| Playing With Paratroopers
By Mike Bennighof, Ph.D.
August 2011
Jay Townsend loves wargames, and he loves Panzer Grenadier. So when he told me he wanted to submit a Panzer Grenadier module featuring Japanese paratroopers, I knew that if nothing else it would have great attention to detail – and that somehow he’d work in Japanese tanks.
Developer John Stafford trimmed the counter mix down to a workable 165 (one standard Panzer Grenadier sheet) and brought the scenarios into shape with his usual efficiency. He also gave it a name: Nihon Silk. It’s a fine addition to our line of downloadable supplements and the sort of thing I’d like to see us doing more often.
With boxed games now taking up our staff time, the download line will pretty much depend on what outside designers submit. As long as they're as good as Nihon Silk, I think everyone’s going to be very happy.
Here’s a look at the 10 scenarios contained therein:
Scenario One
Manado: Getting Their Feet Wet!
11 January 1942
 The Yokosuka 1st SNLF planned to parachute onto the Langoan airfield, securing it until relieved by the much larger seaborne Sasebo SNLF forces who planned amphibious landings on both sides of the Minahassa Peninsula in the northern Celebes. To ensure the linkup a second parachute drop on January 12th could reinforce the operation if needed. The Dutch, however, would not give up without a fight.
Note: This scenario uses a map from Road to Berlin.
Conclusion
The next day the 2nd Drop Group jumped from 18 transports, but by then the 1st Group had already secured the airfield and were sweeping into the now abandoned town of Kakas losing only 32 dead and as many wounded. The Dutch lost 140 troops killed and 48 captured, as well as three of their armored cars. They were in full retreat from the advancing seaborne force of over 2500 troops supported by light tanks. The mostly reservist Dutch home guardsmen and native militia of 1500 started to dissolve.
Notes
This is not a very large scenario, but does involve a Japanese airdrop so it’s kind of involved. The Dutch are trying to hold the airfield with far lesser morale than the Japanese, but they do have an armored car platoon. Numbers favor the Japanese on paper, but since most of their troops come via parachute (a small group lands intact from a seaplane) that may or may not be the case when the fighting starts.
Scenario Two
Koepang, Day One
20 February 1942
Because the paratroopers had suffered heavy casualties dropping directly on Manado airfield the commander decided not to drop the Yokosuka 3rd SNLF directly on the Penfui airfield located in Koepang, the capital of Dutch or West Timor. The Drop Zone chosen lay 10.5 miles northwest of the airfield. With the Australians and Dutch standing in their way, this wouldn’t work unless the Allied units were tied down defending against the seaborne landing of the bigger SNLF force.
Note: This scenario uses maps from Kokoda Trail and pieces from Afrika Korps.
Conclusion
The first group of Japanese paratroopers found themselves bogged down engaging the Allies, who had prudently guarded the roads through the jungle. The Rikusentai did not want to be delayed in seizing Penfui airfield, their main objective, so they headed through the jungle and recommended to the second group of paratroopers that they do the same.
Notes
The Japanese have already parachuted in when the scenario begins, so at least their force is more or less coherent this time. The defenders have the numbers and the tanks (several platoons of Dutch light tanks), but they’re roughly evenly divided between Australians with good morale and Dutch colonials with, well, Dutch colonial morale. The Japanese lack firepower but they have soaring paratrooper morale to help them drive through and past the Allied defenders.
Scenario Three
Koepang, Day Two
21 February 1942
 The first parachute group had encountered unacceptable delays fighting through roadblocks or wading through dense jungle to avoid them. Their lessons learned were passed to the second group who would hopefully do better. Australian morale soared, meanwhile, with their fighting spirit further goaded by the discovery of murdered Australian prisoners. Brigadier W.C.D. Veale and his men eagerly anticipated the Japanese advance.
Note: This scenario uses maps from Kokoda Trail and pieces from Afrika Korps.
