Flames from a huge fire in the Tondo District forced the Americans to alter their path of advance towards the Pasig River east into the Binondo District in Manila. To slow the American advance, the Japanese set up roadblocks at key intersections guarded by machine gun nests and anti-tank guns. Of primary importance to the Americans was capturing the bridges across the Pasig intact. Japanese engineers worked feverishly to prepare those bridges for demolition. It was a race against time for both adversaries.
Attacker: American (148th Infantry Regiment and Division Cannon Company, 37th Infantry Division and 754th Tank Battalion)
Defender: Japanese (2nd Provisional Army Battalion, Northern Force)
8.5 turns
Players: 2 OBA: Japanese Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:24.0 D:19.0
AFVs: A:8
M7 HMC x 2 M4 x 4 M8 x 2 Armored Bulldozer x 2
AFVs: D:2
M3A1 SC(a) x 2
Guns: A:0
M2 60mm Mortar x 2
D:3
Type 1 Machine-Moved Gun Type 96 25mm AA Gun Twin-Mount Type 98 High-Angle Machine Cannon Type 89 Heavy Grenade-Launcher x 2
Misc Rules:
D: Buried Bomb (SF20.4), A: Sappers (B28.8), LV +1 Hinderance (E3.1) at greater than 5 hexes.
My first playing of S&F:M. Turned out to be a dud. I set up the Japanese exclusively on the northeast landmass (with a strategically placed unit within six hexes of the southwest bridge eyeballing a Set DC). With only a few hexes to push forward to get to my units, the Americans faced an uphill battle. Firelanes, Set DC's, AT Mines, Mines, Bore Sighting, T-H Heroes, hidden units, 100mm OBA with Plentiful Ammunition - and that's not everything they can do. My friend tried his best, but his forces were torn up pretty badly from the get go. I gave the scenario a decent rating because I was the Japanese player. There are so many sneaky tricks they can pull on the poor Americans. On the other hand, I'd rate it a 1 if playing as the US.
If you set up like I did, then you won't get a feel how the new rules affect this module. The terrain in the little area I set up in only had two new terrain types, so it wasn't even good as an intro to Manila scenario (again, as I played it). I'm sure they'll get better as my friend and I progress through this module.
2023-02-21
(D) Stefan Fiedler
vs
Gustav Lidemyr
Japanese win
Interesting scenario. Defender need to plan well as there is not space to trade.
Building 4T6 is quite important.
Japan player had one dc on every bridge and 2 DC set outside setup area (allowed as per SSR we surmised). American player was aggressive and payed for it. Japanese OBA was effective and most of the THH was placed on-board. The OT AFVs are very fragile Mtrs and OBA killed them.
American player should go slow and safe.
2023-02-01
(D) Richard Jenulis
vs
Dennis Hess
Japanese win
The Japanese blew the 4O12 & the 4I2 bridges. The game became out of reach by the end of turn 6. Highlights for the Japanese was a flamethrower that took out a Sherman and a Dozer. IMO, this one is hard on the Americans.
2022-07-14
(A) Ben Jones
vs
Jean B
Japanese win
Japanese set up to cover both bridges, but initially seemed too diluted as the Americans attacked only on the western side.
With a lot of time and a lot of engineering assets the Americans slowly ground forward with minimal casualties.
Luck had an obvious and visible effect.
The Japanese lost (on their first shot) one mortar, the AT gun and crucially the radio. They didn’t get to roll for the bridge AT set DC until T6. The buried bomb malfed. They only managed to detonate one DC throughout the whole game.
Still The Japanese managed a win by 2 points.
I had kept my attack solely on the western side of the map and whilst the Japanese there were wiped out the other islet was largely untouched.
The Americans need to attack on both sides.
Notes for a new manila player
• Lots of different building and rubble types.
• Cellars are not like the cellars we are used to.
• Reduced THH
We thought it was excellent and I’m looking forward to the rest of the pack.
Note - its not too clear if Japanese fortifications can setup HIP in shellholes or roads with shellholes. When I receive the answer to my QA I'll post it here.