Eighty years on. 8th January 1940

Historical

The Battle of Suomussalmi ended in Finnish victory. Two Soviet divisions were encircled and destroyed.

The Japanese claimed to have killed 25,000 Chinese troops in a battle north of Canton.

Germany established a new HQ at Recklinghausen, close to the border with the Netherlands.

The British government introduced rationing for butter, bacon, ham and sugar.

Britain, France and Turkey signed a trade agreement.

A converted Wellington bomber fitted with an energised metal hoop (see header photo’) underwent trials against magnetic mines in the North Sea.

Game day 120.  Japan

The Fighter unit in Manchuria/Manchukwo attacked the Chinese infantry south-west of Peking.  No casualties were inflicted but the fighters were lost in the attack.

At Shanghai a naval bombardment preceded the Japanese infantry disembarkation.  The four defending Chinese infantry battalions were eliminated.  The Japanese lost three infantry battalions in the landing, leaving three to occupy Shangai.  Once again both major cities of Kwangtung were under Japanese rule.  The territory was still disputed in the north.

Game Notes

Those who have been following will spot some changes in the map depictions. Unfortunately the fonts available in Microsoft are not available here, so a description must suffice. Please refer to the map below for elucidation.

1. Japanese units are now represented as red on white, reflecting their national flag.  Chinese units are similarly gold on red.  More countries will follow (e.g. the British garrison in Hong Kong has become white on red because Japan already has red on white).  Clearly some compromises will be needed because too many countries use red, white and blue in their flags – or blue white and red if you are French!)
2. Infantry are now represented by a standard NATO “x” in a rectangular outline and armoured units by a sprocket wheel.  Mixed ground units will be depicted with two rectangles, one above and behind the other.
3. Naval units are shown by something approximating to a ship’s steering wheel. I may be able to differentiate types in the future.
4. The country owning the territory has a flag and occupied cities a pennant in the national flag colours, the font for the city indicating the garrison strength. Unoccupied cities are still shown with the city icon.  
5. Disputed territories (e.g.Kwangtung) have the “Yin-Yang” symbol in two appropriate colours.
6. Unit strength is shown by the font size. The base for a newly raised unit of 6 battalions, squadrons or ships is 14 point.  More than 6 (i.e.more than one unit in a square) is 16 point.  As sub-units are lost the font decreases to 12,11,10,9 and 8 point.
7. Ports no longer have a light blue background, the font of the anchor symbol is reduced and the alignment within the square adjusted to match the underlying map.
8. Air attacks are now indicated by a dotted line.  It may be assumed that the squadrons returned to their home base unless another route is shown.

Maybe this will help: