Korean war update from Rumour Control

[Sunray]

The table is being cleared.  A lot of books being read, uniforms and kit checked. Korea is an interesting but neglected theatre for wargames. I would argue there are at least six good reasons for considering a Korea game:

1.  A lot of WW2 kit can be recycled.  Only a few items of new kit like the Centurion, the M20 bazooka etc

2. Several leading 10mm figure manufactures are  planning/designing a new range of figures and "Rumour Control" speculates that it is Korea. One report from a "reliable source in S/w Wales" (an oxymoran if ever there one ?)  is Techno already has produced the entire range, but has given them the cover name of "Very Late Aztecs" to thwart industrial espionage.    .

3. Rules.  I have looked at CWC.  Not impressed.   I will game with BKC with additional kit. ( There are errors in OOBs.(inclusion of Comet etc and correct appreciation of early KPA high morale factor)  There is actually a good argument to include Korean war in the BKC and not CWC.  Tactically if not politically it fits the WW2 era).

4.  The early war period has some great game potential.   Like the punitive  Task Force Smith and other scenarios where UN forces are inferior in armour and AT weapons - and need that crucial dice ( -1 because of the terrain)  to get air support.    If it don't come they are toast.

5. Loads of 1950s era aircraft models in 1/144.  I even sourced a micro model Bell helicopter in the right scale. Oz Models and Revell have all the rest.

6. The US still used rail to transport troops north (as in battle of Osan)  - the N Gauge train rides again! 


The early war is fluid and fast moving.  The Inchon operation allows us to blow the dust off all those landing craft that have been gathering dust on the shelves since D Day. TimeCast have a range of Far East buildings (and some from Crimea range) that will do at a pinch.  I might even complete that 1/144 Aircraft Carrier I have started last winter....

[Techno]

2. Several leading 10mm figure manufactures are  planning/designing a new range of figures and "Rumour Control" speculates that it is Korea. One report from a "reliable source in S/w Wales" (an oxymoran if ever there one ?)  is Techno already has produced the entire range, but has given them the cover name of "Very Late Aztecs" to thwart industrial espionage.    .

Leave me out of this, James. 

It's too much fun, seeing Ian get all cross.

Cheers - Phil

[Steve J]

IIRC Korea was going to be dropped from the CWCII version as it was really much better suited to BKCII.

[Sunray]

Leave me out of this, James. 

It's too much fun, seeing Ian get all cross.

Cheers - Phil

Keep your eyes peeled Phil, If you see a fat woolly Texel with night vision goggles ....hide those Very Late Aztecs masters.         Leon is like the President - he must have innocent deniability as to what's really going.... 

[Sunray]

IIRC Korea was going to be dropped from the CWCII version as it was really much better suited to BKCII.

Thanks Steve.  It does make so much better sense.  It also proves how much military development slows up after a conflict ends, and armies downsize with a small defence budget.  Old kit stays in service.    I find it fascinating how the UN threw together very unsuitable forces, raw recruits and thus you end up with Chaffee tanks facing T-34s, and obsolete bazookas, and 105 howitzers with HE and no AP.   

It was indeed fortunate that the Irish Hussars were in strategic reserve and trained up on the Mk III -  Centurions were deployed by Nov 1950. But the Hussars also  had a Reccie platoon of Cromwell  as the Americans had advised that the roads were not suitable for heavy tanks.   The Centurion was to prove them wrong. 

Tactically using the Cromwell for recon makes perfect sense.   


APCs.  I know that Kangaroo APCs (converted Shermans) were used by the British Army as late as 1952.  None seem to have been deployed to Korea.  I have seen images of the Oxford  Carrier (some with a tilt).  Has any forum member any intel on APCs in Korea ? 

[fsn]

Might have to dust off the Max Hastings Korean War tome.

If one might ask, are these late Aztecs in sumer or winter kit?

In all seriousness, the Korean war would be bonzer to launch Pendraken into the modern era. As Sunray says, most of the kit is WWII or already realeased, and the main thing we're missing is ... infantry.

From memory the main bits of kit were the T34/85, late Shermans, Pershings(?), Cents and Cromwells.

Only thing we're missing is the Oxford carrier.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

DEfo Pershings - more M46 than M26 later on, gradually replacing the M4A3E8. The Marines used some M4/105 with a co-ax flame throwers. The SK's also used some M36.

IanS

[Techno]

If one might ask, are these late Aztecs in summer or winter kit?

Go away ......You OIK !

Cheers - Phil

[Sunray]

Go away ......You OIK !

Cheers - Phil

To be fair, it is the BIG question about these Very Late Aztecs (VLA) .  We had a similar debate over the Falklands range.  If you go winter then its Korean only in terms of use as everyone is in padded jackets cocooned like Michelin men.  If you go "summer" (and it is southern hemisphere) - then you have a range of clothing that compliments late WW2 as far as early Americans are concerned.  Later British (like the Ulsters and Glosters) have a nifty combat smock and trousers which would also do for late WW2 (apart from the 44 pattern).  My favourite is 41 Independent Commando in US kit/weapons with only the Beret to show they are on a Pusser's holiday.

The best fun will be with the ROK and KPA whose light order and caps (summer dress) will have many applications in post war third world armies.

[Techno]

I am NOT doing a secondary batch of Aztecs in quilted jackets.

SO THERE.

Cheers - Phil

[d_Guy]

FWIW - ChiCom infantry in quilted jackets, if tightly bunched, MAY look like Aztecs with their feathers blown off!  

[Sunray]

FWIW - ChiCom infantry in quilted jackets, if tightly bunched, MAY look like Aztecs with their feathers blown off!  

+ 1       Good cover story Techno -  They are Very Late Aztecs who have had a bad feather day.

[Techno]

Leave me alone !

(I'm going back to listening to early AC/DC....It's more peaceful.  )

Cheers - Phil

[Matt J]

If you go winter then its Korean only in terms of use as everyone is in padded jackets cocooned like Michelin men

I get your thinking Sunray but I'd love to see winter war covered as well. Would be worth doing because anyone doing them would have to buy bucket loads of Chinese/North Koreans. Also sculpting wise it's not a lot of extra work just adding padded jackets to the summer versions once cast, remould and away you go.

Plus I've already started on winter stuff 

[Sunray]

What a nice Centurion in terms of paint, detail and basing  !  Yeah, you are good to go.  The one thing I am learning about the Korean war, is its diversity.  The winter/spring  (and I must correct an earlier typo - 38th Parallel is in Northern Hemisphere) battles around  Imjin (April 51) are another world from the retreat to Pusan.  I know gamers who like early WW2 as opposed to the Desert war or Post D Day.  Some game all three and ...the eastern front if you love T-34s.....

I just wonder how many wintered Centurions (their crews constantly changing the gears to keep them from freezing) are out there waiting for the Chinese to arrive......

The decision as to what period(s) of Korean war figures will be made  is with the Pendraken Head Shed.   But its good to know your views. It proves the viability of a Korean figure range.

I will let Phil comment on the sculpting.  One comment I will venture.  The first winter caught most of the UN unprepared.  The Brits issued the WW2 vintage windproof Smock (I still have my 1970s pattern) and the leather jerkin. By the second winter they were issued with Parkas (there was both US and British versions).  By late war the Flack Jacket was also in issue - From personal experience I can testify that they are warm when sealed up.