DAR Rearguard on Mt Butler

[ArmyEsq]

CPT Nakatani too, would lead another Banzai attack. He too had just 50 men to do it with, but the terrain was in his favor now. From his perch 50 meters above the reduced and disrupted Canadian rifle platoon, Nakatani would bring death…

[ArmyEsq]

Nakatani’s men attacked and were swatted back, only to have Nakatani threaten them with his pistol and sword, compelling them to renew their effort. Twice more this dance occurred before the stubborn defenders were forced to retreat after suffering the loss of about 7 men…

[ArmyEsq]

Meanwhile, the remnants of Murakami’s 2nd Company was able to fire at the Canadians now amassed in the light jungle just east of their positions and cause the retreat of at least 2 platoons…

[ArmyEsq]

CPT Abe was also able to direct fire from his positions and force the retreat of some defenders…

[ArmyEsq]

An update of the situation at Turn 11:

[ArmyEsq]

JAPANESE TURN 12
MAJ Kamishiru, fatigued and sweating, his heartbeat racing, squatted in the bottom of the trench at the crossroads pass, exactly between Canadian positions overlooking him and his remaining good order platoon. His company was down to just 2 platoons now: reduced, and one over 300 meters behind his current position. Kamishiru considered his situation as the fog slowly invaded the trench. He had little choice now but to wait for support. Perhaps from LTC Haga who was about 100 meters northeast. Or perhaps from the artillery guns? He didn’t know, and he was very tired…

[ArmyEsq]

LTC Haga surveyed the high ground above him. He could see an enemy platoon that had reoccupied the trenches east and directly above the crossroads when CPT Nakatani had assaulted the positions south of the crossroads. He was tired and angry. His battalion was evaporating in front of him. And with the loss of CPT Murakami, he was now also more than a little discouraged. “Fix your guns on those positions”, said Haga to the 2nd MG PLT. He would direct the fire of the four powerful 7.7mm machineguns on the enemy now preparing to focus on MAJ Kamishiru and his remaining soldiers…

[ArmyEsq]

Haga’s fire was not able to dislodge the Canadians, but it did manage to launch them into confusion.

Meanwhile, CPT Abe’s MG Plt continued its fire on the stubborn defenders on the high ridge—the same enemy that had so successfully stopped CPT Abe’s advance…

[ArmyEsq]

As the machinegun barrels threatened to melt under the intense volume of fire, the Canadians simply hid behind the boulders and rocks and waited…

[Warhorse]

Tough fight for sure!!

[ArmyEsq]

“Thoomp…Thoomp…Thoomp” CPT Abe’s mortars also joined in…Also without effect.

[ArmyEsq]

CPT Abe knew that he had to try again. The unit he faced was well disciplined and well led; but there would be no excuse for failure on the battlefield even while his comrades were fighting and dying. He stood, turned, and looked at his men’s eyes. “Fifty soldiers left”, he thought. They looked absurdly young—even to him who was barely 22. Dirty, tired, with hair pasted by sweat to their foreheads. “these are good soldiers” he thought. “You have been brave thus far!” he yelled. “And unrelenting” he continued. Then turning in the direction of the Canadian platoon in front of them, “and that filth has survived your courageous assault only because of the terrain they’ve hidden themselves in!” he said as he peered through the jungle wood line to the rocky ground beyond. “Our brothers have fallen because of them! We cannot now leave this field without victory!” he paused and scanned the fifty faces. “We must attack them, and we must kill them! Without hesitation! Utterly!” He stood taller now, and raised his sword, “Now…we must deliver them death! Banzaii!!!” And 3rd/4th PLT stood in unison, with the absolute discipline of highly trained and experienced men, and uniformly screamed “Banzai!!” with rifles held high, bayonets gleaming…The ten remaining soldiers of 1st/4th PLT also charged quickly through 200 meters of jungle in a rabid state, now falling, now stumbling, recovering, and driving headlong into the rocky ground ahead of them…

[ArmyEsq]

Success! Success! CPT Abe and his men had finally driven the impetuous defenders. They ran downhill, practically tripping. A complete rout into the open!

[ArmyEsq]

CPT Abe and his men pressed their attack…

[ArmyEsq]

Losing another 5 or 6 men, the remnants of the Canadian PLT and their leader scrambled up the escarpment to another very defensible rocky perch…

[ArmyEsq]

Meanwhile, CPT Nakatani and MAJ Kamishiru directed fire onto the Western high ground immediately above the crossroads and the pass…

[ArmyEsq]

Taking the initiative, the disciplined men of 3rd/2nd CO attempted to assault the platoon that had reoccupied the high ridge from their rear!

[ArmyEsq]

Success! Murakami’s brave soldiers continued to honor their fallen leader by retaking the trenches!

[ArmyEsq]

Taking advantage of their comrades’ success, the last 10 men of 2nd/2nd CO withdrew to the retaken trenches…

[ArmyEsq]

Whether to run what remained of his BN through the pass was weighing heavily on LTC Haga’s mind. He hardly had any infantry left, and moving through the pass now would virtually guarantee the BN’s destruction. And even if they succeeded, his BN would probably no longer be combat effective by the time they reached the reservoir on the other side. Still, his primary mission was to get to the other side…