Battle III The invasion of Hong Kong formed the basis of our annual regular visit to Shaun McLaughlin’s ‘The Bunker’ (now based at Newark), The game itself was being used to introduce Shaun to the new World War II rules ‘Storming the Reich’, and to play test some of the national characteristics and rule expansions included in the forth coming supplement ‘Blood on the Rising Sun’.

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Since much of Hong Kong Island is very mountainous the main table top action focussed on the coastal strip and the two valley area’s-Wong Nei Chong and Tai Tam. As one of the Japanese commanders along with our host Shaun, we discussed our plan of attack, whilst the rule set writer; Craig Langley and Shaun’s oldest son Joe determined where the defences would be located.

This game marked the ninth anniversary of our first visit to the Bunker on 31st July 1998 when it was based in York and promised an opportunity for brute force and guile, but not always in equal measure ! Our weekend mini-campaign would now begin in earnest.

Day 1

The games opening moves produced some very accurate fire from the Island’s coastal batteries on to the incoming Japanese landing craft laden with the lead elements of the invasion force whose objective was to assault en masse the ‘Victoria’ and ‘Bowrington’ township areas. The two British commanders had sighted their 2 x 4.5” howitzers and 2 x 18pdr field guns, to cover both eastern and western approaches, with forward artillery observer teams positioned in key area’s.

The FAO attached to the 5th and 7th Rajput battalions had successfully observed the bow wake of the Japanese landing craft, and managed in the radio phase of the game to transmit the co-ordinates to said batteries. Much to the dismay of the two Japanese commanders, who now realised their combined mass assault presented an inviting target, landing as their were on the narrow beachhead, which was soon to become congested with Japanese troops.

Our ‘Storming the Reich’ rules preclude players from deviating from their planned line of attack to reduce the effects of artillery bombardment as this is viewed as gamesmanship. The FAO’s artillery bombardment impact marker appeared ominously in the path of the Japanese landing craft containing elements from both the 229th and 230th infantry regiments.

During this initial assault, the resulting artillery barrage caused extensive casualties amongst the attacking infantry companies, and the Japanese had reason to curse their own bomber aircraft when at least one overshot its designated target area and scored a direct hit on one of its own battalions as it rushed the beach ! What a time to illustrate the ‘fog of war’ or was it just the stereotyped 'thick pebble glasses' the Japanese pilot was wearing, as seen in many war time American movie’s that caused this to happen.

The 230th Regiment under Colonel Shoji carried the assault after several turns of bitter fighting with the gallant defenders, eventually making their way past the shattered British positions. Progress was initially slowed by the invention of the Island’s Lanchester armoured car company which had been assigned to defend the small village of Pok Fu Lam. Supported by contingents of the Hong Kong Defence Volunteer Corps, they held the road into the village for most of the afternoon and into the evening of the first day.

It was only a successful ‘banzai’ charge by one of the companies under Colonel Shoji’s command that ensured a foothold into the village was gained during the closing stages of the evening. The ‘Banzai’ charge result provided us with an opportunity to play test our draft Far East supplement ‘Blood on the Rising Sun’ which is due to be released in late summer of this year. Although such total disregard for personnel safety occurred less frequently than was often portrayed in films.

It did on this occasion result in the command Lanchester armoured car being surrounded. Despite having lost a large number of troops from machine gun fire, the Japanese close assaulted the armoured car using small arms and improvised explosives, and blew it sky high. Unsurprisingly, the second Lanchester and the Hong Kong Defence Volunteers then retreated back down the narrow trail road, hastily pursued by the hot-headed Japanese troops.

Having gained a significant foothold by the end of game turn 12, night fell on the first days action.

Day 2

The dawn of the second day saw the arrival of the second wave of the Japanese assault, which had been decided would include a smaller attack at the other end of the island near to ‘Aberdeen’ so as to create a pincer movement. Unbeknown to the Japanese the British players had decided to defend this area heavily and in depth, hope was further raised amongst the defenders by the arrival of HMS Cicala (used to represent the gunboats available to the British commanders).

It proved its worth during the second day in harassing the beachhead now being slowly established. Its 6” naval gun and forward mounted 20mm anti-aircraft gun poured withering fire into elements of the massed Japanese assault, the term ‘turkey shoot’ comes to mind. Angered by the slow progress being made, the Japanese commanders diverted crucial bombing missions against this new threat, suffering greatly in the process as wave after wave of bombers were either shot down or driven off, following the stunning anti-aircraft fire dice throws made by Shaun’s son Joe, much to his amusement.

In desperation the Japanese commanders called in even more Zero fighter bomber sorties, requested by the beachhead commander. In ‘Storming the Reich’ rules there is a unique feature where if the request marker is placed to close to friendly troops/vehicles, then there is a 50% chance that the impact marker is moved closer to them

Yes you’ve guessed it, needless to say, at least one bombing incident of ‘friendly fire’ ensued, much to the consternation of the Japanese ground commanders, talk about ‘De ja vue’. A wry smile was seen on the faces of the two British commanders, but no words came forth, we expected at least “I wouldn`t have done that”……. A bad day at the office was beckoning.

The next seven turns in the Aberdeen sector saw fierce hand to hand fighting and the British and Commonwealth troops comprising of the 2nd battalion Royal Scots, the ‘Winnipeg’ Grenadiers and the 2/14th Punjabi’s put a up spirited and brave defence, causing mounting casualties amongst the Japanese attackers, considerably hindering their advance.

The three Japanese battalions of the 228th regiment supported by a company of Model 92 tanks struggled to breakthrough the perimeter around the township, suffering the loss of 7 companies either destroyed, routed or retiring back to their landing craft.

The eighteenth turn saw the final efforts of the Japanese combined thrust pay off as the remnants of the 229th and 230th regiments broke through from the other side of the Island and began to threaten the rear of the troops gallantly defending the above township. Although still shy of a few remaining turns, the British players reluctantly conceded that they were unlikely to hold out for much longer, and the game was declared a Japanese victory.

The Battle had been enjoyable and whilst the result would have been similar to the historical one, the Japanese attackers in our game had sustained considerably more casualties than their historical counterparts, control of the Island would have initially been awkward for the Japanese, until the arrival of reinforcements due to these losses.

The ‘Storming the Reich’ rules played well according to our hosts Shaun and Joe, a view that is now reinforced by the independent review in the June 2007 issue of ‘Wargames Illustrated’. There are certainly plans to return to the ‘Bunker’ in the future to fight another WWII engagement featuring another sector, most probably the Desert War.

Historical result

And what of the historical fight ? The Japanese attack against the Hong Kong peninsular began in the early hours of the 8th December 1941 and was conducted by the 38th Division of the 23rd Army, who outnumbered the defenders by almost three to one. Major General Maltby had decided to defend the Island by dividing his forces into two-an East and West Brigade. Unsurprisingly this was principally an infantry battle, the topography of the Island making it difficult for vehicles to move anywhere off the limited road system.

The few local aircraft available to the British defenders had already been destroyed during the initial attacks by Japanese bombers who carried out their orders effectively. Larger British vessels had been ordered to leave Hong Kong for Singapore prior to the actual invasion. In the face of such odds the British and Commonwealth troops resisted for two and a half weeks, finally surrendering on Christmas Day 1941, the fighting was vicious and hard. The loss of Hong Kong was a severe blow to the morale of the British.

For many years the troops who served in this area including Burma and Malaya, believed they were regarded as the ‘Forgotten Army’. Wargamers playing this battle do at least go some way to rectifying this oversight…………………