Toaw Scenario: Timor 42

Dutch West Timor,
February 20, 1942,

Japanese army of 36 units opposed to Allied army of 39 units
for a battle of complexity 0.45 at Company(I) level
on a 2.5 Km/Hex map
for 10 turns of Half Day each.

by Graham Donaldson submited on 15-02-2003

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Briefing
CAPTURE OF TIMOR Imperial Japanese invasion of Dutch West Timor during the operations into Netherlands East Indies. Unit Colours Imperial Japan Army Units, red-white/blue SNLF Marines, white-black/blue IJNavy, dark blue-white/blue IJN Air Flotilla, black-white/blue Allies KNIL Units, pale grey-black/green Coastal Defense, yellow-black/green Dutch Air Squadron, black-pale yellow/green Netherlands Navy, light blue-white/green Australian Infantry, white-tan/khaki British detachment, red-white/khaki RAAF Squadron, light blue-white/khaki Background The conquest of Netherlands East Indies presented Imperial Japan with few overall setbacks. The sweep and rapid thrusts of the Nippon combined arms blitzkrieg was pitted against ill-equipped or poorly trained troops, and inadequate island garrisons protected by piecemeal Allied air units. Borneo and Celebes were effectively overrun by the last week of January 1942. And after assaulting and securing established bases on occupied territory Japanese military operations gained momentum. By the third week of February the Japanese Eastern Force had moved via the Celebes through the Moluccos and onto Bali and Timor islands. Which were staging stopovers on the route for US warplanes traveling towards war-torn Java. As in American B-17 Flying Fortresses, P-40 Kittyhawks and Dauntless Dive Bombers shuttled across the Pacific Ocean and northern Australia. ABDAir Command, Eastgroup air elements were miniscule. The Dutch territorial commander of West Timor and dependencies in late December 1941 was appointed to Colonel van Straten. Also in accordance with the agreement between the Netherland's East Indies and the Australian government 'Sparrow Force' arrived from Darwin. The 2/40th Battalion Group & 2/2nd Independent Company, and joined by a few allied contingents from Java. The main task of the Dutch West Timor garrison was to defend the Bay of Koepang and Penfui airfield The Netherlands East Indies forces were to defend the southern area having fixed defenses concentrated at Klapalima. The Australian troops were deployed along the coast north of Koepang and at Penfui airfield. The AIF Battalion HQ was established at Tarus and a main supply base laid out at Champlong, plus an airstrip was being constructed at the inland town of Atambua near the Portuguese East Timor border. An attempt to reinforce the West Timor garrison from Darwin with an Australian Infantry battalion and two US artillery batteries was made on the 15th February, but was attacked heavily by Japanese aircraft and the task force ordered by Wavell to return to port. During the early morning of the 20th February the 1001st Air Carrier group from the captured air base at Kendari dropped Japanese marine paratroopers of the 3rd Yokosuka near Usua, with the intention to speedily seize Penfui airstrip. The airborne SNLF having been mauled by rear echelon troops deployed and dug in astride the only road into the interior of Timor. And a withdrawal route for Allied forces to escape from the large enemy invasion force advancing rapidly from Koepang and onto Penfui airfield. Amphibious landings were conducted by the victorious veteran 228th Infantry Group disembarking at three separate points spread over the Paha River mouth on the south coast. Supported by light tanks the Japanese invaders quickly moved north towards Koepang and Penfui airstrip, hoping to draw the Australians away from the vicinity of the paradrop zone. And the naval paratroopers were reinforced by an army infantry company plus heavy support, marching up from Baun. These actions constituted a series of threats to the rear of the garrison forces defending Koepang Bay and Penfui airstrip. "Good Luck, but leave your cigarettes and beer behind" - AIF Signaller Harman to USS Marblehead and Boise as the warships departed Koepang Bay, 16th January 1942. TOAW Island Series scenario by Graham Donaldson. Sources BLOODY SHAMBLES, Volume I, by C. Shores & Y. Izawa DOOMED BATTALION, Australian 2/40 Battalion 1940-45, Peter Henning, Allen & Unwin, 1995. TRAPPED ON TIMOR, Colin Humphries, Hyde Park Press, South Australia, 1990. THE JAPANESE THRUST, Lionel Wigmore, AWM, Canberra, 1957. A DICTIONARY OF AUSTRALIAN MILITARY HISTORY, Ian Grant, Random House, Australia, 1992. DIGGERS, (The Australian Army, Navy and Air Force in eleven wars), George Odgers, Lansdowne, 1994. INDEPENDENT COMPANY, 2/2 Australian Independent Company in Portuguese Timor, Bernard Callinan AND fellow friends best regards, and good luck.

