Arakian Rose - Platoon Leader F

Scenario 1
The game of choice was the Platoon Leader CG, "Arakian Rose". This is a seabourne invasion performed by British Commandos against (light) jungle laiden terrain infested with japanese. The Brits invade a beach from the west and must take a heavily defended hill in the northeast corner of this 2 board battle. The hill is surrounded by streams and jungle, with a large village of huts to the south.

Mike's forces setup spread across the beach with 2 guns on either corner. I loaded up my LCs and threw down my infamous "Life Sucks!" counter. [This is an oval, blue-green counter with a yellow smiley face and the words "Life Sucks!" under said face.] Operation "Life Sucks!" had begun, and I was going to hit the beach to the south!

Things started off great! The first Jap OBA chit drawn was RED! The HE shells were landing everwhere, but not on my LCs. Then both japanese mortars broke, 1 was eventually eliminated. The Japanese radio broke and was eliminated as well. Operation Life Sucks was living up to its name, for the japs. But then...

Mike sinks an LC, an LC with 1 of my 2 leaders, 3 squads, an MMG, and a DC! Then he hits another LC and CRs 3 squads. One LC runs aground in the shallow ocean...things are turning sour. The beach head is formed but the attack stalls at its edge as I lose somthing like 3 squad equivs to a measly 1 RFP from a DAMN half squad! It is now 4AM, and Mike needs his sleep.

Scenario 2
Setup is performed and Mike has made a terrible mistake! He has setup a ton of counters in a very small area from which I can setup very close. This is great, I am going to spend the next couple of turns waxing the majority of his forces and then march on. So, I concentrate my forces to do just that. I attack with everything, HMGs, MMGs, DCs...you name it and I used it. First stack...dummies. Second...dummies. And so on. I fell for it, I was suckered! I wasted 2 turns.

The rest of the scenario was a typical battle to the hill. There I was, at the foot of the hill, I took the ford (strategic hex) that I needed just before the scenario ended prematurly on turn 5. Crap! At least I got the ford, now I am against the hill. The hill that will soon be know as "Panji Hell Hill".

Scenario 3
I decide to buy NOBA and 76 Mortars and a flamethrower instead of men. I had planed on covering the hill with HE FFE and also WP from the mortars. I placed the mortars in foxholes on the foothills next to Panji Hell Hill. This will be my downfall! The heavy rain begins. Have you ever tried to climb a hill into the teeth of panjis while there is a downpour and you are being shot at with no smoke cover. It doesn't work.

I got men onto the hill, but they were in bad shape and were pushed back. I had lost all of the strategic hexes that I had taken on and around the hill. While I still had men in good locations, it was obvious that in the next scenario I was going to have to start all over again and this time even further back from Panji Hell Hill. I concede with shame. Not even one cave had been destroyed.

Geneseo-fest concluded at 1AM on Sunday morning. It was a blast and I thank Mike de Blois for the fun. He played very well on defense. So please join me in congradulating the first Geneseo-fest champion, Mike "Panji-boy" de Blois.

- Do not buy the Sherman in this one! What a waste.

- Buy men and more men. You will need them along with the DCs that come with them.

- Do not hesitate to push forward, the japs start out thin.

Later, Ed