In this scenario, the Japanese tried for one final assault on the airfield in late October. The attack was to start with a breakthrough against the western Marine perimeter bound by the east bank of the Matanikau. This assault included tanks, and was supposed to be concurrent with another assault on the southern perimeter just east of the river. The complex plan did not go off as scheduled, a common occurrence when Japanese forces tried coordinated assaults through the jungle. And this time the Marines had air and artillery support in quantity. The real battle saw the artillery and air disrupt the Japanese assault before it got into full swing. The Japanese took a few Marine positions before being forced back across the river. The other part of the attack occurred the following night, and managed to take the ridge before the Japanese were pushed back. The resulting casualties effectively wiped out any chance for another Japanese offensive, and the initiative went over to the Marines.

Lt Col Riggs looked across the sandbar to Matanikau village. Intel reports had shown a buildup of Japanese troops across the river. His lieutenant on the ridge indicated he could spot advancing Japanese troops moving into position. At least this time he was prepared. His one battalion might have problems with the opposing forces, but he had been promised air and artillery to fend off the attack. With sunset less than an hour away, his men finished their defensive positions and awaited darkness.

Lt Col Tada moved his two battalions up into position as the sun sank in the west. He placed his mortars on the ridge behind, and directed his infantry to move into the jungle opposite the American positions. His tanks waited on the path to Matanikau Village, now empty of signs of life. While he expected the assault to be costly, a foothold across the river would force the Americans to divert manpower to prevent a breakthrough and allow the three battalions moving into position in the south to break the Marine line.

Lt Hollister sat on the ridge defining the southwestern point of the perimeter. Behind him sat another battalion guarding the jungle to the south. Looking into the sun as it set made spotting hard, but he could catch the glimpses of sun off Japanese troops moving through the elephant grass just past the riverside jungle. He was bound and determined to make life miserable for the approaching Japanese. With full authority to call in the divisional heavy artillery for as long as he could spot, he picked up the field phone and spoke to fire control.

Seeing no evidence of the promised air support, Lt Col Riggs swore under his breath. He stopped only to listen to the outgoing artillery arcing in overhead. He rang Lt Hollister for a report. He swore again. He might never understand protecting an airfield for aircraft that never lend support, but he could sure as heck ream the artillery commander for failing to bring about any effect with that many guns available. Getting Maj Smithers, currently commanding the artillery, on the field phone, he explained in no uncertain terms to the Major that he expected future barrages to bring on better effect. Maj Smithers promised better support forthcoming. One thing about Maj Smithers, a liar he was not.

The southern flank of the Japanese continued to move through the elephant grass to take positions in the jungle. While the incoming artillery forced them to take cover, their advance was barely slowed. The Americans would have to do better than that. Maj Matsuda was in charge of the southern battalion, and was determined to lead a quick assault against the Marine line. He would have his troops attack the apex of the line, hoping to drive the entire American left flank in on itself, allowing his troops to drive up the west edge of the ridge that his compatriots to the south could use as an anchor. Besides, it was probably the spotting position for American artillery.

Lt Col Tada directed his tanks, supported by infantry, to move just west of the village. He would wait until almost night to move his troops forward. Perhaps Maj Matsuda's advance on the southern flank would pull forces from the north, allowing his tanks to cross the sandbar and drive deep into the American rear.

With about 30 minutes of daylight left, Maj Smithers came through. Marine artillery found the Japanese advancing through the elephant grass into the jungle to the south. The advance became disrupted, but unfortunately for the Marines, it was the back end of the battalion that got caught. The lead elements were already approaching the river, preparing to assault. Spotting Marine positions across the river, Capt Wachi called in Japanese artillery to soften the American line. This included support from the mortar platoons on the ridge to the rear of the Japanese forces.

Watchful Marines dug in beside the M3/75s pointed Lt Col Riggs' attention to the ridge in the distance. Sure enough, fire from Japanese mortars. Lt Col Riggs picked up the phone and overrode Lt Hollister's fire call. In what can only be called horrific, the combined barrage of divisional artillery assets with the battalion mortars immediately to Lt Col Riggs' rear turned the entire ridge into a churning maelstrom of explosions. Pouring it on for fifteen minutes, nothing was left when the last shell fell. If there was one thing Lt Col Riggs' men needn't worry about, it was Japanese mortars...

