The Japanese Advance – Awala and Gorari Ambush Actions

Campaign Actions Phase 1 July 1942

The Japanese Advance – Awala and Gorari Ambush Actions

The initial battles for control of the lower part of the Kokoda track took place immediately after the Japanese invasion and occupation of Buna on 21^st July 1942. The battles occurred first at Awala on the 23^rd July. This would be the first contact between Australian and Japanese forces in Papua, with the second engagement being fought outsisde the village of Gorari as an ambush action on the 25^th July 1942.

Action 1: Awala 23^rd July 1942.

The Japanese Yokoyama Advance Force landed at Buna on the 21^st July and immediately sent out a probing force to secure the track that leds to the village of Kokoda a vital objective for the Japanese in these early stages of the coming campaign.

Spotting the advancing members of the Japanese 15^th Independent Engineers on the 22^nd July, Lieutenant John Chalk commander of the local elements of A Company Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) takes two actions

(1)    He immediately sends a runner to his immediate superior Major Watson, asking for orders of action.

(2)    While he awaits his commanders response Chalk keeps his troops out of sight while observing the approaching Japanese.

Chalk receives a handwritten note later that day, stating simply: "You will engage the enemy." Chalk lays an ambush and awaits the opportunity to spring it on the 23^rd

Awala is played as a point defense scenario page 112 of the core rules book.

Special rules - While primarily an action between the troops of the PIB and the Japanese. Elements of B company 39^th Militia Battalion are close enough to be included in the battle should the Allied commander wish. While the Japanese have access to artillery support there is no preparatory bombardment in this scenario.

If an all PIB force is selected to play this scenario, ½ the PIB Forces may be deployed for an ambush action. If there is a mixed force of PIB and Australian militia, All PIB units must be deployed on board while the Australian Militia forms the reserve.

Australian OOB Expenditure - 500 points, no less than 250 points may be spend on PIB forces.

PIB forces must comply with the British/Commonwealth Army Book, Inexperienced Infantry Sections (Early War) page 22, one reinforced platoon at a minimum must be purchased, no LMG option may be taken, NCO’s may not select SMG’s, AT grenades may not be taken.. Officers and NCO’s are represented by white Australian troops the PIB are all indigenous Papuans. Chalk is purchased as a regular officer. Special Green Ghost rules are in play for the PIB

Australian Militia forces must comply with the British/Commonwealth Army Book, Inexperienced Infantry Sections (Mid/Late War) page 22-23, one reinforced platoon may be purchased, LMG’s may be purchased, only the NCO’s may select a SMG’s, AT grenades may not be taken. 11^th Platoon B Company, 39th Militia Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Seekamp are all inexperienced militia troops, Seekamp is purchased as a regular officer.

Supporting elements for the PIB and 39^th Battalion Troops

Troop type	Medic	FOO	MMG	Mortar	Sniper	Flame Thrower	AT Team	Arty	A/Car	Tank etc	Transp
PIB	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
39th Bn	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No

Japanese OOB Expenditure - 750 points in total

The Japanese troops that made up the Yokoyama Advance Force were battle hardened veterans, to reflect this at minimum Japanese troops may be purchased as Regular. One reinforced platoons can be drawn from the following front line units.

Supporting elements for the Japanese troops of The Yokoyama Advance Force

Troop type	Medic	FOO	MMG	Mortar	Sniper	Flame Thrower	AT Team	Arty	A/Car	Tank etc	Transp
15th Ind Engineers	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
1st Bn 144th Regt	Yes	Yes Arty	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
5th Sasebo SNLF	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No

·         All Japanese troops may be mounted on bicycles

·         All Japanese troops are classed as fanatics

·         SNLF troops may only be purchased as Veteran

·         All Japanese squads may have an attached 50mm knee mortar

Victory conditions – The three objectives are

(1)    the hill overlooking the Gona–Sangara road,

(2)    the road itself

(3)    the native garden that is aligned with the road.

