GMT's new modern battle of the war. Only two ROK Mechanized Brigades block the NKPA advance game, CrisisiKorea 1995 has down the coastal highway, as reserves been designed for playability, tasked with blocking the highway are not yet mobilized. To make matters fun, and simulation value, in worse for the South, the powerful North that order. We know, however, that Korean X Mechanized Corps advances many gamers want the simulation value south through Wonsan and heads for to be high, even at the risk of sacrificing the DMZ. playability. We have gone for a bal- anced approach, and are very happy Meanwhile, in a daring gamble, the with the final product. We put the game NKPA commander launches an am- to the test recently, with a Basic Game phibious assault with one brigade of replay to test just how flexible the game amphibious light infantry just north of system is in allowing players to simulate the ROK city of Pohang (a major allied the potential options and strategies of port and airbase earmarked for US both sides in a future Korean war. We're reinforcement) along the southeast reprinting the highlights herein so that coast! The assault succeeds, and the fast- you can judge for yourself. moving NKPA troops quickly overcome the still-organizing ROK reserves to The scenario is 38 North Yankee . This capture the city's port facilities. campaign game represents an NKPA (North Korean People's Army) out-of- The battle in the central region goes the-barracks attack on the South. Since better for the South. The ROK II Corps warning time is minimal, neither side holds against continuous assaults from has any reserves mobilized or deployed the North Korean V Corps. The terrain at the start of the game. The US posture Korean airfields. US air units based there is favorable to the defense, and is much like it is in the real world today. outside of South Korea are mobilizing steep mountains and rugged forested The 2nd Infantry Division is positioned but not yet in the theatre. This results in highlands do as much to stop the North Northeast of Seoul, with a fighter- the North being able to support their Korean Advance as do the ROK troops. bomber wing and several attack ground attacks throughout the turn with helicopter battalions also in country. As a few squadrons of fighter-bombers and In the west, north of Seoul, the North the scenario begins, the ready brigade of their limited number of attack helicop- Korean employs the majority of his the 82nd Airborne and the west coast ters. The South gets very limited close Light Infantry Brigades to aid his ready battalion of marines are also on air support, mostly from American advance. These specially trained troops the ground in South Korea. These are AH-64 Apaches. infiltrate allied front-line postions, the only US units available at game providing flank and rear attacks for the start, although turn 1 reinforcements The Land Battle: main NKPA spearheads. As the DMZ will include additional Marines from The NKPA attack hits at all points along infantry divisions engage the allies all nearby Okinawa. the Demilitarized Zone, with especially along the front line, the two most strong thrusts aimed at clearing the east powerful North Korean formations, the Game Turn 1 coast highway and advancing north of 815th Mechanized Corps and the 820th (Game Scale is two turns per week) Uijongbu and Munsan. The Assaults by Armor Corps, attempt to exploit. I and IX corps in the east blast through Finding a small gap between the ROK V The Air Battle: the ROK fortifications, sending III Corps and VI Corps, they blast through the The North Koreans have Air Superiority reeling southward and shattering the DMZ forts, split and scatter the ROK VI (on a scale of Neutral, Advantage, understrength VII Corps guarding the Corps, and head southwest for Seoul. Superiority, Supremacy) on Game Turn coastal highway. Lead elements of the Directly in their path, headquartered at one due to the surprise nature of the NKPA IX Corps capture the ROK Uijongbu, are the three maneuver attack and the effectiveness of their airfield near Sogcho, completing a 40- brigades of the US 2nd Infantry Divi- Special Purpose Forces attacks on South mile advance during the first three days sion. The Americans resist fiercely, supported by what little attack helicop-