The diversion of artillery left the Marines on the southern flank momentarily vulnerable. Capt Wachi ordered troops to cross the Matanikau and assault Marine positions. Two things doomed the attack. First, the Marines caught the Japanese in the open and Marine training combined with semi auto rifles peppered the charging Japanese. Second, as the doom of the Japanese mortars was sealed, all the American artillery retargeted for the jungle along the western shoreline of the river. As the assault reached desperation levels, nearly overrunning one position, the troops looked back for reinforcements. The Marine artillery caught the Japanese before they could cross, and Maj Smithers made good his promise. Entire Japanese formations disappeared in a thunderous roar. Those who dove for cover died in place. Those who ran died tired. The troops who had already crossed the river hugged the shore, unable to continue the assault without risking the same end. The southern battalion was ripped to shreds.

Meanwhile, as twilight settled over the river mouth, Lt Col Tada ordered his tanks and infantry into the village, and himself led two platoons to the jungle line just south of the village. Two hundred yards of elephant grass separated Lt Col Tada from the river's edge. What Lt Col Tada didn't know was opposite his position were two platoons, one a heavy machine gun platoon, commanded by Lt Finch. Lt Finch was known as one of the best natural tacticians in the division. His ability to set up and direct fire was one of Lt Col Riggs' best assets, and envied by the other battalion commanders. As Lt Col Tada led his troops into position prior to complete darkness, he examined the Marine position opposite the river. At this point, Lt Finch took advantage of the rule of combat Lt Col Tada forgot: if you can see the enemy, they can see you. Lt Finch directed his platoons to fire on the Japanese, expertly directing the fire of the heavy machineguns into the biggest concentration of Japanese troops. Japanese soldiers fell in large numbers, the remainder desperately diving for cover. The death and disruption of so many Japanese troops would have been devastating enough, but one event overshadowed even those losses. Lt Finch on this day was not only skilled, but also lucky. The first burst of fire caught Lt Col Tada in the neck, and he fell instantly. The loss of their commander shook the Japanese up and down the line. Despite the fact the forces in the village drove away the Marine infantry supporting the M3/75s, the loss of their commander, anti-tank fire from the Marine M3/75s, and a heavy barrage of artillery directed at the village was too much for the northern battalion. The attack began to crumble.

Maj Matsuda found himself in command. The Japanese were effectively down 40% in strength, their commander was dead, Marine anti-tank fire was threatening his armored units, and his remaining infantry was in disarray, and American artillery was devastating. Making matters worse, his radioman was dead, as was his radio, and he had not yet found Lt Col Tada's radioman, so no supporting artillery was available. Taking advantage of the total darkness that had finally arrived, Maj Matsuda ordered a withdrawal of his forces.

The Marine line had held. Casualties on the Marine side were amazingly light given the devastation the Japanese suffered. And Lt Finch received the Bronze Star.

Observations – The Japanese made a couple mistakes up front. First, they set their mortars on the ridge rather than behind. The moment they fired the Marines spotted and destroyed them. The Japanese mortars were half their bombardment strength, and their loss combined with a random event cut radio wire left the Japanese with no bombardment capability. Tough to soften up a prepared defensive position with no arty.

Second, the Japanese began moving forward while there was still light. Wasting a few turns in this scenario is little risk for the Japanese, but getting spotted while moving towards the Marine line allowed harassing fire by plentiful Marine artillery support. While the front line of Japanese troops were still able to reach the assault points, reinforcements were held up and prevented the Japanese from taking advantage of any footholds on the Marine side of the river. The Japanese who made it across got torn up without being able to dish it back to the dug-in defenders. The straggling reinforcements got blown to bits as they reached the river.

On the Marine side, initial arty fire was useless, but as the game progressed so did the lethality of the Marine arty. Air support was a failure, but later arty easily made up for it. The Marines had attempted to lay a crossfire with the M3/75 and antitank guns pointed at the village, but the Japanese smartly kept the tanks out of town until dark when the guns were too far away to spot. M3/75 fire failed to do anything to the Japanese armor, but the Japanese likewise failed to hit the Marine M3/75s. Finally, killing the Japanese Lt Col (as well as inf) doomed the Japanese from having a shot at more offensive action. While they could have pressed and maybe taken a Marine position, the likelihood of holding it with nearly half their strength gone (including leaders) vs a still intact Marine line with arty support was miniscule.