RM 11.01. The Tangtse Incident.
22nd. December. 1936.
In reaction to reported incidents of border skirmishing between the armed forces of The Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu and unknown armoured elements operating in the district of Aksai Chin. Selected units from 17/21st Lancers and 8th Royal Dragoon Guards have been despatched to assist His Highness Maharaja Hari Singh. Unconfirmed reports indicate Bolshevik forces, possibly remants of the Russian warlord Viktor Korsakov may be operating in Aksai Chin along side Uighur communist forces under the patronage of Sheng Shicai, Warlord of Xinjiang (formerly known as Chinese Turkestan).
Due to his recent experience in campaigning against Bolshevik armoured units in Afghanistan Colonel Sir John Napier has been asked to take command of the British relief force and assess how great a threat the situation in Aksai Chin has become.
7th. January. 1937.
Kashmiri forces are patrolling in coordination with Colonel Sir John Napier when they come under sustained heavy fire in the hills north of Tangtse. Retreating to defensive positions in the ruins of an old village they send a runner back down the valley. Two heavy tanks assisted by secondary vehicles and heavily armed infantry have been sighted moving south west against the Kashmiri position. Sir John immediately sends a relief force of four British tanks to assist but the Kasmhiri’s have almost been destroyed by the time the British arrive.
Forces
Player One. Oleg.
Lt Leftbridge-Smythe
One Vickers Mk II Medium Tank
One Vickers Mk VI Light Tank
One Infantry support section, with Lewis Light Machine Gun.
Five Kashmiri Rifle’s, and one Vickers Maxim Heavy Machine Gun
Player Two. Goeg.
Sgt Harding
One Vickers Mk II Medium Tank
One Vickers Mk VI Light Tank
One Infantry support section, with Lewis Light Machine Gun.
Player Three. Palle.
Comrade Sgt Mosolov
One K4 Heavy Tank
One Infantry support section, with Lewis Light Machine Gun.
Seven Uighur Rifles.
One Uighur Austin Putilov Series III Armoured Car.
Player Four. Jan.
Comrade Sgt Kazyansky
One K4 Heavy Tank.
One K1 Light tank
One Infantry support section, with Lewis Light Machine Gun.
Starting
Payer one deploys his Kashmiri’s in their defensive position at the western end of the table whilst player three deploys all his forces at the eastern end. Neither force may intrude on the opposite side of the table. The game begins with all British reinforcements arriving along the road in round one. Players one and two decide their own marching order.
Player four arrives on the eastern edge of the table one d6 rounds after round one.
Victory Conditions
Either side wins by defeating two thirds, or both officers of the opposing force.
Special notes
The idea behind this particular game is to allow the players of RM6 the chance to acquaint themselves with the elements used by their opponents, specifically the tanks.
Due to the speedy nature of this game, there is no preprepared map. All terrain outside the boundary of the village is rough. All terrain within the boundry of the village is difficult. Rocks, burning vehicles and large debris counters are impassable and the road is good. Windows and low walls require a roll against 3 to cross. High walls require a roll against 4 to cross.
Combat has already taken place so the table top will be set up accordingly. Wind direction and smoke will be determined by a spinning pencil at the beginning of the game. Each player may position one smoke cloud.
Conclusion
This game was played on thursday 3oth September 2010.The players were Oleg & Goeg vs Palle & Jan (moif).
Starting positionsThis was a very quick and easy game, set up at short notice, using prepared stats from RM6. The idea was for a simple tank and infantry skirmish without any changes from the last RM6 to allow each player to experience playing with the tanks used by their opponents in RM6.
The game was quickly set up and things would have gone a lot smoother if I hadn't been left with both children to look after (Mette had to go to a parents meeting at Magne's day care centre) and said children hadn't taken it upon themselves to kick up a fuss. Once Magne was in bed however things moved easier.
Sgt Harding (Goeg) advances into the northern half of the village
Lt Leftbridge-Smythe (Oleg) advances into the southern half of the villagePalle, Oleg and Goeg all deployed their forces and the Brits began to move forward into the ruined village. This initial stage of the game was characterized by caution and a long run of 1's on Oleg's dice. Consequently, Sgt Harding and his men managed to get into good positions whilst Lt Leftbridge-Smythe and his forces dithered some what.
Sgt Kazayansky came on in round four, having divided his forces into three groups. One group of infantry and a supporting light tank approached the northern flank of the village and faced Sgt Harding, another infantry group approached the centre of the village and headed for the main road, whilst a K4 heavy tank moved at full speed around the southern flank of the village to engage the British armour concentrated there under Lt Leftbridge-Smythe's command.
