12/41 USMC Defense of Salamaua

[azraelck]

1700 hrs
Col. Ferguson

I have been ordered to stop an IJA avance in the jungles of salamaua. The heavy jungle gives us no line of sight, and likely we will be fighting heavily up close. Since there is no way to ensure that a concentrated area won't be flanked, I ordered my troops to form a rough line; mixed companies of infantry with M3 Stuarts for support. Howitzers and mortars are 200 yards back, providing artillery support. Recon elements have been placed 250 yards forward; with orders to sneak through enemy lines and locate their artillery and radio back.

[KG Erwin]

That's a good deployment, man. You NEED that arty support. The weakness of the USMC at this time is plainly apparent: those Jap squads are huge, and you'll be severely outnumbered. The Marines of 1941 were equipped with WWI weapons, and frankly didn't stand a chance, but you'll make those yellow bast*rds pay for every inch of ground. Do NOT let them close in -- they will "banzai" you out of your entrenchments.

Semper fi, and best of luck.

[PimpYourAFV]

More please. Lets hear about the fight! [:)]

[azraelck]

1700 Hours; Battle starts
Col. Ferguson

The IJA opened up with what I hope to be a blind volley of Mortar and Howitzer fire. Units in the northern quadrant were hit; no casualties thankfully. The COs i that sector are having problems regaining control, however I am confidant that the men will remain in position; if for no other reason than that there is no where else to go. The barrage was quite heavy, but most landed short, or completely out of visual range alltogether. None the less, it has not helped the nerves of my marines. They are already on the ragged edge as it is. The sounds of distant explosions and gun fire is ever present, hanging over our heads like some damned buzzard. The rain and closeness of the jungle has us all feeling trapped and doomed.I wish... we all wish we were home.

I have ordered that no one is to retreat. The IJA will not grant quarter nor mercy, and nor shall the USMC. We must hold the line at all costs; and we will. The men hold their Springfields ready; Tanks have their cannons primed. We are ready.



I am probably boned then. I don't ahve a strong artillery support; not in this battle. Light mortar and some Howitzers is it; mostly I have 5 cos of Infantry backed by two cos of Stuarts.

I have used US Army infantry equipped with M1903 Springfields to some degree of success before; but I was able to use "captured" Panthers in replacement of the M4s, and that definitely made a difference. Couple the USMC disadvantage with my lack of SPWaW experience (This is the most modern Wargame I have ever played; mostly it's medieval and fantasy games that I play), and my complete lack of ever having played with the USMC before in SPWaW. We'll see how I do; I'm just trying to have fun and take a break from a US Army Rangers long campaign I'm running right now.

[azraelck]

Col Ferguson
Damned if I know or care the time.

Enemy contact was finally made. Recon units were the first to encounter the encroaching wave of Imperian Japanese forces. Over the radio the screams of the men could be heard as they tried to radio in coordinates. Sgt. Floyd just managed to call his in when the sickening sound of a bullet striking flesh was heard, and the radio fell silent.

Shortly thereafter; the wave hit. At least 10 companies if you go by what initial reports from the line are stating; though surely it is less. They are striking the center of the line, as expected, and striking hard. Jap artillery is pounding the hell out of our entrenchments; hitting both marine and jap alike. Several hundred yards along the back of the line, the jungle is ablaze, despite the rain. So for the majority of the marines; there is no retreat now.

Our artillery is useless now; I won't risk hitting my own men, even if the Japanese think nothing of killing their own. So for now; Artillery pounds back away from the line, hoping to slow and disrupt any more enemy forces advancing. It's going to be rifle against rifle, bayonet against bayonet, man against man; from here on out.

Still. Despite the screams of th sying men and mortar shells. Despite the charging waves of men with madness and death in their eyes. Despite the flames and the rain and the ever present sounds of explosions and gun fire. The Marines hold the line.

[azraelck]

The centr of the line is getting the hell kicked out of it now. Japs charge in heedless of the bullets rom our guns, clambering over sandbags like some kind of deranged monkey; attacking with bayonet and sword. The south is entrapped; surrounded with flames. Two Stuarts have been blown to hell, adding to the carnage.

Thankfully; enemy artillery has fallen off somewhat. Given their lack of concern about themselves and their own; I believe they may be running low on shells.

The line collapsed at a couple points; but the Stuarts spoke up, and the COs were able to rally the men and regain their positions.

