Strategy & Tactics #329: Battle of Shanghai 1937 (also known as The Shanghai–Nanking Campaign) is a two-player historical wargame that simulates one of the most massive and consequential military campaigns of the interwar period — the Japanese invasion of eastern China in 1937. This campaign marked the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War and foreshadowed the brutal total warfare that would soon engulf the entire Pacific.

• Historical Background: The Battle of Shanghai and subsequent drive to Nanking (Nanjing) represented Japan’s attempt to deliver a decisive blow that would force China into submission. Beginning in August 1937, the Imperial Japanese Army launched a powerful assault on China’s largest city, clashing with the National Revolutionary Army in an intense urban and riverine campaign. Despite being outgunned, the Chinese mounted a fierce defence, resulting in massive casualties on both sides before the Japanese advanced inland toward Nanking. This campaign would set the stage for the atrocities and prolonged conflict that defined the Second Sino-Japanese War.
• Gameplay & Objectives: One player takes command of the Imperial Japanese Army, tasked with swiftly capturing Shanghai and Nanking to deliver a political shock that would cripple Chinese resistance. The opposing player leads the Chinese Nationalist forces, whose goal is to delay the Japanese advance, preserve key forces, and maintain national morale through strategic withdrawals and defensive stands. The Japanese player must balance speed and aggression against logistics and attrition, while the Chinese player must trade space for time and exploit every opportunity to slow the offensive.
• Game System & Scale: Battle of Shanghai 1937 uses an operational-level system where each hex represents 7 miles (11 km) and each full turn equals roughly two weeks of real time. The Japanese units are regiments, uniform in organisation but variable in combat experience. The Chinese units are divisions, whose strength reflects their training and manpower quality. The system captures the contrasting military doctrines and organisational realities of both sides, creating a dynamic and asymmetrical challenge.
• Strategic Depth: The game’s design models the realities of urban warfare, river crossings, and political pressure. The Japanese must maintain offensive momentum to achieve victory before supply constraints and attrition take their toll. The Chinese, meanwhile, must use fortified lines, interior manoeuvre, and delaying actions to frustrate the invaders and preserve the integrity of their forces. Every decision — whether to hold or retreat, press or pause — can change the campaign’s outcome.

Game Components:

• 1 x 22” x 34” full-colour map depicting Shanghai, Nanking, and surrounding regions
• 176 die-cut counters representing Japanese regiments and Chinese divisions
• Complete rules for combat, movement, fortifications, logistics, and command
• Detailed historical background and designer’s notes for context and replayability

Scale:
Players: 2
Level: Operational
Hex: 7 Miles (11 km)
Turn: 2 Weeks
Units: Regiment / Division

Gameplay Focus: Battle of Shanghai 1937 delivers a tense operational-level simulation of one of the most devastating and strategically complex campaigns of the 20th century. It combines historical accuracy, asymmetric challenges, and tough command decisions to recreate the brutal realities of the Sino-Japanese War’s opening months.

Strategy & Tactics #329: Battle of Shanghai 1937 offers an immersive and challenging experience for wargamers interested in interwar military history, East Asian conflict, and pre–World War II geopolitics.

Available now from Milsims Games — Australia’s trusted source for historical wargames, strategy titles, and military simulations for over 50 years. Price-match guarantee and fast local shipping from Mont Albert, VIC.

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