Another blockbuster of a scenario with a potential 145 turns though I was able to wrap this one up before the conclusion of turn 61. This one seemed a lot like the other battles on the Matanikau at first glance, on paper, but once it was set-up and the dice began to roll it played out much differently than the others. This time the marines start out in a better attacking position with most of their forces ready to roll across the Matanikau right away. The Japanese on the other hand are outnumbered at least 2-1 for a change and crippled with a poor defensive positioning, even in the jungle, and are composed of many reduced units. Not only that but I seemed to manage a very poor Japanese leader draw, especially for the front line units with very few having morale modifiers. The only thing that seems to be holding out is the overall Japanese morale at 9/8 except for the SER units.

In the marine's favor they have twice the amount of OBA available to them (3 x 18, 3 x 10) than the last slugfest across the Matanikau and will have more frequent air support as well, this time appearing on a 5-6/D6 roll each full daylight turn. The Japanese VCs seem easily obtainable with only having to eliminate 9 American steps while the Americans must either push back all opposition west past all xx17 numbered hexes and/or eliminate 21 Japanese steps.

The battle began at 05:00, just before sunrise with both sides sending out lone leader spotters for indirect fire as any combat units that moved during night turns would become disrupted. Other than a few failed morale checks neither side gains or loses any ground or takes any losses straight away. The Japanese remain static within their dug-in positions except for some SER units deployed further west that slowly move to make contact with marine recon and scouting units attempting to flank the main defenses. The first loss comes from the Americans at 07:15/turn 10, when a Major is eliminated through compound demoralization resulting in a catastrophic loss; units in his hex have to make a second morale check and are left in poor shape at the front lines. However, as tempting as it seemed the Japanese did not make an assault across the river but held out patiently. This initial loss only seemed to infuriate the marines rather than keep them in check and on the following turn superior American DF takes out a step of dug-in HMGs for the first of many Japanese losses to come. By 09:15/turn 18 the first Japanese dug-out is eliminated and the Americans have crossed the Matanikau gaining a foothold into enemy territory. Soon after the combination of OBA and air-support really begins to wreak havoc with one air-strike alone taking out a 75mm and 81mm unit in one sweep leaving just a lone 81mm mortar left for Japanese on-board indirect fire support. Meanwhile other marine units begin to form a solid line on the east bank virtually unopposed while the scouting units make contact with elements from the 39th Field Road Construction Unit. Not much was expected from these SER units other than to slow down the American advance and to delay American units from entering the xx17 hexes which would in turn activate the marine reserves from the 3rd battalion to be able to advance and reinforce. However, it is opportunity fire from these expendable SER units that inflicts the first American step loss at 11:15/turn 26 and by doing so exceeded their expectations.

A few more steps of marines are lost from opportunity fire bringing american losses up to 3 steps but by that time Japanese losses mount to an average of six to every American one. All the while the northern part of the defenses by the coast are crumbling with marines pouring across the river. By 16:00/turn 45, the Americans have easily eliminated the required 21 enemy steps to meet their VCs; now they just had to hold out against the inevitable Japanese counterattack and not take any more than five more step losses to hold on for the win. By this time though there is not much of a Japanese force left to make very many effective assaults but they have to assault when and wherever they can. The Japanese are just no match against superior American DF this time around. In the past battles on the Matanikau first the Americans would eliminate enough enemy steps but lose hold of their victory from their own losses once the counterattack began, ending the battle with a draw. This time that spoiling tactic did not work for Japan and a static defense was the wrong way to go. One bold assault was made on an American postion with some of the very few remaining full-strength INF units left. Though the Americans did lose another MAR step (for a total of 4 steps lost) that assault was never able to get reinforced as needed to continue on effectively. The Americans had gained so much ground that the only path left available for the Japanese to get fresh INF units into the attack required them to leave the cover of jungle and once they did they were easily annihilated in the open, on the beach by the combination of OBA, air-support and DF. Once the first day began to draw to a close I realized that it was a lost cause for Japan to be able to force a draw out of this battle like they had done so many times before. However, I played it out just while longer until night began to fall and did not call it quits until there were only a few reduced, leaderless and stranded Japanese INF units left along with a few lower-moraled SER units. When visiblity decreased to one hex at 19:45/turn 60 there was no point in trying to move any remaining Japanese units as they would become disrupted. In the one assault hex there was just a reduced INF unit left to make an attack and even if it survived the American first fire it would not be powerful enough to force an American step loss but at 20:00/turn 61 it went through the motions anyway and was promptly destroyed. It was then that the Japanese ultimately gave up and retreated back into the jungle allowing the Americans to hold on to their victory for once.

