johnnyonthespot
12-15-2005, 08:26 AM
Marco Polo Bridge Incident
Near Wanping, China – July 1937
Synopsis
In June 1937, Japan’s Guangdong Army began drill exercises at the west end of the Marco Polo Bridge, which spanned central China’s Yongding River. On the east side of the bridge, in the town of Wanping, Kuomintang forces watched warily.
On July 7, the Guangdong Army informed the KMT that a Japanese soldier was missing and was believed to be hiding in Wanping. Colonel Ji, commander of KMT forces in Wanping, ignored an order from his superiors to allow the Japanese to enter the town.
The Guangdong Army began artillery bombardment of Wanping at midnight. The next morning, Japanese infantry and tanks under the command of Colonel Matsui moved on the town. Colonel Ji ordered his poorly armed forces to defend the bridge and town at all costs.
Victory Conditions
The Japanese player must control the objective by the end of turn 12. Any other result is a Chinese victory.
Nationalist China Army Build (85 points total)
The Chinese player builds three armies. These armies may contain any combination of Chinese units, except the T-26 Series 1933.
Army Build I (40 points)
These units deploy first on maps ABLE-2 and FOX-2 anywhere east of the river.
Army Build II (10 points)
These units deploy second inside or within one hex of the town on map BAKER-1.
Reinforcements (35 points)
See special rules for reinforcement rules.
Japanese Army Build (101 points)
The Japanese player builds an army composed of one Type 97 Te-Ke Tankette, one Type 95 Ha-Go, and 85 points of any number of units from the following list. These units deploy third anywhere west of the river on maps ABLE-2 and FOX-1.
Arisaka Rifle
Imperial Sergeant
Type 89 Mortar
Type 97 Machine-Gun Team
Map Set-Up
ABLE-2 (inverted)/CHARLIE-2 (inverted)
FOX-1 (inverted)/BAKER-1 (inverted)
Compass direction: ABLE-2 and CHARLIE-2 are the northernmost maps.
Objective: Place an objective marker on the southernmost town hex of map BAKER-1.
Special Rules
1) Defend at All Costs – Units in Nationalist China Army Build I have orders to defend the bridge at all costs. These units may not leave maps ABLE-2 and FOX-1.
2) Yongding River – Regard all stream hexes as “river” hexes. No river hex may be crossed except via a bridge.
3) Marco Polo Bridge – Disregard the tributary stream on map ABLE-2 and its corresponding bridge. Additionally, no bridge exists on map FOX-1. The remaining bridge on map ABLE-2 is the “Marco Polo Bridge,” the only point where the river may be crossed.
4) Reinforcements – Nationalist China reinforcements arrive in the first full hexes along the north and/or east edges of map CHARLIE-2. On each turn, at the beginning of China’s movement phase, roll a die. On turn one, a roll of 1 is required to activate reinforcements. On turn two, a roll of 1-2 is required, etc. These units may not move until the assault phase.
Options
Players may add and/or subtract 10 points from both the Chinese & Japanese armies for balance. The Japan player may also add the Type 97 Te-Ke Tankette & Type 95 Ha-Go to the list of additional units available.
Aftermath
The arrival of reinforcements turned the battle in the KMT’s favor. The victory, however, was short-lived. The Japanese Army used the “Marco Polo Bridge Incident” as a pretext for the invasion of central China. By the end of the month, Wanping was overrun by Japanese forces. At the same time, Japanese forces attacked the city of Beijing. World War II in Asia had begun.
Near Wanping, China – July 1937
Synopsis
In June 1937, Japan’s Guangdong Army began drill exercises at the west end of the Marco Polo Bridge, which spanned central China’s Yongding River. On the east side of the bridge, in the town of Wanping, Kuomintang forces watched warily.
On July 7, the Guangdong Army informed the KMT that a Japanese soldier was missing and was believed to be hiding in Wanping. Colonel Ji, commander of KMT forces in Wanping, ignored an order from his superiors to allow the Japanese to enter the town.
The Guangdong Army began artillery bombardment of Wanping at midnight. The next morning, Japanese infantry and tanks under the command of Colonel Matsui moved on the town. Colonel Ji ordered his poorly armed forces to defend the bridge and town at all costs.
Victory Conditions
The Japanese player must control the objective by the end of turn 12. Any other result is a Chinese victory.
Nationalist China Army Build (85 points total)
The Chinese player builds three armies. These armies may contain any combination of Chinese units, except the T-26 Series 1933.
Army Build I (40 points)
These units deploy first on maps ABLE-2 and FOX-2 anywhere east of the river.
Army Build II (10 points)
These units deploy second inside or within one hex of the town on map BAKER-1.
Reinforcements (35 points)
See special rules for reinforcement rules.
Japanese Army Build (101 points)
The Japanese player builds an army composed of one Type 97 Te-Ke Tankette, one Type 95 Ha-Go, and 85 points of any number of units from the following list. These units deploy third anywhere west of the river on maps ABLE-2 and FOX-1.
Arisaka Rifle
Imperial Sergeant
Type 89 Mortar
Type 97 Machine-Gun Team
Map Set-Up
ABLE-2 (inverted)/CHARLIE-2 (inverted)
FOX-1 (inverted)/BAKER-1 (inverted)
Compass direction: ABLE-2 and CHARLIE-2 are the northernmost maps.
Objective: Place an objective marker on the southernmost town hex of map BAKER-1.
Special Rules
1) Defend at All Costs – Units in Nationalist China Army Build I have orders to defend the bridge at all costs. These units may not leave maps ABLE-2 and FOX-1.
2) Yongding River – Regard all stream hexes as “river” hexes. No river hex may be crossed except via a bridge.
3) Marco Polo Bridge – Disregard the tributary stream on map ABLE-2 and its corresponding bridge. Additionally, no bridge exists on map FOX-1. The remaining bridge on map ABLE-2 is the “Marco Polo Bridge,” the only point where the river may be crossed.
4) Reinforcements – Nationalist China reinforcements arrive in the first full hexes along the north and/or east edges of map CHARLIE-2. On each turn, at the beginning of China’s movement phase, roll a die. On turn one, a roll of 1 is required to activate reinforcements. On turn two, a roll of 1-2 is required, etc. These units may not move until the assault phase.
Options
Players may add and/or subtract 10 points from both the Chinese & Japanese armies for balance. The Japan player may also add the Type 97 Te-Ke Tankette & Type 95 Ha-Go to the list of additional units available.
Aftermath
The arrival of reinforcements turned the battle in the KMT’s favor. The victory, however, was short-lived. The Japanese Army used the “Marco Polo Bridge Incident” as a pretext for the invasion of central China. By the end of the month, Wanping was overrun by Japanese forces. At the same time, Japanese forces attacked the city of Beijing. World War II in Asia had begun.