With the Old Breed 1942

[KG Erwin]

August 24, 1942. Guadalcanal. Landing Team 15, under the command of Lt Col G.E. Higginbotham, occupies a 3000-yard front. As part of the 5th Marines' sector, my thousand-man-force is expected to be attacked by a Japanese force of unknown size.

The Landing Team (1st Battalion 5th Marines [reinforced]), in addition to its standard TOE, has an attached company of M2A4 tanks (Company A 1st Tank Battalion), two 75mm M3 halftracks, and two 37mm AT guns (w/jeep tows). In our defensive position, we also have a battery of 75mm pack howitzers in close support. As distant support, we have the 105mm howitzers of the 11th Marines. The weather is rainy, with low cloud, so we have no air support.

While we have ample fire support, an overriding concern is a shortage of ammo, as the fleet abruptly turned tail and basically left us stranded. The troops are on half-rations, augmented by captured Japanese rice and a small quantity of canned fish.

We occupy a strong position, mostly on high ground, but we are very thinly spread. Reserves are few. I will have to rely on my tanks to serve as mobile stop-gaps if the line is penetrated.

My most experienced company commander is Capt Clifton Cates, who leads Able Co on the right (northern) flank. Leroy Hunt is the CO of Baker Co in the center, and Amor Sims leads Charlie Co on the left.

[KG Erwin]

4 am -- the weather has cleared, and the Japanese launch a human wave attack in full view of Charlie Company. We have already endured heavy shelling, and the 11th Marines are responding with counterbattery. We have lost one tank, which suffered a top hit from a mortar round. One crew member survived. Sgt Farquahar's MG squad was also destroyed.

[KG Erwin]

Turn 9. On the far left, Sgt Farrell's 3rd Platoon of Company C is moving forward, and trying to find the attackers' open flank. We are NOT going to simply sit here and absorb the enemy's blows. I contact Regiment and inform Col "Trenchfoot" that we will be conducting an "active defense".

Turn 10. The enemy's mortar/artillery fire has not abated, and it succeeds in destroying another of our tanks. The Japanese are trying to infiltrate individual snipers/scout teams between the gaps in our positions. So far, we have killed all of them. I tell Capt Sims to keep Farrell's platoon in close order, and prevent any units from getting cut off.

[Alby]

Is this a campaign?
where it is, I dont see in list in spwaw, did you enhance it?

ever tried the actual ENH gualdcanal campaign?
pretty fun one, i only got a little ways, then got distracted, but it was fun.

[KG Erwin]

Alby, this is a standard long campaign, using ENH-DVRN OOBs (slightly modified for my own use) and the new mech.exe. I always start in August 1942, with the Tenaru scenario. The Japanese outnumber me, and they have much more arty support than in real life. I also set arty at 120%, which will help the AI once I enter the amphib assault phase in late 1943.

My idea, of course, is to follow the war from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. I have a pretty good idea of how the individual battles are laid out. August-December 1942 will be the toughest part of it, as I have no significant upgrades I can make. The first six battles are a phase of simply surviving, gaining experience and accumulating upgrade points.

[KG Erwin]

Turn 11. The attacks are extending across the entire line. Every weapon at my disposal is being employed, as my Marines shield themselves with a wall of firepower. The Japanese are indeed proud warriors, and they seem to have no fear. They do not show their backs to us.

Turn 12. The combat is descending into a close-quarters brawl within a few hundred yards of battalion HQ. We're down to bayonets, knives and fists.

[KG Erwin]

The Japanese broke off the attack, and we gained a decisive victory.

USMC losses: 160 men, 2 tanks, 1 mortar, 1 ammo vehicle
Japanese losses: 700 men

[KG Erwin]

Sept 20. We are directed to pursue the enemy. I highly doubt that they are beaten, so I align my force for a cautious advance. We are assigned a 2000-yard front, with tank/infantry teams preceding each company. Charlie Co is in the north, Able in the center, Baker in the south.

0500. It is raining, with visibility 400 yards. Movement is restricted in the mixed jungle terrain, and progress is slow. Col "Trenchfoot" is now Col "Bloodlust", and he is anxious to push us forward, into the unknown. Again, we have no air support. There is a ridgeline ahead of us, and we pounded it with two battalions of 105s. We have no idea if the Japanese have any prepared positions, or if our bombardment had any effect other than alerting them.

