East Sector, Abucay, January 9-13, 1942 (turns 1-5)
I deployed almost all of my units on the Abucay line as it is the widest and has the worst terrain. Both 5th "Hickam" and 14th "Punaluu" were deployed in Anti-Tank configuration and it paid off as the tanks attacking bunker Abucay/East took a combined nine points of damage. It didn't save the bunker, though and its loss triggers the "Defense in depth" event (Figure 3) marking the first US/PH casualty.
At the West(left) flank of the line the Japanese attacks were not as focused so damage was lighter and more spread out, including an ineffective mortar barrage on 1/B Coy.
Figure 1 also includes part of the Allied actions in Turn 1: bunker Abucay/West inflicts two points of damage on one of the JP infantries; the combat predictions for both PH Recruits clearly indicate that these units do not belong on this defensive line and they will retreat.
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| Figure 1 - Abucay, JP Turn 1 |
The bulk of the Allied actions in Turn 1 are depicted in Figure 2. 1/B Coy moves to plug the gap left by the loss of the bunker but has no favorable attacks, 1/D Coy replaces PH/D Coy on the river bank and forces the JP Ha-Go to retreat after taking heavy losses and Cav/C Sqdn punishes the JP Infantry on the river.
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| Figure 2 - Abucay, US/PH Turn 1 |
PH/C Coy can still be seen retreating at the bottom edge, No. 1 IC and Eng/C Coy have taken positions on the bridges to conduct demolition duty.
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| Figure 3 - HQ advice |
The Japanese continued their attack in Turns 2 and 3. 1/B Coy was forced to retreat with very heavy losses. 5th "Hickam" and 14th "Punaluu" Bty reverted to AA mode (the JP tanks retreated far enough that they couldn't attack) in time to greet a JP B5N2 tactical bomber who decided to target 14th "Punaluu". Cav/C Sqdn and 1/D Coy keep hitting JP units on the river for good effect (Figure 4).
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| Figure 4 - Abucay, US/PH Turn 3 |
In Turn 4 the JP artillery makes an entrance and signals that the river bank is no longer a valid defensive position. Cav/C Sqdn also takes losses from a combined JP infantries attack. A JP fighter (Ki-43 Hayabusa) replaces the bomber and strafes 14th "Punaluu" for no discernible damage (Figure 5).
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| Figure 5 - Abucay, JP Turn 4 |
Abucay has held for the mandatory five turns and it is time to retreat to the Pilar line. With only one bridge and road (which is of the "dirt" variety; in the previous mission we were spoiled by an abundance of "hard" roads) this is not a trivial exercise for the amount of slower moving units. Eng/C Coy has laid a minefield to guard the flank of the unit that will protect them when they reoccupy the bridge for demolition (Figure 6).
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| Figure 6 - Abucay, Turn 6 |
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