[New Guinea] The Kokoda trail - Action 1 - July 25, 1942 - July 29, 1942

Wairopi bridge.
Pacific Theater By: jdrommel - Last update: 04/17/2017
Axis Player: Allied Player:
x6 x6 x6 x6
first You play first    


Historical Background:
After their landing in New Guinea on the 21st of July 1942, Japanese troops advanced towards Port-Moresby, last defense before Australia. The only route was the Kokoda trail which snaked across Owen Stanley Mountains. On the 25th of July, the Yokohama Force, Japanese vanguard, was delayed by Australian soldiers of the Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) who blew up Wairopi bridge. But on the day after, in spite of other delaying action by B Company of 39th Australian Infantry Battalion, Japanese troops entered in Kokoda village. On the 27th of July, an Australian counter-attack took again Kokoda village and the airfield, but no reinforcement joined further the Allied troops. On the 29th of July, a last bayonet charge drove back the Australian soldiers to Deniki village.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.

Briefing:
Axis player [Japanese Imperial Army] : 6 command cards, you move first.
Allied player [Australia] : 6 command cards.

Conditions of Victory:
6 medals.

Special Rules:
- Use "Japanese Imperial Army" rules (Nation 3).
- Use "BCF Command" rules (Nation 5) to Allied units.
- Use "Blowing up a bridge" rules, option 1 (Action 2) for the Allied unit near Wairopi bridge.
- Use "Combat Engineer" rules (Troop 4) for the 2 Axis units with engineer badges. These units can repair the destroyed bridge according this procedure : 1 turn to enter the river, 1 turn to repair the bridge, 1 turn to go out of the river.
- Use "Mobile Artillery" for the Japanese horse-drawn artillery unit (Troop 14).
- Kumussi River is impassable except by thebridge and the ford (Terrain 8).

Scenario Bibliography:
- Military Magazine hors-série n°24 - Combats en Nouvelle-Guinée.
- Magazine Images de guerre 1939-1945 n°15 - Nouvelle-Guinée.
- Magazine Troupes d'élite n°10 - Victoire australienne en Nouvelle-Guinée.

Warning:
Please note that this scenario was not approved by Richard Borg or Days of Wonder, so you have to check yourself about playability, potential gaming issues, etc.

Set-up Order
3
8
5
2
17
20
7
3
1
1
6