Gurkhas and Grants CBI (id:#63852)

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Ningthoukhong, India 1944-04-22 (2 others)

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Overview:

With air superiority and a significant advantage is artillery, the British were able to counter several attempts by the Japanese 15th Army to push up the various valleys leading to the Imphal plain. On the jungle ridges, however, the fighting was desperate, ruthless and, more even. One encounter, between units from the Japanese 33rd Division and the Indian 17th Division, typified this sort of struggle. In the southern portion of the battlefield, the 1/4th Gurkhas formed up with armour support for a counterattack to retake the rubble strewn village of Ningthoukhong. The capture of the village would open a more direct route for supplies for troops fighting for the Silomar Track Ridge and cut Japanese lines of communication in that area. On the 21st, the Japanese White Tiger 33rd Division detached a small force of infantry and guns to cut the road at the village. This was the sector of the Black Cat 17th (Indian) Division which quickly responded, sending A Company, I/4th Gurkhas and supporting Grants to restore use of the road. Avoiding the marshy ground near Logtak Lake, Pettit's squadron roared across the open paddies, screening the advancing infantry. Suddenly the fire of two Japanese anti-tank guns erupted (and ironically one was a captured 2 pounder), puncturing the belly armour of several Lee/Grants as they bounced over the paddy banks. Machine-gun firelanes then pinned down the Gurkhas attempting to deal with the AT guns. Eventually a costly foothold was gained in the small town, but then had to be abandoned when the remaining tanks were ordered to withdraw. The White Tigers and Black Cats would spend six more weeks, and many more lives, before ceasing the bloody struggle for this dot on the map.

Defender: Japanese (214th Regiment, 33rd Division)  

Errata (source)