RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR 1904-1905

Suggested New Rules for Great War Spearhead

Introduction

In 1894, the Japanese had defeated the Chinese and taken control of Port Arthur in Manchuria. One year later, the Japanese were forced to relinquish the port because of the presence of the Russian fleet in the Straits of Tsushima. Following this humiliation, relations between Japan and Tsarist Russia deteriorated. Tensions escalated until, in 1904, Japan launched a surprise attack on the Russian fleet on February 8. The huge armies of Tsar Nicholas were now pitted against the well-trained, highly motivated Japanese army.

The Russo-Japanese War was fought with the modern weapons of war. It gave a foretaste of what was to come in the First World War. These notes provide suggestions for modifying the Great War Spearhead ruleset. The large scale battles of this important war can now be reproduced with the flow and feel of Great War Spearhead.

These new rules should be used in conjuction with the Russian and Japanese TO&Es and the new Russian and Japanese datacards. Additional scenarios will be available in 2004.

Suggested Rules

• Disregard all references to trench mortars, tanks, armoured cars, and armoured trains

• Flank marches (GWSH Rule 3.7.3) are permitted. The Japanese refer to the 'Ge/UK/Fra/US' column of Table 1. The Russians refer to the 'Other' column.

• Order changes are interpreted with Table Two. Japanese change orders on German column; Russians on the Rus/Turk/Fra/UK column or even the It/AH/Other column.

• Command Zone (GWSH Rule 3.13) is reduced to 12" for regiments to simulate the more limited command and control.

• During an advance under attack orders, Japanese infantry stands may ignore suppression results (SH 7.5.2) on movement.

• Disregard the section on gas (GWSH 8.9)

• Disregard the section on aircraft and anti-aircraft (GWSH 9.0)

• Barbed wire, light and heavy entrenchments, redoubts and pillboxes may be appropriate in some scenarios.

References

Burleigh B. "Empire of the East or Japan and Russia at War, 1904-1905". 1905

Connaughton R M. "The War of the Rising Sun and the Tumbling Bear". 1988

http://www.russojapaneswar.com/ : last accessed 17 July 2003

http://pages.zdnet.com/sfclarke/sb/index.html : last accessed 17 July 2003