A GENERAL PETTYGREE BATTLESTORY

MONGOLIAN RHAPSODY

WHAT HAPPENED?

Date: August 1939 --- 15 May 2021
Adaptation: Khalkhin Gol Campaign NW Sector

Location: Huay Heights, Eastern Mongolia

Circumstances: Soviets vs Japanese

Miniatures: 28mm - We Use What We Have

Rules: Home

See prevous post for background:  

https://lostsouthpacificadventures.blogspot.com/2021/05/mongolian-rhapsody-battlestory.html

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Japanese Left Flank (foreground) --- Communist Right Flank (background)

Not much happened here other than desultory fire by both sides.

Japanese Left Center --- Communist Right Center

Communists approach Huay Ridge with armour and infantry.

Japanese Right Flank

A lot of Communist armoured vehicles outflank the Japanese.

Japanese Rear Echelon (supply)

Japanese Right Flank --- Communist Left Flank

Communist massed armour and infantry come closer.

Japanese tanks finally arrive, deploy hull down. Fire commences.

While in The Center, Communist forces assault the hill.

The tank battle is off image to the right.

At this point a reset was called.

Reason: Japanese Right Flank was collapsing.

This allowed forces of both sides to reorganize in controlled areas,

pick up stragglers and when completed, restart the game.

We simply pick up miniatures and redeploy them.

The Japanese reset found them falling back behind a rise of ground in the rear.

Japanese tanks have fallen back given the weight of Communist

armour piercing shells and the wretched state of Imperial shells.

The Japanese Right Flank is going to be overwhelmed. We all knew it.

However there was one faint hope though coming from the Japanese Left.

Japanese forces from their indolent Left Flank launched a Banzai charge (image upper left) supported by several tanks. However, the Banzai charge was stopped cold by flanking fire off image upper left. This ended the battle.

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CLOSING REMARKS

1. Four old friends played; Dan and Morgan E, Jim H. and me, Bill P. Gosh it was good to game together again --- just like old times. However, I wanted to keep player numbers low at four for uncertain reasons.

2. My command was the Japanese Left Flank. I had to laugh at myself because I was not on top of my game making rookie mistakes. The wretched lockdown dulled my thinking. The Japanese left flank had half the infantry plus a surprise cavalry force. The latter never showed up. I should have pitched into the Communists a lot sooner. Sorry Dan!

3. The scenario called for poor Japanese supply and ammunition. We realized toward the end of the game, the penalty was too much to overcome. Rethinking is needed for next time. The Japanese could hardly cause casualties. My fault as the designer. Historically the Japanese held the ridge against superior Communist numbers.

4. This was certainly a different game --- fielding opposing sides in eastern Mongolia.

5. Comments welcome below.

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MONGOLIAN RHAPSODY BATTLESTORY

A GENERAL PETTYGREE BATTLESTORY

MONGOLIAN RHAPSODY

PRELUDE

Date: August 1939 --- 15 May 2021
Adaptation: Khalkhin Gol Campaign NW Sector

Location: Huay Heights, Eastern Mongolia

Circumstances: Soviets vs Japanese

Miniatures: 28mm - We Use What We Have

Rules: Home

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"The Japanese and Soviets have sparred across this area for months. It appears we've arrived in time for the finish and a singularly different Battlestory for my readers." 

"I see little value here for them to spill blood and expend resources. This vast grassland is almost empty of everything."

"Aye Grandmaison but the Japanese desire to defend their Manchukuo protectorate to the east. More important is their prodigious fear that the Communist socialist movement will eventually reach Japan. This way they fight the Reds here instead of militarily and culturally in the home islands."

"I understand General; the principle of keeping the enemy busy far from home." 

"Most of Europe is similarly alarmed about the Communist menace Lieutenant."

"We have only to be reminded of thirty Ukrainian millions starved to death and imprisoned when Stalin eliminated small farms to create state-run collectives. Intellectuals, teachers and religious disappeared too in other parts of the Soviet Union when they expressed free thought and opposition. The Red Army suffered a great purge as well decimating the officer corps. Most Communists are godless and so --- brutality in this life has no consequence in the next because for them, it does not exist."

"We can be very thankful the Japanese are engaging the Soviets here. This way they will be less able to foment and support their principles even in our own country." 

"Here is General Ishigura, Sir."

"My compliments General Ishigura. I am honoured to be invited to view and report the singular events to the world you expect will occur soon."

"General Pettygree. No, it is my honour. In fact the new Communist commander, Zhukov, has launched his offensive southeast of our location. We hold the northwest flank to prevent our Main Army from being turned. We can discuss this later."

"Meanwhile, I would be further honoured if you would share a welcoming drink in that wretched hovel you just rode by. I apologize. It is all there is in this wilderness."

"Of Course. Grandmaison, let's dismount."

"Sirs, excuse me, if you please, but look eastwards. Something is afoot."

All turned to observe....

Japanese infantry rushing forward along a primitive path while....

Beyond them other infantry was ordered to kneel apparently to hide out of sight while the crew of a nearby anti-tank gun began loading vigorously. The reason?

A Soviet reconnaissance force appeared and began to ascend the Huay Heights.

"Fire on my command!"

"FIRE!"

"You missed." 

"Reload and fire again." But....

The Reds found out what they wanted to know; that a Japanese force occupied the height. This news needed to be reported and so the armoured car and BT-7 tank turned about and raced away covered by their own dust and the smoke of a parting shot. The latter harmlessly sailed over the anti-tank gun.

"Alright then. General Pettygree, let's have that welcoming drink and afterwards adjourn to the height. We have time for more of our forces to arrive and dig in before the Communists appear in force."

"Splendid."

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CLOSING REMARKS

Pard Jim H. asked that we have a tabletop game featuring Soviet and Japanese forces in Mongolia. Adapting the Huay (sp?) Battle seemed best given our resources. Actually I had to imagineer everything! The latter is cheerfully very old school. The game is scheduled for 15 May 2021. I dearly regret still limiting the number of participants to four friends.

It appears the region was almost entirely steppe; grassland for miles in every direction except for probably sparse and stunted trees near streams.

The Japanese historically were mortified that Communism would enter and overwhelm their culture. Indeed, their surrender in 1945 though stimulated by two atomic bombs was made certain when Stalin attacked Manchukuo and could not be stopped that August.

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