The Battle for Guam

in celebration of Steve and my birthdays I ran a wargames campaign over the weekend, using Piquet's Theatre of War and Richard Borg's Memoir '44 to run the Guam Campaign of 1944


The Set-Up

When writing this scenario I undertook to allow a broad range of actions and intentions by both sides. Obviously, the best chance of the Japanese stopping the US Marines cold was on the beaches. But would they be able to get enough forces to those beaches in time? Would a delaying and guerrilla strategy in the interior of the island, far from the supply dumps on the beaches, give better return?


The US Marines had certain powerful advantages, namely quantity and quality. But given the circumstances any real setback inflicted on them by the Japanese was going to be more damaging to the Marine Corps’ ability to take the island. A victory by the Japanese might not mean that the island wasn’t taken, but it might mean that the army had to be called in, and several Marine regiments sent back to Australia/Hawaii for rest etc.
Imagine it, the ignominy of having the Army take an island that the Marines could not!


The main resources I used were online versions of US armed forces histories
The Recapture of Guam by Major O.R. Lodge, USMC and
Liberation: Marines in the Recapture of Guam (Marines in World War II Commemorative Series) by Cyril J. O'Brien

Background to the Guam Campaign

To most American planners the islands of the Southern Marianas were essential in the drive to shorten the war. They occupy a central position dominating the Western Pacific on an arc from Tokyo through the Ryukus to Formosa, the Philippines, and northern New Guinea.
Their capture would cut the strategic line of communication from Japan to its island holdings in the South Pacific and effectively isolate the garrisons there and would, for the first time during the war, permit Americans to operate on interior rather than exterior lines.In addition, enemy planes could no longer stage through the airfields of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam to attack American forces hammering at the Japanese bases in the South and Central Pacific.

But uppermost in the minds of the high-level strategists were three further considerations that made the target even more attractive. First, from the same airfields now being used by enemy planes and other sites selected for early development, B-29's of the Army Air Forces could initiate raids on Japan itself. Secondly, capture of Guam would permit the establishment of a submarine refuelling point much closer to enemy areas. And finally, Apra Harbour offered a good anchorage for an advance naval base. 21st July, 1944

Major General Roy S. Geiger decided to send in Colonel Merlin F. Schneider leading the 22nd Marines in to take Agat Beach. The Regiment is met by Colonel Tsunetaro Suenaga’s 38th Regiment, and delay in getting the Marine attack underway led to Suenaga bringing up reserves to meet it head-on and with maximum firepower…

Japanese hold Town against Armour flanking attack [Battle for Agat Beach]

The Marines attempt to get as many as possible up the beaches, to avoid being pushed back into the water, this proves to be difficult given the lack of armoured support for the advance. The Japanese are cautious with pushing forward and only do so in order to grab defensive terrain features.

US Marines race through artillery fire from LCVPs to town [Battle for Agat Beach]

In the centre the Marine advance is slower, with fewer companies making it off the landing craft, and those that do are in danger of being split by the small rivers running down the beach.

Japanese advance on US Marines before more can disembark [Battle for Agat Beach]

Covered by artillery support the Marine advance on their right goes well, but the Japanese with artillery on both flanking hills give as good as they get.

US Marines reach ridge overlooking beach [Battle for Agat Beach]

The 22nd Marines are beaten, but the Japanese forces are no better off. Schneider’s regiment has avoided the disaster of being pushed off the beach, but only just…

23rd July, 1944

As the US Marines prepare to take Agat Beach on a second attempt, the Japanese commander ordered a night attack. Again the Japanese are extremely lucky in getting all their available companies into the fight, and their numbers almost match the Marines huddled around their landing craft.

Japanese wipe out US Marines right flank [Night Attack at Agat Beach]

The Japanese night attack was launched very early, and the Marines are praying for dawn as visibility remains very bad for the entire battle. Conversely they know that the Japanese artillery is zeroed in on some of their positions and that daylight will only bring a torrent of fire.

