Last Stand at Lang Son v0.1
Last Stand at Lang Son v0.1
Last Stand at Lang Son v0.1
Hanoi, 22 September 1940, 1800 hours. supported with tanks, aircraft and artillery
After weeks of strained negotiations, the on the Japanese side and a hodgepodge of
beleaguered Vichy French authorities and colonial marines, Tonkinese rifles and
their Japanese interlocutors had just foreign legionnaires supported by a
reached an agreement in Hanoi, granting handful of obsolete tanks of WWI vintage
the Japanese basing and transit rights on the French side that makes for a very
through Indochina, four hours before the unlikely matchup.
ultimatum sent by ambassador Nishihara
Researching this particular episode proved
had run out. It seemed that war had been
to be both a source of joy and frustration. At
averted.
some points, the lack of good maps,
And yet, around midnight that very same complete orders of battle and the often-
day, firing broke out at the border post of contradictory sequences of events made it
Dong Dang. At 2355 hrs, the Japanese 5th feel like an exercise in futility; sometimes, it
division under Lieutenant general seems that the men who laid down their
Nakamura Aketo had crossed the border of lives in Indochina were indeed les oubliés
French Indochina at three points along a du bout du monde. And yet, despite the
70-kilometre front. As the fighting raged, difficulties involved, the rare occasions in
believing that negotiations were still which one managed to glean a precious bit
possible, Lieutenant colonel Louvet set out of information from the most unlikely
from Lang Son with part of a motorised sources made it all worthwhile.
detachment only to be gunned down by
In this regard, the series of 1 :100 000 scale
elements of the Japanese vanguard,
maps prepared under the direction of Lt.
making him perhaps the first French
colonel Friquegnon in the 1930s and the
casualty of the war in the Pacific. A four-day
1:400 000 scale road maps of Indochina
undeclared war, christened the “Lang Son
published by the Institut National
incident” in a classic example of Japanese
Géographique proved invaluable, though I
understatement, had begun in earnest.
had to complete the topographic
This pint-sized campaign covers the information they provided with the
fighting along the 4th colonial road as the excellent 1:50 000 maps of Vietnam
Japanese 5th division carries out a vast produced by the U.S. Army Map Service in
encirclement to trap Germain Mennerat’s the 1960s.
2nd Brigade of the Tonkin Division in the
It is my hope that this campaign will not only
railway hub of Lang Son, focusing
provide my fellow players with many hours
especially on the central and southern
of enjoyment, but also arouse interest in this
columns of the Japanese advance and the
obscure but fascinating episode.
hard-pressed Vichy French defenders who
stood in their way between the 22nd and the Michael E. Moss, August 2021
26th of September 1940. The forces
present are varied and colourful, with a
strong infantry division generously
Historical Background
Before we begin, it is worth paying entity. According to the French, who were
attention to the word “incident” (translated sympathetic towards China’s plight, the
from 事件, jiken, or 事変, jihen) which was absence of legal belligerents meant that it
used from the Meji restoration to the defeat was free to provide military support and
of the Empire of Japan to describe all sorts supplies to the Chinese government
of events ranging from riots to attempted through the port at Haiphong and up the
coups, from political struggles to large Tonkin-Yunnan railway. This policy of
battles such as Khalkhin-Gol. Indeed, the assistance had the effect of subverting the
roots of the Lang Son incident are to be strategy through which the Japanese
found in yet another “incident” a few years intended to win the war, and it was not long
earlier, namely, the Marco Polo Bridge before the Japanese government went on
incident of July 1937, which sparked a war the offensive, both overtly and covertly.
