Australian OOB and Orders Pitoki 30th July 1942

Following the defeat of the Australian forces at Kokoda on the 29^th July, the remaining Australian officers scramble to put together an effective fighting force, as they retire back down the track towards Deniki.

The decimated B and D Companies 39^th Battalion are combined into the B/D Composite Company which is placed under the command of the newly appointed Captain Mclean.

Midway along the track between Kokoda and Deniki is the village of Pitoki. Pitoki is seen by the retreating Australian commanders as a vital position from which an ambush action can be initiated. The aim of laying an ambush at Pitoki is to give time to the assembling forces at Deniki enabling them to reorganise and dig in creating formalised defences at that position.

The command of the Pitoki Ambush force is assigned to Captain Smith (Promoted from Lieutenant) Papuan Infantry Battalion - a tough ex Papuan constabulary officer.

Captain Smith’s forces consist of:-

No 1 Section, 12/16 Platoon B/D Composite Company – 9 men

A Company PIB – 35 Men under command Lt Jester (PIB)

GHQ Port Moresby has assigned one flight of P39 Air Cobras from the 5th USAAF’s 8^th Fighter Group to attack Kokoda. One of these aircraft has been assigned to hit pre designated targets at Pitoki.

OOB Australian Forces

Pitoki Ambush Force

C-in-C, Captain Smith (PIB)

No 1 Section, 12/16 Platoon B/D Composite Company, 39^th Battalion – 9 Men

2 x NCO’s (SMG), 1 x LMG, 6 x Riflemen

A Company PIB – 35 Men (the rest not being able to be found)

HQ Section - Lt Jester , SGT, 2 x Papuan’s

A Company PIB – 4 x Sections each of 2 Australian NCO’s (SMG) 6 x Papuan’s

8^th Fighter Group,  5th USAAF -  1 x P39 Air Cobra

US P-39 attacks Japanese troops in jungle (excellent Photo shop by Greg)

Battle field Conditions

The Australian forces have only been in position for around 10 hours, most of that time at night. When the Japanese advance on the Pitoki Position this occurs at 7.00am in the morning the weather conditions are fine, there is no mist, no rain. However your troops being tired and hampered by night conditions have only been able to establish shell scrap positions.

Japanese OOB and Orders Pitoki 30th July 1942

Background Information

Following the defeat of the Australian forces at Kokoda on the 29^th July, the remaining Australian forces have scrambled back towards their rear area lines at Deniki.

Your troops, the Yokoyama Advance Force has been congratulated by Imperial Headquarters at Rabaul and ordered to make ready for the main fighting elements of the South Seas Force that is due to be landed in the coming days.

The Local area commander Lt – Colonel Yokoyama has ordered the reinforced 1^st Company, 1^st Battalion, 144^th regiment to maintain contact with the withdrawing Australians while also establishing a forward patrol base close enough to continue operations against the believed reorganised Australian forces at Deniki.

The rest of the regiment has been ordered to various locations back down the track to continue the work that will make ready for the increasing Japanese forces that will begin the drive on Port Moresby.

At Kokoda After a period of time all 1^st Battalion commanders are assigned their new orders, troops are rested and some reorganisation is undertaken, the first company is now sent towards Deniki

At 7.00am 30^th July 1942, your forces approach a previously unknown village midway along the track between Kokoda and Deniki. This Village because of its locality will make an excellent forward patrol base. The 1^st company commander orders his troops to take Pitoki.

OOB Japanese Forces

The force commander is 2^nd Lieutenant Onogowa commander of the 1^st Company, 1/144^th Bn

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 52 men + 2 men Pl HQ - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

2^nd Rifle Platoon, 1/I/144^th 52 men + 2 men Pl HQ - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

3^rd Rifle Platoon, 1/I/144^th 52 men + 2 men Pl HQ - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

Each rifle platoon consisting - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

3 x Section of 1 x LMG, 2 x NCO, 8 x Soldiers

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

Support Elements I/144^th Regiment

1 x Observer team attached to 2 x 81mm Mortars located at Kokoda

3 x HMG from I/144^th Battalion HMG Company

Support Elements A Section 55^th Mountain battery

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

Battle field Conditions

The Pitoki attack occurs at 7.00am in the morning the weather conditions are fine, there is no mist, no rain.

