To demonstrate to the West that the Nationalist Army’s morale was intact, a battalion of the German-trained 88th Division had been fighting off the Japanese 3rd Infantry Division for two days. The site of the Chinese stand was a six-story concrete structure at the south end of Zhabei known as the Sihang (“Four-Bank”) Warehouse, so-called because it was built and jointly operated by four Shanghai banks. Throughout the 27th and 28th the over-strength battalion withstood everything the Japanese could throw at them, while ever-increasing crowds of Chinese and westerners stood on the opposite bank cheering on the defenders. On the 29th, with a Chinese flag now flying atop the warehouse, the “lost battalion” as it was dubbed by the international press, stood firm in its resolve to fight to the death.
Attacker: Japanese (6th Infantry Regiment)
Defender: Chinese (1st Battalion, 524th Regiment)
5.5 turns
Players: 2 OBA: None Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:14.0 D:10.0
AFVs: A:4
Type 94 Tankette x 4
AFVs: D:0
Guns: A:2
Year-41 Type Mountain Gun x 2 Type 89 Heavy Grenade-Launcher
D:0
Misc Rules:
Grain is OG. Areas south of river are not in play.
I deferred and Jim took the Chinese in this one. With fanatic Chinese resisting the Sons of Nippon, I expected a HtH CC bloodbath and that's what I got. Jim's plan was to hold a few other buildings and spread my force thin, then let mutual destruction in HtH CC help him hold the factory. Jim and I both read the Hong Kong Wargamers's AAR, so he knew I'd use the AFV breach "trick" [B23.9221], but the tankettes were ineffective. What was effective was WP in the first two turns. That allowed me to quickly take the outlying buildings and get MMC behind the factory to attack it from all sides. I took oK13 in CC from its broken defenders, then every MMC break resulted in APh entry/CC . When his two MMC in oJ13 broke and the Hero died in CC, his chance of holding one and retaking another location vanished. Good scenario although the counter density makes it a bit of a hassle to play.
2023-08-02
(A) Shane Pask
vs
Japanese win
The Japanese plan was to take all outlying buildings in case the assault on the factory was not completely successful. The tanks were to be held back for use as breaching tools. Their puny armament made them pretty unsuited for anything else.
The Chinese set up to hold the factory. Putting the HMG on the roof may have been sound but putting one of only two leaders with him probably wasn't. I think the hero should have been up there instead. Still, it took three CH in one ROF tear from the guns to remove them.
In the end, the Japs tied up the hero and a squad in melee inside the factory long enough to get others into the factory for the win.
2023-07-19
(A) Jobbo Fett
vs
xs-bombing
Chinese win
A truly tense scenario where the Japanese swarmed the city and forced a couple of squads to break and fail to rout. Tankettes roamed the open ground but failed to make a mark as most overruns either found dummies or couldn't affect real troops. The low firepower also meant they never had a chance at breaking units in defensible terrain. Heavy rain sealed their fate as they couldn't affect anyone with often +3 DRM shots. The infantry, on the other hand, progressed through the town while taking casualties, which I couldn't quite afford, especially a few squads lost to a set DC (And another that almost killed a large stack, which had tried to get into CC, into to be ambushed, which the Chinese withdrew from - whew!). Ultimately, the Japanese were able to take control of most of the factory, but could not drive out the last squad in the last hex due to low remaining FP and movement. Every hex being fortified made it impossible to get into the much needed Close Combat and force a victory.
2021-11-18
(A) Paul Legg
vs
Craig Benn
Chinese win
Bounding Fire Blackpool 2021 - Rd 2 Mini.
