Hell in the Pacific

Not yet satiated by our recent "Tanksgiving" game we pulled out our Pacific War figures for a small, 1500 point Flames of War game.  Using "Gung Ho" for our Marine list I fielded two platoons of nine stands each and four LVT4 amtracks.  A heavy machine gun platoon, pair of 37mm AT guns and a trio of M5 Stuart light tanks was our entire force.

The Japanese list from "Banzai!" had two platoons of infantry with light mortars, a pair of HMGs, two 70mm infantry guns, one Ho-Ni tank destroyer, five Ha-Go light tanks and two Type 97 Tankettes.  Both of us were kind of winging it with the OB and I suspect both had regrets as the game played out.

The random mission drawn was a Rear Guard action.  So everyone started dug in and gone to ground per v4 rules, plus the Japanese got a series of minefield which they placed on their left to channel attacks.  Neither side had air support.  My lack of a good HE round made things challenging for us.  The Japanese were saddled with the need to withdraw units as the game progressed.

Opening scene.  Markers are for the minefields, off table stands
are in the LVTs.

Move up to hide behind cover.  Ho-Ni (center) springs an ambush.

Ha-Go supporting the infantry and making mine nervous.

We weren't making much progress on the left so when the tanks
redeployed my guys advanced.  A Stuart burns.

Pinning our foes with lots of MG hits (and bloody few results)
we assault, and are still thrown back.

The Ho-Ni is dead but my AT guns are kept busy with Ha-Gos.

We finally assault, the Seishin spirit is invoked and we fight till
all the Japanese are destroyed.

A huge duel in the center between Ha-Gos and Stuarts.  The former
are outclassed and work for flank shots. 

On our left we have more success, assaulting and destroying the
other Japanese platoon.  Victory on the last turn!

On my side the surviving Ha-Gos contest the objective.

Even calling in Godzilla's cousin couldn't save the day!

Guess you can't ask for much more in a game.  Desperate assaults and equally desperate defenses.  At one point my opponent Daria rolled five or more hits needing a 5+ with seven dice!  With no HE to speak of we had to go in with the bayonet.  And as I mentioned it came down to the last turn for us to be able to claim victory.  Thanks everyone!