Chain of Command AAR USMC vs Japs!

Recently we played a PTO Chain of Command game, USMC against the IJA, Dave wrote up the below AAR...

In the shadow of Kolombangara - New Georgia, Solomon Islands, late 1943.

After the long fight to secure Guadalcanal in late 1942 and early 1943 the drive up Solomon Islands was commenced to secure the left flank of Nimitz's drive across the central Pacific.  Key objective was the island group of New Georgia in the south-central Solomons. In the shadow of the volcano Kolombangara, USMC and Japanese troops fought without quarter for this remote corner of both tropical paradise and hell on Earth.

2nd Platoon, Baker Company has been tasked to reconnoitre and secure an area of ground in the island group. Dense jungle, limiting visibility, broken by some low hills, rocky outcrops and swampy ground. 

The Japanese score very highly on morale as these are fresh troops confident of victory. The USMC are tired and score low on morale but highly on support weapons. So the stage is set for the spirit of Bushido versus firepower.

1st, 2nd and 3rd squads deploy left, centre and right to find, contact and engage the enemy. 2nd squad push forward first in the centre, detaching a two-man recon team to their left who are quickly taken under fire by the defending Japanese from what appears to be a bunker and a rifle squad.

The 3rd squad deploys on the right near a swamp and commence firing on another bunker and rifle squad of Japanese who seem reluctant to return fire.

 

The 1st squad deploys on the left and begin to manoeuvre to take the defenders in the flank, when they too are hit by heavy fire from what appears to be yet another bunker and rifle squad, which kills two of the squad in the opening bursts.

 

Support teams and platoon command begins to arrive with Sgt Stryker, a Guadalcanal veteran bearing a more than passing resemblance to John Wayne, situated between and behind the 1st and 2nd squads to the centre-left. The lieutenant is positioned to the right, nearer the 3rd squad, to direct the firing and movement of the support teams which are deployed to the right side in support of the 3rd squad. They are the closest to the enemy they are engaging and seem to have the best chance of taking their position and turning the defenders left flank. 

Well directed Japanese mortar fire begins raining on the 3rd squad who are slow to organise their support teams of a flame thrower on loan from the Aussies, and MG's. However the platoon mortar team brings fire on the left flank of the Japanese behind the swamp.

The 1st squad on the right begins falling back and under the barked orders of Sgt Stryker, prepare to pass behind the 2nd squad in the centre to reinforce the main assault on the USMC right. However their progress is hampered by the jungle terrain and Japanese opposing them gamely move forward to continue to bring them under fire. The 2nd squad in the centre remain engaged in their own firefight, steadily taking casualties.

3rd squad on the right are whittling down the opposing Japanese across the swamp but taking casualties of their own from accurate mortar fire despite one of the mortars running out of ammo. The 3rd squad is lucky as the Japs do not seem to have enough command and control to return fire with the rifle squad. The USMC platoon support weapons are slow to join the action but once an MG joins the fight it is quick to take effect. Eventually the flame thrower team reach a firing position and take out the bunker from longer range. The 1st squad are too slow re-deploying across the centre-rear to support 3rd squad on the right.

The US morale has been reduced by losses but the Japanese morale has hardly flagged despite the loss and rout of the squad on their left flank. It has taken too long to reduce the Japanese left flank and night falls so USMC advance is halted, having not achieved their terrain objectives for that day.

The lieutenant is summoned to the Company CP for a chewing out and both sides settle in for an uneasy night in the jungle separated by only a few tens of yards. Today Bushido has triumphed, but eventually firepower will carry the campaign.