Briefing

CAPTURE OF TIMOR
Imperial Japanese invasion of Dutch West Timor during the operations into Netherlands East Indies.

Unit Colours

Imperial Japan

Army Units, red-white/blue

SNLF Marines, white-black/blue

IJNavy, dark blue-white/blue

IJN Air Flotilla, black-white/blue

Allies

KNIL Units, pale grey-black/green

Coastal Defense, yellow-black/green

Dutch Air Squadron, black-pale yellow/green

Netherlands Navy, light blue-white/green

Australian Infantry, white-tan/khaki

British detachment, red-white/khaki

RAAF Squadron, light blue-white/khaki

Background

The conquest of Netherlands East Indies presented Imperial Japan with few overall setbacks. The sweep and rapid thrusts of the Nippon combined arms blitzkrieg was pitted against ill-equipped or poorly trained troops, and inadequate island garrisons protected by piecemeal Allied air units. Borneo and Celebes were effectively overrun by the last week of January 1942. And after assaulting and securing established bases on occupied territory Japanese military operations gained momentum.

By the third week of February the Japanese Eastern Force had moved via the Celebes through the Moluccos and onto Bali and Timor islands. Which were staging stopovers on the route for US warplanes traveling towards war-torn Java. As in American B-17 Flying Fortresses, P-40 Kittyhawks and Dauntless Dive Bombers shuttled across the Pacific Ocean and northern Australia. ABDAir Command, Eastgroup air elements were miniscule.

The Dutch territorial commander of West Timor and dependencies in late December 1941 was appointed to Colonel van Straten. Also in accordance with the agreement between the Netherland's East Indies and the Australian government 'Sparrow Force' arrived from Darwin. The 2/40th Battalion Group & 2/2nd Independent Company, and joined by a few allied contingents from Java. The main task of the Dutch West Timor garrison was to defend the Bay of Koepang and Penfui airfield

The Netherlands East Indies forces were to defend the southern area having fixed defenses concentrated at Klapalima. The Australian troops were deployed along the coast north of Koepang and at Penfui airfield. The AIF Battalion HQ was established at Tarus and a main supply base laid out at Champlong, plus an airstrip was being constructed at the inland town of Atambua near the Portuguese East Timor border. An attempt to reinforce the West Timor garrison from Darwin with an Australian Infantry battalion and two US artillery batteries was made on the 15th February, but was attacked heavily by Japanese aircraft and the task force ordered by Wavell to return to port.

During the early morning of the 20th February the 1001st Air Carrier group from the captured air base at Kendari dropped Japanese marine paratroopers of the 3rd Yokosuka near Usua, with the intention to speedily seize Penfui airstrip. The airborne SNLF having been mauled by rear echelon troops deployed and dug in astride the only road into the interior of Timor. And a withdrawal route for Allied forces to escape from the large enemy invasion force advancing rapidly from Koepang and onto Penfui airfield.

Amphibious landings were conducted by the victorious veteran 228th Infantry Group disembarking at three separate points spread over the Paha River mouth on the south coast. Supported by light tanks the Japanese invaders quickly moved north towards Koepang and Penfui airstrip, hoping to draw the Australians away from the vicinity of the paradrop zone. And the naval paratroopers were reinforced by an army infantry company plus heavy support, marching up from Baun. These actions constituted a series of threats to the rear of the garrison forces defending Koepang Bay and Penfui airstrip.

"Good Luck, but leave your cigarettes and beer behind" - AIF Signaller Harman to USS Marblehead and Boise as the warships departed Koepang Bay, 16th January 1942.

TOAW Island Series scenario by Graham Donaldson.

Sources
BLOODY SHAMBLES, Volume I, by C. Shores & Y. Izawa
DOOMED BATTALION, Australian 2/40 Battalion 1940-45, Peter Henning, Allen & Unwin, 1995.
TRAPPED ON TIMOR, Colin Humphries, Hyde Park Press, South Australia, 1990.
THE JAPANESE THRUST, Lionel Wigmore, AWM, Canberra, 1957.
A DICTIONARY OF AUSTRALIAN MILITARY HISTORY, Ian Grant, Random House, Australia, 1992.
DIGGERS, (The Australian Army, Navy and Air Force in eleven wars), George Odgers, Lansdowne, 1994.
INDEPENDENT COMPANY, 2/2 Australian Independent Company in Portuguese Timor, Bernard Callinan
AND fellow friends

best regards, and good luck.