Japanese Banzai charge reached the landing craft [Night Attack at Agat Beach]

The night-fighting is especially fierce around Agat town, where the Japanese artillery pushed back dangerous advances made by the Marines. The Marines do make headway and slowly they take the blocks despite the frenzied counter-attacks by the Japanese battalion.


Japanese hold town against advance by US Marines left flank [Night Attack at Agat Beach]
As the Japanese victory seems inevitable; the Marines right flank is being crushed and their centre is in danger of annihilation; the Marines live up to the grandest traditions of the Corps – Bladensburg, Beallau Wood, Tarawa – and break the Japanese Regiment at the cusp of their triumph!

[The Marines drew three ‘Their Finest Hour’ cards in four turns! Turning a decisive defeat into another bloody draw]

24th July, 1944

Geiger lands Lt. Colonel Alan Shapley’s 4th Marines on Agat Beach, in an attempt to join up with the 22nd Marines and establish a serious force superiority over the Japanese defenders.
As that is about to happen, the Japanese attempt to push the US Marines 22nd Regiment off their beachhead again.

This time however, the Marines are outnumbered and without any artillery assets, as well as being stuck around their landing craft. The tiring Marines recognise their dire situation, and attempt to make the Japanese pay the cost in another mauling.

The 4th Marines are withdrawn from the beaches in disarray.


25th July, 1944

Geiger, eager to open up the battle for Guam to a region where the Japanese do not have such an advantage quickly lands the 21st Marines under Colonel Arthur H. Butler and the 9th Marines under Colonel Edward A. Craig on Asan Beach.

Moving inland from Asan Beach, the combined 21st and 9th Marines moves to Mount Tenjo where the Japanese 48th Independent Mixed Brigade under Major Hamada is stationed, overlooking Agat Beach.
The 48th avoids battle, despite the favourable terrain.

Although the Japanese 38th have withdrawn from the beach to lick their wounds they are obviously preparing to push the new Marine arrivals off Guam to join their comrades.

The 4th Marines decide to move before they have a chance to complete their plans, and advances past Agat town to clear the beachhead.

This battle does not go well for the Marines, although several sections of the battlefield hold their own, the Japanese slowly squeeze the life out of them, and forcing the Marines back to their start line.


26th July, 1944

Sensing an opportunity Shapely orders the 4th Marines south of Agat towards Mount Alifan, where any attempt by the Japanese to finish his unit off will occur in the defensive foothills. This leaves behind any chance of his taking a base of operations for the amphibious corps and is extremely dangerous.

Butler quickly ordered the 21st and 9th to engage the opposing 48th: “They can’t avoid battle again and still hold onto these hills!” This time the Japanese cannot avoid the battle and are flanked by the superior numbers Butler has brought to bear. The flank march takes control of the vital summit of Mount Tenjo itself and with his big guns brought to bear on those defensive positions the Japanese do control, the battle is over almost before it can begin!

Now Geiger sees the opportunity to sweep in behind the 38th holding Agat, but instead Butler orders his units to follow up and harry the 48th down towards the Pago River.


27th July, 1944

Following up, the Xth Marines catches the Japanese 48th at Pago River.

Massed US Armour prepares to advance [Battle of Pago River]

The disparity in numbers is dreadfully apparent, and given that the Marines have also succeeded in bringing a strategic reserve of halftracks for their infantry, mobile howitzers and heavy tanks the Japanese can only hope to sell their lives dearly.

Japanese defend hill despite the fearful odds [Battle of Pago River]

Initial pushes from armour units find the main strength on the Japanese side. They have refused their left flank and are trusting on the Pago River to slow down the Marine advance on that side.

US Marines centre backed up by mobile howitzers [Battle of Pago River]

The Marine attack on their left meets with some serious resistance, the Japanese have several batteries dug in on a hill, supported by several infantry companies. Meanwhile in their centre they begun to move units (including some armour) around a hill and some jungle to take advantage of a sloppy Marine advance.

