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Title
Kota Bharu
Description
The Battle of Malaya began on the morning of December 8th with an amphibious assault on the strategically important RAF base at Kota Bharu. The air field was protected by the multiple arms of the Kelantan River, and defended by …
Subject
Publisher
Date
1941-12-08
Scenario#
6042
Scenario Description
The Battle of Malaya began on the morning of December 8th with an amphibious assault on the strategically important RAF base at Kota Bharu. The air field was protected by the multiple arms of the Kelantan River, and defended by the 8th Brigade of the 9th Indian Division under Brigadier B.W. Key, occupying well-sited trenches and pillboxes behind wire and mines. The Takumi Detachment of the Japanese 18th Division, including the 56th Infantry Regiment plus engineers and other support formations, was detailed to take this key objective in the Japanese quest for Malaya. The initial naval bombardment cleared some holes in the wire, but the Japanese assault wave soon found itself pinned down on the waterline, unable to even raise their heads. Digging-in against the strafing RAF, and the withering machine-gun and artillery fire of the staunch Indians, the position of the Japanese on the beach seemed hopeless. The Japanese troops, veterans of battles in China, dug-in until nothing remained visible and then used their helmets as spades to burrowed slowly towards the pillboxes on the beach. Still taking casualties from mines, artillery, and the air, the attacking force somehow overcame one position after another, driving the 8th brigade back to their defenses in front of the air field. After two failed counter-attacks and heavy casualties on both sides, the Japanese charged across the river on the evening of December 8th and took the airfield. The 8th brigade evacuated the air field and withdrew inland. The Japanese finally had a firm foothold in Malaya and a vital airfield. JR
Location
Kota Bharu, Malaysia
Battle Name
Battle Narrative
The Malayan campaign was a military campaign fought by Allied and Axis forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942 during the Second World War. It was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army with minor skirmishes at the beginning of the campaign between British Commonwealth and Royal Thai Armed Forces. The Japanese had air and naval supremacy from the opening days of the campaign. For the British, Indian, Australian and Malayan forces defending the colony, the campaign was a total disaster.
Narrative Source
Wikipedia: Malayan campaign
Combatants
Japanese
British
Additional Information
Game Type: Standard
Board Type: Countryside
Website Access: Classified

Geolocation