This is a really neat Scenario. Anyone reading James Jones's book the Thin Red Line will recognize this scenario from the book and the two movies. The Japanese set up on the hill in all the victory hexes entrenched and dug in. The American's sent one Battalion to the Horse's legs and one Battalion to the horse's head. Us artillery and air power had little effect on the Japanese and the U.S. suffered a number of demoralizations and disruptions and two step losses getting into assault position. But the U.S. still had enough to keep the pressure up. Despite never being able to bring their whole weight to bear they made slow but steady progress taking Japanese positions in victory hexes. The Japanese artillery was a going concern the entire scenario as they never failed their post bombardment ammo check until late in the game (scenario special rule). Once the U.S. artillery was used up the U.S. found the going harder. To make matters worse the original plan to unite both mortar platoons under a decent leader took forever to accomplish what with fog of war rolls and so many disrupted units that took priority. Going into the last turn the Japanese still had two hexes of the Horses head in control but the U.S. had lost less than 7 steps. The U.S. could have taken the game in the last turn had both their assaults won out but only one did leaving one hex disputed. Draw. If you like infantry battles this is a good one.

Author	triangular_cube
Method	Solo
Victor	United States
Play Date	2023-02-13
Language	English
Scenario	JuFi015

This time the Americans get to try and take a different entrenchment line, this time on a bald hill. They get similar OBA restrictions but 1 extra barrage before the game. They also get morale 8 which makes everything much more possible.

The Japanese are thin on the ground for the frontage they have to defend, so they attempt to make the most of their entrenchments, placing them forward at the suspected entry points filled up with their HMGs and 70s. On the wings they place two counterattacking stacks to try the same tactics that usually pay off. Close assault is still their most powerful weapon. Their VCs have a kill count to achieve, and they will be aggressive towards it. Playing passively will just give the USA more time.

Americans start in two groups but converge on the northern most outcropping after pounding the hill with all their OBA on approach. The first turn they lose as step to a good OP fire roll but otherwise get their units in position, including 2 3XHMG stacks adjacent to the outcropped entrenchment. They continue to be patient until they get some decent rolls and break the Japanese back. Having very few men in the hills (reduced further by the counterattack strategy), each step loss is felt. Over time the first entrenchment falls, then the second. At this point they have little opposition and brute force the rest.

The counterattacks didnt work for once. The Americans kept rolling 5s and 6s and the Japaense 3s. just shy of the step loss results. For the first time in a while the strategy fell flat on its face.

The Americans clear the hill having taken only 3 step losses, for a win.

This one seemed far better than the preceding Mt Austin scenarios, despite similar concepts.