Round four and Sgt Kazayansky (Jan) arrives on the table top with a K1 light tank and infantry support to the north...
...and a K4 heavy tank to the south
Comrade Sgt Mosolov and his Uighur communist irregulars remained on the southern half of the village, holding their ground whilst the second K4 sped around to the north of the village. The idea was loosely to trap Lt leftbridge-Smythe between the two heavy tanks, but things didn't go quite to plan. As the K4 sped through the bushes, running over a British soldier along the way, Lt Leftbridge-Smythe moved his Vickers Mk II up the main road, using the smoke from the burning vehicles there to mask his movements. His supporting Vickers MkVI was still a possible target for the K4, but Oleg pulled a daring move and using the lighter tanks greater speed he zoomed past the lumbering Bolshevik behemoth and began to out flank the Bolsheviks in the opposite direction.
Death by K4. One British soldier flee's whilst his mate is crushed by a charging heavy tank
Audacity pays. Lt Leftbridge-Smythe's support tank speed past the K4 which was hunting it
Whilst I was being out-outflanked by Oleg, Goeg was advancing Sgt Harding's Vickers Mk II medium tank against Sgt Kazayansky's K1. Neither tank had the ability to face the other and defeat it without either support or a shot into a lesser armoured area. With the Vickers Mk II this meant the Black Guards had to use grenades on to its upper hull whilst the K1 with its puny 37mmm gun engaged from front. I tried this as Sgt Harding advanced, but the die failed and Sgt Harding responded by annhilating the Black Guard infantry who were supporting the K1, then using the same tactic in reverse to take out the K1. Having advanced parrallel with the Black Guard forward line he also took advantage of the Vickers side mounted machine guns to engage Sgt Mosolov's troops who had been holding the British at bay up until that point.
For a moment, I thought Palle and I had lost the game. With Leftbridge-Smythe's medium tank on the main road. Sgt Harding was now in a position to engage Sgt Mosolov's heavy tank and possibly defeat it whilst Sgt Kazayansky's K4 would have to follow Lt Leftbridge-Smythe up the grenade trap of the main road.
For a moment, I thought Palle and I had lost the game. With Leftbridge-Smythe's medium tank on the main road. Sgt Harding was now in a position to engage Sgt Mosolov's heavy tank and possibly defeat it whilst Sgt Kazayansky's K4 would have to follow Lt Leftbridge-Smythe up the grenade trap of the main road.
Whilst the Black Guards try to out flank him, Lt Leftbridge-Smythe advances up the main road totry and catch Sgt Mosolov in a pincer
Sgt Harding's support tank and infantry exchange fire with Sgt Mosolov whilst Lt Leftbridge-Smythe advances up the main road
As Lt Leftbridge-Smythe loses his tank on the main road, Sgt Kazyansky's K1 gets knocked out by Sgt Harding.
I need not have worried however. Leftbridge-Smythe didn't survive his impetuous dash up the main road and Mosolov's K4, supported by the Black Guards who were in positions along the main road, defeated the British commander. Sgt Kazayansky's K4 then parked itself at the western edge of the village and engaged those British infantry forces who were hiding there.
Oleg in the meanwhile ran his Vickers Mk VI support tank up around the southern flank eventually and cheekily parked it along side Mosolov's K4 where proximity prevented Palle from engaging it and forced both Bolshevik commanders (who were on foot) to hide. Sgt Mosolov had to jump into a ruin and Sgt Kazayansky had to grovel under a bush.
The game ended at this point however and was declared a draw as neither side had met the victory criteria and both sides had defeated an enemy tank. Personally I think Goeg's moves were the most impressive, especially against my elements on the northern flank which he defeated almost entirely (I had one rifleman left).
Oleg in the meanwhile ran his Vickers Mk VI support tank up around the southern flank eventually and cheekily parked it along side Mosolov's K4 where proximity prevented Palle from engaging it and forced both Bolshevik commanders (who were on foot) to hide. Sgt Mosolov had to jump into a ruin and Sgt Kazayansky had to grovel under a bush.
The game ended at this point however and was declared a draw as neither side had met the victory criteria and both sides had defeated an enemy tank. Personally I think Goeg's moves were the most impressive, especially against my elements on the northern flank which he defeated almost entirely (I had one rifleman left).
The game ends.A. Lt Leftbridge-Smythe's knocked out Vickers Mk II.
