North East of Maejuk-ri

A recounting of a Dystopian Wars(DW)  battle between the Chinese Federation and the Empire of the Blazing Sun which takes place north east of Maejuk-ri just south of modern day South Korea. The game was played at the Falkirk District Wargames Club on Monday 16th March 2015 between Alistair Grant and Dave Elsey. This was the first game of DW for Dave who took command of the Empire of the Blazing Sun fleet, while Alistair took command of the Chinese Federation instead of his usual Empire.

Note: All Ship names came via Google Translate.

The Setup

The Chinese Federation patrol Biànhù was carrying out routine patrols of contested East China Sea region when an aggressive Blazing Sun strike force intercepted it. Recognising from scouts that battle was inevitable, the fleets made use of the scattered islands in the local area to set out their formations. 

The Broad View of the Battle Lines (Chinese Federation on the Left, Empire on the Right)

The Empire of the Blazing Sun - Strike Force Yon-Ju Go

Strike Force Yon-Ju Go

EWS Hanma - Kaiju Heavy Battleship

EWS Nageru - Kiyohime Assault Carrier with Fighter Flight Ni-Ju Ichi

ERWS Fuka-sa - Ika Mechanical Squid

Tanuki Squadron Sutoraiku (3)

Uwatsu Squadron Ju Go (3)

Fujin Squadron San-Ju (3)

Zarigani Squadron Yon (4)

Empire Fighter Flight San-ju Yon

Empire Torpedo Bomber Flight Hachi

Biànhù Line-up

The Chinese Federation Patrol Biànhù

WCF Juéxīn - Jian Mk 1 Battleship

WCF Yīngbàng - Guan Dao Battle Cruiser

WCF Kuài  and WCF Mǐnjié - Chui Support Carrier Squadron with Bomber Flight Jiǔ and Shí

Wo-Dao Squadron Huǒ (2)

Yue Destroyer Squadron Sān (3)

Nu Frigate Squadron Èrshí (4)

Dun Bastion Squadron 

Federation Fighter Flights  JiǔShí and SānShí

The Opening Barrage

As the fleets drew near, the manoeuvring began in earnest with the Chinese Federation surging to take a central defensive position and the Empire beginning a pincer move to surround them with their superior agility.

The Opening Moves

The Tanuki squadron attempted a long range strike on the support carriers but their rockets went wide of the mark as did the responding fire from the Dun Bastions.

The only shooting of note can from Èrshí squadron who managed a long range hit on the trailing Tanuki.

Knives Unsheathed

Wo-Dao Squadron Huǒ surge forward to try and hold a centre point between the three middle islands, striking at the now visible Uwatsu squadron - but only managing to inflict some minor damage on the sturdy Empire frigates.

Squadron Ju Go feeling the barrels of the Chinese beginning to track down on them advanced bravely into the fire to take on the larger gunships and inflicting heavy damage on one, knocking out its engines.

Èrshí squadron emboldened by their long range success advance on the visible Uwatsu squadron and open fire. As the smoke clears and the sea settles, two Uwatsu frigates have sunk but their remaining ship stands firm.

 Tanuki Squadron Sutoraiku barrels around the island in a tight turn bringing their considerable armament to bear on the Chinese fleet - their rockets lash out at the Chui carriers but overshoot their mark then they lock onto the Wo-Dao ahead of them - their turrets roar and inflict severe damaged on the lead ship causing the onboard reactors to crack and leak. The resulting damage and evasive actions by the target cause the following torpedo salvo to miss wide.

The Dun bastions rotate and advance slowly - wiping out the last brave Uwatsu before hitting a Tanuki cruiser for some minor damage.

Aircraft flights engage each other in the air, with fighters reigning supreme as the Empire bomber wing is wiped out while two fighter wings inflict heavy damaged on each other with a Chinese flight eliminated and only a single Empire fighter left.

Things are heating up

EWS Hanma hits from long range on a Dun inflicting fire and damages on the bastion but its remains operational.

Yue Destroyer Squadron Sān sneaks forwards under the fire at the Wo-Dao to get a lucky shot off at a Tanuki setting it on fire.

Nageru attempts to hits the damaged Dun but misses and takes damage in response as the flagship Juéxīn bellows back.

The fleets attempt running repairs, the blazing Dun loses some troops to the fire on board and the lead Wo-Dao is listing dangerously while the Tanukis put out their flaming decks.

Taking a Prize

The underfire Wo-Dao advance and rain shots into the Tanuki squadron causing minor damage but not enough to deter the oncoming cruisers.

Tanuki Squadron Sutoraiku move to fire for decisive action and board the damaged Wo-Dao. Their torpedoes home in on WCF Kuài blowing a hole in its side but the carrier remains afloat. Their turrets miss the lead Yue destroyer but the rockets do blast a layer of armour of a Dun and set it on fire.

