Bag the Hun Khalkhin Gol Club Game Report

 

The club game last night went down well with the players, although it was a bit of a walkover for the Japanese, mainly due to some terrible luck with both the dice and the cards for the Soviets, but also due to some good tactical moves by the Japanese players. As expected, the multi-section formations had split up by Turn Two and it ended up as a close fought dogfight, with the Soviet Top Ace, Major Gritsavets, being forced off with instrument damage in Turn Three. He made it off the table but it was good start for the Japanese, who gained one point for forcing him off, while also eliminating the threat of a Top Ace before he could do anything serious. 

In Turn Five a second Soviet pilot, Zveno Three, Number Two, was downed after he literally blew up in mid-air but one of the Japanese pilots, Shotai One, Number Two, also received fuel line damage, which made him vulnerable to a follow on attack later in the game. In the final turn the Soviet Junior Ace, Major Smirnov, had expended all of his ammunition and had a gun jam, but due to bad dice hadn't managed to get any hits on his target. Instead, he was tailed by Sgt Major Saito, who blew him out of the sky, the only compensation for the Soviets being the subsequent shooting down of the fuel line damaged Ki-27 by Smirnov's wingman.  

The game ended at this point, as the Japanese had shot down or forced off three enemy aircraft, having lost only one themselves. The Soviets gained two points for shooting down a Soviet veteran pilot, but the Japanese wiped the floor with them, gaining one point for Major Gritsavets being forced off, two for a Veteran being blown up and three for blasting Major Smirnov to smithereens, as he was a Junior Ace. This was a reverse result compared to my solo game, which is a good thing as it means that either side could win in a replay, so I'm happy with the result. The Soviet players will get a chance for revenge, however, as they had really, really bad luck on the day!