Turn 5 dawned and saw more air support from Henderson field arrive during the US Morale / Support phase in the shape of a Dauntless dive-bomber packing a 1000 pound bomb. In a fitting display of close air support, he dropped it directly on the Japanese that had just ran away from the new Hero's location in an attempt to form on top of the Western Gifu hill The survivors of the ensuing blast (all two of them) quickly found a more peaceful place to rest!
It was getting tense now. The US players did not know they were facing only three and a half Japanese squads with their slightly weakened six squads. On the US right flank, James pushed onto the eastern Gifu hill and ran into incidental melee contact with one of the remaining Japanese squads and promptly lost five men in the exchange. The survivors quickly ran to The US side of the eastern hill. Dan consolidated his survivors on the bottom of the western Gifu and prepared for turn 6.
The Japanese counterattacked yet again on turn 5 with the remnants of the two squads on the eastern hill against James' wavering command of three worn squads. Serious close quarters combat broke out all around the hill with both sides trading casualties, but with the US taking the worst of it. The only bright moment came when one of the remaining US Sergeants locked horns with a Samurai wielding Sho-i (Lieutenant) and they both fought to a draw. This massive swirling melee continued during the entire Japanese turn (melee will continue during subsequent movement phases if both side remain in contact - which they did). The second round was too much for both sides and they both suddenly broke and ran away - except for the still grappling Sergeant and Sho-i.
At the start of turn six, the last turn, the western Gifu was still solidly under Japanese control, but the eastern Gifu had the remnants of several US and Japanese rifle squads and only one Japanese survivor -- you guessed it, the Sho-i! Turn six also saw the return of both aircraft (the US player successfully rolled to allow the aircraft to arrive now, during the current Morale / Support phase)- The Wildcat roared in and completely shot up the remaining Japanese survivors on the Eastern Gifu hill, but the Dauntless was waved off home as the troops were thought to be too close.
In an act of desperation to clear the eastern Gifu, the surviving US squad had two of its soldiers take two of their satchel charges and hurl them at the melee. One fell short and almost removed the person throwing it. The second was hand carried by an unknown private who threw himself on the last enemy position on the eastern Gifu and pulled the cord. The ensuing blast killed the enemy and the private, but also unfortunately caught the remaining Sergeant as well. Truly a worthy act, but watching their only leader in sight turn get blown to bits also broke the morale of the only surviving US squad and sent them running far from the hill, leaving no one in control. That didn't last as the now very lonely M3 Stuart crawled on top to claim the prize and finally establish US control. In a bit of luck, the US player avoided immobilization as the M3 crawled through the brush.
On the western Gifu, Dan's remaining two US squads sought to take on Mike's two remaining Japanese squads. A flurry of grenades caught the US troops as they crested the hill (the Japanese were still hidden and on F overwatch), but not without some cost. As two Japanese pulled their pins, they accidentally dropped their grenades in the very bunker they stood in (in Combat Command, any attack that goes through a friendly formation is affected by "the rule of 6," which means that they have accidentally hit friendly troops on any hit attempt rolls if Mike rolled two sixes in his attempt to maximize the grenade attack by including squad members at the rear of the bunker). In spite of the carnage, It was not enough to break the Japanese unit and Dan's attack stalled on the crest of the hill in the face of the new threat.
The sudden flurry of grenades proved to be too much for the US troops and the US attack ran out of steam and time with the Americans firmly owning the eastern hill, but only half in control of the western when the game ended. Final result: Japanese win! Both sides got to see what it meant to push green troops into battle with a determined enemy, but the US under Dan, Randy and James still came within a half-turn and a squad of pulling it off. Great job to all!
Combat Command is available for $25.00 plus 3.95 S&H from LDT Gameworks, 37 Craig Martin Ct., St. Peters, MO 63376.
Combat Command: Assault on the Gifu! December 1942 - January 22, 1943
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© Copyright 2002 Hal Thinglum
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