China in October 1996

[Jason Weiser]

Ok,
The way I see it is this...the 1996 Spring offensive is aimed at pocketing and reducing Harbin, as well as inflicting a massive defeat on the PLA to force them to the table. Soviet airborne drops are to seize bridges and a vital pass via the Sungari river to allow Soviet tank spearheads to exploit South and West to take
Baicheng and Changchun some 140-odd miles away. With that, the new front line can be consolidated and Harbin reduced at the Red Army's leisure...

Needless to say, nothing goes according to plan. The airdrops are cut to pieces, and the Red Army barely advances 20 miles in the teeth of an improved Chinese defense, including "new model" brigades (the first two to be exact), the "New AVG" contesting Soviet air superiority, and the widespread use of improved ATGM and ICM by the Chinese. Also, a massive uprising by Chinese militia occurs in the Soviet rear. While the Soviets put it down, they are forced into some pretty draconian means to do it.

Comments?