RbF I-4 Used and Abused – Advanced Squad Leader AAR

Scenario Background

This is the Mokmer Airstrip (today’s Frans Kaisiepo International Airport) on the island of Biak, 15 June 1944. The IJN had 3 airfields built and captured by the US 41st Divison. The IJA decided to recapture them, aided by the remaining 4 IJA tanks on the island.

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(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/US_landings.jpg)

Google Earth: Biak

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(Credit: Google Earth)

(“Soldiers of the 41st Infantry Division, after emerging from the jungle, overcoming Japanese resistance, advance on an open field on the South Pacific island of Biak, off the New Guinea coast; May-August 1944.” Credit: https://www.ww2incolor.com/)

Victory Conditions & Tactical Considerations

The IJA broke out of the Dense Jungle with 12 squads and 4 leaders, which included a 10-1 and a 9-1. They had 4 LMGs and 2 MTR that could pump WP out to 6 hexes. There were also the 4 x Ha-Go’s described in the Historical Perspective. The Americans had 11 squads: 3×667, 7×666 & 1×546. They had 3 leaders, which includes a 9-1 and a 8-1, plus 1xHMG, 2xMMG, 4xBaz44 and a 60 MTR. The IJA win at the end of any Game Turn if they have 7 CVPs or more than the Americans (unbroken) on/adjacent to any runway hex, and they had 7.5 turns to do it.

The IJA didn’t really have an advantage in manpower (so no unnecessary CC), and the Americans outranged and outgunned them. They did have an advantage in leadership and morale, plus they could get to where they wanted to get to if they want it bad enough. The 4 AFVs were key for preventing the Americans from backing off into the airfield. These bazookas had a range of 4 but the Ha-Gos were small. So TH on a moving Ha-Go is 6 @ 1 hex, 5 @2, 4 @3, 1 @4, ie they were effective at 2 hexes at best unless they catch you stopping. The 2 knee mortars had WP and these Ha-Gos had vehicular smoke grenades, apart from being able to provide Armor Assault or vehicular hindrances if needed be.

The IJA setup on row 3 while their tanks come in from offboard. Americans setup near the bottom edge of the top map, however in doing so, would have to retrograde across plenty of Open Ground, first to the tree line on Board 14 (bottom) and then across the airfield (where you get an additional -1 to incoming fire). We needed to back up before the IJA tanks got behind us!

I took on Brian William’s US setup in his AAR from Jan 2000. The idea here was to defend the left and the center where it’s closest to the airfield. We would try to hold the line for as long as possible before backing off onto the airfield. Having the IJA AFV hooking behind us would definitely be an issue. Hopefully our bazooka’s would deter some of that. The HMG (plus 9-1) and the 60 MTR were in the trees located in the center of the board. One MMG was in the middle with the 8-1 and the other MMG guarded the left side.

After Action Report

RbF I-4 Used and Abused After Action Report (AAR) Advanced Squad Leader scenario

The IJA wasted no time moving in. Too fast perhaps, they already made me felt like I’d made a mistake and gave them too much ground upfront. On the left, they prodded my lone squad (which promptly broke and ran) and was well on their way hooking around to the airfield. In the middle, an IJA tank ran into the dense jungle in a bid to freeze my MMG. We killed it in CC. Slightly to the left of it, another IJA tank did the same with another MMG team and was unfortunately bogged in the jungle which only made it easier to kill. Its partner AFV pivoted and stopped right in front of a HS bearing a Baz but they wouldn’t be able to hit a thing this whole game. A couple of squads came through the middle with their knee mortars. They weren’t able to do much damage to the HMG-Mortar team but they laid down smoke for their comrades to the right. On the right, a body of IJAs came through the dense jungle unmolested. That gully in middle of the field would be an ideal jump off point.

RbF I-4 Used and Abused After Action Report (AAR) Advanced Squad Leader scenario

In the middle, the concealed units that sat behind the MMG team were in fact, a Baz team! They slid up under the wreck, shot the other AFV and immobilised it. Given where it was, we figured an immobilisation was as good as a kill. The remaining IJA tank (that stopped in front of the Baz team) started up! The Baz team immediately fired but missed again. The other Baz team fired but couldn’t connect either! That Ha-Go waltzed all the way down to the HMG team (with 2×666 and a 9-1, no less!). The HMG fired and got snakes!! Pity you can’t CH with a 50 cal. However, the TK’s 7 (AF1) at that range and the last AFV was put down as well. The hoard of IJA on the right decided not to wait and did 2 Banzai’s (over OG!). Meanwhile on the far left, the IJA platoon continue to make their way down south. The Americans were fortunate enough to keep a team in front of them. We couldn’t win most standing gunfights though, we had to always try to get the first shot in.

RbF I-4 Used and Abused After Action Report (AAR) Advanced Squad Leader scenario

We were able to decimate enough IJA troops to be able to pull a big withdrawal on the right. We ran to the end of the airfield and hoped to advance across the runway (add’l -1 to incoming fire). The IJA tried another Banzai on the far right but some pretty heavy firepower got in the way (and killed the IJA 9-1). The IJA pulled another Banzai through the kunai on the left towards our MMG as well. We had a flanker harassing that Banzai but it got hit by the IJA sniper halfway through.

