Frozen Chosin

[John B.]

Near the end of my turn I was able to squeeze the marines even more and I seem to have received an reinforcing division on the lower right flank. But, the ROK division over there is still in one piece and may be able to delay any progress I can make. I think the main fight will be in the center and the resupply hex. I'm not sure if I can take it before the it gets relieved, but I'm sure going to try! [Insert Yoda quote about how there is no try].

[John B.]

This was a bad turn for the UN. It started off with the relief column finally reaching the HQs in the middle of the map (and sitting on a 10 VP hex and supply point). But, the Marines and the remainder of the army TF were solidly cut off by the Chinese forces.

Sadly, in what can only fairly be described as a war crime, the UN was able to blunt my efforts to sneak in behind the relief column in the south.

[John B.]

Here is the action in the middle of the turn. By the end of the turn, UN troops began collapsing and both pockets to the north were eliminated. One unit also collapses on the south eastern flank of the UN forces. In the middle, the Chinese were able to push all of the Marines out of the VP hex except for one battalion which dug in and held on.

[John B.]

Inerestingly, as the turn (day) progressed, the UN airpower became more active. I wonder if the weather changes during a turn and cleared up for the afternoon.

[John B.]

Game over man, game over.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_j8W-SDefU

The last turn arrived and with the destruction of the majority of the 1st Marine divison the UN forces began their withdraw from N. Korea. RB earned a draw with his dogged defense of the 10 point VP hex and resupply depot but at a heavy cost. An interesting scenario but a bit one sided in that the Chinese get to have all of the fun attacking while the UN forces basically have to cut and run asap.

[rhinobones]

Introduction

Started 6-15-2020 JohnB commanding China/N.Korea, RB commanding MarDiv/Army

Chosin 50 AAR from the UN coalition side. This AAR was written in parallel to JohnB’s AAR. As the game was played, I documented the UN coalition (MarDiv, US Army and ROK) moves and battle plans prior to opening JB’s next turn. After reading JB’s AAR you can enjoy the same battle from the opposing side’s perspective.

Player/Designer Notes:

Suggest the scenario be played with “No Borders” option on. Think that eliminating boarders and supply trains injects the scenario with an added level of “Fog of War” as it happened in the Chosin.

T1 – China/N.Korea

Enemy forces descend on the coalition from the East, West and North with the intention of enveloping and then eliminating all opposition. From the West (9 o’clock position) two columns head for the 1st MarDiv divisional HQ and supply train. To the Northwest battalions engage marines with little effect. In the Northeast Chinese cut behind army lines and isolate most of Task Force McLean. In the East, a second column is moving toward the MarDiv center, evidently intent on meeting up with the column from the West. In the Southeast, an enemy force engages ROK army units in what appears to be a skirmish. At this time uncertain as to the size of the China/N.Korea force.

Toward the Southern map edge two additional columns are forming a pincer movement. Their object appears to be joining and cutting all coalition forces from their coastal supply depot.

[rhinobones]

T1 – MarDiv/Army

Initial reaction to the communist attack is to consolidate strength and secure the supply line. After this is accomplished and the situation stabilized the coalition can go on the offensive and secure objectives.

MarDiv units in the Northwest begin to strategically back away while engaging enemy units. They intend to draw back to a rally point centered on their reinforcement center. This needs to be an active defense in order to keep the enemy from attacking in force.

Army units of TF McLean fight off encirclement and destroy an enemy battalion which has strayed too far into their rear area. This TF is heavy on artillery and light on infantry so the trick will be to extract them to the rally point without suffering significant artillery losses.
Two ROK army regiments defend the hills on the East side of the pocket. Chinese are attacking but with targeted counterattacks, the ROK are up to the task. Hopefully, they will have a battalion to spare to send South and chase down the Enveloping units.

In the center MarDiv HQs and engineers are defending the supply point. Without doubt they will soon need some infantry battalions to secure the position. Help will need to come from the MarDiv infantry just up the road.

A single infantry battalion (off map) is deployed South in the coastal supply depot. This is currently the only unit available to defend the depot and it is being dug in on the river bridge which feeds supply up North. No reinforcements are expected to arrive for another two weeks.

Naval air support is being provided by task forces located in the Sea of Japan. Right now, aircraft are providing direct air-ground support to ground assaults then switching to general combat support during the off hours. I could switch one or both to interdiction, but that is too easy for the enemy to game.

