Chinese Civil War

[ctwaterman]

Below is the Map I will be using to Mod this War....

[snip]

Is this as big as it gets or is there a high-res one?

[ctwaterman]

Sorry go to this sight to get the high resolution version....

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/china_map_folio/txu-oclc-588534-54922-10-67-map.jpg

Charles

[snip]

thanks

[ctwaterman]

Below is Part 1 of November and December 1919-  It covers land battle only so far.   Air losses and Naval battle will be totaled up latter.   I expect this to be in at least 3 parts just to cover the land war please post comments in the discussion forum and not here.

The month of November starts slowly for both the Republican and Imperial forces and their allies.   With the massive casualties inflicted by both sides on each other the weight of logistics and the sheer magnitude of the displaced population impact the pace of offensive operations.  Both sides pause slightly to bring in reinforcements and supplies.  With the Flood created by the breaking of the Yangtze River levees and dykes having destroyed a large percentage of the Yangtze River Valley Rice Crop still in the fields and the fighting on the Central Chinese Plains in the province of Honan, Anhwei, and Kiangsu provinces the wheat harvest is in doubt in this region as well.   With both sides recruiting to replace losses and to help with logistical efforts a shortage of manpower on the farms of china reached a critical juncture during the important fall harvests.

North East China

The First major action of the month takes place on November 11th when 5 Republican Motorized Cavalry Corp attack north east out of Honan Province into Shantung province.  With report of an Imperial build up on to their west around the City of Cheng-chou along the Yellow River decide to strike quickly while they are still able.   They attack along a 20km front from K'ai-'feng to Shang-chi'iu.  It appears their objective is to attack into Shantung province and seize vital railway lines just beyond the remnants of the Great Canal at Yen-Chou.  It is also obvious that they intend to use the Yellow River to defend their flanks.

Initial Combat is fluid as the Cavalry probe forward under fighter and Reconnaissance aircraft.  And the Area over the Advancing corps' is soon a cauldron of airborne combat seemingly eating men and machine in ever increasing numbers.   The Republican Cavalry units engage and sweep aside parts of three imperial Corps' dislodged in late October.  The three Imperial Corps take moderate casualties and are forced to fall back North and East towards the Grand Canal.  By the End of November, the 3 Imperial Corp has withdrawn to the far banks of the Grand Canal where several hundred thousand impressed laborers had already begun digging defensive trenches.

Further to East along the Coast on November 20th a 2nd RRC Offensive kicks off attacking North and East from Kiangsu Province into Shantung Province.  Roughly 8 Corp of RRC troops move towards Tsingtao [Chinese port of Qingdao and its fortress].  The Local Army Group commander decides to trade space and time falling back on the defenses of Qingdao while calling on reinforcements.  In the meantime using the rough terrain along the coast he stages a series of small battles in an attempt to slow and attrite the Republican Advance.

Also on November 20th the 1st Imperial offensive in the North East begins.  Delayed by the air strikes along the Yellow River and on the railways leading to Cheng-Chou a force of roughly 8 Corp strikes East and south into Shantung while another 7 Corp attack due South into Honan Province.  These force are opposed by a large 5 Corps of Republican Regulars dug in along the line of advance and an indeterminate number of Commando units.   The Blow falls on the 2 Corp in and around the City of K'ai-'feng where the 2 Corp hold for almost a full week or bombardment and attacks before shattering under repeated blows by more than 3 times their numbers.  Casualties among the attackers is heavy among the defenders it is equally heavy.

The 2nd Blow fell on a single Republican Corp guarding the Railway line and road junction at the City of Hsu-ch'ang.  Attacked by overwhelming force the unit commander decided to give ground rather than face annihilation as additional Imperial units were maneuvering on this flanks.  Losses among the initial attackers were heavy while losses among the Defenders were light until forced to withdrawal.

As the Month of November closed in the North the situation is as follows.   The RRC forces in Honan are falling back and forming a new defensive line from Shang-shui north and east towards Shang-Ch'iu.  The Imperial forces are moving forward repairing the railway lines to secure their logistics supply and slowly pursuing the Republican forces.   To the North along the Grand Canal Republican units are forced to make a hard decision they outnumber the forces before them but those forces are dug in behind an intermittent water barrier and reconnaissance photos show a small number of Heavy tanks and armored cars sprinkled among the enemy units.  To their rear their supply lines are threatened by the new Imperial offensive.

In addition the Republican forces moving along the Shantung coast are now in Reconnaissance range of Qingdao [Tsingtao] where they can see large numbers of troops building a huge defensive trench line surrounding the Port. 

[ctwaterman]

[Part 2]

Yangtze River Valley China

The month of November opens with persistent rumors of Dysentery and fever along the banks of the Yangtze where flooding had killed or displaced large amounts of the civilian population.   Even the odd merchant still risking the war to trade in Hong Kong, Macu or other ports spread tales of Famine, lack of adequate shelter and the dreaded words Cholera.   Additional rumors circulate of something even worse, small areas along the river are beginning to report cases of high and persistent fever nausea and cramps spreading in a few locations among the survivors.  Refugees from the war and the flood begin to trickle south to the Borders of Siam, Nord Indochina and a few hardy souls flee by boat towards Japanese Hainan Island.


