Assault on Urga Russian Civil War AAR

Chris Flowers invited us to put a Russian Civil War Game on at the Barn this weekend.

We have been toying with what game to put on at The Other Partizan in October and decided either the 1919 Russo-Polish War or The Mad Baron in Mongolia. As the Poles are not ready yet we used this as  a test game for Mongolia to see if it was the better fit.

The game was based on real historical events, Baron Von Ungern Schternberg led the Asiatic Cossack Division, along with whatever other white troops they could raise, into Mongolia. his aim seems to have been to capture Mongolia and raise the tribal Mongolian Warriors into an army before marching back into Siberia and destroying the reds with his Mongol hordes.

All good fun and room for lots of gaming scenarios. For this game we decided to re-create the assault on Urga (Now Ulaan Bator) the capital of Mongolia. 

The Chinese had taken advantage of the Russians distracted by the Civil War to send an army into Mongolia and occupy it. Holding it down with typical brutality.

The Russians have 4 regiments of infantry and 4 regiments of cavalry, although these last are fairly weak regiments. Supported by artillery, MG's a couple of Tchankas and a fighter plane.

The Chinese have 5 regiments of Infantry, one of cavalry and again MG's, artillery and a fighter plain with the addition of an emplaced FT17 tank and a light armoured car.

The planes and armour were almost certainly not there (Although the Chinese definately had planes in Mongolia) but they add to the game both visually and from a playing perspective so bare with us please.

 The town of Urga itself has some fieldworks in front and both Chinese and Russian areas of town. To the left from the Russian view is a holy mountain covered in forest. As this is taboo to the locals it is unguarded and the Russians are about to take full advantage of this.

The temple next to the holy mountain houses the Bogda Khan, holy leader of Mongolia, under Chinese guard. The Barons forces need to capture the town, release the Bogda Khan and ideally deal a crippling blow to the Chinese. The Chinese meanwhile must only stop them.

Again all historically accurate, sometimes history being stranger than fiction.

Move one and the Russians press on assaulting the two, at long range firing only inflicts shock temporarily slowing down troops, as we have limited the supply of artillery shells to 2 average dice plus one for the Chinese and one average dice plus one to the Russians, there is little firing going on.

First shots come from the FT17 as its a little nearer the advancing Russians, causing the odd casualty.

The Russians deploy a 75mm field gun and return fire Quickly damaging the FT17

From the forst on the holy Mountain a battalion of White Russian Officers advance on the Temple to free the Bogda Khan.

In front of the officer an open flank of a Chinese Militia battalion, their MG mounted in a dilapidated truck.

The Bogda Khan and some of his monks, no doubt wondering who best to pray for, certainly not the Chinese but is the Bloody Baron any better for them?

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The Baron himself as describe by Dmitri Alioshin in his memoir Asian Oddysey, in a red silk Chinese jacket and blue cavalry breeches festooned in Mongolian shamanistic charm necklaces.

As the Russian Officer regiment close on the Chinese flank the Chinese dispatch their own Russian mercenaries to block them.

John Cossack regiment pours around the forest to attack the Chinese flank, diverting attention from the advancing officers.

A company of Chinese and the MG have been re-deployed to face the Officers whilst their comrades open fire on Johns Cossacks.

In the centre the Russians close on the redoubt taking casualties from the FT17. 

On the right Richards Cavalry close on the Russian quarter of Urga defended by two regiments of Militia.

Chinese cavalry under Chris, form up by the redoubt ready for action.

On the right flank of the cavalry Rich has a regiment f Mongol tribal cavalry. They are classed as militia with low training level but are aggressive.

A second round of firing sees the lead Russian unit very badly damaged and the FT17 destroyed by Russian artillery fire. 

As the Russians close in though they take significant casualties from the advance elements of the Chinese assault troops.

Chris changes the orders of his Assault troops and they erupt out of their earthwork to storm into the Russians.

Firing works with players needing to roll below the number of troops firing, MG's each crew man represents 5 riflemen so players need to roll equal to below a total of 10 using however many dice they see fit. Risk takers can some times get lucky and Chris has rolled 3 d6 needing to get equal or below 10. Lucky bugger!

Chris sees his best chance of using the Chinese Cavalry to blunt the attack of Johns Cossacks and take the pressure off the Chinese defending the area aroudn the temple and marches them out of the town.

Its become a race between the Mad Barons Officers and the Chinese Mercenary Russians to get to the Temple precinct and secure the Bogda Khan.

The White officers have won that race and deploy to wait for the Chinese employed Russian counter attack safe behind the temple walls.

Johns Cossack regiment is formed up and stormign forward towards the Chinese quarter of town.

The Chinese Dare to Die troops have wiped out the leading Russian infantry but now come under fire as they are caught in the open.

With the unit reduced by small arms and MG fire the Russians charge the depleted Dare to Die company.

At this crucial juncture the Chinese fighter plane arrives, strafing the Cossacks and causing enough casualties to give John some pause.

In the woods the Chinese MG inflicts 2 casualties on the officers but before it can do any further worthwhile damage to the Russians it is knocked out by small arms.

The table is busy now with all troops from both sides committed and the Russians closing in on the defenders.

Advancing from the forest the officers regiment line the walls of the temple precinct in anticipation of the Chinese coming to get the Bogda Khan. The spiritual leader of the Mongols meanwhile is still prayign in the temple as nobody has thought to go get him.

The remaining Dare to Die troops are forced back and the Russian infantry close in on the redoubt.

To the Russian right flank Richards Tchanka has inflicted a few casualties on the Chinese and the Cossack regiment charges in.

After taking casualties the cavalry charge home wiping a company of Chinese Militia out in the ensuing melee. 

The Dare to Die troops are destroyed but take the most of a company of Russians with them as the rest of the regiment closes in.

The remaining Chinese Assault troops charge the advancing Russians with great slaughter on both sides. The Chinese are a 10 man company with sub machine guns but as they are moving they are far less effective.

The Russian mercenaries take heavy casualties as they try to take back the temple and are eventually forced to retire and the Bogda Khan legs it over the wall with his rescuers.

The Chinese cavalry are hemmed in by the superior Russian Cossacks and not doing to well at all.

At this point the Russian fighter plane at last arrives and causes even more mayhem in the Chinese ranks.

The Cossacks on the right charge a further unit of Chinese Militia, who are forced back along with their supporting MG.

Supporting their respective forces a Chinese and Russian armoured vehicle ace off against each other. As the supporting Chinese troops have fled its unlikely to end well for the Chinese vehicle.

End of the day and its all still to play for, the Barons forces have rescued the Bogda Khan and are holding bits of the defences but the Chinese are far from beaten. On balance a partial Russian victory.

Bodes well for the game at Partizan and if we go with this then a few ideas on how to make it look a bit nicer and some additional forces to add in.

Thanks for stopping by.