EW AAR - Finnish Jääkärikomppania v Japanese Hohei Chutai - Breakthrough

So myself and Winner decided we'd have a small early war game, he was using his Japs, I was using my Finns - this is a highly non historical match up!

We rolled up breakthrough and Dave elected to night attack. Our lists were.

Fearless    Veteran	Hohei Chutai (7th) Infantry Company	Japanese Early-War
Infantry Company

Platoon	Qty	Unit	Points
Headquarters
Hohei Chutai HQ (7th)  p.21	1 1	Cmd Sword team 2iC Cmd Regimental Standard Sword team	125
Combat Platoons
Hohei Platoon (7th)  p.21	1 9 3	Cmd Sword team Rifle team Light Mortar team Banners	360
Hohei Platoon (7th)  p.21	1 9 3	Cmd Sword team Rifle team Light Mortar team Banners	360
Regimental Support
Hohei Regimental Gun Platoon (7th)  p.23	1 2	Cmd Sword team Type 41 75mm gun	150
Divisional Support
Medium Sensha Company  p.19	6	Type 89 Chi-Ro	350
Field Artillery Battery (7th)  p.23	1 2 1	Cmd Sword team Type 38 75mm gun Observer Rifle team	205
Company Points:			1550

www.EasyArmy.com

Source document: Rising Sun book

Fearless    Veteran	Jääkärikomppania	Finnish Early-War
Infantry Company

Platoon	Qty	Unit	Points
Headquarters
Jääkärikomppania HQ  p.103	2	Cmd Rifle team	35
Combat Platoons
Jääkäri Platoon  p.103	1 8	Cmd Close-defence Rifle team Rifle team	175
Jääkäri Platoon  p.103	1 8	Cmd Close-defence Rifle team Rifle team	175
Weapons Platoons
Jääkäri Mortar Platoon  p.104	1 1 3	Cmd Rifle team Observer Rifle team Tampella M/35 81mm mortar	105
Jääkäri Anti-tank Platoon  p.105	1 2	Cmd Rifle team 45 PstK/37 (45mm obr 1937) gun	115
Divisional Support
Panssari Platoon  Confident  Trained   p.109	4	T-26	190
Pioneer Platoon  Confident  Veteran   p.111	1 9	Cmd Pioneer Rifle team Pioneer Rifle team	220
Artillery Battery  Confident  Veteran   p.110	1 1 1 4	Cmd Rifle team Staff team Observer Rifle team 76 K/02 gun	275
Heavy Artillery Battery  Confident  Veteran   p.110	1 1 1 4	Cmd Rifle team Staff team Observer Rifle team 114 H/18 (OQF 4.5") howitzer	260
Company Points:			1550

www.EasyArmy.com

Source document: Rising Sun book

Set Up

I deployed close to the centre with my 'right' flank having an infantry platoon with the light artillery and mortars behind them, whilst on the 'left' I had my other infantry platoon, t-26's and light AT guns. The pioneers set up to go sit on the objectives. 

Dave kept one infantry platoon and some of his artillery in reserve, whilst the other artillery platoon  was at the back. and both tank platoons on dave's front corner and his infantry facing my right flank. 

Turn One

Dave started by advancing with his infantry and tanks, bringing his infantry into assault range! His artillery spotter roles a 1 to spot leaving the artillery useless. 4 of his 6 tanks fired at my right infantry platoon, scoring 3 hits, whilst the other 2 caused 2 hits on my left infantry platoon. It was at this time Dave realised my concealed, GtG infantry could not be hit by his moving rifle teams... Despite this Dave charged into combat, I scored 6 hits from defensive fire, Dave saved 1! He charge in again, this time I only hit 3 times, again Dave saved 1. With his remaining teams Dave charged in killing 2 teams of mine, I decided discretion was the better part of valour! 

In my first turn I moved the t-26's up to shoot at Dave's tanks, whilst the right platoon unpinned and advanced on Dave's infantry. I started by dropping an artillery bombardment on Dave's infantry killing another two teams. The heavy artillery battery ranged in on the tanks, hitting all 5 of the 6 killing 1 bailing 1, whilst the light artillery killed another tank. The t-26's took out another tank. 

The infantry charge into Dave's infantry taking no defensive fire hits, and kill three teams, bad positioning on Dave's return kills 2 stands - but one was the IC, double one to counter attack leads to the end of combat.

Turn two

Dave moves the infantry to outflank the light artillery, whilst the tank platoon with two surviving tanks advance - though one bogs, the other platoon's last tank fires from stationary. The artillery spot the t-26's and range in on the 3rd attempt, doing no damage. The tanks open up their MG's but fail to hit. Dave's infantry charge into the artillery saving the defensive fire shots and killing the artillery piece, I again fail to counter attack.  

My infantry all unpin, the light artillery kill another tank forcing a morale test which Dave fails, the t-26's and AT guns bail the last tank from the other platoon - they also fail their morale test and flee. The infantry surround Dave's platoon and assault - to win the game.

That was very quick! Dave's loss of 7 teams in the first assault really gave me the game. But it taught me a little more about the army!