Yet another game played solo (my third solo!!). Still don't get the same enjoyment as a ftf or real opponent in whatever format. But it served to be better than nowt !

The American infantry of the 27th Infantry Regiment were still camped on the lower slopes of Galloping Horse Hill. On the rise above them, they could still see those infernal trenches and dug-in positions of their obstinate Japanese enemy from the Imperial 229th Infantry Regiment. For two days, they had tried to remove the 'little fellas', and for two days they been denied. Yesterday (see AAR Battle Without Water), the remnants of 'I' & 'L' coys had been repulsed in just under 2 hours having gone into the attack suffering acute thirst due to lack of water supplies.

Today, would be a bigger attack. 'F'&'G' coys, both fed and watered, would attack, supported by 'E' coy when ready. Today, would be different ...... Today !

0630 hours, and F&G send a couple of platoons forward on the left flank. These were to lay down some flanking fire. Meanwhile, promised off-shore OBA thundered in and would do so for an hour. Despite all this firepower from 6 infantry and 2 HMG platoons, 2 x platoons of mortars and the ships. The Japanese seemed barely moved. Unknown to the Americans, one of the best Japanese Majors on the island was commanding here. (10-1-1). He was certainly helping bolster the will of his young charges. During this hour, some accurate fire from the Japanese trenches really hurt one platoon from F coy, taking down a lot of its men and forcing the rest to retire to regroup in the safety of some jungle brush.

The firefight continued for over three hours as both sides used jungle, ridge lines and dug-outs to shield themselves, whilst dishing out whatever fire they could of their own. Eventually, casualties would tell somewhere, and once again, it was the Americans that suffered. Some heavy Japanese rifle and MG fire finally sliced through one of G coys platoons and inflicted heavy losses on its numbers rendering them very much weaker.

With no off-shore batteries available, it was not soon enough when E coy finally joined their comrades around 1030 hours. These assisted in laying down a really heavy fire on the Japanese and did succeed on removing some casualties on the hilltop, but no sooner had this been achieved, then more enemy fire cut down some men from E coy.

With each company suffering losses, the attack was called off and once more conidered a failure. They would have to try again.

I'll give this a '3'. No it was not as exciting as a competitive game with somebody else, but I can easily see where the scenario has mileage in outcomes and I would be happy to try it again TWICE, using each side once against an opponent. It is hard for the Americans. They can only lose 3 steps and therefore probably need to engage at distance to wear down any defence and strive for those hits once they have some serious fire groups formed. Close combat may end the game very quickly either way. The only thing the Americans have to watch, but can not control are enemy snake-eyes and box-cars. These are the shots that will end the game for them and in a 37 turn game they HAVE to happen I guess. My remedy for the Yanks would be to ... oh no ! I'll hold that thought for when I do have to use them against an opponent.