#420821_02 The Battle of the Tenaru - Hypothetical - PzB Demo

Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands: 21st August, 1942. (Scenario Size: Battalion. Head to Head or Japanese Human vs Allied AI) After successfully surprising the Japanese command, U.S. forces landed on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Florida Islands in the Solomon Islands. Their objective was to secure these islands as starting points for a campaign with the eventual goal of isolating the major Japanese base at Rabaul while also supporting the Allied New Guinea campaign. The Marine forces that landed on Guadalcanal quickly accomplished their objectives and by nightfall of the 8th August 1942 had secured an airfield under construction at Lunga Point on Guadalcanal. The Marines initially concentrated on forming a defense perimeter around the airfield, moving the landed supplies within the perimeter, and finishing the airfield. In response to the Allied landings on Guadalcanal, the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters assigned the Imperial Japanese Army's 17th Army with the task of retaking Guadalcanal from Allied forces. Mistaken the results of their reconnaissance, the Japanese were convinced that the U.S. had withdrawn the majority of their troops from the area. As such, they ordered the 28th (Ichiki) Infantry Regiment, under the command of Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki, to immediately attack the Marines' position and reoccupy the airfield area at Lunga Point. Overconfident, after the unopposed landing of 916 of his regiment's 2,300 troops, Ichiki decided on a simple plan: march straight down the beach and through the American defenses. NOTE: This is an alternative version of the historical scenario. This scenario allows a 'what if' assessment of what could the Japanese forces do if Ichiki had landed and attacked with the 5th Yokosuka SNLF that was available for action in this theatre.