Sands of Iwo Jima

[John B.]

The close in nature of the fighting is shown by the fact that heavy equipment losses look ok but there light equipment losses are significant.

[John B.]

You can see how the fighting has worn down the Marines. Here is one of the regiments at just 45% proficiency and missing a significant percentage of its rifle squads.

[John B.]

At the end of turn 7 the combat exhaustion for the Marines is starting to set in. As you can see, both a number of marine units and the navy are down for a turn getting things sorted out. Three more turns of this hell on earth.

[John B.]

Casualties took a real jump this time. The Marines are being ground down by the tenacious Japanese defense.

[John B.]

Bloody Gorge has lived up to its name. It held out against three assaults this turn plus a bombardment from the Missouri. There is one unit left that must be clinging to life by it's fingernails so it should go next turn, but look at the toll on just one of the regiments that this fighting has had on the Marines. The plan for next turn is to take the airfield on the right flank and bloody gorge on the left flank and then see where things stand.

[John B.]

Went ahead and played through to turn 12. The marines won the battle, but, as you'll see, it does not feel like a win.

[John B.]

The last several turns saw seesaw fighting over airfield number three with the marines winding up in possession of the hex. But, the Japanese held on to their last redoubt and had a regiment there in pretty good overall shape so there was more fighting left on that island. The Japanese, as can be expected, took major losses.

[John B.]

More Japanese losses.

[John B.]

But look at these American losses, and this is with BBs and total air superiority. Ugh.

[John B.]

More American losses.

[John B.]

Final American losses.

All in all I think this is a fun game. It's a very tough fight but I think this scenario would be a very good introductory one. There are not a lot of units and you don't have to worry too much about maneuver but it has air, land, and sea elements.