A TOTAL BLOODY MIX-UP


A Gear Krieg scenario by Scott Lynch

"The only thing worse than fighting the Japanese was fighting the Japanese at night."

-Anonymous rifleman, 18th Australian Infantry Brigade

Battlefield
Location: Papua New Guinea, September 1942
Conditions: Overcast
Time of Day: Night

Allied Order of Battle
  • 3 x M12A1 "General Longstreet" Walker (American)
  • 2 x M3A1 Stuart Tank (Australian)
  • 7 x American Rifle Squad
  • 2 x American Machinegun Team

    Japanese Order of Battle
  • 2 x Shiki 38 Walker
  • 1 x Shiki 41 Walker
  • 2 x Type 95 "Ha-Go" Tank
  • 3 x Japanese Rifle Squad
  • 2 x Japanese Heavy Weapon Squad
    		•
    Morale
    All Japanese and Australian units are Veteran.

    All American units are Qualified.

    Terrain and Setup
    The map for this scenario should be a cluttered and confusing coastal plain. Alternate the placement of clumps of trees with open areas, streams, piles of junk or wreckage, and anything else the players find amusing. There are ten armored vehicles involved in this scenario. Prepare ten slips of paper, write the name of an armored vehicle on each, and fold them all over so the names inside cannot be seen. Give five to each player, and alternate placing them on the board according to whim. Once all the slips have been placed, reveal them one by one and replace them with the appropriate unit model or marker. Infantry units may then be placed at will, so long as no infantry unit is more than 3 MUs away from a friendly armored vehicle.

    Mission Briefing

    The Japanese have landed an invasion force of 1,900 men at Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. However, General Macarthur has predicted this move and seen to it that the 18th Australian Infantry Brigade and almost 2,000 American soldiers are dug-in and waiting for the attack. Bad weather and the Japanese preference for night assaults have left the tactical situation confused, but the Allied position is holding, and the Japanese are seriously outnumbered.

    On the night of September 3, a Japanese raiding element moves forward under cover of darkness and jungle foliage in an attempt to infiltrate Allied positions. In a stroke of luck, they find their way into a poorly-held sector, where a force of enthusiastic but unblooded Americans are backed up by a few Australian crews in Lend-Lease tanks. By the time star shells and flares start going up over the jungle, the two sides have become horribly mixed, and a wild firefight breaks out in all directions...

    This scenario is Medium Mission Priority for both sides.

    Mission Objectives
    The side left standing will win a Major Victory.

    Designer's Notes
    The random set-up of the armored vehicles should result in a fairly off-the-wall starting position for both sides. Players are encouraged to shuffle the slips again and re-place them if the sides are placed in too clear-cut a fashion. Players with a little extra time on their hands may simply want to create a random placement slip for every unit in the scenario. Give twelve to each player and let the confusion roll.

    Variations

  • Adding to the Mess
    If both players consent, two of the Japanese infantry squads may be equipped with rocket packs, and the Allies may receive a Qualified M12A2 "General Longstreet" flamethrowing Walker.

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