For this scenario the Australians are on the attack while the outnumbered Japanese 5th Kure SNLF are on the defensive but they do get to set up hidden. The Aussies forces cautiously advanced down the trail but their leading platoons were ambushed by the hidden Japanese units that extracted six steps by turn 5 from the Aussie 18th Brigade. Two companies of Australians lead by a couple of good leaders managed to out flank the Japanese position and routed several platoons out of one village hex while threaten a second, but the butchers bill had been high for the Aussies as they lost another four steps coupled with FOW dice rolls ending the turn just when they were gaining momentum. In the end the Japanese counter attacked while taking another 3 Aussie steps on turn 17 to recapture the village hex lost earlier. The Japanese SNLF earned their major victory by controlling most of the trail hexes and eliminating more Aussies steps than they lost.

Author	treadasaurusrex (Japan)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	Japan
Participants	CavDo
Play Date	2025-09-02
Language	English
Scenario	KoCa029

Please refer to Juiceman's retelling of this fierce, 24-turn,battle in his well-written AAR. Our battle sounded very like his solitaire effort, with the counter-attacking Japanese coming out on top of the "pursuing" - but constantly ambushed, & repeatedly outflanked - Australian side.

Casualties were heavy for both forces but the loss of the senior Aussie leader during game turn 19, twigged it for the advancing blue side, as the Emperor's sailors & soldiers reclaimed the critical terrain & villages that they had lost earlier in our play-through. Having a little armor proved decisive for the defending Japanese.

We give this slightly-unbalanced and hard-to-play encounter, a solid 3 and recommend it for SHARED play only.