The background story is that a Japanese force of three infantry divisions is seeking out a Russian force. A fairly basic table was set up with a few low hills and a couple of woods. The Japanese’s were instructed to deploy one division. They chose to deploy the guards division in the centre of their table edge. The Russians then could place a ridge anywhere within their own half of the table and then one meter of trenches, again anywhere on their half of the table: they chose to place both in the centre. The Japanese then placed a division, then the Russians placed a division, then the Japanese and finally the Russians. The result of all of this was that two Japanese divisions faced a weak Siberian infantry division, while on their left a single Japanese division faced a strong Russian division. The Japanese could count 12 batteries and 12 machine guns again the 10 Russian batteries and six machine guns.
The Russians chose to hold the trenches but attack the Japanese left in force. Despite heavy losses the plan worked and the Japanese left, with 12 battalions facing 16, collapsed after a hard fight.
Being pounded by the Japanese guns and machine guns, the Russians withdrew from the trenches, intending to reoccupy them when the Japanese got closer.
Although their left was destroyed, the Japanese pressed forward on the right trying to work behind the trench line.
In the end, with their left turned the Japanese advance stalled, although they were close to driving back the Russian left. Here we called the game a draw.
Your RJW game looks so inviting. This is a period I could get into without much arm-twisting. The Japanese certainly field a lot of artillery in this one. Great stuff!
ReplyDeleteWho makes the figures?
The only two significant ranges are Tsuba (available through Empress) or Redoubt. The Tsuba are far superior both quality and range and are all Paul Hicks designs. If you are able then bring direct from Tsuba is preferable and there is a significant price differential between them and Empress, although I have not seen any activity on the Tsuba site for more than a year. All my infantry are Tsuba and the artillery and MGs are Redoubt. The Tsuba artillery, MGs and cavalry are now available...I can see the NEED for some of these new items.
DeleteGreat looking armies and lovely trenches! Of course you need new items, you haven't got enough to do on your other armies!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks Iain. The trenches are getting a bit tatty and need some refurbishing. I always intended to do the cavalry and complete the Japanese artillery for these armies, so maybe now is the time...along with all the other items for other armies!
DeleteGreat looking game. Good to see this conflict getting an outing - I have been interested in it since reading of it in primary school..,and that's not yesterday or the day before! Nice work.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1880’s there was a “Russian scare” in NZ and several coastal fortifications were constructed. It was studied at high school and that kindled my interest in RJW. I was quite keen on it for in 15mm for a while, but the real catalyst to collect was when I saw the Tsuba figures...and I went beserk - I have 741 figures, 22 guns and 18 machine guns.
DeleteA lovely looking game Mark...
ReplyDeleteA period my butterfly has been fluttering around for a long time...
The Tsuba miniatures are lovely and now they pretty much cover all the troop types...
As you haven’t done it I will point out that you have some lovely flags in your ‘Free Stuff’ pages... and much appreciated they are...
All the best. Aly
It is quite a difficult period to play because the artillery and the machine guns are so dominant and it is more like Franco-Prussian than WWI. But you are right the Tsuba are the best figures on the market and the range is complete, apart from some Cossacks. I need to do some cavalry, a few more Russian MGs, some Japanese guns and am desperate trying to find a way to find a justification for that Russian band!
DeleteThe flags are a high resolution outputs from vector drawn master illustrations, so they will print sharply.
That’s a great collection you have there Mark, and the trenches look terrific. Did you make them yourself?
ReplyDeleteYes they are homemade. One day when I get around to making terrain tiles I would like to make some properly sunk into the surface.
DeleteThat's a little bit of unusual initiative from the Russian commander to attack on the right, and it paid off accordingly. A fantastic period which looks great with all of these troops deployed!
ReplyDeleteThat was me! But I had some luck, or rather my opponent had some bad luck. Yes the armies haven’t been out of their trays for a while.
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