JACKLEX MINIATURES RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR ARMY ORGANISATION SHEET 1

This Sheet provides the wargamer with all the information needed to battle the Russo-Japanese War

(also available as a download from the ‘Wargaming’ section of this website)

OLD SCHOOL NEW LOOK RULES. This Sheet should be used in conjunction with ‘MUCKDEN TO MEGIDDO’, Early 20^th Century Wargame Rules by ANDY CALLAN. Available as a download from the ‘Wargaming’ section of this site.

HISTORICAL UNIT ORGANISATION.

·         Imperial Japanese Army. A Division of two Brigades each of two Infantry Regiments each of three Battalions each of four Companies. A cavalry Regiment of three Squadrons each of four Troops, 24 MG and an Artillery Regiment of two Battalions each of three Batteries each of six Guns.

·         Imperial Russian Army. Infantry Division of two Brigades each of two Regiments each of three/four Battalions. Six/eight MG. Cavalry Division of two Brigades of two Regiments each of six Squadrons. Artillery Brigade of two Divisions each of two Batteries each of eight Guns.

EXAMPLE SCENARIO: THE BATTLE OF MOTIEN PASS 17 JULY 1904

·         Situation. The Battle of Motien Pass, 17 July 1904 was a minor land battle fought between the Japanese and Russians for control of mountain passes on the road between the coast and Liaoyang, Manchuria. The Motien Pass was an easily defensible and strategic point on the route to Mukden. The Russians had given up the well defended positions at the Pass three weeks earlier when the Japanese had threatened to encircle them. The Japanese did not follow-up but occupied the vacant defences (emplacements for field guns and trenches of the best pattern dug, giving hard shelter). The Russians attempted to retake the position.

·         Ground. See map on the downloadable version in the 'Wargaming' section of this site..

·         Forces. Japanese Imperial Army, General Kuroki Tamemoto (1^st Army, 11,000). Imperial Russian Army, General Count Fyodor Keller (Army of the East, 25,000).

·         The Action. Picquets clashed at 0300hrs on a ‘thick and rainy’ 17 July. Initially visibility was poor giving the Russians an element of surprise. Four Russian regiments assaulted the centre, one regiment the left and one regiment the right. On the extreme left one battalion and a detachment of Cossacks attacked Hsiamatang. The position was defended by the Japanese 2^nd Division and elements of the 1^st Guard Division to its left. Japanese troops were hurriedly fed into the front line. The map shows troop positions as the mist lifted. The Russian attack in the centre was too slow and as a consequence its flank was enfiladed causing a fall back. There were similar results elsewhere including following a hard fight at Hsiamatang. Neither side managed to use its artillery effectively due to difficult ground until late in the battle. At 0900hrs, unable to penetrate Japanese defences, General Keller withdrew his forces. Casualties were 355 Japanese and 1,213 Russian.

·         Wargame Mechanics and Deployment. The wargame ORBAT is purposely uneven to reflect the historical forces. Consider severely restricting Gun movement and the staging of Japanese units onto the table to recreate the initial Russian surprise deployment. The green line on the map represents the wargame table. Russian and Japanese forces deploy as shown on the map. Russian Guns are off table.

BATTLE OF MOTIEN PASS WARGAME ARMY ORBAT

Infantry Unit. 16-20 figures. Operate in single loose line, two half-unit columns or two lines of skirmishers. Cavalry Unit. 10-12 figures. Artillery Unit. 1 Gun and 4-6 crew. Machine Gun Unit. 1 MG and 3-4 crew.

See Also: JACKLEX MINIATURES RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR PAINTING GUIDES. Available as a download

from the ‘Wargaming’ section of this website.