Japanese advance to date

Hi all

A quick update on where the Campaign is up to

Below is a map detailing the areas held by the Japanese including their most advanced position

The Japanese held areas and limits of advance are in red. The Australian Held areas and concentrated areas of defence are in green

   

Japanese OOB for Kokoda West

Scenario 1 – Defence of Kokoda 29^th July 1942

Closing the Net on Kokoda

After experiencing a fierce fire fight at Oivi between your forces and those of the Australian defenders they have withdrawn their surviving troops and regrouped at the village of Kokoda. You have decided not to pursue the retreating enemy forces but instead await your reinforcements the 4^th Company of 1^st Battalion 144^th Regiment and the 1^st Company of the elite 5^th Sasebo Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF) and your 4^th Grenadier sections for 1^st and 2^nd Platoons

Kokoda is a vital strategic position located on a spur at the foot hills of the Owen Stanley Ranges. It comprises a small village, surrounding plantations and an all important small airstrip.

During the night of the 28^th July, Your mortar and mountain gun observers have moved close to the Australian positions within sight of the village and have begun a bombardment that lasts all night and into the next morning hoping that the constant bombing will cause the Australian to once again leave their positions handing Kokoda to the Japanese.

Japanese Briefing for 29^th July 1942

Strategic Considerations

Strategic Options	Availability
Outflanking Option	Yes
Hold Option	Yes
Reserve Options	Yes
Patrol Options	Yes
Ambush Options	Yes
Aircraft Support	No

You play the Japanese commander, Lt – Colonel Yokoyama. You command the now complete deployment of the Yokoyama Advance Force tasked to establish a forward base at Kokoda, destroying all opposition to your forces. Your attack will begin at 0230 hours in the dark with a heavy mist rolling over the plateau.

Intel

Facing you is a force estimated to be around a company size in strength, made up of poorly trained Australian militiamen and poorly trained and equipped local Papuan volunteers this should be no problem for your very experienced forces. At 0230 hours you forces are assembled in a start position that is in the East 15 inches form the enemy lines of defence and in the jungle perimeter in the West.

Troop Deployment – This scenario comprises two games in one, both must be played simultaneously and no cross over of troops or support may occur unless both battles have been halted and the games are complete.

Forces committed to Kokoda West Battle

– by order of C-in-C Lt – Colonel Yokoyama,Yokoyama Advance Force

1^st Battalion 144^th Regiment HQ Formations

1^st Battalion Medium Mortar section x 2 + spotter team – Veteran

1^st Battalion 70mm Battalion Gun Section x 2 – Veteran

2^nd Company, I Battalion, 144^th Infantry Regiment (Type B)

2^nd Company, I Battalion, 144^th Infantry Regiment HQ - 7 men Veteran/Spirited Reactions

2^nd Company, I Battalion, 144^th - Infantry Regiment Snipers x 3 Veteran

1^st Rifle Platoon, 2/I/144^th 39 men + 7 men Pl HQ - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

2^nd Rifle Platoon, 2/I/144^th 39 men + 7 men Pl HQ - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

3^rd Rifle Platoon, 2/I/144^th 39 men + 7 men Pl HQ - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

4^th Grenadier Platoon, 2/I/144^th 16 men Veteran

Kokoda West Battle Reserve Formations

1^st Company, I Battalion, 144^th Infantry Regiment (Type B)

1^st Company, I Battalion, 144^th Infantry Regiment HQ - 7 men Veteran/Spirited Reactions

1^st Company, I Battalion, 144^th - Infantry Regiment Snipers x 3 Veteran

1^st Rifle Platoon, 1/I/144^th 39 men + 7 men Pl HQ - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

2^nd Rifle Platoon, 1/I/144^th 39 men + 7 men Pl HQ - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

3^rd Rifle Platoon, 1/I/144^th 39 men + 7 men Pl HQ - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

4^th Grenadier Platoon, 1/I/144^th 16 men Veteran

Deployment

2^nd /I/144^th Regiment, 1^st Battalion Support Formations on board within jungle fringes

1^st /I/144^th Regiment off Board in reserve

Japanese Objectives

Take the Australian positions at Kokoda at all costs. This may involve several attempts to take this position including the possibility of fighting on into the day of the 29^th July.