In Early November Republican Forces move to reinforce their successful crossing of the Upper Yangtze near Yeuh-yang to the west of Wuhan.   Imperial forces in this area had begun to prepare for an offensive of their own but were not yet ready to launch their attack.  Instead as units slated for future offensive operations arrived they were quickly slated into defensive positions to help contain the Republican advance.   The Republican forces are able to slowly push forward and extend their beach head north of the Yangtze until their forces reach the Southern Branch of the Han Shui River.   The River a vital supply line running to the Fortress of Wuhan and area the Republican forces have been ordered to avoid would force the Republican forces into a second and then a third river crossing.   An attempt to move North West runs into deeply entrenched forces running from the City of Sha-Shih to the Han Shui River.   An attempt to assault this line is repulsed in the early morning hours of November 18th after 3 days of sporadic bombardment.   Losses among the attacking units is surprisingly light a mere 12 thousand men scattered across 5 Corp, the defenders loose a mere 4,000 casualties.

In the far west Szechwan province is the sight of a few attempts by both sides to straighten out their defensive lines.   Casualties from small unit actions and a few small assaults amount to a mere 10,000 casualties to both sides in exceptionally rough terrain.  Both sides appear to digging in and have curtailed offensive operations in a need to channel supplies to larger more important operations elsewhere.  The Month of November is free of any large scale operations.

Shantung, Anhwei, Honan, and Hupei [Hupeh] China:  November into December 1919:

The Battle for Shantung has reached a critical stage.   Elements of 8 Republican Corp has advanced on the vital Imperial Port of Qingdao [Tsingtao].   Elements of 1 Russian Corp, 1 Russian Armored Brigade, 1 Russian Armored Car Brigade, 3 Imperial Corp and massive numbers of workers.  In an addition a large number of training units have been pressed into live fire training by the advance of the Republican forces.

The battle starts with a 4 day barrage of the incomplete defensive works surrounding the city by advance elements of 3 republican corp.  The follow up assault on the defensive perimeter at an outpost in the predawn hours is brutal and leads to hand to hand fighting in the trenches before the 1st division of the 21st Imperial Corp breaks under better then 3 to 1 odds.   Republican Forces take 25,000 Casualties in 2 hours of fighting but manage to breach the perimeter of the defensive line killing 10,000 imperial troops and capturing another 5,000 mostly wounded enemy.

The Republican victory however is short lived with the arrival of dawn a massive air battle rages over the lines and Imperial artillery rains down on the troops attempting to take advantage of the break in the imperial lines.   The Counter attack by the imperial Corps is spearheaded by a Russian Heavy Tank Brigade supported by at least 2 partial brigades of Heavy Tanks bearing Imperial markings.   The Republican troops under attack from both flanks by Infantry assault and being attacked by what appear to be impervious Dragons breathing fire break under the counter attack and fall back allowing the Imperial troops to retake the defensive works.  Here the Imperial Chinese Infantry suffer 12,500 casualties but kill or capture roughly 15,000 additional Republican forces.

This scenario will repeat itself roughly a week later when a more determined and well prepared attack by Republican forces is repulsed by a quick counter attack by Heavy Tanks and even armored cars.   An Imperial attempt to launch an attack on their own is foiled by a large number of armored vehicles breaking down within the morass that has become no man's land between the two armies.   Shelling has damaged the outskirts of the city but Republican forces have not shelled the city center itself despite having the capability to do so.   By Mid December both sides have lost an additional 60,000 casualties due to Combat, Fatigue, and Disease.   The Battle is broken off by Republican forces as a fresh Imperial Offensive to the East siphons away needed reinforcements and supplies.

The End of the 1st week of December reveals what the Imperial forces have been up to.   Thirteen Imperial and 2 Dutch Corp launch a massive offensive out of Honan and Hupei Provinces.  The Axis of the Attack is from Hsin-yang due east along the southern bank of the Huai Ho River towards Ho-Fei and Nanking beyond by 6 Imperial and 2 Dutch Corp.   Additionally, 7 Imperial Corp' attack from Chu-ma-tien towards the city of Fou-yang in Anhwei province.  Finally the Imperial November offensive into Shantung Province resumes.   The fate of China will be decided on the North China Plain.  From Shang-Ch'iu in the North to Hsin-Yang in the South along a front of nearly 250 km the troops of Imperial China are coordinating a massive blow.

[ctwaterman]

Part 3:  The Plains of China:

The Coalition of Forces against the Republican is Honan and Anhwei province is dangerous but not yet dire.   The Imperial Offensive contains 28 Corps' and the Republicans have a mere 17 with which to face them.   However if forces attacking into Northern Shantung province along the Yellow River are not withdrawn they face being cut off very quickly.  In addition the forces attacking Qingdao either have to be reinforced or withdrawn to help stabilize the Front further south.   The Republican high command is being forced to decide between continuing their own planned offensives and withdrawing those forces to face the Imperial assault.

