Phishing for Figures in a ModelShop: WWII Chinese

One of the pleasures of "phishing" (aka randomly looking) around in a large model shop (yes, a physcal one) is just the sheer joy of finding something different. On the internet you start with an idea, then I find I can start collecting "too much", whereas the physical constraints of 'what is in the shop' is a welcoming restraint for me (an gives me a different form of temptation). So when I found something I have no apparent use for but at the same time intrigued me, an impulse buy (see below, some WWII Chinese Infantry from Caesar miniatures): 

One of my motto's is that "you cannot go wrong with Caesar Miniatures, as their quality is just basically "good to excellent". Even though the review from Plastic Miniature Soldier Review did question the necessity for a large (fantasy style) machete (da-dao broadswords apparently) being included on two poses. I'll forgive them for that as I think they look cool. I do not know anyone who has gamed this period. The closest I know for somebody doing this period is of a fellow wargamer Renko (see link1, link2, link3), doing a 15mm FoW army as a painting commission for a friend. I will have to pump him for ideas on scenarios and sources of info, as he'll have done a 'deep dive' for that!

Additional Resources: 

https://thetacticalpainter.blogspot.com/2022/03/second-world-war-chinese-national-army.html

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXe1yBKUSyalsBv1wuTGnZA

Little bit of a side-project: Modern US CVN Battlegroup 1/3000

This is one I have been thinking about doing for a while (as well as the 1980 RN Falklands Campaign), the advantage being this is less than a dozen ships all told (see Wikipedia detail):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_strike_group#Typical_CSG_composition

Order of Battle:

• CVN
• 1-2 Guided Missile Cruiser
• 2-3 Guided Missile Destroyers
• 1-2 Attack (688) Submarines
• Specialist Ammo Supply and Oiler Support Ship

Possible rules for this are the traditional (pro-US) Harpoon or the more recent ShipWreck. Topical campaigns could include US tension with the Chinese over the Spratly chain of islands in the South China Sea.

Nice to see that I am NOT maintaining focus!

DBMM v2 Battle (3): Rome versus Three Kingdoms Chinese (again)

The broken Roman Barbarians were herded like sheep to their slaughter, in their defense they fought on making sure it was not a bloodless victory (see below):

The long sought after clash of Legion Blade(O) and Blade(S) versus Chinese Blade(O) at last came about (see below):

Two long lines formed. Losses accrued on both sides. To the horror of the Roman Commander he lost Blades(S) which his army morale to half a point of cracking. To be fair the Chinese losses were approaching breaking point too (see below)

A final breakthrough seemed to seal it for the Chinese. A break through next move should surely see victory in their grasp as the mounted Chinese General could be positioned in the Roman rear (See below):

Alas the Roman Knights had caught up with the Chinese cavalry command (that had been falling back but "ran out of room"). The sum total of two small commands AND losses from the larger command broke the Chinese Army morale. Rome was triumphant (again).

One thing had happened though, over the last two games I had been converted to DBMM. It played better than any game of DBM I had experienced to date and allowed progression from small armies using DBMM 100 point, DBMM 200 point up to larger games of full DBMM. This IMHO was superior to playing DBA for smaller games and DBM/DBMM for larger games as the same core rules could be used. So good I went out and ordered a set of rules "to study". As it was clear that despite the "enjoyment" we still didn't know the rules and there was too much potentially bitter misunderstanding and "rule creation" (dangerously falling back to defunct DBM concepts) during the game.    

DBMM 200 v2 Battle (2): Rome versus Three Kingdoms Chinese (again)

Still trying to perform a "miracle maneuver" my inner cavalry formed a column to get them away from fighting an infantry battle (would that have been so bad?) and I retreated my Bows(I) away from the hungry looking Roman Blades(O). Still lacking a plan though (see below):

Meanwhile the main infantry command of the Chinese was looking in good form to set into Roman Barbarian allies. Infavt th eRoman Commander was starting to worry about the fate of his Auxilla (see below, Chinese bottom, Rome top):

The battle started was initiated by the Chinese Blade. Rather than letting the Warbands come at him the Chinese Commander (me) decided to take advantage of the Blade "quick kill" [in its turn] against Warband (rather than visa versa). It started to work (see below):

Meanwhile I won where I least expected it (a single Bow(I) against a Knight) and ended up fighting infantry with cavalry after all. In the process my outer command was clearly going to get "bust" which was a sad sight (see below):

The middle changed my mood as the Roman Barbarian Allies and Auxilla were savaged by my rampant Blade, so much so additional Auxilla and sacred Blades (The Legion) were hurried across to help out (see below):

The battle seemed to be in the balance!

