Although I've had the Japanese units for some time, I've not had the opportunity to play them. Nigel and I had organised a Memoir game a few weeks back but it was delayed until this evening. Stating a preference for either a Russian, Japanese or Desert game, we both went for a Japanese vs US Marines game.
The Japanese introduce a large number of new rules and tactics but not overwhelmingly so; and the Air Pack help cards are extremely, well, helpful. The Japanese allow a player to conduct Banzai attacks (charge 2 hexes and still combat as long as it's close combat) and an extra combat die when in such combat. Against this frightening enemy, the US Marines get one extra unit to control over the number indicated on the Combat Card; extremely handy.
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| The Japanese start to storm the Wake Island beaches - the US Marine forces look pitifully small! |
Firstly I took the Japanese on an Invasion of Wake Island - the number of Japanese was impressive with every unit in the box being used against a comparatively tiny defensive force well dug in. The main objective was the airfield but each bunker, field bunker and town was also a temporary objective win, so as long as a Japanese unit held the town or bunker, I would score an objective medal towards my win total of 5.
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| End of the game with a Japanese victory! Even with all those casualties, the Japanese force a breach to the left and take the town, field bunker and the airfield! |
After this, we swapped sides for a battle in the steamy jungles of Guadalcanal - Nigel sent a good post battle report by email, so I'll let him take up the story.
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| The Guadalcanal battle starts with several artillery positions ready to bombard the advancing Japanese |
The first saw the Japanese invading Wake Island with a few marines dug in on defence. My Marines fought valiantly, but Frank’s Jap’s took the island for the Emperor in a fairly even match winning 6-4
The second saw the two forces in jungle separated by a river on Guadalcanal. This time I played the Japs and Frank the Marines. We soon found out that cover was high and movement really limited because of the jungle and river. I had a couple of tank units but on this map they were pretty useless – effectively the same firepower as troops. So the game was largely a slugathon with both sides sniping each other taking single casualties at a time.
But my Japs proved to be most uncharacteristic. Frank was ready to defend against the famous Banzai charge but it never happened. My Japs stayed sulking in the jungle. When a unit would get whittled down to one soldier or tank it would retreat out of harm’s way. Instead it relied on artillery barrages. Started with an off-shore barrage which took out a marine gun unit (1 VP). Then my on-board artillery took out the remaining two marine guns and a marine unit (3VP). Finally four of my Jap units swarmed onto a single underpowered Marine unit and finished it off (1VP). That was it, the Japs won 5-0, a glorious day for the Emperor, largely because of uncharacteristic Japanese caution, cowardice and artillery.
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| Japan wins again! All of the American artillery is destroyed and large numbers of US infantry have taken casualties - whilst large numbers of Japanese remain! |
I thoroughly enjoyed playing against and with the Japanese - they proved to be an effective fighting force through shear weight of numbers, able to take large numbers of casualties and still take Wake Island. The US Marines also proved to be an effective fighting force, especially with it's extra unit bonus, but I think the Japanese, even with it's weak tanks (although they roll the same number of dice as a Sherman, Panzer IV, Panther, T-34 or Crusader tanks), have the edge.
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