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Korea, June 25, 1950, Communist army of 239 units opposed to UN army of 174 units for a battle of complexity 1.39 at Regiment(III) level on a 15 Km/Hex map for 52 turns of Full Week each. by Norm Koger submited on 18-12-2002 Rugged-Defense Playing Statistics
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"POLICE ACTION" The Communist invasion of South Korea Date: June 1950 to June 1951 Location: The Korean Peninsula Map scale: 15km per hex Time scale: 1 week turns Unit scale: Regiment/Division Length: 27 to 52 turns UNIT COLORS COMMUNIST North Korean - Light Red on Red Chinese - Gold on Red Soviet - Green on Red UNITED NATIONS South Korean - Red on Light Blue. United States - Tan on Green. United States (Negro) - Black on Green. United States Marines - Red/Tan on Green. Other - Light Blue on Green. SIGNIFICANT EVENTS If the United Nations drops airborne units into China or the Soviet Union, those countries will intervene in Korea. If United Nations forces enter North Korea, there is a significant chance of Chinese intervention in the war. The chance increases as United Nations units approach the Yalu River at Sinuiju. If the Chinese do not intervene, the game will end in December of 1950 or January of 1951. If the Communists occupy Pusan or the Chinese intervene, there is a chance the the United Nations player will be allowed to respond with atomic attacks. If the United Nations begins making atomic attacks, there is a very large chance that the Chinese and Soviets will intervene. Also, Communist units will start using gas against United Nations units. If Communist forces use gas, the United Nations will respond with gas. Communist guerilla activity may begin behind United Nations lines in late August of 1950. Korean winters are harsh. Be prepared. ********** Emboldened by United States post World War II disarmament and ambiguous statements from Washington regarding the level of U.S. commitment to South Korea, North Korean forces have crossed the 38th Parallel into South Korea. The communist goal is to occupy all of the Korean Peninsula. South Korean and United Nations forces must resist this, and if possible, remove the Communist government from North Korea. Each map location is 15 kilometers across, and each game turn represents one week of time. Depending upon your actions, the scenario may last as long as 52 turns. THE FORCES (1950-1951) The (North) Korean People's Army is trained, armed and organized along Soviet lines. Some formations are veterans of the Chinese civil war. The Soviets have provided a large armored force and a small air force of World War II vintage fighters and strike aircraft. The Chinese People's Liberation Army is poorly trained, lightly armed and ineffectively organized. It makes up for these deficiencies with vast numbers and strongly motivated troops. In 1950, the Soviet Army is the best equipped, trained, and organized force in the world. Fortunately for the United Nations forces in Korea, the Soviets are severely constrained by an abysmal supply network and a healthy respect for U.S. nuclear weapons. None of the Communist armies can effectively cooperate with the others, so they should be used independently. The South Korean Army begins the war as a lightly armed, understrength, and poorly equipped force of widely variable quality. But it can draw on the large population of South Korea and, eventually, the vast arsenals of the United States. By 1951 it is a formidable force. United Nations Forces are a mixed bag. Most units are provided by the United States, which by June of 1950 has been reduced to a sullen paper tiger. Of all the forces present in this scenario, United States army units of June, 1950 probably have the lowest morale and poorest readiness. Within months, the crucible of combat will transform them into the strongest army in the region. The only U.N. initial advantage is their air and naval forces. They outclass their opponents from the beginning, and grow to a crushing strength by the end of 1950. United Nations units can cooperate effectively, but South Korean units (except for the South Korean Marines) should be used separately. SPECIAL FEATURES: Negro Units Some United States army units in this scenario are represented by green and black unit icons. These are Negro units. The U.S. army of 1950 was officially segregated, and there was considerable racial tension in the force. No value judgements are made regarding these units here, but there is a great deal of controversy to this day regarding their handling and performance in the early days of the Korean War. It was this controversy, as well as extensive soul searching in Washington in 1951, that led to the eventual integration of United States armed forces. Mathew Ridgeway, who replaced Douglas MacArthur as the United States commander in the theater, wrote of black soldiers in May of 1951 "...it has always seemed to me both un-American and un-Christian for free citizens to be taught to downgrade themselves as if they were unfit to associate with their fellows or to accept leadership themselves." The Wild Card Puerto Rican separatists attempted to assassinate U.S. President Truman in late in 1950. Washington's reaction, in the highly charged political climate of the early 1950's, is difficult to predict. If Truman is assassinated, the United Nations player should keep heightened world tensions in mind as he plans his operations. Global Reconnaissance The United Nations has a limited ability to detect troop movements behind enemy lines. This ability improves as the scenario progresses. The Communist player should not assume that his rear area troop movements are completely secret. Guerrillas As the North Korean army withdrew from South Korea following the U.N. breakout from Pusan, large numbers of Communist soldiers faded into the hills of central Korea to form guerilla units. It the United Nations fails to garrison his rear areas with small units, Communist guerillas may interfere with the flow of United Nations supplies and reinforcements. Vietnam As a result of the North Korean invasion the United States began supporting the Bao-Dai government in south Vietnam, setting the stage for the next generation's war. Scenario design by: Norm Koger |