tom - Operation E - Malaya campaign: Kota Bahru

[tom]

Hi.

My first project:

At midnight of December 7th/8th, 1941 a japanese task force reaches the starting zones for Operation E, the assault on allied forces in Malaya. The troops landed on three locations along the western coast of the Southern China See - Singora and Pattani in Siam (today Thailand) and Kota Bahru in the north-east Corner of Malaya (today Malaysia). Main target of these innitial operations was to secure several airfields to support the advance in Malaya. The Singora and Pattani landings only meet low resistance from siamese Police and Army units. But the landing zone at Kota Bahru was defended by parts of the 8th Brigade of 9th Indian Infantry Division and attached artillery batteries who built up a strong defence line since December 1st. The japanese naval units escorting the assault force started the Pacific War with a heavy shore bombardment- some 50 minutes before Pearl Habour and at 0:45 the first japanese assault wave started its attack....


Landing craft are unloaded from their transport vessel and head towards starting zone

Landing craft are unloaded covered by support units

1.jpg (141.51 KiB) 15936 mal betrachtet

Escorts starting to shell enemy beach defences

Shore bombardment

2.jpg (292.04 KiB) 15936 mal betrachtet

The first wave reaches the beach

first assault wave reaches land

3.jpg (266.36 KiB) 15936 mal betrachtet

Based on http://www.dutcheastindies.webs.com/kota_bharu.html and Tsuji Masanobu: "Japan's Greatest Victory, Britain's Worst Defeat",Da Capo Press, ISBN 1-873376-75-8.


At the moment I test the firepower and behaviour of different units to find a balance.


Yours

tom

[combo]

My first project

Serious approach to map and a great drawing! Follow the progress of the mission.

[tom]

Hi.

The landing in Kota Bahru is one of the forgotten battles but an interesting one.

It was the first time japanese units attacked allied troops and beated them. The british and US High Command had to learn that the japanese armed forces were far better than expected even in their badest dreams. The allies expected of a bad organised and armed enemy and were overconfident up to a racistic level to beat them easily if they would attack . But the japanese were well trained, well equiped for jungle operations (following the contemporary standards) and very experienced due to their participation in the operations during the first half of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War.

In addition the operation was of special interest for the japanese army. They prefered amphibious landings on undefended beaches to minimise losses in the early stages of an operation. So experiences with amphibious assaults on defended beaches were quite rare. Kota Bahru, the Bataan campaign and Wake (a navy operation) teached them that the costs can easily reach devastating hights. This finally lead to the decision to avoid assaults on defended beaches during the following operations wherever possible.

A pic of the progress of the mapmaking

Kota Bahru.jpg (205.97 KiB) 15856 mal betrachtet

Yours

tom

[nevux]

nice map

[combo]

A pic of the progress of the mapmaking

Good job!
I would like a larger image.

[Fäby]

A pic of the progress of the mapmaking

Looks really great.

[tom]

Hi.

Had not much spare time during the last 2 weeks but the work continued nevertheless:

map design advance.jpg (842.31 KiB) 15740 mal betrachtet

Some details:

Allied forward field hospital:

field hospital

1.bmp (2.53 MiB) 15740 mal betrachtet

Allied headquaters:

battalion headquaters

2.bmp (2.53 MiB) 15740 mal betrachtet

allied position in the jungle:

defensive line

3.bmp (2.53 MiB) 15740 mal betrachtet

Yours

tom

[tom]

Hi.

The map is finished:

2.jpg (875.65 KiB) 15678 mal betrachtet

Is it possible to get an update with the planned new units?

Yours

tom!

[GenOb. v. d. Bloch]

Looks really nice, Tom,
great Job, o boy.
so, what i like to tell now...
hm... oh yes, a nice funny fubar day in the hell on earth.
stand up and fight!

ciao
v.d. Bloch

[combo]

The map is finished:

Great job!

Is it possible to get an update with the planned new units?

The patch is not yet ready. Have to wait several weeks. I'll let you know as it is ready.

[tom]

Hi.

No problem. I´ve started scripting the mission.

At the moment Map info says
52508 objects/ max 50000
855 houses / max 800
1 bridge / max 32
981 enemy units / 994 neutral units (will become enemy units by script)

So far the map works fine, no houses or objects disappear. The enemy´s rear positions are still not occupied by troops. These will be send on map via script as soon as the number of enemy units on map is down to a non-problematic number.

Yours

tom!

[combo]

No problem. I´ve started scripting the mission.

At the moment Map info says
52508 objects/ max 50000
855 houses / max 800
1 bridge / max 32
981 enemy units / 994 neutral units (will become enemy units by script)

So far the map works fine, no houses or objects disappear. The enemy´s rear positions are still not occupied by troops. These will be send on map via script as soon as the number of enemy units on map is down to a non-problematic number.

Excellent!

[Ente]

Hallo,

@ Tom:

Arbeitest du noch an der Mission?

Gruß Ente

[combo]

Arbeitest du noch an der Mission?

Unfortunately, tom a very long time not go to the forum.

[combo]

Does anyone know how to contact with tom? Where is he? What about him?