Lang Son

We played this game on 29/1/12. Chris graciously hosted us. Chris and Ian played the Japanese (Chris had the 21st Regt and Ian the 11th) and I played the Vichy French. Most of the kit on display is mine. Dave C was unable to attend as he had the dreaded lurgi but he did send along some lovely French 75's. Chris and Dave provided the bunkers

The "Valley of Death" south of Lang Son, three bunkers and an MMG stand covered the southern approach. Early in the game the 11th regiment did attempt to advance by this route but was soon persuaded of its folly

The French right flank defences. In the foreground is one of the 75's provided by Dave. Model by Moonlite

Defenders of the only bridge over the My Mong River

The White Laffly AM50 is now produced by Wespe Models (ex Retrokit) - there is a review here

Legionnaires defend the banks of the My Mong river north of Lang Son. Unfortunately I don't have any colonial French troops so had to substitute metropolitans

The Negrier Bastion. Although not modelled on the table the bastion is at a considerable elevation and the gun can cover most of the battlefield. Cromwell C17S 155mm

Lang Son defences from the west. In the foreground is an SHQ 75mm

West of Lang Son

The Japanese onslaught starts. The 21st Regiment assaults the initial Tokonese lines

On the French right the Japanese close assault the Van Vollenhoven Bunker

The assault from the Japanese perspective. Type 94 Tankettes by SHQ

The French 2nd line watches explosions to the north

Ki-10 fighter (Wings 72 Vac Form) strafes the French positions. Unfortunately for the Japanese their Ki-30 bomber attacked their own troops which was to have a detrimental effect on Japanese morale

French Renault FT-17 (Matchbox/Revel) "super tank"

As a consequence of being bombed by their own side, and surprised to find that the French had armour, two companies of Japanese break and run. The only saving grace being their Tonkenese opponents have also abandoned their positions, though unfortunately for the Japanese the FT-17 remains steadfast.

The remaining troops of the 1st Battalion 21st Infantry charge the FT-17 looking to knock it out with grenades. In the mean time the Type 94's cower behind the ridge intimidated by the FT's "powerful" 37mm

Whilst the 21st Regiment makes slow progress in the North the 11th Regiment launches a blitzkrieg in to the thinly defended French flank. In a couple of turns they have armour on the bridge over the My Mong River

The only AT weapon available to the French is the 37mm in the AM50 armoured car. However the French aim was good and the Japanese was poor. The AM50 managed to force the Type-95 (SHQ) back from the bridge

Although Nan Ann to the north has yet to fall the 2nd Battalion 21st Regiment outflanks the town to fall upon the French second line

The 1st Battalion 11th Regiment at first tried to advance up the "Valley of Death". The destruction of an entire company in a single turn convinced them to alter their axis of advance and push through the town

Deserted by its infantry support the FT-17 pulls back to shoot up troops from the 11th Regiment

Eventually the FT-17's luck ran out. It defeated an attack by the Ha-Go and forced it to retreat, but eventually succumbed to yet another close assault

Pretty much the last defenders north of the river. If the Japanese can't kill them they will lose the battle

A lucky long range shot by the last remaining French 75mm destroys a Type 94

1st Battalion 11th Regiment assaults the rear of the French defence line along the My Mong river. Behind the AM50 burns after being shot up by Japanese infantry. The Japanese are very close to point X on the map, and thus their victory location.

It took a long time to rally the broken companies of the 1st Battalion 21st Regiment, but eventually they re-entered the battle in force

The last French stands huddle in the middle of the woods, well aware the Japanese armour can't get in to attack them, however the Japanese outside the wood outnumber them at least 4:1. They have to hang on against such odds for 3 turns to win the game

And that's were we had to leave it as we ran out of time and a curry beckoned.

The saga of the commander of the Tokenese Battalion has escaped the camera. He managed to get separated from the rest of the battalion. The Japanese would take pot shots at him and force him back but fail to kill him. They chased him around the north of the table in a rather lackadaisical fashion  until they realised if they didn't get him he'd count as a French stand north of the river and lose the Japanese the game. I'd already come to this conclusion as was running him to the hills, once within the Japanese would be unable to catch him. The Japanese realised this just before he reached the woods and proceeded to fire every gun in range, including an entire battalion of 105mm, at the poor fellow. Unfortunately for French victory prospects he finally fell, a few hundred meters from the woods edge.

At the end of the game things were not looking too rosy for the French. It was unlikely the handful of stands north of the river would withstand the Japanese onslaught. South of the river things were more balanced, though the Japanese were nearly at point X. Still the odds were nearly 1:1 and there was a chance that the French could have prevented the Japanese passing point X and thus winning the game

It was a very close game and lots of fun, and its always good to get two of my lesser used armies on the table

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