After feinting toward the islands of Kahili and Choseuil to draw the attention away from the intended landing areas around Empress Augusta Bay, Major General Allen Turnage’s Third Marine Division landed at Cape Torokina on western Bougainville. They overwhelmed the initial Japanese resistance around the beaches and established their beachhead, then set about the task of pushing their perimeter inland. General Turnage wanted to take up a blocking position off the northeast curve of the beachhead by occupying a series of ridges, which ran along the east-west trail and the Torokina River. To accomplish this the Marines would have to take four pieces of high ground, including a nameless hill which the Marines would later dub “Hellzapoppin’ Ridge” for the warm reception they received from its Japanese defenders.
Attacker: American (USMC) (Elements of the 1st & 3rd Battalions, 21st Marine Regiment)
Defender: Japanese (Elements of the 23rd Infantry Regiment)
8.5 turns
Players: 2 OBA: None Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:20.0 D:13.0
AFVs: A:0
AFVs: D:0
Guns: A:2
M1 81mm Mortar x 2
D:0
Misc Rules:
PTO, DJ. Treat Level 3 and 4 Jungle as Brush. A: Air w D: Caves6, Pillbox5 (VC objectives)
