Veers
Member
8 January, 1942
To what fate have I arrived?
I have arrived in Burma, at the capital and main port of the country, Rangoon. Through low cloud and near zero visibility, my Indian pilot skilfully touched down in our light transport amid the bustle of activity that a city often will experience when war is quickly headed in its direction. Unceremoniously, I exit the craft just as a light drizzle begins; a foreshadowing, I suspect, of what conditions will be like in this part of the world.
The disorganization that has fallen over the country is quickly made evident by the lack of any transportation to take me to my destination in the city, Burma Army Headquarters. Fortunately, my ADC found and confiscated a jeep from a British soldier who also grudgingly gave directions to Burma Army HQ.
Arriving at Burma Army Headquarters, I finally met General Wavell. He was, at least in my opinion, an excellent military commander who had done an admirable job in the Middle East, considering the resources he had been allotted. Churchill, however, thought otherwise, and so he had been removed from Cairo and sent to the backwater that was Burma, only now to be thrown into another ill-prepared for battle that he would be hard-pressed to come away from any better off.
Wavell was currently busy dealing with the tactical situation on the Salween R., preparation for the defence of Rangoon against possible sea invasion, and trying to organize the entry of Chinese units into north-east Burma. Understandably then, he was pleased to see me and quickly brought me up to speed on the situation:
The Japanese had invaded January 1st, crossing into Burma from Siam, a country which had recently signed a treaty of friendship with Japan. Wavell had ordered 17 IND ID to deploy east of the Salween, in an attempt to extricate 2 and 16 Brigades and the division's infantry. It had been a gamble, but it paid off, as the Japanese had gone for securing Moulmein, instead of massing their 33 ID in an attempt to destroy the 17th.
With those elements rescued the Salween had been crossed, the bridge destroyed, and excellent defensive positions on the western bank taken up to cover the crossing. 1 BUR Bgd (1 BUR ID) had been deployed south of the bridge, guarding the crossing at Martaban.
Further north a possible crossing point f the Salween, near Mongpan, had been garrisoned by two Burman Battalions until the newly arrived CHI 93rd ID (Currently at the Chinese border) could get into position.
Jan 1
Jan 7
I was informed that I was to meet Maj Gen J Bruce-Scott at the main port, where he was supervising the fortification of the port with his newly arrived 13 BUR Bgd and 1 BUR Engineers. I was to get to know him, as he would be leading one of the divisions in my command. Finally I inquired of Wavell just what my position was. "Why command of I Burma Corps, weren't you informed?"
I had not been.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Slim was not as fortunate as I. He arrived after the decisive battle of the campaign had already been fought, that being the battle around the Sittang R. bridge. GOC Smyth had been faced with a cruel decision of whether to strand over half of his division on the wrong side of a destroyed bridge, or risk that vital bridge falling into enemy hands. Smyth, of course, decided to destroy the bridge, irrevocably damaging the only fighting unit between the Japanese and Rangoon.
DESIGN NOTE:
Having read Slim's memoirs, one realizes that the 7th ArmBgd was equipped with American Stuarts, not British Matildas. One of many things I would change if I was to rework this Burma Campaign scenario.
Using the same book as a source, it would appear that the Allied airforce is in much better shape than it was historically, numerically, at least. Historically, they did extremely well against the Japanese Army pilots, but in April (I think) they were entirely forced out of Burma due to Japanese numerical superiority and their ability, therefore, to bomb and destroy many Allied craft on the ground.
To what fate have I arrived?
I have arrived in Burma, at the capital and main port of the country, Rangoon. Through low cloud and near zero visibility, my Indian pilot skilfully touched down in our light transport amid the bustle of activity that a city often will experience when war is quickly headed in its direction. Unceremoniously, I exit the craft just as a light drizzle begins; a foreshadowing, I suspect, of what conditions will be like in this part of the world.
The disorganization that has fallen over the country is quickly made evident by the lack of any transportation to take me to my destination in the city, Burma Army Headquarters. Fortunately, my ADC found and confiscated a jeep from a British soldier who also grudgingly gave directions to Burma Army HQ.
Arriving at Burma Army Headquarters, I finally met General Wavell. He was, at least in my opinion, an excellent military commander who had done an admirable job in the Middle East, considering the resources he had been allotted. Churchill, however, thought otherwise, and so he had been removed from Cairo and sent to the backwater that was Burma, only now to be thrown into another ill-prepared for battle that he would be hard-pressed to come away from any better off.
Wavell was currently busy dealing with the tactical situation on the Salween R., preparation for the defence of Rangoon against possible sea invasion, and trying to organize the entry of Chinese units into north-east Burma. Understandably then, he was pleased to see me and quickly brought me up to speed on the situation:
The Japanese had invaded January 1st, crossing into Burma from Siam, a country which had recently signed a treaty of friendship with Japan. Wavell had ordered 17 IND ID to deploy east of the Salween, in an attempt to extricate 2 and 16 Brigades and the division's infantry. It had been a gamble, but it paid off, as the Japanese had gone for securing Moulmein, instead of massing their 33 ID in an attempt to destroy the 17th.
With those elements rescued the Salween had been crossed, the bridge destroyed, and excellent defensive positions on the western bank taken up to cover the crossing. 1 BUR Bgd (1 BUR ID) had been deployed south of the bridge, guarding the crossing at Martaban.
Further north a possible crossing point f the Salween, near Mongpan, had been garrisoned by two Burman Battalions until the newly arrived CHI 93rd ID (Currently at the Chinese border) could get into position.
Jan 1
Jan 7
I was informed that I was to meet Maj Gen J Bruce-Scott at the main port, where he was supervising the fortification of the port with his newly arrived 13 BUR Bgd and 1 BUR Engineers. I was to get to know him, as he would be leading one of the divisions in my command. Finally I inquired of Wavell just what my position was. "Why command of I Burma Corps, weren't you informed?"
I had not been.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Slim was not as fortunate as I. He arrived after the decisive battle of the campaign had already been fought, that being the battle around the Sittang R. bridge. GOC Smyth had been faced with a cruel decision of whether to strand over half of his division on the wrong side of a destroyed bridge, or risk that vital bridge falling into enemy hands. Smyth, of course, decided to destroy the bridge, irrevocably damaging the only fighting unit between the Japanese and Rangoon.
DESIGN NOTE:
Having read Slim's memoirs, one realizes that the 7th ArmBgd was equipped with American Stuarts, not British Matildas. One of many things I would change if I was to rework this Burma Campaign scenario.
Using the same book as a source, it would appear that the Allied airforce is in much better shape than it was historically, numerically, at least. Historically, they did extremely well against the Japanese Army pilots, but in April (I think) they were entirely forced out of Burma due to Japanese numerical superiority and their ability, therefore, to bomb and destroy many Allied craft on the ground.
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