USMC rolls up 7 orders to start turn 6

Forward observer tries and fails a comms check to call in mortars, Forward HQ manages to pass comms check instead. Wild deviation but LMG squad and artillery post in range. 1 casualty in artillery observation post, no pinning on either unit.

MMG opens up on the last man of the Fwd HQ, wipes them out. IJA Chit draw is a (1)

Zippo sherman fires Aimed HE at the knee mortars. Hit, 2 wounds, 1 dead. IJA Morale roll gets a “beyond the call of duty” test. Passed!

Knee mortars fire Supressing HE back at sherman, no luck tho.

Foot patrol fires on the Knee mortars as well, 1 hit, cover save.

USMC decides to rally. Hard decision since the BR is at 5, but they need to unpin a lot of units. Rally gets 3 units unpinned. LVT4, Recon Jeep, HQ squad. chit drawn is a (3). BR is at a 2 now!
END OF USMC TURN 6

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TURN 6: IJA

IJA rolls up 8 orders, with 1 last reinforcement entering table edge (platoon command)

Zero comes around for another attack with autocannons. Pins the LVT4 ….again. 2 of 3 ammo expended for AC’s.

Ha-go fires AP at sherman, Glances off but rattles the crew, Pinned!

knee mortars open fire at sherman directly in front of them. Very nearly penetrates, need a 12 on 2D6, rolled 11! jeesh

rest of the troops run for the front line.
END OF IJA TURN 6. No rally.

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TURN 7: USMC

USMC Rolls up 10 orders.

Mortar strike produces a direct hit, and pinning checks. IJA shrugs it off tho.

HQ squad wipes out the remaining 2 knee mortars!

Recon jeep opens fire at LMG squad. Gets a Kill, IJA morale rolls poorly. Unit gets routed since it was previously pinned! IJA BR down to a 6!

MMG moves up and tries to spot rifle squad, fails.

Foot patrol kills three of the rifle squad, yet again they roll poorly for morale. ROUTED! IJA and USMC BR are tied at 2. YIKES.

No rally for USMC. END OF TURN 7 for USMC

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TURN 7: IJA

IJA rolls up only 4 orders! Both sides are at 2 BR remaining!

Zero comes in for one more pass with Autocannon’s (last remaining ammo) unbelievably hits with two 6’s. brews it up! USMC chit pull is a BREAKDOWN! What luck!

Breakdown chit is played on the Ha-Go. Rolls a 6 for severe breakdown! Crew abandons! Chit pull is a 2! IJA breaks BR.

USMC Wins!

What a wild ride! By far, this was the most exciting Battlegroup game I’ve played. IJA losing their artillery early on was a huge loss, as it’s cost quite a bit in points as well. I really enjoy all the thematic elements to the Pacific book. It makes it feel very different from other theaters, as it should. Having the battle rating neck and neck at the end, and coming down to the next couple chit pulls was nail biting.