Tropic Lightning PTO (id:#61663)
(ASL Journal #10 ID: J159)   [next]   [previous]
Designer: Eric Bongiovanni and Michel Bongiovanni
Starter kit scenario?:    Deluxe scenario?:
 
Balance:
AmericanJapanese
43.75%

Overview:

Resolving to fight to the death, Major General Shigemi ordered his forces to dig in at San Manuel. Several tanks were converted into fortified bunkers by burying them in the ground so only their turrets were visible; the remainder were to be used as mobile reserves. The Americans commenced a 5-day bombardment on 19 January, followed by an initial assault on January 23. The main assault began on 24 January and was made by the Army’s 161st Infantry Regiment, supported by the 716th Tank Battalion.
Attacker: American (161st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division)
Defender: Japanese (2nd Mobile Infantry and 7th Tank Regiment, 2nd Armored Division)  
6.5 turns
    Players: 2     OBA: None     Night: No
Unit Counts:
Squads: A:20.0 D:13.0
AFVs: A:10
M7 HMC
M4 x 2
M5A1 x 5
M3 ht x 2

AFVs: D:8
Type 95 HA-GO x 2
Type 1 HO-NI I
Type 1 CHI-HE
Type 97A CHI-HA x 4
Type 1 HO-KI

Guns: A:0
M2 60mm Mortar x 2
D:1
Type 1 Machine-Moved Gun
Type 89 Heavy Grenade-Launcher x 2

Victory Conditions:

Exit VP: Building Control VC: Area Control VC:
Unit Based VC: LOS Style VC: CVP Cap:
Misc Rules: PTO (G.1), LJ (G2.1) Exc: Roads exist). Flames can not exist in huts. D: Dug-in AFVs (D9.54)
Overlays: X11
Errata (source)
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Scenario info

Last Played:
DateReporterOpponentBal.ResultTimeComments
2025-05-13(D) Camille Garek vs Gérard VANDERVELDEN Japanese win
2025-02-21(D) Ian Morris vs Martin Mayers American winDiced again by the dicebot, but a very enjoyable game nonetheless. Lots of fun to be had as the defender, setting tricks and traps ; lots of fun to be had by the attacker, with truly awesome firepower. Our tank battle was totally one-sided : mine couldn't harm his, and his never missed.
2024-09-09(A) Douglas Leslie vs Tony Gibson American winVery exciting scenario featuring a full pitch tank battle which is very rare in the PTO. The terrain is ideal for the Japanese with plenty of places to set up HIP units and hidden THH heroes. My attack got off to a less than auspicious start when the forces on my right flank pitched mass firepower including a 9-2 leader, a FT, and an OT tank with 24 FP canister against six Japanese concealment counters. This resulted in a dead 9-2, two broken squads and an malfunctioned MA! The Japanese sniper tormented my right flank for the whole game but the problem with this was that it was being activated by DRs of four, of which I rolled many. The Japanese armour didn't fare well against my Stuarts and Shermans and was wiped out with only one dead Stuart to show for it. This allowed the Americans to VBM freeze the defenders to death with virtual impunity. Tony's dice were terrible and he eventually conceded on turn five with his starting force almost wiped out and unopposed US armour roaming the map board.
2024-03-10(D) Ron Garcia vs Darryl M. Japanese winI really enjoyed this scenario. An interesting OB of desperate Japanese infantry trying to hold up and delay the Americans and their massive firepower coupled with a swirling tank battle made this scenario exciting from start to finish. It ended when the Americans made a last ditch effort to storm the two overlay buildings on turn 6. Out popped a full and two hidden HS to retake buildings in the mostly abandoned central village and my bloodied Japanese scraped out the victory.

This wasn't a sleaze victory by any means. Knowing that the Japanese can HIP some infantry makes it imperative that some American infantry needs to pull building guard duty. In addition, the remaining Americans pushing for the overlay buildings were still a full turn away and would have had to survive all defensive fire and win both CC's (if they made it that far) to win. A tough, but possible, chance to pull off. The battle was really cat and mouse throughout making it very challenging, and thus, enjoyable for both sides.
2022-06-17(A) Paul Works vs Ed Beekman American win
View all or balance report
ActionDate
GOUREAU Added a playing2025-05-13 20:09:02
Hutch Modified the misc. rules2025-02-21 12:36:46
Gamer72 Added a playing2025-02-21 00:52:14
Gamer72 Rated the scenario2025-02-21 00:46:21
Hutch Modified the unit counts2024-09-11 13:40:16
FileDescriptionUserViews
VASL Scenario Setup (J159 Tropic Lightning v667.vsav)VASL SetupTuruk309
(!usa-jap.png)Imagehoxson11133
Type 97A CHI-HA (Type 97A Chi-Ha.png)Imagehoxson11211
(j159 Batisse.jpg)Imagehoxson11238
(J159 Tropic Lightning Scenario Archive.jpg)Map Imagevon Marwitz1422
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Type 97A CHI-HA
 
Statistics:
Avg Rating: 7.87Votes: 30
Views: 6528
To-Play list count: 2
Estimated Play time: 9.8 hours
Recorded Games: 20
Archive recorded plays:
American7
Japanese13
Drawn:0

ROAR Data: (as of today)
Tropic Lightning [Confirmed]
[A] American 35
[D] Japanese 41
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