Parting Shots

As the British made a precarious and disjointed withdrawal in front of the relentless Japanese advance, many small actions were fought between the Bilin River and the easily fordable Thebyu River. The Bilin was the last barrier before the Salween River, and the Japanese had crossed it with ease, …

1942-02-21

AP091

As the British made a precarious and disjointed withdrawal in front of the relentless Japanese advance, many small actions were fought between the Bilin River and the easily fordable Thebyu River. The Bilin was the last barrier before the Salween River, and the Japanese had crossed it with ease, bringing great pressure on the scattered defenders. As the 48th Brigade was pushed towards Sittang, 1/3rd Gurkha Rifles made contact with leading elements of 33rd Division and their Burmese guides who were following the railway into Thebyuchaung. A sharp action ensued and the Japanese were halted.for the moment.

Thebyuchang, Burma

The Burma campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II took place over four years from 1942 to 1945. During the first year of the campaign, the Imperial Japanese Army with aid from Burmese insurgents had driven British forces and Chinese forces out of Burma, and occupied most of the country. From May to December 1942, most active campaigning ceased as the monsoon rains made tactical movement almost impossible in the forested and mountainous border between India and Burma, and both the Allies and Japanese faced severe logistical constraints. When the rains ceased, the Allies launched two offensives. One, an attack in the coastal Arakan Province, failed, with severe effects on Allied morale. This was restored partly by improvements to administration and training, and partly by the much-publicised results of a raid by troops under Brigadier Orde Wingate. This raid may also have goaded Japanese commanders into launching major offensives the following year, which failed disastrously.

Japanese / Burmese

British

Scenario Type = Standard