The Man Cave

 

Somewhere in Korea October 1951

Darryl Cox and I kicked off our foray into Chain of Command Korea with a Patrol Mission. The Australians from 3 Bn Royal Australian Regiment send a platoon strength Fighting Patrol out to identify Chinese PVA positions in this poor looking scrubby landscape…..

Although the Aussies rolled a meager Force Morale of 8 against the PVA of 10 they quickly got the upper hand. In spite of their right section taking suppressing fire their return fire was very effective using the Five Rounds Rapid inflicting shock and wounding the PVA Squad Leader. On the Aussies left flank their fire was more effective in inflicting significant shock on a PVA squad attempting to crawl in to assault range!

Not a good start for Chinese!

 

 

 

Suddenly the staccato roar of a Maxim Machine Gun rips out from the centre of the PVA positions! However this only inflicted a small amount of shock on the centre Aussie section.

To the horror of the Chinese Commander, the Aussies had a surprise of their own with a Vickers Machine Gun in support! In the ensuing Machine Gun duel the PVA gun team took 3 yes, THREE, casualties! The middle section adds its Bren gun teams fire with 5 Rounds Rapid and quickly the PVA machine gun is first Pinned and then a final casualty routs the hapless Maxim’s remaining team member.

 

The Chinese Force Morale is dropping rapidly and the Commander decides belatedly to send his right hand squads forward hoping to kill or capture the Vickers gun, the section next to it and the Platoon Commander who happens to be here as well!

While the right hand PVA squad has inflicted significant shock on the Aussie section to its front the return fire is equally accurate thanks to the Platoon Commanders fire direction (5 Rounds Rapid causing 9 hits and resulting in a LOT of shock!).

Unfortunately this move by the Chinese is too little too late and the Aussies are able to bring the combined firepower of two sections AND the Vickers team on the luckless Chinese. First the LMG team is wiped out, the Chinese Sergeant (Inferior Senior Leader) is then wounded and more riflemen killed and finally only two riflemen are left. With far too much shock (11 on 4 figures) they break and route taking both wounded Leaders with them.

 

With the loss of this PVA squad the Chinese Force Morale has dropped to 4 losing them a Command Dice and consequently the engagement; leaving the battlefield in Aussies hands.

Old Faithful 3 RAR have lived up to their name!

The last image shows the final disposition of troops.

The Chinese have one squad in good order and the second has accumulated too much shock to be effective although not yet Pinned, however the Chinese Commander is alone (except for his bugler) in the centre of the field and unable to help.

On the Aussies side there are two sections in good order supported by the Vickers and they have not yet brough forward the sniper, 2” mortar and M20 Super Bazooka teams!   

  

A great game and this will be definitely the first of many!

As usual the Chinese forgot to take advantage of the “Bunched Target” with the Vickers co-located with two other teams on the flank.

The Aussies made good use of the 5 Rounds Rapid fire control!

Great game thanks Darryl and well deserved win!