Korean War: Counter-Attack, scenario #21: The Taegu Front

I wanted to finish up one whole battle section and The Taegu front was the last of four scenarios in this section that I hadn’t played yet and not only that, it is an interesting looking scenario. The Americans defend along the north-south river trying to keep the North Koreans on the other side. Victory points are accumulated for enemy steps eliminated and the NKPA also get points for steps on the east side of the river.

The American setup stretched out from north to south, dug-in not knowing where North Koreans would enter. The North Koreans decide to concentrate on the northern and southern flanks and a small faint in the center, to keep the Americans stretched thin. As the NKPA push across the river in the north and south, the Americans hit them with a good dose of airpower, off board artillery, on board mortars and direct-fire. But many Americans in the middle have to leave their dug-in positions in the middle to reinforce their flanks as this battle was turning into a real struggle.

By the end of the scenario the North Koreans had 8 steps on the east side of the river and bunch of demoralized ones on the west side. The Americans had lost 2 steps and one leader however the NKPA had lost 15 steps and one leader with Americans winning a minor victory of only a five point difference or a one point minor victory. Without the off-board artillery and air support I doubt the Americans would have won, as this was so close by points. A fun scenario to play.

The Americans set up along the river trying to cover all the possible crossing points. The NK sent the main HMG and INF force towards the center with a flanking force to the south. They kept an assault force (SMGs) off board to force the Americans to maintain their line. The NK engaged the Americans in the center and basically traded morale checks, but no casualties. The NKs along the right (southern end) also crossed the river and engaged the American left. The Americans suffered some demoralizations forcing them back, and allowing the NK to get a foothold across the river. As the center started to move back, the NK brought in their Assault force on their left in order to keep the Americans from reinforcing the center. The sides traded some casualties, but the NK managed to get most of their force across the river, and with only a couple of turns left, the Americans could not inflict enough casualties to negate the NK VPs gained from units across the river. North Korean victory!