DAR Rearguard on Mt Butler

[ArmyEsq]

Thank you, Jason. Thank you, Patrick. I'm glad you like it!

[ArmyEsq]

Canadian T4
Nakatami’s 3d Company and Kamishiro’s 1st Company are now under intense small arms fire and a rain of field artillery and mortar shells. Another 10 or so of 4th/1st fell wounded or dead. Standing on the 900 meter ridgeline, just ½ km from the enemy occupying the crossroads entrance to the pass, with sword drawn, MAJ Kamishiro reminded the disrupted 4th PLT of their duty; to the Emperor, to the Empire, and to their unit. “If you’re not careful, you will be regarded cowards! Worthless to your country! Worthless to your fathers! Worthless to your sons!” Standing alone, out of cover, as though to tempt the enemy, he turned, half crouched and leaning forward meeting each of his men’s eyes with fury, “Show your strength! Show your valor!” All the time the Canadian rounds whizzed by, the earth erupting around his feet, the fog drifting past him. The men of 4th PLT stared, mesmerized—most in awe, some in fear, a few with resentment…

CPT Nakatami also stood, but with more care than his counterpart, the MAJ. He looked at each of his men through eyes more of a father’s than of a CDR. He was confident that his company would see this battle through, and would perform well. They were just 100 meters from an entrenched enemy platoon, and at least 1 machinegun. In a low stoop, he ran from foxhole to foxhole, talking, ordering, directing, encouraging, and sometimes, admonishing; he knew he had to get this platoon in order for his next push up the steep mountainside...

[ArmyEsq]

Japanese T5
Nakatami’s MG PLT raked a sector east of Nakatami’s position. The three 7.7 mm heavy machineguns spat out fire, sweeping the area about 600 meters away and forcing the Canadian machine gunners to flee eastward seeking cover and concealment in an area of dense tropical grass…

[ArmyEsq]

All of CPT Nakatami’s infantry platoons are now disrupted. The din of battle. The noise, the explosions, the heat, the humidity, the chaos, the fatigue and the confusion all conspiring to disrupt their otherwise coordinated advance. But 2d/3d was worse off—their supply levels had dwindled and they were now having to conserve fire. Nakatami could not advance. He was forced to direct fire where he could, or try to rally those who looked most in need of it…

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CPT Abe, in the meantime, directed his company’s fire up the mountainside, and then cut right, ascending another 50 meters and concealing themselves in the Kunai grass…

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CPT Murakami, meanwhile, continued his reckless advance straight up the mountainside along CPT Nakatani’s left flank, crossing streams and embankment for another 50 meter gain. Already his men—the men of 2d Company—were winded; but they too were exuberant. Bayonets, still bearing their polish from last night’s preparations, gleamed in the faint sunlight now beginning to pierce the morning fog. They were quiet, though, despite their energy: they were well trained, and experienced, and knew the value of noise discipline.

[ArmyEsq]

Sweating, with grass blades caked to their foreheads and the backs of their necks, the 30 or so men of 1st/229th 75mm gun platoon stopped their wagons and hurriedly dismounted the two 75mm guns. No one said a word except for the NCOs who were overseeing the operation. “What are you doing?!” demanded the gun battery CDR who came marching up to the working soldiers. Glaring at the NCOs, he barked, “Get those guns back onto those wagons! Now! You will join your comrades up ahead! And you will die with them if you have to! But you will not fire these guns from here!” Before he had finished giving his orders, the men of 1st/229th 75mm gun platoon were already disassembling what parts of the guns they had to, and reloading the 2 wagons. The NCOs were visibly embarrassed—they knew that the IJA’a doctrine required that this artillery be used in a direct fire role. They had mistakenly assumed that the thick fog this morning meant they could make an exception and use them indirectly—after all, these weapon systems were capable of indirect fire, were they not?...