DBMM 200 v2 Battle (1): Rome versus Three Kingdoms Chinese (again)

Time passed and there was another chance to fight Middle Imperial Rome in DBMM. My Three Kingdom Chinese army once again lined up but this time I matched Regular Blades to Regular Blades instead of bulking out with "cheaper" (I). My main command set up to the left hand side of the battlefield utilising the defensive terrain feature of a hill and wood (see below):

This peculiar arrangement was caused by the "open" right hand side flank attracting my two wing commands of cavalry and bow (see below):

The Romans copied my cavalry arrangement so the battle started with my Chinese infantry line attempting to envelope his (see below):

I was less sure at how to deploy my cavalry and attempted to perform a clever retreat, but like all clever ideas it seemed to come unstuck in execution. I was unsure of how the bows would do against the Knights that faced them (Agincourt?)  and the ghastly specter of them being run down by Blades as his infantry line lapped into the cavalry sector caused a knee-jerk reaction (see below):

What I was trying to do clearly was not going to pull off and I needed to invent a quick "Plan B" which is always 'not a good sign' (see below):

My mistake seemed to stem from wanting to fight a cavalry action (against Knights, I was informed of their "quick kill potential" against cavalry during the game (my steep DBMM learning curve should be apparent here) and not giving myself sufficient deployment space. I had a lovely piece of rough ground behind me I should have used (in hindsight).

More "chaos" to follow ...

DBMM (4 of 4): End Game (Rome v Chinese)

The battle reaches its climatic end-game. The power of the blades is self evident as the Roman Legion blows a hole and a half in the Chinese Center (see below):

The only hope for the Chinese is to pull back victory from the jaws of defeat by being victorious on the flanks (and quickly). To this effect the well placed Chinese (Fast) light horse charge in for their place in glory or infamy on the far Chinese Right Flank. It is do or die time for the Roman cavalry (see below)

At the same time the Chinese Left Flank tries to press home its advantage, however no matter what they try the break through is somewhat elusive, losing two (Fast) light horse in the process (see below):

And quite frankly, it just gets uglier and uglier for the Chinese Center, but they are "just to say" holding it together above their morale breaking point  (see below):

Then the Roman Allied Warband blows away the "archers" and the Center will be clearly lost next turn (see below):

The whole Chinese Army (Left, Middle and Right Commands) are teetering on the brink of collapse. Even the favourable cavalry action on the Chinese Right is a damp wet squib, as the Chinese bounce off dejectedly (see below, the Roman Cavalry will dine well recounting the story of that mini battle):

The Chinese Center morale breaking point is now past and it is game set and match to Rome. It was an enjoyable game and well played to my Roman adversary!

DBMM (3 of 4): Furious Fighting (Rome v Chinese)

The Roman army proved its metal and rebounded into the fray. The Romans showed that they too could hurt at a distance as they had a wonder weapon, the mounted ART(Fast) that could even shoot over friendly troops directly in front of it. The first blow caused a stand of Blade(I) to recoil and thus opening up a very dangerous "gap" that could be exploited as an overlap by the advancing Roman legionaries. The Chinese C-in-C (me) at this point was really regretting choosing the "cheaper" of the blade options. Quantity not really helping when you had a looming gap in the line (see below):

The the Roman wonder weapon went one one further and removed the Blades(I) rather demoralising the Chinese commander. This seems to be the fate for inferior (I) troops. Once they are bested their morale can go down and without the metal of the ordinary (O) troops they can self destruct (see below):

The Chinese were still hoping to win on the wings, although the rough ground seemed to make it a rather messy combat. On the Chinese Right Wing the Chinese lost a Light Horse stand to rather indifferent dice rolling, but still felt confident that their numbers would eventually tell on their Roman adversaries (see below):

In the Center things got very horrid, as the Roman blades made a huge mess of the Chinese "quantity" making the Roman "quality" a clear significant telling factor in the combats (see below):

Over on the Chinese Left Wing things again were looking more positive, though again the terrain was making progress happen much slower than The Chinese C-in-C would have liked. I was regretting moving the center forward, perhaps hanging back would have been the more prudent option (see below and previous the photograph):

Back over on the Chinese Right Flank the situation looked more promising now as a stand of Chinese Light Horse (Fast) had positioned itself in the rear of the Roman position. It was about to make a telling attack, or so the Chinese C-in-C (as in me) hoped (see below):

Note: Those who play DBM/DBMM/DBA on a regular basis more be rather puzzled that fast moving light horse are not "closing the door" or performing devastating "attacks from the rear" more often. Well "if truth be told" there is a "house rule" in play that states that before you can attack from the rear or close the door, you must have started from behind the flank of the attacked stand. I have to say I don't fully endorse the house rule, but at least it is the same for both sides. It tends to make for more ponderous flank attacks.

