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)
47.058823529412%

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
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
2022-12-22(D) Jack Wilson vs Bob T. American (USMC) winBob and I have decided to play through the SK4 pack. This was the first time for him on this scenario. I had an advantage as I've played it three times now and, of course, picked up a few things with my three previous losses.

I got lucky on the 2nd Japanese turn when I KIA'd the 10-1 leader and one MMC. Bob rebounded to launch a strong effort in the middle, augmented with two bloody Banzai attacks.

It looked like it was going to come down to a last turn CC fest, but the Americans were able to keep their AA gun hidden on a level one hill and thus seal the victory.

A fun scenario that gives the player new to PTO a crash course in concealment, dense jungle, the peculiar Japanese abilities (especially the HtH CC!) and, yes, Banzai. This devious tactic is something the American player must always be alert to.

I see that according to ROAR, and the Archive, the scenario is tilted toward the Americans. Perhaps. But I think the Japanese have excellent chances.

One minor quibble I would have with the design (beside the quirky out-of-the-blue DR SSR 2 & 3 allow) is the VC condition that encourages the American player NOT to use his powerful AA gun, and therefore put it jeopardy of capture and destruction, at least early on. Losing the gun means he now has to have two MMC survive the carnage. However, it might be worth considering putting it on the front line where it might be able to reap sufficient carnage early before succumbing to the inevitable.

A personal milestone for me: after playing exclusively solo for nearly 2 years this was my 50th live scenario this year.
2022-11-16(D) Jack Wilson vs Ken Walsh Japanese winSecond time in three days playing this one, only now as Americans. Game ended on American turn 5 when my last MMC got pinned in the MPh. Even if it had survived, I would have had to win two Hail Mary CCs to pull off a win on the last turn.

Love the scenario for play balance, but I am not a fan of the quirky SSR that potentially can cause perfectly healthy and concealed Marine MMCs to suddenly break and lose concealment without the Japanese having to fire a shot.

Nevertheless, I made several tactical errors (which Ken capitalized on) which did not help the American cause,

Well-played game on Ken's part.
2022-11-13(D) Dmitry Klyuykov vs Jack Wilson American (USMC) win

(VASL Log)		Round 3 in Stew's mini-tournament. USMC gave up some ground and setup in the back controlling open ground stripe with a AA Gun trying to ambushing the flanking force. With some good firing Americans were able to hold their positions. Thank you for playing, Jack!
2022-11-12(A) Jack Wilson vs Dmitry American (USMC) winFourth PTO scenario. First time playing the Japanese. Dmitry executed a rock-solid defense which my ham-fisted bumbling tactics could not crack. Learned some useful lessons from a far better player I hope to employ in the future.
2022-10-24(A) Craig Renier vs Jack Wilson Japanese winThe Japanese focused their attack on the west side slowly forcing their way up the ridge. The attackers were lucky with a couple attacks and a risky CC which cost the Japanese 2 full squads but took out the American 9-2 leader and a full squad. By Turn 3, the Japanese found themselves behind due to the cautious approach. A piece of the American force which was divided from the main body broke under DFF giving the Japanese an opening to concentrate their forces. And on Turn 5, the Japanese invoked SSR2, revealing two squads. One of those newly revealed squads was covering the American left flank. It broke under Prep Fire. With the ground free from Defensive Fire, the Japanese closed on the last defenders. On Turn 6, the Americans invoked SSR3, but failed with a 6. The 10-1 leader subsequently directed a Prep Fire which broke another MMC which was covering the open ground approach on the hill. The Japanese moved in for the kill when the AA gun was revealed. A 16+1 shot stripped one MMC but had no effect on another. The crew broke under AFPh. The Japanese advanced onto the gun and recovered it in the American Turn 6 RPh. The last American hope was to break the Japanese MMC in possession on the gun and then eliminate the Japanese units in CC. But the Japanese passed the subsequent MC ending the game.
2022-10-24(D) Jack Wilson vs Craig Renier Japanese winSecond SK PTO game. Not brilliantly played on my part, but I felt I played well enough to win. As usual, Craig played a solid game with a methodical, yet relentless, advance.