Japanese lurk in elephant grass [Battle of Pago River]

Japanese defensive formation in the expanse of elephant grass is smoked out and destroyed with the help of a seriously effective air strike by the Marine flyers, and the last remnant s of the Japanese force charges out to attempt to drive one Marine unit into the river.

Cut off, the last Japanese platoon charges [Battle of Pago River]

On the Marine left the stiff resistance on the hill is crushed by an armoured spearhead, backed up by mechanised infantry. The Japanese are wiped out to the last man!

US Marines left takes vital hill after destroying massed batteries there [Battle of Pago River]

Aftermath
Unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to run the final battle of the campaign, but I hope to have it run at the next Thursday night available for the group…
Given the beating both sides have taken in the campaign so far – it will definitely be the decisive battle.

Champion Hill

The Scenario

When writing this scenario I undertook to allow a broad range of actions and intentions by both sides. While a truly historical scenario might ignore anything on the Middle and Raymond roads and concentrate on events at Champion Hill itself, I wondered what would happened if generals on those axes were more active than they were historically.

That said, I used special cards and deployments to steer certain things historically, for instance putting in a special card for the Union which would temporarily prevent Loring's division from sending his brigades northward - "Does General Pemberton know the enemy is in great force in my front?"

I got great use out of Timothy Smith's Champion Hill: Decisive Battle for Vicksburg and James Arnold's Grant Wins the War: Decision at Vicksburg, I'd welcome any comments from readers, while suggesting that at times certain decisions of my were guided by gameplay rather than historical accuracy.

We did run the entire battle twice, both with significantly different results, I'm posting the second of those AARs here.

Morning

The Union generals began the day by developing their lines carefully and deliberating, under strict orders from Grant. Only in the centre did the attempt to move artillery batteries forward while sending a brigade after the 12th Arkansas Sharpshooter Battalion causes a less than orderly advance.


Aerial View of Battlefield at the start of the day


On the Union left, AJ Smith advances using the road to speed up his rear regiments while moving his forward units gradually off the road, being mindful of a Confederate brigade on his threatening his right flank.


AJ Smith leads division towards Croker Ridge

In the centre Bowen's division advances east of the Ratliff Road to catch the Union divisions before they can bring their superior numbers to bear.


Osterhaus and Bowen square off on Middle Road south of Cornfields

As the Union divisions are just about to get their final orders to make contact with the Confederate defence, it is discovered that communications with Grant have slowed to a snail's pace, due to a huge number of supply wagons on the back roads connecting the main axes of advance.


Union rear on Raymond Road snarled up by supply train

Trouble strikes the Union centre as Carr's division struggles to clear the woods of a sharpshooter battalion impeding a quick deployment towards the line Osterhaus has identified for the two divisions.


Carr's division finds advance through woods impeded by 12th Arkansas Sharpshooters

Further north, Logan's initial probe towards Champion Hill is repulsed. In the firefight, the 2nd Illinois and 6th Missouri Cavalry take advantage of the preoccupation of the Confederate gunners to overrun the Cherokee Georgia Battery. They escape with only minor losses despite the supporting fire from the slopes of Champion Hill from some of Cumming's Brigade and Claiborne's Battery.


Logan's initial probe towards Champion Hill is repulsed

Afternoon

Just as AJ Smith’s division, supported by Blair begins its attack on Loring’s division on Croker Ridge, Buford’s brigade emerges from the woods nearby to hit them hard in the flank, forcing AJ Smith to respond by pulling back a brigade on that side.


AJ Smith's division hit hard in the flank by Buford's brigade

Meanwhile in the centre things are getting hot, as Lee takes several regiments into the Cornfields for respite from Union pressure. He used his position to put some enfilading fire onto regiments marching down the Middle Road.


