Many of you will recall that the first in this “Perimeter” series covered the actions of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines at Toktong Pass (see "From the Cellar" # 10). Now with “The Trials of Task Force Faith”, the action switches from the deep snow covered high mountain pass to the west of Chosin to its lightly snow swept and ice covered eastern shores at the P’ungnyuri-gang Inlet. Here beginning on the night of the 27th of November and through the 1st of December, 1950, the 31st Regimental Combat Team (31-RCT), U.S. Army held the bulk of the 80th Division, of the Chinese People’s Army, at bay in a stand worthy of comparison to Thermopylae.
“The Trials of Task Force Faith” contains 11 H-series scenarios (6 day and 5 night), 1 map (KGS in size) and a rules booklet. There is no CG. The battle was not one that lends itself to such a depiction, as 31-RCT received no reinforcements of personnel, and very little in the way of re-supply (which came only sporadically from the air). Likewise, there are no counters in the module pack. This was done deliberately in order : “a” to keep cost down, and “b” to maximize the value of Forgotten War, which, with Yanks, is all you need to play, the ASLRB not withstanding. Those familiar with the rules from FTC#10 will find many of them exactly the same, although there are some new ones to cover new terrain, and certain aspects of the battle.
“The Trials of Task Force Faith” captures the cauldron like feel as 31-RCT fends off fierce Communist Chinese night attacks, while then by day having then to mount counterattacks to retake key lost terrain, and so give the regiment the breathing space it needed to organize a breakout attempt under the cover of U.S.M.C. close air support. Can you handle the command challenges of 31-RCT ? Can you as the CPVA commander effectively move to seal the task force’s grim fate ?
The scenarios
FT TF-F1 Red Dragon Stalking Polar Bears (11 turns)
FT TF-F2 Shaking off the Shock Wave (5,5 turns)
FT TF-F3 Taking back Vital Ground (6,5 turns)
FT TF-F4 Return of the Dragon (9 turns)
FT TF-F5 Triple a to the Rescue (8 turns)
FT TF-F6 The Assumption of Faith (8 turns)
FT TF-F7 Growing Pains (6 turns)
FT TF-F8 Firemen vs. Icemen (5 turn)
FT TF-F9 Bridges of Sorrow (6 turns)
FT TF-F10 Hold out, one more Night (7,5 turns)
FT TF-F11 The First Station on Faith’s Via Dolorosa (7,5 turns)
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