new RS ME 02/03 scen

[Mr. Guberman]

Gents,

Here is the next logical step after the airborne attack of 2/14/42...

"The Retreat from Palembang"

viz:

15 February, 1942
Palembang, Sumatra: The Japanese airborne attack on the 14th
was not successful: They failed in their gamble to take P1 Airfield
and sustained about 80% casualties in the attempt; At Plaju they
did take their objective, the oil refinery, but did not have
sufficient strength to hold it; however some of the Japanese
paratroopers are still holding out, most importantly at the roadblock
between P1 Airfield and Palembang city. A general evacuation
of southern Sumatra has been announced and all Allied troops
in this command area are to withdraw south toward Oosthaven on
the southern tip of the island, on the Sunda Strait, and obtain
transport there to Java. To buy additional time for the large
number of noncombatants (i.e. civilian dependents and functionaries,
air force personnel, service troops and stragglers from Singapore)
to get off the island, the Allied troops must delay the Japanese
advance around Palembang for 3 or 4 hours. The Japanese paratroopers are not the problem; the sea landing force is approaching up the Musi River. While the remnants of the Allied air forces attempt to delay them on the river they will not be able to stop them, just cut them up a little. It is a difficult proposition
for the Allied commander.

...hope you enjoy. Couldn't decide on 25 turns or 30, or in between. Went back to 25 once...then agreed with myself to leave it at 30 turns.

Completing these last two scens finishes the bridge of scens from the "outer islands" to the "big Kahuna" itself...Java. A month (3/42) of unmitigated disaster. Little is recorded of these events, either Dutch or Japanese, but over time, quite an accumulation of personal recollections, only recently coming to light, have gone far to open up this little known period of the Pacific War. Crete lasted, what 3 days?...Java (though larger in area, but much less equipped, pro rata) lasted a month. A plethora of actions were uncovered during the research.

Cheers

Curt