The first major battle is fought between the 6 Imperial and 2 Dutch Corp's south of the Huai Ho River along the border of Anhwei province on December, 11th.  The Leading elements run into 5 Republican Commando Corp rapidly assembled along a ridge line about 60 Km East of Ho-Fei and blocking the Road leading to Nanking.   The Republican units have had about a week to reach their position and dig in however the Commando Corp's are all base line specialists units and they face a mixture of advanced and Cutting Edge troops.  The Dutch and Imperial troops deploy and bring up their artillery and begin their bombardment on December 12th.  On December 16th just before dawn the barrage rolls forward slowly for an hour and then ceases.   The Imperial and Dutch assault presses home across terrain shattered by 4 days of heavy bombardment.   The defenders do their best but the weight of guns is simply too heavy even for dug in troops.   After 4 hours the Defenders to the North of the Road break and begin to withdrawal towards the next ridge line.   The attackers exhausted are unable to properly pursue the remnants of 4 Broken Republican Corp's. 

To the West of Fun-Yang, 5 Corp' of Republican troops engage in battle with the 7 Imperial Corps' advancing from the West on December, 14th.  In this battle the correlation of forces are more balanced towards the defender but the terrain favors neither side.   The Republican forces are forced slowly backwards in a series of battles lasting nearly a week.  Casualties are moderate on both sides as the Imperial troops are constantly probing for the Republican flanks or to locate the Commando units that make up part of the Republican Forces.
   
The next major engagement to occur is on December 16th.  The 15 Imperial Corp's attacking out of Honan into Southern Shantung and Anhwei provinces resume their offensive operations.   5 Imperial Corp in the North run into 2 Corp of Republicans Regulars in and around the City of Shang-ch'iu and begin surrounding the city.   Weather is cool dropping to below freezing at night and the days are overcast leaving very little opportunity for aircraft to do reconnaissance or ground attack missions.  The two northern most Imperial Corp's are caught in the rear as they are attempting to deploy for an assault on Shan-Ch'iu.   At least three Corp' of the Republican Cavalry equipped with Rockets have attacked from the Rear and completely disorganized the Imperial attack plans.  Additionally large groups of Republican Commando begin to aggressively attack the supply lines leading from Cheng-Chou to K'ai-'feng and on to Shang-ch'iu.

The Resulting battle is effectively a draw the Imperial Forces are forced to deploy units to defend the railroad on which they depend for supplies while dealing with a surprise attack by Republican Cavalry.  After nearly a week of heavy fighting and the arrival of need reinforcements the Imperial Forces have restored their lines of supply and driven off the Republican Cavalry.  However it quickly becomes apparent that the forces in Shang-ch'iu have been reinforced by the arrival of several more Corp of Republican Regulars.

The Other arm of the Imperial attack continues to clear the rail line south from Hsu-Ch'ang to Lo-Ho where the Seven Imperial Corp swing to the East and head towards Shang-shui the nearest known location of Republican forces.  In the week it takes for the Imperial forces to clear the railway lines and make their approach march the defenders of Shang-shui have been reinforced significantly.  However there are insufficient troops to form a defensive line all the way to the Huai Ho River and south of the Huai Ho river Imperial troops are rapidly advancing on Ho-Fei.   The Republican leadership needs to make a decision and delays lead to a massive clash of arms.

On December 21st the Imperial Forces are ready 10 Corp face off against what first appears to be 7 Republican Corps' several of which have just finished mobilization and have been rushed to add to the rapidly prepared defensive lines.   The Imperial plan is simple 2 Corp spread out along the defensive lines while 8 prepare to assault the Republican reservists to the north by 3 Corp and the South by an additional 3 Corp while the last 2 corps' continue probing around the southern end of the Republican lines!  The plan is to use a rolling barrage to support infiltration tactics to breach the Republican lines.

The result is extremely bloody the northern attack initially penetrates the line of the Republican Crop facing it but is then repulsed in two days of bloody fighting by a counter attack by 1 Republican Regular Corps.  In the South the Attack forces the Republican Lines and is brought to a standstill near the outskirts of Shang-shui.   Here again a stubborn defense is stalling the Imperial assault.  However the 2 Imperial Corp finally locate and turn the southern end of the Republican line overcoming and breaking a Division of Republican Commando's while they start to roll up the Republican defensive line from the South hopping to link up with the Imperial Corp' launching the Southern assault.  A counter attack on December 24th by parts of 2 divisions of Republican regulars repulses the Southern assault with heavy losses to both sides in bitter hand to hand combat in the trenches.

As Christian holiday of Christmas arrives with dawn both sides are exhausted bloody and the Republicans still have an enemy on their flank.  On the night December 26th while the Imperial await reinforcements and more artillery ammo the Republican forces begin a rapid bombardment that last several hours.  When dawn breaks the Imperial forces awaiting a republican assault find the enemy gone for several hours and the air full of Republican aircraft.