B. Lt Leftbridge-Smythe's support tank
C. Sgt Mosolov's K4 heavy tank
D. Sgt Kazayansky hides in the undergrowth
E. Uighur Austin Putilov Series III Armoured Car.
F. Sgt Harding's support tank and infantry
G. Sgt Harding in his Vickers Mk II.
H. Sgt Kazayansky's knocked out K1 light tank
I. Sgt Kazayansky'sK4 heavy tank.
Aftermath.
FLASH COMMUNICATION FROM COMMAND BOMBAY TO GC&CS.
FORWARDED TO CABINET SECRET SERVICES COMMITTEE. 090137
FORWARDED TO KEW. 090137
9th January. 1937.
Selected units from 17/21st Lancers and 8th Royal Dragoon Guards under the command of Colonel Sir John Napier’s Special Operations Group have engaged in sporadic fighting with hostile forces in the Kashmiri border region west of Aksai Chin. The enemy was identified as Russian bolshevik Black Guards, formerly believed to operate as the military wing of the secret research organisation ONB-7. Intelligence is sketchy, but with the former leader of ONB-7, Viktor Korsakov (rank unknown) believed to have perished at a battle near Qala I Zal in Afghanistan, in 1936, it seems as if the remnants of ONB-7 are indeed now affiliated with the Warlord of Xinjiang Sheng Shicai as our Kashmiri friends had reported. Intelligence assets in northern China have been alerted and we await further information with regards to troop and armour strengths.
To date we have no information regarding a motive for Xinjiang to violate either Aksai Chin or Kashmir. Some prisoners have been taken and debriefed by the Kashmiri’s however. These indicate a build up of forces both in Xinjiang and in Aksai Chin may be under way.
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COMMUNICATION FROM ’BLACK BIRD’ TO GC&CS.
FORWARDED TO CABINET SECRET SERVICES COMMITTEE. 100137
FORWARDED TO KEW. 100137
10th January. 1937.
Intercepted communications from NKVD Okhotsk to NKVD Moscow indicate Viktor Korsakov may be alive. Sheng Shicai has expelled several aides sent to him by Joseph Stalin and all diplomatic relations between Xinjiang and the Soviet Union have been severed. My source in NKVD Moscow indicates Stalin is ’livid’ and has orderd the mobilization of Red Army forces currently stationed in Eastern Kazakhstan, as well as deployment of several tank regiments. Rumours amongst the RA high command in Moscow are talking about a possible invasion of Northern China, but realistically it will take at least several months to build up the logistics required to stage an invasion from Eastern Kazakhstan.
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PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE FROM SIR HUGH SINCLAIR TO SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL
12th January. 1937.
Dear Winston. Please forgive this intrusion, I know you are probbly very busy with the new King but as you can see the matter of Viktor Korsakov requres an urgent response and I am afriad that our previous conclusion may have been some what hasty. I advise a meeting of the Council as soon as possible. We really need to establish just who this man Korsakov is, where exactly did he come from and just how great a threat does he constitute?
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RM11.02. The Snipers!
7-28th. January. 1937.
Through out the last three weeks, British Imperial forces have been patrolling the border district of Aksai Chin and the Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu. During this period, several patrols have come under fire from Uigher Bolshevik snipers. The British troops in the region belong to the 2nd Royal Australian Battalion, a unit which has been hastily assembled to bolster British forces in the region.
Starting
The game is divided into three or four rounds, depending on how many players are present. In each round, one player assumes the role of the Sniper, one player assumes the role of Referee and the remaining players divide the British patrol amongst themselves. If only one player remains, they run a six man patrol, if there are two remaiing players, they each run a four man ’stick’.The Sniper and the Referee begin in the room, with the Sniper sharing his element’s hidden location with the Referee. The Sniper is a single element and remains unplaced on the table. This is because the patrol must find and elimate the Sniper before the Sniper can defeat them.
Victory conditions
The Sniper who kills the most enemy soldiers as possible is the winner of the game. Surviving the entire round also counts as a ’kill’. If there is a draw between two Snipers, but both are ultiately defeated then the Sniper who lasted longest, wins.
Special rules
All terrain is difficult except the open roads which are rough.The town has been shelled and there are no inhabitants. Standard rules apply for cover, stealth and perception.
The same terrain lay out is used for each round. This is probably highly unrealistic, but it ensures an equal opportunity for each Sniper.
The sequence of play is determined by die roll, with the highest going first.
Conclusion
The players were Oleg, Goeg, Rasmus & Jan (moif).
We forgot to take any photographs for this game.
Score;
Rasmus 3 kills. Rasmus also killed Goeg's sniper.
