End of the Beginning

With British defenses in disarray—the 17th Indian Division was strung out over 15 miles of roads, and jungle – the Japanese pressed even harder for their prize: the bridge at Sittang. Early on the morning of the 22nd the commander of 1st Battalion, 215th Infantry Regiment, major Mugita, made …

1942-02-22

AP092

With British defenses in disarray—the 17th Indian Division was strung out over 15 miles of roads, and jungle – the Japanese pressed even harder for their prize: the bridge at Sittang. Early on the morning of the 22nd the commander of 1st Battalion, 215th Infantry Regiment, major Mugita, made a hasty decision to press on to the bridge. His battalion was not at full strength, missing its 4th Company, but had divisional assets in an engineer platoon and an MMG section. Believing a coup de main was possible, Mugita launched his men at the colonial troops blocking his way to the bridge approach.

Sittang, 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

British

Scenario Type = Standard