The End of December 1919 dawned cold and crystal clear across Anhwei province.  Republican forces have been bloodied and have decided to shorten their lines and have begun to pull back under a massive surge in sorties by their aircraft while the weather permits.  Imperial forces are equally bloodied and too exhausted to launch an immediate pursuit.  While the outcome of the war is still unclear it appears that the Middle Kingdom and its Dutch and Russian allies have managed to seize the initiative from the Republic of China.

[ctwaterman]

The Naval War Chinese Civil War November and December 1919:

With both the Republic of China and the Middle Kingdom deploying large numbers of littoral combat ships and the Republic of China utilizing large numbers of costal attack aircraft weather permitting merchant traffic on the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea were significantly disrupted.  Insurance rates already high from the early combat climbed to new levels.

Nightly skirmishes by small flotilla' in the dark waters off the coast were almost common and the merchants willing to travel these waters did so well illuminated and with their national flags  clearly painted on the sides of their ships.

In Late November and Early December there was a small series of fleet actions later to be known as the Battle of the Yellow Sea.   The battles were fought primarily around the approaches to Qingdao [Tsingtao].  It began with the RRC use of a number cruisers being used to support their advance up the coast towards Qingdao and eventually built into a series of ongoing clashes between groups of ships from both sides attempting to prevent the other from using the waters along the coast near the armies engaged in battle just outside the city.

In  late November 2 Republican Task Forces composed of the Following ships converge on Qingdao to support the RRC ground assault.  The Huang Hun, Li Ming, Dahan, Hao Fu Ren, Jian Fu Ren, Yongzi, Dou Biao, Tian Hai, Yulay, Yuyou as well as a large number of screening destroyers moved into position to begin a bombardment of the defensive works around the city.   For about an hour the Cruisers of the RRC force dueled with shore based artillery and begin to pound defensive works near the coast.    However before they could truely begin let alone complete their bombardment destroyers screenin them reported contact with 2 submarines which they have driven underwater.  The Cruisers move further off shore to avoid becoming easy targets and 1 cruiser the Jian Fu Ren successfully combed an attack by 2 torpedoes fired presumably by a submarine. 

Later that day as the RRC task force begins to move back into bombardment range they receive information that their northern most picket is retreating back onto the task force being pursued by a large force of Imperial Destroyers.  A large smoke plume to the north of those destroyers is also reported.  The bombardment force with orders to avoid close contact with enemy torpedo boats and with its screen heavily outnumbered decides to withdrawal. 

That night in a rainsquall off the coast a force of Destroyers screening the Bombardment force runs into a group of Imperial Destroyers and Torpedo Boats searching for the RRC Task Force.  The resulting melee in the dark rain laden night is a chaotic melee when both sides spot each other at roughly the same time.  Spot lights and star shells erupt into the night combat ranges are measured in 100's not thousands of yards in some cases.   The both sides snap fire their torpedoes at each other while shooting at each other with everything from their main batteries and in some cases even their personal side arms.  Both sides report contact with a force larger then they actually encountered misidentifying Destroyers as Cruisers and Torpedo Boats and Destroyers. 

The Results of the fight are inconclusive both sides report multiple torpedo hits and many enemy ships hit by gunfire.   The RRC screen has bought the Bombardment force time to turn away out to sea and avoid the Imperial Torpedo Boats in the dark.  The Imperial Torpedo Boats and Destroyers claim 5 Enemy Destroyers Sunk and one Enemy Cruiser damaged by both Torpedo and gun fire.  The RRC forces claim to have driven off an Enemy Cruiser and Torpedo attack on the Bombardment Force and claim 2 Cruisers and 3 Enemy Destroyers either sunk or badly damaged.

For the Remainder of November until Early December the RRC task force haunts the seas to the East of Qingdao.  However the overwhelming numbers of Imperial Destroyers, and Torpedo Boats are able to repeatedly push them out to sea and away from their target the defensive works around the city.

In Early December shortly before dawn the Dahan former UKA/MK Armored Cruiser is hit by a shallow running torpedo directly on the belt below the forward turret.   Shock and explosive force drive in parts of the belt and cause moderate flooding but the turret is jammed and inoperable.  The Imperial Sub Qqianting08 is operating decks awash off the coast but suffers from severe target fixation and is spotted and shelled by no less then 3 RRC MTBs.

Other Occurrences:
Skirmishes between light forces and patrols claim dozens of ships on both sides usually in the dark of the night.  Merchants operating along the coast particularly into Shanghai report dozens of skirmish between small craft using flares and spotlights on a nearly weekly basis.

The RRC looses 15 Freighters grossing 20,000 GRT tons sunk or reported missing in the South China Sea.

The MK looses 12 Freighters grossing 15,000 GRT Tons sunk or reported missing in the Yellow and East China Seas.

The RRC will issue a warning that it has detected mine fields off Hong Kong and Macau, near Fuchow in the Formosa straits and off Hai-an and the Luichow Peninsula near Hainan.

