Chinese Tank Company vs Indian Tank Company, near to the Chinese border in the state of Ladakh, 2014

This scenario was the second of our games set in a hypothetical contemporary conflict between India and China. Following a surprise attack over the border the Chinese have advanced into Ladakh. An Indian armoured brigade has been rushed forward to meet the invasion and here a tank company has been ordered to engage advancing Chinese armoured forces. The game is a straight forward meeting engagement with each side tasked with destroying the other.

The Chinese Force (Morale - Regular, Training - Trained)

  • Company HQ - 1 x ZTZ96A carrying 1 Commander.
  • 1st Platoon - 3 x ZTZ96A.
  • 2nd Platoon - 3 x ZTZ96A.
  • 3rd Platoon - 3 x ZTZ96A.
  • Attached Mechanised Infantry Platoon - 3 x ZBD04 each carrying 1 x Rifle Group with grenade launcher & RPG and 1 x Rifle Group with LMG & grenade launcher.
  • Artillery Support - 1 x jeep carrying an Artillery Observation Officer observing for a divisional battery of 6 152mm howitzers.

    • The Indian Force (Morale - Regular, Training - Trained)

  • Company HQ - 2 x T90S each carrying a Commander.
  • 1st Platoon - 3 x T90S.
  • 2nd Platoon - 3 x T90S.
  • 3rd Platoon - 3 x T90S.
  • 4th Platoon - 3 x T90S.

    • Here is the table from the north (the Chinese entry edge) before any units are deployed:

  • The table from the north before the start of the game
  • There are is a ridge line running diagonally across the table and 4 other areas of high ground. Each side must enter from its own baseline within 2 feet (61cm) of the left edge, so may use the road.

    • Turn 1

  • The Chinese won the initiative and entered the table first. The 1st platoon advanced on the left wing followed by the mechanised infantry and the CHQ. The 2nd platoon made for a hill with the AOO following and the 3rd platoon rushed for the central ridge.
  • An aerial view of the Chinese force
  • The Indian 1st and 2nd platoons and the CHQ advanced quickly up the left wing shielded from Chinese attention by a pair of hills. The 3rd and 4th platoons advanced more caustiously to the right covering the flank of the attack.
  • An aerial view of the Indian force

    • Turn 2

  • The Chinese 3rd platoon moved into turret down behind the central ridge. The 2nd platoon drove straight into hull down positions and fired at the Indian 3rd platoon moving in the open without scoring any hits. The Chinese AOO parked his jeep behind a hill and jumped out to look for targets.
  • Chinese tanks
  • The Indian 3rd platoon returned fire against the Chinese 2nd platoon and destroyed 2 with turret hits. The Indian 4th platoon advanced firing to eliminate the last tank but their shots hit the ridge in front of it.
  • Chinese tanks destoyed by Indian fire
  • The 2nd platoon moved into hull down positions and one tank fired but missed.
  • An Indian platoon moves into hull down on a hill
  • The 1st platoon continued its advance on the left wing shielded by the hill, followed by the CHQ.
  • Indian tanks
  • The shock of the sudden losses led to the Chinese 2nd platoon's morale dropping a state to 'Uncertain'.

    Turn 3

  • The surviving tank in the Chinese 2nd platoon missed with a shot then pulled back into turret down. The Chinese 3rd platoon moved up to the crest and fired at the Indian 3rd platoon inflicting 2 kills and a suppression. The 1st platoon achieved a position flanking the last tank in the Indian 3rd platoon and brewed it up with a side hit. The mechanised infantry moved forward cautiously sheltered on the Chinese left sheltered by a hill.
  • Chinese tanks take up hull down positions
  • The Indian 2nd and 4th platoons fired at the Chinese 3rd platoon hull down behind the ridge, destroying one tank. The Indian 1st platoon rounded a hill and joined in the firing at the Chinese 3rd platoon but their fin stabilised rounds hit the ridge. The Indian CHQ also got into position and added to the firing, inflicting a second kill on the Chinese 3rd platoon.
    • The Chinese AOO spotted the Indian 2nd platoon's position on top of a ridge and called for artillery that landed on target and neutralised 1 tank

    Turn 4

  • The last tank of the Chinese 3rd platoon fired, missed and retreated to a safe postion. The 1st platoon all fired at the Indian 4th platoon and knocked out 1 tank before withdrawing to turret down positions.
  • The Indian 1st platoon advanced towards the central ridge. The 2nd platoon - apart from the neutralised tank - left its hill postion to avoid the Chinese artillery and advanced across open ground with the 4th platoon next to it. The Indan CHQ held its postion in hull down.
  • An Indian tank platoon

    • Turn 5

  • The last tanks in the Chinese 2nd and 3rd platoons moved into hull down and fired at the Indian 2nd platoon, neutralising 1 tank. The 1st platoon reached the eastern extremity of the central ridge and fired at the Indian 4th platoon, wiping it out in an example of text book shooting.
  • Indian tanks destroyed
  • The destruction of a second platoon forced an overall morale test on the Indian force that was passed.
  • Every Indian tank fired at the sole survivor of the Chinese 3rd platoon but succeeeded only in burying a load of fin stabilised rounds into the ridge in front of the ZTZ96A. Has the tide turned decisively in favour of the Chinese?
  • The Indian 1st platoon reached the main ridge and 1 tank from the 2nd platoon went into dead ground at the foot of the ridge. The Indian CHQ moved off the hill and joined in the advance to avoid the threat of Chinese artillery.
  • Indian tanks reach the central ridge

    • Turn 6

  • The Chinese mechanised infantry made a dash for the hill on the Indian baseline to attempt to flank the Indian tanks.
  • Chinese armoured personnel carriers rush to take up a flanking position
  • The remaining tank in the Chinese 3rd platoon spotted the Indian CHQ moving in the open. It was too good a target to miss, and miss it didn't as it destroyed the Indian command vehicle.
  • The Indian 1st platoon reached the top of the main ridge and knocked out the last tank in the Chinese 2nd platoon.
  • The leading Indain tanks mount the central ridge
  • The loss of 2 platoons forced a company morale test which the Chinese passed.

    • Turn 7

  • It was time for desparate measures. The Chinese ZBDs moved into hull down on the hill on the Indian baseline and prepard to fire their missiles
  • Chinese armoured personnel carriers prepare to fire
  • The last Chinese tanks - 1st platoon and the CHQ - hurriedly shifted position westwards and lined up in turret down behind the central ridge
  • The Indian tanks concentrated fire on the hull down ZBDs and destroyed 1 of them

    • Turn 8

  • The Chinese tanks quickly moved into firing positions, destroying a tank in the Indian 2nd platoon and neutralising the Indian second-in-command. The ZBDs fired missiles that were dodged by the T90s
  • The last Chinese tanks line the central ridge
  • The Indians on the main ridge fired ineffectively and then took cover

    • Turn 9

  • The Chinese tanks fired at the 2 visible Indian tanks - 1 from the 2nd platoon and the second-in-command - and destroyed both
  • Knocked out Indian T90s litter the low ground
  • Overall Indian morale dropped to 'Withdraw'. It was still not a 'Rout' but sufficient to signal the end of the game

    • Verdict

  • A hard fought and close run Chinese victory at a cost of 6 tanks and 1 IFV lost.
  • Tactical observations:
  • 1. Both sides used their mobility to produce a fast moving running battle, not wanting to sit in one place and risk losing the initiative.
  • 2. The Chinese mechanised infantry had little effect on a game where there was a lack of cover for them.
  • 3. While the Chinese artillery did little harm it posed sufficient a threat to make the Indians move from good positions whereupon they were destroyed in the open.

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