The action in this scenario centers around control of the trail leading through the eastern section of the mapboard. The Australians have been able to set up their defense in hidden ambush. The Japanese have numerical and the usual morale superiority but the short scenario length and the need to attack to gain control of the trail will require them to advance quickly and potentially recklessly if they are delayed (as usual, the previous note is foreshadowing...)

The Australians set up a first ambush in the second trail hex and put the remaining two companies in the jungle south of the trail immediately behind the ambush. With the reserves (which can be seen by the Japanese player) is the Australian commader a 10-1-1 behemoth. The Japanese are led capably by a 9-0-0 Major.

The Japanese advance straight up the trail with two infantry platoons which unfortunately find the ambush forcing it to do Op Fire instead of get the nasty ambush bonus. The Op Fire kills a step but the remaining Japanese quickly advance to surround the INF and HMG. This assault only resolves on turn 5 after losses on both sides. Meanwhile the remainder of the Japanese force sidesteps the assault hex and gains the trail behind it and runs into 4 INF platoons led by the Australian commander who pours 16 DF into Op Fire and kills a step and demoralizes an INF. This leads to a subsequent turn assault which kills yet another step while the remainder of the Australian force contests the Japanese control of the trail further on.

The Japanese Major knows that his losses have been significant and that control of trail hexes will ultimately determine the scenario so he takes a 1 step INF and advances quickly down the trail with the intention of controlling hexes and taking them away from the Australians...and runs headlong into the second ambush which this time comes off beautifully, eliminating the INF and killing the Major, decapitating most of the Japanese force and effectively ending the scenario.

This is the first time I have had an ambush come off as planned and had a wonderful time of it. I give this one a "4".