Th US started with a heavy bombardment that had neglible effect. The US were patient with their forward movement, trying to allow the OBA to plow the road enough that they could take their objectives with low enough losses to achieve victory. After two thirds of the way through, the US pushed forward along the line. This in turned drew a Japanese counterattack that drew both sides in to a furball between both objectives. The Japanese held on to 2117, but lost 1817. They were driven off 1617 but stayed close to 1718. The US had numerous disrupted and demoralized platoons, but lost 7 steps. The Japanese took heavy losses but maintained enough to achieve a draw.

Author	triangular_cube
Method	Solo
Victor	Draw
Play Date	2023-02-09
Language	English
Scenario	JuFi008

This is smaller than the preceding slugfests, but very much the same. The Americans have a line with high firepower while the Japanese have a line of high morale and Japanese assault bonus. Because of counter density and tight space, the entire line is more or less manned 3 to a hex as anything not on the front line in the jungle is largely not contributing. The Americans have to be patient and roll well with their large amounts of OBA, and massive pregame OBA, otherwise they will be shredded in assault by the Japanese. That basically describes the entire module though.

This time around, the Japanese must only achieve 8 step losses to win, which is trivially easy against lower morale opponents, so they arent all too concerned about the points in the line they have to take and hold. They are only concerned about causing those step losses and holding onto the nodes in the south that the Americans have to clear. Having entrenchments to house their HMG/70mm stacks these are going to be tough positions. The rest of their infantry set up in the jungle, dug in (you could dig into jungle back then), and ready to pounce in assault in stacks of x3 INF with their leader, higher morale, and Japanese bonuses.

Americans dont have much choice in their setups, although they are able to get 2, 3xHMG stacks in the jungle overlooking one of the Japanese entrenchments. Due to setup restrictions they are basically just crammed into a couple spots 3X deep. If they spread out they will lose to assault very very quickly, so they must remain packed and follow the artillery in.

Pregame OBA fire knocks out 5 Japanese steps, which sounds good, but its not enough. The rest of the first few turns is spent shooting away from a distance at anyhting they can spot while the north, which setup restictions did not allow the Americans to abandon, devolves into assault butchery as the Japanese get to set up close in and ready to go. They quickly get their VC as expected.

The Americans eventually bleed the Japanese dry in the south and are able to take their points, but the cost is immense. Both forces are spent, result is both sides winning. ie a draw.