In accordance with X Corps' scheme of maneuver the 31st Regimental Combat Team (31-RCT) had replaced the 5th Marines on the east side of the Changjin Reservoir, or as it was known to the Americans through its Japanese pronunciation the Chosin Reservoir. X Corps had ordered Col. MacLean's 31-RCT, which was short a battalion still making its way to him, to attack north and reach the Yalu River on the 28th. To facilitate this plan, the regiment's 1st Battalion and heavy mortar company under Col. MacLean was in the lead in the mountains to the north of an inlet to the reservoir, while the 3rd Battalion under Lt. Col. Reilly, took up positions along the southern banks of the inlet only a few miles behind the 1st Battalion. Little did Col. MacLean know that stalking their every move made by the Polar Bears, a nickname dating to the Russian Revolution, when units served in Siberia as part of the American Expeditionary Force, was a reinforced Chinese division. The 3rd Battalion's defensive positions for the night placed two of its rifle companies, reinforces with most of the heavy weapons company's assets, in the hills on the eastern edge of the inlet, and one company across a causeway and bridge, which would need to be crossed in the morning. On the south bank and to the rear of the rifle companies was the Command Post for the 3rd Battalion, and behind it, A Battery and then B Battery of the 57th Field Artillery. The remainder of the regiment, including an entire tank company, was encamped in a small village some 5 to 6 miles further south.
Attacker: CPVA (2nd Battalion, 240th Regiment with 3rd Battalion, 238th Regiment, 80th Division, 27th Chinese People's Volunteers Army Corps)
Defender: American (A + B Batteries, 57th Field Artillery Battalion with 3rd Battalion, 31st Regimental Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division)
11 turns
Players: 2 OBA: None Night: Yes
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:68.0 D:44.0
AFVs: A:0
AFVs: D:0
2 1/2-Ton x 8 3/4-Ton x 6 Jeep x 2
Guns: A:0 D:10
M2A1 105mm Howitzer x 8 M1 81mm Mortar x 2 M20 75mm Recoilless Rifle x 4 M18(L) 57mm Recoilless Rifle x 3
Misc Rules:
TF-F SR, Night (E1), NVR 8, FS (E3.71) may occur. A: Interdictory Fire (TF-F9.6)
The US setup as dictated, but with an eye for the initial defence not where they should be on turn five.
On each flank I attacked with grenadiers and dummies. Each flank had a sole 6+1. The onboard groups setup tucked away in corners so as to avoid an instant SS burst.
The group attacking Love company moved very slowly, leading with the 317s in the hope of looting BH. They encroached just far enough forward to keep the US honest. The right hand group of grenadiers pushed up the VC hill but stayed hopefully out of LOS of the mortar observers.
The main attacks were from the offboard groups that piled down the left hand road and picked a rout through the slopes in front of King company’s position. The left hand road group consisted of 12 squads, 6 LMG and moved 10 hexes down the ploughed road spurred on by a single 6+1, the King company attack was a similar group.
By turn 4 I had 19 squads over or on the bridge approaching the supply column.
The majority of Love company had fallen back to the base of their PDP. King Company had 8 stacks face with 24 concealed CPVA attacking stacks.
I think that in the first 4 turns I did not fire a single SS and did not make a single fire attack. Now I’m doubtful if I even made a CC attack during that period. It was just movement forward, quickly when dark, slowly when illuminated. IPM is unbelievably powerful at night in good terrain.
I intended to push back Love company just far enough away form the VC hex and to occupy the right most hill but not to push forward with the grenadiers. The real attacks were to be in King company and the bridges.
The plan worked, again, really well and by the end of Allied Turn 7 we called the game.
Love company had been pushed completely out of their PDP and had lost their mortar pit, they were prevented from retaking the hill by a company of grenadiers and blocked from reinforcing the bridge battle by another. King and Item had retreated from their PDPs and were in the unenviable position of moving back across OG with the few CPVA LMGs shotting them from the high ground. All of the supply trucks had been captured and the CPVA were massing and gaining concealment for an attack on the last gun positions.
At this point I had taken 2 mortar pits (12CVP) 33 CVP of truck supplies and 27 CVP of regular casualties (mostly prisoners). As we were about to break for a week we decided to call it there rather than leave it as game to finish later.
It was not however a true representation of the balance of the scenario. I have played it in PT and since published at least 4 times winning as both sides. I’m very familiar with the CPVA and the map so my attacks are well practiced. Conversely my opponent has never played on this map before and whilst very experienced at night has only played against the CPVA. He did a good job of saving his forces and falling back to the gun positions but failed to interdict the columns of CPVA running to the bridges.
*Spoilers*
The Americans have a fairly rigid setup and are constrained by the PDPs. This is how they fought historically. But historically they lost. To win, the US needs to plan where they will fight.
Love Company is pretty screwed. They are facing close range CPVA in concealment terrain. The best they can do is to interdict the road, protect their mortar pit and possibly even setup to get off the Hill and into the main perimeter as quickly as possible.
King company have the potential to cause significant casualties to the CPVA, they have good LOS to OG that the Chinese need to cross. Item company are in a tough spot facing CPVA with good cover. Some (most) of the best positions for SW are out with the PDPs and the US player should be planning to get his SW moving into better positions from T1. Whilst extreme winter is in effect, a 12 results in a B result, not an X, so don’t be frightened of FLs.
The heavy weapon platoon are very important, especially the mortars with their IR.
The Katusa across the perimeter should be moved out of the NTC zone as quickly as possible. If they fail the 1TC (most likely) they will disappear and award CVP.
The supply column is vital, I gained 33VP just from those trucks. They start with no leaders and are in dire need of recombination and support.
The CPVA have the luxury of time. They should be able to get to the supply column in force. Then they are faced with a swath of open ground where it’s hard for them to regain concealment. They don’t have the firepower or SW to supress the guns and the interdictory mortar fire is too inaccurate and too scarce. If the US can amass enough FP around the guns, it can make the CPVA bleed heavily.
I love this scenario. It has time and manoeuvre, it paints a historical picture and it leans heavily on advanced rules. The US are in a desperate situation and only a better commander than that historically in place will succeed.
The more experienced player should take the US as their task is greater, but in my experience the more experienced player is normally the one introducing the CPVA so the US task becomes harder. I hazard that when played this scenario will initially be pro CPVA until defending players get a better understanding of the Chinese abilities.
A final word. A recent review opined that this pack was possibly not value for money. Since publication I have played this scenario twice over 4 days of game time. The module cost is 45 Euros. So that makes the cost of the time I’ve played on just this scenario €1.4 an hour. If I were to split the cost of the module with my opponent, then it would drop to 70c an hour.
All the cool kids IPM.
2025-07-13
(A) Ben Jones
vs
Patrice!
CPVA win
Large scenario. An excellent introduction to night and the CPVA. The Chinese really have the time and space to play to their strengths. The US defence may *seem* static and pre ordained but it is only so if you leave it thus.
A good US player will move out of and around his initial positions as soon as he can. He'll cover the roads that lead to the heart of the VC hexes and realise that Love Company needs some love.
It highlights what a boon IPM is to the Chinese.
The forces are polar opposites, the US poor quality but SW/Gun rich, the CPVA have nothing heavier than LMGs.
As always the turn length is indicative of strategy. 11 turns does not take as long as one would imagine. The Chinese do very little firing and the US are spread out and LOS/Night/Errant illumination cuts down their opportunity.
The Chinese have the time to penetrate deeply quickly, whilst making more cautious attacks on the flanks.
I marked this as a CPVA win but this is disingenuous to my opponent. We played this to giver him night and CPVA experience.