ter support is available. Marine Division, augmented Though they hold at by the US Marine ready Uijongbu, the US Division's battalion, retake the Pohang 2nd Brigade is eliminated Airbase in heliborne assaults. along with a full Division of NKPA light infantry in North Korean Mechanized Pohang City are reinforced by troops in the wild melee. By sea, but unable to breakout to the end of the turn, the allies, retake the airfield from the though forced to retreat from marines. their DMZ positions, hold a steady but attrited line only While the battle in the center fifteen miles north of Seoul. remains stalemated, the fight north of Seoul brutalizes both To further complicate the sides. The US 2nd Infantry allied problems around Division's 3rd Brigade and Seoul, North Korean several ROK Divisions are amphibious troops land wiped out, along with south of Inchon, and a virtually all of the North's brigade of light infantry powerful 815th Mechanized paradrops into Anseong, Corps. The remaining threatening the airfields at Americans retreat from Suwon and Osan. Finally, air Uijongbu to avoid being cushion vehicles speed two outflanked. Only a thin line of brigades of light infantry regulars, including most of I across the the Korean Bay Corps, the remnants of VI mud flats and onto the Corps, the 1st brigade peninsula northeast of Seoul, (armored) of the US 2nd barely fifteen miles from Division, and some hastily Kimpo International Airport. assembled reserves guard the In the ensuing combat, the way to Seoul. Still, the NKPA North Koreans are repulsed, advance north of Seoul gains but at the cost of heavy little ground as both sides damage to the South's take heavy losses. Capital Corp's Marine Division. Southwest of Seoul, marines of the US 5th MEB assault the North Korean casualties are beaches near Inchon. After high during this first turn. consolidating their beachead, Virtually every corps has at they turn south and overrun least one shattered or the beachhead of the NKPA damaged division. Losses amphibious units. Unfortu- among the irreplaceable light nately, the Americans arrive too late to infantry Turn 2 stop one North Korean amphibious and reconaissance troops are appalling, brigade from taking the allied airfield but the infiltrations achieved by those The Air Battle: at Songtan in a hasty assault. Losses troops were critical to the success of the American air power is beginning to there included a South Korean advance. arrive in the theatre, though most of it transport helicopter company and the is not operational yet. The North entire US 52nd Aviation battalion with Already, the ROK Army is a mess. One Koreans still have a slight edge in their full compliment of AH-64 Corps is wiped out, three others are the air over the peninsula, but ground Apaches. Their loss is avenged as ROK shattered and disorganized, and only a combat support for the allies is slowly reserves destroy the amphibious few of the reserve divisions have becoming available. brigade and retake the airfield. mobilized. All available reserves are moving toward Seoul, as the threat The Land Battle: As the turn ends, both sides have taken there is deemed greater than the NKPA In the east, the NKPA I and IX Corps enormous losses, but still have large breakthrough down the eastern coast turn inland toward Wonju as the X mobilized armies in the field. Wonju is road. As the turn ends, one bright spot Corps exploits their breakthrough along besieged from the east and Seoul is only appears, as an American Amphibious the coast road. The city of Mugho and lightly defended beyond the front line, group rounds the southern Korean coast its nearby port both fall to the X Corps but the ROK cause looks hopeful, as US into the Yellow Sea. advance. Meanwhile, in the far south- airpower begins to arrive in large east, major portions of the 1st ROK