[PimpYourAFV]

Good reading. Keep it coming sir. [:)]

[azraelck]

The lines have opened up again, this time with no men to rally and retake their posistions. Damn their eyes! To counter out weakening center, the south started trying to break through the flames to reinforce them. Stuarts are now serving as bulldozers, smashing through burning debris and clearing a path all the while keeping an eye and a cannon out for more Japs. Luckily, that sector has recieved a relatively light assault; and the forces have held it without loss so far. It leaves our southern flank open, but right now I don't think the Japs can capitalize; with so many in the middle. Up in the north is a different matter. Nearly a company's worth has yet to see combat; so I ordered them to break and make a flanking counter attack. They are to sweep south, pushing the Japs back until they reach the hardest hit areas; then break and return to the line, reinforcing that sector. That leaves us dangerously exposed, but I have few options at the present time.

col. Ferguson

[azraelck]

Col. Ferguson

The counter strike has taken it's toll. The wave fo M3s has inflicted heavy losses upon the japstowards the north. Their success is critical at this point. There is two locations in the line that are in deperate need of a break. With the North end open to any flanking manuver; we need to push the Japs south, and back. Hopefully, they'll head straight south, allowing the men on the line to fire on them. If not, I may order the stuarts to attack en mass.

The Japs have taken heavy losses, especially up in the northern sector. Down in the south the reinforcement manuver turned into a counter strike of it's own; pushing the bastards back hard. There isn't a strong troop concentration down there; and the men have only light casualties, but still. This needs to end soon. Currently, the main concentration of enemy forces is in the center, right where we're weakest.

The men in the center are fading and ready to break. The men hold the line; showing bravery and valor above and beyond what any man should be able to show; but there are just too few of them left. Squads are down to less than 20% all across the center; and most HQ units have been decimated. The majority of tank losses are from that sector; with only a couple M3s remaining operable; one is immobilized, and one lost it's main gun and a MG. Right now, if the Japs regroup and attack; that sector will break. The M3s have to get there soon, before the Japs are allowed to do that.

[Afrika Korps]

Interesting...I am about to fight this one in my IJA Long Campaign....

[azraelck]

It's over...

Our armored assault has begun. Our Stuarts are every where, inflicting incredible losses upon the Japs; scattering them every which way. At the same time, even as Japs continue their attack; I have ordered al the men on the line to retreat. They are to withdrawl 250 yards, back and in; and reform a more consentrated line. Meanwhile, The Stuarts are to continue; and when the men have reformed the line; they are to break contact and rejoin it.

Fortunately, these orders are unnecessary. The Japs have opted to withdraw, leaving the blood soaked and scorched jungle to the Marines. In total; we lost 193 men. The Japs we counted over 700 dead and incapacitated. I ordered the men to check every body, and to finish off the ones that still drew breath. Salamaua is ours, at a terrible cost.

No rest for the weary; however. We have orders to load up, and advance on the town of Lazon. We'll be given a brief respite, as well as new Stuarts to replace those lost; and fresh faces that can never replace those we're leaving here...

[azraelck]

Commentary

I think this is how a defense should be. Playing as nearly every other nation; I've managed to get by with very minimal losses. While that is the goal; my typical defensive strategy of a rough line across the map tends to leave my forces spread out, and in this battle it showed. There was about a 9 hex-wide gap in the line where I withdrew my remaining troops; who were too battered to do any good. Nearly a company's worth, and at battles' end the few remaining squads had 2 or 3 men left. They also had lost their entire attachment of M3s, and were severly pressed by around a platon's strength of mixed Japanese forces, consisting of a HMG, Two Inf A squads, and an Engineer squad.

Strangely, or not strangely enough there were no tanks in the Japanese forces. An examination showed 4 companies of Inf A, two of Inf B, and two Engineer companies backed by a number of snipers,and a smattering of Howitzers and 90mm offboard arty. A lot of their arty was ineffective, hitting sections of the line that were not under attack otherwise. The center was the only area attacked; in about a 7 or 8 hex area. A platoon or so amde it's way to the southern end, and was subsequently beaten back and destroyed.

The USMC didn't really seem to be out matched in this fight. They repelled every Japanese banzai charge, giving as good as they got. They actually seemed to be better in terms of ability to hit. However, I only had 4 Infantry companies, spread across a broad area. They had 6 companies with 2 companies of engineers for support; the bulk of which was concentrated in a single area. In the end, it was a Blitzkrieg that broke the stalemate; as I sent my Stuarts out in mass. I had them chasing single units until they were destroyed; and the Japanese would fight until completely wiped out. The 8 or so Stuarts from the North wiped out a company and a half before I sent the rest out to fight. This tactic; ensuring that all enemies were destroyed before advancing to the next group; was only effective because I had so many Stuarts to rely on. Even with 9 lost and a few disabled; I had a large number. Two companies are in my core force; and a third was purchased using support points IIRC, along with two Inf cos.

Snipers on both sides were ineffective; due to the very poor visibility. Theirs were even less so because they encountered my line with no support whatsoever. Needles to say I killed them to a man.

[Afrika Korps]

Wow...good job. When I get around to it, my version is much...different. [:D]

[azraelck]

You hope...[;)]