BG Counters: The Last

Vinnie

See Dummies in the index
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
17,426
Reaction score
3,364
Location
Aberdeen , Scotland
Country
llUnited Kingdom
Finally, after a bit of prodding, got around to finishoing off the notes for the Japanese vehicles.

I'd be particularly grateful for feedback on the 10a and 10b machine gun arcs and use, please.
 
Last edited:

Vinnie

See Dummies in the index
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
17,426
Reaction score
3,364
Location
Aberdeen , Scotland
Country
llUnited Kingdom
5a. M3-a: This represents the M3 (U.S Vehicle note 1 some 108 of which were used by the U.S. Army's 194th and 192nd Tank Battalions in the Philippines. DSeveral of these vehicles were captured and equipped entire battalions of the Japanese Armoured forces.
While largely concentrated in the Pilippines, where they engaged Genral MacArthurs forces as they attmpted to retake the islands, these vehicles were also encountered on Saipan a 1552415525
 

Vinnie

See Dummies in the index
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
17,426
Reaction score
3,364
Location
Aberdeen , Scotland
Country
llUnited Kingdom
5b. Stuart I-a: The Stuart I (British Vehicle Note 3 was used in Burma where several vehicles that were abandoned during the retreat were repaired and used against their former owners by a Japanese force that was chronically short of vehicles and equipment. Never present in large numbers, the reliability and range of the Stuart as well as its agility, proved a boost to the hard pressed infantry and a nasty surprise to the defending Commonwealth troops. 1552615527
 

Vinnie

See Dummies in the index
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
17,426
Reaction score
3,364
Location
Aberdeen , Scotland
Country
llUnited Kingdom
6a. Type 3 Ka-Chi A: Developed by the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Type 3 Ka-Chi was based a heavily modified version of the chassis of the army's Type 1 Chi-He medium tank (Japanese Vehicle Note 9, and thus featured considerably better armored protection and firepower than the earlier Type 2 Ka-Mi (Japanese Vehicle Note 6. It had smooth sides that faired into front and rear flotation pontoons made of sheet-metal. The front pontoon had a curved 'bow' shape and both pontoons could be jettisoned from inside the tank once the tank had landed. However, in practice, the pontoons were usually retained, as they provided some marginal additional protection against enemy fire. The hull was welded and water-proofed with rubber seals and gaskets. The Type 3 Ka-Chi had a distinctive large snorkel behind the turret for aerating the diesel engine more efficiently and keeping the exhaust free of water. The main gun of Type 3 Ka-Chi was the Type 1 47 mm tank gun, the same 47 mm gun used on the army's Type 97-Shinhoto Chi-Ha (Japanese Vehicle Note 8. Secondary armament was a coaxial Type 97 heavy tank machine gun and a hull mounted weapon of the same type. The gun turret was designed with an extended circular cupola to keep the hatch above water. The vehicle required a crew of seven, one of whom served as an on-board mechanic.
PONTOONS: The Ka-Chi is amphibious only while its pontoons are attached and functional. To detach them, the tank must be BU and Mobile, and must expend one MPh for no other purpose (but may expend it whether stopped or not). Whenever the pontoons became detached, the tank counter is immediately (i.e., prior to further Defensive First Fire) replaced with the Ka-Chi L; its CA remain the same. Detached pontoons have no game effect and cannot be re-attached.
While the pontoons are attached, the following apply:

  • If the Ka-Chi is BU it must expend one extra MP per hex entered, just as if towing a gun.
  • It may not use VBM, enter a building [EXC: hut] or cross over a wall.
  • Unless utilizing road/TB, it may not enter rubble, woods, jungle or bamboo.
  • It may not push a wreck (D10.42).
  • It may not assist in another vehicle's unbogging attempt (D8.3).
  • Any ordnance attack vs it that misses by one renders its pontoons non-functional, provided it is not HD to that attack and the colored dr of that TH DR is ≥ the white dr. Any non-ordnance attack (including Small Arms, but excepting mines and MOL) vs its Location whose Original IFT DR, plus all applicable TEM and Hindrance/SMOKE DRM, is ≤ the number in the ★ Vehicle line of the IFT column used for that attack renders its pontoons non-functional, provided the Ka-Chi is not HD to the attack (or is HD to none of the firers, for a FG attack). Non-functional pontoons are not automatically detached; they remain attached until a MP is expended to detach them in the normal manner. CC does not affect the pontoons. If the Ka-Chi is in an unfordable Water Obstacle when its pontoons become non-functional, it sinks (D16.5).
1552815529
 

