August 19, 1942 – Three companies of the 5th Marine Regiment were dispatched to clear the mouth of the Matanikau of Japanese resistance.

This scenario covers the action of Company B and Company L.

American Goal Take Matanikau village (2025) with minimal losses. 42 turns = 10.5 hours.

Japanese Goal Inflict casualties (at least 3 steps). Hold Matanikau village.

American Casualties will be presented by (#).

The Battle

0730 – Early morning thunderstorms limit movement and visibility.

0745 – Thunderstorms end and American artillery strikes begin.

0800-0815 – American marines advance on the Japanese 70mm battery. Gun and half platoon are eliminated. SNLF forces open fire from the jungle as the Americans advance under fire.

0830 – Two marine platoons engage the SNLF from the east while the remainder circle around the south.

0845 – An accurate artillery strike claims half a SNLF platoon.

0900-0915 – SNLF forces begin to melt away into the jungle (read: flee) as the marines advance with artillery support. Americans initiate an assault versus a lone SNLF HMG. Early Fog of War as Americans close in.

0930-0945 – Americans make great advances eliminating the HMG and two more Japanese half platoons. American artillery is re-assigned.

Comment – Marines have inflicted 6 step losses on the Japanese already.

1000 – Americans lose their first half platoon of marines due to direct fire from the east jungle. (1)

1015-1030 – Japanese begin to fortify their position on their side of the river.

1045 – The Japanese SER is hit across the creek and the marines assault reducing the SNLF HMG. Two half platoons flee.

1100 – Demoralized Japanese flee as the marines pursue (Jap casualty count=8).

Japanese have split the American forces and chose this moment to call Banzai! against the marines in the east!

1115 – Marines are bordering the village, but in the south a banzai charge eliminates half a platoon (2). Another half platoon is lost in their counter-attack (3). And another in the east (4).

Comment – YIKES! Marines have just taken significant losses. The best they can now hope for is a draw by taking the village.

1130 – Americans begin to send some support to relieve their troubled brothers in the east.

1145 – Lt Commander orders “Banzai!”. Half his men are demoralised but they still cause American casualties (5).

1200 – The southern banzai force is eliminated and in the east 1 platoon flees.

1215-1230 – American HMG cuts down the fleeing SNLF which is eliminated as the marines take more losses to close assault. (6)

1245-1300 – Marines begin to mop up fleeing Japanese platoons. SNLF shattered in a final banzai charge. Soon only the SNLF and AA battery in Matanikau village remain.

1315-1430 – Americans rally and form up fire groups as the defending Japanese patiently await.

1445 – Marines advance and one platoon is eliminated by the waiting Japanese!

1500 – Japanese AA battery is eliminated by HMG fire.

1515-1600 – Steady American direct fire yields no results!!!

1615-1645 – Continued fire finally eliminates half the SNLF platoon. Only half a platoon remains.

1700 – Continued fire has no further effect. 45 minutes remain.

1715 – HMG fire demoralizes the SNLF and the Marines move in for close assault. Instant victory is estimated at over 50:50 odds. But the Japanese holds out.

1730-1745 – Continued assaults on the Japanese position have little effect as the lone half SNLF platoon continues to rally and hold on with superior leadership.

Eventually the Marines are called off.

JAPANESE VICTORY!!!

Aftermath

With 3 hours (12 turns) to take out the single AA Gun and SNLF platoon, the Americans were sorely unlucky not to obtain a draw. In most of the final assaults they had a 50% chance of instantly eliminating the SNLF half platoon.

Final casualty count was 15-8 if I counted accurately.