Gavutu-Tanambogo Assault 1 turn 6.5 - Trial and mostly error

Turn 5.5 to 6.5 was a hard one for both sides. Japan's counterattack was scattered by 200mm NOBA and sent the infantry running for trenches as close as possible to Marines positions. The cruiser offshore ceased fire since the island started to look like a mess of friends and foes.

The poor squad that escaped death and swam to shore got intercepted by a HS and reduced to a HS itself. Fortunately, heavy fire from the hill pinned the IJA before they could engage the disarmed marines in CC.

The swimmers gets to shore only to be met with the sniper's
crosshair, and a squad of demented Japanese conscripts with
TWO DCs.

On bloody beach, marksmen from a cave made short order of two crews attempting to place DCs in their midst.

Around the corner, Marines from up above dropped a smoke grenade in the other cave. The Japanese MMC down there was berserk and as it was about to get out of the cave, realized that a Marine crew had shoved a DC at the mouth of the cave. Many Japanese soldiers died, but not enough of them as far as the Marines are concenred.

The unarmed marines kept on wading away from the japanese conscripts, fearing CC or even a DC attack. As they reached the shore, punishing mortar fire from the far end of Gavutu wiped 3 broken HS stuck on the beach.

Overhead, the USN bombers were swerving back home. The sound of NOBA on Tanambogo can be heard. The marines are now trapped on Hill 148, alone, with dwindling stocks of DC and little collapsed caves to show for.

Last glimpse from the USN planes on the way back to the flat-top

Bloody beach in the sunlight. Capturing the pillbox on the left is, hopefully, next.

Gavutu-Tanambogo Assault 1 turn 5.5 - Friendly fire

This had to happen, a fighter-bomber CAS on a big stack of entrenched Japanese in light jungle went astray and smote my 9-2 SMC and a squad on the edge of the hill. The pilot during debrief reported that they looked japaneser. The SMC lost both thumbs during the point attack, but still instruct the remaining broken HS to give the finger to "blue falcon" flying over. A mystery cave was discovered, but there is no telling what's inside. The good news is that my 10-2 SMC was closer to the target, but in a blind hex and so was spared (Although not blind from a different hex grain, so I may have played this wrong).

Blue Falcon just after his bombs smashed the Marine
overwatch covering the beach.

Lesson learned: +3 sighting TC because of woods is a bit of a bitch. Blue Falcon shall never strike

Finally, the 200mm NOBA finally bothered with a FFE on the assembly point of the Japanese counter attack.

This assault phase is way too close to be called right now: the way good ASL scenario are going usually. In the next turn, the DC assaults on two key caves will be carried over: this will decide how hard the next landing wave will be for the Marines. The Japanese will also decide whether to launch a counterattack or consolidate the line.

Turn 5.5 is over... look at the cool guys wading in the shallow-OCEAN!

Happy hours is still on on the beaches of Tanambogo, despite the airstrikes on
the MTR.