The game was in doubt until the last turn. There were about three or four DRs toward the end that had any one of them gone in the American favor could well have flipped the result.

Mais, c'est la vie!

Excellent well-balanced scenario.
2022-09-03(D) Dmitry Klyuykov vs Slava Zipunov American (USMC) win

(VASL Log)		The Japanese launched their banzai through 4 MF hex, so USMC had many opportunities to deliver some casualties. USMC lost 2.5 squads after the banzai, but Japanese were left with only 5 squad-equivalents against 6 USMC.
2022-01-02(A) Alberto Pomar vs César Moreno American (USMC) win
2021-10-31(A) Craig Renier vs Tony Fermendzin American (USMC) winThe Japanese attack concentrated on the American left flank and center. On Turn 2, the Japanese on the left took heavy losses to overwhelm most of the American left while, in the center, they failed to take advantage of a greatly weakened defense after a lucky Prep Fire result. The attack was pressed through Turns 3 and 4 making steady gains, but with continued losses. In Turn 5, 2 Japanese MMCs with the 10-0 Leader were forced to take no action leaving a small weakened force with few choices. A desperate Banzai attack against the American Gun ended with the inevitable KIAs and broken MMCs.
2021-10-31(D) Tony Fermendzin vs Craig Renier American (USMC) winThis was my second time playing this scenario. The Americans have won both times, by slowly falling back to the northwest corner of the hill. If the marines can hold the Japanese off long enough, and then fall back to the NW corner of the hill with the 10-2 leader and enough FP, they can make it very difficult for the Japanese to come and root them out. See Craig's comments below for more details.
2021-07-11(A) Pascal Boileau vs Jean-Philippe Rigaud American (USMC) winThe issue of the game was decided on the two last DR in a H-t-H... The Japanese needed 8 or less to kill the last American MMC and I rolled a 10 and the American player needed 7 or less and he rolled a 6. The last American MMC survived to the CC and it was not in melee anymore ! Three devastating Banzai charges for the Americans were performed in the last three turns to invest all level 1 hexes. A fun and thrilling scenario !
2021-06-25(D) Doba Serge vs Pascal Boileau American (USMC) win
2021-06-25(A) Pascal Boileau vs Serge Doba American (USMC) winAs an introduction to PTO, I played the Japanese. I was never in position to worry the Americans even with a Banzai charge. They pulled back methodically in the NW part of the map and I was to late at the endgame. A nice scenario for learning how to handle Japanese troops and to discover the jungle !
2021-01-30(A) Russell Dewhurst vs [Solo] Draw
2021-01-09(D) O Ramaille vs Loïc Gourdon American (USMC) winThe Japanese skillfully attacked the wings of the USMC defense that retreated slowly in the jungle. The Japanese MMGs in the center supported the assault but Captain Bailey eliminated the manning crews. While the Japanese were surrounding the Marines, a failed banzai charge weakened the Japanese center. Some Marines rushed forward in the quite empty center forcing Japanese troops to come back and pursued them. Meanwhile, the Japanese having eliminated Emerson and the first nest of MG were now assaulting Bailey's position. Surrounded, he killed a leader and most of the attackers but eventually routed and was eliminated for failure to rout. The last USMC troops were dealt with in hand-to-hand combat, not without having eliminated a lot of Japanese soldiers. A wounded Japanese leader and a squad were the unique survivors of this butchery... But, they failed to discover the still hidden US gun in the jungle. The marines by the sacrifice of their squads mislead the Japanese and prevent them to explore the last jungle hexes on the hill. A final american victory.
2020-11-25(D) Igor Luckyanov vs Alexey Tikhomirov American (USMC) win
2020-11-15(A) Tony Fermendzin vs Bill Burt American (USMC) winThe Japanese attack started well when the MMG rolled snake eyes on its first shot. The Japanese attacked from the SW and the SE with their main push coming from the SE. The Americans skillfully pulled back to the NW corner of the map making their final stand there. The Americans stacked two squads along with both MMG together and this proved to be too much firepower for the Japanese to overcome, killing everything that the Japanese could throw at them in their final Banzai.
2020-08-09(D) Eric Topp vs Mark Dennehy American (USMC) winPoor shooting from the Marines allowed the Japanese to move up. The Japanese commander was hesitant to CC fearing the Marines' FP advantage. Instead, he moved the Japanese adjacent to the US positions then eliminating units for failure to rout. However, the Marines had defence in depth and a last turn Banzai Charge could not eliminate the final redoubt in hexes K2 and L1.
2020-05-21(A) Dmitry Klyuykov vs Anton Sulin Japanese win
2020-05-19(A) Vilis Pavulans vs Matias Dahlbäck American (USMC) winFirst PTO game for both of us. I did my best Banzaing in all directions. Come down to the last close combat but the dice failed me again… because only the dice are to blame. My tactics were flawless… Hrrm…
2020-05-19(A) Matias Dahlbäck vs Vilis Pavulans Japanese win
2020-04-21(A) Kevin Sanders vs Rob Brown American (USMC) winTotal learning mess by both players. Banzai at a auto cannon = bad idea. But had to learn the rules some how. Would like to try this one again
2020-03-26(D) John Smith vs Scott American (USMC) winSmall blood and guts scenario with Japanese and Marines duking it out in the dense jungle. The Japanese were able to track down the AA gun, which wasn't much of a factor, but couldn't deny the Marine 10-2 leader and 2 raider squads a final hill hex after a last ditch Banzai charge. Very tense scenario that literally came down to the last die roll in H to H combat.