DBMM (2 of 4): Advance and Action on the Flanks (Rome v Chinese)

The Chinese "long thin line" advances en masse (see below):

An early archery strike killing a warband stand fills the Chinese player with hope and the Roman with a sense of dread (see below):

Likewise a stand of Roman auxilla die hard in face of an arrow storm, these pointy things seem awfully dangerous (see below):

The Roman cavalry facing the Chinese Right Flank line out, but err into the range (24cm) of the Chinese massed bow (see below):

They too fall victim of "the arrow storm from the east" (see below):

The omens are looking good for the Chinese, can their luck hold when the fighting becomes up close and more personal?

DBMM (1 of 4): Three Kingdoms versus Middle Imperial Romans

The battlefield was set with the Three Kingdom Chinese determined as the aggressors, the Romans therefore have the advantage of a small defensive hill and rough ground offering some protection to their flanks (see below, Romans top of picture, Chinese bottom):

Looking from the perspective of the Chinese Army, scanning the Roman lines from left to right, facing the Chinese Left is a small band of light horse and auxillia, seven stands in total (see bellow):

The Legion(s) dominate the Center. Nobody in their right mind would run up the hill at them. Eight stands of blades (four of them superior), four psilloi, sixteen warband (the versatility of the Roman Army is on show here to pick and chose a variety of allies, massed on the right hand side of their centre as the Chinese looked at them)  with the "talking point" of the Roman "order of battle" a Scorpion on a cart (Artillery[Fast] in DBMM terms). This gives it the ability for it to shoot from the rear over friendly troops (see below):

The Roman force facing the Chinese Right is another small band of cavalry and auxillia, again just seven stands, held back in a slightly 'refused position' (see below):

The Romans (like the Chinese) have paid for three commanders, one result of which is the two small Roman flank commands will need to be virtually annihilated (unless they lose their General) before becoming demoralised.

The Chinese left is a massed bow (seven stands) and cavalry force (three cavalry and two Fast light horse stands), with a token element of blade (one stand) and auxillia (one stand). Its function is to envelope the Roman flank before the legions can inflict telling damage (see below):

The Chinese Center is a massed blade (though notably of "inferior" status) and auxillia (again of "inferior" status). The Chinese have gone for the concept of quantity over quality, thinking that troops overlapping do the killing better than more expensive stand-to-stand match-ups. Will this strategy produce the goods though? (see below):

The Chinese Right Flank is a mirror of their Left Flank, bar the fact they have an additional extra "one stand" of Fast light horse. Again a swift enveloping action is hoped for (see below):

The hard part of DBMM seems to be 'building the army'. Some would say this is the curse of the 'points based army battles' as opposed historical re-fights, based on actual orders of battles.

I see it as a mini-Sudoku brain teaser myself. You never seem to 'get it right' the first time and there is always changes to be made based on battlefield experiences.It will be interesting to see how right or wrong I have got the above.

Interesting US Modern (Naval) Site URL

http://thediplomat.com/the-naval-diplomat/

PS Navwar: I'll get there in 1/3000 eventually, but I've just got to finish off the WWI and WWII fleets first, the 1982 Falklands Conflict then I can get into the 21st Century

Last man standing (sailing?)

Keeping track if what was left still afloat in the Taiwanese/China Straits and even still capable of movement and/or defensive/offensive action took several minutes of frantic book keeping as columns of brown coloured smoke slowly covered most of the models. From this resultant chaos it emerged that there were two Taiwanese frigates left to face down one battle-worthy Chinese destroyer (mine) .

Swigging the last dregs a cup of cheap Shanghai Gin I prepared to meet my ignoble ancestors as I counted six incoming Vampires to my three outward missiles. The robust state-of-the-art Chinese defence systems did me proud making a lot of loud noise but hitting absolutely nothing. Even my faithful chaff had a bad day and deluded but one missile into striking a nearby Chinese supertanker (proof in my eyes of blatant Western/Taiwanese aggression). In the resulting explosions on my ship I was found to have been sunk four times over, not even leaving me with enough remains or 'ash' to put into a ceremonial tea cup. There was scant satisfaction in seeing another Taiwanese frigate crippled as the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army's Navy had thrown its last card.