Out of all the epic-lengthed 'Guadalcanal' scenarios with 100+ turns I enjoyed this one the most and rated it a solid "4". I think in hindsight the best the Japanese can do is go on the attack and assault the marines right away as remaining atatic most of the duration did not work out this time. Even then I don't know how they can follow through for the win without losing 21 steps but the stats do claim one win for Japan so there must be a way. I did selfishly like winning with the Americans in this one and their victory was complete by the time night fell with 80+ turns left. I chose a slow and methodical path with the marines and it paid off. Reading the previous AAR another player was able get an American win much faster in half the time but at a higher cost in American losses and a lot closer to a draw. I can recommend this one for solo play and seems to be a little less daunting given the turn length. If it took someone the full 145 turns to get a decisive result then they must of been very good at playing the Japanese or very poorly at leading an American attack I suppose. I would also be very interested to read a future AAR with Japan taking the win as to how it was managed. In my go at it the Japanese all told lost a total of 17 leaders and 39 steps; clearly their worst defeat yet in terms of numbers. I don't think in any PG scenario played as of yet had one side lost that many leaders - a whole lot of seppuku going on with this one!

0500 - 0515 – American forces are posed to hit the dug-in Japanese line. The 3rd Battalion waits as reserves in the east. Americans use the final half hour before the sun rises to dig in amongst the elephant grass.

0530 – As dawn breaks Japanese artillery hits the American line. American companies begin to advance in the jungle to spot Japanese dug-in positions. Americans lose half a platoon to Japanese opportunity fire. (1-0)

0545 – Japanese hit by American artillery (1-1) as the advance to the Japanese line continues.

0600 – In the south jungle Americans hit by direct fire (2-1)

note: American forces taking some casualties “setting up” their close range attacks. Will it pay off?

0615 – A brief thunderstorm hits the area. Japanese are hit hard in the north losing a whole platoon and their lieutenant. (2-3)

0630 – Thunderstorm ends. Japanese taking casualties in the centre and south of their line (2-5)

0645 – Japanese line is beginning to collapse. Japanese 75mm is hit by American naval guns. (2-6)

0700 – Japanese in the south are hit as the Americans advance their line into the jungle. Some Japanese infantry routs and is hit in the open by American artillery support. (2-8)

note: The Japanese casualty count is quickly mounting as the front line collapses.

0715 – Americans take the central jungle.

0730 – Japanese lose another half platoon in the centre while a captain and his platoon is lost in the north! (2-11)

0745 – Center Japanese forces lose another half platoon and a lieutenant. Americans take another loss due to Japanese artillery (3-12).

Note: American 3rd Battalion activated by the American scouts advance in the southwest. But jungle communications (fog of war) keep them from moving for another few turns.

0800 – 0830 – Japanese take more losses in the north and south, but manage another lucky artillery hit on the Americans. (4-14)

0845 – Japanese in the center lose another half platoon and their captain. The Japanese front line has been annihilated. (4-15)

0900 - 0930 – Another thunderstorm hits and visibility is minimal. All sightings are lost and both sides take advantage of the storm to rally disrupted platoons.

0945 – Thunderstorm ends as the 3rd Battalion advances to the southwest. No sightings and a tense silence covers the jungle.

1000 – The Japanese wire to their artillery is cut and the Americans advance in force! Japanese mortars fall back to avoid being overwhelmed. A Marine Platoon is reduced by Japanese opportunity fire. (5-15)

1015 – Japanese cut wire is restored but the mortars with their captain are assaulted and eliminated! (5-17)

Japanese reserves in the southwest head north to meet the Americans up close. Half a HMG platoon is lost as they are disrupted by American artillery (5-18)

note: Japanese need to inflict another 4 step losses on the Americans while they still have some fight left in them

1030 – Japanese infantry reduced by American artillery strike. (5-19)

1045 – Japanese in the south are hit hard and with the American Scout Platoons reporting their position are devastated by artillery and mortars! Two lieutenants are also killed. (5-22)

Marines reduced by Japanese artillery. (6-22)

1100 – Americans advance in the south

1115 – Japanese HMG is eliminated in an assault by the Marines. A Japanese Lieutenant is captured but their Major commits seppuku instead of being taken. (6-23)

In the northeast, Marine direct fire eliminates a Japanese lieutenant and his platoon. (6-25)

1130 – Desparate for a result, a Japanese infantry platoon does a banzai attack on the Americans. Half of them are cut down before they reach the American troops (6-26)

Americans are hit by friendly fire! (7-26)

Note: Japanese are only 2 steps away from achieving their victory objective!

