CoC Bunker Busting on Nunshigum Ridge mini campaign (updated 23 08 24)

[brunei35]

Thanks for taking time to reply
Cheers

[Jemima Fawr]

Excellent article!  Very nicely done indeed. 

[TacticalPainter]

We move on to the second game in the campaign set near Imphal in 1944. The British must attempt to guide their tanks along the narrow ridge that leads to the main Japanese position. It won't be an easy task as the tanks are almost helpless and so it will be up to the infantry of the Dogra Regiment to shield them from the inevitable Japanese counterattacks. Full AAR is here http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2024/08/bunker-busting-on-nunshigum-ridge.html

[brunei35]

Cracking as always - thanks for posting

Cheers

[Tom Dulski]

 Great stuff.

[.:Gunslinger:.]

Brutal! Great write-up once again, these AAR feel like a movie sometimes.

[vodkafan]

I replied on your blog TP. Great write up as always. I wondered what happened to the tank though after the Indian withdrawal. It had gone half way. On that narrow spine, it wouldn't be able to turn around  and reversing would be impossible, surely?. 

[TacticalPainter]

I replied on your blog TP. Great write up as always. I wondered what happened to the tank though after the Indian withdrawal. It had gone half way. On that narrow spine, it wouldn't be able to turn around  and reversing would be impossible, surely?.

Good point! I think in some way we have to abstract the situation. Historically the British paused rather than withdrew but a withdrawal in this case represents a pause rather than a complete withdrawal from the battlefield. In some cases tanks were towed back by the other tanks. In our case we are using a single tank when in reality they used a troop of four so I’ll have to allow a little wiggle room in our interpretation. They key thing is that the British failed to breakthrough.

[CapnJim]

Bummer.  Maybe they'll have more success next time...

Nice report, by they way.

[TacticalPainter]

I replied on your blog TP. Great write up as always. I wondered what happened to the tank though after the Indian withdrawal. It had gone half way. On that narrow spine, it wouldn't be able to turn around  and reversing would be impossible, surely?.

Good point. Historically there was a bit of scope for movement including reversing. We are also abstracting the battle as there were a number of tanks present, in one case a damaged tank was towed back by another.

[TacticalPainter]

We return to the same table to see if the British can drive the Japanese off the spine of the ridge so the tanks can cross. Full AAR of the game here: http://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2024/08/bunker-busting-on-nunshigum-ridge_23.html

[Belligerentparrot]

Another excellent report, thank you. You write them so well I find myself getting engrossed in the narrative. I was for example happy to see the Japanese grenade launchers finally do something useful after seeming pretty hopeless so far.

A question: when the Japanese charge and are hopelessly outclassed, was this a case of your opponent not calculating the odds (in which case he must have had a shock) or was he well aware of the odds but playing in character to some extent? The charge certainly didn't strike me as out of step with what (very little) I know of typical IJA decision-making. But it seemed like an odd decision for a player to make.

[.:Gunslinger:.]

Excellent report once again, it really shows how hard this must also have been in reality with prepared and concealed japanese mine and grenade teams. The plan was good, but the odds weren't in your favour...
Curious to see which modifications you are going to make to this!

[TacticalPainter]

Another excellent report, thank you. You write them so well I find myself getting engrossed in the narrative. I was for example happy to see the Japanese grenade launchers finally do something useful after seeming pretty hopeless so far.

A question: when the Japanese charge and are hopelessly outclassed, was this a case of your opponent not calculating the odds (in which case he must have had a shock) or was he well aware of the odds but playing in character to some extent? The charge certainly didn't strike me as out of step with what (very little) I know of typical IJA decision-making. But it seemed like an odd decision for a player to make.

I don’t think either of us could see how much the combat favoured the British. However Dave saw an opportunity to take down British force morale if he could kill the leaders. Doing that and losing the entire squad would have been worth the cost. It was a gamble that could have paid off. I want the Japanese to play it this way, they have nothing to lose and it’s historical.

[Belligerentparrot]

I don’t think either of us could see how much the combat favoured the British. However Dave saw an opportunity to take down British force morale if he could kill the leaders. Doing that and losing the entire squad would have been worth the cost. It was a gamble that could have paid off. I want the Japanese to play it this way, they have nothing to lose and it’s historical.

Ha, so it was a mix of both! Must have been a great moment in game: you getting a shock by how well the move was set up and carried out, then your opponent getting a shock at how badly the odds were against it succeeding  I think this speaks really well of the ruleset. I'd assumed that you've both so much experience with it, you'd have a pretty accurate sense of when something is a very unfavourable option.

Looking forward to the next report.