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.