One early observation about the enemy is that unit-to-unit the Chinese battalions are no match for coalition battalions. In our counter attacks several Chinese units have been observed to splinter. Due to forced retreat and subdivision the US commander estimates there are several Chinese units which are not combat ready and have had their proficiency seriously weakened. The coalition will seek to capitalize on this weakness.

[rhinobones]

T2 – China/N.Korea

The Chinese are making little progress against the MarDiv units, but to the East of the reservoir they have succeeded in surrounding TF McLean. Attacks against the ROK appear to be light and intended more to pin the ROK down rather than destroy them.

Enemy units are attacking in the center but are not yet in great enough numbers to complete their mission. I expect that the critical battles of this engagement are going to occur in and around the MarDiv’s central supply point.

Off map to the South the enemy has succeeded in cutting the supply road to the coast.

[rhinobones]

T2 – MarDiv/Army

Thought about splitting MarDiv Bns into companies (2 per Bn) for the purpose of expanding the frontage, but discovered they only have proficiency in the mid 30%. So, splitting them is not a viable option.

G2 reports that the enemy really hates naval air power.

The MarDiv conducts a couple of attacks to stall the Chinese advance and are able to withdraw a bit closer to the central rally point. Meanwhile, TF McLean has become completely surrounded and no longer has a supply line. They can’t save themselves and there is no one to help; looks like their fate is to become Manchurian Candidates.

On the East flank the ROK is holding their own.

Expecting reserves next week.

[rhinobones]

T3 – China/N.Korea

Chinese complete the encirclement of TF McLean and star the process of complete destruction. Expect the units involved in the encirclement will soon be moving South to squash the MarDiv force.

No big attacks on the MarDiv or ROK occurred. Mostly the China/N.Korea force is maneuvering to bag the entire MarDiv. There were some attacks on the MarDiv Corps HQ area, but the attackers were low on strength and easily repulsed. Center supply point is holding fast.

[rhinobones]

T3 – MarDiv/Army

G2 has a second report. This time they report that the enemy is really “annoyed” by naval air power.

South (off map) units have cut the road and appear to be moving N toward the MarDiv HQ. This is consistent with the objective of envelopment and destruction of the entire MarDiv force.

The entry point for expected reinforcements has been overrun. A new critical objective is to regain the reinforcement entry point and grow MarDiv strength. Without these reinforcements the MarDiv pocket will certainly collapse.

MarDiv and ROK units conduct a fighting retreat to their supply points. In the Northwest MarDiv units make good progress Southward while units from the central Corps are reach out to make contact. The China/N.Koreans are sure to try to cut the lifeline, but consolidation of MarDiv strength should be able to overcome the opposition. The immediate objective is to 1) consolidate, 2) supply all units and 3) get MarDiv reinforcements piped in. Even though the supply point is held, all units MarDiv units North of the MarDiv HQ are without supply.

Army reinforcements are scheduled to land along the Southern coast. These much-needed troops will be instrumental in establishing the logistics train to the MarDiv HQ.

[rhinobones]

Turns 1 thru 3 Summary

China/N.Korean forces come screaming out of the mountains and mount pincer attacks against the UN coalition forces. TF McLean, forward elements of the MarDiv, the MarDiv HQ and the 3rd ROK Division are all caught in the trap. Except for F McLean, coalition forces are able to withdraw to more defensible positions. Naval air support is provided by two carrier groups located in the China Sea.

For the moment, there are no ground troops available to reinforce the shrinking pocket.

[rhinobones]

T4 – China/N.Korea

G2 picked up some new intel; the China/N.Korea supply situation is described as “precarious”. That certainly makes the UN troops feel a whole lot better.

China/N.Korea seem to have cut back on the aggressive assaults and migrated more to a maneuver game. The prize of course is to bag the entire MarDiv and 3rd Corps. The enemy does make an attack which cuts the MarDiv from direct contact with the HQ, but other than that it is mostly spoiling attacks.

I’m a bit surprised that enemy troops are not keeping close contact with the MarDiv and ROK units. Maybe it is a supply issue, or maybe they have a lot of units in reorganization and are unable to pursue.

[rhinobones]

T4 – MarDiv/Army

MarDiv units move to the Southeast in their mission to meet up with the MarDiv HQ. China/N.Korea resistance is hardening but even though MarDiv is unsupplied they have enough firepower to break through to the South.

Against all odds TF McLean is holding out along the rim the reservoir. Wish I had a couple of fresh battalions to go to the rescue; they don’t deserve this punishment.

The 3rd Division ROK units have successfully disengaged and are able to start clearing the supply line. Only known enemy unit is a mountain cavalry company which shouldn’t be too hard to eliminate. Of course, this depends on whether there are additional China/N.Korea units lurking in the shadows.

