Description

One of the Avalon Hill magazines presenting articles and scenarios for Advanced Squad Leader. This one included a center insert for a 'mini-HASL': Gavutu-Tanambogo

From the Table of Contents:

Sand & Blood by Dan Dolan
First to Fight! by Steven Swann
Annual Crossfire: Holding the Rear by Robert Banozic & Mark Nixon
Warriors of the North by Michael Dorosh
First on the Beach by Bleck, Burnett & Martin
Notes to the Troops by Rex A. Martin
Tiger Trap by Rex A. Martin

Contents also included three island map overlays for Gavutu, Tanambogo and Gaomi to be placed on top of Ocean overlays, 6 page background article, the "Sand & Blood" GT campaign game, 3 regular scenarios (HASL A3, A4, A5), Japanese setup play aid sheet, 2 page After Action Report. These components are due to be reprinted in the new Rising Sun PTO module.

The first phase of American move into the Solomon islands and Guadalcanal in 1942 called for an attack on Tulagi, an island with a good anchorage and the site of a Japanese seaplane base. Gavutu, Tanambogo and Gaomi are tiny islands off the coast of Tulagi. Between Gavutu and Tanambogo was 300 yard causeway constructed out of concrete and coral. These islands were to be taken in a small part of the main operation against Tulagi. Faulty intelligence had estimated that there were only a "few dozen" construction troops and snipers on these islands. The reality was more like 350 troops including SNLF dug into fortifications and caves. The defenders held out for 31 hours of bitter fighting against an amphibious invasion by the US Marines including suicide charges across a cricket field.

Scenarios:
A61 Across the Wire
A62 Paole Zion
A63 Action at Balberkamp
A64 Chateau de Quesnoy
A65 The Dinant Bridgehead
A66 Counterstroke at Stonne
A67 Monte Castello
DA12 Tussle at Thomashof
HA3 Grabbing Gavutu
HA4 Tanambogo Nightmare
HA5 Take Two