Jungleers on Biak by Keith Rocco COMMENT

(“Jungleers on Biak by Keith Rocco”, https://www.militaryimages.net/)

RbF I-4 Used and Abused After Action Report (AAR) Advanced Squad Leader scenario

IJA Turn 6 – they had lost a good number of troops to the Banzai’s already. The broken MMG HS from our first position finally managed to self rally! So even though the IJA tried to run some troops up from the back, they didn’t get too far. They did a final Banzai attack to get to the edge of the airfield, and lost their 10-1 in the process. This was when they decided to call it quits and started pulling out RbFI-5 (ATF1) Paper Line ..

(“1944 Biak- Japanese Prisoners being fed” https://www.ww2incolor.com/)

How’s this Scenario Interesting?

I think movement across Open Ground was key for both IJA and US troops. The IJA had 4 tanks to help hook around and to interdict American movement (their 4 LMGs would have extended the 4 hex IJA range nicely). Plus their cover / smoke grenades should have provided protection for IJA troops in the face of heavy US firepower. The Americans couldn’t win standing firefights and as I mentioned before, we had to always get the first shot in. We would have a very hard time with our low morale if we had to retreat through opposing fire. We lucked out early on when the first couple of Banzai’s didn’t leave the IJA with enough troops to see beyond the tree line, thus allowing US escapes. Once we settled into the buildings around the airfield it’s all open ground for the IJA, those AFVs would have been helpful.

I really like Brian William’s setup. The bazooka teams in particular were looking over the narrowest places (and/ or where those AFVs had to turn). I couldn’t have done something as good as that. I might have made the mistake of setting up a little to forward, increase the difficulty of my retreat and enabling Banzai’s through those jungles.

MMP April 2013 Catalog

I am relocating! Came across something interesting as I clear things out …

MMP Publishing April 2013 Catalog

DB058 Vossenack Church – Advanced Squad Leader AAR

Scenario Background

It’s 6 November 1944, some of the Panzer Grenadiers counterattacked after a major bombardment and tried to wrestle the Vossenack Church from elements of the US 28th Division.

Yes, it’s the Vossenack Church in BFP Objective Schmidt, or really, St. Josef Church.

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(The church after the war © Rureifel Tourismus e.V.)

Victory Conditions and Tactical Considerations

The Germans win at Game End by controlling the church, which is the building partially outlined in my map. I had the 2 hexes outlined because they are treated as Factory Locations. Of the 2 hexes outlined, the left hex has a Level 2 Steeple Location. All hexes have Cellars. Hand-to-Hand CC may be declared in any location of the church which is scary for the Americans considering that the Germans has more than 2:1 on them in terms of bodies. The Germans also get Winter Camo, which allows them to advance concealed. The Germans get to setup on 3 sides of the Americans but the Americans are given control of 2 key buildings (Rear & Right) in the defense of the church.

I guess the Americans “can” kindle some of the jump off buildings but the EC is not conducive to that train of thought. Not only that, it will be horrible if it starts snowing!

After Action Report

DB058 Vossenack Church

The Americans came under heavy attack immediately. Folks with 8 morale are hard to content with. The Germans on the top right advanced towards the back of the church but was largely stopped by the mortar designed to sneak shots off down that venue (top of the map). However, my “Right” building was advanced on from both sides. Good thing the Germans on the bottom right decided to break off and went to the left off the board instead. On the top left, the .50 cal and the 9-1 of the HQ group kept their side of the church clean, for the moment. The Panzer Grenadiers attempted to pushed directly towards the church’s graveyard.

DB058 Vossenack Church

The Germans got a foothold in the graveyard without breaking much of a sweat! The Right building pushed off approaching Germans while keeping the MMG trained straight down the road to protect the front of the church. Meanwhile the defenders tried to skulk as much as they could and kept up the volume of fire as the Germans approached. Meanwhile the 8-1 thought it would be a good idea to hop up to the steeple with a bazooka (why, I have no clue, it’s not like he could fire the dang thing from up there without suffering backblast .. and as it turned out, there’s no cure for stupidity: the “factory floor” hexes are made for firing bazookas!). Towards the back, the Americans shot the German 8-0 on the top right but the Germans sniper took out the US 7-0 on the top left as well. In the front, the Germans continued to pile across the road. The Germans got a nice rally point setup in the trees behind 2 buildings which kept recycling rallied troops back towards the church. I gotta do something about that.

DB058 Vossenack Church

Sure enough our 8-1 leader in the Steeple got blown away by the evil Nazi death star! That leaves NO leaders in the church to rally anyone. At the same time, they were getting shot in the back as the Germans approach from the top right. Over on the top left the MTR and the .50 of the HQ group took out the flankers. Things got urgent as Germans broke into the church and continued to recycle rallied troops into the fray from their rally point! We were happy that the Germans were largely off our right and the rear though.

