In the Old Tradition

The British had continued their withdrawal to Kampar, a position of considerable strength. Two high, jungle-covered ridges bordered a relatively open area consisting of nearly one thousand yards of open paddies and fields, giving the British excellent fields of fire for the first time during the Malayan campaign. The Japanese …

1941-12-31

DASL22

J011

The British had continued their withdrawal to Kampar, a position of considerable strength. Two high, jungle-covered ridges bordered a relatively open area consisting of nearly one thousand yards of open paddies and fields, giving the British excellent fields of fire for the first time during the Malayan campaign. The Japanese continued to press the attack, however, providing the British little time to prepare the position and rest their troops. Following a barrage of artillery, the Japanese attacked the Commonwealth line in a broad front, and were repulsed everywhere with the exception of a strategic hill called Thompson's Ridge. Here the Japanese had managed to take the ridge and began penetrating the British line. The British needed to counterattack. British reserves were exhausted and out of position, however, so the commander of a Sikh company ordered his unit to charge. In the old style, the Sikhs rushed the ridge through a hail of machine gun and artillery fire.

Kampar, Malaya

The Malayan Campaign was a military campaign fought by Allied and Axis forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 - 15 February 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. The operation is notable for the Japanese use of bicycle infantry, which allowed troops to carry more equipment and swiftly move through thick jungle terrain. Royal Engineers, equipped with demolition charges, destroyed over a hundred bridges during the retreat, yet this did little to delay the Japanese. By the time the Japanese had captured Singapore, they had suffered 9,657 casualties; Allied losses totaled 145,703, including 15,703 casualties and 130,000 captured.

British

Japanese

Scenario Type = Deluxe