Author	plloyd1010 (Japan)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Japan
Participants	Shad (AAR)
Play Date	2023-09-09
Language	English
Scenario	AlWa002

The Japanese are on the defensive for this scenario, a situation which they are not designed for. What can you say? They started it. They have an infantry company with HMG support. The area to be defended is 1/2 the center red part of the map of DR4. The Americans are not much better off, having about twice the force, but starting on the other side of the muskeg, and night is coming on.

The Americans start in the southeast corner. Part of my opponent’s force ran up the firm ground on the east side. Soon all of them were slogging their way across the muskeg. My mortar, and later my machine-guns caused some disruption. As night came on, the Americans were at the foot of Gilbert Ridge.

The last few turns were cat & mouse in the dark. I made assaults wherever I could, and managed to take a few American steps doing so. I also lost 2 steps in a strange round of melee. The point tally for the emperor is 7 U.S. steps eliminated and 7 steps not on the upper ridge, for 14 points total. The Americans have 7 steps on the ridge and have killed 3 Japanese steps, for 10 points. Not enough to win.

The fundamental problems are the terrain prevents any effective U.S. maneuvering and the Japanese have little option but to be a spoiler. At sundown the Americans are at a disadvantage because of the cold. The scenario does not have much room for imaginative play.