Spring and Summer

The Japanese had landed on the northwest corner of Papua New Guinea on 21 July and began their trek towards Port Moresby. The Australian Army moved to prevent the Japanese intentions, and the first clash along the Kokoda Trail occurred two days later and established a pattern of superior …

1942-08-27

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The Japanese had landed on the northwest corner of Papua New Guinea on 21 July and began their trek towards Port Moresby. The Australian Army moved to prevent the Japanese intentions, and the first clash along the Kokoda Trail occurred two days later and established a pattern of superior Japanese forces overwhelming the understrength Australian forces who were far from their supply points. This pattern would continue until the Japanese troops were deployed in front of the small village of Isurava. It was here that the Australian command were determined to delay the Japanese advance.

Isurava, New Guinea

The Battle of Isurava took place over the period 26 to 31 August 1942. Forming part of the Kokoda Track campaign of the Second World War, the battle involved military forces from Australia, supported by the United States, fighting against Japanese troops from Major General Tomitaro Horii's South Seas Detachment who had landed around Buna and Gona in Papua mid-July 1942, with the intent of capturing Port Moresby to the south via the overland route. Several small engagements were fought north of Kokoda, before the village itself became the scene of heavy fighting as the Australian Maroubra Force fought to delay the Japanese advance throughout late July and into early August. After further fighting around Deniki, the Australians withdrew to Isurava, where the Militia soldiers of Maroubra Force were reinforced by two Second Australian Imperial Force battalions of the veteran 21st Infantry Brigade under Brigadier Arnold Potts. In what became the first major battle of the campaign, the two sides fought a heavy engagement around Isurava in late August, as four Australian infantry battalions attempted to fend off attacks by a similarly sized Japanese force. On the other side of Eora Creek, clashes were fought around Abuari, as a Japanese battalion attempted to outflank the Australians at Isurava from the west, and cut the track around Alola, while another Japanese battalion attempted to flank Isurava to the west. Subjected to a heavy Japanese artillery bombardment, and lacking their own with which to counter this indirect fire, the Australians defended for four days, before conducting a withdrawal in contact, falling back towards Templeton's Crossing, which was the scene of further fighting in early September 1942.

Japanese

Australian

Scenario Type = Starter Kit