Following Yamasaki’s failed attempt to break through US lines and capture their artillery, survivors of the Japanese Attu-Adak Occupation Force moved west in the darkness of the early morning on May 30, 1943. Engineers from the 50th Combat Engineer Battalion were positioned on a hilltop and spotted them coming up the hill from the east at 0415. Having heard the gunfire from the earlier assault, the engineers had grouped together and dug in to prepare for a possible assault, which happened on the east end of the hilltop at 0445 hours. By 0545, the remaining American engineers had huddled in an area on the west end of the hilltop, which they held until 0745. However, the Japanese controlled the east and center of the hilltop and were considered victorious.

This is a fun, small scenario and a great one to teach someone the nuances of assault tactics in the game. The outcome of this scenario is determined by step losses, with a wrinkle that Japanese leaders eliminated during an assault are also counted for a VP. If the US is to have any chance at success, the engineers that begin in separate hexes must group together to present maximum strength to the Japanese banzai assaulters. There are also enough turns to dig in before the Japanese can spot them, and this is also highly recommended in order to get that valuable first fire when assaulted. However, even with that strategy in place, the Americans did not win this scenario, as the Japanese only lost four steps to eight for the Americans. That VP differential was kept close since no US units were off the hilltop and none were DM at game end. It was also evident that this scenario could be won by the US, since they seemed to be rolling “7’s” on most of the assault rolls negating the value of their first fire in assault.