Vinnie

See Dummies in the index
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
17,426
Reaction score
3,364
Location
Aberdeen , Scotland
Country
llUnited Kingdom
8a. Type 1 Shi-Ki: THis is the Command version of the Type 97 Chi-Ha (Japanese Vehicle Note 8. The hull of the Chi-Ha base vehicle remained unchanged. The standard turret and armament were removed and replaced by a smaller conical turret. Placed atop this new turret was a large cupola with multiple vision ports. The main armament was replaced by a powerful radio which broadcast through a large horseshoe antenna with increased range attached to the top of the turret. With a large radio taking up room in the turret, the tank’s main armament, a Type 98 37 mm gun usually found on the Type 95 Ha-Go, was mounted in the bow in place of the machine gun on standard Chi-Has. A Type 97 Machine-Gun was also mounted in the back of the turret for the commander to use. 1553215533
 

Vinnie

See Dummies in the index
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
17,426
Reaction score
3,364
Location
Aberdeen , Scotland
Country
llUnited Kingdom
10a. Type 87 Dowa AC: Crossley Motors (1906-1958) was an English automotive company, that had a long history of building military vehicles, including the 20/25 series in 1912, BGT (1923), IGL 4-wheel (1923) and 6 wheel (1927–1931), BGV (1927), and IGA (1928). In 1923, Crossley supplied chassis which were armored by Vickers-Crayford. The resulting vehicles were sold to the British Raj of India (around 100), and therefore often called Indian Pattern. They were used to patrol to northern reaches of the British held territories in India. Others saw service with UK, South Africa (2), Canada, and Argentina (6). Japan then ordered 12, supplied in 1925. Former South African and Canadian vehicles refurbished in 1938 with Chevrolet truck chassis, becoming the Crossley-Chevrolets which saw service in WW2. The Vickers-Crossley M25 was called Type 87 in the Japanese Imperial Nomenclature and apparently also known as the Dowa.
The Japanese vehicles differed very little from the regular Crossley M25, except for the machine-gun used. They were characterized by their flat-sided engine hood, armored radiator, larger cross-section of the fighting/driving compartment and riveted hull. The two-seat driver compartment was given armored shutters and there was a raised section after the engine compartment. The front (beam axle) and rear (steel casing with fully floating drive shafts) axles were covered with generous mudguards. Suspensions had semi-elliptic springs underslung. The front mudguards supported standard road lights. Access inside the vehicle was done through two small side doors. There were three sliding observation ports per side. One spotlight was apparently mounted over the bumpers at times.
The trademark of these vehicles was the large, cast hemispherical turret manufactured by Vickers, tailored to house two liquid-cooled standard 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine guns, with their armoured jackets. The great originality was the extreme separation between the two 7.7 mm machine guns, which were in semi-fixed positions, allowed an individual 90° traverse, in addition to the turret traverse. There actually four machine-gun emplacements available, the two weapons could be switched between them rather quickly. The other particular was the turret topped by a split dome for observation and crowd control (in the Japanese version). The regular Indian Pattern Crossley M25 seems to have been given a searchlight mounted on the cupola. These Type 87s served in China. It seems they had been employed only for urban or solid road patrols, without possibilities of quick reverse drive and without any useful off-road capabilities. They were also limited by their solid tires. They were employed in Shanghai and Tientsin to maintain order.
† The Main Armament consists of a pair of MGwhich may be fired at the same or different argetsprovided both targets lie within the same TCA. TCA may be changed prior to firing or after firing only if neither MG has exhausted its Rate of Fire. Once either CMG has exhausted its RoF, the TCA may no long be changed.
† Both CMG malfunction of a 11. This is reflected by "B11" on the counter. The CMG are treated as seperate weapons for breakdown purposes. When firing independantly both CMG have a RoF of 1. 1553415535
 

