Order of Battle Pacific: US Marines – AAR, Scenario 10 Part 2

frontier wars 728x90 KS

The final battle of the Marines’ campaign, Iwo Jima ~

Avery Abernethy, 11 March 2017

Click images to enlarge

The first phase of the battle was the tough part. Getting my troops in good organization and supply was hard. Capturing the first airfield and Mt. Suribachi was a tough fight. Part two is different.

Iwo Turn 11

Iwo Turn 11

All troops have landed. I have enough troops to rotate damaged and disorganized units out of the battle line to reinforce and resupply.

Iwo Jima Turn 15

Iwo Jima Turn 15

 

With total air superiority, naval fire support and three units of heavy artillery I can blast individual strongpoints. Even better, the ground is flat and there is little jungle until you get to the far West of the island.

Iwo Jima Turn 18

Iwo Jima Turn 18

 

With enough infantry to scout for Japanese units and bunkers, my tanks can smash the tough points. Despite several Japanese counter-attacks, I had enough forces and fire support to gradually march across the island without much difficulty.

Iwo Turn 18 South Beach

Iwo Turn 18 South Beach

 

Iwo Turn 18 Northern Part of Island

Iwo Turn 18 Northern Part of Island

 

B29 Emergency Landing

B29 Emergency Landing

 

Iwo Jima Turn 21 North

Iwo Jima Turn 21 North

 

Iwo Jima Turn 21 South

Iwo Jima Turn 21 South

 

After capturing the third airfield and destroying 110 Japanese defenders I was awarded victory on Iwo Jima and in the Pacific.

 

Iwo Victory

Iwo Victory

 

Marine Tribute

Marine Tribute

 

Victory in the Pacific

Victory in the Pacific

 

 

Final Thoughts

This was a fun wargame that simulated the brutal terrain and the fanatic defense by the Japanese. In the early scenarios the Marines were outnumbered, outgunned, and lacked air superiority. As the campaign progressed better equipment and huge firepower advantages made life easier. But the Japanese could successfully ambush any unit trying to dash forward and the AI successfully used counter-attacks to chop up isolated units. I had to play very conservatively to win. I concentrated my forces, concentrated my firepower, and advanced slowly and methodically. Anytime I got away from that strategy the AI hammered me.

The AI played very intelligently.

This game is somewhat challenging on this difficulty setting. I’m guessing that on higher difficulty settings winning within the time allotted would be very challenging.

The game never crashed, locked, or allowed the Japanese to do anything odd. The AI played very intelligently. There were several sequences programmed in that followed the historical battle that added a real life flavor. The Japanese fleet bombardment of Henderson field. Damaged B-29 landing on Iwo Jima. The US fleet taking off to fight the Japanese fleet several times. I really like it when game designers incorporate a screen shot feature in the game. It makes it a lot easier to do an AAR. Hope that you enjoyed this AAR and if you are interested in tactical level Pacific combat this is a very good game.

 

Avery Abernethy, Professor of Marketing Auburn University. War Eagle!


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One Response to Order of Battle Pacific: US Marines – AAR, Scenario 10 Part 2

  1. JHRobin2 says:

    Great AAR. Well done.

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