Slitherine

Not much time at hands currently, but I am there right now and wonder if you have some useful hints for me!

It's Henderson Field as Japanese, just somehow my troops don't seem as threatening as the IJN forces seemed to be when I was the USA!

The key for this scenario is the amphibious attack... If you try to reach Henders Field overland it's gonna be very tough, maybe impossible (?), get instead Henderson Field by sea (after taking Savo island with paratroopers supported by your fleet) with a huge escort fleet and you will find the scenario quite easy and you also could spend all your mission income to buy new units and restore your fleet (I suggest 2 support ship) for the next mission

Sounds like a plan. Walking through the jungle seems indeed to take ages.

Did it, but have to try again. Will start with 2 Fighters this time, the dive bombers were super ineffective vs US ground troops and it wasn't that hard to gain naval supremacy.

Well you still need to save those trap pocket of japanese troops down south.

What I did in that scenario was marine and para go south and save those pockets and do a cut off run up the mountain to beach. Then on the beach area I did massive artillery bombardment. Planes I still choose bombers over fighter as there is just too much fighter to handle so those bombers will just pick off the AA and AT guns (using arty on AA then proceed with bomber run is a very safe way for bomber to get AA guns). Also note I need those big arty on the beach to use them as AT once their armor roles in.

Forget to mention once you like up the supply on south you can start using that second and third pocket area to deploy reserve troops which many players don't do is keep reserve hence the long march. Dropping the para in the middle of those pockets and walking up ahead (supply will be red) with the marine coming from behind will lower the March time and fasten the deployment in frontline down south