Lae

4.9.1943 - 16.9.1943

PacPG: 4.9.1943 - 17.9.1943

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Historic overview:

Operation codename: Postern While the South Pacific Forces of Admiral Halsey waged tough battle on New Georgia, General MacArthur in the southwest Pacific was preparing an offensive in New Guinea to occupy the Japanese base in Salamaua, Lae, Finschhafen and Madang, and thereby gain control over the straits of Vitiaz and Dampier, separating New Guinea from New Britain. Their mastery opened to the Allies the way to the Bismarck Archipelago and go to the Philippines. (Miloš Hubáček - Ofenzíva v Pacifiku, Mladá fronta 2000) Article on English Wikipedia Scenario in dates: July 2, 1937: New Guinea - The famous American female aviator Amelia Earhart takes off from Lae with a Lockheed L-10E Electra aircraft to overcome the last leg of the globe. However, on the way to Howland Island, where she is to refuel, she disappears without a trace over the Pacific Ocean. June 9, 1942: In New Guinea - B-26 Marauder Bombers of 22nd Bomb Group from Seven Mile Drome at Port Moresby is conducting a raid on Lae and Salamaua. Onboard one of the bombers, Lieutenant commander Lyndon Johnson, 33-year-old congressman, volunteers to fly as an observer, who is sent to the battlefield by President Roosevelt himself. His plane is attacked by a Zero aircraft piloted by the Japanese ace Saburo Sakai, but despite severe damage, aicraft eventually escapes. Upon return, he informs the highest places about unfavorable conditions, poor state of equipment, supply and morals. Lyndon Johnson later becomes the US president in the 1960s. June 28, 1942: New Guinea - Australian troops mount the first major Allied offensive land operation of the Pacific war, conducting a night raid from inland on the Japanese coastal base at Salamaua and Heath´s Plantation at Lae. The action against Salamaua is particularly successful, with over 120 Japanese killed without loss, extensive damage to the base facilities and airfield, and the capture of a number of intelligence-valuable documents with which the Australians withdraw back to the jungle. January 7, 1943: In New Guinea - A Japanese convoy lands supplies and reinforcements at Lae despite air attacks. July 7, 1943: In New Guinea - Japanese positions at Mubo are bombed. Australian forces capture Observation Hill about one mile from Mubo. July 13, 1943: In New Guinea - The Japanese positions at Mubo are overrun and their force is wiped out. August 15, 1943: In New Guinea - Japanese aircraft attack the Allied air base at Tsili Tsili. September 4, 1943: In New Guinea - Elements of the Australian 9th Division (20th and 26th Brigades) land on Huon Gulf, east of Lae. Naval support includes 10 US destroyers under Admiral Barbey. September 5, 1943: In New Guinea - The US 503rd Parachute Regiment lands at Nadzab in the Markham Valley, to the rear of Lae. They link up with Australian forces from Tsili Tsili. The Australian 7th Division is to be flown in. September 6, 1943: In New Guinea - Elements of the Australian 9th Division advance west, from Huon Gulf, toward Lae, meeting strong Japanese resistance. September 8, 1943: In New Guinea - Australian forces advancing on Lae from the east capture Singaua Plantation but are held by Japanese resistance at Busu River. The Japanese begin to withdraw from Salamaua under Australian pressure. For US destroyers shell Lae. September 9, 1943: In New Guinea - Australian forces achieve minor bridgeheads over the Busu River. September 10, 1943: In New Guinea - The Australian 7th Division begins advancing from its positions at Nadzab toward Lae. Patrols reach Heath´s Plantation. September 11, 1943: In New Guinea - The Japanese garrison of Salamaua withdraws. Australian forces capture the airfield and enter the town. September 12, 1943: In New Guinea - Troops of the Australian 5th Division capture Salamaua. To the north, the Japanese forces at Lae are being isolated. September 13, 1943: New Guinea - During the Battle of the heavily fortified Heath´s Plantation on the western approach to Lae, Australian soldier Richard Kelliher distinguishes himself by bravely destroying one of Japan´s machine gun nests and taking away the wounded platoon leader under heavy fire. For his courage, he will be decorated with the Commonwealth´s highest military award, the Victoria Cross, as one of only three Australians in 1943. Kelliher has bad health after suffering from both typhoid and meningitis before the war. In 1944 he will be declared medically unfit for active service and discharged. September 15, 1943: In New Guinea - Australian forces cross the Busu River in force and build bridges. The front is now less than 2 miles from Lae. September 16, 1943: In New Guinea - In converging attacks, the Australian 7th and 9th Divisions capture Lae. Many of the Japanese garrison escape into the jungle, heading north to the Huon Peninsula. The Japanese lose many aircraft in a raid on Wewak. September 20, 1943: In New Guinea - Australian forces, advancing up the Markham Valley, seize Kaiapit from the Japanese defenders. Literature sources: Hrbek, Jaroslav, Hrbek Ivan: Námořní válka vrcholí (War at sea culminates),   Naše vojsko, 1995, Praha Hubáček, Miloš: Ofenzíva v Pacifiku (Offensive in Pacific),   Mladá fronta, 2000, Praha Sakai, Saburo: Oozora no Samurai,   Naše vojsko, 1994, Praha Kovář, Daniel: Commonwealth Wirraway,  HPM No. 5 a 6/1999

Game play matters:

Scenario data:

Map size: 64 x 25 hexes 14 turns, 1 day per turn Version: PacAGPG 2, Starting side: Allies, Campaign: Australian campaign, Order in campaign: 1.
Allied states:     Australia & New Zealand, USA Axis states:     Japan Neutral states:     -
Allies:     attack Axis:     defend
Experience of Allied purchased units:     Experience of Axis purchased units:
Climate region:      Oceania, tropics Weather character in region:      Rain regularly all year round.
Game time costingness of scenario:    13.03 % (product of units and turns numbers divided by difference between the most long and the most short scenario)
Number of Allied units: 46 units, from them are 7 core units and 39 auxiliary units 13 air units, 3 naval units and 30 ground units 4 of units are loaded to air transport and 9 to naval transport	Transports Air/Naval: Allies - Axis 5/15 - 0/0
Number of Axis units: 45 units 10 air units, 0 naval units and 35 ground units 0 of units are loaded to air transport and 0 to naval transport	Initial prestige + every turn donation: Allies / Axis 300 + 0 / 398 + 49
Max number of Allied units: 54 units, from them are 8 core units and 46 auxiliary units - on start of scenario is possible to purchase 8 unit    (1 core + 7 auxiliary)
Max number of Axis units: 49 units - on start of scenario is possible to purchase 4 unit
Transport units: Allies - air:     C-47 Dakota Axis - air:     not available Allies - naval:     AF Transport Axis - naval:     not available

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