Save as many troops as you can – remember these troops will be needed in the days to come.

Strategic Considerations

Ammunition is still limited so each weapon only has 8 rounds. The mountain gun and medium mortars have an attached forward observer team but the 70mm guns are direct fire only.

Australian OOB for Kokoda West

Scenario 1 – Defence of Kokoda 29^th July 1942

Maroubra Forces First Blooding

After experiencing a fierce fire fight at Oivi the Australian commander Captain Templeton has withdrawn his surviving troops and regrouped with other elements of the 39^th Battalion and Papuan Infantry Battalion at the village of Kokoda arriving there on the night of the 27^th July.

Initially fearing that the Japanese forces would be hot on their tails the commander of the 39^th Battalion, Lt Col Owen orders a withdrawal of all his available troops to the village of Deniki where he expects to set up another defensive position to hold the Japanese advance.

On the morning of the 28^th when the expected Japanese attack did not occur, Owen moves his forces back to Kokoda re-establishing his positions in the village and at the airfield. He radios’ Port Moresby for urgent reinforcements to be sent. Later that day the surviving air transports from Port Moresby were observed to circle the village but left the area without landing the promised troops they were carrying and returned to Port Moresby.  Lt Col Owen and the surviving elements of the 39^th are now left alone to defend Kokoda.

Kokoda is a vital strategic position located on a spur at the foot hills of the Owen Stanley Ranges. It comprises a small village, surrounding plantations and an all important small airstrip.

During the night of the 28^th July, Japanese mortar team observers move close to the Australian positions within sight of the village and begin a bombardment that lasts all night and into the next morning hoping that the constant bombing will cause the Australian to once again leave their positions handing Kokoda to the Japanese.

Australian Briefing for 29^th July 1942

Strategic Considerations

Strategic Options	Availability
Outflanking Option	No
Hold Option	Yes
Reserve Options	No
Patrol Options	Yes
Ambush Options	Yes
Aircraft Support	No

You play Lt-Col Owen commanding elements of the 39^th battalion as well as a cobbled together force of the Papuan Infantry Battalion. Your force is now known as Maroubra Force.

You have under your command the survivors of B Company 39^th Battalion, part of D Company 39^th Battalion and a small group of three undersized sections of the PIB as well as the 39^th Company medium mortar and 2 HMG’s from the 39^th support.

The Japanese begin their attack at 0230 hours in the dark with a heavy mist rolling over the plateau.

Intel

Despite suffering heavy bombardment you have been made aware that throughout the night enemy forces have been gathering near your position to the East and South East.

From what your forces have experienced at Oivi and from what you have personally observed, you estimate that you are facing a battalion sized force, may be more in the battle to come.

Weighing on your mind is the importance of holding kokoda. This war is about maintaining the ability to fight the war in the air and holding Kokoda is vital in being able to wage that air war.

Troop Deployment

You have two battles combined into one to play within this scenario. The two battle areas are (1) Kokoda village which is situated to over look the airstrip on a plateau and (2) the air strip its self. You must announce what forces are being deployed to each area prior to the battle commencing. Each areas of conflict will be played simultaneously. No forces may be swapped between the two areas unless both battles are called to a halt. Likewise as you only have 1 mortar it must assign its support to one of the battles. No cross over support is allowed.

Deployment Considerations

Your B company troops have had their losses from the previous battle distributed so that your three platoons are now smaller and similar in size. Remember that one platoon is now lacking an LMG. Your remaining platoons are equipped with Lewis only, except for the surviving Bren.

·        Your “D” company platoons both have only Lewis guns.

·        Your Papuans do not have LMG’s but all NCOs are now equipped with SMG’s.

·        HMG’s can be distributed as a team of two to one scenario or one to each battle.

