"A Few Good Men" : the 1/5 Marines 1942-45

[KG Erwin]

Wellington, New Zealand, July 1942: My name is Lt Col G. E. Higginbotham, and I'm about to take my men to war. I serve in the 5th Marines, a famed regiment, and my 1st Battalion is part of it. We have received orders to prepare to ship out. We're going to invade a Japanese-held island called Guadalcanal.

I took command of 1/5 in February. It's a brand new unit. This is why: the previous 1/5, commanded by "Red Mike" Edson, was taken from the fledgling 1st Marine Division to form a new commando-type unit. So, I had to rebuild my unit from scratch. We do have a core of experienced so-called "Old Breed" Marines, but the majority are fresh recruits.

If you've read the papers, you know what's happened in the last 6 months. Pearl Harbor was attacked, wich was the beginning of a general Japanese offensive in the Pacific. Some old friends are now their prisoners, with Marine garrisons on Wake Island, Guam and in the Philippines having been overwhelmed and forced to surrender.

I'd previously served as a Staff Officer, but with a war on I was determined to get a field commission. So, here I am, on board a ship with roughly 800 men of my battalion.

I will be in command of what is being called Combat Team A. This is the 1/5 Marine Battalion, with an attached tank company (Co A , 1st Tank Bn , equipped with M2A4 tanks), an engineer platoon, recon troops, and a section of 75mm -armed halftracks from the divisional Special Weapons Battalion. This is an impressive augmentation to the firepower that my battalion already posesses.

For my battalion, I pushed towards a special weapons loadout. Taking the example of Col Edson's now -designated 1st (Separate) Raider Battalion, the reconstituted 1/5 has four 81mm mortars under the battalion HQ. I eschewed the 37mm AT guns. The attached tank company and GMCs would, IMO, be sufficient to handle any threat from Japanese tanks.

For each of the three rifle companies, I have three 60mm mortars and six .30 air-cooled MGs. I didn't want the heavier water-cooled MGs -- I sacrificed firepower for mobility. It took some doing, but I managed to get those unauthorized TOE changes approved specifically for my battalion.

I had read the fragmentary combat reports from our now-imprisoned comrades, and had come to some conclusions. I theorized that in jungle combat, the key to victory will lay in close cooperation between tanks & infantry, coupled with judicious application of quick-response close-support mortar fire.

I talked to my officers about this method, and some of those who had experience in the "banana wars" feel that it may have some merit.

August 7, 1942-- we are entering Savo Sound, and soon we will be lauching the first stroke in our counteroffensive against the Japanese. Our troops will soon be landing on hostile shores and facing opponents that have acquired a fearsome reputation.

In my heart, I realize it will be costly, but we will prevail. We MUST prevail...

(to be continued)

[KG Erwin]

We have advanced to this point, and the 1/5 is now ordered to set up a defensive position on the western flank of the 1st MarDiv. The Japanese have landed fresh troops and we are spread thin, over a frontage of 3000 yards. Every rifleman is on the front line. The attached tank platoons are our only reserve. For off-board fire support, we can count on three battalions of 105s. I do NOT order a counter-fire mission. I want the enemy to reveal themselves first.

I expect them to assault my line in force. All things considered, I believe I am well -deployed to hold and repulse those people.

The north/central line:

[KG Erwin]

The central/southern portion of my line:

[KG Erwin]

Location of battalion HQ

[KG Erwin]

So, here is my battalion roster (part 1):

[KG Erwin]

Battalion roster, part 2:

[KG Erwin]

Turn 4, first battle: we are being subjected to an unexpectedly high concentration of Japanese artillery, which includes a couple of 150mm Mortars -- we had no idea that these were present on the island. My men are holding, and digging deeper. We are conducting counterbattery fire, but it has had little effect.

A thunderstorm is raging, which only adds to the hellish cacophony of the enemy's rain of high explosives. It is 4 am, and men are straining to peer into the pre-dawn darkness, further obscured by smoke. Visibility is 300 yards, at best. No enemy has yet appeared out of the smoke. However, we know they are coming. They could emerge out of the rain and the darkness at any moment.

[h_h_lightcap]

there were stuarts (M2A4's) at guadalcanal????  However, i dont think the japanese had 150 mm morters but STUARTS????? 

[FlashfyreSP]

ORIGINAL: h_h_lightcap

there were stuarts (M2A4's) at guadalcanal???? However, i dont think the japanese had 150 mm morters but STUARTS?????

They're not Stuarts...the M2A4 was never given a "nickname", and it was obsolete by 1941. It was the precursor to the M3 Lee Medium tank; the M3 used a chassis that was pretty much the same as that of the M2A4.

[KG Erwin]

Turn 16: the enemy's advanced units are starting to appear, and I've targeted them for mortar fire. They mix MGs and tank hunters with the leading infantry. On the left, one of my squads (Sgt Shanley's) has been pushed back.

Father north, Sgt Neiman's tank was destroyed by plunging artillery fire. The crew did not survive.

Note that I have a couple of ammo trucks moving from the eastern edge of the map. Don't think they will reach the battle area anytime soon.

[KG Erwin]

Historical note: the main battle tanks at Guadalcanal were a mix of the M2A4s, M3s and M3A1s. As for the Japanese 150s (nicknamed "Pistol Pete"), yes, a few WERE shipped to Guadalcanal, but not until October. That's why I was surprised to see them in August.

[Riun T]

what are your settings at gunny? could be extras bought by the AI if u have AI advantage on??

[KG Erwin]

Turn 19: as expected, the Japanese are shifting their main effort towards the northern VH groups. Each identified enemy unit will soon have mortars and 105s on their heads.

Defending this area is a section of engineers and 1st Platoon, Baker Company (Lt Maxwell).

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: Riun T

what are your settings at gunny? could be extras bought by the AI if u have AI advantage on??

Actually, Riun, AI advantage is set to normal. Remember, they are assaulting, so they always have ample arty support. I should be thankful the weather is bad, otherwise I could be facing air attacks, too.

[Riun T]

DID u turn mines back on yet??,,??[:'(]

[Alby]

[:)]

[KG Erwin]

Turn 21: focus on the decisive point. I'm sidling over 2nd Platoon/Baker Co (Lt Rosecrans) to cover the gaps. Sgt. Crockett's engineer squad was destroyed in a ferocious banzai assault (sorry, Alby, but that was the guy's actual name). I've also lost a couple of MMGs and one of my 75mm halftracks (the appropriately named Lt Luckey survived, and headed towards an aid station).

The enemy's arty has slackened slightly, and is becoming increasingly inaccurate, with many rounds falling into their own ranks. Some of my 60s are running out of ammo (damn, where's those reserve ammo trucks?). The 81s are rendering yeoman service.

[KG Erwin]

Turn 26: the Japanese are making a massive effort to end it. During the course of this turn Lt Barr's LVT was destroyed. He and another crewman escaped from the burning vehicle.

[Alby]

Sgt Crockett???
rings a bell
[:D]

[KG Erwin]

It ended on turn 27, when the enemy suddenly broke off the attack and withdrew into the jungle. No victory hexes were captured by them.

Within a day or two, the 1/5 was relieved by another battalion. We will be placed in reserve, absorb replacements, and prepare for our next mission.