I think the key to this one for the USMC is to not engage the Japanese directly. After the American turn try not to have any units in LOS of Japanese, this completely removes their ability to Banzai, forcing them to use standard move/fire tactics.
2020-03-12(A) M T vs Japanese winGood scenario to learn the PTO basics. Japanese carried the day with their excellent HtH capabilities, after incurring heavy casualties in a Banzai Charge.
2020-02-15(A) Dmitry Klyuykov vs Fedor Grachev Japanese win
2020-01-31(A) Martí Cabré vs Solo Japanese winSolo game. A prompt banzai charge destroyed the American left but at a high cost, five Japanese squads dead. But then the American MMG broke and the Japanese assaulted the center pushing the defenders back and killing the gun crew. There were many HtH close combats with many deaths on both sides, until only one defender HS survived.
2020-01-24(A) Dmitry Klyuykov vs Igor Luckyanov Japanese win
2020-01-10(D) Kermit Mullins vs Scott Waites Japanese winWow...bloody fun scenario! My Americans were overwhelmed at the end as the Banzai charges just kept coming. My D-Fire rolls were too high and at the end all my boys were dead on the field with 2-1/2 squads left to claim the victory.
2019-12-14(A) David Wiesenhahn vs Japanese win
2019-07-28(A) O Ramaille vs American (USMC) winWith the US marine raiders concealed and scattered throughout the hill, the Japanese advanced into the jungle and launched two banzai charges that obliterated the first line of defense. Captain Kirk and his men defended their lives with their MMG tearing apart a few Japanese squads. Several raiders squads died in hand-to-hand close combat. But the Japanese were still looking for that damned hidden AA gun. Finally, they found it and killed its crew. Yet several surviving raiders and paramarines were still lurking in the jungles after the Japanese assault. A victory for the USMC despite the heavy losses.
2019-07-10(A) Eric Partizan Eric vs Japanese win
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ActionDate
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
Jwil2020 Added a playing2022-12-23 21:16:05
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Statistics:
Avg Rating: 7.70Votes: 43
Views: 9110
To-Play list count: 2
Estimated Play time: 2.8 hours
Recorded Games: 30
Archive recorded plays:
Japanese11
American (USMC)16
Drawn:2

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