2019-10-15
(D) Simon Staniforth
vs
Chinese win
2018-10-03
(D) Jeff Waldon
vs
Sam Belcher
Chinese win
FtF - ASLOK
2017-11-18
(D) B-E Karlsson
vs
Japanese
Japanese win
2017-04-25
(A) Jeff B
vs
Pierce Mason
Japanese win
If I were a betting man who knew that the Japanese would get absolutely no smoke/WP in this one I would lay a mighty large wager on the Chinese. Well good thing I didn't bet the house, because the Chinese seemed to be suffering from either ammunition shortage, lack of marksmanship training, or both. Terrible dice all game made this a rather lopsided defensive struggle for them. Their one chance at glory for a set DC to blow up a hex full of Japanese didn't pan out when that same stack caused it to dud. I believe the Japanese need to try to capture all the buildings to make their job easier in the factory, but in this case I don't think it would've mattered. Chinese threw up the white flag at the end of Turn 3.
2014-09-13
(D) Aaron Sibley
vs
Randy Strader
Chinese win
Good fun scenario. First time I have played the Chinese. Randy rammed the little tanks into the fortified building to get a breach, but took heavy losses on his infantry and lost all his leaders.
2014-09-13
(A) Randy Strader
vs
Aaron Sibley
Chinese win
Used the DC unit to draw attention and then rammed fortified building with tankettes. Unfortunately, lost my leaders and hence the scenario as well. Platoon mvmt/armored assault seems necessary.
2014-06-22
(D) Jesus Pie
vs
tozesantos
Chinese win
Japanese forgot one 9-1 leader from his OB, and miss him on the late stages, when was unable to break into the factory. A great game anyway.
2013-10-18
(A) Andy Beaton
vs
Ardneh
Chinese win
Couldn't get into the building fast enough to clear out the upper floors - good delaying fight by the Chinese
2013-05-18
(A) Steffen Knippel
vs
James Suderman
Chinese win
Remember to Search for Set DCs, or risk wandering into one with your best kill stack.
2013-05-18
(A) Will Willow
vs
M. Suderman
Japanese win
CASLO
2012-04-01
(A) Ron Garcia
vs
Darryl M.
Japanese win
2012-02-11
(D) Michael Rodgers
vs
Miguel Guerrero
Japanese win
Inferior Chinese setup. Superb Japanese play. Sniper removed one Chinese leader early. FTR removed other in turn 2.
2011-03-11
(D) Ian Willey
vs
Martin Mayers
Chinese win
Despite good progress early the Japs had difficulty getting into the warehouse. Every time they did get in they were thrown back out. Great fun.
2011-03-07
(A) Paul Jones
vs
Steve Petras
Japanese win
Japanese were simply unstoppable.
2011-01-15
(D) Christopher Dawson
vs
Japanese
Japanese win
2011-01-15
(A) Eric Partizan Eric
vs
Michel Bongiovanni
Chinese win
2011-01-13
(D) Paul Jones
vs
Craig Benn
Chinese win
Japs stormed up to warehouse but couldn't break in with enough force to take the required 3 locations. Close though.
2010-10-10
(D) Jeff T
vs
JVan
Chinese win
Replayed this one, again defending as the Chinese against JVan's Japs. Chinese Turn 1 brought Rain (no smoke) and later Heavy Rain made for big hindrances (+5 vs fortified factory). The Japanese were whittled down and striped and lost 2 CC. They finally got adjacent to the factory but a set demo destroyed a tank and a squad and Rate of Fire tears by the MMG and HMG in defensive fire (Japanese Turn 4) and again in prep fire (Chinese Turn 4) left the Japanese commander with no choice but to concede.
2010-09-18
(D) Jeff T
vs
JVan
Chinese win
Looks great. Unfortunately, an overactive sniper and JVan moving a large stack led to a KIA result on the stack and left the Japanese without a hope of taking the warehouse after only 2 turns. We will probabliy replay this as it looks really good.
2010-06-23
(D) Philip Palmer
vs
Chinese win
Bid C2 to get the Chinese vs J1. Initially overrun by Japanese under cover of smoke, but Set DCs did major damage taking out 2 leaders and 3 squads. Also took out an AFV with 3rd DC and a 2nd AFV with MG rear shot.
2010-06-21
(D) David Ramsey
vs
Martin Barker
Japanese win
Messed up the setup, and the Japanese steamed in from my weak side. Not much you can do, outnumbered, outgunned and not knowing which side the Japanese will attack from.