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Resisti -> (1/19/2003 5:44:13 AM)
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Our good PR man has missed these ones, too: ;)
_________A RANGER RESCUE*
*
_USA/Filipino assault vs. Jap. defend*
__________Luzon, Philippines*
______2000, January 30, 1945*
_____________Turns 15*
______Designed with Spwaw 7.1
___Design: Federico "Resisti" Doveri*
[B]Historical version:[/B]
World War Two is coming to an end, not only in Europe but in the Pacific and Far East, too. General McArthur has maintained his promise to come back: Americans are landed in the Philippines and are now on their way to mop up Japanese resistance in Luzon, archipelago's biggest island. The dark days of the Bataan Death March are far away now but not forgotten, as many of the protagonists of that hellish march are still lying in some prisons on the island.**
As a paradox, these men's lives are more in danger now than before, because intelligence information indicates that Japanese don't want to leave alive any eywitnesses of their atrocities.**
Cabanatuan prison camp is on the American route of advance and the 513 Bataan survivors still trapped there are in clear and present danger. For this reason the 6th Army HQ decided to risk for a relief mission deep in enemy territory, and to reach the goal the choice felled on Colonel Mucci's 6th Rangers Battalion.**
After only two days of preparation, given the urgency of the matter, and a 20 mile trip in enemy territory, 121 Rangers reached the barrio (village) of Platero, 2 miles away from the objective. Here they were joined by two Alamo Scouts teams, who provided the necessary intelligence on the prison and surrounding areas, and by elements of Filipino guerrillas lead by Captain Pajota,for support.**
At 2000 hours, January 30, under a full moon sky ,all the units were in their jump off positions: "C" Company in front of the main gate ready to force it, free the prisoners and provide them cover, elements of 2nd platoon, "F" Company each of them facing their assigned targets, and Captain Pajota's guerrillas dig in near Cabu Creek, so to block the expected reaction of about 200 elite Japanese troops bivouacking there.**
The shot of Lieutenant Murphy, Commander of "F" Company, was the signal the operation had started: 30 minutes later everything was over. The mission was a complete success, to say the least. All the 513 prisoners were freed, some hundreds of guards and troops, either inside the prison and on Cabu Creek banks were killed and all this at the minimum cost of two dead: The 6th battalion surgeon hit by mortar shrapnel and a ranger killed by friendly fire.**
The action is still remembered as one of the best of Rangers history, and surely as Captain Pajota guerrillas' finest hour!**
[B]What if version:[/B]
This fictional version, is based on the assumption that the operation would take place the day before of the historical one.
The original orders from 6th Army HQ was stating infact that the attack should begin on the 29th at dusk, but the alarming reports from both the Alamo Scouts men and the Filipino guerrillas, convinced Colonel Mucci to request and obtain a 24 hours delay.*
Infact, that night there was a strong concentration of enemy troops in the prison and on the east side of Cabu Creek, as well as a continuous flow of convoys of mixed units and vehicles loaded with all sorts of supplys and weapons, along the main road passing just in front of the prison; all these troops were retreating towards the mountains chains located in the Northeastern part of the Island, where to stand the last desperate defense.*
But, what if Mucci decided to stick with his initial planning, or the radio contact with HQ was not established, or the HQ refused to authorize the delay of the raid?*
Well, just play this scenario and you'll discover it!***
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