Khalkin Gol project

 It's been a while - nearly two years - since last posting. Life has been busy as always, even in the pandemic (key worker!) but I have been modelling and painting still, albeit not much wargaming recently.

My main project over the past couple of years has  been Khalkin Gol, the Japanese/Soviet border dispute of summer 1939. However, the forces could also be used for Lake Khasan in 1938. I'll get a few Chinese troops at some point for a small Sino-Japanese wargame.

Why Khalkin Gol - or Nomonhan, as the incident was known in Japan? I'd recommend this book by Stuart D Goldman. In short, the conflict 'cast a long shadow', and affected the timing of the Soviet invasion of Poland, and the ongoing tension between Japan and the Soviets also had an influence on the timing of the Soviet counterattack relieving Moscow in 1941. There are also rumours that Japan would invade the Eastern portion of the USSR if Stalingrad fell hence the terrible battle there. Goldman also argues that the events at Khalkin Gol influenced the decision by Japan to attack Pearl Harbour and 'go South'.

It is worth remembering that the USSR was the only major nation in the war to avoid a two-front conflict. The events at Nomonhan/Khalkin Gol were a key factor in that outcome.

I've found an old scenario for Rapid Fire written by Brad Smith - alas since disappeared into the ether - but I will try and post my scenario files up on the blog for folks to use. I've adapted it and plan to run it as a 'mini campaign' if I can.

In short, it covers the days in early July 1939 when the Soviets tried to consolidate their beachhead over the Khalkin Gol River, and the Japanese launched an attempted pincer move to cut them off. The Soviets launched a large counter attack under the command of someone named Zhukov (!) and the Japanese faultered.

Tons of EW tanks and armoured cars, what's not to like?