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Live Action Role Play

The Owen Stanley Ranges campaign was the third prong of a Japanese attack to gain possession of Port Moresby. His first, a naval movement, had been frustrated in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May, 1942. His attack on Milne Bay in August, 1942, resulted in defeat when he suffered his first reverse of the war on land. The third prong, his drive over the Owen Stanleys from Buna-Oona, came close to success, reaching within twenty-five air miles of Port Moresby.

A small force of Australians known as "Maroubra Force" arrived at Buna on July 21st, 1942, as the first Japanese force of 1500 men landed at Gona, eight miles to the west. The first engagement between the opposing troops was on the 23rd and from that engagement, as our force was progressively outnumbered, began the long fighting withdrawal over the Owen Stanley Range.

Kokoda is a small plateau on the north-east slopes of the Owen Stanley Range and possessed a small air-strip the retention of which, for at least as long as it would take us to fly in supplies and reinforcements, was of great importance. However, the remnants of "Maroubra Force", exhausted by a month's constant fighting, were unable to achieve this. Valiant though their effort was, they even recaptured the plateau after being driven out, the Japanese need was of equal importance as they required a forward base at Kokoda for their drive over the ranges along the "Kokoda Trail" to Port Moresby and they struck before we were able to muster sufficient strength.

The initiative now remained with the enemy and our withdrawal began again - through Isurava, Alola, Templeton's Crossing, Myola, Efogi, Menari and Nauro until at Ioribaiwa Ridge, beyond which the Japanese could not be permitted to penetrate, a final stand was made.

The Japanese had now inherited all the difficulties of an extended supply line. For the last fortnight there was a comparative lull in the fighting during which both sides have consolidated their positions. 

We, however, had a surprise in store for the enemy. 25-pounder guns were brought from Moresby to the roadhead at Ower's Corner and then laborious Dragged into position at Imita Ridge, opened up on the enemy's barricades and it was now the turn of the Japanese to suffer what we had suffered in the preceding two months. Our shelling smashed his defences. And now its time for aggressive patrols to inflict severe losses on him. On the morning of September 28th we were closing in and it became evident then the enemy was withdrawing. The chase, with us the pursuers, was now on.

The Japanese, however. despite sickness and hunger, are still formidable and tenaciously defending all the places in their withdrawal as we had in our retreat some weeks earlier.

You are members of a large patrol pushing up the Kokoda Trail with the aim of capturing Japanese strong points and destroying as many enemy as possible. 

The Australian Imperial force is under orders to push the Japanese forces back through the jungle with heavy casualties. (Special note: Until strong point 1 is taken, Australians cannot go more than 20 metres of the main track.)

The Kokoda Trail, a long, thin track cut through the dense vegetation of Papua New Guinea.

Japanese Force:

Approx 1/3 of the total number of players are allocated to the Japanese defence

100% replacements from each successive strong point, Japanese cannot advance more than 20 metres forward of the strong point from which a replacement was taken. This is a fighting retreat up the Kokoda trail after all.

The LMG and SMG have special rules on ammunition to represent the over extended Japanese supply line. Basically you only get one clip of ammunition per starting soldier or replacement

Hit points: 2 hit points per soldier

Weapons

Japanese have first choice of weapons based on the above restrictions.

Victory Points

The Japanese receives 300 points if they hold for 30 minutes the first strong points, 200 points if they hold the 2nd strong point and 150 points if they hold the 3rd strong point.

Each unused replacement and surviving soldier is worth 5 victory points.

Australian Imperial Force:

Numbers:  2/3’s of total players

Replacements:  150% of Australian starting force

(Received from the Base at the bottom of the trail initially or from the last strongpoint captured)

Hit points: 2 hit points

Weapons:

All weapons listed below not allocated to the Japanese are available with the following restrictions:

If required the SMG or LMG’s can be replaced by the mini-pulse rifle.

Victory Points

The Australians receive 50 victory points if they capture only strong point 1, 150 points for strong point 1 and 2 and 300 points for all three bases. Note there are no points for capturing a strong point if a lower numbered strong point is not held. So if the Australians capture strong points 2 & 3 but not 1, they get 0 points.

Each unused replacement and surviving soldier is worth 5 victory points

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