Point Break
June 30, 1943

Japanese Briefing

by Allen Ray Garbee

Intelligence:

Patrols report enemy forces observed landing on the shore of Nassau Bay. This landing may be an attempt to out flank the front lines and threaten the line of communications terminating at Salamaua. Reports indicate small craft only, no fleet units observed. This landing may be diversion designed to divert our attention from the front, or from defending the Huon Gulf coastline.

Objective:

You are charged with defending the 5 1 st Division's flank, and patrolling the coastline to guard against enemy activity. Prevent enemy forces from holding the Bitoi River ford. Report any enemy activity in your sector and take all possible actions to defeat any enemy units that may be encountered.

Deployment:

As noted in the order of battle, a bare minimum of troops are available to patrol the coast;

Japanese Order of Battle

Elements, 102nd Infantry, 51st Division

with; 2 recon patrol stands
Infantry Company, with;

    1 command infantry stand
    2 infantry stands
    1 weapons stand

Naval Guard Force, with;
    1 command stand
    2 recon infantry stands

The Naval Guard Force and recon patrols may deploy anywhere within 12" of the north, south table edge. The infantry company deploys within 6" of the Bitoi River along the river trail.

Notes

Reinforcements: Though the initial Japanese troop deployments are fairly weak, they can be reinforced from nearby formations. At the end of the command phase of the first turn roll 1d6 and consult the following table;

    Roll : Result
    1 : 6 Dummy counters & 2 infantry companies (organized as above)
    2 : 6 dummy counters, 2 infantry companies & 18 1 rum mortar
    3 : as for result # 2, plus a spotter for a battalion of 3 105mm field howitzers
    4 : as for result # 2 plus 1 engineer company, 1 spotter for 3 75mm field howitzers
    5 : infantry battalion headquarters and support troops, and two infantry companies
    6 : As 5, with the addition of regimental headquarters troops and an infantry gun company

Use the Triangular Infantry Division 1943-45 for the TO&E of these units.

These forces enter from the north or west Japanese controlled edge of the table on the turn equal to 4 plus the result of 1d6. The entry edge is indicated at the end of the first command phase.


Point Break The Allied Landing at Nassau Bay June 30, 1943


Back to Table of Contents -- Command Post Quarterly # 13
To Command Post Quarterly List of Issues
To MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 1997 by Greg Novak.
This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com