Frozen Chosin

rhinobones · Post by **rhinobones** » Sun Jul 19, 2020 8:59 am

Turn 4 thru 6 Overview & Summary

China/N.Korea completes the isolation of the MarDiv and the remains of TF McLean make a late breakout. The Northern picture is complete with envelopment of the MarDiv HQ and its vital supply drop point. The coalition also loses control of the reinforcement drop zones and, therefore, is denied the needed reinforcements.

Further South the ROK are successful in breaking contact and are able to move toward relief column TF Dog. Together their goals are to open/defend the supply route and open a path to the MarDiv.

rhinobones · Post by **rhinobones** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 9:48 am

T7 – China/N.Korea

China/N.Korean assaults on the MarDiv perimeter succeed in breaking up the integrity of the Marine defensive line. The depleted units are now separated and a prey to encirclement and elimination.

On the left, movement that was detected earlier has not been seen again. Question is, are these units still moving South or has the trajectory changed toward the MarDiv HQ? Suspect that keeping the encirclement of the MarDiv HQ is an enemy priority.

To the right a new swarm of China/N.Korea battalions descend on the ROK. ROK needs to pull out to more defensible (and better supplied) positions in order to protect the supply line.

rhinobones · Post by **rhinobones** » Tue Jul 21, 2020 9:51 am

T7 – MarDiv/Army

The MarDiv tries to consolidate the perimeter but are unsuccessful and gaps remain. If they move quickly the China/N.Korea may be able to isolate and destroy the Northern most MarDiv elements. This could become a disastrous move.
On the good side, a lone engineering unit is able to assault and occupy a reinforcement zone. Can’t imagine that the enemy will not overrun the engineers, but there is always hope.

TF McLean continues on their remarkable breakout. They eliminate a weak AA unit on their trek South. Also, there is a reinforcement zone to the Southeast occupied by a China/N.Korea artillery unit. This is another slim chance that reinforcements will deploy.

TF Dog is now augmented with ROK elements and is pushing North to relieve the MarDiv. Several China/N.Korea units are encountered, attacked and forced to retreat. These units appear to be disorganized, divided and in poor shape to offer resistance. Unless there are unseen China/N.Korea units in the area, the path to MarDiv HQ should be opened soon.

On the far right ROK has a tight engagement with fresh China/N.Korea units. Appears to be an entire regiment attacking ROK positions. The coalition commander’s plan is to pull back closer to ROK supply and let the enemy move into a depleted supply posture. At that point, the ROK can defend and attack with improved lethality.

rhinobones · Post by **rhinobones** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 12:18 pm

T8 – China/N.Korea

In the North, China/N.Korea attacks force TF McLean and MarDiv units into two isolated pockets. The larger MarDiv group is composed of multiple units, but they are all hungry and on the edge of exhaustion.

On the right the skirmish with ROK units continues, however, a couple of strong China/N.Korea battalions seem to have disappeared into the mountains. Suspect that they will reappear in an attack against TF Dog, attempting to cut the supply line.

The MarDiv HQ force is well supplied and continues to fend off enemy assaults.

rhinobones · Post by **rhinobones** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 12:19 pm

T8 – MarDiv/Army

The isolated MarDiv units assault and recapture the reinforcement entry zone. Maybe this time the China/N.Korea force will be distracted by events further South and not drive them out of the zone.

TF Dog supported by ROK elements push North and succeed in making contact with the MarDiv HQ force. Their hold is tenuous and will need to expand the perimeter before making a push North.

On the right coalition troops are on alert for possible envelopment moves by the enemy. A close watch is kept on the terrain East of the main road for any sign of China/N.Korea battalions. A UN tactic being employed is to stay near the road and closer to supply while making the enemy fight at an extended distance from their supply.

rhinobones · Post by **rhinobones** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 12:21 pm

T9 – China/N.Korea

Overwhelming enemy forces crash down on the remains of TF McLean and the MarDiv. Both pockets are eliminated. This is a catastrophic loss, but worse still, the two reinforced Chinese/NK divisions who destroyed the pockets are now available to finish off the MarDiv HQ.

On the Eastern flank, what appears to be two fresh regiments engage and drive the ROK units back toward the supply line.

rhinobones · Post by **rhinobones** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 12:23 pm

T9 – MarDiv/Army

UN high command assesses the situation and determines that a general withdraw is in order. Fall back to Wonsan, maybe even the 38th parallel and regroup. The enemy has won the Chosin Reservoir and Chesty Puller is furious. The UN coalition concedes.

Game notes and observations.

The scenario is difficult from the UN side but probably not impossible.

More aggressive use of TF McLean might have freed up he two reinforcement hexes just South of McLean’s initial position. The trick then would have been to keep them supplied through turns 3 and 5 when reinforcements were scheduled to arrive. My initial thought on TF McLean was that it was mostly designed for artillery but there was a good amount of infantry embedded within the artillery. This became evident when I finally decided to attempt the breakout.

The larger MarDiv force was not only hampered by disengagement from the enemy, but the terrain made it almost impossible to move more than a hex per turn. At that rate it was never positioned to join up with either TF McLean or the MarDiv HQ units. I also made things worse for them by conducting a couple of spoiling attacks which opened the defensive perimeter to enemy infiltration.

Bottom line, maybe more aggressive play, a bit of luck with the dice and Chesty Puller would be proud.

According to my boot camp DIs, this is not the way the battle ended. Chesty Puller would not be happy with me.

larryfulkerson · Post by **larryfulkerson** » Thu Jul 23, 2020 12:31 pm

ORIGINAL: John B.
One question, I have several units in full supply and in good shape who turn after turn only get one MP. Am I missing something with these?

Are these units on foot or do they have trucks to carry them? What else is in the unit that might carry them? I'm guessing that they lost their trucks somehow and now they are afoot.