AAR - Sacrificial Lambs (Korea) Spoiler

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SPOILER PAST THE 1ST POST!

SACRIFICIAL LAMBS (#2 in Wild Bill Wilder's SPWAW Korea Series)

NK Advance vs. US Army Delay
Chonan, South Korea
1400, July 8, 1950
Turns: 15
Scenario Size: Medium
Scenario Designer: Wild Bill Wilder
Version: SPWAW 8.3

Designer Notes: Don't expect to win this one. The UN forces, primarily American, were losing battle after battle. What you want to avoid is a defeat. If you can pull off a draw and hold the road leading out of Chonan, consider it a victory.

Your Orders: Colonel, Forward units of the NKPA 4th Division, with tank support, are headed your way in a big hurry. General Dean is demanding that the line be drawn firmly here at Chonan. He emphatically states that there is no road south for any American soldier.

I know you are low on ammo, especially for your mortars. We have no tanks to support you. You may get air support. Its going to be a race to get to Chonan before the Commies do. Give it your best. The enemy must be halted or we'll soon be swimming home!

Historical Background: Having been cruelly initiated to the harsh climate of war, the American forces that had arrived in Korea to stop the NKPA were being systematically wiped out. The first defensive lines set up south of the 38th parallel had crumbled as North Korean soldiers, led by T-34 tanks, had smashed American and South Korean positions. Those who did not turn and run sacrificed their lives in a vain effort to stem the Red tide.

General Walker, in command of the Allied forces, was desperately trying to buy time and hold the enemy in place. There seemed to be no stopping them.

The North Korean 4th and 6th Divisions contained experienced troops who had fought in China under Mao Tse Tung. On the American side was the 24th ("Indian Head") Infantry Division which had been born from the old Hawaiian Division early in 1942 and had served with distinction in New Guinea and the Philippines.

It had been posted to Japan during the post-war years and was the first major American commitment to Korea. It was this division, ill prepared and equipped that would be slammed again and again. Even though the 24th was forced to continually retreat, there were heroes, many of them during that dark period. The 34th Regiment had immediately been thrust into the line and the onrushing North Koreans had decimated two of its battalions.

Now it was the turn of the 3/34th to step into the gap. A new commander for the regiment had been chosen: Lt.Colonel Robert Martin. His presence was steadying to the GIs and gave them strength. Pulling them into a cohesive line, he stated matter of factly, "Men, as long as I am in command, this regiment will not withdraw another inch."

On July 8th the units of the 4th NKPA Division hit the lines of the 3/34th at Chonan. In the street fighting that ensued early that morning, Martin, manning an older 2.36" bazooka, stood firm beside his soldiers. He attacked a T-34 at point blank range, but the bazooka misfired. The tank's cannon did not. Martin's body was shredded and cut in two. He had been in command of the regiment for fourteen hours.

It did not take long after that for the American lines to crumble and disintegrate. More young Americans had been thrown into the meat-grinder of the first days of the war in Korea and had paid the ultimate price. The gods of war, however, were still not satiated and would call for more sacrificial lambs in the days to follow. Each battle, however, bought a few more hours, giving the United Nations a chance to maintain a toehold on the Korean peninsula.

Sources:
The Forgotten War, Blair
The Pusan Perimeter, Hoyt
Korea War Order of Battle, Rottman
The Military History of the Korean War, SLA Marshall

 

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Turn 1-3 (Spoiler Warning)

Turn 1 (14:00 PM)
A Company/3 Battalion/34 Regiment is 1st on the field. The Co HQ is following behind the Riflemen who are advancing with all 3 Platoons on line. The company's support weapons (2 60mm Mortars, 2 Bazooka's and 30cal MMG) follow closely behind ready to lend support. Unfortunately the mortars only have 6 rounds each. As A Company advances I send a Scout Section with Jeep North skirting the West side of Chonan. They advance to the NorthWest corner of town where they dismount between some buildings. On the East side of Chonan, 2 Recon patrols advance into the Southeastern edge of town.

