Another Schwerpunkt scenario to write about and share what thoughts I have on "Men fron Mars". I played the Chinese/ Americans in this one and won. What attracted me to this scenario was the fact that it is a PTO affair which, next to the Eastern Front, is my 2nd favorate front. The Japs are a blast to play in this scenario or any other becouse of their unique characteristics. This is my set-up at start and I'll take the reader through the highlights of "Men From Mars". To me; the Chinese are canon fodder for the Japs, The key to an Allied victory is to inflict as many losses on the Japs at the beginning of the game. To do this, the Allied player must be willing to use the Chinese as pawns and the Americans as the Queen, this scenario is akin to the Queens Gambit Declined defence. (Chess is a lot like ASL, just not so dicey) I sacrificed my Chinese squads so as to inflict max casualties on the attacking Jap squads, if I did not inflict at least 5 squads of casualties, the issue would definitely be in doubt. There are 15 Jap squads to deal with and if at least 12 or 13 make it to board 38, it would be nigh impossable to dislodge them from the villige. Looking at board 37 I came to the conclusion that the 37C7 jungle area would be the best approach for the Japanese, with the 37I7 jungle hex, J7 jungle hex, K8 kunei hex, L7 jungle hex and the M7 jungle hex as a possible secondary entry point. Or even a Faint. Key things to remember folks in the PTO theater of Operations: MTR's may not fire from jungle hexes and the Radio Maintenance DR is +1 (G.7) and multi-hex FG's (G.3) Yup, this scenario has dense jungle. Oh ya, dont forget about overstacking in dense Jungle hexes.
Placement:
Chinese MMG with 1 3-3-7/ 9-1 and 1 squad foxhole in hex 37K5 with 37E5 boresighted, 1 3-3-7 with an LMG and 1 squad foxhole in hex 37F5, 1 3-3-7 with a LT MTR and foxhole in hex 37H4 with 37D5 Boresighted. 2 3-3-7's HIP in hex 37C4 with an 8-0 leader, both squads are Dare-Death squads (G18.6) 1 3-3-7 with foxhole in hex 37I5, 1 3-3-7 with foxhole in 37I4, 2 3-3-7 with foxhole in hex 37A4, 1 3-3-7 in hex 37N4 with foxhole and 1 3-3-7 in hex 37O4 with foxhole. I placed my sniper bait (I.E concealment counters) 2 each in hexes J4, K4 and L4. I then placed my American 6-6-7x2 , MMG and 9-1 in hex 38I5, this is a good central location to cover any possible early Jap incursions. On turn 1 my opponent entered his jap units along the south edge of board 37 concealed with his Heavy and medium machine guns DM'ed, creeping through 37I10, H9, H8 into H7, His LT MTR teams creeped through M10. M9 into M8 (the MTR's were also DM'ed, This is a pre-game option though the reverse N/A, if a scenario specifies a DM'ed weapon on the scenario card, you can only assemble it in the PREP or DEF Fire Phases.)
Obviously; he is massing his troops along the I7, J7, L7,M7 belt in hopes of forcing me to withdraw back with this show of force, he he, I'm almost tempted to launch a Human wave, but why? Already he has divided his units up, with five or six squads doing the board edge creep along the 37 A7, B7 area, who does he think he's playing? During my turn one Def. fire, I aquire L7 with my 50mm MTR in hex H4 with no effect but its aquired........ The rest of my units hold thier fire not wanting to blow thier concealment. The Jap commander then advance's his units accordingly. His LMG squadsx2 advance into my MTR's aquired hex L7 concealed, I guess he's hoping I miss, we shell see. Dureing my turn 1 preps, my MTR plasters the LMG squads leaving one good order HS and a reduced 4-4-7 in the wake of several shots. My 9-1 and MMG squad open up on hex J7 wounding his 9-1 and reducing 1 2-2-8 crew, opps, I lost rate ugghhh.
My Squads in I4, I5, and J5 open up on his two 4-4-7's and 8-0 in hex I7, no effect, this is not what I want but I must reduce this force so my reinforcing Americans only have to deal with a force that can be easily swept aside.Throughout the next five turns it was much of the same, a slogging match with me haveing next to no Chinese left by turn 6 and the Japs as I had hoped, reduced to aboult 6 squads, my Dare Death squads died early only turning a full Jap squad into a HS, Sigh. But what really saved the day were my Americans, they raked the Japanese off thier feet. The Japs never got a chance to utilize their Artillary, and to be honest, its kinda tough to use this stuff in the Jungle plus he never got close to the village to really get any use out of it. By turn 7 my opponent called it quits and declared this scenario pro Allied, now wait a minute, I must disagree infact i told him the next time we played, I would let him have the Allies with the Balance. How can the Japanese win this then?
Dont spread out on the attack, launch a spearhead into the 37A6/ B7 jungle hexes with a few squads to cover your flanks, wheel around the village in full force and take out the American Garrison by Banzieing several squads into them. Once thats done hopfully, call in Arty on the American entry area , though the Japs have lots of time, they still must move quickly enough to destroy the American garrison and meet the American reinforcements in force. That means avoiding protracted firefights with the Chinese. If the Japs lose at least 6 squads to the Chinese they can in reality, call it quits. I rate scenario even. Excellent Job SP. Next up Tabaccificio Fiocche SP 15
Mistress Tabitha