We played another Far East CoC in 15mm a couple of weeks back so I thought I would post a few pictures. I always start with the best of intentions to do a full AAR but always end up getting too engrossed in the game to remember!
The action takes place in Malaya during the retreat with a British attack to clear Japanese from a village they have captured to the rear to block the withdrawal. The British, being the Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders (Elite) have a Lanchester armoured car in support.
Here's the battlefield:
The terrain slopes down to the village with an area of rubber plantation to the left. The village has paddyfields to one side. The British start line is to the left with the Japs holding the village.
View from the other side and the village. "Bacon for breakfast" was the British order of the day.
The British (having rolled initial 4 moves as attacker) decided to get their JOP as close to the village as possible on one flank. The Japanese went for a solid defense but place one JOP to the high ground which it then moved to considerable effect to the flank of the British using a "Ruse" (off picture).
The British deployed a section to close on the village as quickly as possible but this was countered by a dug in Japanese section on the edge of the village. An inconclusive fire fight then commenced.
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To break the stalemate the British brought up the Lanchester to engage the trenches with its HMG & MMG combo. At the same time the Argyles deployed a second section near the village to start a flanking manouvre. This was again countered by a second Japanese section which soon realised it would lose the fire fight against Veterans. The Argyles poured fire into the Japs causing heavy casualties and pinning them. The plucky Brits then home charged into close combat.
In the meantime the Japanese had deployed their light mortar section but their fire was largely ineffectual against the veteran British.
However, much to the consternation of the Argyles the Japanese then deployed a section from their rear flanking JOP to threaten the rear British JOP. Just in time the CO realised the risk and deployed his last section to defend this vital point. Having seen the difficulty in engaging the Argyles in a fire fight the Japanese charged home and a vicious close combat ensued.
The Brits were then able to utilise a CoC die to end the turn. The Japs sections which engaged in close combat were both broken and their removal along with their 2 Junior leaders collapsed the Japanese moral.
The next obstacle to the British withdrawal had been eliminated but no doubt the IJA would be snapping at their heels!
A great game and the Japanese flanking move was inspired, drawing off the last British section from assisting the assault on the village and threatening a loss of morale from the JOP.
