General Yamashita's 14th Area Army Headquarters at Baguio was hemmed in by American units from the 43rd Infantry Division that were determined to nullify the Japanese forces in northern Luzon, as the battle for Manila raged down south. Occasionally, small attack groups would probe the American line. One such group prepared to attack an isolated outpost utilizing a few rare self-propelled artillery pieces.
Popcorn scenario perfect for a FtF gameday, or for somebody learning the intricacies of PTO. Turn 1 was nondescript, with the Japs making their approach and the Amis lining the hedgerow. Turn 2 saw the Amis pull back from the hedgerow in the face of massive Jap firepower, and featured a mishap and a mistake prove crucial to the Ami downfall. The mishap was not being able to break the Jap HS in the Z8 woods, who then prevented the Amis from gaining further concealment. The mistake being placing a unit in LOS of the Japs to the north, granting them an opening to banzai. This came on Turn 3, and at first seemed costly to the Japs when they lost a squad. But when they were able to bust the fragile Amis in AFPh (eliminating a squad for FTR) and trade squads in CC they made good enough inroads to prove troublesome to the remaining Ami defenders. Perhaps just as important, the Amis had to leave behind their MMG and one of their BAZ, and the Japs were able to now line the hedgerow with their own massive firepower. the bottom of the turn saw an Ami crew ambush and eliminate the Jap 9-0, but this stranded him in the backfield (and he had the last BAZ). They also lost another squad (one being a HS in a bungled CC that could've relieved some of the pressure). Turn 4 was bloody, with a couple holdout Ami HS in the huts representing themselves well; of course there was another banzai. The Jap 9-1 went down, as well as a HS. The Ami crew in the north was hunted down and dispatched. One of the Ami HS in the huts fell in CC, but not before taking a full squad with them. Bottom of the turn saw the Amis mostly skulk, but the last remaining Jap leader was brained by a sniper. A 667 failed their PAATC (despite being with the 8-1), allowing the Amis to only populate two of the back kunai hexes instead on three. Their biggest stack fell to the man by a couple shots from the HO-NI, and their only other real threat (the HMG) was taken out by an OVR. It was then fairly easy pickings for the Japs to overwhelm the last remaining Ami HS.
2025-08-06
(D) Andy Bagley
vs
Simon Staniforth
Japanese win
As the Americans, I was prepared for an early Japanese banzai charge, but my opponent was more subtle than that. The Japanese approached slowly, using smoke from their SP artillery guns as cover, until they reached the hedge line to force the Americans back. Only then was it time for selective banzai charges, in some cases managing to surround the Americans with Japanese units which had advanced round the flanks. By turn 4 the Americans were all but annihilated and I had to concede.
2025-08-06
(A) Simon Staniforth
vs
Andy Bagley
Japanese win
I see my opponent has already written this one up which is a fair summary of the game.