that would claim over 20 million lives over Covert operations took shape through
the course of the eight following years. intelligence and propaganda efforts
Many of these incidents were, in fact, among local populations, spurring locals to
sparks that Japanese imperial ambition rebel against western colonialism. Despite
hoped to fan into localised conflicts that the fact that Pan-Asianism was often hardly
would eventually allow Japan to achieve more than a propaganda slogan for the
dominance in East Asia step by step and Japanese, who placed themselves clearly
without having to face the prospect of at the top of the Asian racial totem pole, it
embargoes that would starve its war proved to be a useful propaganda tool, as
machine of oil and steel. the populations of South-East Asia were
The Japanese invasion of China was a vast sympathetic to the idea of the Asian man
undertaking. Despite their overwhelming defeating the hitherto seemingly invincible
military, industrial and technological European man. In Indochina, the Japanese
superiority, Chinese determination to fight secret service intensified its activity,
on despite losses and the vastness of their promoting anti-French and nationalist
territory turned the operation into a movements and cults, especially the
quagmire. Defeat on the battlefield at Caodaist religion, to the point of creating a
Changsha in 1939 led the Japanese to veritable “fifth column” in the colony.
reconsider their war plan. Victory would not
be achieved through decisive battle but
through attrition, and thus the Imperial
Japanese Navy extended its operations
southwards, implementing a blockade of
the Chinese coast that cut off all but three
of China’s links with the outside world: with
the USSR, through Turkistan, with the
British Empire, through Burma, and with
France, through Indochina.
Tensions flare up
Among these troops, it is the 5th Infantry Japanese troops march into Indochina
Division, supported by the 14th tank alongside a Type 94 tankette
regiment, that would spearhead the
invasion. The 5th Infantry Division was a The invasion force that entered Tonkin in
square division made up of two brigades, late September 1940 numbered over
the 9th and the 21st, with two regiments each: 25000 men, with light and medium armour
the 11th and 41st infantry regiments and the and air support, far outmatching its French
21st and 42nd infantry regiments, opponents. After its strong performance in
respectively. The 21st infantry brigade, in Indochina, the 5th division would go on to
particular, had a reputation as an elite unit. distinguish itself in the Malayan campaign,
Furthermore, the division also had a where it overcame British, Indian and
mountain artillery regiment, a horse cavalry Australian resistance, and fight its way into
regiment, an engineer regiment and a Singapore.
transport and logistics regiment.
The Campaign
The organisation of this campaign differs The northern column’s advance will be
from others in that it is split into two covered by three odd-numbered scenarios,
different halves, covering the progress of namely tables 1, 3 and 5, whereas the
the Japanese central and southern southern column’s advance will be covered
columns. Since the campaign covers a by tables 2, 4 and 6. If the French manage
large number of different units across a to hold the Japanese long enough, they will
front approximately 50 km wide, casualties also have the option to attempt a
will only need to be tracked on a single counterattack which, while unlikely to stop
given table. As the French forces were the Japanese advance, may delay them
spread thinly across a string of outposts enough to throw them off schedule.
along the 4th Colonial Road (RC4, which
Throughout the campaign, the French
would become infamous for the deadly
player will have the chance to deploy
series of ambushes fought ten years later,
different types of platoons, all of which will
in 1950) they will usually not be able to call
be described below, based on the troop
on any kind of reinforcements beyond their
types that were historically present at the
starting platoons.
different engagements. The Japanese
The Japanese will be racing against time to player, on the other hand, will mostly lead a
attack the railway hub at Lang Son from standard infantry platoon, but will also have
both sides; the degree of victory or defeat the chance to choose a cavalry platoon
will depend on whether they can achieve a from the 5th division’s organic mounted
historical outcome, namely, the battalion in the southern column if he so
encirclement of Mennerat’s 2nd Brigade, wishes.
within 10 turns.
Below is a map of the first campaign ladder:
The first campaign ladder begins with the The French counterattack on table 3 bis is a
night attack against a lone platoon of Patrol scenario (Scenario 1 from the main
Tonkinese Rifles at the border post near rulebook).
