AAR: Tank Tracks to Pusan

[wulfir]

ROK counterattack - straight into the concentration of NKPA infantry!

While a toll is taken on the AI tanks many North Korean infantry squads have no AT-weapon and tend to have previously had losses, close assaults with hand-grenades often fail...

Most of the AT-guns are silenced by tank and artillery fire...




...not much ammo left, few AT-guns still in action and the next wave apears.

It's time to break off and try and save what can be saved.

One thing I feel is missing is a decent APC. A battlefield taxi that can get infantry forward with some level of speed and protection but the North Koreans don't seem to have had any in 1950.

I'm going to fight a few battles with a North Korean force set in the Chinese Civil War to build up experience etc before being thrown in battle against the ROK...

[wulfir]

Set up a campaign in Sept 1948 with a North Korean mostly infantry core, but with some AT-guns and four SU-76 assault guns vs Taiwan.

First battle, slightly edited generated map (max size), timed objectives, large supporting Commie China Aux force with all types of AT-guns, mostly 57mm and 76mm but also two 100mm (as a test) and lots of infantry. Also included some older Jap tanks with 57mm guns. No air, limited artillery.

AI controls purchase and deployment of the Nationalist troops...

The map has decent road network with some vegetation but little in the way of difficult terrain, lots of open areas.

89 turns.

I attack all over the map and try to spare the North Korean core. Bump into strong defences in places but manage to have recon elements slip through and capture some rear VHs which trigger an AI counterattack.

AI infantry and tanks hit hard, retaking most objectives. The Commie front holds but advancing is out of the question.

AI artillery is less punishing when not being able to concentrate one one sector.

Nationalist M24 light tanks can be taken out at range but the Nationalist Sherman Easy 8 tanks are monsters - Commie 57mm and 76mm need to be pretty close to stand a chance. Two 100mm guns can't cover the whole map...

Again I get a kick in the teeth by the AI. Not as bad as the previous game but advancing with largely infantry forces against strong tank formations sure does not seem like a winning concept. By turn 50 the battle is mostly a sort of stalemate - the Commies are a spent force and points keep ticking in for the AI...

The Chinese rifle squads are 12 men strong and can take more of a beating than the North Korean equivalent - the Chinese however don't have any decent AT weapon and quickly get in trouble against armour.

The old ex Jap tanks should not duel with the Shermans either...