lnp4668
Posts: 517
Joined: 11/10/2000
From: Arlington, TX, USA
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Inspired by other AAR, I decided to do a battle report. But unlike those from the commander's God-like view, I decided to describe it from a Captain's point of view. That means the report will only describe unit type if he able to see or it is within his command radius. For action outside of his area, he will have to rely on radio reports from other commanders. So here go :)
After weeks of boredom and seasickness, we finally have dry ground under our feet. It is a hodgepodge group under Col Butler: I, Cpt Babers command 1st Raider RC0 together with 3 1st Raider HPlt under 2Lt Fowler, 2Lt Patton, and 2Lt Whisler. Cpt Kramer command 1st Para Sqd+, while Cpt Iverson and Cpt Lopez command 2nd and 3rd Para Sqd + respectively.
8/7/42, 0700 hour, predawn briefing: “Sit down gentlemen”, said Col Butler as we file in under his tent. “Well, lets start with the bad news. Japs planes hit one of our supply convoy yesterday. Thus we are desperately short of squad support weapons, namely MMG. Only the 1st Raider RCO has its support squad intact. However our supply sergeant was able to “borrow” a section of HMG. These will be distributed among the 3 raiders HPlt. The Para squads have to go without any machine guns at all, but you still have your mortar and AT squads.” Being the professional that they are, the 3 Para captain nod quietly, but I could tell from their faces that they are clearly unhappy with the situation. “Now to the good news” Col Butler continued, “We have almost 5 platoons of LVT, so each company will be assign a platoon with the rest among the HPlts.” At this the mood in the briefing tent lighten considerably as everyone here knows the firepower packs by those lumbering alligators. “Well let’s get to our plan,” said Col Butler. “ The 1st Raider Rco will proceed directly west over the northern ford to take over Tenaru village. 1st Raider HPlt will provide support by proceed over the log bridge, while the 2nd Raider HPlt will flank the village from the south by the way of the southern ford. 3rd Raider HPlt will provide security detail by secure the coconut plantation currently occupied by HQ Combat Grp A under Col Ellis.” A groan escaped from 2Lt Whisler as he was simultaneous jab on both side by Fowler and Patton’s elbow. I glance at them to keeps them quiet, but couldn’t put any heat in the glare at their youthful enthusiasm. “The 1st and 2nd Para Sqd+ will proceed to take the grassy knoll to the southwest while the 3rd Para Sqd+ will provide rear area security for HQ and the auxiliary mortars.” Col Butler finished with a slight smile as the 3 young lieutenants redden under my glare. “That is all gentlemen, gets your men ready and we’ll move out at 1200 hour. We will have the support of 6 mortar sections under my command. Dismiss.”
8/7/42, 1200 hour. All morning, the Japanese have pounded our landing area with Betty, Val and Zero. However, with my forces well inland, the Navy boys are the one taking the brunt of the bombardment. The humidity continue to rise with the sun, the hot Pacific weather occasionally relieve by the ocean breezes. As my squad approach the northern ford, I notice an entrenched Jap Construction crew on the other side of the bank. I signal Sgt Kramer’s squad to cross the ford and flank the enemy to the north. As his men wades into the shallow water, a JA Tank hunter attack with Molotov project, but misses. Sgt Kramer’s squad returned fire, destroys the enemy. His troop then continues to try and cross the stream. I move a LVT to the eastern edge of the bank to provide suppressive fire on the JA Construction. 1st and 2nd platoon continues to stream across the ford, pouring fire into the suppress enemy. 3rd platoon mount into the LVT and proceeds to close assault the enemy position.. We got the first taste of how tough it is going to dislodge the enemy, as we continue to pour lead into the enemy position, but they refuses to break.
8/7/42, 1215 hour. Sharp report of 97 Sniper rifle rang out to the SW, follows by the rat ta tat of 30 cal AAMG.
8/7/42, 1230 hour. 3rd platoon continues to close assault the JA Construction, but it was not until I charges my squad into close range attack with satchel charge did we destroy the enemy. I was frustrated because a single enemy squad has hold up my company for half an hour, but we finally cross the ford. There are more report of sniper fire to the SW follows by LVT and M1903 rifles firing. 2Lt Fowler reports unseen enemy fire against advancing LVT and request smoke cover at the west end of the log bridge. There are also M1903 firing further to the south.
8/7/42, 1245 hour. Mortar smoke cover was on target, report 2Lt Fowler, follows by 30 cal AAMG fire.
8/7/42, 1300 hour. 2Lt Ginski’s squad run into an ambush by another JA construction, loosing 2 men. My squad lay down suppressive fire on the newly discover enemy position. Return enemy fire put down 2 of my men, but the enemy was pinned and finally destroyed by 3rd platoon. LVT loaded with 2nd platoon quickly leapfrog 3rd platoon to take the point position as the rest of my company moves forward. They discovered another JA Construction, and immediately provide suppressive fire. 2Lt Fowler reports they captured the log bridge, but still unable to find the enemy gun position. 2Lt Kirk of the 1st platoon of the 1st Para Co reported one of his squad received heavy casualties from enemy cave position and requested smoke cover from HQ mortars. I also puts in request for suppressive mortar fire against the Construction with any available tubes.
8/7/42, 1315 hour. A zero strafes one of the auxiliaries LVT under my command but miss under heavy AAA MG fire. HQ responds to my request with 2 M60 and 4 M81 tubes, routing the enemy. 2Lt Kirk also reports effective smoke cover for his squad. More sniper fire to the SW follows by AAA MG and rifle fire.
