| Author | Topic |
|---|
Nygaard
Posts: 1028
Registered:
May 2006
|
|
Invasion of Manchuria Campaign
|
Tue, 31 January 2023 10:55
|
 |
This is a copy of my post on the BGA/Memoir44 forums, just thought it might also be of interest for some here as well.
Warning: For play IRL - be prepared to use A LOT of cavalry...
INVASION OF MANCHURIA
Background: Japan had long had its eyes on the resource rich parts of Northern China, and had in the 1920s financed several rail roads in that area. One of these railroads were famously used in a black-flag operation, know as the "Mukden Incident" or "September 18th Incident". This led to the Japanese invasion of two Chinese provinces, Laoning and Jilin.
By October 1st the Japanese also bribed a Chinese General, Zhang Haipeng, to declare indepence from China. He was given guns and money, and he willingly brought 3 regiments, almost 10 000 cavalry, with him to aide the Japanese.
By October 18th these puppet forces rode to take control of the important railroad bridge across the Nenjiang River at the town of Jiangqiao. But loyal Chinese forces resisted and repelled them. They then blew up the rails, so that trains couldn't use the bridge.
Realizing that their allies weren't up to the task, the Japanese decided to take the bridge themselves.
The newly appointed local Chinese commander, Ma Zhanshan, spared no time in preparing his defenses in Jingqiao.
By November 4th the invasion began in earnest.
(play Nenjiang Bridge)
Following the skirmish in Jiangqiao, the confrontation took place a couple of kilometers further north along the railroad at the town of Daxing. This time the Chinese were better prepared and the initial Japanese probes got repelled. During the night between the 4th and the 5th of November the Japanese and their allies suffered their first serious loss as some of their units were ambushed while crossing the river.
(play Daxing Station Battle)
Impatient with getting results, the Japanese gathered flanking detachments on the right and left wing of the main defensive positions closer to the railroad. Ma Zhanshan learned of this and ordered his cavalry to intercept and destroy these flanking units. They fought for 4 hours among the hills and lakes of the area, but in the end they had to retreat back to their defensive lines.
(play Flanking at Daxing)
With the Japanese Kwangtung Army highly dependent on rail transportation, not only in order to secure Qiqihar, but also to keep supplies and reinforcements coming from Korea and the East, the battle for Sanjianfang was paramount in order to continue their rapid advance, before the peace-factions at home, the USSR or the League of Nations could intervene.
(play Sanjianfang)
Three more squadrons of Japanese planes and the 4th Mixed Brigade were diverted to the Manchurian campaign, and while negotiations still continued, it was clear that the hawks in the Japanese military had no intentions of settling this in any other way than with weapons.
(play Tangchi Encirclement)
While Ma Zhanshan's forces still held out, the situation was getting increasingly desperate along the entire front. Food and ammunition were getting scarce, and when ammunition did arrive, it was often too old, or ruined by moisture or temperature due to poor storage. Several positions had to be abandoned, in order to strengthen the defenses around the regional capital Qiqihar.
(play Retreat from Xinlitun)
With virtually no resources left, and increasing pressure from the Kwangtung army, Ma Zhanshan had to order the withdrawal from the defenses around the regional capital of Qiqihar. Now all the remained was to keep as many units alive as possible - to continue the resistance against the Japanese invasion with other means.
(play Qiqihar lost)
This concludes the conquest of the northern province of Heilongjiang what can reasonably be called the first resistance to the Japanese encroachment in China.
SCENARIOS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
NOVEMBER 4th 1931: NENJIANG BRIDGE
NOVEMBER 4th-5th 1931: DAXING STATION BATTLE
NOVEMBER 6th 1931: FLANKING AT DAXING
NOVEMBER 7th-12th 1931: SAIJIANFANG
NOVEMBER 14th-15th 1931: TANGCHI ENCIRCLEMENT
NOVEMBER 16th-17th 1931: RETREAT FROM XINLITUN
NOVEMBER 17th-19th 1931: QIQIHAR LOST
|
|
|
red_zebra
Posts: 387
Registered:
February 2005
|
 Re:Invasion of Manchuria Campaign
|
Thu, 16 March 2023 18:02
|
|
Many thanks.
Great excuse to buy some 1/72 Chinese troops
|
|
|
sam1812
Posts: 3076
Registered:
August 2006
|
|
Re:Invasion of Manchuria Campaign
|
Fri, 17 March 2023 13:12
|
|
These look like fascinating scenarios.
A couple of questions:
1. in Daxing Station Battle, are the Japanese limited to 1 exit medal, or is it one for each unit that exist?
2. Do the weakened units with "German" figures benefit from IJA Nation rules?
3. Do the Heavy Anti-Tank Guns hit on armor with stars, or are they symbolizing a weakness in Chinese artillery units?
|
|
|