DB058 Vossenack Church

This was the last American turn. The chaps chucked out a few smoke grenades which got the .50 cal team across the street and towards the left of the building. We couldn’t afford to let the Germans keep streaming in! Our mortar squad made it across the street nicely but was shot in Defensive Final. There was no chance of getting folks from the Right building into the church so the choir boys were on their own. Good thing that the intruding, shrek-yielding German HS was broken and designated back into the graveyard. We got a HS with some German prisoners and some brokies in the cellar. Leaders or not, there’s no chance of anyone getting rallied now.

DB058 Vossenack Church

The Germans made a final push into the church!! The .50 cal was straight up scary. The MMG in the Right building tried to setup a firelane but it cowered out of existence! Good thing there were enough squads in the Right building to put down some residual. The dice were BRUTAL!! The only survivor to make it into the church (cellar) was an German 8-0. A couple of squads were blown out of orbit at the rear of the church. The Germans conceded.

How’s this Scenario Interesting?

This is a very nice and tight 4.5 turn scenario that plunges both players into action right off the gates. The American had to figure out a way to reinforce the church and to not loose too many bodies as they were outnumbered 2:1. The Germans had to deal with a tight timetable and some merciless firepower. They could use their winter camo to advance across the street concealed but they risk loosing on time if they do too much else. Hand-to-Hand combat in the church promises a pretty decisive ending. This is a great scenario well worth considering for inclusion to any tournaments.

Upcoming: BFP Sangshak Project (working title)

https://www.paradata.org.uk/event/sangshak

Gents, I exchanged a few emails with Keith Hathaway, the designer of the upcoming Sangshak Project. It’s a brilliant new project involving Gurkhas & Indian paratrooper vs elite Japanese at Sangshak (India) during Operation U-GO. I figured you should hear it directly from him, so here we go :

[From Keith Hathaway]

I designed it from the start of Operation U-GO until just after the battles at Sangshak, Jessami and Kharasom. I have included some actions which V Force fought in front of the main British/Indian Forces. I’ve included the Japanese 31st Division and some of the 15th Japanese Division. I wanted to place the events before the Kohima HASL coming out and the Imphal scenarios. Carl [Nogueira, Project Developer] is working with the play test group to refine my initial research and create playable scenarios. There will be roughly 20 scenarios included with a CG or two for Sangshak.

The Scenario’s are in chronological order and start with the Japanese crossing the Chindwin River and attacking a V Force radio station. It then goes to Point 7378 where C Coy 152 Parachute Battalion make a last stand. Then a scenario show a relief effort of the trapped Company. Other scenarios show a fighting retreat to Sangshak along with delaying actions helping the Brigade concentrate at Sangshak. There are 5 or 6 scenarios on or around Sangshak itself.

I have written a few CGs around Sangshak and Carl has worked hard on the rules (amazing work on his part). These include shortage of water, food and ammo. Japanese attacks and supply drops. The problem here is getting a good picture of the area. I have the hand drawn terrain maps from the war dairies, modern photos and maps from the books but nothing with enough concrete detail. I have contacted the US archives and a researcher to pull aerial photos from that time. I know the roll of film I need but they are closed due to Covid. Once they are open Sandy White can finish the map of Sangshak.

The action moves on to the 1st Battalion 1st Assam Regiment at Jessami and Kharasom. There are patrolling clashes as the Japanese move toward Kohima. Three scenarios around the two bases but trying not to be repetitive on earlier themes. Their relief force has a fight to save the Jeeps and trucks used in the column. Then the final scenario is a section of the Assam Regiment’s retreat to Kohima for an even more desperate stand.

I’ve researched everything I could find. I have a ton of books and have gotten a few War Diaries along with Division histories and a couple of scraps of information.

I wanted the pack to have the British players feel the on rushing tide of the Japanese advance.

205 Super Bazooka – Advanced Squad Leader AAR

Scenario Background

M20 3.5 Rocket Launcher

An encounter west of Taegon (Daejeon) at the Nonsan-Kongju (Gongju) road junction on 20 July 1950 witnessed the debut of the US M20 3.5 inch “super bazooka”. According to the scenario card “[the] brief dominance of North Korean armor had come to an end.”

Victory Conditions and Tactical Considerations

So legend had it that the Americans got their bazookas to hit out to 5 hexes with a TK of 32 instead of 16. Three of them were on the board with one HIP’d. We had a map with dirt roads between irrigated Paddy Fields that bogs tanks at a +3 (net +4 with normal pressure). One way to win is to weave 2 out of 4 tanks through for an exit. The other way is to get more CVP points (+ Exit VP) than the Americans. Each T-34/85 is worth 6VPs. There were 9VP of US MMCs and 6VP of US Leaders. So if the Americans kill half of my tanks I would have to wipe 80% of them out, or exit at least 1 tank. I had no doubts that the Americans would stay concealed until they get a good shot. The Koreans were pretty much forced to run the gauntlet because 5 turns doesn’t give too much time to just sit and shoot.