The Sutoraiku assault troops attempt to board the Wo-Dao, they are repelled from the reactor damaged vessel but manage to board and take the second less damaged ship. The remaining Wo-Dao stands defiant but its days are numbering with loss of troops and a dangerous reactor leak in progress.

The Chui carriers managed to refuel a fighter flight and take refuge behind an island from the advancing threats of the Tanuki squadron and lurking Ika.

Squadron Sān attempts a courageous counter-attack on the Sutoraiku ships causing fires and attempting to board but their assault troops are wiped out in the attempt for little loss to the enemy.

Dive bombers swoop in on the Sutoraiku but AckAck wipes out half the flight reducing their effectiveness as they only cause minor hull damage to a Tanuki.

Fujin Squadron San-Ju continue to sneak round an island to pounce on the first ship to emerge.

The Nu frigates pile damage into the Tanuki squadron but still they stand firm, a thorn in the Chinese side, while the Hanma smashes a Dun into pieces causing its sister bastion to falter and break. The Dun attempts to salvage its honour and do something to the Tanuki squadron but fails in the attempt.

Empire fighters wipe out the Chinese torpedo bombers and the Nageru sinks a Nu and damages another.

The Centre Falters

A flight of Chinese fighters get wiped out by the remaining Empire fighter pilots, proving it to be a dark day for the Chinese air force.

The Juéxīn emerges to see the hidden Fujin squadron and attempts to open fire with its mighty broadside which misses everything in sight and the targeting woes continue as the Yīngbàng fails to range in on the Nageru.

Pouncing Corvettes

The lead Wo-Dao ship succumbs to its reactor leak and is lost with all hands as it finds its end.

Through valiant repair and damage prevention efforts two Tanuki ships survive their fires and damage but the third fell as the fire and corrosion overwhelmed it.

For Glory

Sutoraiku squadron attacks to avenge its fallen comrade - at range the last Dun is battered, losing engine control and being set alight and then the guns destroy a Yue while the assault troops board and sink the remaining destroyers.

The Chui carriers manage to knock out a Empire fighter from its flight but fail to do much else.

The Dun manages to limp forward enough to get a last gasp shot in on the Tanuki squadron and against all odds sinks one of the remaining ships.

Fujin Squadron San-Ju pounce on the exposed Juéxīn and manage to inflict minor damage on the large imposing battleship.

The Nu squadron manage to knock down the remaining elements of a figher flight which was retreating to its carrier as the turn round an island.

Zarigani Squadron Yon inflict heavy fires on the leading Chui carrier but the Yīngbàng answers with its bellowing turrets, sinking two of the little squids and damaging the other two.

The Hanma opens up on the Juéxīn but fails to make an impression and takes minor damaged in return from the battleship.

The Nageru targets the Juéxīn but fails to land a shot.

Fizzling away

The opposing admirals surveying their losses and changing weather decided withdrawal from the field of battle was the best course of action to preserve as much strength for their nations as possible. Another day will see a decisive victory but for now, the battle ends in an agreed draw.

Final Status

The Empire of the Blazing Sun - Strike Force Yon-Ju Go

EWS Hanma - Kaiju Heavy Battleship - Light Damage

EWS Nageru - Kiyohime Assault Carrier with Fighter Flight Ni-Ju Ichi - Light Damage, Fighters gone

ERWS Fuka-sa - Ika Mechanical Squid - Undamaged but out of position

Tanuki Squadron Sutoraiku (3) - One remaining, heavy damage

Uwatsu Squadron Ju Go (3) - Destroyed

Fujin Squadron San-Ju (3) - Undamaged

Zarigani Squadron Yon (4) - 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Empire Fighter Flight San-ju Yon - Destroyed

Empire Torpedo Bomber Flight Hachi - Destroyed

The Chinese Federation Patrol Biànhù

WCF Juéxīn - Jian Mk 1 Battleship - Light Damage

WCF Yīngbàng - Guan Dao Battle Cruiser - Undamaged

WCF Kuài  and WCF Mǐnjié - Chui Support Carrier Squadron with Bomber Flight Jiǔ and Shí - Medium Damage, Flight Jiǔ gone, Shí operational

Wo-Dao Squadron Huǒ (2) - One destroyed, Other abandoned by opponent

Yue Destroyer Squadron Sān (3) - Destroyed

Nu Frigate Squadron Èrshí (4) - One sunk, One damaged, Two undamaged

Dun Bastion Squadron  - One destroyed, One Heavy Damage

Federation Fighter Flights  JiǔShí - Destroyed and SānShí - One SAS operational

Review

This was an enjoyable game - had it continued it could have swung either way - I tend to think the Empire would have prevailed but my opponent thought the Chinese had a good chance of victory due to having (limited) air superiority and the Ika being in out of position.

I hope Dave enjoyed his first game (of many to come hopefully), I enjoyed playing the Chinese Federation which have a very different feel to my usual Empire of the Blazing Sun.