Lee leads regiment into Cornfield supported by Waddell's battery

Buford has successfully completed his task of slowing down the Union advance against Loring, and with only minor loss to his brigade. By afternoon Loring has brought all his regiments to the eastern edge of the woods and to the ridge itself, withdrawing Adam’s cavalry from its dangerous position covering the road.


Loring's division prepares for Union onslaught

Meanwhile at Champion Hill Logan and Hovey are moving very conservatively on Confederate positions, keeping their lines steady and hoping to act like a vice in taking the position.


Logan's and Hovey's divisions advance on Champion Hill in good order

The Confederates there are not worried, having moved a brigade up to a defensive line, and skirmishing well with any Union regiment attempting to skirt the hill on the road.


Union troops can see Barton's brigade on north-eastern slopes of Champion Hill


With both sides almost spent and reduced to long-range exchanges in the centre (Bowern has been seriously wounded by a sharpshooter) and with things looking so dangerous at Champion Hill, Loring mounts a counter-attack after successfully weathering a full-scale assault by AJ Smith’s division, led by Buford’s brigade again.


AJ Smith's division reels from counter-attack led by Buford


Evening


When Loring’s main strength joins in the counter-attack from the front, the effects are disastrous for the Union, and AJ Smith’s division, along with forward elements of Blair’s are driven from the field.



AJ Smith's division shattered by Loring's attack


The remains of Blair’s division supported by several batteries drive back the advance regiments of Loring’s division, giving them some room to reform their lines. However the absolute carnage caused to the Union divisions on this flank is clear to all, and Blair forms his new line out of Loring’s reach.



Blair's division forms new line outside range of Loring's guns


Loring begins to send his brigade north towards Champion Hill, but all wonder if the steady advance of Logan and Hovey will pay off before they can reach there, or before night falls. Their assault is coordinated and from both sides, leaving Cumming's and Barton's brigades shattered, and Stevenson himself has been seriously wounded taking command of a brigade on the eastern slopes near the road.



Logan and Hovey coordinate assault on Champion Hill


As the Union triumphantly surge up Champion Hill, only a lone battery commanded by Claiborne still stubbornly holds out.



Lone guns of Claiborne's Battery hold to last man

The Confederates are broken, but the Union command looks nervous about their victory, and the Confederate commanders decide to break the Union strength by retaking Champion Hill before nightfall. They hope to effect a good withdrawal of the army and to hamper any future Union attempts to take Vicksburg. Before any fresh orders are sent, dusk falls and the day belongs to General Grant.


Aftermath


I’ll add a few comments as GM and observer. The Union approach was quite ponderous, requiring a full deployment before any real engagement. One could see the Union CinC player looking sternly at the subordinate players once or twice when they looked like they were getting ahead of themselves. This was most important around Champion Hill, where the Confederates had the best terrain, and the Union overwhelming numbers, and a division well in reserve which could have been completely left out of the picture by an overconfident player there. When that became apparent to all, I was slightly surprised that the Confederate on Champion Hill moved to a forward defence rather than a crest-line defence, which would have helped diminish Union superiority and coordination.

In the centre both sides were very quickly exhausted, with several units pulled out of the line when they were close to being destroyed. The sharpshooters did a lot of good work at frustrating the Union player here. Along the Raymond Road, all were amazed at the damage done to the Union, especially given the well ordered advance. Even so, they should probably have come out of it worse. When Blair’s units counter-attacked to set up their lines, 12 dice were rolled against various confederate units, with 11 (rather than the average of 6) coming up hits!


The Union won 18-20 (The Confederate break-point was 18 - the Union break-point was 23) so it was close enough in the end.

Assault on Berlin [2093]

Following the failed attempt to break through at the Rhine Bridges, a more conventional advance is necessary.

British, American and Canadian battle groups race to the capital.

Assault on Berlin kicks off.

