Nameless Hill

Colonel William J. “Wild Bill" Whaling's 1st Marines hadjust captured the airfield at Cape Gloucester, located to the west of the New Britain landing sites. The residual elements of the Japanese defense, led by Colonel Koki Sumiya's 53rd lnfantry Regiment, remained unknown. Overlooking the airfield to the south was a …

1943-12-30

AP168

Colonel William J. “Wild Bill" Whaling's 1st Marines hadjust captured the airfield at Cape Gloucester, located to the west of the New Britain landing sites. The residual elements of the Japanese defense, led by Colonel Koki Sumiya's 53rd lnfantry Regiment, remained unknown. Overlooking the airfield to the south was a feature known to the Marines as the Razorback Ridge. Assigned the task of securing this objective was Colonel John T. Selden's 5th Marines. In an area previously thought deserted, Lieutenant Henry W. Stankus. connnanding officer of 3rd Platoon. Company F, stumbled upon a small outpost located near a hill feature just north of Razorback Ridge. Like a swarm of angry bees. Japanese from the 53rd Infantry emerged from the neighboring jungle, ravines, and streams. Soon Stankus faced a full Japanese company supported by heavy weapons.

Razorback Ridge, New Britain

The Battle of Pearl Ridge (30–31 December 1944) was an engagement of the Second World War fought between Australian and Japanese forces on Bougainville Island. Part of the wider Bougainville Campaign, the battle took place in the central sector of the island, shortly after the Australians had taken over responsibility from the Americans. Believing that the ridge was held by less than a company of Japanese, on 30 December the Australian 25th Infantry Battalion launched a four-pronged attacked the ridge. The defending force, however, had been greatly reinforced by elements of the 38th Independent Mixed Brigade and was closer to a battalion in strength. After being held up on the right of their advance, the Australians dug in overnight and repulsed a strong Japanese counterattack before resuming the attack on 31 December. By late in the afternoon, the Japanese had been swept off the ridge. The Australians later established an observation post on the ridge, which had commanding views of the whole island, and throughout the remainder of the campaign used it to control artillery fire as they advanced towards Japanese enclaves in the north and south of the island.

Japanese

American

Scenario Type = Standard