Shortly, I can tell you where I have got to with the particular tactics
of the Russian Civil War. I'm not doing too bad at all. The inclusion of the “Chain” and the "Shield" for Russian infantry
feels like real progress. Games test concepts. China proves a bigger challenge.
The Chinese contribution to the allied victory in WW2 is yet
to be fully recognised. Obviously, the Chinese know and so do the Japanese much
less so in the West. The Russians kept a closer eye and eventually handed the China facing Imperial Japanese Army a fierce beating. Even so for Russia the Western Front
was and is the focus.
Below, we will look at what our rule books say. Meantime
here’s an observation from the C19th “The Chinese soldier runs away very easily
and rallies very quickly”. This from either a British or French Officer I can’t
recall which. The words that come to my mind are clever and tenacious. I’m
considering an Event Card that when turned causes all retiring or retreating
Chinese infantry to return to the fight. A nice bit of uncertainty.
Chalfont of Iron Ivan notes “The rifle was the weapon that
defended China in WW2.”
We must then major in infantry men with rifles. Heavy Machine Guns were about. Less so Light
Machine Guns. Artillery could be horse drawn. The dare to die tradition
lingered.
To the rules then. Setting The East Ablaze (STEA) has something to say. Yes, I succumbed, second edition only. I was curious but not £30+pp curious. Having saved £15.00 I invested it in a copy of Red Dawn Rises, Revolution in Central Asia 1918-20. Vol. 1 STEA Scenarios. Someone should make me Chancellor somewhere.
For STEA the Warlord Chinese are absolutely lifting with Tanks, Armoured Cars and Armoured Trains. They are very numerous, equipped mostly with modern rifles and should be "unrelentingly awful".
They can cheer themselves up with some White Russian Mercenaries who are rated better. As are the artillery and vehicle crews. One better quality Chinese Big Sword infantry unit is envisaged. STEA makes less good troops close up. What is often called "Bunching". This makes them better targets but more effective in melee. Interesting.
Iron Ivan takes a divergent view. There isn't much armour about at all. Artillery is likely to be horse drawn. Modern rifles could be in short supply. Some formations were still spear armed. The Big Sword/Dare to Die fellows are still about or are imitated. These latter are prone to "flight to the front charges" if checked. A nice touch. These might prove infectious, inspiring more restrained comrades to the attack.
Chinese formations might be poorly trained and capable of disappearing under pressure. Others might be veteran soldiers who had seen and seen off everything. The Big Swords might run to 3 units. Like STEA it envisages big (15 figures) units.
Setting The World Ablaze gives us a Warlord Chinese List. It provides for units armed with SMG and sword. Big Swords and familiar ground. It also has quite a few nice colour pic's. The List is fairly anodyne if you are looking for China specifics. Workable all the same. You can have White Russians too.
Out of all this I want to produce a Chinese equivalent of my Spanish Civil War rules. Naturally I have bought a 15mm Tiger. I will keep you posted as I go. Next up will be the Events Table for China and an example or two of Chinese Companies.
On this page you can see my new Chinese units.
By swapping flags out I can display Communists, Nationalists, and, eventually, Warlord units.
The Chinese House has had a make over. I looked at colourised photos of late C19th China and took note. Resulting in this brighter building. More to do on it before it looks right. then I will finish the other one. Note the Bandit leaving, he's an Irregular Miniatures C19th Chechen. Obviously the gun is wrong but otherwise he will do.
My Japanese are done so we shall see them soon.
I watched (YOUTUBE) a Russian Film called White Sun of the Desert.
It is set in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War. Lots to interest Gamers,
uniforms, multi ethic bandit groups, former Whites and buildings. As the title would suggest it is an Eastern. Here is a link if it sounds like your sort of thing.
White sun of the desert | EASTERN | FULL MOVIE
Now I feel the need for some bandits to match the ones I saw
in the film. A plan develops. Could the lone Chechen above prove to be an outrider? Could Bandits become a new Event Card? We will see.
