Sabresquadron Korean War 1950 in 10mm Pendraken

Finally got my 10mm 1950 Korean War troops on table!

I painted the ROK troops in 2021 as a Lockdown project https://madlemmey.blogspot.com/2021/02/south-korean-infantry-company-1950.html
The North Koreans were finished in 2019. https://madlemmey.blogspot.com/2019/11/pendraken-10mm-korean-war.html
But they had never been used in anger!
So, Nick and William came over to Leighton Buzzard, and I set up a Sabresquadron game set in the early phase of the Korean War.

• The North Koreans had to break through, while trying to take four on table objectives and three exit points. These were worth 100 points.
• The South Koreans with much worse morale and training, had to withdraw (they scored five victory points for each platoon that got off table, up to 40 points) and had less victory points to spread across five of the objectives of their choice (a further 60 points).

North Korean come on from the left. Pink dots are the objectives. South Koreans infantry platoons have to be between the half-way line and the first third of the table (basically in line with the village and the rocky hill), support platoons may be deployed deeper.. We went for the 'very hilly' aesthetic.


I did order some lovely T-34-85s from Leon, but they only arrived this afternoon, and I know I am a quick painter, but I was at work all day, so Junior General came up trumps.


Top view, it was like assembling cereal box dioramas from the 1970s!


South Korean initial deployment.


The ROK were feeling pretty smug with their deployment, until we mentioned that the North had a pre-game bombardment. Proprietary bombardment level 2 by the North, here come the big guns! Each platoon rolls 2d10 to see if it is hit, then each base in a hit platoon has to make saves. Platoons with one blue crystal had to make one save per base, two crystals = 2 saves, no crystals = lucky miss.


After the bombardment, on the far hill an infantry platoon is at half strength, plus two detachments from the weapons company were hit hard in the backfield (one lost 3 out of 4 bases).


Norts deploy

Norts https://britishcomics.fandom.com/wiki/Norts

And quickly seize their first objective


The shattered ROK 1st platoon is targeted by North Korean armour. It decides to leave the objective and try to retire. At this stage of the war, the South had neither tanks, nor any decent amounts of anti-tank assets. None were as good as the T-34 unit American and Commonwealth allies arrived, and apart from three bazookas the other side of the table, none were here!


The whole South Korean front line decided that staying around was not a great plan...
The North was planning to envelop the village, crushing all before them, and puzzled "Where are the ROK going?"


From Jaleukoui Hwang-geum Sonjab-i Hill, the remains of the Southern weapon platoon takes a single shot (the MMG at the front was neutralised, so only the commander could shoot).


The North Koreans advance well, out numbering and out classing their opponent, and the far South Korean platoon routs under the combined firepower of the Northern tanks and supporting infantry platoon, leaving a flank open.


Both sides realising time was of the essence, break out into runs rather than standing round firefighting. The South reopening a safe gap between them and the aggressors. The only thing advancing was the bazooka teams across table through the tall crops.


Hit by a single shot, which fells the platoon leader, caused a moral test, the North's third platoon, who promptly failed and ended up with a 'must withdraw to safe cover'.


The North's second platoon also fail their morale, and halt. Just when they were needed to advance and secure the village! Nick was pondering his chances of winning at this juncture.


Again, a desultory shots ring out from Jaleukoui Hwang-geum Sonjab-i Hill.


And rifle shots from the weapon's company's command teams reach out and touch someone, one hit out of three finds a target.


A REALLY bad day to be a bazooka team! Two other teams were mowed down, and the third was neutralised. These guys won't be doing much, despite passing their morale with flying colours.


But the South Koreans Weapons Platoon command stands get another lucky single shot, and with it inflict a single casualty. The morale of the North's Second platoon fails completely, aand they rout! The Northern Koreans had much better morale too.


The South withdraws and regroups nearest to us, the tanks removed the bazooka threat a large dose of extreme violence, and now they could advance unhindered.


On objective three, North Korean AOP finally remembers how to use his radio, and ranging shots fall perfectly on target.


Killing and suppressing the two stands under the template.


As the game ends, no one has reached the back of the board, so the South could not claim any Victory Points for their safe evacuation. Two Southern platoons were broken, but the loss of the central Northern platoon curtailed the Communist advance somewhat.


As the two sides totted up their victory points, despite the stalling of their advance, the North had won by a tiny six victory points!
A great game and both Nick and Will really enjoyed it. So glad to get the forces on table. Interesting how the game plays with infantry heavy armies, older kit and not so good troops.
Now, time to start painting proper T-34s!