[Burma] Battle of Shwegyin - May 03, 1942 - May 10, 1942

Crossing of Chindwin river.
Pacific Theater By: jdrommel - Last update: 03/23/2015
Axis Player: Allied Player:
x5 x6 x5 x6
    first You play first


Historical Background:
In the Spring 1942, the Japanese army invaded Burma. After the fall of Rangoon, the Burcorps (British Forces under the command of general Slim) withdrew to the north of Burma towards the border of India. Hotly pursued by the 38th Japanese Infantry Division, Slim decided to cross the Chindwin river at Shwegyin. So, Burcorps was in the "Cuvette" of Shwegyin surrounded with hostile hills and jungle, waiting for a crossing by ferries who had to row up the river. Under the protection of two battalions (1/19th Royal Jat and 1/17th Gurkhas), British troops embarked and crossed the river in spite of mortars and snipers enemy fire. On the 10th of May 1942, Burcorps succeeded to cross the Chindwin river but with the loss of all artillery pieces and all tanks unable to be embarked on the ferries.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.

Briefing:
Axis player [Japan] : 5 command cards.
Allied player [United Kingdom] : 5 command cards, you move first.

Conditions of Victory:
Allied player : 6 medals including one unit evacuated by the "Exit" hexagon.
Exit marker is in effect on the hexagon "vers Kalewa".
Axis player : 6 medals.

Special Rules:
- Use "Japanese Imperial Army" rules (Nations 3).
- Use "BCF Command" rules (Nations 5).
- Special Weapon Asset Rules (SWAs 4 - Special Weapon Assets) are in effect for the unit equipped with a mortar (SWAs 6 - Mortar).
- Use "Sniper" rules (Troops 10) to the Japanese unit with a single figure.
- The Chindwin river is impassable (Terrains 8) excepted using the ferryboat, the other river is fordable (Terrain 41).
- Evacuation of Allied troops rules : Landing Craft represent ferries crossing the Chindwin river (from the pier to the "Exit" hexagon). Ferries move two hexes on the two hexes rows of the Chindwin river. Only infantry units can be evacuated. Each unit evacuated by the "Exit" hex is a medal, the empty ferryboat is replaced near the pier on the next turn.
- The Allied player doesn't have plane, if he draws the Air Power card (or the Air Sortie card in case of Air rules), he plays it as a "Barrage".
- Air rules are optional : if used, the Axis plane is a A6M "Zero" (Strafing & Kamikaze). At game start, give the Axis player one Air Sortie card and shuffle the other one in the deck.

Scenario Bibliography:
- Magazine 2ème Guerre mondiale n°34 - Schwegyin.
- "La campagne de Birmanie" (1942-1945) - P. Lesouef.

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
1
1
20
3
1
3
3
10
2
1