Airborne Samurai PTO (id:#66924)

(ASL 11a - Doomed Battalions (4th Edition) ID: 313)   [next]   [previous]

Near Menado (Manado), Celebes 1942-01-11 (9 others)

Overview:

goal of the sweeping Japan­ ese "Southern Offensive" was the capture of the rich oil and rubber resources of the Netherlands East Indies. By swift and expert exploitation of these raw materials, vital to their war effort, the Japanese government hoped to be able to withstand the inevitable retaliation of the angry Americans and British. Because the great strug­ gle in China demanded such extensive forces, the seizure of these strategic islands was to be undertaken by the limited uncommitted Army troops and the Imperial Navy. Initial military planning even found a use for the small airborne contingents that had been languishing since their creation. A week before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the two battalions of Japanese naval paratroops-Yokosuka I and Yoko­ suka 3 Special Naval Landing Forces-were dispatched to Formosa, whence Yoko­ suka I proceeded to Davao preparatory for its mission, a combat drop in support of the planned landings on Dutch Celebes. As usual, the Japanese sought to quickly secure airfields for their own use, a key component in their rapid march of victory through the islands. At dawn on 11 January, converted Nell bombers flew low over the Menado airfield in five-plane V-formations. Escorted by Zeros, these ad hoc transports dropped two parachute rifle companies on the colonial defenders from altitudes between 900 and I 000 feet. As their fighters strafed ground targets at will, the airborne Samurai landed in a relatively compact body.

Defender: Dutch (8th East Indies Colonial Infantry Company)  

Errata (source)