Korean War: Counter-Attack, scenario #5: Enemy Ambush

Ok, a 26 turn scenario but it plays faster than it looks. The U.S. Marines enter on the far eastern edge of map 115, while the North Korean setup way over on map 114 in or within two hexes of any town hex. It takes a while for the Americans to get to the battle zone and since the NKPA have some mobility with MTC Infantry and trucks and GAZ67s I decide after setup on turn one to move 3 MTCs, 1 truck, 1 Gaz67, 1 45mm AT gun, 1 ATR and 2 Leaders forward in kind of an engagement delay tactic. I problem was, the American rushed their 50.cal Jeeps forward and activated first making this first engagement too close to the town hex but still weakening the defensive forces there. Also a M26 and a jeep carrying an ENG units followed close behind as all the American Infantry trudged slow up the rear of the column.

The next turn the American .50cal Jeeps and NKPA MTC traded shots. The 50cal. Jeeps are so weak, I never known how to use them and wish they had Recon status like Armored Cars & I&R Infantry but they don’t. I disrupted one MTC units but lost both .50cal jeeps eventually but they don’t count as points lost in this scenario, so no big deal risking them and they stopped the NKPA from advancing too far east and delaying the Americans from getting to the town hex objectives.

For a changed the Marines had things go more their way and the 8 airstrikes open a nice path to the town and caused some good holes into town to open up. The NKPA 45mm AT guns could only watch their shots bounce off the heavy armor of the M26 tanks. The Marines after heavy fighting took all the town hexes. They lost only three steps, 2 INF, 1 HMG and lost 2 .50cal Jeeps and 1 Leader which do not count against them for NKPA victory points. The U.S. Marines win a clear victory and the Navy aircraft assisted while the North Koreans wasted valuable resource in their gamble to send units forward to engage a stronger force. For once the .50cal jeeps were useful in keeping the North Koreans from getting too far forward.

US Marines enter on the east end of map 113 and have to get the town on map 112. Point are awarded based on step loss. All this is known in advance. Marines march down the road and 2 jeeps ferry units around the hill in the center of map 112.

Against Jay Townsend advice I did the same. Waste if Nork troops. Bruce suggested that I could have used my trucks or Gaz to place the AT guns, one each, on the east side of the hills to possibly get cross fire bonuses against the M-26 tank unit. I think the US Navy w/8 airstrikes will nail the guns. Takes 2 turns to dig in. Forgot to mention that the Norks have 7/6 morale. Pulled 3 leaders w/moral 1 bonuses.

Put too many units and longer hill close to the town. Put around 8 counters. Better terrain cover. Should have used the 3 transports (vehicles) to move units to the farther hill with less cover. Light woods and one hex of woods.

Bruce split his force into thirds and moved on my force on the hills. A smaller group of 6 units and 2 leader (Marines) went over the small hill crunched my unit after his using an airplane. Then mortars demoralized and disrupted the 2 units.

The center 6 Marines then stood off 2 hexes formed a fire team with a down 2 to the 22. After about 3 turns the diced turned against me. He started getting a 1 result. Units failed to recover and flee. The Kommissar did his fine 50% attritional rate work instilling party loyalty.

The Marines on the smaller northern hill started moving to the town. Fired other stacks, 3, closed in adjacent. Close combat ensued. Marines has at least +2 to offset the -2 for the town. Using 2 inf and a machine unit and 2 leaders it was the 30 column. I had maybe 13 and a leader. Unless one rolls well 2 - 4 , 10 - 12 to inflect a loss the Norks are attritioned out of the town. Marines are 8 and had several 2 morale leader. One to a stack.

26 turns with about 8 t ill the end of the scenario I had 3 full strength units 1 caught up in an assault on the south hill the others demoralized. Rest were 1/2 strength and 2 were disrupted. He had 2 hexes of the town and maybe 3 step losses. No sense continuing playing.

Given the intro and conclusion commentary about the situation: Ahem An Ambush. I would make an "idiot rule". The the Marines have to stay on or adjacent to the road until the first Nork fire on the Marines. Then next turn they can call in naval air planes.

Might be good solo so one can get a campaign ribbon for this game.