A history of the Burma Campaign, 1941-45
Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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The Burma campaign is a fascinating, if neglected, part of WWII history. The most amazing thing, of course, was that the British, largely by themselves, actually managed to retake Burma in 1945, after everyone, from Churchill to the officers serving in the theatre, said it could not be done. It was also a campaign in which the British, after their ignominous defeats in Malaya and Burma, managed to recover and beat the Japanese in some of the worst jungle terrain. Many colourful characters adorn this campaign: Slim, Stilwell, Merrill, Wingate. It was also one of the few campaigns in which KMT forces were actually successful on the battlefield!
Although there are many wargames about the Pacific campaign in WWII, there are a lot fewer games about the Burma campaign. (The Malaya campaign has even fewer games - some of which can be found on my previous Geeklist, All about Singapore http://www.boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/9655)
So here's a history of the Burma campaign. (If the narration is a little weird, it's because I've tried to include all the games I can find on the topic.)
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1.
Board Game: Burma
[Average Rating:6.38 Unranked]
Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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The British did not think that the Japanese would invade Burma until it was too late to mount a substantive defence. Burma was basically bounced around various commands between 1940-42. In Nov 1940, Burma was placed under the newly-formed Far East Command under the lacklustre leadership of Air Marshal Brooke-Popham. (Those familiar with the Malaya campaign will know who this guy is.) After the invasion of Malaya in Dec 1941, Burma was transferred back to India Command. There was a brief stint under the short-lived and totally useless ABDACOM in Feb 1942, then Burma was brought back under the command of India Command, just in time for Rangoon to fall to the Japanese in March.
A 1970s-era GDW game on Burma. Units are regiment/brigade-level.
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2.
Board Game: Burma
[Average Rating:7.92 Overall Rank:900]
Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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Burma did not have a Corps HQ, with its troops under the command of Army HQ. This changed when Burma Corps Headquarters was created after the fall of Rangoon, under Lieutenant General William Slim. Of the British commanders in WWII, Slim was arguably the most successful. He marshaled a defeated force and successfully took the fight to the enemy. Unlike Montgomery, who will always have the shadow of Market Garden over his legacy, Slim has no such blemish.
This is the Gamers' OCS game on Burma. Now on pre-order at www.multimanpublishing.com.
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Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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This is an interesting title for a Burma campaign game and captures how the situation Burma turned around for the Allies in Burma. They were defeated by the Japanese in 1942 but managed to launch their own offensive into Burma in 1944 and drive out the Japanese by 1945. Of course, Japanese folly played a role in their defeat. More on that below.
Not easily accessible as this is from a French Spanish wargaming magazine. Units are battalion-level.
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Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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General Joseph Stilwell, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Southeast Asia Command, is a colourful character in the Burma campaign, although he was not in charge of the whole Burma campaign, just the northern portion.
Putting his name on this game was probably an attempt to drum up more sales among US buyers but :ahem: CBI was more than just Stilwell. In fact, there should be a Burma wargame with the name William Slim somewhere in the title but that's not the case...
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Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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Major General Claire Lee Chennault fought heavily with Stilwell over the conduct of the Burma campaign. Chennault argued that strategic bombing of Japan from Chinese airbases was the key to victory, while Stilwell wanted close air support of his troops from Chennault. But in the early war years, the American Volunteer Group aka the Flying Tigers, were played up as brave heroes fighting the Japanese amidst the Japanese onslaught.
This game covers the Flying Tigers' exploits during the initial Japanese invasion. The game features a land map where the land campaign is played out with simple rules, and a tactical air map for air combat. Air units represent groups of 6 to 8 aircraft, while ground units are mostly brigades and regiments.
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Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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How effective the Flying Tigers really were is spotty given their uneven flying experience. But I think comments that the P-40 is no match for the Zero is overplayed. The P-40 was of tougher construction, with armour and self-sealing fuel tanks and heavier armament than the Zero. In a skilled pilot's hands, it would have given the Zero fits.