The Japanese Merchant Ship Emperors Star from Pusan to Hainan 5500 GRT loaded with Coal is reported 5 Days over due on December 15th.

Air War over China:
The Air war over China is bitter and the winter weather and cloud cover does not help.  Both sides loose hundred of aircraft in Dog Fights and to ground fire conducting ground attacks against dug in troops with machine guns.  The weather and operational tempo however claim even more lives.  For every pilot lost in action 2 or more are lost due too poor quality gas, bad maintenance, poor training or just plain bad weather and bad luck.  The hardest hit are the RRC Maritime strike aircraft who discover that navigating over water in cloud cover with heavy bomb or torpedo loads requires more luck then skill. 

[snip]

OOC: So the choice was made to script the war until its end. This is a textbook-style overview of what happens for the first half of 1920, just so things can start moving again. Additional stories of specific battles and such may be forthcoming.

The Second Chinese Civil War: January to June 1920

As the Gregorian year of 1919 drew to a close, the forces of the Middle Kingdom, Imperial Russia, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands had managed barely to halt the Reformist Republic of China's armies at the outskirts of Qinguandao. Elsewhere on the East China Plain, Middle Kingdom and Dutch forces had managed to push back the Republican troops beyond the pre-war borders in some locations. January 1, 1920 opened with the sound of guns, much like August had.

   Several major events that would have large impacts on the events of the war for the coming months happened very close to the end of 1919. Evidence had been presented to Emperor of the Middle Kingdom that members of ether the Dutch Volunteer Corps or the Dutch ambassadorial mission had leaked the schedule of the Emperor's mother's tour of the front to the Republicans, resulting in her death. The Emperor also had information that the Dutch were plotting to take over the Middle Kingdom as a colony. In response to this evince, the Emperor expelled all Dutchmen from the country and confiscated all of their equipment. The second event was the official declaration of war from Russia on December 29th, 1919. Russian troops had been serving in a volunteer corps, but this declaration meant that more troops and supplies would be coming to aid the Middle Kingdom.

   The month of January was quiet in the east, as both armies sought to catch their breath, rearm, and resupply. The duty of rounding up the Dutch troops prevented the Dragon Army from launching an offensive against a weekend Republican line. The troops of both armies out in the western parts of the front faced a different reality. Given the extreme amount of men and material in demand to resupply the front lines in the East, nether army had everything that it needed to fully exploit or stop any breakthroughs. The Dragon Army did have a numerical advantage, and used it. Several isolated breakthroughs were made in some areas, with one or two developing into larger readjustments of the front lines. The Republican army was forced to send men and material to the west to hem in this threat instead of fully resupplying their armies in the East. This same trend continued thought out all of February. By March 1st, little change had come to the front lines in the East with the Western front seeing some larger changes, but nothing that hinted at any sort of collapse for either side.

   Sometime shortly after March 1st, the Republican army shot into action like a prize fighter going in for the knockout blow. The Dragon Army fights for every piece of ground between the Republican troops and the port of Qinguandao. While the price the Republican army pays is heavy, the Imperials cannot hold the front were it stands for more than a handful of days and are forced to start falling back. Just as it looks like the front will collapse and Qinguandao will be left at the mercy of the Republican army, on March 16th, elements of the Imperial Russian Army begin to attack the base of the Republican thrust. Faced with the possibility of being encircled, the Republican commanders have no choice but to divert reinforcements meant to break the Imperial lines to instead hold up the Russian offensive. While the Russian attack gains little ground, despite one of the first large uses of "tanks" (referred to as Barrels by the Dragon Army), it manages to buy the Dragon Army time to reinforce and halt the Republican offensives, which effectively stops making forward progress by the final week of March. In the West, Middle Kingdom forces continue to gain ground in local areas, but the front remains relatively unchanged on the strategic level.

   The first week of April sees a massive shift in the momentum of the war. The Russian hammer that has been bloodied at the base of the Republican bulge manages to break the line briefly, but it is quickly contained. With the rest of the armies being ground to bits by both Imperial attacks and attacks mounted by Republican forces, the leadership of the Republican army is faced with a choice, stay and fight, become cut off and be forced to surrender, or retreat and reform a defensive line with the hope that living to fight another day will bring victory. The second option is chosen and a well planed strategic withdraw along the front back to the base of the aptly termed Qinguandao Pocket is drawn up. Unfortunately for the Republicans, the Imperial leadership manages to decode messages containing major pieces of the plan. That information, along with that gathered from prisoners, leads both the Dragon Army and Russian Expeditionary Force to launch an all out offensive to force the Republicans to withdraw faster then they intend. The result is that the second half of April plays out like full retreats instead of an orderly withdraw. Occasionally, pockets of Republican troops are cut off and ground down by the Dragon Army as the Republicans race for the gap that is ever shrinking between the Russians and the coastline. By the final week of April the Russians are able to close the gap, but not before most of the surviving Republican troops escape to the south. There is a major problem for the Republicans however; most of their heavy equipment was abandoned to allow for a hastier retreat. While the men are still there, now they need to be resupplied, an effort which will take time and recourses need elsewhere. By pure coincidence, the other major offensive of April opens almost in sync with the attacks into the Qinguandao Pocket. The Republican forces along the north bank of the Yangtze River, use to the small skirmishes and raids that had grown common sense January, are caught slightly off guard when a major Imperial offensive is launched along the north bank of the Yangtze towards Nanking. The initial push sends the Republicans reeling backwards, but after approximately a week, things begin to stabilize and the two armies trade blow and counter-blow like prize fighters as the Republican troops trade space for casualties, hoping the Imperials run out of men before the Republicans do. The West changes little over April, with the front being basically the same at the end of the month.

