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BruceAZ -> New, Non-MC Campaign - Any Interest? (1/28/2002 4:25:00 AM)
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Hello Everyone:
I have been giving some thought to making a very short but fast moving 3-battle campaign about the US Marines in China during the 1930's. During the research phase of MCW, I was intrigued by the history of the Marines that served in the US Asiatic Fleet and patrolled the Yangtze under the US doctrine of “Gunboat Diplomacy”.
For all of the tankheads out there, the fastest moving thing you will see is mounted Calvary. However, a French motorized rescue column does include the new (circa 1930) French White TBC AM armored car. However, this will give you something new to try when you finally figure out the strategy behind MC Watchtower. If there is a interest, I hope to have it available for distribution within a couple of months.
Background:
While Marines were landing to restore peace in different areas of Latin America, others were required for similar duty in Asia. The Marines of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet were called upon to make several landings in China. Their mission was to protect American citizens who were endangered by revolution or Chinese Warlords. When civil war swept throughout China, U.S. Marines were dispatched from the United States. Most were hardened combat veterans of the Banana Wars in South America.
Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler was designated to command all the Marines in China who were organized into a reinforced brigade. With the arrival of all of Butler's troops at Shanghai, the 3d Brigade of Marines numbered 238 officers, 18 warrant officers, and 4,170 enlisted men. The mission of the 3d Brigade was solely the protection of American lives and property. The general rule adhered to was that conflict with the Chinese, when not absolutely necessary for fulfilling the primary mission, was to be avoided carefully. The 3rd Brigades primary area of operations was the famous Yangtze River
In 1930, the brigade was made "permanent," indicating little anticipation of early withdrawal from the Yangtze. From 1930 until the outbreak of the war with Japan, Marines stayed on in China to protect American interests. Additional Marines were sent to the area during the late 1930’s when war broke out between China and Japan.
The Marines did not become involved in the fighting and continued to perform their duties of keeping a watchful eye on the situation and of protecting American citizens and property just before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Marines in Shanghai were withdrawn to the Philippines. Eventually, many of these famed fighters ended up in the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal as the “China Marines.”
The campaign involves the dispatch of the slow-moving U.S.S. Gunboat “Pandalay” and Bravo Company, 1st Battalion commanded by Capt. Wilder (USNA ’21). Gen. Butler had dispatched this reinforced company from their main defensive compound north of Shanghai to assist the Navy in a rescue mission east of Jiangyin, about 7 miles up the Yangtze.
Chinese bandits or troops or Warlord Sun Yat-sen have captured an U.S. missionary and trading post on the banks of the Yangtze and have put up a wooded river-block across Dongjian Island effectively blocking all river traffic on the Yangtze. Over 50 Americans were massacred including 8 French engineers building a new dock under contract to the Navy.
The company is partly loaded on river barges or will march along the river to their objective. Capt. Wilder’s command has been reinforced by a mounted ceremonial troop of US Marines from the embassy in Shanghai, 2 horse drawn 75mm howitzers, and platoon of horse-drawn HMG’s. Gen. Butler has assured them that if they can breach the river-block, a motorized French column that includes the new White TBC AM armored car, will advance from the French mission north of Hangzhou.
The General has cautioned them that supplies and troop reinforcements or replacements are very limited. Once they leave the compound, they are on their own. The Brigade G-2 estimated the bandits at several hundred with most mounted on horses. However, Gen. Sun Yat-sen’s men near the missionary compound are estimated at over 2,000 and include MG’s and artillery. They even have some reports of Gen. Sun Yat-sen using this year’s opium crop to purchase some German tanks.
On June 1, 1930, the rescue operation began with a sinister note. Most of the 6” shells of the Pandalay’s main battery were defective. This limited their main striking power to the M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle and the 75’s. Capt. Wilder quietly hoped the French column would arrive on time as they desperately needed their capability if the compound was held by the Warlord Sun Yat-sen.
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