Your Forces orders are

1st Company 1/144th: Establishment of a forward Patrol base (FPB) with forward patrols to maintain contact with Australian forces. Company HQ and HMGs established at camp. Snipers attached to each platoon: platoon patrol Schedule: (summary, 1 platoon at base, 1 platoon on patrol and 1 platoon on ambush during day and night)

FPB to consist of 1 Platoon, CHQ, 3x HMG and the FOOs for the 75mm mountain guns at all times

Mortar Company: 2x 81MM Mortar and crew deployed at Kokoda, 2x 81mm Mortar’s

Battle of Pitoki 30th July 1942

AAR Battle for Pitoki July 30^th 1942

Setting up the Action

Following the defeat of the Australian forces at Kokoda on the 29^th July, the remaining Australian officers scramble to put together an effective fighting force, as they retire back down the track towards Deniki.

Midway along the track between Kokoda and Deniki is the village of Pitoki. Pitoki is seen by the retreating Australian commanders as a vital position from which an ambush action can be initiated with the aim of holding up the Japanese while give time to the assembling forces at Deniki to regroup.

A small section of militia is left at Pitoki along with the larger but under strength A company PIB to establish a defensive position with much hast. The pitoki ambush force is placed under the command of Captain Smith (Promoted from Lieutenant) Papuan Infantry Battalion - a tough ex Papuan constabulary officer.

Japanese Generals Cameron, Greg and George Consult before the game

Pitoki Ambush Force Orders are

1.       Actively ambush any advancing Japanese forces that may be following the retreating battalion

2.       Where possible effect a delaying action while avoiding heavy casualties

3.       The force is to make use of favourable terrain where advancing Japanese troops can be funnelled and cannot circle quickly around flanks. This should be achieved by the defending forces digging in and prepare the positions as much as possible where time allows.

4.       If the ambush force comes under significant pressure it is to withdraw to established positions at Deniki.

The Japanese wanting to keep pressure up on the retreating Australian forces and after some re-organisation at Kokoda on the 29^th send forward the reinforced 1^st Company, 1^st Battalion, 144^th under commander of 2^nd Lieutenant Onogowa.

Japanese troops move along river towards Pitoki

At 7.00am on 30^th July 1942 the Japanese forces approach a previously unknown village. Onogowa begins the assault by splitting his troops into three strike platoons, the first to assault the village, the second to skirt around the right flank of the village and the third to be held back in reserve. Attached to first company are the observers of a mortar section and a 75mm Mountain Howitzer section still located at Kokoda to give the force some fire support.

Battle field Conditions

The Australian forces have only been in positions for around 10 hours, most of that time at night. When the Japanese advance on the Pitoki at 7.00am the weather conditions are fine, there is no mist and no rain. However due to the Australian troops being tired and being hampered by night conditions they have only been able to establish shell scraps for protection.

The game

The first two game turns see very little action as the Japanese advance towards the Australian positions and the village utilising the jungle cover along the creek beds that approach their objective.

On turn three from the Australian left flank a section of PIB troops opens fire causing only minor casualties to the approaching Japanese.  A section of Japanese that is located directly in front of the  to the Australian sections position that has fired and is hidden by jungle now bursts forth, the Papuans fail their gut check and are forced back in retreat as the Japanese charge. The rest of turn three is reasonable quite except for a worrying message received by 2^nd Lieutenant Onogowa, that a flight of US P-39 Aircobra’s is conducting areal attacks on Kokoda attempting to take out his artillery and Mortar support.

In turn four the retreating Papuans come under heavier fire losing two casualties, the Japanese that were following them now retreat back into the jungle edge. To support their escape a second section of Papuans hidden in the native garden opens fire causing a few casualties and keeping the Japanese hidden. Meanwhile the other Japanese forces continue to advance attempting to locate other Australian force positions.

Turn five opens with the appearance of one P-39 from the Kokoda Strike mission. The cobra flies down the field from the base line of the Australian position only managing to spot a lone Japanese snipper. The pilot reasoning that a larger Japanese force must be near this man decided to drop his 500ld bomb. The result ….. Nothing the bomb clears the intended target and fails to detonate in the mud of the surrounding country. The Japanese hiding in the jungle hold their positions not firing at the aircraft through fear of drawing attention to themselves.