Goeg 0 kills.
Oleg 2 kills.
Jan 2 kills.
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29th. January. 1937.
RM11.03 Artillery is King
As regional tensions increase, British Imperial forces (Australians) on the border of Aksai Chin and the Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu, encounter a sizable force belonging to the Warlord Sheng Shicai. Initial reports indicate local Chinese forces are equipped with superior Russian equipment, possibly supplied by the remains of ONB7.
Starting
The game is divided into two seperate arenas. The table top is the main battle ground, where two opposing ground forces meet in open combat. Each side being a mirror of the other. The second arena is the artillery duel with a player from either side controlling an artillery battery. These batteries may fire upon each or on the elements in the valley below. All elements, except the light tanks begin on the table top, starting from the outer edge facing ones own artilelry camp.
Victory conditions
The game is decided by which ever side wins the battle for the valley. Since both sides are equal in strength, the winner is the player who defeats the most enemy elements. Each side has a light tank which is worth two elements.
Special rules
All terrain is Rough except the road, which is Good. The ford is Rough and the stream is Difficult.
Each side has a light tank which begins off table and can be brought on at any time during the game, from the direction of ones own artillery base.
The artillery batteries fire with a -1 penalty due to indirect firing.
Each side has a spotter and a light tank. The spotters have a telegraph wire to the communications officer at each artillery base, and the light tanks have radio connections. Loss of either of these elements inflicts a -1 penalty on artillery fire. Loss of the communications officer at the artillery base inflicts an immediate -3 penalty.
Each artillery camp has four guns, a communications officer and an HQ tent. Each element is destroyed by only one hit. Loss of the HQ inflicts a -1 penalty on all artillery fire.
The sequence of play is determined by die roll, with the highest going first.
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No write up was written for this game. It was played on 13st August. 2011.
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RM11.04 'Surprise at Urango'.
Red Lines indicate good roads, orange lines are rough.
White lines indicate acknowledged borders.
Green dots are villages. Blue dots are British army camps.
The direct distance between Leh and Urango is 80km.
RM11.04 'Surprise at Urango'.
White lines indicate acknowledged borders.
Green dots are villages. Blue dots are British army camps.
The direct distance between Leh and Urango is 80km.
15th March. 1937.
With Bolshevik incursions from Aksai Chin now regularly threatening the stability of The Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu, Sir John Napier has established a regional headquarters at Leh and four outlying forward operations camps to pacify and control the region. These are Camp Changlung and Camp Kharu controlling the northern valleys, Camp Saraks controlling the west and Camp Urango to the east. Sir John’s forces are concentrated at Leh, awaiting developments, but in each camp is an armoured platoon from the 2nd Royal Australian Battalion, with assorted infantry support.
The men at Camp Urango are awoken early when general alarm is raised by the camp commander, Captain Hardcastle. A night patrol has been ambushed whilst returning to the camp and one of the platoon’s Vickers Mk II tanks has been damaged, preventing it from returning to the camp. Lt Harding takes a strong group of Sihk’s from his remaining force to rescue the stricken patrol.
Players one, two and three begin on the table in the first round, with player four arriving in round two (see special rules for the K1 tank). Player one begins at the ambush site, with no element placed more than 12 inches from the damaged tank. Player two begins at the southern end of the map (but no more than 12 inches from the table edge). Player three begins in ambush positions around the ambush site, but may not place any elements closer to the ambush than 12 inches, nor any element closer than 12 inches to the southern edge of the table. Player four arrives on the northern edge of the table.
PLAYER ONE
Lt Trevellyn. 11 x Australian Rifles. 2 x Australian Lewis gunners. 1 x Vickers MkIIs tank (immobile)
PLAYER TWO
Captain Hardcastle. 24 x Sihk Rifles. 2 x Vickers Mk VIa tanks.
PLAYER THREE
Comrade Sergeant Li Lau Chang. 8 x Aksai Chin Rifles. 1 x Aksai Chin Maxim gun. 2 x 76mm field guns.
The K1 tank has stalled and can only arrive on table after a roll of 6.
The Bolsheviks assume the British will send a relief force and are probably counting on this. They are allowed to place their elements on the table to anticipate the arrival of Captain Hardcastle.
Each infantry rifleman carries one grenade.
This game was played on wednesday 18th January 2012.
The players were Oleg, Goeg, Palle & Jan.
This was the first in a series of four where each player takes a turn creating a game, using the same format and element types. This game was run by Jan.
The dice decided and Palle was player two, with Jan as player one. Goeg was player three and Oleg was player four.
