Operation Shoestring AAR

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Welcome. It has been a while since I've written an AAR. This is my first for JTSC. For a taste of nostalgia, I recall buying these games long ago (before Matrix) due to a series of AARs written by, IIRC, Don Maddox, posted over at the Blitz. They may still be there.

Note: I've never been good at these LCGs. I end up losing too much eventually and cannot continue. We'll see. I hope I'll have the guts to play this to an end - victory or corpse.

I will skip going into detail about the first scenario, but here's an overview. I took very few casualties. The move up to the airfield was a breeze. The Japanese positions along the coast crumbled easily under mortar and machine gun fire. Once I reached the airfield, the battalion spread out.

Company B moved down the coast. Company A headed straight for the airfield. And C moved through the tall grass north of the runway. We got real close to taking the objective hex beyond the field. It was abandoned due to artillery fire, but C Company just couldn't make it there before time ran out.

Allied Minor Victory!

Next, Lunga Point.
(and there will be pics)

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Lunga Point - Scenario 2

A Company (Capt. Liberto): Yellow
B Company (Capt. Hawkins): Blue
C Company (Capt. Warner): Green
Japanese: Red Circles

The Opening:

Liberto led A Company toward the water expecting to find someone hold up in the village along the coast. It had to be cleared, being to battalions right, knowing if we didn't and someone was there, we'd be caught in a crossfire moving toward the bridges. Liberto led most of the company down the path while one platoon swung through the trees in order to cut off retreat. It took fire from Japanese machine guns across the river, but still managed to get into position. The village, held by no more than a platoon, fell pretty quickly.

Warner and C Company moved toward the lower bridge with caution, not knowing just what waited across the pontoons. As they approached all available mortars fired on suspected Japanese positions. Major Enright assumed that this island must be taken before the assault over the inner bridge could be attempted. Warner got a lucky break. The Japanese machine gun on the other side was quickly annihilated by mortar fire and the remaining infantry platoon fell back as it began to take fire from all sides.

Hawkins and B Company moved up into concealed positions within the grasslands. Undoubtedly the Japanese would be guarding the other bridge and they did not want to draw any fire until the first part of C Company's assault had taken out the Jap positions downriver. Unfortuantely, Hawkins ordered his light machine gun detachment into the open in order to spot for the 81s and it did not come back.

So far so good. The downriver pontoon bridge will be taken in phase 2 and B Company can begin its assault.

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Lunga Point

Phase Two:

C Company pushed quickly across the river with no casualties, driving back the retreating Japanese. As they moved toward the sea, they began taking fire from another Japanese platoon on the second island. C Company left one platoon just over the river in order to suppress it and dropped a constant barrage of mortar on its position, but to little effect. Warner hoped to just by-pass it and capture the first island regardless, but the bastards managed to wipe out his LMGs as he moved by.

Hawkins knew an assualt over the bridge would be a massacre. Recon spotted another Jap platoon further upriver with an LOS on the pontoons as well. C Company's quick work over the lower pontoons revealed a blind spot below the upriver bridge. Hawkins led him men through the water and onto the opposing shore under the cover of smoke. Hawkins men immediately took out the Japanese machine guns and artillery fire retreated the infantry platoon.

Battalion's right flank secure and C Company well over its bridge, Enright ordered Able to follow in Baker's footsteps.

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Lunga Point

Phase Three:

Charlie Company destroyed the retreating Japanese before they could reach their brothers holding the small coastal village. Warner led one platoon down the trail while another moved left. Warner's detachment came under heavy fire from the village and took casualties initially. But return fire wiped out the Japanese. The island was secure.

Liberto moved Able over the river and moved south, leaving a platoon to guard their left flank. The scenario was coming to an end and there was no way to make it to the objects along the coast. Hawkins wasn't keen on the idea, but the next objective was within reach. Enright ordered Baker to move forward. If the Japanese were waiting for them in the next village, which they certainly were, they would not know until they reached the first houses. The entire company moved up the trail. Japanese guns opened up scattering the platoons in all directions. Thankfully, no one was killed.

Minor Allied Victory.

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Lunga Point End Notes:

As might be evident from the AAR, I've played this one before. I tried this LCG once before and did not make it past this scenario. If things don't go right for the Allies, it can be difficult. But it's one of those scenarios where one or two lucky shots can open the whole thing up. Which is what happened to me. Very early on artillery and MG fire whittled down the defenders of the lower bridge.

