IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY
Troop Quality-Veteran (Support stands Experienced), Morale 10
Kavieng landing force:
2 light cruisers (Tenryu and Tatsua); 3 Kagero class DD (Tamikaze, Urukaze, Hamakaze); 2 Subchasers (Sc-22, SC-24); 2 medium assault transports (Kinai Maru, Nankai Maru); 10 each 46' landing craft; and 13 each lighters/whaleboats equipped with MGs
Troops embarked:
5th Kure Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) with:
Force Headquarters, with 1 command stand and 1 tank company,
with 2 light tanks.
5 Rifle Companies, each with 1 command stand and 4
Rifle stands.
Weapons Company, with 3 MMG stands, 2 90mm mortar
stands and 1 75mm IG (battalion gun), 1 AA/AT battery, with 2,
20mm Type 98 AA/AT guns and 2 gun crews (ds)
Elements, 5th Sasebo SNLF, with:
Rifle Company, with 1 command stand, 4 Rifle stands and
1 MMG stand.
16th Naval Pioneer Unit, with:
1 command stand and 1 weapons stand,2 Infantry
Companies, each with 2 Infantry stands.
2 Support Companies, each with 2 Support stands.
Buna landing force
2 each (46' landing craft): 1 Sasebo 5 th SNLF company, with: 1 command stand, 3 Rifle stands and 1 MMG stand
REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE (All at Kavieng)
28 August 1942
1 command stand (Captain Yano).
2 Rifle companies, each with 1 command stand, 5 rifle stands,
1weapons stand and 1 MMG stand
3 September 1942
3rd/229th Infantry Battalion, with: 1 command stand, 1 70L10
infantry gun (battalion gun), I gun grew, 1 limber, 1 general supply cart,
1 ammo cart, and 2 support stands
4 infantry companies, each with: 1 command infantry stand, 1
weapons stand, and 3 infantry stands
Machinegun Company, with: 3 MMG stands
NOTES
1. All Japanese stands are subordinate to the force headquarters stand (Commander Hayashi). Also, elements of the weapons company and 16th NPU may be attached to the rifle companies or the force headquarters.
2. Troops begin the game embarked on the various transport vessels. The landing craft in the Kavieng group are carried by the transports and destroyers of the force. The subchasers (SC-22, SC24) are treated as coasters (see Germa naval vessel chart). Reinforcements start in the ports listed.
3. Upon his arrival, Captain Yano must take command of all troops at Milne Bay.
4. Air support: The Japanese were operating at the edge of their air cover umbrella. Between the distance and the drain posed by the Guadalcanal campaign, the Japanese could not provide the same degree of close air support and air cover as the Allies did. At the start of each daylight game turn. roll 1D6/2 to determine the number of available aircraft. Specific aircraft types may be chosen by the Japanese player(s), but must be selected when the die roll is made. Otherwise the aircraft operate according to the rules listed in the campaign section of the rules.
AUSTRALLA/UNITED STATES
Troop Quality
Australian regular infantry and artillery,
US engineers, AAA: Experienced, Morale 8
Australian Citizen Militia Battalions Trained, Morale 7
18th Australian Infantry Brigade, with (At Gili-Gili airfield):
18th Brigade headquarters, Service elements, 2/10th infantry Bn.
and 1 field battery, 25 pounders
At airfield No. 2: 2/12th infantry Bn.
South of airfield No. 2: 9th infantry
Bn.
At Airfield No. 3: 61st Australian
Citizen Militia Battalion with: 1 command
stand, 1 Militia Company with: 1 Command
Infantry stand and 2 Infantry stands.
25th Australian Citizen Militia Battalion with: 1 command stand and 2 Militia Companies, each with: 1 Command Infantry stand and 2 Infantry stands.
Elements, 2nd Battalion, 43rd US Engineer Regiment, with: 2 Engineer Companies, each with: 1 command stand, 3 engineer stands, 1 gun crew stand (ds) and 1 37L35 AT gun
709th AAA battery(US), with: 1 command stand and 3 AAMG stands(ds)
At Kristian Broder Mission: A co./61st Australian Citizen Militia, with: 1 Command Infantry standand 2 Infantry stands At Ahioma: B co./61st Austrailian Citizen Militia, with 1 Command Infantry stand 2 Infantry stands and 2 small boats- no MG's Coastal assets:(At Gili-Gili jetty) -2 lighters/whaleboats. Aviation assets:(At Gili-Gili) - 8 Kittyhawk IA. At Port Moresby: 1 B-17, 1 A-24 (SBD Dauntless) and 1 Hudson.
REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE (At Airfield No. 2)
28 August 1942
Company C, 25th Austrailian Citizen Militia, with: 1 Command
Infantry stand and 2 Infantry stands
NOTES
1. Units of the Australian 18th brigade are organized using the listings given in Armies of the Second World War.
2. Allied units are deployed in company sized formations, within one hex of the set up hex.
3. Allied stands have no integral anti-tank weapons.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mayo, Lida. Bloody Buna, Doubleday & Co., Garden City, New York, 1974, pp 30-4
Victory in Papua, United States Army Operations in World War II, Volume 7, Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, Washington DC, 1954. pp-72-87.
Morison, Samuel E. Breaking the Bismarks Barrier, History of United States Naval Operations in World War Two, Volume VI pp-33-39.
Battle of Milne Bay, New Guinea: August 27-28, 1942 An Introductory Campaign for Command Decision, 2nd Edition
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