This is the second of three scenarios dealing with the fighting of the US Marines near the Changjin Reservoir in North Korea in December, 1950. There are two part to this one. This is part one.
Design: Wild Bill Wilder
bwilder@bellsouth.net
Testers: Fabio Prado, Andrew Weeble Weaver, Tom DeShetler, Massimo Rocca, Sgt Walrus
Download:
http://www.wargamer.com/gamesdepot/details.asp?sid=4170
Player Notes:
This battle is suitable for a 2 player game, but Chinese must be set at 80 percent efficiency. If played solitaire, take the USMC side.
Under your command is the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Your orders are to take effective control of East Hill to avoid your fellow Marines from coming under fire from Chinese in elevated positions above the MSR and Hagaru-ri.
You will receive reinforcements to give you a hand for the final push.
The Chinese, on the other hand, are ordered to keep control of the hill (objectives) and repulse any American advance.
Historical Background:
The Marines around the Chosin Reservoir were heading to Hagaru in a very embattled journey. There the rest of the 1st Marine Regiment was fighting to keep that part of the road open. The trick would be to get out of Hagaru. While the Marines of the 1st Regiment had done a superb job of holding the town and its outskirts, there was a major problem confronting the success of the withdrawal.
It was the problem of East Hill, a large height to the northeast of Hagaru. It had been partially controlled by the Chinese for 4 days and posed a constant threat. There had just not been enough offensive strength with the perimeter to take it back. Now there was.
The Chinese, having occupied a portion of East Hill, had done very little to improve their position. Some digging in had been done, but their plan was to attack, not defend. They did not feel threatened in the least.
When the Marines started to move, they would come under mortar, cannon and small arms fire. It would be a bloody gauntlet they would have to run, and the Chinese planned on killing as many as possible. The 174th Chinese Regiment was on the hill and looked forward to the fight.
After a night of rest without fear within the confines of Hagaru, word came down to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, Lt. Colonel Roise, commanding, that it would be their responsibility to relieve Captain Carl Sitters Dog/1 and attached units on East Hill. They would retake the entire hill, and hold it while a column of twelve hundred vehicles, seven rifle and three artillery battalions would head south under their protection.
Ray Murray, commander of the 5th, outlined the evacuation plan to his senior commanders. He spoke clearly and with authority: --We will hold our present positions until the 7th Marines clear the road to Koto, after which we will move out. When we do move out, we will come out as Marines, or not at all. Any officer who doesn’t think that we can get out of here will kindly get frostbite and go lame, and I will see that he is evacuated.--
Roise assigned the main assault to Dog and Fox companies of the 5th, with Easy Company reinforcing the assault. Dog would assault from the south, and would be supported by Easy. Fox Company would attack from the west. There would be an initial bombardment by the 4.2 mortars, to be followed up by an air strike from the Corsairs of VMF 118, Task Force 77, part of the air fleet from the aircraft carrier Bataan.
The four-deuces opened fire right on schedule. The riflemen of the two companies tensed as the mortar shells exploded to the front of them. Then they stopped. The Marines waited but there was no sign of the air strike. A quick call from Battalion started the heavy mortars up again, when suddenly the navy blue v winged Corsairs screeched across the sky.
The leading flyer of the formation reported into the air controller, Captain Manning Jeter. They told Jeter there would be no napalm in the strike due to a shortage of canisters on the aircraft carrier. They would be firing rockets and dropping high explosive bombs. In all 76 fighter-bomber runs were made, the largest single operation against a single objective of this campaign.
They blasted, strafed and killed Chinese for fully ninety minutes. At the same time, Dog Company fired away with small arms from another hump in the hill to the west.
Captain Jeter was with them. He remained standing to get a better view of the situation for the flyers and was cut down by enemy sniper fire. He was immediately replaced by Captain David Johnson, whose unique Boston accent cheerily called in more precision strikes against the enemy.
One of the members of Dog was Pfc Oakie Douglas, a bazooka man. He had become famous in Seoul when he knocked out five T-34 tanks within a twenty minute period. General Douglas MacArthur, who had arrived at Seoul hours after this feat, jokingly claimed it to be staged to prove the value of the newer 3.5 inch bazooka. On this day, he was using his weapon with deadly accuracy against Chinese entrenchments. Judging from the crazed smile that seemed fixed on his bearded face, the thoroughly enjoyed his work.
By the end of December 5th, the Chinese had had enough and withdrew from the hill. The day had been one of triumph for the Marines. The way was open to Koto-ri, and 15 miles closer to Hungnam. It was not over. The Chinese would be back.
The Korean Saga Continues
Linear Mode
