DAR Rearguard on Mt Butler

[ArmyEsq]

He called his men back up the slope and into the trenches from where he directed fire down onto the Canadian mortars…suffering more casualties as rifle fire erupted from the pass…

[ArmyEsq]

Meanwhile, LTC Haga directed machinegun fire onto the ridgeline…without success. The defenders were highly spirited and well trained.

[ArmyEsq]

CPT Murakami directed his men up. With sword drawn and pistol in hand, he jumped up and called “Banzaii!!”. His men followed him; their gear rattling now that it had loosened with all their movement. LTC Haga could not see them, but he imagined their bayonets gleaming and Murakami’s soldiers driving forward as crazed as their leader… and he smiled.

[ArmyEsq]

He drove his men south and east along Nakatani’s left flank to descend on the Canadian mortarmen with demonic frenzy…

[ArmyEsq]

Murakami’s 2nd Company chased the mortarmen south into some jungle, but were not able to harm them much…

[ArmyEsq]

MAJ Kamishiru had little luck dislodging the stubborn defenders of the pass.

[ArmyEsq]

Meanwhile, CPT Abe and 4th/229th Company were completely stuck. The Canadian left flank had proved to be too difficult to break. CPT Abe could feel his spirit drop. Elation and adrenaline just minutes earlier, were turning into profound disappointment. From his positions in the jungle, he talked himself out of the closing despair…

[ArmyEsq]

Two wagons carrying 2 70mm guns drove forward to lend CPT Abe the support that he was in desperate need of…

[ArmyEsq]

CPT Murakami now turned his company’s attention on the 2 Canadian MG teams that had been peppering elements of the 229th with fire ever since they had come within their lines of sight through the fog…

[ArmyEsq]

Still in their banzai frenzy, they charged out of the kunai grass and into the open field, directly into the muzzles of the 2 machineguns…

[ArmyEsq]

And he did it! Murakami had charged straight up the mountain. Almost without stop. His men had swept away what resistance they encountered, pass Nakatani, and MAJ Kamishiro, had chased away the Canadian mortars, and the machineguns, and had come around the enemy’s rear! The 1st/229th was now in position to surround, isolate, and destroy the remaining Canadians!

[Warhorse]

So close, go, go!!

[ArmyEsq]

I know I said I intended to stay in character, and not make this an AAR in the strict sense of that acronym; but at this point I think the DAR warrants a brief comment. I really like how the CS has simulated the nationalities--certainly, at least, the Japanese. I employed a fix and maneuver ground tactic while holding one company in reserve. So far, that's been what it has been to many military units throughout history: a success. I also tried to keep or move the artillery in overwatch. And regarding the mortars, it's been a success for LTC Haga. But as for the rest of the artillery, 2 things have conspired to render the effort rather fruitless. 1) Japanese policy of using certain indirect-fire capable guns solely in a direct-fire capacity; and 2) the dense fog, which for at least one turn, has dropped visibility to as little as 500 meters. Finally, the Japanese soldier in CS. The Banzai charges have been in my opinion the single most determining factor in this scenario. Without it, I doubt LTC Haga could have made it up this mountainside as fast as he has. Of course, he's paid a price. The casualties are horrendous. All that to say this: I find this game to rather accurately simulate everything I've read about Japanese military tactical doctrine.

That's it for now. I'll step back into character again...
I hope you enjoy the rest of this DAR!

[Crossroads]

ORIGINAL: ArmyEsq

I hope you enjoy the rest of this DAR!

Oh absolutely! [:)]

[ArmyEsq]

Canadian Turn 10
Once again the morning fog became denser, and descended into every hollow, every crevice. Maximum visibility decreased to barely 500 meters. And just as 2nd Company emerged from the kunai and overran the Canadian machine gunners, its soldiers and CPT Murakami became very aware that they had emerged onto a large expanse of open ground. A plateau of sorts. They stood in the middle of the soft dirt road that led through the pass at the top of the mountain, beyond which was the Tai Tam Reservoir. They stood there for what seemed an eternity as they suddenly realized how exposed they were. Looking around, CPT Murakami was able to see sudden flashes—bursts of fire—like firecrackers against the white backdrop of the thick fog. And for a moment, it felt as if he could close his eyes and be home. But it was not to be so, because the flashes of light were erupting from muzzles and rifle barrels. Small arms fire. And the bullets ripped through his body tearing it apart. Blood flowing. Bones shattering. Lungs emptying. Murakami was dead before his body hit the ground. Along with him, 1st Platoon also fell. Completely decimated. The Canadians were not finished. Not by far. And they regrouped and attempted to sweep the road clear of the rest of Murakami’s 2nd Company with a massed assault. But they failed. The remaining 70 Japanese soldiers of 2nd/229th dropped prone, chambered rounds and fired, or stood and fought with their bayonets, and repelled the Canadian assault…MAJ Kamishiru also led his 50 remaining soldiers as they too repulsed a Canadian counter-attack!

[ArmyEsq]

Japanese Turn 11
The guns were finally in place! With several clear targets along the high ridgeline! And their reports thundered and roared; their crews working feverishly to make a difference for their comrades…

[ArmyEsq]

LTC Haga scanned the ridgeline. From where he was, he could not see the massacre that Murakami and his company were enduring, but he could hear the distinct sounds of hand to hand combat and the crescendo of small arms fire. His weathered hands were trembling now; exhausted from the running, the emotion, and the responsibility. Mostly the responsibility of all these men. His runners had given him an idea of the scope of casualties: over 500 killed or wounded. And still the filthy Canadian pigs held their positions! Suddenly, and without much thought, he bolted up the mountain. He would try to be the point of the spear—as he knew he should have been from the start!

[ArmyEsq]

MAJ Kamishiru’s 2 reduced platoons (50 men) were also short of supply. “But you have your bayonets! And you have your spirit! Now then…assemble your hearts! Gather your courage!”…”and lets wipe this mountain clean of the cowardly swine!” he called out as he ran forward in yet another reckless Banzai charge against the Canadian platoon that seemed to have become a brick wall to him…

[ArmyEsq]

The first assault was repulsed, and the resolve of the men of 1st Company seemed to wane for a moment. Some turned and looked at MAJ Kamishiru for approval to withdraw, but he did not regard them. Instead, the rabid leader tore ahead; past soldier after soldier. Past enemy soldier, and then another, hacking at them; leveling his pistol first at one enemy face, and then another, turning only to glare at his men in disdain and contempt for not being ahead of him. He had resolved to take this position himself if he had to…

[ArmyEsq]

In the end, MAJ Kamishiru and the remnants of 1st Company succeeded. They were able to scare the defenders from their trenches and further up the mountain…