Leyte 1944, Scenario Twenty-Six: Iron Brigade

Map 82 is one of the most difficult maps to fight on but also the funniest as far as solving the puzzle on how to conquer it, with a hill mass that includes a 80-meter hex. It had trails on two sides in thick jungle, now throw in two cave counters and two entrenchments counters in this scenario the fun really begins.

The Americans must attack from both trail hexes as not to bunch up too much but the most important counter in the whole scenario is the FLM or Flame Engineer counter/unit if the Americans want a chance to win. Obviously I didn’t led with it in the first stack but brought it up when the time was ripe for an assault combat. I was fortunate enough this time, to be able to use this unit, stacked with Infantry, to clear two caves and one entrenchment, always having three units and a couple of leaders in each assault. If I had lost the FLM or had it demoralized I doubt I could have won this one but luck was on my side this time.

The Americans won a Minor Victory, achieving two out three victory objectives but I could never clear the 80-meter hex with the last entrenchment in it. The Americans lost 4 steps and one leader, while the Japanese lost 10 steps, one leader and the game.