Korean War: Pusan Perimeter, scenario #13: Across the Han River

Ok first let me start, below was the original scenario introduction and conclusion before Avalanche Press rewrote them. My intent on this scenario was to show that both sides took a small breather with a the river between them pretty much out of rifle range but not heavy weapons as both sides took pot shots at each other and a few tried to fight it out across fords in the wide river causing this odd mix of units to clash.

Original Scenario Introduction: Colonial Paik was down to rebuilding his ROK 1st Division across the Han River defensive line and a violent Artillery duel bellowed in full fury across the wide waterway. Paik went to assess the situation when he ran into the ROK Army’s armor regiment. The regiment didn’t have tanks but only Armored Cars and halftracks with 37mm guns and two hundred horses and were eagerly exchanging fire across the river with unidentified combat units of the NKPA.

Original Conclusion: The ROK commander was inspired by MacArthur’s visit and the news that the U.S. Army was committing ground combat troops to Korea. The ROK army also felt safer across the Han River, having some relief and time to reorganize and rebuilt their depleted units. But little to their knowledge at this time, their retreat south was not over, as soon the NKPA would continue south again!

AAR: Now back to my small AAR! My mistake, the bridge should have been blown up but since I left them intact and this scenario has been out for years, I’ll play it as though the bridges are still there like everyone else has played.

I setup pretty much with both sides facing off directly across from each other, in the town hexes or hills on one side. The North Koreans shot first knocking out an M3 Halftrack, so the South Koreans worked the Cavalry units across one of the bridges to setup a charge the next turn. For a small 12 turn scenario with a low unit count, the battle became very bloody with adjacent combat and city assaults. By the points in the victory conditions, which includes points for demoralized units, the NKPA achieved 7 points and the ROKs achieved 6 points. A very close NKPA victory and a few dice rolls either way and either side could have won. You have to take special care in this scenario, as both sides have weak armor protection AFV for easy points (BTR-40, SU76, M8, M20 & M3). This probably plays out differently each time, in this odd but fun scenario.