Nam Quam (table 1), followed by the attack
The platoons available for each scenario of
against the Dong Dang outpost (table 3). If
the campaign are as follows:
the Japanese player fails to capture Dong
Dang in the first round, the next round will Table Japanese French
be fought in daylight and, if the French 1 Infantry 3e RTT
manage to resist during the next daytime 2 Infantry or 3e RTT
round, they will have the option to attempt cavalry
a counterattack (table 3 bis). Once Dong 3 Infantry 3e RTT
Dang has been overrun, the Japanese 3 bis Infantry 3e RTT
advance will move on to Ky Lua, on the 4 Infantry or 3e RTT, 5e REI
cavalry or 9e RIC
outskirts of Lang Son. Capturing this table
5 Infantry 3e RTT
will complete the northern part of the
6 Infantry or 5e REI or 9e
encirclement. cavalry RIC
As to the southern campaign, it covers the
attack against the border outpost at Chi Ma Casualties and reinforcements
(table 2), the capture of Loc Binh (table 4)
The Japanese enjoyed significant
and the enveloping attack against the
superiority in numbers and can deploy a
southern flank of Lang Son at Mai Pha
fresh platoon every time a scenario is
(table 6), as can be seen in the map below.
played. Casualties will, however, affect the
The scenarios are governed by the CO and men’s opinion as per the At the
following rules from the main rules and Sharp End supplement. Track these values
Blitzkrieg 1940 handbook: for the 5th Division as a whole.
No. Name Scenario The French get a fresh platoon the first time
1 Gates of China BK3 each table is played but may not obtain any
2 A Rude Awakening 2 reinforcements; however, on maps where
3 Dust-up at Dong Dang 3 several platoon types are available, they
4 Up the RC4 BK5 may switch to a different force to obtain a
5 Storming the Redoubt BK4 fresh platoon. Opinions may likewise be
6 Outflanked at Mai Pha 5 tracked for the 2nd Brigade as a whole.
Descriptions for most of the support The French player may select any number
options in the French list may be found in of field defences on tables 1, 2 and 3. On
the Blitzkrieg 1940 handbook. Below are tables 4, 5 and 6, entrenchments may only
some clarifications regarding the be selected from the second time the
limitations placed on the availability of scenario is played onwards.
some support options:
Grenade availability
Armoured support
French groups de combat have three hand
The French had little armour in the region grenades and one smoke grenade. They
other than a handful of old Renault FT tanks are held by the demi-groupe de voltigeurs.
and the armoured cars.
Furthermore, the 9 RIC also has
th
AFVs
FIXED BAYONETS
The Japanese soldier was drilled in bayonet fighting more than any other nation, it being
seen as the deciding weapon in combat. Japanese tactics were to pin a target with part
of their force while other units moved to their flanks to deliver an unstoppable charge.
To reflect this training, the Japanese are always considered Aggressive in close combat.
Grenade discharger squad they enter the table. If this would cause a
team or squad to cease to exist, roll as
The Type 89 grenade discharger is treated
normal on the Bad Things Happen table.
like a rifle grenade on the Master Arsenal
The Japanese player may purchase this
Table, but has a minimum range of 12” and
option up to three times. This support
no maximum range. They may target any
option has no effect on European
unit which can be seen by friendly troops
regiments (9e RIC and 5e REI).
but count any targets which they can see as
being in close range and any they cannot Ruse
see as being at effective range. If an enemy
Admiral Decoux noted how the Japanese
is within 12” the crew may use their rifles to
took advantage of any lulls in the fighting
engage the enemy. Type 89 grenade
caused by attempts to negotiate to infiltrate
dischargers have unlimited HE but are
and improve their positions “with the
limited to one smoke shell each.
utmost bad faith”. The Japanese player
Japanese LMG may purchase a Ruse in order to either
deploy one unit an additional 6” further
The Japanese light machine guns all
from a Jump-Off point than would normally
suffered issues with jamming and as such
be the case (12” for infantry, 15” for cavalry)
they fire with 5D6. They are, however,
OR to move a jump-off point up to 18” in any
equipped with a sling and bayonet for use
direction, so long as it is further than 12”
in the assault and are consequently treated
away from any enemy troops or jump-off
as an SMG in close combat.
point.