·        You men have now experienced no rest form the Japanese attack, they are tired, week and have not been able to stop and eat.

Entrenchments

Australian forces start the game entrenched. The entrenchments are not placed on the field of play unless they open fire or enemy troops come within 8 inches of them. Entrenchments are classed as hard cover.

Reinforcements – There are none available

Kokoda Battle - Force Structure by Orders Of Australian Commander

Troops dedicated to hold Airstrip – West Kokoda
ADC C-in-C Captain Templeton, (Present)

39th Battalion HQ Section
39^th Battalion HMG Support, Section 2 – 1 x Vickers HMG’s

39th Battalion Medium Mortar Section – 1 Tube + Observer Team
 Plus 1 HMG team detached from HMG support
 D Company 39th Battalion - all forces Tired/Green
 C-in-C Captain Bistrap
 D Company 39th Battalion HQ Section
 16th Platoon - 3 sections of 9, 3 x LMG’s (Lewis)
 17th Platoon - 3 sections of 9, 3 x LMG’s (Lewis)
 Papuan Infantry Battalion - all forces Tired/Green
 C-in-C Major Watson (Present)
 Papuan Infantry Battalion HQ Section 5 men
 1st Section – 4 Papuans, 1 x Australian SMG, 1 x Papuan SMG, 1 x Papuan Lewis LMG
 2nd Section - 4 Papuans, 1 x Australian SMG
 3rd Section - 4 Papuans, 1 x Australian SMG

Objectives

1.      Hold the position knowing that you will not be receiving any further support.

2.      Where you are not able to hold the position escape off your base line end of the board with as many troops in tact as you can rescue – remember these troops will be needed in the days to come.

Battle for Kokoda West AAR 2.30am 29th July 1942

After Action Report Kokoda West – 29^th July 1942

Part 1 of 2 Kokoda is played as two separate games, West and East

Game 1 - Kokoda West

(Photos from Greg Blake)

 

Historical and Campaign setting

The battle for Kokoda begans at 0230 hours 29^th July in the early morning with mist rolling over the escarpment of the Village.

The Australian forced had returned from Deniki in the late afternoon of the 28^th after deserting the Village of Kokoda that morning and after fighting a patrol action to the east of the village against numerically superior Japanese forces.

The Japanese Commander Yokoyama on the night of the 28^th orders his forces to move close to the Kokoda village perimeter to await attack orders. Yokoyama commits the 2^nd Company, 144^th Battalion to led the attack supported by the two medium mortars of 1^st Battalion 144^th and two 70mm Infantry Guns 1/144^th battalion. In reserve he places the 1^st Company 144^th Regt setting up behind the jungle line to the West of Kokoda. A savage mortar and artillery bombardment begins.

Facing the Japanese is a mixed defence force of Australian Militia troops and local Papuans. The Australian Order of Battle comprising 16^th and 17^th Platoons,  D Company 39^th Battalion –under Captain Bistrap, one Vickers MG, 39^th Battalion MG Section, one 81mm Mortar from 39^th Battalion HQ and three small sections of Papuan Infantry (Papuan Infantry Battalion) under the local area commander Major Watson. Command for this part of the battle fell to Captain Templeton, acting as the ADC to Lt Colonel Owen 39^th Battalion who is deployed to East Kokoda.

The game

The Japanese forces had their artillery and Mortars set up in open terrain facing west Kokoda. The 2^nd Company moved onto the table as two forces, the first group comprising two platoons with by knee mortars moving towards the village from the North and the second group the third company with attached mortars moving on from the North West. Snipers from the 2^nd company deploying in the jungle line far to the west of the village looking for viable targets.

At first the Australians were outside 12” and therefore were not placed on the field of play until they reveal their positions by firing or by the Japanese came within 12”.  

Initiative feel to the Japanese but due to the Australians hidden force option not much happened. The Australians made many attempts to acquire targets with one section managing this in the end causing light Japanese casualties.