TF Dog arrives at the Southern supply depot and immediately moves North. The first enemy unit they encounter is an entrenched infantry battalion. They attack, fail to dislodge the enemy, and end up with a couple of units in reorganization. Obviously clearing the road will not be easy.

[rhinobones]

T5 – China/N.Korea

In the Northwest a lone MarDiv armored company was unable to disengage and was subsequently overrun by the enemy. It was never the intention to sacrifice them in a delaying action, but that is the way it developed. As it withdraws, China/N.Korea troops were unable to make any significant attacks on the remainder of the MarDiv.

A few attacks are made against the 1st MarDiv HQ and ROK units, but the attacks are weak and easily repulsed.

The enemy don’t appear to be making any effort to stop coalition troops from moving up the coast to the MarDiv HQ. Maybe the UN can exploit this negligence.

[rhinobones]

T5 – MarDiv/Army

TF McLean continues to hold out. They should have been ordered to pull an all-out attack against the weak AA unit to their Southeast, but that option was discussed after TF McLean had already dug in. If they survive another night, they’ll be ordered to make a breakout attack to the South.

As MarDiv moves Southeast toward the rally point an armored company manages to occupy the reinforcement point for TF Drysdale. Should the enemy fail to dislodge this unit and should the fact that the entry point is “unsupplied” not be an issue, the China/N.Korea high command will be mighty surprised to find three fresh reinforcement units coming to the rescue.

TF Hode is also available; however, their entry point is still under enemy control. Unless the enemy does something unforeseen, TF Hode may be waiting a while for their deployment.

The ROK have successfully disengaged most of their units and are now working to open the supply road. They assault and disorganize a cavalry unit blocking the road and are on their way to hooking up with the 1st MarDiv HQ.

A bit further South TF Dog wipes out an enemy infantry battalion. They are supported by two strong artillery companies and have plenty of supply. TF Dog should have no problem linking up with the ROK and MarDiv units. The trick will be to keep the China/N.Korea units from infiltrating and cutting the supply line. Seriously considering reorganizing each ROK and TF Dog infantry battalion into two companies. This should give the UN some mobile units to defend the supply line approaches and still support the move North. Command’s estimate is that a well-supplied army company with access to a few replacement squads is more than equal to depleted China/N.Korea battalions.

[John B.]

I had no idea you had reinforcement points. Glad my troops occupied them unknowingly. That's part of the fun of playing a new scenario, you're not sure of what is going to happen. More like real life.

[rhinobones]

Reinforcements were a couple battalions in strength. Not an overwhelming force, but enough to have opened up a supply route to the MarDiv units.

[rhinobones]

T6 – China/N.Korea

The China/N.Korea battalions performed the usual attacks all along the MarDiv perimeter with one attack eliminating an engineering unit and another kicking the Marines out of the reinforcement entry zone.

In the center a couple of weak AA units attempt to complete the encirclement of the MarDiv HQ while a few klicks South a battalion moved to a blocking position.

On the Western edge of the battle zone G2 detects enemy movement. One, maybe two, infantry battalions moving Southeast in an apparent attempt to cut the supply route. Would expect that any serious move by the China/N.Korea force would include some artillery and recon.

[rhinobones]

T6 – MarDiv/Army

G2 has some interesting enemy communications intercepts to report. Chinese front-line commanders are reporting that they are unable to ascertain size or strength of the isolated coalition units. All they know is that there are a lot of them and they’re angry.

TF McLean makes a couple of all-out attacks and breaks the encirclement. They are still a long way from joining up with the MarDiv, but at least there is hope. As of their last reported position, they might also be able to occupy one of the reinforcement locations.

The MarDiv lost the reinforcement center they had occupied and are now forced to regroup and build a defensible perimeter. Even without supply they are still a viable fighting force and are intent on joining up with the MarDiv HQ. Knowledge that strong units are moving up from the South bolster the feeling that they are still able to win this fight.

ROK 3rd Div units have broken free from the pursuing China/N.Korea force. These units are teaming with TF Dog to clear the supply train and guard the flanks. So far, the ROK has performed excellently. The TF Dog battalions were reorganized into companies (two reinforced companies per battalion). With a doubling of the mobile infantry units, coalition command is able to both secure the flanks and push a relieving force to the MarDiv. Experience on the battlefield indicates that these heavy companies are equal to, if not greater in strength, than the China/N.Korea battalions. Lack of supply on the enemy side seems to be a part of this equation.