Khalkhin-Gol, is a river in Outer Mongolia. It was the site that the
Japanese High Command chose to "save face" with the Emporer's blessings
after their unauthorized 1938 attack turned into a disaster. The attack
was a test to see how the Russians would react. The Japanese had their
eyes on the the vast steppes and its riches and the Russian eastern
port city of Vladivostok.

The Emporer had already decided to "Strike South" against the european
colonies there, but allowed this attack against Russian forces to allow
his High Command and army to regain its prestige. This time the attack
would be sanctioned and more organized.

Striking fast the Japanese and their Inner Mongolian cavalry allies
captured the Outer Mongolian border village of Nomanhan. Then set their
eyes on the constabulary garrison in a log fort near the Khalkhin-Gol
river some 10 kilometers away.

The Russians had been alerted by some civilians and had assembled their
own Outer Mongolian People's Republic cavalry to counter the invasion.

This was the precursor battle that is represented by Steel Panther's
Pacific theater scenario "Clash In The Desert". Khalkhin-Gol more rightly
resembled tribal warfare rather than modern 20th century warfare of which
it was a part. In the real fight the Japanese and their Inner Mongolian
cavalry were defeated and driven back across the border.

Keith Heitmann
dheitm8612@aol.com
Stalag 13 BBS
(219) 763-0826