This was a surprisingly interesting session. There were problems how NKVD troops were required and able to fire on demoralized units. We managed to work through the ambiguities. Overall we had expected the session to be a Japanese romp. Despite my initial bad luck (I'll get to that later), we were pleased with the flow of play. The result was reminded me of Henry Fleming’s regiment in Red Badge of Courage. It’s a good thing, I did do what he did (but thought about it).

We played with hidden value leaders. I picked the best 10 major, per SSR, everyone else was via the ILS. Captain Bogdanov was worthy as a 10-0-1. kommissar Andrei is obviously a Politburo stooge, being only an 8. The force is lead by major Jov.

I am deployed a semi-circle in front of the fords. I have a notch at the top of my formation. HMGs are mostly on the north side of the arch. Captain Bogdanov and major Jov are in the center to help the first line with their modifiers. Andrei is in the back. The Japanese march on the north side of board 8. 3 turns until contact.

I starting digging in as Japanese artillery shells begin falling. I get dug in but then artillery fire demoralizes both units in the hex. Major Jov and kommissar Andrei move to the hex. I need that hex held, and per SSR, Jov may rally units as a kommissar. Before he can do so, Japanese artillery lands another good hit, Andrei is disrupted, and one demoralized unit losses a step due to morale failure. (Remember I mention initial bad luck?) Major Jov fails his leader survival roll. Andrie is demoralized and dies as the hex falls to the Japanese assault.

The Japanese begin assaulting the east side of my position and detachment heads to the corner at the river. Captain Bogdanov moves to contain the breach, but must fight with what is in the hex because of the paralysis caused by Major Jov’s death. Somehow (good luck this time?), Bogdanov steadies the troops just enough to hold on.

The Japanese are pressing assaults everywhere. Lt Leonide is managing to hold the corner. Lt Egor is fighting for the eastern portion of my seriously cracked egg. He falls in the service of the Motherland on turn 6, most of his men lay about him.

I suffer my 5th demoralized unit on 7, bring the NKVD troops on next turn. On turn 9 they arrive at the river. Bogdanov is still holding on. Nearby troops are providing some interdicting fire to prevent him from being completely surrounded, but Lt Leonide succumbs to the stress, demoralized he retreats to the river. He deserts next turn (rally roll of 12).

The NKVD take their obligatory shots at demoralized units. The 1st shot is ineffective. The 2nd causes a moral check, result in a step loss and Japanese VP. The 3rd shot causes a morale check not resulting in a step loss. Morale if intact units jumps to 7, I needed that.

The Japanese are trying to organize their free units. Bogdanov is still holding on and I manage to get some reinforcements to him. The last turn begins with 3 demoralized Soviet units, one more becomes demoralized in a Japanese assault. The units demoralized units recover to disrupted, one on its own, the other 2 with NKVD “persuasion”.

Final score I’ve killed 6 Japanese step and lost 9 units. I’ve made 4 demoralized to good order recoveries, and have 1 demoralized unit remaining at the end. 10 points for me, 9 for the Japanese. It’s a draw.