On the Right Flank PTO (id:#57545)

Critical Hit (Those Ragged Bloody Heroes ID: GONA1)   [next]   [previous]

Gona Village, New Guinea 1942-12-08 (7 others)

Overview:

After the attack on the 6th December, Lt. Col. Honner, commander of the 39th Battalion, requested two changes to the support provided his unit. First, he refused any Allied air support, declaring it to be too inaccurate and capable only of forewarning the Japanese of impending attack. Secondly, he requested time delay fuses on the 25-pounder shells so they would penetrate the logs on top of the bunkers. Finally, he committed his troops one minute prior to the end of the bombardment to maximize the surprise. If the Japanese pillboxes could be cleared, they would hopefully take the Mission building in Gona that day.

Defender: Japanese (III Battalion, 41st Regiment)  

Errata (source)