SPECIAL THANKS. I would like to thank Paul Watson for his sponsorship of several lead figure collections on this blog. Having decided to clear his spare/surplus figures, he generously forwarded them on with no other requirement than they deserved to be restored. I would also like to mention George S. Mills, who kindly furnished a quantity of plastic figures which greatly enhanced several collections.

Friday, 29 November 2024

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!

6 comments:

  1. Another good looking and interesting game, the Chinese certainly gave the Japanese something to think about, love the armoured cars, they both look great. Good additions to your collection too, the signal is a cracker!

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  2. Great game in a great terrain! It was a very enjoyable battle report to read.
    You're lucky having a local collectible store which trades (military and railway) toys to these reasonable prices. In Norway I'll guess you'd be needed to add a zero to the price. -If that store traded such items (which they seldom do).

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  3. Nice game MGB with some lovely toys on the table.
    The O gauge Signal is a beauty - great purchase.

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  4. An excellent battle indeed Michael! Two armoured cars, a light tank, an airplane with bombs and armoured train, my dream toy soldier battle come to life! Your table looks marvelous and it's great to see the bombs back with their unpredictability! Thanks for a perfect post!

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  5. MGB - A most shiny skirmish (with shades of Tintin’s Blue Lotus?) always interesting to see your conversions and scrtachbuilds. The aircraft stand(s) are great too.

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  6. Incredible game Michael, the scenery, the detailed troops, armoured vehicles and even aerial bombing. Amazing battle report. Quinn

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