An announcement

Morning everyone!  I think we're all aware of the situation so far, I just thought I'd put up a quick message to keep us all in the loop.

Since the fall of 203 Metre Hill, the Japanese have cemented their position.  Digging in on the hilltops, they have rebuild most of the forts destroyed in the attack on 14th September.  Worse for the Russians, their heavy siege artillery is now putting some highly destructive plunging fire onto the ships in the harbour, doing immense strategic damage to the Russian position in the Far East.

The besiegers cannot be far away from victory, but the Emperor grows impatient and orders Nogi to force a quick end to the bloody battle...

We have a further land battle to fight, which involves the Japanese trying to take the town itself by storm, and a naval one too as the Russian fleet tries to escape Togo's blockade.  Given that everyone is rather busy at the moment, these two climactic battles might have to wait for a week or two, so I'm going to make a start on the book.  This is the calling notice for you to send any diaries, notes or scribblings for inclusion in the book (Paul, I already have yours - thanks!)

Anyway, I shall keep you updated!

14th September - Attack on 203-Metre Hill

Hello everyone!  First off, apologies for the delay in getting this up.  Due to the scale of this week's battles, coupled with real life for all the participants, have meant that this game turn has taken the best part of three weeks.  Given the momentity of the events, I think we'll need that long to digest and plan!  The full write up, and your usual end-of-turn reports will follow early next week.

The campaign has taken a decisive turn in favour of the Japanese now.  In reality, once 203-Metre Hill fell, the Russians were on the road to surrender.  Interestingly, the first real effort to take the hill in reality fell on 20th September, and the Japanese suffered 6,000 casualties.  In our game, the assault happened just six days earlier and suffered only 500 more casualties.

General Nogi orders an assault on the hill.  Fushimi's Division detonates two mines and launches a full divisional frontal assault on the heavily-fortified Russian positions.  A counterattack by the Tamirsky regiment leads to it being all but annihilated, although it successfully disrupts the Japanese second wave.  A dawn banzai charge is repulsed - with General Fushimi shot down at the head of his men - but the Russians begin to withdraw anyway shortly after, since heavy siege artillery makes their position untenable.  The bloodied Japanese cautiously follow up into the ruins of the position.