough, Adolf Hitler may have put it accurately, he is reported to have described the regiment as a 'joke'.  For more information may I suggest the following. This excellent article gives insight on their organisation.

https://d-nb.info/1185814825/34 an article by Joachim Oesterheld, very informative.

A recent visit to my local collectables shop furnished a W. Britains farm cart for £5. Picked up five 1980s W. Britains plastic farm horses in a charity shop for £1.50. The Indian Legion was actually granted authorisation to commandeer civilian transport in France, including many farm carts. My unit has now commandeered this cart.

WARGAME RATING. Will classify this unit as well-armed militia. But unwilling to knowingly advance on enemy regulars. Must test morale if under artillery/tank fire. I presently have eight figures, but will add a few more with helmets and turbans as and when I find suitable recruits.

(Will make a separate post to cover the second unit completed this week.)

MGB

REPLYING TO FRIENDS KINDLY COMMENTING BELOW

Hi MJT. To be honest, I already have five German infantry battalions of twelve, and with no plans to raise anymore. But in staging wargames, it is very useful to have some smaller units for selected positions. (I don't like splitting up my full battalions.) And having distinct qualities/shortcomings really adds a lot to the game atmosphere. As you know, morale dominates my wargames.

Hello Roger. The one thing that becomes clear when you view any military returns is the number of specialist, ad hoc, irregular, and downright strange formations that get raised during any conflict. To stick to full strength establishments and so-called typical units is often historically incorrect...... and a bit boring too. 

Thanks Donnie. I was aware of the Indian Legion, but had never researched its military record, numbers, uniform, etc. So it was fun and interesting to raise this unit. And it will be stimulating to contemplate how best to deploy it in any future wargames. Uncanny spotting that cart in the shop, the shopkeeper was asking £7, but he always offers to help me out with the price. 

Hi there (E40P), I think too much weight is often put on wargame rules, and not enough on historical unit reputation and period-correct laws. These are the things that really capture a conflict on the gaming table. If these are correct, the rules and calculations can be kept quick and simple. The Indian Legion needs specific 'laws' to represent it on the table. Now, I have seen the IL represented in a smaller scale, but all of them were Sikhs, wearing turbans. Actually, 2/3rds were Hindu, and others were Moslem. (I bet the regimental cook died of stress!) 

Hello Brad. It was fun researching the unit, the internet is a wonderful resource at our fingertips. I have also started raising a larger force of Indian National Army, these fought for the Japanese, and in much larger numbers. But I should acknowledge, over two million soldiers from the sub-continent kept their oath to the Emperor of India, King George the VIth. (India was always described as an empire, and also part of the British Empire. My late mother was born in India, and her passport has on the cover EMPIRE OF INDIA. It may be due to the British having conquered the former Moghul Empire in India.)