AAR Battle of 3rd August 1942

The Japanese started their assault after surrounding the allied position early in the morning of the 3rd August. they opened their attack by creeping to within 15 inches of the village and then fired two star shells that lit up the allied positions.

Defending the village was two sections of Australian troops, a section of Militia and a section of PIB. Once the first star shell had been fired an Australian Company located at Kanadara began to move back to rescue their besieged troops in the village a distance of only 1km.

By round 4 of the game the Japanese commander now knowing that their was little in the way of opposition ordered a charge which swept away the Australian section. the PIB still held their position to the north of the village but did not engage.

By round 6 the fresh Australian company had indeed arrived but the Japanese commander sensing that what he wanted to achieve had been completed gave the order to withdraw.

The rest of the game a further 3 round of movement saw the Japanese melt back into the jungle no further fighting took place except for a few stray pot shots from each side.

The supreme allied command seeing how easy it was for an entire Japanese company to slip around an isolated Australian position ordered a withdrawal back to Isurava where the Australian troops could be concentrated and where the terrain would now funnel any future attack towards prepared Allied defences. 

OOB for Australian forces and Japanese Fela 3rd August 1942

Australian OOB and Orders Fela 1.30am 3^rd August 1942

Introduction: 

At Midnight on 2^nd August Papuan scouts A company PIB, inform your troops at Deniki that two

Japanese sections were spotted crossing the track between Deniki and Fela using Eora Creek as a

covering path as they move quickly towards the rear right flank of Deniki.

In response to this report Company C command at Deniki dispatched two full sections of militia each

with attached Papuan scouts to track down the reported Japanese. The commander at Deniki also

radios A Company moving between Isurava and Deniki which likewise dispatched two sections with

attached scouts to join up and support the searching troops. 

Meanwhile the Japanese sections execute a sharp left turn once clear of the track and creek

proceeding to deploy to the southern flank of Fela.

Between 12.30am and 1am on the 3^rd August two other Japanese formations begin to deploy to the

North East and North West of Fela, they spend another ½ hour slowly creeping towards no 5 section

A company PIB that has been left to defend and hold Fela.

At 1.30 am they attack.

Japanese break jungle cover and attack 

Battle Field Conditions:

     

The weather is again like it has been for the last few nights, it is raining heavily and there is a thick

mist rolling over the battlefield (-1 for Rain, -1 for Mist on all ACC rolls).

Australian OOB and Conditions

Defence of Fela – All Fela - Troops are entrenched

No 5 Section A Company PIB 1 x Australian corporal SMG armed, 7 x Papuan riflemen.

No 1 Section, 8^th Platoon, A Company 1 x Australian corporal SMG, 1 x L/Cpl NCO rifle armed, 1 x

LMG, 6 x Riflemen

C Company Patrol from Deniki – These troops need to roll against their guts score and those of

the Japanese to see if they have located the Japanese. If they don’t they will be located 1 D6 in

turns away from the fight when it begins.

No 1 & 2 Sections, 14^th Platoon, C Company each with 

1 x Australian corporal SMG, 1 x L/Cpl NCO rifle armed, 1 x LMG, 6 x Riflemen, 3 Papuan Scouts

A Company Patrol from main body located between Deniki and Isurava – These troops start 6

turns away from the battle, they also need to roll against their guts score and those of the

Japanese to see if they have located the Japanese. If they don’t they will add a further D6 in

turns away.

No 2 & 3 Sections, 8^th Platoon, A Company each with 

1 x Australian corporal SMG, 1 x L/Cpl NCO rifle armed, 1 x LMG, 6 x Riflemen, 3 Papuan Scouts

A Company main body troops located at kanadara – These troops start 4 turns away from the

battle, they may send through any or all of the following in aid but only after the first shots have

been fired

No 1, 2 & 3 Sections, 7^th Platoon, A Company each with 

1 x Australian corporal SMG, 1 x L/Cpl NCO rifle armed, 1 x LMG, 6 x Riflemen, 3 Papuan Scouts

No 1, 2 & 3 Sections, 9^th Platoon, A Company each with  1 x Australian corporal SMG, 1 x L/Cpl NCO rifle armed, 1 x LMG, 6 x Riflemen, 3 Papuan Scouts

1 X HMG Section, 1 x Spotter FOO. Company Sergeant Major as C-in-C.

Japanese OOB and Orders Fela 1.30am 3^rd August 1942

Introduction: 

At Midnight on 2^nd August your troops from 1^st Platoon of 1st Company 144^th Regt, cross the track

between Deniki and Fela using Eora Creek as a covering path once across the track your platoon turns sharply to its left and circles around behind Fela.

At 12.20am 3^rd August the 1^st Platoon of 2^nd Company 144^th Regt follows the path of the leading

platoon and also circles now to the West of Fela

By 1.10 you last platoon 2^nd Platoon, 2^nd Company 144^th Regt and the 2^nd  Company HQ are in place to the north of Fela the village is now surrounded and all forces begin to creep forward.

At 1.30am the attack begins.

Japanese  OOB and Conditions

All units start 15inches from Fela village

2^nd Company HQ, I Battalion, 144^th Infantry Regiment (from Kokoda)

7 men Veteran/Spirited Reactions

1^st Platoon, 1^st  Company 1/144th

 Regt (Veteran/Spirited Reactions) (from Pitoki)

Platoon HQ 1 x Officer and 1 x Sgt, 1 x Sniper, 2 riflemen

3 x Sections each  of 1 x LMG, 2 loaders, 2 x NCO, 8 x Soldiers

1 x Section of three Knee Mortars, 2 x NCO, 6 x loaders/riflemen

1 x HMG from HMG Coy 1/144^th Regt

1^st Platoon, 2ndCompany 1/144^th Regt (Veteran/Spirited Reactions) (from Kokoda)

Platoon HQ 1 x Officer and 1 x Sgt, 1 x Sniper, 2 riflemen

3 x Sections each  of 1 x LMG, 2 loaders, 2 x NCO, 8 x Soldiers

1 x Section of three Knee Mortars, 2 x NCO, 6 x loaders/riflemen

1 x HMG from HMG Coy 1/144^th Regt

2^nd Platoon, 2^nd Company 1/144th

 Regt (Veteran/Spirited Reactions) (from Oivi)

Platoon HQ 1 x Officer and 1 x Sgt, 1 x Sniper, 2 riflemen

3 x Sections each  of 1 x LMG, 2 loaders, 2 x NCO, 8 x Soldiers

1 x Section of three Knee Mortars, 2 x NCO, 6 x loaders/riflemen

No HMGs at Oivi.

Support Elements A Section 55^th Mountain battery

1 x Observer team attached to 2 x75mm Mountain Howitzers located at Kokoda

Support Elements 1/144^th Regt Mortars 1 x Observer team attached to 2 x81mm Mortars located at Kokoda

Allied Commanders Ian, Doug and Michael confir

The AAR to follow for the action.

Battle for Fila August 3rd 1942, 1.30am

Hi all

It has been a while since my last post. the reasoning’s for this is that Brad (Doc) has been doing a good coverage of the campaign to date so I figured that there was no reason to have two posts (one on my blog and one on his) per battle.

However Brad is unable to attend this Sundays coming game due to family commitments and therefore I will be posting the battle results

Please stay tuned the AAR with pictures will be posted early next week