Turn 2 (14:05 PM)
Still no sign of the North Koreans so A Company continues their advance into Chonan. Each platoon orients itself on one the North-South roads inside the town limits. On the left flank, 2Lt Navarro takes his Recon Section to the Northern edge of town and takes up a defensive position. He then dispatches the jeep that carried his men forward to take up a position on West flank of the town in some trees where they can overwatch the western road coming South from Seoul. (See T2-Navarro screenshot).

Turn 3 (14:10 PM)
As 2Lt Navarro starts to scan the horizon his position is immediately set upon by at least a full platoon of NK Infantrymen who rush down the road and try to enter Chonan. As the 1st enemy squad comes within 100 meters, they open fire killing one enemy outright. With the jeep still getting into position and unable to cover them 2Lt Navarro and the scout with him are killed by the NK return fire. As the rest of the Company advances the leading Recon Patrols stumble upon NK troops already in Northern Chonan. On the West edge of town a sharp firefight erupts with and NK Recon Squad hidden in a building. One of the mortars is forced to fire point blank into the NK Squad. The impact collapses the building and it bursts into flames. Finally, C Company/3 Battalion/34 Regiment arrives in trucks and moves to the South edge of town to bolster A Company's position. For the time being they will stay mounted in the trucks ready to act as a rapid reaction force to plug any holes.

 

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T 4-6 (Spoiler Warning)

Turn 4 (14:15 PM)
Things have been quiet the last couple of minutes. In the center of town US Recon Patrols have managed to eliminate or drive back the probing NK units. As the rest of C Company arrives on the field Col Martin orders them to take up positions on the Western side of Chonan. As they move into place, A Company will then shift to the right and take up defense of Eastern Chonan. With luck they will get into position before the Koreans make a serious assault on the town. All roads leading South into town are currently covered by 30cal MMGs.

Turn 5 (14:20 PM)
NK 7.62mm Artillery begins falling South of Chonan hitting several arriving trucks loaded with C Company. A few report minor damage from shell fragments but that is all. C Company continues their movement into the left flank of the defense. In the center, more NK Infantrymen continue to probe the town. After a heavy exchange of gunfire one of the US Recon Patrols is forced to fall back to an alternate position.

Turn 6 (14:25 PM)
The NK Armor finally makes its appearance on the batlefield as a single T-34/85 loaded with Infantry moves down the Eastern road of Chonan. A US Bazooka Team takes up a position facing SouthEast waiting to catch it in the rear as it drives by. On the left, C Company continues to maneuever into position allowing the left flank of A Company to shift right to deal with the armor threat. At least 2 platoons of NK Infantrymen push against A Company's line but are driven back with heavy losses. US casualties are light but Col Martin knows every man will be needed to hold Chonan. The last remaining US Recon Patrol is eliminated after firing on the T-34/85 in an effort to dislodge the NK dismounts. To help shield the right flank units from the T-34/85 smoke is popped by the far right squad. It is hoped that this will force the NK tank to press forward to get a better view and into range of the nearby Bazooka Team. At present A Company on the right flank is the only unit in contact with the North Koreans. (See T6-Right_Flank screenshot)

 

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T 7-9 (Spoiler Warning)

Turn 7 (14:30 PM)
The North Koreans continue to press the US right flank with wave after wave of infantry pushing back some of the forward US Squads. A T-34/85 appears out of the smoke coming down the western road in Chonan. bazooka armed riflemen maneuver into positions along the flanks of its predicted travel. One squad gets too close and is hit by 85mm main gun fire killing 2 GI's. The squad falls back but another squad and a bazooka team are still in hiding awaiting the chance to attack. Back on the right flank, the T-34/85 continues down the road through the smoke and takes a direct hit on its right track bringing it to a halt. Another squad, also armed with a bazooka, fires on the tank's left flank and sets the T-34/85 on fire. One down but the joy is short lived as another T-34/85 rumbles down the road firing on the US troops who exposed themselves to engage the 1st tank.

