The Battle of Kohima

The wargaming  battle of Kohima was held in December 23 2014.  It’s important to mention that our wargame is only inspired from the historical event.   In no way, we can consider it as historically accurate.  In fact, that’s a mix of the battle of Kohima and Imphal.

Summary of the real battle of Kohima

Here a short reports of the BBC on the real Battle of Kohima.  An interesting three minutes which will put you in context.

 

You can read a good summary of the two battles in Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Imphal

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kohima

 

« The Battle of Kohima, Nagaland, was the turning point of the Japanese U Go offensive into India in 1944 in the Second World War.

The battle was fought in three stages from 4 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima in north-east India. It is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East".

From 3 to 16 April, the Japanese attempted to capture Kohima ridge, a feature which dominated the road by which the besieged British and Indian troops of IV Corps at Imphal were supplied. By mid-April, the small British force at Kohima was relieved. 

From 18 April to 13 May, British and Indian reinforcements counter-attacked to drive the Japanese from the positions they had captured. The Japanese abandoned the ridge at this point but continued to block the Kohima–Imphal road. 

From 16 May to 22 June, the British and Indian troops pursued the retreating Japanese and reopened the road. The battle ended on 22 June when British and Indian troops from Kohima and Imphal met at Milestone 109, ending the siege of Imphal. 

In 2013, the British National Army Museum voted the Battle of Imphal and Kohima 'Britain's Greatest Battle'. »

 

The wargame of Kohima in pictures

The initiale set up of the british side included  a « redoute » on the top of the ridge and positions around the road.

 

A view of the village of Kohima

 


The road to Kohima from the west



THe "redoute" from the east




The headquarter of british troops






A british artillery position



British position made of sand bags

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The japanese attack was concentrated along the road and in the forest near by.  Both japanese troops and National Indian National army  troops  tried to overun the british positions. 

Japanese soldiers attacking along the wood

Indian national army taking a british post

Heavy fighting around the headquarter




Heavy fighting around the headquarter (con't)

Banzai!  Let's go forward!
 







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They were able to take control of the road but furious british counter-attacks finally broke the japanese offensive.  The british troops were a mix of Indian British army (Armies in plastic, Gurghas (Airfix), Aussies ( VVVV) and regular british troops (armies in plastic, Armies of the world)

Anzac troops fighting back



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

British new troops going toward Kohima



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eventhough both sides have artillery and tanks, they didn’t play a big role in the battle.   The tanks were to few to do any difference and artillery was to weak particularly on the japanese side.  The 75 mm guns used  were not powerful enough to cover the troops nor to eliminate the british 25 pounders.   The battle of Kohima was essentially a fight between infantries.