Hlegu Burma

Hlegu Burma

Hlegu-Burma

The engagement at Hlegu in March 1942 was a minor yet notable skirmish during the British retreat from Rangoon amid the Japanese invasion of Burma in World War II.

As part of the broader Battle of Pegu, British forces, including the 7th Queen’s Own Hussars equipped with Stuart “Honey” light tanks, advanced toward Hlegu, only to find it occupied by Japanese troops who had established a roadblock. The Japanese defenders employed Molotov cocktails, successfully disabling one British tank. Despite this resistance, the British forces ultimately overcame the roadblock, forcing the Japanese to retreat under heavy fire. 

This encounter was part of a strategic effort by the British to delay the Japanese advance and facilitate the evacuation of Rangoon. Although the city fell shortly thereafter, the actions at Hlegu exemplify the determined resistance offered by British and Commonwealth forces during the challenging Burma campaign.

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6 + 2 Combat Cards

Axis – 4 + 2 Combat Cards

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Jungle

Context:

Historical

Location:

Burma

Year:

1942

Theater:

Pacific

Campaign:

Codename:

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s, plus a Sudden Death Exit Hex for the Allies.

Battlefield:

A jungle scenario with a road running vertically through the map, with a roadblock in the center.

Troops:

Allies – 8 Infantry, 3 Armor

Axis – 9 Infantry

Special Rules:

Roadblock Rules in “Hlegu, Burma”

According to the Terrain Pack Rulebook, roadblocks have the following effects:1j1ju

  • Movement: Only Infantry units may enter a hex containing a roadblock. Upon entering, the Infantry unit must stop and cannot move further that turn.

  • Combat:

    • A unit positioned on a roadblock hex is protected on all sides.

    • When attacked by Infantry or Armor, the attacking unit rolls one fewer Battle die.

    • Artillery attacks are unaffected; they roll their normal number of Battle dice.

    • A unit on a roadblock hex may ignore the first flag rolled against it.

  • Line of Sight: Roadblocks do not obstruct line of sight

Allied Strategy:

1. The Allies have a Sudden Death Exit Hex Objective Medal. If a unit begins the turn on the hex and exits, a victory is declared for the Allies. 

2.  You have Armor units, and the enemy has none.  Use them to good effect, but don’t get too close or they will hit you with Molotov cocktails.

Axis Strategy

1. At all costs, defend the Exit Hex.

2.  The roadblock is your best chance to surround and destroy the enemy.  As they try to cross it, bring all your Infantry to bear against them.

Battle Reports

0
BR - Hlegu Burma

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Burma Troops

Courtesy of Imperial War Museum

Payagyi Burma

Payagyi Burma

Payagyi-Burma

The Battle of Payagyi occurred in early March 1942 during the Burma Campaign of World War II. British forces, specifically ‘B’ Squadron of the 7th Queen’s Own Hussars, engaged Japanese troops near the village of Payagyi, north of Pegu. The British operated American-made M3 Stuart light tanks, while the Japanese fielded Type 95 Ha-Go light tanks.

Upon arrival, the British encountered Japanese forces already present in the village. Despite poor visibility and challenging radio communications, the British launched an attack. In the ensuing combat, they destroyed two Type 95 tanks, disabled two more, and captured four Japanese anti-tank guns. However, the British also suffered losses, including the disabling of a Stuart tank by enemy fire.

The Battle of Payagyi exemplifies the intense and fluid nature of the early stages of the Burma Campaign, highlighting the challenges faced by Allied forces in the face of the Japanese advance.

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6 + 2 Combat Cards

Axis – 4  + 2 Combat Cards

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Jungle

Context:

Historical

Location:

Burma

Year:

1942

Theater:

Pacific

Campaign:

Burma Campaign

Codename:

Summary:

Objectives:

6 VP’s, plus the building hex as a  Temporary Medal objective for the Allied forces, and the bridge hex is a Last to Occupy Temporary Medal Objective for both sides.

