Leyte 1944, Scenario Twenty-Eight: Texas Horse Soldiers

The 112th Cavalry Regiment bought their amphibious tank support inland to help eliminate stubborn Japanese resistance and it paid off! One small errata to note in the victory conditions, the 80 meter hill should say 60 meter hill hexes which are on map 100.

The Americans have three victory objective and one is to clear both east-west roads of enemy units on both maps and their forces are big enough to split up. The biggest force went after the 60-meter hill mass on map 100 which included clearing it of two Japanese entrenchments and enemy units. The American lost a two-step LVT(A)4 unit early but once the enemy 70mm and 20mm guns were knocked out the remaining LVT(A)4s were free to stack together in three unit monster gun stack which could fire on dug-in Japanese Infantry from the safety of two hexes away and blast a path clear within a few turns.

The American achieve all three of their victory objectives including the 2 to 1 advantage in step loses. The Japanese lost 14 steps while the American only lost 6 step but won a Major Victory.

Author	treadasaurusrex (United States)
Method	VASSAL
Victor	United States
Participants	Tubac52
Play Date	2022-12-21
Language	English
Scenario	Leyt028

This was a 4-session play-through in which the resolute, Tubac52, led the defending Japanese side, and I played the attacking, dismounted US Army 112th Cavalry Task Force. We used the FOW, smoke and excess initiative optional rules.

There were 7 FOW-shortened turns in this play-through, that hurt the attacking GIs far more than the Japanese defenders. It was quite a chore to eliminate the dug-in Japanese AT assets, but eventually infantry numbers and the US amphib AFVs were able to breakthrough.

The Japanese lost 19 steps and 3 leaders, while the American side lost 7 steps, on the way to a Major Victory in difficult jungle terrain. The Americans managed to achieve all 3 of their objectives, including securing both of the east-west roads on the battle map, and eventually taking the Japanese entrenchments on the 60-meter hill mass on Map 100. This was a hard fight and the outcome was in doubt almost to the last turn.

This scenario rates a 3, mostly because it was enjoyable to play. The map art is confusing and is a real trial to interpret. There should be a clear & easy-to-read key, and some depictions of scenario-appropriate LOS situations included with this game.