Thus ended the game with one Taiwanese frigate "last man standing picking" up yet another flight of Chinese Bears en route with another 'eighteen' Vampires about to launch (see below):

Plus a host of small assault hovercraft seen by radar departing the Chinese mainland carrying the crack 93rd Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Marine Division. The Taiwanese captain was just wondering how long a message he could transmit, finally settling for "INVASION IN PROGRESS" as vampires became audible.

An intensely nerve racking game that "sweated" the old salts out of their ships in the most frantic combat sequence I have encountered. It makes WWI and WWII General Quarters games look leisurely affairs! Thanks to Ken at Hartlepool Wargames Club for putting on a cracking little game.    

Chinese Plans Go Awry in the Centre

An unfortunate and unforeseen set of circumstances involving the conscripted civilian ships delayed the Chinese central force of two rather elderly frigates deploying into an effective firing position which left them in the full ECW and sonar glare of the two (now alerted) patrolling Taiwanese centrally placed destroyers. Consequently the Chinese failed to get off any parting shots before seeing the incoming missiles bearing down on them. Taiwanese new technology blasted the these venerable Chinese ladies to pieces. Elsewhere missiles were inbound in great quantity.

The layered defence systems of the more Westernised ships performed admirably, but alas the Western Taiwanese destroyer force was simply overwhelmed by numbers and were lost with all hands. Their Chinese "immediate" opponents were left crippled though, one in a state of sinking the other in a very damaged state. As already mentioned the Taiwanese central patrol dispatched their Chinese opponents for no loss. At the Eastern end (see above) the US DDG reduced six vampires to four, close defence took another two, chaff another one but that still left one to get through meaning ... an anxious 'wargaming' dice roll for the American player (see below):

Don't roll a one (and he did), not good, a magazine explosion and the USS Long Island Tea was torn apart. The traumatised American player had to sit down and grope for his drink. Meanwhile those two parting Harpoons shots were causing the Chinese destroyers to very rattled, somehow they just kept coming closer and closer, sniffing them out. Their point defence weapons missed and a huge explosion sent one destroyer to the bottom, only the handy and voluminous use of chaff saved the other, just.

After all that what was left afloat? In a matter of real-time seconds two powerful fleets had just disappeared.

Multiple threats face the American patrol too

In the command centre of the American DDG (USS Long Island Tea) threat assessment was calmly under way. All hell was breaking loose but nothing thankfully seemed to be coming directly their way. The Chinese air threat was directed as the Western Taiwanese destroyers and the ECM painted a disturbing background noise that stopped effective communications with the supporting carrier task force. They knew help would be on the way given the initiative of their air assets, nothing could take them out, at worst they would be only temporarily blinded. The task was to survive until it appeared. Suddenly a junior operator yelled: "It's the tanker, it's done it again, no wait they are Chinese warships. Vampire! Vampire! Six confirmed incoming."

The ambushers: relatively modern Chinese missile destroyers. 

Automatic systems detected and responded with anti-missile and anti-ship missiles, remarkable given the fantastically short response times. A fact not missed on the Chinese commander, despite conducting a brilliant ambush, the DDG had fired two Harpoons on what must be only partial locks at best, something way beyond his ships capabilities. The calmness of the US command centre however was broken when a second call of "Vampire, Vampire" confirmed an additional six ground to sea (old but improved Silkworms) launched from mainland China. The tale was next to be in the telling and the aerodynamics of flight between complex systems. Today was certainly business.

"Blackpool Illumunations" in the Taiwanese Straight

In the hiatus of the ECM jamming, the thunderous aftershock of a re-entrant space vehicle and a general air of disbelief at the start of sudden hostilities the electronic warfare consoles of the three Taiwanese (and allied) patrols lit up with all manner of "hostile" symbols (aka The "Blackpool Lights"). The extreme western force of two ageing Taiwanese destroyers suddenly picked up a fleet of high altitude Chinese "Bears" at long range.

From watching a possible threat to identifying a definite hostile was merely a matter of seconds as the call of "Vampire, Vampire" shook all within earshot. The Cat-and-Mouse game had become a shooting match. "Eighteen Vampires identified," confirmed a second operator. The Chinese Bears had opened fire at extreme range and turned for home quickly, hoping numbers would do the trick. Anti-missile defensive weapon systems automatically engaged the blips, just as a naval threat materialised from the shadows of a previously harmless looking merchant vessel. For the second time that day the shrill call of "Vampire, Vampire" echoed about the control room as closer, faster, more deadly missiles sped towards the Taiwanese destroyers, now fully illuminated in 'active' enemy sonar. Automatically the Taiwanese destroyers responded with their own anti-ship missiles, taking a parting shot at their aggressors, a tribute to the effective, though ageing technology they possessed.