8/7/42, 1330 hour. 2nd Platoon charges up and finished the routed enemy at close range. 3rd platoon mounted up and take the crossroad, but got under fire from an AT gun. I mounted up with element of 1st platoon to their rescue, but also got under fire. We dismounted and start to provide cover fire for the LVT. By this time, mounted element of 2Lt Fowler’s 1st Raider Platoon have joins me at the crossroad. 2Lt Patton’s Raider platoon came under fire of another cave position by the southern ford and requested smoke cover. Cpt Kramer also reports he is under fire from another cave and order his company to by pass under the smoke cover.
8/7/42, 1345 hour. 6 81mm tube and 2 60mm tubes provides spot on fire against the enemy AT position. 2Lt Patton reported however, that smoke round was not effective in providing cover for his platoon, and have to hold for another round of smoke cover. Sniper fire and return marine fire was heard in the background.
8/7/42, 1400 hour. 2Lt Ellis provides the coup de grace against the AT crew as they tried to abandon their position. I mounted up with a 1 Raiders+ squad and manages to destroy a JA Inf B sqd to the south of the path way. Element of 1 Raiders also destroy another sniper. Johnson rifle and grenades explosion was heard from the foot of the grassy knoll.
8/7/42, 1415 hour. Another zero strafe and destroy an LVT at the crossroad, as we are under attack by 2 Ja Inf B squads. 2Lt Patton squad reported they are now able to proceed and takes the ford under the smoke cover.
8/7/42, 1430 hour. Sgt Nino’s squad and his LVT have to retreat as they was unable to find the enemy under the dense cover. I planned to leave 2Lt Fowler’s platoon and attached LVT behind to cover the crossroad, while my main company moves on to seize the village. Report of heavy gunfire occurs over 2Lt Patton’s position shows that they are proceed to take the ford under enemy fire. He requested more smoke cover as his LVT are coming under unseen enemy AT. More rifle and grenade fire by the Para at the foot of the hill.
8/7/42, 1445 hour. Gunfire from the 1st Raider at the crossroad to the south of my position, but I am confident that they will hold. 2Lt Patton reported accurate smoke cover for his squad and will attempts to join me at the village.
8/7/42, 1500 hour. Support squad fire from the crossroad indicates enemy presence. There are also rifle fires from the forward observer at the log bridge. Must be enemy straggler. I mounted up and advance, but dismounted when the LVT receives AT fire from the wood in front of the village. 2Lt Patton reported he captured the ford and will bypass the cave if unable to destroy it by assault. Fire from the top of the grassy knoll indicates presence of enemies. I calls for all available tubes to fire on the wood in front of the villages.
8/7/42, 1515 hour. AAMG and the sound of a strafing Zero comes from the top of the grassy knoll. Those Para boys are not having such an easy time after all. AT fire from the wood in front of the village takes out another LVT. I should have called for some smoke as well as bombardment. More report of fire from the crossroad to the south.
8/7/42, 1530 hour. My squad moves ahead to discover a 37mm 94 AT hidden in the wood. I ordered suppressive fire from my company and destroy the gun. However, as I ordered my squad to mount up, more AT fire from inside the village destroy the LVT and kills 3 more men. More fire from the south as the 1st raider continues to hunt enemy through the wood. AT fire also was heard from 2Lt Patton’s position, follows by marine rifles. Mounted elements of his platoon join my south flank as he left some squad behind to deal with the cave while moving ahead toward the village. More fighting occurs on top of the grassy knoll. To deal with the AT gun in the village, I order some smoke follows by bombardment against suspect location.
8/7/42, 1545 hour. Smoke effective cover the entrance to the village follows by bombardment. Element of the 2nd 1st Raider platoon reported the ford being retaken by JA infantry.
8/7/42, 1600 hour. This forces me to send the available LVT to retaken the ford, feeling that they would be less useful in the confine of the village. By this time, Cpt Kramer and Cpt Iverson reported that they have captured the grassy know and is proceeding to sweep up the rest of the enemy. I ordered the rest of our tube to fire at the infantry seen at the ford.
8/7/42, 1615 hour. Effective area fire against the enemy at the ford, but with unknown results.
8/7/42, 1630 hour. My forces cross the log bridge and ran into heavy enemy fire. 2nd platoon of 1st Raider stream southward to retake the bridge as more marine rifle fire was heard. I ordered another salvo of smoke to cover my isolated squad across the bridge.
8/7/42, 1645 hour. Smoke was effective as my stranded squad only receive fire from the JA infantry while protected against the cave element.
8/7/42, 1700 hour. My recon elements discover 3 JA infantry squad. I order my company to hold fire until the rest of the company could cross the bridge head. 2Lt Patton request for more smoke against the cave as his force received fire while they try to retake the ford.
8/7/42, 1715 hour. Sporadic fire comes from the ford. Inside the village, my front element receives heavy fire from JA Infantries.
8/7/42, 1730 hour. My company now discovered a 4th group of infantry as they move to take cover in the house while clearing the bridge head for the LVT. Close assault by my marine destroy the 3 JA infantry as well as a knee mortar squad. I am confident that we will take the village within the hour. 2Lt Patton reports that his squad destroyed the enemy HQ as they retook the ford.
8/7/42, 1745 hour. Quiet
8/7/42, 1800 hour. I took control of the village.
8/7/42, 1815 hour. The battle ended as the sun set over the Pacific water. Overall the American forces lost 65 men and 4 APCs, while the Japanese lost 421 men, and 7 artilleries. A decisive victory for the American with the score of 2809 to 232. However, it is no victories for me as I have to write letters to the family of those who died under my command.
_____________________________
"My friends, remember this, that there are no bad herbs, and no bad men; there are only bad cultivators."
Les Miserables
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