Bolt Action – Leyte 1944

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Bolt Action game. It was loosely based on the efforts of the 1st Cavalry Division to secure Hill 215, southwest of Tacloban, Leyte on October 22, 1944. The setup used Scenario 3, Point Defense from the Bolt Action rule book.

In addition to the visible units, the Japanese had an infiltration squad which could chose to enter on any edge except the US rear, a hidden sniper and a hidden AT rifle.

The US mortar observer turned out to be unobservant.

The infiltration squad appears on the US right flank. It destroys a US squad and a mortar team.

The left flank US squad advances toward an objective.

This Japanese squad was pinned down by artillery for much of the game.

End of the game. The Japanese infiltration squad can be seen advancing in the upper right.

At the end of the game the US had not taken any objectives.

Here is the perspective of one of the Japanese players:

“Good game today. Given another couple of turns the US Army would have take two objectives. The Japanese victory was the result of time and they happened to kill four US Army units, two by the 47mm pop gun and the other two by Jap infiltrators. Three Jap units were destroyed. I think the 47mm Jap AT is over rated but I guess it is so for game balance. We have had several games decided by time with Bolt Action so we may have to start closer to objectives, play more aggressively or throw out the time rule for our group. Looking at the minefield rules I think they are actually deadlier than we assumed BUT you could have continued movement if you survived which would have put your tanks closer. BTW the 3rd minefield was also on the road in front of your tanks.”

2 thoughts on “Bolt Action – Leyte 1944”

Will you guys play this again? Are you near Scranton? Love BA

ncc1717 says:

November 15, 2016 at 9:14 pm

We will play BA again, probably in December. We are in Florida. You are welcome to come down and get out of the cold.

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