Conclusion
The second group of Japanese naval paratroopers followed the advice of the first group, avoiding roads and traversing the thick jungle toward their objectives, but they ran into the Australians anyway. By the time either group of Japanese paratroopers made it to the airfield it had already been occupied by the Kure 1st SNLF and shortly after that the Allied forces surrendered. Frustrated in achieving their aims, the naval paratroopers contented themselves with tying Australian non-combatant medical personnel to trees and cutting their throats.
Notes
This one’s pretty much a jungle meeting engagement, with both sides setting up small forces (a probe for the Japanese, a blocking force for the Australians) followed by large reinforcement groups. The Japanese again have great morale, while the Allies have good Australian spirits and less heroic Dutch. But this time there’s no Dutch armor, and the numbers are roughly even, so Japanese chances are much better than the last scenario
Scenario Four
Palembang
14 February 1942
Palembang served as the capital of Sumatra in the Netherlands East Indies. Its value derived largely from two very huge oil refineries and the Pangkalanbenteng airfield eight miles north of town along the banks of Musi River. The Imperial Japanese Army dropped the 2nd Raiding Regiment on the airfield to secure it, while they sent the 229th Japanese Infantry Regiment up the Musi River in landing barges to relieve the paratroops. Securing the refineries would follow, and hopefully before the Allies torched them. The Dutch and the British both deployed forces to challenge this obvious plan, the IJA paratroopers’ first combat jump.
Note: This scenario uses maps from Battle of The Bulge, Road to Berlin and pieces from Afrika Korps.
Conclusion
The swift assault led to a brief fight and the loss of only one refinery, thus ensuring success for the IJA’s first airborne operation, and arguably the most significant victory for Japanese parachute troops. General Terauchi was appreciative of the Teishin Shudan 1st Raiding Brigade’s effectiveness. The Allies abandoned Palembang and the 229th Infantry landed upriver by barges ahead of schedule on the February 15th.
Notes
This is a big scenario, opening with Japanese glider AND parachute landings, opposed by a large Dutch force that’s just not happy to be here. They’re stiffened a little by a group of British anti-aircraft gunners. The Japanese have a lot of objectives to secure, and they have to do it fast, because the Dutch can blow up the refineries if they get the chance.
Scenario Five
The Burauen Raid, Wa Operation
6 December 1944
 The IJA desperately sought a stop-gap measure to eject the Americans from Leyte. Their solution formed around a combined parachute and air transport landing on the Burauen South airfield, Burauen North airfield, San Pablo airstrip, Dulag airfield and the Tacloban airfield on Leyte. In addition, the Japanese ground force in Ormoc would maneuver to link up with the paratroopers. At this point in the war, the IJA armed a portion of its paratroopers with a 30-round sub-machinegun. Scatted elements of the US 11th Airborne Division defended these targets areas, including a high proportion of support units like engineers, quartermaster, signal corps, division artillery HQ, and AA units.
Note: This scenario uses maps from Battle of The Bulge, Kokoda Trail and pieces from Battle of The Bulge.
Conclusion
The Japanese parachute drop caused some initial confusion among the Americans, but no panic. Scratch units formed, like 60 US supply men and ground crews who dug in on the south side of Bayug strip and held out all night. In another example, the 127th Engineers counter-attacked the San Pablo strip and successfully held it.
Notes
We’ve moved forward in time a couple of years, to another combined glider-parachute landing by the Japanese. The Americans are surprised and have only rear-echelon elements on hand to oppose them, but these are Airborne REMFs and their morale is pretty good, too. The Japanese have a lot to accomplish to win this scenario, but on the other hand, the Americans have to defend an awful lot of ground.
Scenario Six
Bayug Airstrip, Day Two
7 December 1944
Some 300 Japanese troops from the 16th Division fought their way down from the hills to join their paratrooper compatriots. Meanwhile, the US supply troops, ground crews and 127th Engineers clung grimly to their trenches around the Bayug airstrip after surviving a night of combat. The remainder of the 674th Glider Field Artillery Battalion reorganized as infantry, along with the 187th Glider troops, marched to the rescue of their brothers in arms directly from the beach.