numbers. The US 82nd Airborne this, ROK reserves, fresh American differential is now +94 in favor Division is airlifted into Suwon and the troops, and the allied buildup of of the NKPA. recaptured Songtan airbase as addi- airpower provide hope. If only the tional defenders for Seoul or the weather will clear... Turn 5 beginnings of the counterattack force. Turn 4 Clear weather at last! The American TurnS reinforcements won't land until the end Incredible! Another turn of Storms! In of the turn, but US air power is now out In a frustrating and distressing turn for game-terms, this could be a decisive in force. the allied cause, severe storms across the turn, as the North Koreans begin the peninsula ground all air activities and turn leading in Victory points by +98 The Air Battle: prohibit sea movement for the entire (When the difference reaches 100+, the For the first time in the game, the allies turn. Weather hampers both sides on leading side begins making Automatic have control of the air over the battle- the ground, as roads turned to mud and Victory die rolls at the end of the turn). field. The air superiority level is monsoon conditions slow both North The NKPA again has the initiative, but Superiority. Thus, with the 82nd Air- Korean exploitation and the movement movement is slowed by the weather. It borne already on the ground in Korea of ROK Reserves. will be interesting to see whether or not and plenty of airmobile capabilities, the the combined South Korean-US forces, allies will be able to threaten the North The Land Battle: without air cover for the second with vertical envelopment. Along the east coast, advance elements consecutive turn, can stop the NKPA of the X Corps reach Pyeonghae, still onslaught. The Land Battle: sixty miles north of the now beseiged amphibious units holding out in The Land Battle: The allies, with the initiative for the Pohang. ROK and US Marines, unable Lead elements of the NKPA X Corps first time in the game, quickly move to expunge the North Koreans from the finally reach Pohang, only to find that to cut off the enemy army north of city, bide their time, awaiting clear the city has already been retaken by Seoul. Two brigades of the US 82nd weather and air power. Further north, I ROK marines and reserves. A hasty Airborne make a surprise airdrop at and IX Corps units combine to capture assault is launched, but thrown back Kumchion, 30 miles north of the DMZ! the major central city of Wonju, advanc- with heavy losses. The relief has They dig into blocking positions along ing across South Korea's east-west arrived too late, and Pohang, at the main NKPA supply and reinforce- highway to within sixty miles of Seoul. least for the moment, is secure ment route. Their job is to delay the in South Korean hands. three Corps of reinforcements streaming The fight continues north of Seoul, with south from Pyongyang. both sides pounding away in spite of In the North Central area, the NKPA I the weather. In a surprise move, the Corps guards the Approaches to Wonju, With northern reinforcements delayed, ROK 26th Infantry Division retakes securing the southern flank against the allies go all out to reduce the Uijongbu in a lightning assault. A major possible ROK counterattacks, while IX bloodied Communist army assaulting NKPA counterattack later in the turn Mech pushes on toward Seoul. After Seoul. Beginning east of the city, a repels the South Koreans and destroys two successful combats that bring them combined US marine-ROK reserve the South's vaunted Capital Mechanized to the gates of the city, they are pushed counterattack wipes out the last of the Division. US Marines move north from back with heavy losses by a US Marine- enemy's IX Corps. US marines and their beachhead to take up positions led counterattack. North of the city, the elements of the ROK I corps perform a protecting Kimpo International Airport North advances seven miles across the left hook on the NKPA right flank, northeast of Seoul. front, shattering the US 2nd Division's utilizing airmobile assaults to surround 1st Armored brigade and sustaining and destroy the IV Corp's 26th and 41st There are no US reinforcements due to extremely heavy losses for their trouble. Divisions along the west coast near the bad weather. A two-division attack along the west Munsan. ROK reserves regain fifteen coast south of Munsan pushes to the miles by flanking and wrecking two After a week and a half of fighting, the outskirts of the capitol, but again with NKPA divisions east of Uijongbu. While northeastern quarter of South Korea is heavy losses. Almost all of the NKPA the North's center holds fast, its army's in the hands of the NKPA. Pressure on formations have now taken heavy flanks are being savaged and it is Seoul from the east (the I and IX Corps) damage, and the ROKA reserves are threatened with encirclement. Heavy along with concentrated attacks from beginning to arrive in force. Near the allied use of air and attack helicopter the north pose a serious threat to the end of the turn, three separate counter- support turns several low-odds attacks capital. The NKPA, though battered, attacks push the North Koreans back, into big wins for the allies, but the still packs a wallop with their armor and one threatening to envelop their flank NKPA refuses to retreat! mechanized divisions. The ROKA, on east of Uijongbu. The impetus of these the other hand, is a battered shell of its attacks, combined with the victory at In the central region, ROK reserves former self, with only about half of its Pohang, gives the allies the initiative for counterattack south of Wonju, driving original divisions fit to fight. In spite of game-turn 5. Total victory point the only remaining divisions of the

NKPA I Corps back into the city, and Turn 6 The End blocking North Korean reinforcement across the east-west highway. Overcast weather makes air support Shocked by the boldness of the allied and airmobile movements more attacks, and understanding the gravity North of Pohang on the coast road, difficult, restricting allied capabilities of the threat posed by an allied port and the ROK 1st Marine Division spearheads for this turn. an airhead in the heart of North Korea an attack that breaks an enemy mecha- with US Armor in route to the theatre, nized brigade. A ROK airmobile assault The Air Battle: the NKPA commander sees the hand- recaptures Pyeonghae forty miles to Ground support and helicopter trans- writing on the wall and surrenders. the north, temporarily cutting off port is limited by the weather. three brigades of mechanized units. Amid a chorus of catcalls between sighs The NKPA counterattacks swiftly, The Land battle: of relief from the allied players (who reopening the supply route through Hampered in the air, but still possessing really didn't have the combat strength Pyeonghae and overrunning the ROK the initiative, the allies strike by sea! to expand the beachhead or exploit their airmobile unit. Two full MEBs of the US 3rd MEF attacks into the north for several more launch an amphibious assault into turns), the debate begins. Would the In the north, a full North Korean corps North Korea. Target? A lightly defended real-life North Koreans really have assaults the 82nd airborne's blocking beach hex south of the port of given in? Not likely, is the consensus. positions along a narrow front at Ungchi'on the peninsula southwest of Would the war have played out the way Kumchion. In a furious three-day battle, Pyongyang. The marines consolidate the game did? Would the North the 82nd holds its ground, refusing to their beachhead and march north, Koreans, in the same situation, have retreat, buying precious time for the capturing the port. As the North folded their tents, or would they have allied counterattack north of Seoul. Koreans shift their reserves to the west escalated the conflict with nukes or the Finally, with supplies running low to meet this threat, they leave the key threat of nukes? The players felt that and only half its original compliment city of Sariwon, and thus the supply line they probably would have escalated, of troops, the 82nd calls for evacuation. between Pyongyang and the front-line and that the game could use some Anti-aircraft fire from the North troops, momentarily unguarded. Seizing optional rules to deal with that possibil- Koreans aborts the evacuation attempt, the opportunity, at great risk in light of ity. In the end, though, everyone agreed sealing the fate of the men of the 82nd. the poor weather, the 8th Army com- that the rapidity of the change of Attacked on four sides, they are mander orders a massive heliborne fortunes and thus initiative in the game finally overrun by communist armor assault into the area, utilizing the US had been shocking. The battle for Seoul and mechanized troops, clearing the 7th and 25th Light Infantry Divisions was a very near run thing, as was the way to reinforce the beleagured troops as well as units from the seasoned battle for Pohang in the southeast, with north of Seoul. South Korean 2nd Army's 90th the NKPA failures leaving them open to Reserve Division. The assaults are counterattack virtually everywhere. As the turn ends, allied spirits are targeted at Sariwon and Hwangju, to the Had a few die rolls gone differently, bouyed by the arrival of two American north. Both assaults succeed, and both however, all agreed that an NKPA Light infantry Divisions (the 7th and cities, as well as the major NKPA victory was within reach. the 25th), two battalions of I Corps airbase at Hwangju, fall under the attack helicopters, and another weight of the attack. brigade of Marines.