Vinnie

See Dummies in the index
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
17,426
Reaction score
3,364
Location
Aberdeen , Scotland
Country
llUnited Kingdom
10b. Type 93 Kokusan AC: The Type 93 was specifically designed to be operated on rail or roads. For that purpose, it was equipped with two kinds of wheels: flanged steel wheels for railroad use, and solid rubber tires for roads. The vehicle had three axles; to provide better balance and pitch control, a pair of auxiliary metal wheels were mounted behind the front axle. It could be switched from the steel rail wheels to the road wheels in ten minutes time. Armament consisted of one 7.7 mm machine gun and four 6.5 mm Type 91 machine guns or four Nambu Type 11 machine guns. Its anti-aircraft machine-gun mount could be stowed inside the top turret. It is also known as the Type 2593 "Hokoku" or Type 93 "Kokusan" Armored Car.
The Type 93 was originally made for use by the Japanese Navy marine units of the Special Naval Landing Forces. They were used extensively in China. The armoured cars being used in the coastal regions of China near ports and Japanese bases. The vehicle was considered a superior design to the Chiyoda armoured car. The "gable-roof bonnet" was designed to deflect grenades and the front sloping plate of its turret allowed it to fire at the high angle needed to reach the top floors of buildings on the narrow Chinese streets.
† The BMG consists of 3 seperate 2 factor MGs: One with the standard BMG CA, one with a "left" CA and one with a "right" CA as per the illustraton below. 155361553715538
 

Vinnie

See Dummies in the index
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
17,426
Reaction score
3,364
Location
Aberdeen , Scotland
Country
llUnited Kingdom
11a. Type 92 Chiyoda AC cc: The first domestically-produced armoured car mass-produced for the Japanese army for service in China. This followed on from the Type 87 armored car "Dowa" (Japanese Vehicle Note 10a). The Army searched for a better protected vehicle with good off-road capabilities. These requirements led to a 6x6 design, similar to the later Type 93 Sumida (Japanese Vehicle Note 10). The prototype was ready in 1931 and successfully passed all trials. It was officially adopted as the Type 93 Chiyoda Armored Car, named after the builder, Chiyoda from Tokyo.
The basic armor scheme was, in many ways, similar to that of the Type 87. However, the spoked wheels with pneumatic tires had been found to be too fragile and were replaced by disk wheels with fixed rubber bands. The hull was made of rolled homogeneous armor, possibly 6 mm (0.24 in) thick, enough to withstand shrapnel and light arms fire, and was riveted around a central frame.
The compartmentalization was straightforward, with a frontal engine protected by armored shutters, a headlight protected by covers. The driver's compartment came after, with the driver on the left hand side and gunner taking place to his right, firing a standard light Type 92 machine-gun. The fighting compartment behind extended to the rear, with a revolving truncated conical turret. Three visor ports were placed along each side of the fighting compartment.
Access was granted through side doors for the driver's compartment and through rear doors for the fighting compartment. The turret had an AA mount on its frontal slope, and another MG was located in one of its side ports. Storage boxes were fastened over the rear axle mudguards. Normal armament provision comprised three Type 11 6.5 mm (0.25 in) machine-guns, replaced during WW2 by the more compact Type 91. The vehicle was propelled by a Wolseley 4-cyl gasoline engine, producing 75 hp for a power-to-weight ratio of 13.4 hp/t, enough for an estimated top speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) on road.
An estimated 200 Chiyoda armored cars were produced and participated in the 1932 Shanghai incident and subsequent IJA operations in China in the mid-1930s. They provided both infantry support and security duties in the captured regions. Starting in 1937, the Chiyoda were gradually replaced by the Type 97 Te-Ke tankette (Japanese Vehicle Note 3), which had far better mobility. 1553915540
 

Vinnie

See Dummies in the index
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
17,426
Reaction score
3,364
Location
Aberdeen , Scotland
Country
llUnited Kingdom
11b. Type 92 Chiyoda aa AC: This represents the Chiyoda Armoured Car where the Main armament has been repositioned into the Anti-aircraft mode. To allow for this, the second CMG was placed to fire through a gun embrasure on the port side of the turret.
† The Main Armament may not fire at targets that are below the unit as indicated by "MA; <level NA" on the counter.
† The CMG fires through the port side of the TCA. This corresponds to the "green" area in the illustration above for the Type 93 Kokusan AC. 1554115542
 