Note: This scenario uses a map from Battle of The Bulge, and pieces from Battle of The Bulge and Guadalcanal.
Conclusion
The Japanese counted on the shock effect of the raiders parachuting from the sky, but this was wasted on the 11th Airborne who thought it perfectly natural. Fighting continued throughout the day, and mopping up persisted until the 11th of December. Remnants of the elite Japanese parachutists joined up where able with other Japanese Army units, but these were often in even worst shape. Because the Americans committed many different elements piecemeal it remains unclear how many US casualties occurred, as record keeping was not a high priority, but they won the day.
Notes
This is a much smaller scenario, with the American paratroopers hunting down the last of their Japanese counterparts. The Japanese paratroopers are still willing to fight, but their ground-pounding comrades are not quite so enthusiastic any more. But the Japanese can’t win unless they at least contest the airfields, so there’s going to be fighting.
Scenario Seven
Valencia
8 December 1944
 Between the 8th and 14th of December 481 Japanese paratroopers dropped on to the Valencia airfield, located nine miles north of Ormoc. Their main mission was to reinforce ground units around Ormoc, and raid and disrupt American units. Most of the jumps came in small groups.
Note: This scenario uses a map from Kokoda Trail, and pieces from Battle of The Bulge.
Conclusion
The Japanese continued these small ineffective jumps for almost a week causing some trouble but in the end, the battered paratroopers retreated in remnants to join other ground forces. Most ended up with the Imahori Detachment, a force built around the 12th Independent Infantry Regiment that also picked up some lost SNLF troops and received praise from the Japanese high command for its willingness to conduct suicide operations.
Notes
This is a small scenario, with half the Japanese starting hidden and trying to inflict as many casualties as possible on the Americans – who also get to start hidden. It’s ambush and counter-ambush in the Philippine jungle.
Scenario Eight
Okinawa: The Giretsu Incident
24 May 1945
The Japanese developed a special commando team called the Giretsu, formed from disbanded airborne units. Imperial Headquarters decided to sacrifice them on a mission to neutralize US airfields on Okinawa, especially the Marine Airbase Yontan, home of Marine Air Group 31. These commandos planned to crash land on the airfield in Sally bombers, disembark and destroy as many aircraft and fuel depots as possible to help their Kamikaze and regular Air Force units in the war against the US Navy off the Okinawa coast.
Note: This scenario uses boards from Battle of The Bulge, and pieces from Battle of The Bulge and Guadalcanal.
Conclusion
The Japanese managed to destroy three F4U Corsair fighters, two four-engine PB4Y Privateer patrol bombers, and four R4D (C-47) transports, and damaged another 29 aircraft and two fuel dumps with the loss of 70,000 gallons. But, at this point, it was a small dent in the American war machine. None of the commandos survived.
Notes
The Japanese are pretty tough – but this time they’re up against the U.S. Marines. The Japanese are pretty weak, but they don’t need to be strong if they can blow up enough stuff before the Marines can stop them.
Scenario Nine
Okinawa: The Last Japanese Paratroopers
30 August 1945
The Japanese planned a much bigger airborne and glider assault with large bomber-towed Ku-7 and Ku-8 gliders. Forces included Type 95 light trucks, a jeep-like vehicle usually used for unarmed liaison duties but specially equipped with a 20mm automatic cannon for this mission. The gliders were also to carry 47mm anti-tank guns and 75mm field pieces to support the attack. The large Ku-7 Glider was developed to carry light tanks, and the Type 2 Ke-To light tank completed the attacking force. As the war continued, only two Ku-7 Gliders and 34 Type 2 tanks were produced and the war ended before this last raiding force could attack. For players who like armor and weird units, this should hit the spot!
Note: This scenario uses boards from Battle of The Bulge, and pieces from Battle of The Bulge and Guadalcanal.