Battlefield:

A jungle map with jungle, rice paddies, hills, and a river cutting across the entire map, and intersecting roads which come together at the bridge hex.

Troops:

Allies – 8 Infantry, 4 Armor

Axis – 9 Infantry, 3 Armore

 

Allied Strategy:

1.  The key objective for the Allies is to capture the bridge hex, and then as a bonus the building hex. 

2.  Your Armor is back on the left flank. You will need to get it into action as soon as you can. This will be hampered by the river,so while some may breach the river, some other Armor units will need to head toward the road in the center to support the approach and capture of the bridge hex, and its accompanying Medal.

Axis Strategy

1.  The Axis begin the scenario with control of the building hex and its Last to Occupy Temporary Objective Medal.  Maintain this territory, and push to the Bridge Hex Medal Objective when you are ready. But do not do so prematurely, or your forces will be destroyed by the British counter-attack.

2.  Your Armor is stuck in the corner on the right flank. You will need to get them and the nearby Infantry up into the action right away.

Battle Reports

0
BR - Payagyi Burma

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Indian-Troops-17th-Division-Payagyi-1945

Courtesy of National Army Museum

Japanese Counterattack

Japanese Counterattack

The “Japanese Counter-Attack” phase refers to the counteroffensives launched by Japanese forces in the Pacific Theater.  One notable example occurred during the Battle of Guadalcanal, from August 1942 to February 1943. After U.S. Marines secured a critical airfield on Guadalcanal, known as Henderson Field, the Japanese launched multiple counterattacks to reclaim it. These counteroffensives, involving intense jungle fighting and night assaults, aimed to dislodge the U.S. forces from their foothold. The Japanese committed significant naval and infantry resources, but despite their efforts, they struggled to overcome the U.S. defenses and secure sustained supply lines.

The Japs threw in ships, men, and everything they could float or march—but it didn’t matter. Our defenses held like a steel wall, and without solid supply lines, their fight was doomed from the start. They came in hard, but we broke them harder.

~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 5

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Jungle

Location:

Guam

Year:

1944

Theater:

Pacific Theater

Campaign

Codename

Summary

The Japanese Counterattack takes place on the same battlefield as the Guam Landings, but the game mechanics are pretty much reversed.

Objectives:
Six VP’s, plus each side has a permanent Objective Medal hex which they can seek.

Battlefield:
Jungle with a V-shaped river cutting right through the map.

Troops:
Marines – 9 Infantry, 2 Armor, 2 Artillery.
Japanese – 12 Infantry.

Allied Strategy:

1.  With three artillery, and one armor, the Marines have more firepower than the Japanese. But the artillery is limited for much of the game by night visibility rules, which slowly improve throughout the game.  So take your time to get your troops arranged, and your card management under control, to allow more daylight to help your attack and defense.

2. Your tank is stuck back in the left corner of the fight, so take advantage of the early turns to get it into play.

3.  Remember that the Japanese practice the Seishin Kyoiku Doctrine. If they have all four units and are fighting at close combat, they role four! dice, not three.  So during the game, one of the objectives the Marines need to practice is to take off at least one figure per hex. This will actually count as two in terms of reducing the Japanese firepower for subsequent attacks. 

Axis Strategy:

1.  Big picture strategy for the Japanese forces is to quickly overwhelm a flank with infantry forces who are still fully intact so that you can use the Seishin Kyoiku Doctrine against the Marines.  Because of the four! Allied artillery, the center section is kind of a kill box.  So the best hope is to move down one of flanks as the cards dictate.

2.  Night-time conditions are to your advantage because the Allies have so much firepower.  Therefore your best attacks will be immediately, before the dice rolls enough stars to bring out the full ranged artillery attacks.

Battle Reports (percentage of Allied victories):

66%

(These are the historical records. For new stats, record your games in the poll to the right.)

18
BR - Japanese-Counter

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link: