Tarawa.

Game of WW2 in the Pacific. 

Using Rapid Fire Reloaded in 20mm.

Organized, using terrain and models and umpired by Chris Caves.

AAR by Chris Caves.

Players
Americans : Steven, David Smylie and Ian Anderson.
Japanese  : Jeremy Nixon.

The scenario was based on an old wargames illustrated article number 110 November 1996.

This was the first amphibious US Marines assault of the pacific island hopping campaign and the testing ground for the  “new “ Louisiana swamp Amtrac ( LVT series of vehicles ).

The game introduced three new players to rapid fire with a couple of  “old hands“ keeping the game on track.

A number of interesting surprises awaited the Marines which required the commanders to re think their plan on the day to capture this tiny atoll.

Turn 1/2 saw the US flotilla of some 15 landing vessels reach the lagoon reef. 

Unknown to the commanders the Higgins boats ( small landing craft ) had to roll a 5/ 6 to avoid being hung up on the reef , the larger Landing craft carrying Sherman tanks dropped their ramps to enable the Sherman’s to wade across the 4ft deep lagoon.

The Amtracs had no problem crossing the ref barrier  although it should be noted that the whole flotilla was under bombardment during this process from the Japanese shore guns ( the gunners failing to hit anything both turns  !  ) 

Historically there was a very low spring tide which meant many of the Higgins boats could not pass the reef and the pre landing bombardment by 15 inch guns had created huge hidden shell craters in the reef shallows which resulted in a number of wading Sherman’s being swallowed up !

Game turn 3/4 saw the first Amtracs hitting the shore , the first Sherman off the LCM succumbed to a under water shell crater ( dice roll of a 1 ). The second Sherman trundled its way towards the shore ( movement was 2d6 ).

More accurate Japanese gunfire destroyed a stationary Higgins boat on the reef .Seeing this a number of commanders ordered there Higgins boat infantry to wade ashore.

The US command was divided amongst 3 players each controlling 5 amphibious vessels and the overall commander was given 2 plane sorties simulated by a  Voight seaplane , the command also had naval gunfire support once the naval liaison team landed on the shore.

A further two tanks were also available from turn 6 although they had to make the perilous swim to shore from the reef.

Suffice to say the surprises caused some great banter and fun moments.

This continued on Turn 5/6 as the US thought they would just race to the two objectives ( capture the airfield and secure the Japanese blockhouse HQ ) in their Amtracs.

Unfortunately as they started this short race across the shore they suddenly found the Amtracs were not capable of climbing the coconut log barrier at the waters edge ( again a die roll was required to achieve this ).

Several of the Amtracs ended belly up to the defending Japanese anti tank guns ( only being saved by abysmal Japanese dice rolls ).

The game had now become a full infantry battle as the Amtracs unloaded.

With heavy casualties on both sides as the US edged forward - the forces at the start of the game were 140 Marines versus  60 Japanese.

The body count at the end of the game saw only a handful (12 )  of Japanese left around the Bunker HQ with the airfield overrun  ( It should be noted that no morale rules were used as the fanatical Japanese fought to the death as per the historical outcome ).

However the US casualties were 100, the game proved to be a close run thing, and great fun.

The kit used was a mix of makes / manufacturers - Airfix bamboo huts, Sherman’s, LCMs , cut down buffalo kits ( note the buffalo LCT was a later variant not used at Tarawa ).

Other makes included FAA Japanese infantry , resin Higgins boats , old bellona bunkers 

The terrain I made was a simple Polystyrene tile construction with drop in scenery pieces 

I have also made a mini Iwo Jima table - perhaps a game for another club day ?

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Photos curtesy of Chris Caves and Gary.