The game was a short and relaxed exercise in attrition with neither side gaining any significant advantage over the other. The field guns did some significant damge in the opening phase of the game, destroying the Australian position in the central ruin and keeping the rest of player one's forces in check.
Captain Hardcastle kept his Sihk Rifles in reserve for most of the game, but sent his two light tanks forward where they supported the medium tank and eventually managed to knock out the Aksai Chin machine gun and field guns. This took a few hours to accomplish and the final hour of the game saw the British forces gradually gaining the upper hand, mostly due to their having started in the advantagous position of holding the central ground from the beginning of the game.
Both sides kept the bulk of the forces in reserve, awaiting a decisive moment, but to little avail as no clear moment of advantage presented itself.
This game was played on wednesday 8th February 2012.
The players were Oleg, Goeg, & Jan.
This game was made by Goeg and featured an urban setting where two small Australian units attempted to rescue the female British agent Joanne Carrington-Smythe from a desperate gang of Chinese Bolsheviks under the command of the fearsome Wang Mei.
Oleg played the Bolsheviks and Jan and Goeg played the Australians whose mission was to rescue Joanne Carrington-Smythe before the Chinese killed her to prevent her from leaking information regarding Aksai Chin plans.
The game was a victory for Oleg.
With Bolshevik incursions from Aksai Chin now regularly threatening the stability of The Princely State of Kashmir and Jammu, Sir John Napier has established a regional headquarters at Leh and four outlying forward operations camps to pacify and control the region. These are Camp Changlung and Camp Kharu controlling the northern valleys, Camp Saraks controlling the west and Camp Urango to the east. Sir John’s forces are concentrated at Leh, awaiting developments, but in each camp is an armoured platoon from the 2nd Royal Australian Battalion, with assorted infantry support.
The men at Camp Urango are awoken early when general alarm is raised by the camp commander, Captain Hardcastle. A night patrol has been ambushed whilst returning to the camp and one of the platoon’s Vickers Mk II tanks has been damaged, preventing it from returning to the camp. Lt Harding takes a strong group of Sihk’s from his remaining force to rescue the stricken patrol.
Starting
The patrol is stuck in the ambush site, in the middle of the map, where the survivors are holding out. Of an original force of twenty four infantry, only thirteen remain. The damaged tank has hit an anti armour mine which has blown off its right track and caused damage to the right suspension. The tank is still operational, but cannot move. The Bolsheviks have closed in for the kill, but are having problems bringing their reserve force up as the K1 tank is suffering from engine problems.Players one, two and three begin on the table in the first round, with player four arriving in round two (see special rules for the K1 tank). Player one begins at the ambush site, with no element placed more than 12 inches from the damaged tank. Player two begins at the southern end of the map (but no more than 12 inches from the table edge). Player three begins in ambush positions around the ambush site, but may not place any elements closer to the ambush than 12 inches, nor any element closer than 12 inches to the southern edge of the table. Player four arrives on the northern edge of the table.
PLAYER ONE
Lt Trevellyn. 11 x Australian Rifles. 2 x Australian Lewis gunners. 1 x Vickers MkIIs tank (immobile)
PLAYER TWO
Captain Hardcastle. 24 x Sihk Rifles. 2 x Vickers Mk VIa tanks.
PLAYER THREE
Comrade Sergeant Li Lau Chang. 8 x Aksai Chin Rifles. 1 x Aksai Chin Maxim gun. 2 x 76mm field guns.
PLAYER FOUR
Comrade Sergeant Golovanov. 15 x Black Guard Rifles. 1 x K1 tank. 1 x Motor Tachanka.
Comrade Sergeant Golovanov. 15 x Black Guard Rifles. 1 x K1 tank. 1 x Motor Tachanka.
Victory conditions
Who ever controls the table top at the end of the game, is the winner. If neither side has a significant control over the table, then the winning critieria is most elements killed.
Special rules
There are no preset sides. Each player rolls a die and the player with the highest roll gets to choose which force they would like to play.The K1 tank has stalled and can only arrive on table after a roll of 6.
The Bolsheviks assume the British will send a relief force and are probably counting on this. They are allowed to place their elements on the table to anticipate the arrival of Captain Hardcastle.
Each infantry rifleman carries one grenade.
Conclusion
The players were Oleg, Goeg, Palle & Jan.
This was the first in a series of four where each player takes a turn creating a game, using the same format and element types. This game was run by Jan.
The dice decided and Palle was player two, with Jan as player one. Goeg was player three and Oleg was player four.
