The Allies planned to land on Bougainville, but wanted a diversion to distract the Japanese defenders into thinking the real invasion would come from a different location. The island of Choiseul was chosen as the diversion. The unit chosen for this job was the 2nd Parachute Battalion, 1st Marine Parachute Regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Krulak. This small force of about 650 men had the task of making the Japanese defenders think they were a much larger force. After landing on the 28th of October, Colonel Krulak decided to attack the village of Sangigai, even though his scouts had informed him it was defended by a larger garrison than first thought. The Colonel enlisted the aid of several local guides to lead his attack through the jungle. Krulak decided to do a double envelopment, personally leading a force around the town to the southern end with the main attack rushing in from the north.
Attacker: Japanese (Elements of the 6th Division, 17th Army)
Defender: American (USMC) (Elements of the 2nd Parachute Battalion, 1st Marine Parachute Regiment)
The American plan contemplated conducting a fighting withdraw from the middle hill/building toward the southern hill/building, where the main defense was anchored around the 10-3/HMG, and using the reinforcements to seize the northern building and to make a play to retake the middle hill/building. Units were careful to set-up out of LOS or beyond Banzai range. The Japanese nicked up the retreating Americans, but reached the southern hill/building with a smaller force so that they could also defend the middle hill/building. The American reinforcements successfully seized the northern building and pressed the middle hill/building, keeping Japanese force there dedicated to its defense. Nonetheless, the Japanese penetrated the southern building but ultimately failed to eliminate the 10-3 stack in CC, and then made them berserk in Japanese Turn 5 by firing into the Melee, and the Japanese conceded. Fun scenario.
