BLUF: Results similar to the other two US losses. A straight forward scenario. Major Japanese Victory: ( 31 VP to 6 US VPs). Japanese stayed dug in with a deliberate defense of the high ground, the US conducted a frontal assault across difficult terrain of the Muskeg; getting cut to pieces at the base of the hill. Japanese die rolls were amazing, and the US just couldn't muster the momentum necessary to mass

Recommendation: Not a lot of tactical options, but the US must know how to push their forces and firepower. It is not gonna be easy for them. Enjoyable and I'd play it again because, though improbable due to the terrain and dug-in advantages of the defender, I believe the US can win. But not this time.

Casualties: Japan: 6 steps (1.5 INF PLT and 1.5 HMG PLT) no leaders (40% casualties) US: 14 steps ( 2 Companies = 5.5 x INF PLTs, and 1.5 x HMG)no leaders (58% casualties)

Plan: Japan - All units began dug-in and Centered on their 10-0-1 Maj in 1032, there was a successive integrated defense of the hill. Primary defensive belt was 0935 - 9-0-0LT w/ INF PLT, 0936 - 9-1-1 CPT with HMG and INF PLT, 0931 -9-0-0 LT with HMG and INF PLT. The reserve force was the MAJ, with 2x INF, and a LT and INF in 1031. In support in 1130 was the 81mm MTR. Japanese withheld fire until the US was 3 hexes out.

US. The US had an excellent leader draw and assembled in two echelons. The Mortar batter dug in at start in 0329,0330 with an 8-1-1- SGT and 2 x 81mm providing direct lay fires against the first row of Japanese defenders all game. The first line was 6 x INF PLTs, followed by the supporting fires echelon behind it with 1 x HMG w. an INF PLT in tow separate hexes, and a reserve PLT. All leaders were integrated to support morale checks and mass direct fires. I decided I needed to begin my assault no later than Turn 15 if I was to have any hope of clearing the majority of the hill.

Execution: 0600-0800 (turns 1-9) Humping through the Muskeg and initial contact: The US advance met some resistance from the muskeg and it took some time for one HMG to catch up. As the front of the US line advanced to within three hexes of 0931, Massed Japanese opportunity fire caused the first step loss due to multiple demoralization. The US returned fire with a 4 x PLTs providing a 24 fire power group and the mortars on 0931. At 0830 this caused a step loss on a Jap INF PLT and it fled to the backside of the hill where it recovered and dug-in its secondary positions. The US Mortars took out a an HMG step too.

0815-0915 (turns 10-14) Potshots and battlelines: The US side mad slow progress, moving forward only one hex to try and spend some turns suppressing the Japanese line with mortars and HMGs before conducting the frontal assault. American rolls were abysmal with no effects. The Japanese on the other hand were successfully suppressing the Yanks and took out a HMG step with opportunity fire. By Turn 15, I was sufficiently recovered to try and advance on the main battle line. That's when catastrophe struck.

0930-1000 (turns 15-17) Massacre: The Japanese one the initiative and started to break up the American advance with mortar fire and recovering disrupted units in time to get in adjacent shots with a +3 column shift and, again, amazing rolls of double 1s, 12s, 11s, 3s. The US was able to bring 2 x INF PLTs and A Leader into Assault on 0932. But the Japanese sufficienty obliterated most of it. The end result was 6 US step losses, and th rest demoralized with demoralized leaders and a drop in initiative.

1015-1030 (turns 18-19) Counter attack: The Japanese won multiple activations and sent an INF PLT to reinforce 0932, and the additional assaults and fires as caused 6 x US step losses. At this point the American commander began withdrawing forces back to the line of departure.

1045-1330 (turns 20-30) Fighting Withdrawal: The US slowly slogged their way back across the Muskeg to get out of enemy direct fire range. It was slow going with mostly 100% disrupted/demoralized American forces moving back. The only thing that saved them was excellent US massed mortar fire that had enough successful die rolls to take out 4 x Japanese steps and suppress their forward line... too bad they couldn't do it at the beginning of the attack.

SUMMARY - The US had sufficient firepower and excellent leaders. The Japanese had excellent defensive terrain, stronger morale and fair quality leaders. The truthful difference in this one was luck. It seems to me probability smiled on Japanese, who were able to take better advantage of the column shifts provided by the Muskeg. The US on the other hand, could not get the rolls needed to overcome the hill and dug-in column shifts reducing their firepower.