Shelling the Sultan's Palace
As the Japanese forces in January 1941 overran Malaya, the Commonwealth forces steadily retreated until they finally prepared for a last stand in Singapore. The causeway linking Singapore to Johore was blown up, and both sides settled down to regroup and prepare for the final battle.
At this point, General Yamashita chose to locate his headquarters in the palace of the Sultan of Johore, a grand building with a tall tower overlooking Singapore. It was an ideal vantage point for observation. Yamashita's subordinates cautioned him that the tower was exposed and an obvious target for British artillery, but Yamashita suspected that the British would not fire on it, as the Sultan of Johore was an old friend of the British.
Yamashita's instincts proved correct; Australia soldiers that spotted enemy movement in the tower requested permission to fire on it, but were denied time and again. Ultimately, by the war's end, no shots had been fired at it.
In the Impregnable Fortress, this card postulates an alternate history scenario, where Percival gives permission for Commonwealth troops to open fire on the tower, denying the Japanese an important recon position.
References:
Sinister Twilight, Noel Barber, 1968
The War Against Japan Vol.1, Maj-General S Woodburn Kirby, 1957
On the Psychology of Military Incompetence, Norman Dixon, 1976
History of the Second World War, B.H. Liddell Hart, 1971
At this point, General Yamashita chose to locate his headquarters in the palace of the Sultan of Johore, a grand building with a tall tower overlooking Singapore. It was an ideal vantage point for observation. Yamashita's subordinates cautioned him that the tower was exposed and an obvious target for British artillery, but Yamashita suspected that the British would not fire on it, as the Sultan of Johore was an old friend of the British.
Yamashita's instincts proved correct; Australia soldiers that spotted enemy movement in the tower requested permission to fire on it, but were denied time and again. Ultimately, by the war's end, no shots had been fired at it.
In the Impregnable Fortress, this card postulates an alternate history scenario, where Percival gives permission for Commonwealth troops to open fire on the tower, denying the Japanese an important recon position.
References:
Sinister Twilight, Noel Barber, 1968
The War Against Japan Vol.1, Maj-General S Woodburn Kirby, 1957
On the Psychology of Military Incompetence, Norman Dixon, 1976
History of the Second World War, B.H. Liddell Hart, 1971
Card: Commonwealth
Supply cost: 3
Game effect: Play this card when the Japanese player declares a recon action using a Recon Trooper (strength 4). The Recon Trooper is eliminated immediately, without any recon action being performed.
Supply cost: 3
Game effect: Play this card when the Japanese player declares a recon action using a Recon Trooper (strength 4). The Recon Trooper is eliminated immediately, without any recon action being performed.