Vinnie

See Dummies in the index
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
17,426
Reaction score
3,364
Location
Aberdeen , Scotland
Country
llUnited Kingdom
12a. Type 1 Ho-Ni II: The Ho-Ni II was an improvement of the previous Ho-Ni I (Japanese Vehicle Note 12). It was designed to carry out close infantry support using its more powerful howitzer, also being able to provide indirect fire. The Army Type 91 105 mm (4.13 in) howitzer was chosen for the task. Work started in 1942, as soon as the Ho-Ni I neared production. However, the lack of resources meant that it was built discontinuously in small numbers, from 1943 until 1945, when the resources and manpower were no longer available. The Type 1 designation is related to the year 1941, and Ho-Ni II meant "gun fourth, 2".
The No-Ni II was largely based on the Ho-Ni I, and used the same Type 97 Chi-Ha chassis, then the standard IJA medium tank. The three-faced shield was essentially the same in shape and dimensions, only differing in details. Some corrections were made because of stability issues with the much heavier howitzer. The latter was left without undercarriage, bolted and welded over a new support. The ammo racks, containing bulky HE two-part rounds, were stored inside the hull, below the gun. Two racks were located inside the shield, holding a few shots. Protection for the gun crew was poor. However, the indirect nature of the fire support they provided meant they were usually posted far from turmoil, at the rear, and well camouflaged.
The Ho-Ni II production dragged on from 1943 and into early 1944, before the Ho-Ni III replaced it. They were integrated into regular artillery units, each having a four vehicle battery. They served as infantry support in Burma and the Philippines, through the years 1944 and 1945. 15543
 

Attachments

Vinnie

See Dummies in the index
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
17,426
Reaction score
3,364
Location
Aberdeen , Scotland
Country
llUnited Kingdom
14a. Type 1 Ho-Ha: The Type 1 Ho-Ha was developed in 1941 as a result of a request from the army for a vehicle that could be used to transport a squad of infantry to the battlefield protected from enemy small arms fire. Despite experiences of the Second Sino-Japanese War, armored personnel carriers were viewed as too slow compared to wheeled trucks and there was not much effort for their development in the army.
The Type 1 Ho-Ha was based on the German Sd.Kfz. 251/1 (known popularly as Hanomag), the main armoured personnel carrier of the German Army, but did not use the overlapped and interleaved road wheels of the German design's suspension. Further, it had a "vertical rear plate with a door", akin to the American M3 Half-track; however, the door itself was a copy of the German "two-leaf" design.
The Type 1 Ho-Ha had a pair of road wheels in front, supported by a pair of short caterpillar tracks to the rear. It was equipped with a tow coupling in the front and a towing hitch at the rear to haul artillery or a supply trailer. The maximum armor thickness was 8 mm with sloping armor plates.
The Type 1 Ho-Ha was initially deployed to China for operations in the ongoing Second Sino-Japanese War, but never in any great numbers. It was later deployed with the Japanese reinforcements in the Battle of the Philippines in 1944. Post-war, some Type 1 Ho-Ha half-tracks were modified by cutting off the rear armored section and replacing it with a flat bed. They were then used for reconstruction work in areas of the country. 1554515546
 

Vinnie

See Dummies in the index
Joined
Feb 9, 2005
Messages
17,426
Reaction score
3,364
Location
Aberdeen , Scotland
Country
llUnited Kingdom
And there we are. I think that's the lot although Alan will, no doubt, point out where I missed 59 new varients that need added...

Once these are finalised, I'll try and draw up the vehicle notes chart but I think the weight of a lot of these guys will be more guesswork than realism.
 

footsteps

Just visiting
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Messages
7,379
Reaction score
3,532
Location
Ontario
Country
llCanada
And there we are. I think that's the lot although Alan will, no doubt, point out where I missed 59 new varients that need added...
Nothing to add to the Japanese.

However.... there's still the Soviets, British, Allied Minor, German/SS and.... Zombies!
 

footsteps

Just visiting
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Messages
7,379
Reaction score
3,532
Location
Ontario
Country
llCanada
Hey Alan,

Is that a new countersheet that has been printed already? I have all your sets but need that one primarily for Aerosans. Is it available for sale?
It's ready to be printed, but... covid restrictions. :(
 
Top