[ArmyEsq]

Looking down at the worn map on his equally worn portable table, LTC Haga wiped the sweat collecting on his thick brows. It was so humid this morning that he couldn’t keep the sweat beads from rolling down his forehead and then dripping onto the map he was pointing to as he spoke to his battery commanders. The act was futile. And distracting. But with a quick glance from behind his partly fogging spectacles, he was able to refocus the attention of the few men now gathered around him in the waist high Kunai. “Fire all remaining smoke rounds onto the ridge at 1050 meters elevation, across a 2 kilometer front. Center point is MAJ Kumishiru and 1st Company.” He paused and looked up again to ensure they had refocused on the task and were no longer entertained by his sweat. They had. “Hopefully he and Nakatani will have regrouped their men in time for another push by the time your shells fall…”. His battery commanders stood, saluted, turned and ran toward their guns…

[ArmyEsq]

Allies Turn 5
The Canadian fire intensified; for Nakatani’s and Kamishiro’s men, it was violent and unforgiving. Half of Nakatani’s 1st/3rd was either killed or wounded. The other half was dazed and in disorder; but still, CPT Nakatani held them. Fortunately, the whole of the 1/229th was spared the Canadian artillery—there seemed to be a bit of a reprieve from their guns…

[ArmyEsq]

Japanese Turn 6
Japanese artillery, however, was very busy. The plotted smoke fell right on target, blanketing the high ridge occupied by the Canadians with smoke for more than 2 kilometers. And Nakatani and Kamishiro worked zealously to order their troops, to assemble them and to encourage them. They were superior. They needed to hear that in the face of the intense volleys of fire they now faced even as their comrades fell beside them…

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Sword drawn, CPT Nakatami led the 1st/3rd—now at half strength—straight up the road in another Banzai charge. Into the trenches occupied by enemy machineguns…

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The first attempt was repulsed; but Nakatani immediately ordered his 2nd and 3rd platoons to join in the assault. Bayonets affixed, 3rd Company let out a fearsome yell, “Banzai!!” and charged again up the
steep mountain slope…

[ArmyEsq]

But they failed! Nakatani’s valiant but thoroughly exhausted men were unable to dislodge the enemy! They had to withdraw and resume their cover in the kunai just 100 or so meters away from the enemy. It was a very precarious position for 3rd Company…

[ArmyEsq]

CPT Murakami, meanwhile, continued his reckless and frenzied charge, advancing 2nd Company up the mountain across 500 meters of high tropical grass and ignoring the intense rifle and machinegun fire that was now cutting down his men…

[ArmyEsq]

The fog lifting a bit, the 3rd MG PLT could see at least 250 meters farther now. But it was for nothing—the Canadian rifle platoon that was its target had very effectively taken cover in the thick underbrush of the light jungle…

[ArmyEsq]

LTC Haga watched, profoundly disappointed, as he saw one assault after another fail. MAJ Kamishiro’s assault had also been repulsed. Even CPT Abe’s attack was denied. And his 2nd Company CDR, CPT Murakami, while admirably brave, he was too reckless. He had just watched as not less than 20 soldiers dropped dead or wounded. “Here” he said to his XO as he handed him his field glasses. “I am going to join them”, motioning up the mountain. “Perhaps I can help dislodge these dogs…”

[ArmyEsq]

Canadian Turn 6
Frightful losses. Japanese soldiers are falling too quickly for LTC Haga to monitor; nor does he care to try at the moment. He was scrambling as quickly as his legs could carry him. A Canadian rifle squad counterattacked MAJ Kamishiro and what was left of his 1st PLT. Pinned and exhausted as they were, in the open ground, they were overwhelmed and killed. Every last one except for Kamishiro, who withdrew to his other platoons (4th, 3rd, and 2nd).

[ArmyEsq]

Japanese Turn 7
Now CPT Nakatami’s men’s fire was impotent. And the Canadians were too well entrenched. Murakami’s 2nd Company was equally ineffective. But MAJ Kamishiro was furious. His men would attack again. In hand to hand. He knew that they were too tired to be as spirited as he’d like them to be. In the spirit of banzai. But they would succeed, or they would die trying, like his 1st PLT had. He would attack again! This time with the remainder of his 1st Company…

[ArmyEsq]

Again, failure. MAJ Kamishiro had now drawn his pistol. And was menacing his NCOs, “You cowardly dogs! Those inferior vermin have nothing over you yet you let just 20 pigs keep you from your duty! Your honor! You filthy dogs!”
As LTC Haga continued his run up the mountainside, he considered where his guns were. Why were they not yet firing? The fog was indeed a curse today!

[ArmyEsq]

The location of the 1/229th's guns...