On turn six the cobra makes a second run this time spotting a group of infantry which is suppresses and takes out one machine gunner suppressing the heavy machine gun. One Japanese section sends forth two scouts to flush out the hidden Australians but as it is moving quickly fails to acquire any targets. Firing between the already exposed Papuan and on the Australian left flank continues but their fire is not enough to stop the fleeing Papuans from the first contact being reduced to now only 4 men who now rout.

Turn 7 sees the Air cobras last attack run, it takes out a few more Japanese including an artillery spotter and some of the flanking troops off board and then leaves. The Japanese scouts that were sent out on the last turn now come under extreme fire from ambushing Australian. The last Japanese observer calls for his 75mm support which causes three casualties and suppresses the Australian position.

The Australian commander seeing that his troops are once again in trouble calls for a withdrawal the next three turns are taken up by the Australians bugging out. On the last turn the flanking Japanese arrive, they capture a lone Papuan who is later tortured to death and the remaining Australian forces manage to flee of the board with assistance from their guides in the PIB taking jungle track back towards Deniki. 

On the last turn 2^nd Lieutenant Onogowa receives a message that the Air strike on Kokoda has taken out 4 mortar men and the mortar pits are destroyed, while the tubes were not damaged they wil not be serviceable for the rest of this day .

Battle Casualties

Japanese - A total of 40 men comprising:

55^th Mountain Regt - 1 spotter

1/144^th HMG Company- 2 gunners,

1/144^th Mortar Company - 4 Mortar men

1/144^th Battalion – 1 x Sniper

1^st coy 1/144^thRegiment – 32 men

Australian – A total of 24 men comprising:

A Company PIB – 2 Sections each of - 2 Australian NCO’s, 6 x Papuan’s (8)
C/D Composite Section - 6 Riflemen

Australian OOB Kokoda East

 B Company 39th Battalion - all forces Tired/Green
 C-in-C Captain Templeton, (Present)
 B Company 39th Battalion HQ Section (Unit reduced in size through previous actions)
 10th Platoon – 2 sections of 7, 2 x LMG’s (Lewis)
 11th Platoon - 3 sections of 7, 3 x LMG’s (Lewis)
 12th Platoon – 3 sections of 7 only 2 LMG’s (1 x Lewis, 1 x Bren)

 Detached sections HQ company 390th Militia Battalion  - all forces Tired/Green
 C-in-C Major Carrow (Present)
 HQ Platoon – 2 sections of 6, No LMG’s (made up of cooks, clerks etc)
 39th Battalion HMG Support, Section 1 – 1 x Vickers HMG’s

Japanese OOB for Kokoda East

Forces committed to Kokoda East Battle

C-in-C Lt – Colonel Yokoyama,Yokoyama Advance Force

Attached support elements of 55^th Division Mountain Artillery

“A” Battery 55^th Mountain Artillery 1 x 75mm Mountain Howitzer + Spotter crew

4^th Company, I Battalion, 144^th Infantry Regiment (Type A)

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

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

1^st Rifle Platoon, 4/I/144^th 30 men + 7 men Pl HQ- Veteran/Spirited Reactions – (3 Sec of 10)

2^nd Rifle Platoon, 4/I/144^th 45 men + 7 men Pl HQ- Veteran/Spirited Reactions

3^rd Rifle Platoon, 4/I/144^th 45 men + 7 men Pl HQ- Veteran/Spirited Reactions

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

Kokoda East Reserve Formations

15^th Independent Engineer Regiment – 3 x Engineer Platoons + HQ (Type B)

15^th Ind Engineer Regiment HQ - 7 men + 4 men LMG Sec -Veteran/Spirited Reactions

1^st Rifle Platoon, 15^th Ind Eng 39 men + 7 men Pl HQ - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

2^nd Rifle Platoon, 15^th Ind Eng 39 men + 7 men Pl HQ - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

3^rd Rifle Platoon, 15^th Ind Eng 39 men + 7 men Pl HQ - Veteran/Spirited Reactions

 

Deployment

4^th /I/144^th Regiment, A battery 55^th Regiment on board – 15” from Australian positions

15^th Engineer Regiment off Board in reserve

Battle for Kokoda East

The battle for Kokoda East saw a very tough close combat in this second part of the Kokoda game.