The game was a short and relaxed exercise in attrition with neither side gaining any significant advantage over the other. The field guns did some significant damge in the opening phase of the game, destroying the Australian position in the central ruin and keeping the rest of player one's forces in check.
Captain Hardcastle kept his Sihk Rifles in reserve for most of the game, but sent his two light tanks forward where they supported the medium tank and eventually managed to knock out the Aksai Chin machine gun and field guns. This took a few hours to accomplish and the final hour of the game saw the British forces gradually gaining the upper hand, mostly due to their having started in the advantagous position of holding the central ground from the beginning of the game.
Both sides kept the bulk of the forces in reserve, awaiting a decisive moment, but to little avail as no clear moment of advantage presented itself.
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RM11.05 'Kashmir if you can'.
This game was played on wednesday 8th February 2012.
The players were Oleg, Goeg, & Jan.
This game was made by Goeg and featured an urban setting where two small Australian units attempted to rescue the female British agent Joanne Carrington-Smythe from a desperate gang of Chinese Bolsheviks under the command of the fearsome Wang Mei.
Oleg played the Bolsheviks and Jan and Goeg played the Australians whose mission was to rescue Joanne Carrington-Smythe before the Chinese killed her to prevent her from leaking information regarding Aksai Chin plans.
The game was a victory for Oleg.
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RM11.06
'The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Machinegun fire'.
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RM11.07.
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RM11.08 'Crossroads'.
14th April. 1937.
Colonel Sir John Napier and all his staff salute smartly as General Deveraux enters the command tent.
“Ah Napier” Deveraux exclaims as he makes a sketchy motion of his hand in response. “I hope you’ve got a satisfactory explanation as to just what the deuce is going on! What?”
“Certainly Sir and if you’ll just regard this map, I’ll explain the situation directly.”
“What oh!”
Deveraux leans over the broad table and fixes a monocle to his eye.
“As you can see here sir, the entire border region is ill defined and my forces were spread rather thin guarding the four main roads into Kashmir...”
“Rather!”
“Yes sir. Well, we managed to hold most of the region but Sheng Shicai wouldn’t let up and his men kept probing at us for a few weeks. He used artillery on some of the villages and it’s my opinion that he is not just trying to annex the border region, but also trying to force every one out of the area too.”
“Do we have any idea what for?”
Napier shrugs and an aide-de-camp passes a slip of paper to the general. Deveraux reads the type written message quickly then looks up sharply.
“What? They killed Mrs Carrington-Smythe!”
“I’m afraid so Sir. A small execution unit chased her and she never made it back. We almost managed to rescue her. But...”
“I say. That’s a bit strong, what!?”
“Yes sir.”
“That’s just not cricket Napier! Not cricket at all!”
“I quite agree sir and to make matters worse, Mrs Carrington-Smythe had penetrated Sheng Shicai’s inner circle but was unable to pass on what ever it was she’d learned.”
General Deveraux pulls out a handkerchief and wipes his brow. He obviously isn’t used to the dry heat of the Asian high lands. A Lieutenant offers him a glass of whiskey which he accepts eagerly.
“I see you have the good stuff here, eh?”
Napier smiles tightly, his staff were well informed by London as to the General’s tastes and every effort has been made to ease the great man’s visit.
“So what about this unusual offensive?” the General asks.
I was just coming to that Sir. I think this bold move by Sheng Shicai might have been the reason why Mrs Carrington-Smythe was killed.”
“Almost certainly” Deveraux agrees. “But what the blazes is Sheng thinking? Why is he spending so much time and resources on this region? What’s here to justify the expense, to say nothing of the risks in mounting an attack against an ally of the British Empire?”
“It makes no sense Sir, unless there is something in these mountains that Sheng Shicai and his Bolshevik allies want, and that we don’t know about.”
Both men consider this for a few moments in silence and a Captain of the Royal Engineers takes this moment to cough diplomatically. All eyes turn to Captain Roger Cavenagh.
“No one on our side has really bothered to investigate this region Sir. These mountains might contain all manner of valuable minerals.”
General Deveraux frowns.
“What? No one? Why ever not?”
“Well you see Sir” Napier explains, “This entire region, legally belongs to the Maharaja and his family has always been rather touchy about it. As far as I am aware, London decreed the whole area off limits to the commercial chaps.”
General Deveraux shakes his head.
“There you have it Napier. You can’t trust these foreigners, what? I’ll eat my hat if there isn’t some dark and ancient secret to these mountains. Something the Maharaja isn’t telling us.”