   The month of May sees little activity in the north near the pre-war boarder as both sides pause to regroup and resupply. The Dragon Army continues to push along the Yangtze towards Nanking, looking to narrow the gap through which the Republican army can resupply and remain. Progress is made, but not to the point where Nanking is threatened. This does have the effect of forcing the Republicans to send more and more reinforcements and equipment to the Yangtze, the army in the North gets fractions of what it needs to completely recover from its losses and men and material escaping from the Qinguandao Pocket. The west begins to see changes in the front line, with the Republicans being forced to consolidate across wide areas to maintain a defensive line.

   June sees the armies in the north gathering strength, preparing for the coming hammer blow. The very last week of June sees the begging of a push by the Imperials along most of the front. The attacks along the Yangtze continue, but begin to lose some of their ferocity by the middle of the month, almost grinding to a complete halt by then end of the month. More progress is made in the west as the Imperials become more daring in their attacks, creating more shifts in the front but nothing that signals collapse of either line. June ends will the eyes of all commanders and politicians turned to the fronts in the north, as it is apparent that the next blow will fall there relatively soon.

[snip]

OOC: Sorry for the lack of updates here. I have been waiting to hear from Laertes, but he has not been around lately. This is the last bit of what happens in the China war, per what we agreed on. The lack of detail on the RRC "revolution" is intentional and may be filled in later. This should close up everything heading into 1921.

The Second Chinese Civil War: July to December 1920

July of 1920 sees the opening of the combined Middle Kingdom and Russian offensive along the frontlines in the North. At first it appears that the RRC, despite its telling lack of ammunition and reserves, may be able to stop the Dragon Army. However, the efforts to contain the attack quickly all but exhausts the Republican reserves and it becomes readily apparent that the choice to stay, fight and die or to retreat will be made again. Figuring that the Imperials and Russians will run into the same supply problems that the Republicans currently have the farther the lines are extended, RRC Army command decides to trade space for time, like had been happening in the West. A series of well planed retreats begin to yield more and more land to the Middle Kingdom, with all troops being withdrawn from pre-war Middle Kingdom land by the end of the month.  Despite the shortage of supplies and several close calls, the RRC Army is able to execute its plans without much interference from the Dragon Army, as its commander's fear a trap designed to cut off chunks of the army and allow its piecemeal destruction. Along the Yangtze, the front remains fairly static as both armies lick their wounds and prepare for the next big push. The West sees much of the same patterns that defined the war there earlier in the year, but with the Republicans having to give up more and more land due to a shortage of troops.

By August, the Middle Kingdom and Russian commanders have figured out the Republican's strategy for their planed strategic withdraws. Midway through the month, the Dragon Army is successful in disrupting this operation. Faced with no other option, the Republican Army goes into full retreat and beings withdrawing toward the Yangtze river, buying as much time as possible for a miracle to occur. Increasing actions along the Yangtze front creates fears of a much larger version of the Battle of Qingdao that occurred earlier in the year. Frontlines continue to remain relatively constant however, so that fear is not fully realized. The West sees action much like before.

September marks the beginning of the long and chaotic race to the Yangtze and the City of Najing. The steady increase in pleasure through September along the Yangtze front finally succeeds in convincing both the Republican and Imperial armies that the slowly closing gap along the Yangtze leading into the heart of the RRC is effectively a gigantic noose around the neck of the Republican Army. Having no other effective options, both sides race for the gap, the Dragon Army with the Russians to close it and the Republicans to get through it. This has the effect of cutting the Western Republican forces off from all reinforcements. Finally, the Middle Kingdom gains the upper hand in the West and the East. October and November see the continuation of this rapidly moving battle, much like the one that characterized the action around Qingdao earlier in the year. As the pace of Imperial Operations increases, Republican troops are driven further and further back. By the end of November, it is clear that all the land north of the Yangtze will eventually fall under the banner of the Middle Kingdom

In December, several events happen, that in combination; serve to bring a fragile peace back to China. First, over the cause of the month the last Republican forces on all fronts are driven back across the Yangtze. Now any further action by necessity involves an expensive river crossing. After almost a year and a half of continuous fighting, neither side can accomplish this in the scale necessary to force another deceive action. The true nail in the coffin of the RRC however is the complete collapse of its government. Mostly unnoticed by the Middle Kingdom, a rebel movement had been growing within the RRC for quite some time. Around the middle of December, this movement managed to overthrow the old government and established its own.  This new government approached the Dragon Emperor with terms for an armistice, which were accepted by the Emperor. At 12:00AM January 1st, 1921, the guns of the Dragon Army, Russian Expeditionary Force, and the Republican Army fell silent and idle. China was at peace again. For how long, only the peace conference would tell.

