ASL Action Pack #17: Oktoberfest XXXV

The 1st Cavalry Division was formed in 1921 and participated in the famous Louisiana Maneuvers of 1940, where it became obvious that the days of horse-mounted soldiers were numbered. After spending 1942 patrolling the US-Mexico border, the First Team (as it was nicknamed), retired its last horses in February 1943 and shipped out that summer with all four dismounted cavalry regiments: the 5th, 7th, 8th, and 12th. Its first action was invading the Admiralty Islands in February 1944, followed by Leyte and Luzon, where in February 1945 it participated in the bloody battle for Manila (an action being depicted elsewhere). Then almost five years of occupation duty in Japan saw its training deteriorate and its combat capabilities degrade. The 12th Cavalry Regiment was deactivated, and the division was reorganized into the now-standard triangular structure. With the crisis in Korea, they hastily shipped out to the Pusan Perimeter. First Team quickly earned a reputation as second rate but just as quickly re-earned respect while first leading the breakout and then charging into North Korea. Surprised (like everyone else) by the Communist Chinese forces in November 1950, they were thrown back into South Korea with heavy losses. Reversing the momentum, First Team took the fight to the enemy for the rest of 1951, regained some of its swagger, and rotated back to Japan in December after almost 18 months of hard fighting. 

These 16 scenarios tell the story of First Team across two different wars, but they describe more than just the combat results. The First Team were fighting men, and these scenarios showcase some of their individual stories. There is plenty of action in this pack, and plenty different kinds of it, more than enough to challenge every level and style of ASL play.

Action Pack #17: ASL Oktoberfest XXXV contains:

• two 8˝ × 22˝ geomorphic mapboards (87, 88)
• 16 ASL scenarios:
  • AP175 Hold Your Horses – 6 turns, 3 March 1944, Los Negros Island (Japanese vs American)
  • AP176 Always Ready – 6½ turns, 8 March 1944, Papitalai Mission, Los Negros Island (American vs Japanese)
  • AP177 A Celebratory Mood – 6½ turns, 21 October 1944, Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines (American vs Japanese)
  • AP178 Walker’s Orders –6 turns, 22 July 1950, Yongdong, S. Korea (North Korean vs American)
  • AP179 Garry Owen! – 6½ turns, 28 July 1950, Kumchon, S. Korea (North Korean vs American)
  • AP180 East Bank – 5½ turns, 12 August 1950, Wich’on-Dong, S. Korea (North Korean vs American)
  • AP181 No Dunkirk – 6 turns, 14 August 1950, Yongp’o, S. Korea (American vs North Korean)
  • AP182 Sabres Crossed – 7 turns, 16 August 1950, Waegwan, S. Korea (North Korean vs American)
  • AP183 Patton’s Ghost – 6½ turns, 27 September 1950, Osan, S. Korea (American vs North Korean)
  • AP184 The Order of War – 6½ turns, 12 October 1950, Korangp’o-Ri, S. Korea (Allied vs North Korean)
  • AP185 Unsanity – 8½ turns, 2 November 1950, Unsan, S. Korea (American vs Communist Chinese)
  • AP186 The Horse They Never Rode – 5½ turns, 6 Nov. 1950, Yongbyon, N. Korea (American vs Communist Chinese)
  • AP187 Home By Christmas? – 6½ turns, 29 Nov. 1950, Samso-Ri, N. Korea (American vs Communist Chinese)
  • AP188 The Cost of a Cross – 7½ turns, 15 February 1951, Chipyong-Ni, S. Korea (American vs Communist Chinese)
  • AP189 Bona Fide Effort – 7½ turns, 11 April 1951, Hwacheon Reservoir, S. Korea (American vs Communist Chinese)
  • AP190 We Are Sparta– 8 turns, 4 October 1951, Sangnyong, N. Korea (Allied vs Communist Chinese)