In this scenario the Japanese are trying to block an Australian advance. The Australians have decent morale at 8/8, a major upgrade, and outnumber the Japanese by over 50%. The Japanese, however, are hidden. Hidden scenarios are tough to run solitaire, but it’s important for the Japanese force. Victory points are awarded for steps and trail/village hexes under control.

The Japanese set up primarily in and around the village, with some flankers to the north. The Aussies come in from the west on a wide line. Most of the Japanese are located at range 1, and deliver devastating opfire. One Japanese position is not found, and the Australians pay for that failure. Despite large numbers, the advance against the Japanese is hindered by casualties and disruptions/demoralizations. The Japanese jump into a couple of assaults to try and take advantage of the roughed up Australians, but overall steps are running almost equal. The approximate one for one swap in steps is horrid for the Japanese with their smaller numbers.

But the shaken condition of the Australians begins to tell. Flanking forces are slowed to a crawl, while the Australian center is completely halted. Some flankers get around the Japanese and attempt to pick up some trail hexes, but Japanese troops that had fled earlier begin to recover, blocking the trail from the east while the Japanese hold to the west. The Aussies get some hexes, but not nearly enough to make up for the increasing losses.

Australian casualties are too many as the Japanese begin to score steps against shaken Aussie troops. The Japanese end up ahead on points both in casualties and trail hexes. With a final score of 37 to 16 the Japanese win a major victory.

I rated this one a 3. It was nice to finally have decent Australian morale, but the burden of attack against hidden Japanese troops was just too much. Japanese casualties petered off, while Aussie casualties continued to grow. The jungles slowed down Australian advances as thoroughly as the Japanese defenders. The beginning seemed challenging for both sides, but as the scenario wore on, the Australians struggled more than the Japanese. Decent scenario, but not great.