SamB said:
I think the USMC is in trouble. In my campaign the line shown at end of scenario was about where I ended the campaign.
I think the Marines are in trouble too. Unless the Marines counter-attack during 13 day, the Japanese will have accumulated 68 VP out of the 75 VP they need. Picking up the remainder might be a bit tricky, but between exit points and an all-out assault on the other hill, they should be able to get them. The thing that complicates the analysis is that there were almost no casualties on either side. But I think the Attacker wins in this case.
I think the first night should end with the Marines and Japanese glaring at each other on the southern hill. The Marines need to use their arty (and on my purchase list is a second module) to cause heavy casualties among the Japanese. In the center, a line of halfsquads stands up front, catching any Banzai or Advance, backed by a line of squads, many with MMGs. The entire area is probably blanketed with harrassing fire OBA. Six FP flat (or -1 or -2) vs the Japanese, +4 vs. the Americans in entrenchments.
Unfortunately the Marines also have to set up a cordon defense in the jungle in the west. It's important for the Marines to get the Japanese out of cloaking so the Japanese pay the extra MF cost for concealment terrain at night.
In the east the paramarines have to set up a thin screen to prevent the Japanese from easily gaining the ridge from that side.
It's likely to be bloody, and the Marines do need their firepower to be high. If they do, between those shots and the arty, they should be able to stunt the Japanese attack and exact a high price for the southern ridge. If the Japanese can't get full VP for the southern ridge and are losing the exchange of squads, they will be hard-pressed to win.
JR
