The British were tasked with occupying Java and repatriating Japanese forces there. Before any British forces landed, Indonesia declared its independence, creating a potential flashpoint. Surabaya was the central point of the revolution and soon Indonesian and British forces clashed.
Attacker: British (Elements of 123rd Brigade, 5th Indian Division)
Defender: Indonesian (IRA) (Elements of Indonesian Republican Army (IRA))
8 turns
Players: 2 OBA: British Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:24.0 D:26.0
AFVs: A:5
Sherman V(a) x 5
AFVs: D:8
Type 95 HA-GO M3A1 SC(a) Carrier B(b) CTLS-4(a) Braat Overvalwagen AA Armoured Car PLA Wagen AA Truck x 2 Marm-Herr. II(b)
Guns: A:0 D:4
Type 94 Rapid-Fire Gun Type 93 Twin-Mount High-Angle Machine Gun Year-38 Type Field Gun (Improved) Mitrailleuse de 13.2 CAJ
Misc Rules:
Rooftops in effect on multi-hex buildings. A: Gurkha, Air Support w D: have invoked NQ
IRA heavily defended the east, densely packing about 3/4 of their force in the Q and R buildings. Brits in turn sent only a light exploratory force to capture the west, quickly grabbing two VC buildings on Turn 1. With all kinds of tricks up their sleeve, it would be tough going rooting the IRA out. With only the AA gun revealed as it attempted to shoot down some RAF, the Brits delayed entry of their tanks until Turns 2/3. They were desperately needed for smoke with the radio going out of commission early. Turn 3 saw the radio back in action, but without targets. The tanks dropped smoke to cover the kickup of the assault on R15, while the Brits continued to bully and slog their way up the gut toward R18 (a non-VC building that would take some time to clear). Brits sent a couple tanks west in preparation for possible IRA reinforcements, but thankfully they chose to enter in the east to bolster the defenses there. Turn 4 saw some severe IRA casualties, but they were still holding on to buildings R15 and R18. Considering no fortified locations were yet discovered, the Brits were starting to doubt their chances. The first one was unearthed in P15 and, considering this building was now enshrouded in OBA smoke, it would be some more time yet before those defenders could be unseated. Meanwhile the assault kicked off on O17 and O18, which both proved to be fortified. The first vehicle loss of the game was generated - the Dutch Braat - which was no match for a Sherman. The rest of the game would prove very bloody indeed, most of this IRA as they just could not match the might of the Brits. But with their fortified locations, guns, and vehicles it would still be very hard-earned gains indeed for the attackers. N14 proved to me insurmountable, so the Brits had to switch tack late in the game to try for P10. Luckily for them this ended up being manned mostly by dummies, with only a conscript squad standing in their way. Still it took to the end of the last British turn to close out the CCs there and in N17. Meanwhile in the west a HIP IRA squad assisted by the PLA Wagen made a move on the lightly defended W3. The Wagen was immobilized, but not before breaking a wannabe reinforcing British HS, and the sole British HS was able to tie up in melee the IRA squad. The Wagen was burned up by a reinforcing Sherman, and a replacement British HS was sent to bolster the defense. Going into the last IRA turn the Brits were solidly positioned in their minimum six buildings, needing only to break and rout upstairs in the weaker-defended ones if threatened. Really nice scenario; a bit of grind, but not in a terrible way.
2012-02-25
(D) Bob Callen
vs
Dave Ginnard
British win
Big game! Had a lot of fun with this one, was unable to overcome my inability to kill or immobilize one last Sherman. Dave got plenty of smoke and was able to call down ine last FFE wi his observer before my sniper (which I had moved about three turns earlier for this reason) finally got him. That last FFE interdicted my counter attack to regain a victory building. I was able to get one unitin, but my miracle run with a leader and a DC ended with a poor roll on the IFT and a successful MC by Dave's unit so I conceded on the next to last turn. Play this one if ou have time for an all day game. Lots of fun. Took us about 8 hours without many breaks.
