Loudian Sector, Shanghai, China
1937-09-20 (0 others)
Designer: Glenn Houseman
Starter kit scenario?: Deluxe scenario?:
Balance:
JapaneseChinese
Overview:
The slaughter
during the battle for Shanghai exceeded that of Stalingrad five years later.
The Japanese had become enmeshed in the horrific urban fighting where
the Chinese could utilize their superior numbers in a prolonged battle of
attrition. At Luodian, a major transportation hub of Shanghai, German advisor
Alexander von Falkenhausen told Chiang Kai-Shek that it was imperative
that the area be held. The Chinese General Chen Cheng proceeded to
concentrate 30,000 soldiers in the sector. The intensity of the fighting and carnage at Luodian was
unprecedented and earned it the Japanese nickname, “Grinding mill of
flesh and blood”. The Chinese lines consisted of block after block of
buildings fortified with sandbags and poorly armed troops. Their armies
suffered an appalling 50% casualty rate during the battle. Symptomatic
of Japanese frustration was several cases of mutilation in which
Chinese soldiers had their ears cut off and “collected” as souvenirs. This
barbarity was to become formalized months later during the infamous
“Rape of Nanking”, the next city in the path of the IJA.
Attacker: Japanese (Elements of Japanese 3rd Division, 29th Infantry Brigade and 3rd Engineer Regiment)
Defender: Chinese (Elements of Chinese 66th Corp, 159th Division)
The deluxe format did not disappoint, coming down to the last turn and a very fortunate 20FP +4 landing me a roll of 4 and sealing the fate of the encircled Chinese troops. The battle had a lot of casualties, several banzai charges, and prisoners being massacred. Would recommend - although don't be like me and lose all your DC-carrying troops in Melee, it makes assaulting whichever spot the Chinese side fortify a pain...
2021-02-17
(A) Kermit Mullins
vs
Dan Best
Chinese win
My Japanese went down hard moving across the street and then went berserk and got mowed down trying to get into a fortified location. Bloody game, but the Chinese held out for the win.
2021-02-17
(D) Dan Best
vs
Kermit Mullins
Chinese win
2013-07-13
(D) Steve Bowen
vs
DD
Chinese win
This is a very nice and quick playing PTO city scenario. The Japanese player needs to be aggressive on the attack. In this playing the Japanese player was too conservative and too worried about taking casualties while crossing the road. Once he started with some mid-game Banzai action he made better progress and made the game competitive. Well balanced scenario that I would highly recommend.