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.