JAPANESE SUPPORT OPTIONS DEFINED
Satchel charge and tank killer teams
Asia for the Asians!
The satchel charge is shown on table seven,
Under this slogan, the Japanese Hand-held anti-tank weapons, as are the
announced their intention of breaking the Molotov cocktails used by tank killer teams
Western grip on the colonies of the Far East, in this period, which are listed there as
a prospect that was not entirely petrol bombs. Unless issued to a specific
unappealing to the local population. This anti-tank team or section, the satchel
certainly seems to have been the case charge may be used once by any section on
among many of the men in the 3e Régiment the table when commanded by the senior
de Tirailleurs Tonkinois, which lost up to leader commanding the platoon.
1000 men to desertion during the fighting
Kawasaki Ki-48 bombardment
around Lang Son. This option allows the
Japanese player to force his French This bombardment works like a pre-game
opponent to roll a die when attempting to barrage, with the added effect of
deploy a Tonkinese Rifles section, which destroying buildings like a Stuka
will lose that many men to desertion before bombardment, as described in the
Blitzkrieg 1940 handbook. It does not,
however, inflict shock on troops attempting
to enter the table. If anti-aircraft
machineguns were selected as a support
option, troops attempting to enter the table
may add +1 to their roll.
Marksman
AFVs
Infantry weapons
Type 92 MMG 9 0-24” Over 24” Lose two firepower when crew reduced
to one man.
Type 11 and Type 96 5 0-18” Over 18” Lose three firepower dice when reduced
LMG to one man. Treat as SMG in close combat.
The scenarios in this campaign have not Pacific theatre. The Lang Son region has a
been designed to be balanced on an transitional climate between the
individual level; historically, the Japanese subtropical and warm temperate climates,
enjoyed a huge advantage in numbers, and it has four clearly demarcated seasons.
equipment and air power, and the French Moist deciduous forests grow on the steep
player may sometimes feel like he is having slopes of the dramatic Karst landscapes,
a hard time. The campaign, however, has and the valleys along which the roads run
been designed to be balanced as a whole, were mostly given over to rice paddies.
as the Japanese can afford few delays if Thus, vegetation should be lush and
they are to tighten the noose on the diverse, but not a primeval rainforest. As for
defenders at Lang Son by turn 10. rice paddies, September is harvesting
season and so they may be modelled with
Since players will sometimes have the fully-grown plants.
choice of which platoon they wish to field,
support points for the scenarios must be Most traditional rural buildings were mud-
worked out according to the rules in the and-brick houses similar to the ones in
main book and any specific rules provided southern China, with thatched or tiled roofs.
in the scenario. To these we must add French colonial
buildings, usually made of masonry, with
Notes on terrain more modern examples being made from
concrete. There were also some wooden
Although it might be tempting to break out
buildings, which will be pointed out on the
the reed huts and aquarium plant foliage, it
maps. Most buildings in the smaller villages
is worth keeping in mind that northern
will have one or two storeys, whereas
Vietnam is not like the typical jungles we
larger buildings will mostly be found in the
often imagine when thinking about the
city of Lang Son itself.
The Dong Dang railway station in the 1930s. This is the railway line through which supplies were
sent to China and which ran south towards Lang Son parallel to the RC4.
Most of the RC4 was metalled at the time. At any point during a night battle, a player
Provincial roads were mostly unmetalled. may expend three pips from his Chain of
Command die to launch an illumination flare.
The border post at Chi Ma (Scenario 2) has This removes all night combat penalties
a simple stone wall that provides hard during the player’s current phase.
cover. The front part with the gate is a
major obstacle and the sides are medium Air support is not available during night
obstacles. battles.
