Pictures of the Invasion of Parry Island

The game was played at my house, between Keith and I on 8/6/08. Most of the kit is mine but Keith ably assisted with some of the Marines (those with the sandy bases). Due to a shortage of figs some of the "Marines" are actually US Army

Panorama of Parry Island. Landing beaches in the top left.

Japanese Mortars were registered on the landing beaches

Japanese Artillery enfilading the beaches, though at the start of the game they could see nothing due to the smoke. Fujimi 75mm Type-41 and UTB Enterprises 37mm Type-94

2nd Infantry Company 1st Mobile Battalion defends the Beach, with the Ha Go in reserve.

2/22 Marine Battalion lands on the beach supported by an LVT(A)-1 (Cromwell)

The 2/22 Marines were confronted by the 3rd Company 1st Mobile battalion

1/22 Marines assault the 2nd Company

Japanese tank destruction stand slips past the Marines to try and spear the LVT. He dies in a hail of MG and Canister fire

Due to some poor morale rolls 1/22 stalls on the beach, 2/22 however pushes inland

Shermans (Corgi) of the 2nd Tank Company arrive on Green III Beach. Unfortunately the fires had burned out by this point and the smoke lifted, which enabled the 37mm to plug three shots in to the side of the first Sherman causing it to burn.

2/22 Marine push inland to Hearts Circle while US reinforcements land on the beach

M4A2 (MMS) climbs on to the beach

The final Sherman on Green III decides to avenge his comrade and charges the 37mm. Unfortunately for the USMC a lucky shot from the 37mm pierces the Sherman's thick skin and it burns.

Battle for the ruins on the beach. The USMC got the drop on the Japanese and reached the ruins first.

Confrontation at Hearts Circle. The Type 95 missed the LVT at point blank range. The LVT chose to mow down the Suicide AT stand that burst out of the undergrowth, which was more dangerous than the puny tank. Next turn the Type 95 disengaged back in to the palms, overmatched by the Amtank. In the background the M4A2 is stalled, pinned by an unfortunate morale check.

Once the Type 95 had retreated the LVT charged across the clearing followed by the M4. It caught the Japanese commander on the hop, his sword proving ineffectual against armour plate

Last defenders on the beach, having regained their positions after a counter attack the Japanese are finally ousted by the USMC

Sherman pushes through the palms. By this time half the island was in allied hands

LVT advances along the beach on the back of the Island, trying to outflank the last Japanese defensive position. By this time in the battle both sides had taken considerable casualties.

E Coy 2/22 Marines follows the LVT

Turn 8, the game drawing to a close the Sherman rushes to the far point of the island to gain the 5vps

The last assault, the marines try to winkle out the last Japanese defenders of the ruins at the centre of the Island

Last blood to the Japanese. The Ha Go finally penetrates the LVT. Rather miraculously the Ha Go survived the entire game, but I did try very hard to keep it out of reach of the Shermans

The game was hard fought but was a clear Japanese victory. As the Japanese player I was not constrained by the historical Japanese Banzai mentality, so could retreat when a retreat was expedient. The LVT-4's were a no-show and the USMC probably suffered a lack of fire-power on the beaches. Although the Japanese were not likely to fail morale, tank and armour together on the beaches would have at least made it possible. Finally Keith's dice rolls for USMC morale were not the best they could have been. One battalion commander went shaken turn 1, and another company soon went shaken , thus limiting the stands that could call the artillery.

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