Jungle Rats CBI (id:#66871)

(ASL Action Pack #19 Roads to Rangoon ID: AP206)   [next]   [previous]

Payagi, Burma 1942-03-04 (5 others)

Overview:

After crossing the Salwwen, Japanese forces raced to surround Rangoon and cut off the city's defenders from roads leading north. Over the following days, many small actions were fouhght by patrols around hastily built roadblocks. One such encounter occurred near Payagyi on the road leading from Rangoon to Prome. The 55th Division crossed the Prome road, turning south to claim the prize of being the first to reach Rangoon. As the division completed its crossing, the divisional commander ordered a roadblock to be set up blocking the passage to the north. Two companies of the 55th Division were initially tasked with manning the post. Upon word of reinforcements moving down from the east, one company broke off and streamed southward the honor awaiting at Rangoon. The remaining company was alerted to enemy in the area as a patrol of Stuarts approached the roadblock. These light tanks were "Honeys" of the newly arrived 7th Armoured Brigade, who had swapped their Desert Rats red jerboa for a green jerboa mascot, becoming the "Jungle Rats." The Honeys were driven off, but returned with infantry support.

Defender: Japanese (1st and 3rd Battalions, 112th Infantry Regiment, 55th Infantry Division)  

Errata (source)