If the Japanese hold 2-3 objectives they win and gain 100pts towards the next game

If the Japanese only hold 1 objective the game is a draw – no points are awarded, Australian forces receive 10 points

If the Australians hold 2-3 objectives they are the winner and will gain 50pts for the next game

A loss for the Japanese means a loss of 50 Points on the next game and -25 for the Australians

Objective are won as per the core rules page 113

 

Action 2: Gorari village crossing Kumusi River 25^th July 1942.

The Kokoda track left the coast at Buna and travelled approximately 50 kilometers to a point where the track came to a halt at the mighty Kumusi River. The Kumusi, 100 meters wide and four meters deep, flowed with a rush towards the Solomon’s Sea at 8 knots. To cross the river a primitive wire rope bridge spanned the river torrent.

Initially the Australian militia troops thought that this point would make a great ambush point, but decided that a better stand could be achieved at Gorari where an additional Militia Platoon, the 12^th under lieutenant Mortimore was located, the militia of 11^th Platoon along with the remaining PIB forced blew up the bridge and moved to Gorari.

At Gorari the Australian and Papuan forces set up an ambush position 800 yards east of the small village, the 11^th and 12^th Platoons on main track leading towards Kokoda within thick jungle. The Papuans in tall kunai grass to the militia forces flanks.  Bren and Lewis Guns were sited to fire along track while Thompson Machine Guns were for the most part to be used in Jungle to give fire power at close quarters.

Gorari is played as an envelopment scenario page 108 of the core rules book.

Special rules - 11^th and 12^th Militia Platoons are the primarily an action troops for the action, the PIB may be purchased but there were very few of them present in this action. While the Japanese have access to artillery support there is no preparatory bombardment in this scenario.

Australian OOB Expenditure - 500 points, no more than 100 points may be spend on PIB forces.

Australian Militia forces must comply with the British/Commonwealth Army Book, Inexperienced Infantry Sections (Mid/Late War) page 22-23, one reinforced platoon may be purchased, LMG’s may be purchased, only the NCO’s may select a SMG’s, AT grenades may not be taken. 11^th and 12^th Platoon militia are all inexperienced troops, Seekamp and Mortimore are purchased as a regular officer.

PIB forces must comply with the British/Commonwealth Army Book, Inexperienced Infantry Sections (Early War) page 22, one reinforced platoon at a minimum must be purchased, no LMG option may be taken, NCO’s may not select SMG’s, AT grenades may not be taken.. Officers and NCO’s are represented by white Australian troops the PIB are all indigenous Papuans. Chalk is purchased as a regular officer. Special Green Ghost rules are in play for the PIB

Supporting elements for the PIB and 11^th and 12^th Platoon 39^th Battalion Troops

Troop type	Medic	FOO	MMG	Mortar	Sniper	Flame Thrower	AT Team	Arty	A/Car	Tank etc	Transp
PIB	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
39th Bn	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No

Japanese OOB Expenditure - 750 points in total

The Japanese troops that made up the Yokoyama Advance Force were battle hardened veterans, to reflect this at minimum Japanese troops may be purchased as Regular. One reinforced platoons can be drawn from the following front line units.

Supporting elements for the Japanese troops of The Yokoyama Advance Force

Troop type	Medic	FOO	MMG	Mortar	Sniper	Flame Thrower	AT Team	Arty	A/Car	Tank etc	Transp
15th Ind Engineers	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
1st Bn 144th Regt	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
5th Sasebo SNLF	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No

·         All Japanese troops must be mounted on bicycles

·         All Japanese troops are classed as fanatics

·         SNLF troops may only be purchased as Veteran

·         All Japanese squads may have an attached 50mm knee mortar

Victory conditions – are as per the victory conditions on page 109 of the core rules.

If the Japanese achieve their objectives they win and gain 100pts towards the next game, Australians loss 25points for a losing

There are no draws in this game

If the Australians hold the Japanese becoming the winner and gain 50pts, the Japanese loss 50 points

Objective of the game is won as per the core rules page 113