Turn 8 (14:35 PM)
Mortar rounds from both sides begin to fall on the front line indiscriminantly killing soldiers on both sides. Several buildings are set are fire and smoke hangs thick across the battlefield. On the American right flank the NK T-34/85 halts and turns right to assault the US squads holding up the NK advance and the US line begins to crumble. On the left flank, 2 NK T-34/85's charge down the road followed by infantrymen causing many US troops to fall back across the road to the 2nd defensive line. However, some US soldiers stand their ground long enough to get off bazooka rounds destroying one T-34/85 and forcing the crew to abandon the other. To prevent the tank from being recrewed, a well hidden sniper team picks off the crewman as they leap from the tank.

Turn 9 (14:40 PM)
In an effort to give the American's time prepare the 2nd line of defense, 2 platoons are ordered to hold to the last main in the northen half of Chonan. This should give the others time to cross the main East-West road and enter the safety of the buildings. The last remaining NK T-34/85 on the US right flank charges into the town proper spraying the retreating American's killing at least 7 soldiers. During the confusion the Americans are able to get off a few bazooka rounds and somehow manage to destroy the T-34/85 before it can finish off the GI's falling back across the road. Meanwhile, the NK infantry wave continues to grind South overrunning 2 squads in the process. Only desperate hand-to-hand melee by a few survivors manages to stop their advance. Col Martin radios the 2 F-80's circling overhead to stand by for target coordinates very soon.

(See T9-Front_Line_Pan screenshot)

 

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T 10-12 (Spoiler Warning)

Turn 10 (14:45 PM)
The American's are barely holding off the North Koreans in the center of Chonan when another T-34/85 wanders down the west side of town. As the NK troops gather across the road to make another push Col Martin calls in the 2 F-80's circling overhead. With luck they will arrive in time.

Turn 11 (14:50 PM)
Col Martin is told all the 60mm Mortars are now fully out of rounds and so he orders their withdrawal to an area behind his Battalion CP. The US lines continue to bend but do not break. The lone T-34/85 in the West overruns several exposed squads and eliminates a bazooka team waiting to ambush it. As it continues down the road it is subsequently assaulted by US riflemen and destroyed.

Turn 12 (14:55 PM)
The F-80's finally arrive a drop their payloads on the northern part of town killing many NK soldiers. Before leaving the area one of the pilots radio's to Col Martin that there is more NK armor moving around on the northern side of Chonan and appearing to head south. Shortly after the planes depart the North Koreans unleash another heavy barrage of mortar fire. They follow up this barrage with another massive human wave attack resulting in the capture of the town center crossroads. The American center may have finally reached the breaking point!

 

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Turn 13-End Game (Spoiler Warning)

Turn 13 (15:00 PM)
On the US right flank A Company is finally breaking under the pressure as the NK infantrymen push deeper into Chonan. Squad after squad of A Company is overrun by the North Koreans including the Company HQ. C Company desperately tries to shift some of their men east to bolster the right flank. Sensing the situation is quickly getting out of control Col Martin calls the F-80's asking them for 1 more run to try and save his battalion.

Turn 14 (15:05 PM)
At this time the US left flank seems stable however on the right A Company is rapidly evaporating under the NK onslaught with the few survivors falling back toward the Battalion CP. Only a well timed bayonet charge by some C Company soldiers manage to delay the Korean advance. The F-80's come in for one last run but because the smoke is so thick over Chonan they cannot positively ID any enemy units and so pull up without firing.

Turn 15 (15:10 PM)
The North Koreans continue firing volley after volley of mortar rounds at the American lines and another human wave attack finishes pushing the remnants of A Company out of Chonan. After thoroughly routing A Company they eventually reach the Battalion CP. Col Martin, seeing they cannot hold their position, orders the Battalion staff to fall back to the outskirts of southern Chonan. The American's manage to hold onto the southwest corner of Chonan and several outlying buildings to the south but for the most part, Chonan is lost to the North Koreans.

FINAL RESULTS;
US Marginal Victory 4593 points.
Losses; 161 Men and 3 Trucks.

North Korean Marginal Defeat - 1219 points.
Losses; 301 Men and 5 T-34/85.

 

[freightshaker]

Is this depicting the infamous Taskforce Smith?

 

[Double Deuce]

Is this depicting the infamous Taskforce Smith?

No, that would be THIS ONE.