First Battleday March 27, 2004
“Paradise Island” Allies vs. Axis
Allies: Eric-Pershing 40 ,Super Pershing
Axis: Tiger II (Chi-Ro), Sherman (Ha-Go), Jumbo (Chi-Ro)
The first Pershings were off-loaded on what the men affectionately called “Paradise Island”. It was really no paradise at all, in fact it was miserable, deathly miserable. Perhaps the small Pacific Island name was translated from what the locals called it, or more likely, named for the euphoric feeling soldiers felt before becoming deathly ill from the tropical diseases. Whatever the names’ origin, the men were ecstatic to try out the new ordnance 90mm weapon.
The machines were to be transported to the west side of the island to meet with a supply convoy heading for the new outpost established two months ago. There had not been much activity on the island but the enemy was known to be in hiding and an ambush along the road was not uncommon. There was no way to sneak these new monsters to the west side, as they were louder and larger than Shermans, rolling over dense jungle brush and small trees to either side of the narrow road.
Pershing 40 and Super Pershing 2 were the first to negotiate the narrow rain rutted road pushing through the dense jungle brush. Infantry followed in APC’s and Willys keeping mounted MG’s trained on the dense jungle foliage to either side. As luck would have it, a friendly local from the rice fields, ran toward the convoy shouting and waving his arms. Through an interpreter, the local said the road ahead was blocked and Japanese tanks and infantry were in the area “suppressing resistance”. The interpreter recognized the vehicle descriptions as a few type 89 Chi-Ro medium and a several type 95 Ha-Go light tanks. All things being equal, the Japanese tanks would not be difficult to deal with being generally inferior to Shermans, but the dense jungle made for good hiding and the vicinity of friendly locals made dispatching enemy armor difficult except at close range. Furthermore the maneuverability of the Pershings would be at a severe disadvantage if the convoy became ambushed.
It was decided to head toward the rice fields and engage the enemy at the least populated area of the friendly village. Taking cover amongst the brush and trees, Pershing 40 and Super Pershing 2 camouflaged the turrets with palm branches poking the 90mm out the jungle brush awaiting the enemy from across the fields. Suddenly a rumble could be heard across the rice fields within the jungle beyond. Small trees fell as the enemy snaked their way through the jungle brush. Both Pershings fired at the movement in the jungle. A plume of smoke and later a fire rose up above the trees, one of the enemy AFV’s must have been hit. The pattern of movement diverged from the alerting fire.
The Pershings reloaded as three Ha-Go’s emerged from the brush returning fire from 500 meters. One round landed short, another round bounced harmlessly off the front plate of Super Pershing 2 and one impacted just to the right of Pershing 40, spraying rice plants and mud all over the vehicle. Pershing 40 fired, blowing off the Ha-Go’s turret like a pop-top, sending it splashing down in the rice field 25 meters away. Super Pershing 2 fired at another Ha-Go, leaving a small crater and mangled metal where it once stood. The third Ha-Go retreated into the jungle but not before Super Pershing 2 trained on its approximate location and fired felling many trees in the explosion and no doubt trapping the tank with the downed foliage, if not disabling it completely. Japanese forces halted their advance and took up positions in the jungle.
The Pershings raced to cross the narrow land bridge between rice patties before the Japanese mortars could be set up. The infantry dug in for the expected mortar fire. 50 caliber MG’s raging, Pershing 40 and Super Pershing 2 cut down the front line of jungle brush in an attempt to stall for enough time to get across to the cover of jungle brush before enemy mortars could be positioned. The Japanese returned fire with small caliber MG’s and a few hand grenades causing a fireworks display of sparking ricocheting bullets and shrapnel off the Pershing armor. It sounded like pebbles bouncing off an oil drum from inside the Pershings. Two more Ha-Go’s appeared at the jungle edge firing at Super Pershing 2, the first crossing the land bridge. The enemy’s rounds bounced harmlessly off the mantlet and front armor and Super Pershing 2 returned fire penetrating the front armor of the Ha-Go and exiting the rear before exploding. Pershing 40 could not get a clear shot from behind Super Pershing 2 and continued to follow on the narrow land bridge to the clearing.
Once across the land bridge Pershing 40 split from Super Pershing 2 and entered the dense jungle engaging Japanese armor at close range. The second Ha-Go attempted to ram Super Pershing 2 before it entered the jungle. Upon impact the Ha-Go became partially crushed and was pushed 15 meters into a rice patty. Super Pershing 2 crawled over the crushed Ha-Go but broke its track and a roadwheel, throwing the right track off in doing so. Before the driver realized the damage, Super Pershing 2 spun around with the good track plunging the vehicle into the rice patty becoming stuck.
Two type 89 Chi-Ro’s emerged to engage the immobile Super Pershing 2 and a heavy firefight ensued with the Chi-Ro’s attempting to find a vulnerable spot while Super Pershing 2 attempted to lay a bead on the assailants as they encircled the tank. The Chi-Ro’s pelted the turret gradually fracturing the turret armor, one round by chance penetrated the rear turret destroying the radio gear and starting a small fire. Super Pershing 2 managed one hit to the running gear of one of the Chi-Ro’s disabling it completely but the Chi-Ro continued to fire its small caliber gun. The second Chi-Ro maneuvered to the rear and placed three rounds into the engine deck before a fire erupted. Super Pershing 2 fired one last shot into the turret of the disabled Chi-Ro, KO’ing it before abandoning the their own burning vehicle.
Pershing 40 engaged a Chi-Ro one-on-one in the jungle brush. Both exchanged fire attempting to circle each other. With each pass the tanks would exchange fire hoping to score a hit through the dense brush, visibility was poor and occasionally a glimmer of the enemy turret could be seen and then it was gone. The Pershing tank commander listened for the crackling brush and trees to pinpoint the Chi-Ro before they were found. As Pershing 40 passed for the third time, a round was loosed hitting squarely on the Chi-Ro’s side disabling the running gear and penetrating the side armor. The Chi-Ro was left for dead as Pershing 40 maneuvered to aid disabled Super Pershing 2.
Pershing 40 and the remaining Chi-Ro engaged in a renewed firefight. The Chi-Ro either had some mechanical breakage or sustained minor damage as its mobility was noticeably diminished. Pershing 40 taking advantage of this did not let the vehicle escape as small caliber fire bounced off the mantlet. Pershing 40 passed along side within 100 meters and fired two rounds, one of which penetrated the turret blowing a hole out the other side and a second round ripping an opening between the turret and the hull.
The locals had trapped the last four Ha-Go’s in the jungle with their tank traps while the Americans fought near the rice fields. With the Japanese armor eliminated, the infantry secured the area, once again receiving the praises of the locals. All is well in paradise, for now.