Official claims for the AVG was 297 enemy aircraft destroyed. Later research estimate the actual figure was less than half of the official figure.
This is an old game by Lou Zocchi!
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Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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In 1942, the British launch their first offensive into Burma since their defeat. The Indian 14th Division advance into Arakan. They were halted by a stout Japanese defence. A Japanese counterattack outflanked the 14th Division and they were forced to retreat.
Game by Avalanche Press. Units are battalion/company-level.
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Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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Of more strategic consequence was the offensive by the 77th Indian Infantry Brigade, now known in history by their other name, the Chindits, led by the unorthodox Major General Orde Wingate. In reality, the attacks by the Chindits were not all that successful and the effort to mount those attacks placed a great strain on the Chindit force. However, the Japanese Imperial army HQ was convinced that an offensive was more palatable given that to defend against the Allied threat, they would need to reinforce Burma with as many divisions as they would need to mount the offensive anyway. So the Japanese decide to cross the border to India and attack Imphal, a move they would come to regret.
This game is found in Games Journal magazine from Japan. It covers the 1944-45 period of the campaign.
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Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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The Battle of Imphal and Kohima was a hard-fought victory for the Allies. The Japanese attacked in March 1944. Allied troops were cut off at Imphal and Kohima and had to rely on air support. Too bad for the Japanese that the Allied air situation in 1944 was completely different to that in 1942. Air supply kept the garrisons at Imphal and Kohima going while the Japanese logistic situation steadily deteriorated. By July, the Japanese, after suffering 55,000 casualties and making no headway, had retreated back across the border. Allied casualties - 17,500.
This game covers the small action at Sangshak, where the 50th Indian Parachute Brigade, including elephants, was attacked by elements of the Japanese 31st Division. Units are company-level.
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Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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The British launched a series of offensive operations back into Burma during late 1944 and the first half of 1945 on all fronts. While the American and KMT units advanced from Myitkyina, which they took after a hard fight in 1944, 14th Army under Slim made the main thrust into central Burma. A brilliant feint by Slim convinced the Japanese the main effort would be on Mandalay. Instead, the 17th Indian Division crossed the Irawaddy and captured the main railroad town of Meiktila. Supplied by solely by air once more, the division held out against repeated Japanese counterattacks. With Meiktila firmly in Allied hands, the Japanese lines became unhinged. In April 1945, the Japanese had begun evacuating from Rangoon. As the British prepared to assault Rangoon, a reconnaissance flight over Rangoon spotted a sign on a roof "JAPS GONE". On 2 May 1945, Allied troops entered Rangoon. Mopping operations followed on the Japanese troops still in Burma.
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Adam Starkweather
United States
New York City
New York
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In playtest now - coming to the IGS line for MMP. Covers the Burma theater in detail.
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Adam Starkweather
United States
New York City
New York
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Not a bad game but a little odd. Rare and hard to find (and not really worth finding unless you are a collector).
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Paul Aceto
United States
Fairfax
Virginia
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Jadgpanther issue game #11. From the BGG entry by Alan Sharif:
Despite being published back in 1975, March on India 1944 remains a good game whose rules are remarkably playable. Not suitable for beginners, but eminently playable solo, its subject has been sadly overlooked by game designers ever since. In my opinion, on the strength of this previous worthy offering, the subject deserves a more up to date treatment to test the mettle of the current crop of designers. Until then, seek out a copy of this one. You won't be disappointed
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Paul Aceto
United States
Fairfax
Virginia
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Covers the entire CBI theater. Was in Command magazine #26.
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Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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From Command Magazine Japan. The game covers the operational land battle in Burma from January to May 1942.
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Elijah Lau
Singapore
Singapore
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Paul Rohrbaugh covers the Burma campaign from Imphal-Kohima to the fall of Rangoon in this ATO game. Units are regiment/brigade-scale.
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