My experience from the last game showed me that assaulting both bridges simultaneously is suicide. This one has to be done in steps. Keep your artillery falling like rain. Move slowly, but move. The Japanese do have artillery and can call in air support. If your units are caught on the bridges or in the water, it can mean a quick end.

I lost a few marine platoon SPs, but the biggest losses were two of my LMGs.

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Scenario Three: Press on Kukum

A Company (Capt. Liberto): Yellow
B Company (Capt. Hawkins): Blue
C Company (Capt. Warner): Green
Japanese: Red Circles

As you can see, I quickly discovered that the Japanese have ringed in my battalion along the cost. I don't see any way forward but to attack the crossroads and move against the village across the inlet. Able Company, fortfied by a unit of light tanks, moves up the trail and begins picking apart the central Japanese defense.

Downstream, Baker moves over the shallow water and comes under heavy Japanese fire from the distant village the fire is imprecise but quite overwhelming. Just across the water they hunker down while to their rear battalion deploys three HMGs and the company mortar. I begin to drop what will turn out to be an entire scenario's worth of 75mm artillery fire on this village. Turns out there are four Japanese units guarding this point. I see now way to quickly flank the village. Baker can only hope that the artillery, HMG and steady progress of Able will unseat the defenders. By turn 2, Baker is joined by the other detachment of light tanks.

Charlie begins shifting its platoons over the river, leaving two machine gun teams to hold the left bank and the bridge. They will be used firstly to guard Able's left flank and secondly, as replacements if Able begins to fade.

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Scenario 3: part 2

Liberto crushes through the Japanese defense, capturing the objective. Ahead of Baker, they take a breather and clean up the area. Liberto takes a single platoon and the light tanks under his command up the trail to scout the next objective. They run into one Japanese unit holding down the next objective and another on a hill overlooking his position.

Capt Hawkins inches Baker toward the water between him and the village. The Jap MGs and mortars have been destroyed by the trio of HMGs firing over Baker's heads and a US air strike. All that remains as they wade into the waters is a diminished platoon and a Japanese officer.

Warner brings Charlie Company completely over the Lunga River and takes up blocking positions north of the trail in order to protect Able's rear.

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Scenario 3: part 3

With the village to his right all but in Baker's hands, Capt Liberto decides to push onto the next objective. A sudden banzai like attack on Liberto's column throws his armor led recon back. The Japanese platoon then turns south and makes an attempt to reinforce Baker Company's target. Unswayed, Able takes the objective, cutting off the Japanese trapped on the point.

Baker Company storms the village on the second attempt and wipes out two platoons retreating over the beaches.

Things seem to be winding down, when a number of Japanese platoons charge out of the forest, threatening several mortar positions. Charlie Company, strung out in order to cover so much territory between Able and the Lunga River, calls in the HMGs which had been covering Baker's approach. With their help, and several lucky artillery barrages, the attackers are cut to pieces before they can infiltrate Charlie's lines.

There is another objective further up the coast and Enright, true to form, orders Able to push on. Before they can get anywhere, Japanese artillery, from the objective itself, rains down on the lead elements, taking out an entire squad.

Allied Major Victory!

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Scenario 3: End Notes

Not bad for the first time through. I felt myself blundering forward too much in this scenario. Much more than the last. Baker's moves were well done, but Able could never seem to concentrate its fire. Artillery was pretty worthless throughout except for one case where a Japanese platoon vacated a targeted hex only to have another unit move in. It got blasted.

The light tanks don't have much punch but they are very good for soaking up fire. HMG placement is crucial.

That late game attack by the Japanese wasn't completely unexpected. I knew he had some units along the river, but given that there are no objectives up inland off the trail, I had no intention of fighting useless battles. I hoped they would stay put.

Able Company took most of the casualties. Baker, in spite of the heavy fire, took almost none. That village was a tough nut to crack but they couldn't seem to hit anything. I lost a few tanks but I considered them expendable from the start and used them on several occasions for recon.

[Achsah]

Play it again! make sure you dont have optionial assault on. i think you should re think how your very strong light tanks can be used to more effect! using your left flank guys in agressive flank support would have kept the japs from getting behind you. Refinment of basic infantry tactics is probably called for. As a general rule a units move points are more valuable then it fire capabilities. play to win your current game..if you try to go easy and run out of time you just lose..ie nothing to lose to be agressive in extreme in attack missions unless you have plenty of time. great ilustrations