"The Lost Platoon": A Scenario Idea

[KG Erwin]

For inspirational purposes--a situation like this happened at Guadalcanal, when a botched operation resulted in a rescue by sea of an isolated Marine unit. If my memory serves correctly, this was during the Second Matanikau battle. The objective would be to land a rescue force, free the isolated units , load them into off-shore boats and get them the hell out of there.

This is right up your alley, Warrior. I can provide historical maps if you want to take this on.

[Warrior]

Email the maps and I'll see what I can do.

[Wild Bill]

I remember doing a scenario on this little fight using the old venerated Steel Panthers I over 10 years ago with Novastar in my three part series on the Pacific. There were a total of 30 scenarios in the package. That was fun. I never redid it in SPWAW, or even in the Mega Campaign. It is great for a scenario, kind of like the withdrawal at St. Nazaire, in the scenario "Desperate Measures" (Scen025). I still have the simple text you had to have for those scenarios.

Warrior will do a great job with it, as he always does!

Wild Bill

[KG Erwin]

Actually, it was more like a "Lost Battalion": two companies of "Chesty" Puller's famed 1st Bn/7th Marines (under the command of the Battalion XO) had to rescue themselves--no other units landed.

This episode included the famous incident of the Marines tearing up T-shirts to spell out "HELP", which was seen by an overflying SBD. The destroyer "Monssen" (with Puller onboard) provided offshore fire support while the two companies fought their way to the beach and escaped on ten Higgins boats. It was a defeat, but a great story nonetheless.

[Wild Bill]

That's the one I had in mind when I wrote you. It would make a great scenario and I know Warrior will do it justice.

WB

[Wild Bill]

What was the date on that fight, Glenn?

WB

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: Wild Bill

What was the date on that fight, Glenn?

WB

September 27, 1942.

[Wild Bill]

Thank you sir!

WB

[Warrior]

Feel free to get someone else on this. I've got other projects at the moment and this would be quite a while before completion.

[Wild Bill]

I would like to do this one, but its a matter of time. Have you contacted Bruce Hodgman, Gunny! He is a great designer, Marine from his combat boots to his helmet and would enjoy doing it. Plus he has all the maps he made himself of that Matanikau area. They are good ones, the ones we used for MC-Watchtower.

WB

[KG Erwin]

Thanks, Bill. Yeah, Bruce might be interested in doing it.

[Wild Bill]

If he can't, I'll try to fit it in for later this summer. It would make a good one. I do think, however, Bruce would do a great job on it. Do you have his e-mail address?

WB

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: Wild Bill

If he can't, I'll try to fit it in for later this summer. It would make a good one. I do think, however, Bruce would do a great job on it. Do you have his e-mail address?

WB

Yes, I do, Bill.