Battle IIII

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This encounter was set against the following brief back ground. By mid-January 1942 the Japanese had reached the southern parts Malaya, where they encountered troops from the Australian 8th Division. For the first time in the campaign during engagements with the Australians the Japanese experienced their first major tactical setbacks. Which in great part was due to the stubborn resistance put up by the Australians and the cunning use of ambushes where they inflicted costly losses on the Japanese attackers.

The table top battle was played using the rules ‘Storming the Reich’ in conjunction with the forth coming supplement ‘Blood on the Rising Sun’. The game featured a stylised account of one such ambush along one of the small tributaries off the river Maur, which on the war games table had two fordable crossing points, one of which the Northern ford was deemed suitable for vehicles.

In Major General Gordon Bennett’s (Commonwealth commander) opinion this was an obvious site for an ambush, the fords presenting a natural choke point. To spring this trap he had elements of the 27th Australian Brigade (counted as regular for playing purposes), defend the Northern vehicle crossable ford and elements from the weak 45th Indian Brigade (a new and half trained formation counted as green) to defend the river's more Southern ford.

The force in all consisted of 4 slightly under strength infantry companies, 2 x 2pounder anti-tank guns, 2 x Vickers Hmgs, 1 x mortar, and a smattering of anti-tank rifles.

The Commonwealth and Empire force were commanded by two players one controlling the Australian the other the Indian. They thus allocated their forces and prepared their ambush, see below map for details, the outcome all now hinged on the approach of the over-confident Japanese.

Map for battle of Maur 1942 played to rules by realistic war games.

The Japanese had two battalions (counted as veteran) at their disposal, and an attached mixed tank company of Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks and Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tanks. The two Japanese players decided to attach these tanks to individual companies on a one to one basis (as per the national characteristics in the new supplement which allow the Japanese to allocate their armour in penny packets in support of infantry).

The Japanese battalion with armour support was to force the crossing at the vehicle ford, the other battalion was allocated with task of taking the more southern ford, the scene was set for a bloody confrontation.

The Japanese units advanced towards the river in two separate columns the northern column being restricted to the road, as the terrain was deemed impassable to AFV`s. Both columns made good progress, and encountered no resistance on the Japanese Eastern side of the river mainly because the allied players felt it prudent to deploy their forces on the other side of the river.

The Northern column arrived at the ford slightly ahead of the Southern column, the lead Japanese infantry company arrived at the banks of the river with attached Type 95 Ha-go tank, this move had been observed by the Australians who had cunningly positioned their 2 pdr anti-tank guns in such away that they both covered the ford and would with luck get shots at the side of any AFV`s attempting to cross.

Both guns fired, one 2 pdr shell narrowly missed the tank but the other struck the side, easily penetrating the weak side armour of the Ha-Go, destroying the vehicle, which luckily for the surrounding infantry didn’t catch fire, the infantry in turn hit the deck following a poor reaction morale test. Battle was now well and truly joined.

The second infantry company which was following up the first with Ha-go tank support saw the ensuing conflagration, surged forward guns blazing with little disregard for their own safety. Its own armoured support also came under fire from the concealed anti-tank guns and small arms from a until now undisclosed infantry company deployed on the jungle hedge.

Both 2pdrs missed their mark not surprisingly given the fact that the second Ha-Go was moving and using the other knocked out Ha-go as cover, but some of its accompanying infantry fell to the intense Australian small arms fire.

The battle at the Northern ford raged back and forth, meanwhile lead elements of the Southern column were approaching the ford defended by the Indian troops, they came into view of the concealed Indian infantry.

In ‘Storming the Reich’ troops that are classed as regular and above can choose to fire whenever they wish. Poorer trained troops are less likely to hold fire until the range is more favourable, therefore the Indian troops which were green, had to take a fire discipline test if they fail they will fire immediately not matter how extreme the range, thus giving away their position.

A die is thrown luckily for them they past the test, the Indian player elects to hold fire until the Japanese troops are nearer. The unwary Japanese continue to approach the ford, The Indian troops hold fire until the Japanese are at their most vulnerable, they let loose with all their small arms and a Vickers machine gun when the lead elements of the Japanese are crossing the ford, the effects are devastating and the company takes horrendous casualties. The following morale test force the remnants to retire to cover. The following Japanese infantry companies fan out along the river bank apposing the Indian troops and a fire fight begins.

Back at the Northern crossing the second Ha-Go tank as been knocked out by the combined efforts of the two 2 pdrs. Although the Australian infantry company is now beginning to sustain heavy casualties from the combined efforts of the three deployed Japanese infantry companies and the remaining Type 97 Ch-Ha medium tank with its short 57mm gun, at this stage its attached infantry company takes a morale test as a result of return fire from the Australians.

Using the new national characteristic from the new supplement the score combined with a second die roll results in the entire company declaring a ‘Banzai’ charge, they reckless charge across the ford, straight into close combat with the now depleted Australian infantry, a bitter struggle takes place but by sheer weight of numbers the Japanese carry the position.

The rest of the Japanese begin to flood across, and come into contact with the reserve Australian infantry company, a brief but costly fire fight ensues, which see the Australians falling back (but in good order), the Japanese have gained a significant foothold at the Northern crossing.

Meanwhile the fight continues at the Southern crossing with no side gaining any clear advantage and more importantly the Japanese have failed to cross the ford. But the allied players decide to withdraw the Indian companies, and there is a danger of them being cut off or hit in the flank by the troops from the more successful attack. The game is declared a win for the Japanese players but at a high cost, everybody agreeing that the Banzai charge was the critical turning point.

Battle of Maur Malaya 14th January 1942.