The Japanese player rolls a D6. On a 1 to 3, The Japanese player must capture all of the
all four of their Patrol Markers start on the French Jump-Off Points or reduce their
point indicated by red arrow 1. On 4 to 6 Force Morale to zero. The French must
they are placed at red arrow 2. retain at least one Jump-Off Point to win.
Force support
Patrol phase deployment are taken. At the end of the Patrol Phase
both players will place three Jump-Off
The French player deploys four Patrol
Points on the table.
Markers within 12” of his own table edge
and at least within 12” of at least one other Force support
friendly Patrol Marker. The Japanese
The attacker has 1d6 support points, and
player enters at a single entry point of his
the defender has half that amount,
choosing along his own table edge,
rounding down any odd number and
stacking all three or four Patrol Markers,
adjusted for force rating.
whichever he prefers, at that one point.
Victory conditions
The Japanese player
rolls 1D6 before the The Japanese player
Patrol Phase. On a roll must one Team to the
of 1 or 2, the attacker French base line to
takes two moves with win.
his Patrol Markers. On
a roll of 3 or 4, three Special rules
moves are taken and Night fighting rules
on 5 or 6, four moves are in effect.
Scenario three: Dust-up at Dong Dang
After overrunning the Tonkinese platoon near Nam Quan, the Japanese have reached the city
of Dong Dang. With its military outpost and railway station this is a key position in the sector, as
taking it will open the road to Lang Son only 15 kilometres to the south.
The French player four Patrol Markers Either side must force his opponent to
within 18” of his own table edge and within withdraw from the table, either voluntarily
12” of at least one other friendly Patrol or due to a reduction in his Force Morale,
Marker. The Japanese player enters whilst keeping his own Force Morale at 3 or
anywhere on his table edge with four Patrol greater. Any other result is a draw. The side
Markers. Before the patrol phase begins, with the higher Force Morale begins as
the Japanese rolls 1D6 and takes that many active player.
free moves with his Patrol Markers. At the
Special rules
end of the Patrol Phase both players place
three Jump-Off Points on the table. Night fighting rules are in effect the first
time this scenario is played, after which the
Force support
scenario will be played in daytime. The
The Japanese player receives 2D6 support French may attempt a counterattack
points up to a maximum of 10. The French (scenario 3B) if they hold out for two rounds.
player receives half that amount, rounded
down. Support points are then adjusted for The rice fields provide soft cover to any
force ratings. stationary infantry inside.
Scenario three bis: The 3e RTT counterattacks
Hoping to relieve the Dong Dang outpost, the French have moved up elements of IV/3e RTT
from Diem He up Provincial Road 32. To their surprise, however, they ran into a Japanese
column that was moving westwards to outflank Lang Son from Khanh Khe.
Victory conditions
The Japanese player places three Patrol The Japanese player must exit two units
Markers at any single point on the red from the French player’s table edge to
arrow. The French player places four claim victory. To win, the French player
patrols anywhere on the blue arrow, either must play two full Chain of Command dice.
together or within 12” of another Patrol However, the Japanese player may use one
Marker. of his own Chain of Command dice at any
moment to reduce the French player’s
The Japanese takes 1D3 free moves before
Chain of Command point total by three
the Patrol Phase. The player with the higher
points.
Force Morale then takes the first move.
Special rules
Force support
The rice fields provide soft cover to any
The Japanese player obtains 2D6+6
stationary infantry inside. The terraces
support points; the French player has half
count as minor obstacles for movement
that amount, rounded down.
purposes.
Scenario five: Storming the Redoubt
Lang Son is in sight! As the Japanese march south from Dong Dang, the French set up their last
line of defence at the Ky Lua redoubt, one kilometre away from Lang Son on the other side of
the Song Ky Cung. Forcing the French out of Ky Lua will force them to withdraw into the citadel,
where they can be bombarded into submission. Victory hangs in the balance!