This afternoon, I had the pleasure of playing WO19 “Through The Dragon’s Teeth.” I found it to be an interesting scenario for a number of reasons:
1) It’s a manageable size engagement between Marine Raiders and the 6th Kure SNLF.
2) Both sides get some interesting toys. The Japanese get two 140L naval guns and a pair of twin 12.7mm Type 93 machine guns (with 12! IFE). The Marines get 3 60mm mortars which can be swapped for a 4 FP OBA battery per their Chapter H note.
3) The basic tactical problem is intriguing. The Japanese must conduct a fighting withdrawal across board 38 (with the overlay 1 village) over the course of 6.5 turns. Though at first glance the SNLF is desperately short of infantry (being outnumbered by more than 2 to 1 in squads by the Raiders isn’t a pleasant proposition), the combination of HIP units, ordnance, and the terrain can really hamper the Marine advance.
4) In my opinion, actions in the Central and Upper Solomon Islands, and New Georgia in particular, are underrepresented in the ASL scenario library. From a design perspective, “Through the Dragon’s Teeth” is an example of playability placed above pure simulation. The maps depict an area substantially larger than the actual Enogai peninsula. These maps also vastly understate just how difficult the terrain is in northern New Georgia. If anyone tried to make a HASL map of the region, it would probably bear a fair resemblance to Suicide Creek. Taken together, these factors provide both sides with better maneuver opportunities, making for more interesting gameplay.
In our version of history, Japanese were able to hold the Americans off. One important factor was that the Marines took very heavy casualties among their leaders, ending the game with only one left of the original four. The 8-0 bearing the radio for the mortar OBA was one of the first to fall, further handicapping the Americans.
As the Raiders entered the village on board 38, one of the Type 93s hidden in the tree line to the north opened up, forcing the axis of attack to the West. About a platoon made it to the village on Board 62, but they were too few in number to secure all of the necessary hut hexes.
The Year-3 Type guns, emplaced along the shore line, remained HIP, having never fired a shot.
I had a lot of fun with this one, and I would happily play again, as either side.