Airboy’s Pacific campaign continues in the latest AAR episode ~

Avery Abernethy, 13 November 2016

click images to enlarge

Scenario 6 – Gilbert Islands (continued)

After seeing my 2^nd wave at Tarawa stopped on the beach I moved my 2^nd wave far to the East on Makin for several turns. Hopefully the Japanese defenders were flanked.

Tarawa Turn 8

Tarawa 2nd Wave Barely Off the Beach

2nd Wave Far to the East

Concentrating my initial forces on Tarawa was a good decision. Only the platoon which knocked out the Japanese HQ was destroyed from the main Tarawa landing. The Tarawa 2^nd wave got stuck on the beach and a third of that force was destroyed. I should have stuck with my strategy.   Although plenty of replacements were used, almost all core Tarawa Marine units survived.

Tarawa Turn 9 the Marines Winning

Turn 9 & Hitting Defensive Line

Moving more than two hexes at a time can be very dangerous, even on a small island like Tarawa. I was twice ambushed attempting to advance three hexes. One ambushed platoon from the 2^nd wave landing at Tarawa was subsequently destroyed by a Japanese counter-attack. Concentrating most of my forces, securing a beachhead, and landing heavy artillery support decided Tarawa early.

Turn 9 showing main force and 2nd wave Makin Island

Tarawa Turn 11

17 Turns left and Japanese on Tarawa are toast

Turn 11 and Pincers Converging

On the North Island my advance was much slower. I had no heavy artillery. My 2^nd wave there did not lose any units. But it also ended up mostly serving as a blocking force.

Turn 13 Heavy Fighting

Turn 15 and Squeezing the Defenders

Turn 18 and Victory!

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