In late July, the Japanese South Seas Detachment landed on the east coast of New Guinea attempting to secure an overland route to the capital of Port Moresby. A mixture of Australian militia and local militia were sent to delay this landing force. One such unit was led by Captain Sam Templeton who had a unique background. Reputedly starting his military career as a submariner in the Great War. the Irish-born veteran of the Spanish Civil War, he commanded a company of Australian militia in the opening of the Kokoda Trail campaign. At Oivi, Templeton fought a rearguard action which pitted the Australian militia troops, often derisively referred to as "chocolate soldiers" or "chocos", against veteran Japanese infantry.
Attacker: Japanese (144th Infantry Regiment, South Seas Detachment)
Defender: Australian (B Company, 39th Battalion, Maroubra Force)
The 9-1 and a 4-5-7 squad with a light machine gun held out to the end of the game. Won three close combats and survived.
2024-03-22
(A) Mark Thompson
vs
Jim Bishop (Australians)
Japanese win
The Japanese Schwerpunkt focused on the Northern approach and reached the outskirts of the village relatively unscathed, aided by one successful Banzai charge.. The flanking force, including mortars, made middling progress in the center, biding their time to charge in combination with the Northern force. The Japanese reinforcements entered from the North and reached the Western outskirts of the village intact. A combination of successful Banzai's and Advancing Fire then gave the Japanese possession of most of the village and they captured the remainder in their last turn. The game did come down to the last CC roles, but the scenario seems a bit tilted toward the Japanese with the inability of the Australians to set-up in the village and the Japanese reinforcements (a fairly strong force) having a wide range of entry options that place them near the village in one MPh. Nonetheless, good fun.
2023-07-28
(A) Dan Best
vs
Gary Bradley
Japanese win
St. Louis ASL Tournament 2023.
2023-07-04
(D) M van Houte
vs
S.H.
Japanese win
Nice small scenario with options both wrt where to attack (and when to Banzai) and wrt where to defend (and where to fake a defense); the Japanese reinforcements add a lot to the game, as they make a timely fall-back a must for the Aussies. I set up my defense with a lot of dummies up north, and a lot of FP south, incl. a HIP squad with 8-1 and LMG; the idea was to lure the Japanese in that direction: it worked to perfection, as the Japanese immediately Banzaied, without use of Smoke no less. Unfortunately, my dice were absolutely abysmal all game (probably my worst ever), so basically nothing worked and the game was technically over at the end of turn 2. A shame, since the scenario actually does feel balanced and should end with nail-biting threadbare Banzais in the last turn, where every HS or leader can make a difference.