British Brigade approaches Berlin suburbs



Swabian Brigade awaits Canadian attackers



American Ogre V 'Petraeus' heads towards Potsdam with support



Fencer 'Prinz Eugen' lies in wait



Petraeus and Prinz Eugen clash at Spandau with conventional forces in general melee



Swabian Brigade counterattack out of Berlin



British Brigade assaults Prussian positions at Missile Silo



Final Swabian defenders of Berlin look on

Berlin has fallen!

Battle for the Rhine Bridges

I ran a large Ogre demo with the help of Eamon Honan (again). We used miniatures and terrain for visual effect, though the terrain and felt used was hexed for use with the Ogre/GEV boardgame rules.

To give you an idea of the size of the demo: the table was 18 by 4 foot (or 105 by 25 hexes), points per side were 1200-1350, this was divided evenly between the 6 players on each side.



Essentially the table was the southern half of The Netherlands, from the North Sea to the Rhine.

The scenario was based on Operation Market Garden (which you may remember from the classic film “A Bridge too Far” or the TV show “Band of Brothers”) except that with Ogre canon making paratroopers impossible, I opted to have a large Combine Marine contingent march up the Scheldt Estuary and up the rivers to seize control of the bridges at the Dutch cities of Arnhem, Nijmegen and ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Two large armour columns with Ogre support rush up the motorways from Antwerp, and two large GEV columns up the rivers to relieve them.



This advance was primarily made of GEVs, with significant numbers of light and personnel-carrying GEVs, but there were also two large LCACs (Landing Craft-Air Cushion) carrying heavy tanks.

The PanEuropean defenders were strung out in small groups outside all of the cities on the board, negating their points advantage. Their attempts to concentrate were hampered by the Marines controlling all the major bridges and by the stream of civilian refugees who were evacuating the cities in front of the Combine army.

As the Combine GEVs hurtle upriver, a small force of PanEuropean GEVs move downriver to spoil their advance. The aim being to give the PanEuropeans outside the major cities time to clear out the marines before relief arrives.



The major Combine armoured thrusts approach surround Breda and begin moving eastwards towards 's-Hertogenbosch, skirting the northern suburbs of Tilburg. The small PanEuropean frontier battalion at Breda attempts to slow their advance. Allowing civilians inside the city time to evacuate.



The Combine forces display no regard for civilian lives, unleashing a strike on the Breda city centre, knocking out single light tank for the cost of over 5000 civilians.
This causes some consternation at PanEuropean High Command.

A suspicious-looking snorkle in the estuary reveals itself to be a MkIII Ogre, much to the dismay of the PanEuropeans. This completes the encirclement of the Breda force as the rest of the Combine units advance towards 's-Hertogenbosch.



With the swift advance of one of the Combine amphibious commands, the defence of the 's-Hertogenbosch bridge is crushed, and all PanEuropean forces west of the canal are destroyed. Although their loss is heavily felt at HQ, the single Combine bridge-laying unit was taken out, forcing the conventional Combine units to cross at the bridge



PanEuropean losses mount as all four Ogre units merge on the bridge and prepare to cross the canal.



Meanwhile Combine Marine units are under huge pressure, especially at Nijmegen where a huge amount of effort is being put into clearing the city. Even armour units from Arnhem are being utilised in the assault!

As the larger amphibious command advances upriver to flank the defences of 's-Hertogenbosch, Nijmegen is cleared of the last Marine resistance.



But, Combine HQ is aghast when strategic missile assets are unveiled right under the noses of the surrendering Marine units in Nijmegen. Due to the flagrant lack of concern shown for civilian casualties by Combine in Breda, PanEuropean High Command in Berlin has authorised the use of strategic nuclear weapons.

PanEuropean Theatre HQ in Oss is conservative with its deployment of the single strike, minimizing the possibility of a shoot-down.
Still the strike takes out over a dozen GEVs and with that the concentration of PanEuropean armour near Oss has little trouble dispensing with the remainder of the command.



Although the Combine forces were stopped well short of their objectives, serious losses were inflicted on the PanEuropean command, but it looks like Combine will have to find an alternate route to Berlin...