[Kaiser Kirk]

as its commander's fear a trap designed to cut off chunks of the army and allow its piecemeal destruction.

:) Just what wound up happening on a small scale in Silesia.

[Logi]

a rebel movement had been growing within the RRC for quite some time.

Well stranger things have happened, so I'm not that surprised.

[miketr]

Eggshells with Sledge Hammers

February 14th, 1920

The early morning just off the Shandong Peninsula saw a very light breeze of only 4 knots and the most gentle of waves at sea.  While lookouts on the Chinese Armored Cruiser Huang Hun swept the air for signs of trouble.  Despite near unlimited visibility there was nothing to see besides coastal traffic but that was not their mission today, the city of Qingdao was.  One of ships lookouts called out and pointed into the sky, high over head a single dirigible drew near, the cruisers put out black clouds of smoke as they advanced at 18 knots.  Clearly the smoke cloud or bad luck or both had drawn the airship, the cruiser picked up a coded transmission, they were being reported.

Rear Admiral Zhou Man growled at being discovered, last time he had completed his bombardment mission without discovery.  He briefly toyed with aborting it but no he had his orders and as of yet he had seen no enemy vessels.  Still time to take additional precautions, General Quarters was called for on all 8 ships of the squadron.  

Very soon Zhou came to regret his choice, a lookouts reported a faint contact on the horizon.  Then a pair of destroyers dispatched reported back 2 large contacts and 6 medium, Russians.  A Pair of Russian Scout Cruisers and Svetlana class light cruisers.  No ability to break contact and its clear they were moving to engage him.  "Signal the squadron, we will advance on the enemy!"

The squadrons Squadron

Shilka, Amgun, Svetlana, Ekaterina, Anastasia, Anna, Maria and Rossiya vs. Huang Hun, Li Ming, Biao Zhun She Ji #1 to #6.  As the two sets of large cruisers lined up against one another the light ships dropped behind the bigger ships.  The Russians are on Course 170 while the Chinese have angled out to see and are on course 020.  Admiral Zhou knows his ships lack modern fire control so he must close the range as quick as possible so he will angle into the Russian ships giving them an angle on his bow for what is otherwise a reciprocal course.  Mutual rate of closer is over 50 knots, opening range 27,000 yards.

On Amgun Rear Admiral Nikolai Kolomeitsev looks on in horror, "Crazy bastards aren't going to change course.  We need to hold open the range.  Squadron Orders, new course 045, maintain 27 knots."  Flags went up and soon the rest of the squadron turned to follow.  It took time for the orders to be issued and more time for the ships to carry them out.  The range dropped by nearly 3,000 yards in the two minutes this took to 24,000 yards.

"Admiral enemy in range, request permission to engage."  

"Commander, the squadron is to engage the enemy!"  

Currently the Russian ships had a slight advantage in terms of their relative positions and could fire all their main guns.  The Chinese could only reply with their bow weapons; except those were out of range.

TIME: 10:30 Hours

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Time 10:32 Hours

Admiral Zhou orders fleet to course 010, turning into enemy fleet to allow him to close the range and to be able to return fire.  Admiral Kolomeitsev maintains course, but increases speed to flank and lets the range close to take advantage of being able to cross the enemy T.  Speed of over take is 6 knots, range drops by another 1,000 yards to 23,000 yards.

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Time 10:34

"Damn range is just to far out."  The Russian Gunnery Control office reports, even with directory Fire Control its very difficult to hit.

The Admiral Shrugs, "We have ammo to spare Commander hold your course."

Range drop to 22,000 yards and at last the Chinese can return fire.

On the Chinese ship, "Admira,l Haung Hun is in range!  Shall I open fire?"

"No, we will not hit anything at this range.  Let me know when the range drops to 20,000 yards."

"Admiral we are giving them undisturbed fire and our T...."

"Very well, a single set of ranging salvo but only after Li Ming can fire."

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo 1 hit, third salvo all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo 2 hits.

The first hit on Huang Hun slams through the ships armor deck and explodes in some crew quarters.

The two hits on Li Ming are more damaging, the first hits the lead turret and simply cuts through the 5" armor.  The resulting explosion kills everyone in the turret and destroys it.  The turret roof is ripped off and is sent over 200 feet into the air.  The second hit lands in the super structure.


Time 10:36

Both sides continue to close but the Chinese can now fire, range is now 21,000 yards.

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo 1 hit, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses.

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo all misses
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses

The lone hit on Li Ming is into the deck but the shell fails to explode as the shell ends up in the chief petty officers mess.

Time 10:38

At last at 20,000 yards the Chinese switch to normal fire.

