Background
“The Battles of Khalkhyn Gol were the decisive engagements of the undeclared border conflicts fought among the Soviet Union, Mongolia and the Empire of Japan in 1939. The conflict was named after the river Khalkhyn Gol, which passes through the battlefield. In Japan, the decisive battle of the conflict is known as the Nomonhan Incident after a nearby village on the border between Mongolia and Manchuria. The battles resulted in the defeat of the Japanese Sixth Army.
The Japanese plan was for a two-pronged assault. The first attack would be made by three regiments plus part of a fourth: 71st and the 72nd Infantry Regiment (23rd Division), a battalion of the 64th Infantry Regiment and the 26th Infantry Regiment under Colonel Shinichiro Sumi (7th Infantry Division). This force would advance across the Khalkin Gol, destroy Soviet forces on Baintsagan Hill on the west bank, then make a left turn and advance south to the Kawatama Bridge. The second prong of the attack would be the task of the IJA 1st Tank Corps (1st TC) (Yasuoka Detachment), consisting of the 3rd and 4th Tank Regiments, plus a part of the 64th Infantry Regiment, a battalion from the 28th Infantry Regiment, detached from the 7th Infantry, 24th Engineer Regiment, and a battalion from the 13th Field Artillery Regiment, all under the overall command of Lieutenant General Yasuoka Masaomi. This force would attack Soviet troops on the east bank of the Khalkhyn Gol and north of the Holsten River. The two Japanese thrusts were to join together on the wings.
The northern task force succeeded in crossing the Khalkhyn Gol, driving the Soviets from Baintsagan Hill, and advancing south along the west bank. However, Zhukov, perceiving the threat, launched a counterattack with 450 tanks and armored cars. The Soviet armored force, despite being unsupported by infantry, attacked the Japanese on three sides and nearly encircled them. The Japanese force, further handicapped by having only one pontoon bridge across the river for supplies, was forced to withdraw, recrossing the river on 5 July. Meanwhile, the 1st Tank Corps of the Yasuoka Detachment (the southern task force) attacked on the night of 2 July, moving in the darkness to avoid the Soviet artillery on the high ground of the river’s west bank. A pitched battle ensued in which the Yasuoka Detachment lost over half its armor, but still could not break through the Soviet forces on the east bank and reach the Kawatama Bridge. After a Soviet counterattack on 9 July threw the battered, depleted Yasuoka Detachment back, it was dissolved and Yasuoka was relieved. Overall, the Japanese lost 42 tanks in these encounters, primarily to 45mm tank and anti-tank guns, which outranged the Japanese weapons. In return, the Yasuoka detachment was reported to have knocked out a minimum of 66 Soviet tanks and 20 armored cars, and captured an additional 4 tanks and 7 armored cars.”
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battles_of_Khalkhin_Gol)
The Game
Tactical Situation:
Japanese forces attempt to seize forward Soviet positions along the river Khalkin Gol prior to a Soviet counterattack.
- Japanese Objective: Seize and hold all three of the Soviet defensive boxes.
- Soviet Objective: Throw back the Japanese attackers and hold the defensive positions.
The terrain consisted of open terrain with a ridge to the rear of the Soviet “boxes”. The Soviet defense line consisted of infantry and HMGs deployed in three defensive positions (boxes) with barbed wire out in front. The Soviets received Sporadic Air Support.
Scenario Special Rules:
- Play was only long edge of table.
- The composition of the Soviet on board units was predetermined along with their deployment.
- The Game started at night using the Japanese night attack rules. Day break rolled to begin on turn three.
- Beginning on turn two, the chance for a sand storm was rolled: 5 or 6. The storm would last a minimum of three turns before it could be rolled off (Sand Storm followed standard night visibility rules, but Japanese special night rules could not be used).
- During the Sand Storm, if any rifle or machine gun that fired rolled a 1, the weapon was considered to be jammed and required a successful skill check to clear the stand. Jammed weapons fired at half rate of fire.
- All Soviet reserves came on only if two or more of the Soviet players rolled a 5 or 6 (adding dice per the usual reserve roles). Each players with a successful roll received the same type of unit for that turn. Any player that did not make their role would receive the same type of reserve on the following turn.
Forces:
Three of the Soviet forces consisted of: one Motorstrelk Companies and 8 HMGs in each of the defensive boxes. A Battery of 12 76mm obr 1902 artillery units was deployed in gun pits between the center and flank boxes. Each of the players had 2 Motorstrelk Ccompanies, 5 T-38 Scout Tank Company, 8 BA-10 Armoured Car Company and an 8 tank BT-5 Company as Delayed Reserves. All Soviets were rated as Confident Conscripts.
The Japanese consisted of the Left flank company two Type 95 Tank, one Type 94 Tank and two Hohei Infantry Platoons. The center company had two Hohei Infantry, one Pioneer, one HMG, one 37mm AT Gun, one 70mm Light Artillery and one 105 Artillery Platoons. The right company consisted of three Type 95 Tank and one Type 94 Tank Platoons. All armor was rated Fearless Veteran and all other units were rated Fearless Trained.
Narrative:
During the first couple of turns, the Japanese moved forward through the barbed wire in the dark. The Japanese right and left flanking companies began enveloping their respective boxes and started expelling the Soviets out of their trenches. The Japanese Pioneers in the center remove most of the barbed wire to their front, but took a number of casualties from Soviet fire in the process.
The feared Sand Storm appears on two turn!
Over the next two turns, the Japanese flanking companies clear out their boxes and the artillery battery! The Soviet BT-5s begin arriving on turn four, followed by the BA-10s on turn five, then the light tanks, followed by the Motorstrelk companies over the following turns. The Japanese tanks attempt to stop the tide of armor, cutting through Soviet armor, but taking losses in return.
The armored fight continues with the Soviets are getting the worst of the exchanges. As the Soviet tanks and armored cards have the Japanese tanks pinned in place, the Soviet light tanks surge forward and attempting to overrun the weakened Japanese Infantry holding the center box.
By turn six, it was all over. The Japanese, somewhat battered, had turned almost all the Soviet tanks into burning wrecks. The Soviet Motorstrelk finally moved up, but had not chance against the Japanese tanks and broke off the attack. Result: A historical Japanese Victory.
– Manteuffel