(Photos from Greg Blake)

For several turns the same situation was repeated, one by one the Australians did however acquire targets and firing became steadily heavier and Japanese troops began to fall. The Japanese players stop their grenadier sections and the knee mortars now came into play. By the end of turn three the Japanese medium mortars fired star shells on the front of the Australian entrenchments and the battle began to turn in the favour of the Japanese attackers.

Japanese snipers hiding in the jungle fringes to the west of Kokoda also started to worry the Australian positions. By the end of turn four, they started to pick of NCO’s all the time seeking to locate and take out the Australian commanders. In response to this one section of Papuan Infantry was sent out from their trenches with the mission of hunting down the snipers. Unfortunately within two turns their Australian Corporal was killed and the section initially retreated back to seek shelter but through further casualties began to rout.

By turn five Japanese casualties were becoming heavy 40 men had now been killed for a total of only five Australians and the first of the banzai charges had failed.

Turn six saw the all out bombardment of kokoda begin to take its toll, a second star shell was fired over kokoda and the Australian positions to the north were now in full light. The casualties within the Australian positions became heavy.

Continuing to apply the pressure the Japanese platoon that had been deployed to the North West had moved South and now swung back toward the airfield.

The Australian command realising that the defensive position was now under in trouble with many units suppressed moved Captain Bidstrap into a position where he could use his superior gut check to their advantage. As he turned his back to move towards a group of Australian that were in need of his guidance a lone sniper “Hajimoto” sighted the officer squeezed off a carefully aimed shot and the officer fell dead.

The command situation worsened with Captain Templeton becoming suppressed through mortar fire leaving the local area commander Major Watson in charge of the whole position.

The Australian support weapons feared little better, within three turns the HMG had been firstly suppressed was then taken out and the Mortar Section was experiencing heavy fire and had become suppressed.

Meanwhile the Japanese had lost 5 sections out of their 12 available amounting to 65 casualties. The Japanese commander gave the order for the reserves that had been hidden behind the jungle line to the west of the village to now move on. These new troops moved quickly from their start positions towards the crumbling Papuan positions to the west crossing the airfield and bringing fresh fire on the remaining Australian positions on the escarpment.

(Photos from Greg Blake)

Captain Templeton while attempting to recover from his suppression feel to Hajimoto, sniped from long rang. Full command truly fell to Major Watson.

The situation was serious, from the north Japanese troops had eliminated all resistance on the escarpment and two sections now moved fast threatened the centre of the village. As the mortar team retreated from their position the crews were cut down. Scattered small sections of surviving Australian troops had rallied near a forward hut, while an Australian sergeant and Major Watson argued about when to pulling out. The Major gave into the sergeant sealing their fate, Watson to Hajimoto’s sniper rifle and the others on the points of Japanese bayonet’s.

The remaining Papuan and Australian troops that had survived the onslaught began to flee down the track through the rubber plantation to the safety of Deniki.

West Kokoda had fallen.

To be continued – East Kokoda still to be played.

Outcome – The Australian casualties were 54 men, 1 HMG and 1 8Imm Mortar plus observers. The Japanese casualties were 94 men from 2^nd Company, 1^st Bn 144^th Regt and 13men from 1^st  Company, 1^st Bn 144^th Regt, a total of 108 casualties.

The surviving Australians amounting to 9 Papuan Infantry – 1 Rifle, 2 Smgs, 2 LMG’s and 2 Australian NCO’s SMG armed and a small section of HQ staff 5 men plus Surgeon Vernon withdrew back to Deniki to await orders. 

(Photos from Greg Blake)

Battle of Kokoda West July 29th 1942

Hi All

This weekend coming the group is about to play the battle for Kokoda.

As the battle is large and involves many units it will be divided into a battle for the West of Kokoda including the village of Kokoda and the Airstrip and the second the battle will be for Kokoda East. Both games although played separately will be deemed to be played simultaneously as they are part of the same battle.

I am not able to post anything as yet as the OOBs are not for general viewing - but will do after the battle has been played.