“But what could that be Sir? Gold?”
“Or diamonds Napier. Think on Diamonds!”
“As you say Sir. Now, shall I show you our preparations for Sheng’s next move?”
“Yes. Yes. Let’s see what you chaps have cooked up.”
Napier indicates a point on the map where two solitary roads cross each other.
“This is the crossroads at Lamayuru. As you can see, it is the only place the road deviates between Saraks and Leh and the only place Sheng’s forces can move south into Kashmir if that is their intention, that is to say, it is the only road along which they can move heavy vehicles, and even then it will be difficult.”
General Deveraux studies the map for a few moments then points to a point further to the west.
“What’s to stop Sheng from moving south here at Goma?” he asks.
Napier shrugs.
“Nothing really. That road could ultimately take him all the way to Shrinigar. But the fact is he already ignored the road from Goma when he moved against Saraks. As far as I can see, Sheng is not interested in the lands to the south of the mountains. My guess is; he’s coming here to Leh because we hold the mountains and this is where our force is concentrated. Once he’s taken care of us, he’ll probably move to consolidate his hold on the region and quite possibly empty it of the native population.”
With an Aksai Chin armed force coming up the road from Saraks, the British have prepared an ambush to slow their advance with the intention of preparing Leh for the anticipated invasion. Colonel Napier has allocated his personal tank (a Vickers medium Mk III) and an escorting Vickers Mk Vic to stop the advancing Bolshevik vanguard.
The British start on the southern side of the map, in prepared positions, with a Sikh rifle platoon providing infantry cover for the tanks.
PLAYER ONE
Lt Perry. 4 x Australian sappers. Australian LMG.
Vickers Med Mk III tank. Vickers Mk Vic light tank.
PLAYER TWO
Sgt Gurinder. 20 x Sikh infatntry with rifles. HMG team.
PLAYER THREE
Captain Zhancang. 4 x K4 Heavy Tanks. Yakub.
PLAYER FOUR
Sgt Fuyuan. 20 x Aksai Chin infantry with rifles. HMG team.
The British win by either preventing the Chinese tanks from crossing the crossroad, or by destroying more than two of the four K4 tanks.
The Aksai Chin win by either crossing the crossroad of by destroying both British tanks and both British officers.
Because the K4 tanks are the last surviving K4’s in operation (and this is why they are being used for this assault) Captain Zhancang is under no obligation to conserve them. He knows a new generation of K4c tanks is behind him on the road.
All infantry elements, including officers and machinegunners, carry one grenade each. Each Australian sapper also carries a grenade, as well as two anti-personnel mines and one anti-tank mine.
The players were Oleg, Goeg, Palle & Jan.
RM11.06
'The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Machinegun fire'.
This game was played on wednesday 22nd February 2012.
The players were Palle, Oleg, Goeg, & Jan.
The players were Palle, Oleg, Goeg, & Jan.
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RM11.07.
This game was played on wednesday 7th March 2012.
The players were Palle, Oleg, Goeg, & Jan.
The players were Palle, Oleg, Goeg, & Jan.
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RM11.08 'Crossroads'.
14th April. 1937.
Colonel Sir John Napier and all his staff salute smartly as General Deveraux enters the command tent.
“Ah Napier” Deveraux exclaims as he makes a sketchy motion of his hand in response. “I hope you’ve got a satisfactory explanation as to just what the deuce is going on! What?”
“Certainly Sir and if you’ll just regard this map, I’ll explain the situation directly.”
“What oh!”
Deveraux leans over the broad table and fixes a monocle to his eye.
“As you can see here sir, the entire border region is ill defined and my forces were spread rather thin guarding the four main roads into Kashmir...”
“Rather!”
“Yes sir. Well, we managed to hold most of the region but Sheng Shicai wouldn’t let up and his men kept probing at us for a few weeks. He used artillery on some of the villages and it’s my opinion that he is not just trying to annex the border region, but also trying to force every one out of the area too.”
“Do we have any idea what for?”
Napier shrugs and an aide-de-camp passes a slip of paper to the general. Deveraux reads the type written message quickly then looks up sharply.
“What? They killed Mrs Carrington-Smythe!”
“I’m afraid so Sir. A small execution unit chased her and she never made it back. We almost managed to rescue her. But...”
“I say. That’s a bit strong, what!?”
“Yes sir.”
“That’s just not cricket Napier! Not cricket at all!”
“I quite agree sir and to make matters worse, Mrs Carrington-Smythe had penetrated Sheng Shicai’s inner circle but was unable to pass on what ever it was she’d learned.”
