Burma's, 1945

Ian wants to do a battle with his Japanese ancestors. He's set up a defensive position thinking our collection for the Japanese is faster than it is. However his lines may contract and we're still not sure if I will be the attack or defender, so this will be a work for the new year
And this battle is going to get played at some point

Australian Commando Raid on Japanese camp, New Guinea, 1942

Ian suggested we also play a Japanese game. So I shall hit him with an Australian Commando raid. Details to follow

New Guinea campaign

I have just bought the Bolt Action Campaign New Guinea book.

As my son is half Japanese, he is interested in fighting the campaign as the Japanese.
As with all of my gamming, I will be doing Commonwealth forces

14th Army defends base camp against Imperial Japanese Army attacks

Point Defense Scenario Four 14th Army attacks Imperial Japanese Army

objective is to hold the river crossing

Point defense: Japan vs China 1941

Chinese hard cover bunkers holding infantry and acting as cover for a mortar team

part of the road with a telephone line. If this line is cut, the Chinese can't call in fire support

Old Chinese fort guards the river crossing. Trenches have been added.

The Japanese begin to advance across the bridge. However, the bridge is full of small obstacles which slows down the advance.

the Japanese begin to advance over the old crossing. 

the hidden Chinese defenders awaiting for the Japanese to show themselves

Chinese armor and artillery begin to fire on the bridge knocking out one tank and creating chaos on the bridge. The infantry become pinned on the bridge suffering casualties until another tank can pull the wreck off clearing the way for further advance

infantry are still trying to cross with pioneers clearing the obstacles

The Chinese inflicted severe casualties on the Japanese. Chinese snipers picked off troops in the open, grenades blasted at them and a squad was whipped out by a single guy with a strapped satchel charge

It allowed the Chinese to form back up further back but the crossing fell. However with their losses, the Japanese needed to hold up and reequip

Hong Kong 1941: Japanese attack West Brigade, Canadian

This scenario was based on the Point Defense scenario from the main Bolt Action rule book.
Canadian units
Winnipeg Grenadiers: 12 figures
Royal Rifles of Canada: 12 figures
RA: 2x18pdr guns
1 bunker
1 Mortar, 2 Vickers MG,  Middlesex Regiment.

Imperial Japanese Army:

2 SP guns
2 75mm guns
3 tanks
1 Naval Landing Brigade
1 Imperial Japanese Army Brigade

Another Hill Assault: Australian vs Japan Kodoka 1943

Despite the Australian Division taking out the Japanese artillery, they were unable to hold onto the front line as constant Japanese counter attacks kept retaking the position. The Australian tank was also unable to take out the Japanese tank.
The positions were very hard to crack.

Hill Assault: Imperial Japanese Army attacks Australian Imperial Force, New Guniea, 1943

This was a scenario based off of one from the Duel in the Sun book. It pitted a Japanese platoon against an Australian one. The Australians were holding a hill in New Guniea

Pictures on my phone which I shall update shortly.

Imperial Japanese Army cyclists 1941-45

I bought this set while still in Japan. I've painted them with Tamiya IJA Green.

Each stand has four cyclists. One LMG and Three Rifles.

They are now ready to take on the British or Canadians in Hong Kong or Singapore.

Imperial Japanese Forces 1941-45

I've collected a large amount of Japanese troops since about 1978 when I began collecting figures as a child.

I was always fascinated by Japanese culture which is probobly why I ended up teaching there from 1999-2015. I also married a lovely woman and raised a family there. So turning to my collection, I have figures from Airfix, ESCI, Revell and some from Fujimi.

My focus of gaming this era is on the Hong Kong, Singapore, Burma and Borneo campaigns as I believe these have been forgotten by history, with the Americans having overshadowed the history.

I also have several Fujimi tanks which I need to repair and paint before I can add.

Burma July, 1945

A British and American Airborne force has dropped into a position to demolish a Japanese Divisional HQ.

With Australian Armor support, they begin to hit Japanese.

In the first round, the Japanese poured a withering amount of fire onto the Allies. They took out a Frog tank, the first one fielded by me in a game,
The Australians move their tanks out of the line of fire. The American Airborne hit a Japanese battalion hard.

The British Airborne hit back hard, destroying a barracks, and taking a trench line. They also take out a Japanese 75mm gun position. The RA gun failed to fire on this first turn.

The Royal Marines will soon add their own firepower.

Pictures to follow.

On the Second turn, the Japanese ripped into the Australian armor, destroying everyone of their tanks. Its amazing what a Japanese soldier can do with a grenade.

WOW MY COLLECTION IS HUGE!!!!!!!!!!

I unpacked most of my kit today into my new house, and by golly, the amount is HUGE! I forgot just how big it is. It will take me some time to base them, paint those that need it, fix any which need some touch ups, but, I have the rest of my life, so no worries. Pictures to follow.

Found my tank and artillery books

I've found two of my source books on tanks and artillery. When I was previously in Canada in 2003, I had been able to list how many of each type of weapon I had in 1/72. Now that my collection has increased, I will have to update it. But housing comes first.

Kokoka Trail Maximum Attrition 1942

 The Japanese South Sea Force advance across the dense jungle of New Guinea. Since the area was tropical rain forest, we just left the table as is.

 The Australian force was made up of the Australian 39th Battalion 

Chiba, 1946

 Chiba-ken, the Boso-hanto, 1946. An allied invasion of the Japanese home islands has begun. The Canadian 6th Division, landing on Kujikura beach on the east coast of Japan, advance inland and hit a mountain range. This is all that stands between them, and Tokyo.

 Most of the Canadian units, are made up of battalions which were to be used a reinforcements for Europe, but since May, 1945, they were retrained for use in the invasion of Japan. This force has a Universal Carrier, and a Vickers machine-gun armed jeep.

 There is also a Churchill tank attached as a main gun ank. 

 The infantry approach the Japanese hill.

 Canadian troops in reserve.

 A video of the action, explaining the battle.

Fall of Nanking (Flowers of War) - Brief Look

 A different view of WW2 from the Chinese perspective!

Osprey Publishing - The Japanese Army 1931–45 (2)

Osprey Publishing - The Japanese Army 1931–45 (2)



I have a particular interest in the Imperial Japanese army, as I live in Japan at the moment, and I want my children to have a more balanced view of what the IJA did in Asia. What with the current government trying to downplay what the army did in Asia, I think my family needs to see a different perspective.



The sad fact is the inclusion of women being trained to use bamboo spears and school boys armed only with Molotov Cocktails to take on Allied forces in the potential invasion of Japan which could have occurred from 1945-46.

Hold the line: Malaya 1942

Ian takes on my Japanese in the jungles of Malaya in January, 1942

My Imperial Japanese Army

My infantry come from Airfix, Matchbox, Esci
The Revell box
Since these figures are taller than most, they portray troops from Sendai, Miyagi prefecture.

Fujimi set
my artillery for these troops.
I shall be adding more information to this posting as my new resource materials arrive.