Korean war update from Rumour Control

[Sunray]

I am no thinking of a new period, I am not, I am not, I am not

How are the Korea enthusiasts planning on depicting the often rugged Korean terrain
From my limited knowledge a lot of the fighting seemed to involve major hills and steep slopes

Good point.  One reason why my preferred period is early war with the KPA blitzkrieg to Pusan perimeter and the Inchon landings .   But for the later war, two options exist:

(1)  I cracked this when I gamed Korean in 6mm., and updated it to 10mm when gaming SCW.  You have a few impassable peaks (papier-mâché or Model Railway Mountain tunnels with the tunnels closed) . The other hills become more symbolic in contour - as indeed most elements on the table are symbolic (six houses = town etc or how Vietnam wargamers construct an impassable dense  jungle with 30 odd trees  ) and the actions - as in all wars tend to focus on bridges, commanding ridges and those vital cross roads.   

(2) Talking of contours, one old trick is to build the mountain in contour-like layers (say 4mm thick in polystyrene sheets) and smooth the edges with Painters Chalk.   This gives both height and "a level playing field".   Nothing new here. Wargamers like Grant and Featherstone were using this method with balsa when I was a boy....It creates a terraced effect - not unlike what the Koreans keep Irishmen in to grow  their rice .

The high mountains can  also  used to frame the game.  To provide dead ground to mask movement.  They can also limit the effectiveness of airstrikes. (A real break for the KPA when they lose air superiority).

[FierceKitty]

Is anyone making accurate 10mm scale kimchi? Indispensable, wouldn't you say?

[paulr]

Once you are finished with your DBA stuff maybe.....

And some 1914 Belgians apparently 

[Aksu]

Is anyone making accurate 10mm scale kimchi? Indispensable, wouldn't you say?

Just came back from a holiday in Japan and I did spot cookery books about micro-cooking. The scale seemed to be about 1/6 or so. Then again, my korean colleagues were always proud of their nation being superior to all others in fiddly manual precision work. They said this is because their chopsticks (thin metal ones) require the most skill. So... just maybe the micro cooking scene in Korea has progressed to 10 mm scale.
Cheers,
Aksu

[FierceKitty]

I HATE those metal Korean chopsticks! I sometimes take my own, far more user-friendly Japanese ones when we go to a Korean restaurant.

Japan's rather a good place for a holiday, isn't it?

[Aksu]

I HATE those metal Korean chopsticks! I sometimes take my own, far more user-friendly Japanese ones when we go to a Korean restaurant.

Japan's rather a good place for a holiday, isn't it?

It's been five years since I last visited. I was surprised how many Chinese tourists there were in Tokyo high end shopping districts. But yes, it is a rather good place.
If one goes to Tokyo then the Shibuya branch of Tokyu Hands store is a place worth visiting without a doubt. They have everything tools wise one needs, and plenty more besides. They have fairly nice Japanese N scale buildings at reasonable prices in their models department worth checking out.
Cheers,
Aksu

[mart678]

Could also do RED Phoenix modern Korean war by Larry bond

[Sunray]

Could also do RED Phoenix modern Korean war by Larry bond

Its a good read and great inspiration for a modern scenario. The Head Shed however have decided on 1950/53, so lets keep the thread focused and follow the tracer.

Pity the falling pound Stirling has impacted on potential Japanese N gauge kit.  A lot would fit well with urban Korean.

[cameronian]

Or not ... being written by SLA Marshall.

I would also add "Triumph at Kapyong" by Dan Bjarnason. An account of the Canadian 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry having an equally bad time.

Princess Patricia's Cute Little Infants as they were affectionately known (though probably not voiced in their company).

[Sunray]

The real learning curve for me is  the South Korean Army.  The CWC dismissed  them as a 2/30 and "fragile".  Primary source material tells a different story.  The 1st ROK Infantry died in what amounted to suicide attacks on T34s with satchel charges and grenades. ( Paik, From Pusan to Panmunjob , p and Blair tells forgotten story of the RoK 11th & 13th Regiments who held off two NK Divisions for two days before yomping in retreated in good order.

If you want a good piece of revision on TFS (Task Force Smith) - and MacArthur !! - try http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a381834.pdf   Recommended, Major John Garrett pulls no punches.  Took me two goes to get that link working!

[d_Guy]

Don't know much yet about ROK army in 1950-53 but they were considered badass righteous in Nam!
(And no, that is not from firsthand experience but from much anecdotal data.)

[fsn]

My understanding is that the US withheld heavy equipment from the South Koreans. At the start of the war they had 24 Chaffees (?).

Don't know much yet about ROK army in 1950-53 but they were considered badass righteous in Nam!

Is that good? 

[Sunray]

My understanding is that the US withheld heavy equipment from the South Koreans. At the start of the war they had 24 Chaffees (?).

Is that good?  

Not even the humble M24.  The RoK started the war with no tanks, heavy mortars, mines, medium artillery or RRs.  Their only armour [sic] was 27 M8 Armoured Cars . In terms of anti tank guns they had only the 37mm.   This is what Garrett's paper answered for me.  With little or no kit the RoK defended with tenacity.  My first CSM was a Korean Vet. (41 Independent RM Commando).  He recalled the South Koreans in admiration that "they fought like bloody Gurkhas ".  A description I have heard more than once from British Veteran sources.  A lot of the RoK  NCOs were Korean vets who had served in the Japanese Army.  

The US were concerned that South Korea would act aggressively towards their northern neighbour, and provoke tensions even war, at a time when the real threat was seen as Western Europe. For that reason they deliberately restricted the equipment available to the South Korean Army.

From a personal gaming perspective, I am going to revise my CWC and give the RoK a +1 command bonus on assault and deduct one die when rolling for fall back.

Leon, please add RoK troops with satchel charges to the Phil's growing list.  

[d_Guy]

My understanding is that the US withheld heavy equipment from the South Koreans. At the start of the war they had 24 Chaffees (?).

Is that good? 

Not if you are the OpFor!

[Sunray]

Not if you are the OpFor!

Quite.    The first US tanks rushed to Korean from Japan were Chaffees.  They actually managed a few T-34 kills, but in general terms were no match for the superior Soviet tank.