Pacific Armor, scenario #11: Behind Whose Lines?

This is a smaller size scenario with two victory objectives for the Japanese to achieve or not. It is a deceptive scenarios, in both how you approach it defensively and offensively can effect gameplay or force one side or the other to adapt. I rolled for Night LOS and it was two hexes for this scenario, which can also factor in depending on one hex or two hex visibility.

The Americans setup up a blocking force forward including their 37mm ATG & Halftrack with some Infantry and then put some more infantry for support further back that could block obvious avenues of approach through the terrain. The Japanese went forward on the road hexes and both sides have special scenario rules #3 & #4 until contact in made.

After the initial contact, all hell break loose. The Forward Japanese tank unit, a Shinhoto tank takes a step lose but somehow the Japanese manage to assault the American’s 37mm gun, halftrack and Infantry unit with that flame throwing Japanese SS-Ki unit, another tank step and Infantry unit as well. The Americans probably should have shot the SS-Ki armor unit first instead of the Shinhoto tank unit because the Japanese rolled well in the assaults and no fire-first for the Dug-in Americans, as the Flame throwing tanks cancelled that out. The other Japanese units flank both left and right, the American adjust and go up on the Japanese in step loses until they try to slow some of the escaping Japanese unit in unwise assaults and now the Japanese go up on the Americans in step losses.

In the end, once the Japanese punched two holes through the scattered American defensives they exit 20 steps off the western edge of the map, they did lose their heavy guns and most of their armored transports but lost 11 steps to the Americans 12 steps lost giving them a Major Victory and both their objectives. I had to recount the step loses twice to make sure and there was still Japanese half step disrupted in the Jungle, the American could have gone after to make it a lower Japanese victory but it was not worth the effort.

I can see a number of mistakes the Americans made and in the beginning I thought the Japanese were going to lose but let the scenario playout. I first thought the Japanese couldn’t win now I think it’s more difficult for the Americans but it could be a 50/50 thing. Fun puzzle to try and solve either way.

Side note: The 2nd Tank Division column tried all night and into early morning to break through the perimeter of the 27th Infantry Regiment but when the action ended, the Japanese losses were 125 killed, 8 tanks, 8 artillery prime movers, 4 tractors, 8 105mm howitzers, 5 trucks and other miscellaneous vehicles and equipment destroyed. The 27th Infantry lost 15 men killed and 45 wounded in the night mayhem.

On a side note, the Japanese had over 20 of the “SS-Ki” armored engineer vehicles on Luzon under the 2nd Tank Division. The “SS-Ki” armored tank, could clear mines, plow jungle vegetation, cut barbwire and had a flame-thrower unit. The Americans found 8 more of these in northern Luzon. I am not sure how they did in combat if at all but always though they would be an interesting armored vehicle for Panzer Grenadier and I am happy we finally have one.