Kawaguchi's Gamble PTO (id:#63915)
(ASL Starter Kit #4 ID: S64)   [next]   [previous]
Near Henderson Field, Guadalcanal 1942-09-13 ()
Designer: Ken Dunn
Starter kit scenario?:    Deluxe scenario?:
 
Balance:
JapaneseAmerican (USMC)
46.153846153846%

Overview:

Colonel Merritt Edson's command, a composite battalion made up of U.S.M.C. Raiders and Paramarines, had just been ordered to occupy a "quiet area", an unnamed ridge overlooking the all-important Henderson Airfield. Much depleted from past operations, they were moved to give them a rest. The Japanese, however, had organized a series of complicated maneuvers designed to surprise the American defenders and to reach a point adjacent to the ridge through which they planned to assault the American lines and break through to Henderson Field -- the key to maintaining control of Guadalcanal. General Kawaguchi's gamble gained him an element of surprise, allowing him to bring 3,000 soldiers against the 800 Marines occupying the ridge. But these Marines were some of the best and toughest on the island and were determined not to retreat.
Attacker: Japanese (1st Battalion, 124th Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 4th Regiment)
Defender: American (USMC) (Raider Battalion and Paramarine Battalion)  
5.5 turns
    Players: 2     OBA: None     Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:13.0 D:8.0
AFVs: A:0
AFVs: D:0
Guns: A:0 D:1
M1A2 37mm AA Gun

Victory Conditions:

Exit VP: Building Control VC: Area Control VC:
Unit Based VC: LOS Style VC: CVP Cap:
Misc Rules: PTO.
Overlays: NONE
Errata (source)
Players wanting to play this game/Request a match:

Scenario info

Last Played:
DateReporterOpponentBal.ResultTimeComments
2025-08-19(A) Michael Harris vs USMCAD American (USMC) win3 hrsCame down to final Japanese assault onboard the American 37L AA gun on the hill with its crew. All other MMC for USMC were off of the hill.
2024-07-26(A) Herve Duval vs In progress
2024-05-04(A) Ilyas Jalisi vs Anonymous Japanese winFirst time introducing the game to two new players who each took half of the USMC force. The game was an absolute blast with the advantage going back and forth between both sides as CCs were resolved in both players favours and rout paths were cut, reopened, then cut again.

The game ended on turn 4 with the USMC, with only 1 good order squad left on the hill itself, conceding defeat. It was still very close and, given the wounded and reduced disposition of the remaining Japanese forces, it is possible the USMC could have come out on top with one more turn played...
2023-12-10(A) Klara Kundzicz vs Benjamin Steinberg Draw

(VASL Log)		First time in PTO, I played as the Japanese, i thought i could score a win but a Gun eliminated my last leader and we agreed on a tie. Declared Banzai once and lost most of my units with it, ill say its quite an ok tactic but you have to know what you are doing because i dont!
2023-06-24(A) Bob McKenna vs Lou Padilla American (USMC) winAmerican take two BANZAI charges, lose AA gun, but hold the ridge. Close combat and hand to hand settled the day. So close, but so far for the IJA
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ActionDate
mdhs2k Added a playing2025-08-20 01:25:34
strategos Added a playing2024-12-31 22:03:39
Sampato Added a playing2024-05-10 09:23:36
Klara Added a playing2023-12-09 23:23:40
BobMcKenna1966 Added a playing2023-06-24 20:38:20
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Statistics:
Avg Rating: 7.66Votes: 44
Views: 9277
To-Play list count: 2
Estimated Play time: 2.8 hours
Recorded Games: 31
Archive recorded plays:
Japanese11
American (USMC)17
Drawn:2

ROAR Data: (as of today)
Kawaguchi's Gamble [Confirmed]
[A] American 13
[D] Japanese 11
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