Marianas 1944, scenario #29: The Last Japanese Tanks

I set this up and thinking no way could the Japanese win this one but it played out kind of tighter than I thought. Simple, the Marines must eliminate the Japanese armor that were giving them problems the night before but this time they have armor and AT Guns of their own to deal with the problem. The Japanese must eliminate three American steps which I think is too steep but they set up hidden in two groups to spread out the American assets.

The Americans send both M4 Sherman tank platoons plus some Infantry units after the larger group of Japanese which included Infantry, HMG, Type 97 and Shinhoto tanks while there other group of Infantry and a jeep towing a 37mm AT Gun went after the Japanese Type 95 and some Infantry across the map in the other direction.

One of the few scenarios the Marines rolled horrible dice. They led with both tank platoons and were assaulted unsupported in the jungle by Japanese Infantry and a HMG units that rolled great on the dice and with all the modifiers eliminated two M4 steps. Across the map the adjacent Japanese units again roll great on the dice against a stack of three American units including my Jeeps towing the 37mm AT guns, losing the Infantry step and the 37mm AT gun plus the jeep. I got too careless thinking this was an easy victory. Sure the American eventually cleared map of Japanese armor and all the Japanese Infantry and leaders but the HMG unit was still running around in the Jungle demoralized but also leaderless. The Japanese have to take care of their leaders, as they only have two in this scenario, as leadership was pretty much killed off at this point in the Guam Campaign.

This scenario ended in a draw because of my hurry as the American player but it would be better balanced if the Japanese only had to eliminate two American steps and there was only 18 turns. But fun to play either way.