Conclusion
As defeat loomed, Japanese plans veered ever deeper into insanity – an alternative to this strike called for an airborne landing in the Marianas to destroy B-29 bombers on the ground. Even if the Japanese had won a tactical victory in this Okinawa operation it would have been short-lived, but it is interesting to see what these different types of units might have accomplished.
Notes
And now it gets weird – the Japanese land in gliders, bringing tanks and jeep-mounted anti-aircraft guns with them. The Japanese are trying to grab the airfields, while the Americans are trying to stomp them out. And this time, there are a lot of Japanese paratroopers on the board.
Scenario Ten
San Manuel and the 2nd Armor
24 January 1945
 The Japanese garrison in San Manuel, Philippines numbered over a thousand men, with the rifle elements concentrated in the under strength 1st Battalion, 2nd Mobile Infantry. Augmenting the infantry, the garrison boasted 40 medium and five light tanks of the 7th Tank Regiment, about 15 75mm and 105mm artillery pieces from the 2nd Mobile Artillery, a few 47mm antitank guns, at least 25 machine guns, and 15 or more light mortars. The defense formed around the tanks in earthen revetments, with 75 revetments in San Manuel, each ringed with rifle pits and at least one machinegun position. Initially, tanks occupied 25 to 30 of the revetments, while Colonel Shigemi held out 10 to 15 tanks as a mobile reserve. Tanks and infantry could move rapidly from one revetted strongpoint to another. The Japanese oriented the defenses principally against attack from the west, southwest, and south, but they did not neglect the other approaches entirely and disposed their weapons in depth for all-around defense.
Considering the tactical importance of the ridge north of town to both attacker and defender, it is almost incredible that the Shigemi Detachment stationed only a platoon of infantry there. The 161st Infantry made no such mistake. The regiment had to seize the ridge to secure its northern flank.
Colonel Dalton's plan for the reduction of San Manuel called for a converging attack. The 2nd Battalion led the main effort, striking from the north; the 1st Battalion, in support, moved in from the west and southwest from the south side of the road to Binalonan. The 3rd Battalion was at this time in corps reserve, but the 161st Infantry was strengthened by a reinforced company of the 716th Tank Battalion and Company D, 98th Chemical Battalion, along with its 4.2 inch mortars.
Note: This scenario use boards from Kokoda Trail and pieces from Guadalcanal and Battle of the Bulge.
Conclusion
On 24 January the 1st Battalion's secondary attack started first, behind a fifteen-minute artillery and mortar preparation. The effort failed. Supporting tanks could not cross a tree-lined drainage ditch on the southwest side of town, and Japanese 47mm anti-tank fire destroyed one tank and temporarily disabled four others. A sixth tank was immobilized when it attempted to hurdle the ditch. Pinned down, partially in the open, the 1st Battalion lost 6 men killed and 55 wounded during the day. The supporting tank company lost another 2 men killed and 8 wounded. Late in the afternoon both the infantry and the tanks withdrew westward to covered positions.
The first attacks by the 2nd Battalion met with no greater success. Company F, striking down the ridge, advanced fifty yards into San Manuel, but a Japanese counterattack, spearheaded by three tanks, drove the company out of town at midmorning. The 2nd Battalion launched another attack shortly after 1730, with Cannon Company M7's and Antitank Company 37mm guns in close support. At dark the battalion had a tenuous hold on the northern part of San Manuel, and its supporting weapons had knocked out five Japanese tanks and reduced the volume of machinegun and rifle fire that had been slowing the attack.
Notes
There are absolutely no paratroopers in this scenario: it’s here because Jay’s wanted it published for many years. It’s a tank battle, and the Japanese are very brave and they have tanks. And they’ll need to be very brave, because their tanks aren’t very good compared to the American Shermans.
And that’s what you get in Nihon Silk! Order it now and it downloads into your computer in just a few nanoseconds. |