General Deveraux pulls out a handkerchief and wipes his brow. He obviously isn’t used to the dry heat of the Asian high lands. A Lieutenant offers him a glass of whiskey which he accepts eagerly.
“I see you have the good stuff here, eh?”
Napier smiles tightly, his staff were well informed by London as to the General’s tastes and every effort has been made to ease the great man’s visit.
“So what about this unusual offensive?” the General asks.
I was just coming to that Sir. I think this bold move by Sheng Shicai might have been the reason why Mrs Carrington-Smythe was killed.”
“Almost certainly” Deveraux agrees. “But what the blazes is Sheng thinking? Why is he spending so much time and resources on this region? What’s here to justify the expense, to say nothing of the risks in mounting an attack against an ally of the British Empire?”
“It makes no sense Sir, unless there is something in these mountains that Sheng Shicai and his Bolshevik allies want, and that we don’t know about.”
Both men consider this for a few moments in silence and a Captain of the Royal Engineers takes this moment to cough diplomatically. All eyes turn to Captain Roger Cavenagh.
“No one on our side has really bothered to investigate this region Sir. These mountains might contain all manner of valuable minerals.”
General Deveraux frowns.
“What? No one? Why ever not?”
“Well you see Sir” Napier explains, “This entire region, legally belongs to the Maharaja and his family has always been rather touchy about it. As far as I am aware, London decreed the whole area off limits to the commercial chaps.”
General Deveraux shakes his head.
“There you have it Napier. You can’t trust these foreigners, what? I’ll eat my hat if there isn’t some dark and ancient secret to these mountains. Something the Maharaja isn’t telling us.”
“But what could that be Sir? Gold?”
“Or diamonds Napier. Think on Diamonds!”
“As you say Sir. Now, shall I show you our preparations for Sheng’s next move?”
“Yes. Yes. Let’s see what you chaps have cooked up.”
Napier indicates a point on the map where two solitary roads cross each other.
“This is the crossroads at Lamayuru. As you can see, it is the only place the road deviates between Saraks and Leh and the only place Sheng’s forces can move south into Kashmir if that is their intention, that is to say, it is the only road along which they can move heavy vehicles, and even then it will be difficult.”
General Deveraux studies the map for a few moments then points to a point further to the west.
“What’s to stop Sheng from moving south here at Goma?” he asks.
Napier shrugs.
“Nothing really. That road could ultimately take him all the way to Shrinigar. But the fact is he already ignored the road from Goma when he moved against Saraks. As far as I can see, Sheng is not interested in the lands to the south of the mountains. My guess is; he’s coming here to Leh because we hold the mountains and this is where our force is concentrated. Once he’s taken care of us, he’ll probably move to consolidate his hold on the region and quite possibly empty it of the native population.”
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Starting
With an Aksai Chin armed force coming up the road from Saraks, the British have prepared an ambush to slow their advance with the intention of preparing Leh for the anticipated invasion. Colonel Napier has allocated his personal tank (a Vickers medium Mk III) and an escorting Vickers Mk Vic to stop the advancing Bolshevik vanguard.
The British start on the southern side of the map, in prepared positions, with a Sikh rifle platoon providing infantry cover for the tanks.
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PLAYER ONE
Lt Perry. 4 x Australian sappers. Australian LMG.
Vickers Med Mk III tank. Vickers Mk Vic light tank.
PLAYER TWO
Sgt Gurinder. 20 x Sikh infatntry with rifles. HMG team.
PLAYER THREE
Captain Zhancang. 4 x K4 Heavy Tanks. Yakub.
PLAYER FOUR
Sgt Fuyuan. 20 x Aksai Chin infantry with rifles. HMG team.
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Map
No map was drawn for this game.
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Victory Conditions
The British win by either preventing the Chinese tanks from crossing the crossroad, or by destroying more than two of the four K4 tanks.
The Aksai Chin win by either crossing the crossroad of by destroying both British tanks and both British officers.
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Special Rules
Because the K4 tanks are the last surviving K4’s in operation (and this is why they are being used for this assault) Captain Zhancang is under no obligation to conserve them. He knows a new generation of K4c tanks is behind him on the road.
All infantry elements, including officers and machinegunners, carry one grenade each. Each Australian sapper also carries a grenade, as well as two anti-personnel mines and one anti-tank mine.
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Conclusion
This game was played on thursday 18th April 2012.The players were Oleg, Goeg, Palle & Jan.
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Note. Events in this campaign run concurrently with RM7 - RM10
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