Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Pacific Armor #8

Panzer Grenadier Battles on October 24th:
Afrika 1944 #22 - PAKfront	Leyte '44 #12 - Flying Wedge
Fronte Russo #9 - Potemkin Village	Leyte '44 #13 - Failure at Buri Airfield
Red & White #28 - Bastion

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Mabalacat Airfields Pacific Armor #8
(Defender) Japan	vs	United States (Attacker)

Formations Involved
Japan		Eguchi Detachment
United States		129th Infantry Regiment

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	0
Side 2	1

Overall Rating, 0 votes
5 4 3 2 1 0
Scenario Rank: --- of 1094

Parent Game	Pacific Armor
Historicity	Historical
Date	1945-01-28
Start Time	09:00
Turn Count	20
Visibility	Day
Counters	64
Net Morale	1
Net Initiative	0
Maps	2: 100, 82
Layout Dimensions	56 x 43 cm 22 x 17 in
Play Bounty	174
AAR Bounty	168
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Airfield Control
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Entrenchment Control

Conditions
Entrenchments
Minefields
Off-board Artillery
Randomly-drawn Aircraft
Terrain Mods

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Leyte '44	Counters
Marianas 1944	Maps
Pacific Armor	Base Game
Saipan 1944	Maps + Counters

Introduction
The Illinois National Guardsmen of the 129th Infantry Regiment, backed by tank support, spearheaded the attack on Clark Field. The Japanese Kembu group had 30,000 men with which to defend the complex, but most of these were service personnel and other rear-area types, and what combat troops the group did include had little organization and few heavy weapons. Lt. Col. Seizuke Eguchi, charged with stopping the 129th Infantry, had five airfield construction battalions, a loosely organized battalion of replacements, and some anti-aircraft guns. But he did have a great many land mines.

Introduction

The Illinois National Guardsmen of the 129th Infantry Regiment, backed by tank support, spearheaded the attack on Clark Field. The Japanese Kembu group had 30,000 men with which to defend the complex, but most of these were service personnel and other rear-area types, and what combat troops the group did include had little organization and few heavy weapons. Lt. Col. Seizuke Eguchi, charged with stopping the 129th Infantry, had five airfield construction battalions, a loosely organized battalion of replacements, and some anti-aircraft guns. But he did have a great many land mines.

Conclusion
The Japanese service personnel offered little opposition at the two Mabalacat airfields (East and West), but Eguchi's handful of combat infantry met the Americans with automatic weapons fire, and the anti-aircraft gunners laid down withering fire that stalled the armored advance. Having failed to even penetrate the extensive minefields, the Americans would attack again on the following morning. Combat engineers eventually dug 1,350 mines out of this sector.

Conclusion

The Japanese service personnel offered little opposition at the two Mabalacat airfields (East and West), but Eguchi's handful of combat infantry met the Americans with automatic weapons fire, and the anti-aircraft gunners laid down withering fire that stalled the armored advance. Having failed to even penetrate the extensive minefields, the Americans would attack again on the following morning. Combat engineers eventually dug 1,350 mines out of this sector.

Additional Notes
Japanese player will need an extra ENG from Leyte'44. The American player will need an I&R, Sherman, 4.2 in mortar and a truck from Leyte '44.

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle
Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0). AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement. AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1). Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2). Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3) Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0). Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3). Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3). AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42). AFV's may Dig In (16.2). Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario's Order of Battle

Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable

Display Order of Battle

Japan Order of Battle

Imperial Japanese Army
Foot Leader Towed

Imperial Japanese Army

Foot

Leader

Towed

Imperial Japanese Navy
Misc

United States Order of Battle

Army
Foot Leader Mechanized Motorized

Army

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Motorized

Display AARs (1)

Pacific Armor, scenario #8: Mabalacat Airfields

Author	JayTownsend
Method	Solo
Victor	United States
Play Date	2026-04-19
Language	English
Scenario	PACA008

Pacific Armor, scenario #8: Mabalacat Airfields

An interesting scenario, the Americans must inflict more casualties than they receive, control both airfields and control both entrenchments. The Japanese have two huge duel-purpose 120mm AA Guns along with a bunch of other AA Guns including 75/88 guns, that work fine as direct fire or anti-tank guns but not a lot of Infantry. The Americans have a nice dose of both Infantry, armor, mortars and engineers which they will nice as the Japanese have placed a ton of minefields. The Americans do have air-support when they make it through all the AA fire.

The Americans tackle the eastern airfield first and realize it’s not a good idea to lead with armor with so many big Japanese AA guns around and minefields after some losses pull the armor back and lead with infantry. The first airfield and entrenchment are taken after heavy losses on both sides and casualties are about even at this point. But now the American can use their full forces and pull those out of the first airfield battle area to join the forward group that are taking a pounding on their approaches to the second airfield. Once they regroup and use their numbers, they easily overcome the second airfield and entrenchment. The Japanese probably needed a better mutual supporting defensives and it was pretty much two groups, and eastern and western. The minefield placement could have been better as well in hindsight but the Americans win a major Victory in this one, achieving all three victory objectives. The Americans lost 14 steps and two leaders but the Japanese lost 21 steps and five leaders to show how heavy the fighting was.

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