Korean War: Pusan Perimeter, scenario #8: Back Again!

A short 12 turn scenario with NKPA armor trying to breakthrough a ROK infantry and support weapons line and exit south. The NKPA have 5 T34/85s counters or ten steps worth and have to exit 5 steps of those ten steps off the south edge of the map to win or the South Koreans win and they are blocking with 6 x INF, 2 X HMG, 1 x ENG, 2 AT Teams, 1 x 37mm and 2 x 105mm Shorts.

The key for the South Koreans I believe in this one is to setup as far north as possible filling the gaps in that rough terrain, forcing the North Koreans to have to push their tanks through the woods and allowing the ROK units good assault combat opportunities as well as pot shots with their weak AT weapons.

I am not sure why but after setup I bought my NKPA armor in on two locations, one stack of 3 units east of the river and one stack of two units west of the river hoping to slit the attacking ROK forces. But still the stack on the west side was assaulted right away and the AT Team made a successful roll and then rolled a 11 on the dice plus 3 for the AT Fire plus a 1 modifier for no NKPA Infantry Personnel in the hex, thus destroying one step right off the bat! The large NKPA armor stack on the east side of the river trying to void combat by going through the woods but got caught up adjacent to another group of ROK Infantry and were immediately assaulted. From here it went down-hill for the NKPA armor. I called the game after 10 turns, as the NKPA had lost 7 out of 10 steps of armor with no chance for victory, while the ROKs only lost 1 step of INF, 2 steps of Engineers and one leader. A ROK victory, no doubt!

This was a surprise ending for me and a very fast playing scenario, next time I will send in all my NKPA armor on the same side of the river. Setup for the ROKs is key for their chances in this scenario; they must fill the holes in the terrain up north and be able to shift forces around, as the assault stacks need them, get AT cross-fire-shots in if possible and don’t forget to bring your AT Teams and Engineers with you for those assaults, to help with the modifiers. For the NKPAs, find the weakest spot in the ROK lines and try and punch through to the open terrain in the rear and off the map as soon as possible and avoid combat if possible and try to keep your forces together. Its fun playing these usual matchups and this was a really fast playing scenario as well, I recommend it if you don’t have a lot of time and like to solve PG puzzles.