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Moquia -> Semper Fi , a tiny marines AAR (7/14/2004 8:09:37 PM)
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This is a tiny AAR describing the pullout of the 4th Marine regiment from the Philippines. I'm playing a #15 campaign against the Japanese AI.
Situation 1/14/42:
The allied forces are pushed back to Clark Field and Manila with the japanese army holding the rest of Luzon. They also own most of Mindanao and the British part of Borneo. Plus they have established a strong airforce on Jolo, effectually closing the communication lines to Luzon. A little light is shining in the darkness though. A small baseforce plus the last remnants of the Davao garrison hold Cagayan against impossible odds.
While the US Navy prepares to evacuate the last forces from Manila, a plan to reinforce the brave soldiers in Cagayan emerges. The 4th Marine Regiment still guarding the navy facilities, are chosen to be the only unit pulled out from Luzon.
Two AKs, still at Manila repairing bomb damage, are prepared to load as much of the regiment they can hold. And the next night they sail of escorted by two ocean going MSWs, the last US Navy ships in the area. The first day the sailors anxiously scan the sky for enemy airplanes, but none are seen. The luck runs out the next day though, when enemy planes from Legaspi bombs the taskforce, scoring hits on both AKs and one MSW. Many casualties on both ships, but the AKs linger on. The MSW is lost.
The next day they arrive at Cagayan and starts offloading the marines. Bettys from Jolo puts several torpedoes into both AKs and the last MSW is lost aswell. Before the AKs settle on the harbour bottom, most marines are safe on land. But only miles down the beach, an enemy taskforce is also offloading reinforcements and the marines finds themselves in combat before the end of the day.
Mean while in the Gulf of Bengal disaster strikes:
The British convoy #1048 carrying supply and elements of the Indian 255th tank brigade, are hit hard 200 miles south of Rangoon. The end of the day the Royal Navy has lost the flagship HMS Cornwall and two CLAAs to torpedo dropping Bettys. RADM Palliser survives and hoist his flag on HMS Exeter. He orders the convoy to press on for Rangoon, hopefully within cover of the AVG the next day.
(Rant: The British AA really sucks, not a single Betty is lost in the action.)
The British submarine Truant is heading for the Malacca Strait. Hearing about the action over the radio, the commander decides to help by bombarding the Tavoy airfield the same night. The only enemy casualties though are the Betty pilots spilling their victory sake.
Back to Cagayan:
Five days of hard combat follows with casualties on both sides high. The enemy is now assaulting the base with division sized forces and the marines are soon down to the last bullet. The next day they are forced to pull out. The only direction possible is a long walk towards the little harbour Zamboanga, the only allied 'base' left. A marine transport unit is transfered from the south pacific and starts operating from Tarakan, still in allied hands. Everyday without interruption they drop supplies to the marines, but the C-47s can only carry so much.
After two weeks (*note) of hardship with the enemy allways just behind them the marines arrive at Zamboanga. Supplies dropped from planes and submarine help to raise the morale a little, but the enemy will soon show up.
But help is on the way: A fast transport taskforce centred on the heavy cruiser USS Houston has the last couple of days assembled in Balikpapan. It departs for Zamboanga, and successfully pick up the marines and transport them back. So nearly a month after they left Manila, the remnance of the 4th Marine regiment now rest in Balikpapan, awaiting transport to Australia. They likely will be the only troops to get out of the Philippines.
*Travel in the jungle that would otherwise take months takes only days, when an enemy unit keeps following and pushing your unit back.
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