Red Dragon in Space

The Carrier Task Force commander was keeping one eye on the developing situation in the Taiwanese Strait the other on the main mission objective of providing telemetry information on the latest Chinese space launch. It was part of the low orbit satellite programme that was threatening to undercut the Western commercial monopoly of space. Washington was certainly peeved at missing the boat and thinking this was beyond the Chinese capability.

The vast array of spook ships looked ungainly to his military mind. "Looks like this one is in trouble" a civilian interjected into the running conversation, "Its telemetry is way off for a successful deployment, too vertical, the Chinese have really 'boobed' on this one." Chuckles broke out. "They'll have to abort it or risk it coming down on one of their major cities."

"How soon will you know?" asked the Commander. Nothing. "I said how soon will you know? Aren't you listening to me?" His voice had grown sterner. God how he hated civilians. The civilian started talking out loud, to no one in particular. "That telemetry is controlled, it's not bad or errant. You know I think it's being guided. But why? It's as if it's tactical, no that's impossible." Sirens wailed as a massive EM pulse and jamming attack had commenced. Bedlam abated within minutes as the sophisticated  ECW equipment automatically found known countermeasures to neutralise the attack.

"What was that tickle for they couldn't hurt us?" asked a bemused commander. "Time" replied the civilian, "We've stopped everything but a surface signal, probably from that Han that's been stalking us, it's not attacking us it's broadcasting our position." The commander was drawing his own conclusions, as the sky above the task force started glowing a fiery red, his last comment was "Oh my Hades!"

The defensive weapon systems did not even have time to engage.

Shady places to hide in the Sea

The USN destroyer commander was busily reviewing the dispositions of the Taiwanese fleet, his Allies. Two pairs of frigates/destroyers were now patrolling the length of the straight. They were pinging away with active sonar and their helicopters were circling  dropping sonar buoys in a text-book ASW pattern. Things had gotten rather hot under the collar in the last half hour. There were sufficient indications for three possible/plausible (but as yet "unknown" Chinese?) underwater contacts. Suddenly his ASW ruminations were brought to an abrupt close. "Captain, 'Sparks' indicates there's a supertanker in trouble!" From a frantic rush of adrenaline to an embarrassed pause, then a pink faced Signals operator looking rather apologetic. "Sorry sir, I could have sworn she darn well split in two."

The senior Signals officer looked on, sternly, passing a knowing look to the commander. Out of earshot he explained "It was just radar reflection. Just a rookie mistake from a Junior Op, at least we don't have to contend with a supertanker spilling it's load in the middle of our ASW game". They both smiled wryly and returned to their separate duties ...

Aboard the bridge of the lead Chinese destroyer the consternation eased. The pair of destroyers were now back in the lee of the massive supertanker. What strange fluid dynamic effect that had caused the trailing destroyer to yaw so violently out of formation would more than likely remain forever a mystery. Occurrences such as that were common in the folklore of the sea. More importantly the mission was not compromised, the element of surprise remained intact. The Chinese Marine Company aboard the supertanker were making their last minute preparations as the Chief Weapons Officer reported all weapon systems operational ...

Modern Naval: Innocuous shipping report off the coast of Taiwan

A busy Saturday morning in late 2011. The usual commercial mercantile shipping traffic in the diplomatically contested waters off the coast of Taiwan is supplemented by a Chinese Air/Sea rescue operation in search of a local fisherman. Two Chinese merchant ships operating in close formation seem to be generously assisting with the search. 

Nothing amiss here, repeat, there is nothing, absolutely nothing amiss here.The request for help from the Taiwanese naval fisheries vessels is turned down as the Chinese widen their search patterns and increase radio traffic as to be expected in a operation of this nature.

The USS Long Island Tea (a guided missile destroyer DDG, above) is discretely observing radar blips and maintaining radio communications with Taiwanese naval patrols. The USS Long Island Tea confirms communication channels to the USN Task Force "CVN Able 7" (see below) operating two hundred miles away are fully functional. Standard heightened peacetime CAP and A/S patrols are in place.

Not much of a post really, must do some wargaming sometime soon. Oh yes just in, a Taiwanese naval frigate reports a "far" acoustic and sonar passive contact, possibly a whale, in international waters, close to but not in Taiwanese waters. Though where these waters officially start is a mute point of current international maritime law and diplomacy. If it was anything other than a whale it might provoke an international incident.