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Guam is much larger than Saipan. There are two landing areas that are separated by considerable distance. My initial goals are to link up the two beach areas and then clear South Guam and the landing strip. After doing this I can move north.
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Scenario 8 – Saipan, continued
It took several turns to concentrate my artillery and take the heights in Central Saipan. But after that the Marines were a steam roller over the rest of Saipan. Fortunately the Japanese launched a late Banzai charge. It is easier to kill the Japanese out in the open while attacking than it is to dig them out of holes or root them out of hidden positions in the jungle. Southern and Central Saipan has much better defensive terrain than North Saipan which also helped the Marines.
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Scenario 8 – Saipan
Saipan is huge compared to the Marshall and Gilbert Island targets. I used two landing zones because the city in the middle was too tough to take on D-Day. My initial objectives are: 1] link up the two landing zones; 2] seize the southern airfield; and 3] secure all Southern Saipan so I could fight on only one front. But achieving these three objectives was not easy. I continue my strategy of concentrating my forces and landing my artillery in a second wave. The Japanese make multiple counter-attacks including several led by armor. It takes many turns to seize the southern airfield and land air support. It takes even longer to eliminate the Japanese snipers and infantry in Southern Saipan. The infantry allocated to eliminating resistance in the South never catch up to the main battle until the issue is decided. Much of my heavy artillery was allocated to the South and had to be shipped north. Central Saipan is mountainous which is excellent defensive terrain. The heights must be secured by infantry and the going was slow until I got all of my heavy artillery up from South Saipan.
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Scenario 7 – Marshall Islands
Part 2: Eniwetok and Parry Islands:
Eniwetok is the South Island and Parry is the North Island.