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo 2 hits, third salvo all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo 1 hit

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo 1 hit, second salvo 1 hit, third salvo all misses
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

The two hits on Huang Hun smash through the ships armor belt and land in the ships super structure, the hit on Li Ming is a dud and does nothing besides destroying one of the ships small cutters.

Shilka is hit twice both into her main belt, the problem is the main belt is only 3" and does nothing besides arming the armor piercing shells.

Time 10:40

Admiral Kolomeitsev stands on his flag bridge and notices the problem at once, a glance at the ships repeater tells him what he already knows.  The Shilka is loosing speed.

Number one fire room

Men scream as super heated steam swirls through the compartment from shell fragments that have riddled 3 boilers.  One man cries out, "My Eyes!  My Eyes."  As the steam as robbed him of his sight and cooked his eyes like a hard-boiled egg.  The engineer calls out for the men to evacuate the room and the emergency cut off is pulled killing fuel to the boilers.  With 25% of the ships propulsion disabled the ship would see a drop in speed.

"Bridge Chief Engineer.  Fire Room One out of action and I have killed the boiler feeds.  Estimated best speed 25.5 knots.  Time to restore unknown."

"I suggest you expedite repairs Chief!"


Back on the Flag Bridge

"Admiral the forward turret is going to loose the angle."

A nod of understanding from the Admiral, "Squadron orders reduce speed to match Flag, new course 045."


On his flag ship Admiral Zhou notices the changes in the Russian Squadron, "At last...  New squadron orders...."  The Chinese squadron started to parallel the Russian ships, unmasking the aft turrets, this didn't allow the cross deck guns on the unengaged side to fire but if the Russians lost more speed it might in time."

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Time 10:42

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo 2 hits
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Both the hits on Huang Hun are in the superstructure but one falls to explode the one that does manages to start a medium fire.

Time 10:44

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo 2 hits, third salvo all misses

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses


Li Ming is hit twice, one shot passes through an un-armored section of hull failing to arm while the second hits the armored conning tower.  The Russian 12" shell cuts through the 6" armor of the tower and easily penetrates, killing everyone in the tower including Admiral Zhou.  It will be several minutes before the Captain of Huang Hun can establish control.

Time 10:46

Range has dropped to 19,000 yards.

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Time 10:48

The fire on Haung Hun has greatly expanded, reaching ready charges for the ships 4" guns.  Minor explosions dot the ship as the powder cooks off killing several of the damage control teams.  Thick black smoke rises from the Chinese Armored Cruiser.

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo all misses, second salvo 1 hit, third salvo 1 hit
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Shilka is hit twice, one in the thin armor belt.  The first shell explodes just above the main deck, right in one of the smoke stack spaces.  The explosion extinguishes both sets of boilers off that smokestack and 2/3 of propulsion is lost.  Reducing the ship to a single set of boilers and 20,00 SHP.  The second shot hits a section of exposed barbette, passes inside and then nothing happens. The Chinese shell failed to arm other wise the Russian Scout Cruiser would surely have died as the shell came to rest in the shell handling room.  The turret is knocked out of action from shock effects and the shell handling gear needs to be repaired, estimated time to repair 10 minutes.

The Captain on Huang Hun establishes control and decides enough is enough.  While Admiral Kolomeitsev comes to a similar conclusion and both sides move to break off the engagement. Destroyers and Cruisers move forward to create smoke screens.  The Russian squadron swings hard over to 000 to head north while the Chinese turn to 210 heading southwest.  

Time 10:50

With wild movements on both sides accurate fire is not possible for either side.  


Time 11:30

The fires on Huang Hun have grown worse over the last 40 minutes and much of the ships upper decks are awash in flames.  The ship is moving very slowly while being controlled from the steering room deep in the aft of the ship.  A a pair of destroyers keeps station on the cripple while the rest of the Republican Chinese Force heads for base.

A new smoke cloud is detected on the horizon, its soon identified as Imperial Chinese Destroyers, heading directly for the crippled cruiser.  With the Huang Hun having no real ability to fight the order is given to abandon ship, the two destroyers take on what survivors they can and then flee the location at top speed.  The Imperial Chinese Destroyers close to within attack range and fire a spread of torpedo's into the burning hulk which soon capsizes and sinks.

Official RRC Naval Records report Huang Hun to have been scuttled while Imperial Chinese Naval Records record the ship has being sunk by torpedo attack.

The Butchers Bill

Shilka 4 hits, 74% effectiveness
Amgun no hits, 100%

Huang Hun SUNK / SCUTTLED
Li Ming   6 major hits, turret destroyed, 45% effectiveness, constructive loss

Notes:  Sorry Russian ship was hit harder than I first noted, I missed another hit in the damage tables.

Li Ming had a fire I see also that I failed to report in the battle, which accounts for a lot of her extra damage.  Russians were lucky no fires started.

Don't pay close attention to the courses, I used a hex map for this and the courses are for flavor more than being accurate.

Blooded, etc asked me to do this battle for them.