Getting Ripped Up As The Aussies

[KG Erwin]

I set up a campaign with ten battles, starting in July 1942 in the jungle against the Japanese. I drew an advance mission, with the Japanese in delay mode. Now, I've made a few OOB adjustments in ANZAC, but on paper my force looked good. All infantry, four companies' worth, plus a 3-gun section of Vickers' MMGs for each company. I have a light 2-in mortar for each rifle platoon, and six 3-in mortars as additional support. No armor whatsoever, which the exception of my HQ vehicle, a Bren Carrier.

The opening map was the full-scale 80-hex wide thingy, and I spaced the platoons apart to advance on a broad front. Unfortuntately, there is a lot of open terrain between the Japanese positions, which are behind hills & ridges. For a jungle map, there's surprisingly little cover. This map had pre-made killing zones for the defenders. To attack at all without heavy armor/artillery support was suicidal.

NOT surprisingly, my brave band of Aussies are being slaughtered as they close in on the Japanese lines. It's like WWI, what with MGs and arty mowing down the diggers. No tanks in sight. After 7 turns or so, I'm gonna have to call off the attack. It's heartbreaking to watch, especially when the defenders outnumber the attackers.

It's been a long time since I've been so soundly whipped by the so-called "poor dumb AI". [X(]

Historical note: this setup presupposed that the Aussies of the 39th Battalion attacked the Japanese force coming down the Kokoda Track towards Port Moresby. Needless to say, that would've been a terrible mistake, as I've found out.