1145 – The Assaulting Japanese are demoralized and eliminated (7-27)

noon – A Japanese platoon in the northwest is eliminated (2X) and the American noose closes in on the last Infantry platoon. (7-29)

1215 – The northwest infantry platoon is reduced while in the southwest a Japanese captain and his platoon are lost. (7-32)

1230 – Japanese Major and lieutenant in the south are killed. An American captain deserts as the marines pull back into the jungle out of sight of the Japanese forces.

1245 – Japanese surrender.

AMERICAN VICTORY!!!

Aftermath

This was very nearly a draw. If the Japanese were able to inflict just another two casualties it would have been. This got quite tense in the end wondering if the Japanese could pull it off, but it was nice to see the Americans finally get a victory in Guadalcanal.

The Japanese surrendered as they only had their anti-tank battalion and field construction unit intact with a single half infantry platoon. Not really enough force to inflict any damage.

For interest, I played it out a bit. As the Japanese organised for a counter-attack the Americans fell back in the jungle and dug-in. The initial Japanese advance left 2 and a half platoons of SER dead with the rest disrupted! The next 15 minutes saw the Americans fire first and eliminate another half platoon after which the final two SER platoons retreated demoralized.

A scout advanced and the two demoralized SER platoons were eliminated by American bombardment.

Scenario Rating: Average 3/5. This was a good tense scenario almost deserving a 4/5.

Battle Report: Shortly before sunrise on November 1st, 1942, US Marines from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 5th Regiment, 1st Division, and the Whaling Group, 1st Division moved west toward the Matanikau River on Guadalcanal in an effort to confront the remaining Japanese units, which had formed a loose defensive line along the west bank of the river. By 0515 hours, they had encountered elements of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 4th Infantry Regiment that were joined later by remnants of the 2nd Anti-Tank Battalion and 39th Field Road Construction Unit. As dawn broke, the Americans had created a gap in the center of the Japanese line and both infantry and HMG units had crossed. US scout units from the Whaling Group were on the south flank of the Japanese line, while the Americans entered the village at the river mouth on the north end of it. At 0700, an attempt by the Japanese to retake the village failed, and at 0800, reinforcements from the 3rd Battalion, 5/1, along with elements from the 2nd Regiment moved west toward the village, shortly before the Japanese artillery ran out of ammunition. At 1030, a thunderstorm came roaring in and drenched the battlefield for the next two hours, but this did little to slow the American push westward. After rejecting an attempt to turn their left flank, the Americans controlled both Japanese flanks and began to close the gap by 1215. Shortly after the rain ended, the Japanese found themselves surrounded, and their last infantry platoon was eliminated at 1330 hours. The Construction and AT platoons held on for another hour, but their leaders finally acknowledged total defeat, and the Americans had finally stabilized a 1K perimeter west of the Matanikau after over a month of fighting.

Analysis: This is a long scenario with 145 turns. Hex control and step loss are objectives for both sides. The scenario was played using 4th Edition rules and the village rules from Kokoda Campaign for the village hex at the river mouth. The scenario represents a real challenge for the Japanese player, as only nine US steps are needed for victory, but the Japanese are heavily outgunned. The US player can form a number of combined INF/HNG groups along with a “1” combat modifier to use the “16” DF column, while the best that Japanese can do is risk a 3-unit stack or accept use of the “11” column for the same grouping with the few officers that have combat modifiers. In this game, the US had 7 groups that were firing 16FP compared to just two 11FP groups for the Japanese. OBA is also strongly in favor of the Americans, and this disparity was even greater when an event removed the modest 16 Japanese OBA after only 16 turns. Compounding all this was the American control of initiative throughout most of the game; the Japanese only seized the initiative only eight of the 39 turns. All those factors along with some very timely die rolls gave the Americans an early victory. While different approaches can be used, e.g. a very aggressive Japanese rush to just try and get the nine steps needed for at least a draw, or a static defense using the jungle for adjacent fire and first fire when assaulted, it’s tough to say which is best. However, what is more apparent is that the Japanese will have an uphill battle to get a draw, much less a win. This imbalance is fair considering the actual history of the battle. In the end, The Japanese had lost 51 steps to just two for the Americans and were totally eliminated from the map. So, after 7 scenarios on the Matanikau River involving 458 turns, there were five draws and two American wins, and they finally had control of the west bank.