[KG Erwin]

Turn 8. First contact in Able Company's sector. We immediately target the enemy with 81mm mortars and 75mm pack howitzers.

[KG Erwin]

Turn 9. The enemy's artillery opens up, and one of our ammo trucks is destroyed. Counterbattery is ordered. I radio all commanders: "Take that ridge!"

Turn 11. We are slowly blasting our way forward, as the Japanese are proving to be tenacious defenders.

[KG Erwin]

Turn 19. My battalion is advancing into oblivion, as we are being whittled away against a determined foe. I urge Col Bloodlust to pull us back, but he will hear none of it. I slam the phone down, and send out runners. "Fall back". The SOB can court-martial me, but I will NOT allow my men to be needlessly sacrificied.

As we pull our depleted units back, I get a surprise visit from the commanding General. I give him our casualty report, and his face turns red.

"Who ordered this attack?" .

I reply, "Col Bloodlust, sir".

The general grows more incensed -- "What support did he offer you? What reconnaissance was done on the enemy's line?"

After I concluded my report, Geeral Vandegrift ordered my battalion into reserve, climbed into his jeep, and sped off. I could hear him muttering under his breath, swearing to relieve that sorry Regimental CO.

The General did not blame me for the failure of the attack, but I am consumed with guilt, as I allowed it to happen. I let my men down. I failed.

[KG Erwin]

Turn 25. Capt Hunt asks for a retransmission of orders, as the signal was "garbled". I know exactly what he means -- he's pushing ahead. I drive down to see what's going on. Able and Charlie are spent, used up. Baker Company refuses to quit. I contact Cates and Sims and tell them to hold in place.

[KG Erwin]

We made a valiant effort, but couldn't reach our objectives. The battle ended in a draw.

USMC losses: 270 men, 3 soft vehicles, 3 arty
Japanese losses: 527 men, 7 arty

[KG Erwin]

October 13, 1942. Our respite in reserve is brief. We absorb replacements and move back into line. The Japanese have received reinforcements and are preparing another attack. The only good news is that the big guns have arrived. We will now have the support of a battalion of 155mm "Long Toms" in addition to our 105s.

While we have a 3000-yard front to hold, it is a strong position, as we occupy dominating ridges along most of the line. Charlie Co is on the left, Baker in the center, Able on the right.

[KG Erwin]

Turn 7. It is approaching 3:30 am, and a thunderstorm has been raging for half an hour. Visibility is 250 yards. No sign of enemy activity as of yet.

Enemy infantry appears on turn 11, and the bombardment starts on turn 12. Our 155s respond in counterbattery.

Turn 27. The Japanese have repeatedly assaulted, but have not broken through. Able Co has been hit hard, and two MG squads are destroyed. However, the enemy's artillery fire has noticeably slackened.

We get a decisive victory.

USMC losses: 203 men, 1 tank, 1 ammo vehicle
Japanese losses: 1103 men

[KG Erwin]

November 1942. With supplies now plentiful, we are launching our first full-scale offensive. 1/5 can draw on the support of five full battalions of artillery, including two battalions of 155s. We are promised a preparatory bombardment of unprecendented strength. Unfortunately, the weather still prevents any air support.

It is anticipated that the Japanese have constructed bunkers, so we will be assaulting a fortified line. Our attack frontage is 3000 yards. The attack will commence on November 11, the anniversary of Armistice Day, at 4 am.

[KG Erwin]

Our attack plan has no subtlety to it. It is a direct frontal assault.

Charlie Co's sector:

[KG Erwin]

Able Co's sector:

[KG Erwin]

Baker Co's sector:

[KG Erwin]

4 am. This is it. The bombardment has ceased. We are advancing under the cover of a thunderstorm in pre-dawn darkness. Visibility is 300 yards. I am in the center of the line, near the HQ of Able Co. I can only hope that we did some damage to the enemy's defenses, as they will be invisible until we are right on top of them.

Turn 4. An anxious but unspotted machine-gunner opens up on Charlie Co's 2nd Platoon.

Turn 5. The enemy's forward line partially reveals itself in front of Able Co.