Japanese troops move through Native Gardens towards Kokoda Village

Elements of the Japanese 4^th Company, 1^st Battalion, 144^th Regiment with support form the Mountain Howitzer 55^th Mountain Regiment assaulted the east of Kokoda which was defended by weakened elements of the Australian  B company 39^th Battalion supported by elements of 39^th Battalion HQ .

Kokoda East Map - Japanese start 15 inches to the east

from the escarpment - area in grey

The Japanese started the assault 15 inches from the entrenched Australian positions in dark and misty conditions. The first round resulted in a mixed effort by the Japanese forces, on the southern flank three charges got off and made contact with the Australian trenches early with the Australian as this point managing to hold out the chargers. While in the North the Japanese forces edged forward cautiously against Kokoda.

The second round saw the initial charges in the south break the entrenched positions with the added assistance of star shells and the beginning of the Japanese mortar fire hitting the village. Despite the initial positions becoming over whelmed the Australian position held as one by one their hidden troops began to level fore on the advancing Japanese. 

The Japanese command seeing that their initial efforts although having some success were not progressing to plan deployed their heavy machine guns and opened a heavy breaking fire on the front lines.

Round three saw a change in the Japanese tactics.  Their forces slowed down adopting a supporting fire advance rather than their previous charging assault tactics. The Australian command at this point realised that if they were to hold their current positions they would become cut off as advancing Japanese forces had become dangerously close to their southern escape route. Japanese supporting fire continued to harass the Australian lines.

Round four saw the beginning of the Australian withdrawal. In the south Australian troops were deployed to keep the escape route open against an advancing platoon of Japanese who were attempting to seal the Aussies fate. In the north the Japanese had gained a foot hold on the ridge but despite encouragement by their officers were failing to advance past the first line of habitation. However the Japanese had at this point managed to get one of their snipers in position on the edge of the village. A second sniper was also now in position in the centre of the Japanese advancing forces,  seeing the emergence of the 2ic 39^th Battalion Major Carrow took a snap shot killing him as he began his withdrawal.

Australian troops begin a backward retreat covering

their front forces withdrawal

Lt Colonel Owen C-in C 39^th battalion now found himself in the middle of retreating Australian forces. He was busy attempting to restore troop order to the retreating militia men even fired off a pistol shot killing a closing Japanese soldier but was finding that panic was beginning to set in. the crew of the Australian HMG had been killed a section close to the HMG send off three troops to rescue the gun which was indeed saved by the end of the battle.

Round five and six saw the Australian retreat continue, sections began to rout, Lt Colonel Owen continued his attempts to order the troops he was spotted at the end of turn five by the positioned sniper and killed as he stood in the open issuing orders to his troops.

The Australians managed to get a few troops of the south end of the board by the end of the game, those troops joining up with the others retreating from the Kokoda West game heading for the safety of Deniki.

Japanese forces reach the escarpment and begin a charge up the hill

under the light of a star shell

 The result o f the game was as follows:

Australians 56 soldiers killed, two left the field in panic away from the safety of Deniki opting to hide in the jungles of the Owen Stanley’s. Lt Colonel Owen and Major Callow, C-in-C and 2ic 39^th battalion both killed.

The Japanese lost 95 soldiers in the attack including a platoon 2^nd lieutenant who was the last member of his platoon standing on the north side of the village during the failed Japanese advance in the north.

Game factors – the Japanese suffered higher losses due to consistent failed attempts to get their troops to close with the Australian positions and a high failure rate of support weapons to find accusation on targets. The Australian troops started their retreat to late resulting in higher than expected losses

Game considerations –  At the end of the game all players were in agreement that an over watch house rule would be trialed in the next game.

OVERWATCH RULE - Over watch is announced when a side has the chance to active. The rule means that the selected unit will adopt a wait and see position, indicating the area that they are watching at the time of the rule being activated. This unit will not participate in any other action but will instead take opportune fire at any enemy that either approaches or crosses their allocated target area before that enemy unit has the opportunity to conduct their normal turn

The Next Round

Hi All

The next round is due to be played Sunday 13th March ..... not 13th Feb as earlier advised due to one of the allied commanders loosing his mother to a long illness.

Keep your eyes on the site this part of the Kokoda Battle will be a very close combat with the Japanese starting 15 inches from the allied position in mist and night conditions