The NKPA victory point advantage is now +81 VPs.

Campaign #6: ROK Attack Initiative VPs: 15 by Gene Billingsley Surprise: All ROK attacks on GT1 receive a three-column shift In the late Spring of 1991, a United States Army officer, recently to the right on the CRT. All ROK attacks on GT2 receive a returned from the Team Spirit exercises, gave me an entirely new one-column shift to the right on the CRT. perspective on the American mission in Korea. "Son", he confided, "We aren't over there to keep the North Koreans from overrun- Air Points: ning South Korea. Not much chance of that. No, the real danger is Both sides roll on the GT 3 Column during each game-turn. that the ROKs will attack the North. We're there to reign them in." Airmobile Points: N KPA: 4 Could the South really attack and win? 'Without US help, that ROK: 6 would seem unlikely. Still, we thought it might be interesting to see how such an attack might play out. The Surprise DRMs in Tunnels: 0 this campaign reflect that the North Koreans are as surprised by the audacity of the ROKs as we are. Covering Forces: We've structured the scenario assuming US troops have with- NKPA-4 drawn from Korea, and without the possibility of US Intervention, ROK-6 mostly for play balance, but also to reflect what we perceive to be a lessened committment from the current administration to quickly At Start Air Defenses: and aggressively reinforce our allies. If you want to play the NKPA: Detection: 7 • SAMs: 7 • AAA: 2 campaign with US Intervention, you can use the Variant from ROK: Detection: 7 • SAMs: 6 • AAA: 2 Campaign #4 (the first eight turns worth) for this one, too. Beginning Allied AWACS Advantage: 1 Game Length: 8 Turns (4 Weeks) This campaign assumes that, after one month of heavy Special Forces Points: fighting, both sides have expended most of their stockpiles NKPA-20 plus 2 per turn on GTs 3-7 and exhausted their populace. In such a state, the side that's ROK- 20 plus 1 per turn on GTS 2-10 losing at that point either forces a chance of government (Overwhelming/Decisive Victory) or forces a political Note: The Initiative of the ROK attack blunts a significant settlement, brokered and enforced by the UN. number of NKPA Special Purpose Forces missions. This accounts for the lower number of SF Points for the North in Play Area: Both maps this campaign.

Initial Set-up: Supply Points: NKPA (Set-up First): All NKPA units except those with Res NKPA-40 + 2 per turn or PRG as their unit designation set up in hexes listed on ROK-40 + 2 per turn their counters. Reinforcements: NKPA Attack Helicopters set up in any Airbase or Airfield NKPA:Turn 1: Step 1 • Turn 3: Step 2« Turn 4: Step 3» hex in North Korea. Turn 6: Step 4 ROK: Turn 2: Step 3 • Turn 3: Step 4 ROK(Set-up Second): All ROK units except those with M or HR as part of their unit designation set up in hexes listed on Replacements: unit counters. NKPA: 2 per turn • ROK: 3 per turn

Additionally, Step 1 and Step 2 of ROK Reserves are placed Victory: at start in the hex listed on their counters. Automatic Victory Die Roll: +75 Points The winner (barring Automatic Victory) is the player with There are no US units in this Campaign. the most victory points at the end of the game. To determine level of victory, subtract the loser's total from the winner's Sea ControhRoll on the game-turn 3 row of the Sea Control and find the result below. Chart for the duration of the game. Overwhelming: +65 Points Initiative: The ROK player has the Initiative for the Decisive: +41-64 Points first two turns of this scenario. After that, Initiative is Substantive: +21-40 Points determined normally. Marginal: +1-20 Points