In this scenario the Australians are trying to capture all six villages, and have a flanking force that enters the map hidden to assist. Several of the Japanese units are already down a step. The Japanese set up a defense line all along the stream, concentrating stronger units to the west while step lossed units are arranged further east along with some full strength with the intent of attacking the southeast village. Stepped units also cover the northeast entry zone of the map. HMGs are in the center of the line. The Australians set up to attack primarily in the center while the flanking force gets into position along the northwest edge.

Things start out well for the Australians, who push hard on the Japanese right and center. The Japanese are constantly outmaneuvered around the northwest village due to the flanking force. But they manage to hold the village despite an equal exchange in casualties. The Australians eventually manage to contest the village, but the Japanese reinforce just before it falls and it never actually comes under Japanese control.

In the center one detachment manages to seize the north village, but a very pesky defense in hex 0607 backed by HMGs in 0509 holds up the entire Aussie center and inflicts six steps before it finally collapses. By then the northeast defenders have fallen back on the two villages, and even manage to wrest the 0409 village back from the Australians.

In the east, once it is discovered the Australian flankers entered the west edge, the Japanese release their attack on the southeast village. It doesn’t go well, but the Australians are suffering casualties at an equal rate. The Japanese bypass the village with a small detachment and manage to seize the south village since the Aussie center is so weak and tied down against hex 0607. The Australians send forces to contest it, but never manage to recover the village.

Losses are nearly equal, with the Australians losing 19 to the Japanese 15. But in the end the Australians don’t come close to meeting a victory condition. The Australians hold two villages, the Japanese two villages, and two are being contested. A far cry from the requirement to control all six. A major Japanese victory and then some.

I rated this one a 3. The other linked scenarios base victory on step losses and villages controlled, with the Japanese receiving two points per and the Australians three per. If that were the case, this would have been a draw and I would have rated it a four. Great action in this one, but I have yet to figure out how to make Australians infantry compete with Japanese. Their HMGs are the bane of the Japanese, but Japanese infantry has a significant advantage over Australian infantry. I tend to be very aggressive with the Japanese, and the Aussies need quite a significant advantage in numbers to overcome the Japanese troops.