OML 3 - "The Lardest Day" - 6th June - The Battle of Sha - ho 1904 - Part 1

Less than a week before the big day and time for a taster for the on the day action.

This is the third outing for the Wyvern Wargames Club Lardy Day  a gaming event dedicated to all rules by the Too Fat Lardies
. 

BUT - it is NOT a tournament. Nothing can be won other than a moral victory over your opponents and the honour of retelling history in the curry house later.

There are no trophies or league tables no super tournament armies designed to wipe all before them, no pouring over rule books looking to find kinks in the rules.

THIS IS NOT A TOURNAMENT! 

Just a bunch of gamers looking to play the period not the rules.

SO What to play on the day???

It's always surprising where the inspiration for a game can come from, I originally planned to playout an element of the Battle of Sha - ho and the crossing of the Shli River and then I spotted a short foot note to the battle.

"Ōyama was reluctant to accept General Kuroki’s assessment of the true situation until a copy of Kuropatkin’s written orders to General Stakelberg were discovered on the body of a Russian officer killed in a skirmish on 9 October."

This feels like a scenario that could be played out in 3-4 hours...

By way of historical background.

The battle began on 5 October 1904, with the Russian Western Detachment moving 25 kilometres south across open terrain within minimal opposition, reaching the banks of the Shli River on 7 October.

The Russian Eastern Detachment moved south through mountainous terrain 36 kilometres, reaching the hamlet of Bianyupusa on 8 October. Kuropatkin gambled that Oyama would perceive that the Western Detachment moving down the plains was the main thrust against Liaoyang, whereas his main strike force was actually the Eastern Detachment moving in the concealment of the hills. 

The ruse initially worked until Kuropatkin's orders were found by the Japanese.

After two weeks of combat, the battle ended inconclusively strategically. Tactically, the Japanese had advanced 25 kilometers on the road to Mukden, but more importantly had blocked a major Russian counter-offense and effectively ended any hope of relieving the Siege of Port Arthur by land.