This is my AAR from over a year ago.

In my game, it starts out pretty interesting as both sides have same objectives and both sides have some mobility if they choose to use it. The Japanese did try to send a small blocking force south, to town hex number 1007 but the Americans beat them to activation. Sides get automatic reinforcements in the early try turns so the map turns into complex puzzle. The terrain modifications I made on this scenario makes the game very playable, as most of the jungle hexes are now light jungle, making vehicle movement easier and spotting/LOS better with only the elevation of 60 & 80 on board 35 as heavy jungle. Some other modifications in the scenario rules smooth things out as well. As I want this to be playable. Something in the Pacific with armor and a nice mix of units!

By turn six it was turning into a bloodbath as the Americans pressed their attack harder on the first day than maybe historical. The Japanese Shinhoto’s & Ho-Ni 1’s, if dug-in to get those defense modifiers, evened things out a bit. The American pressed their armor too far ahead of their infantry, as they didn’t respect the Japanese ability to stop them. It was their demise!

In the South, the American attacking force pretty much got blunted but they did draw enough energy from the Japanese main force and even their reinforcement group that the American Northern force made some progress in the hills above San Manuel. But there was no way to take San Manuel it’s self. The Americans were too sent.

In the end, the out come was a Minor Japanese Victory. Pretty Historical for day one of this battle and it setup of day two, which helped wear the Japanese down.

In my game:

The Japanese’s received 30 points for controlling all the San Manuel hexes, 5 points for controlling on entrenchment and 55 points for destroying enemy steps. For a total of 90 points!

The American’s received 5 points for controlling town hex 1007 on board 34, 20 points for controlling all the 80 elevations hexes above San Manuel, 5 points for controlling one entrenchment and 52 points for destroying enemy steps. For a total of 82 points!

Japanese win by 8 points, a minor victory.

On a side note, both sides lost two leader counters each. It could have been higher, but the dice rolls help some escape.

The axis set up in a perimeter around the big hill and in San Manuel. Their mortars and the 105s were in hexes 1910 and 1809 to provide support anywhere in the perimeter. Cleverly the Axis provided a 10-1-1 Col. giving the Axis artillery every chance to fire as much as possible.

The Axis spot the Allies 5 points right off the bat by not attempting to defend the village on bd. 34 in hex 1007. To do so would wreck the perimeter. Also if the Axis defend too far south they will not be in a position to support the northern side when the time comes.

At hex 1701 the Allies leap unto the board on their trucks and half tracks and unload in and around bd 35 hex 0209. The transport then headed back to pick up more advancing platoons. The artillery now was active for both sides. On their first reinforcement roll the Axis are successful and their armor instantly dash down the road to bd. 35 hex 0412. This gave the Allied Shermans pause.

Then on turn three the Allied reinforcements arrive on the first roll! Unbelievable. That changes things again. Not rushing south early to help the opposite side of the perimeter now looks pretty smart for the Axis. Now the slow grind begins. First San Manuel fell after a bitter fight. The Axis assault bonus made this a tough nut to crack. But accurate fire from the M7s and a special Allied assault force made up of an Engineer, Flamethrower, and an Infantry platoon, lead by two good Lt.s, with a assault factor of 24, proved to be the answer to Axis tenacity. The Axis entrenchment at 0605 followed in short order. At each occasion the M7 Priests either wiped out the defenders or softened them up for a powerful assault. Remember, even a leaderless, Japanese infantry piece that is reduced and demoralized will defend on the 5 column on the assault table giving it a 50/50 chance of getting a result. With this in mind the Allies should put as much firepower unto a assault target as possible. The Priests were just what the situation called for. Give me 3 Hail Marys and an Act on Contrition!

Meanwhile at the Eastern flank the Allies move down the road with their armor leading en masse. The Axis armor and ATGs took their shots, and missed, everyone, even the crossfire shots. Then on the next turn the Allies get the initiative and engage the Axis armor destroying three Axis tank platoons. This broke the Axis back. Once the Axis armor was destroyed the Allied tanks could move forward with no fear. The second Axis entrenchment at 0613 then fell to an Allied combined arms assault. By 1215 the Axis had scored only 24 points and the Allies had scored 83, eliminating 50 Axis steps along way. Many of the surviving Axis units were either disrupted or demoralized and were scattered all over the place. The Axis had little chance of recapturing any geographic objectives and had they, the outcome would not have changed because of the large point differential. Allied win.

This was a fun scenario. The Axis have a real dilemma at the set up. The Allies too have their problems. Not knowing when reinforcements will arrive is a situation both sides have to account for. Even though it was a little large for my taste, I'll give this scenario a solid 4.