Short Campaign: Tarawa?

[Orzel Bialy]

Has there been a short campaign of this battle developed anywhere yet? I've looked around and haven't seen one...and since I have a three part map of Tarawa under construction (part one is 95% finished / part two about 20% / part three is in the rough outline form right now)
Anyway, I was just thinking I should check up before I go through many late nights at the PC, filling this labor of love out...only to find it's been covered by one or more of the MasterCraftsMen that reside at this forum.
Oh yeah, if any one has some real good input they have about Tarawa...post it here as a reply. Sources, links, maps...whatever. I've found the "Tarawa on the Web" site and have been basing my design off the maps found there...but the wording is blury in places and the detail faint at times. I'm heading to the library this weekend to get a couple books, but again...any tips of good reference material would really make the task a bit easier. I want to make this thing as real as possible and name it all as much as possible....so any input would be appreciated.
Should anyone, by chance, care to have a look at the first map...let me know. I would appreciate any constructive input or tips for improvement.(I have it saved as map 501)
Ok then, now it's back to the editor for me!!!!

[Redleg]

I have been researching Tarawa. I am in the planning stage for a trilogy (not a campaign) of scenarios. My thought is to break the battle into 3 (possibly, 4) parts so as to keep the scenarios from being so large.

I would appreciate seeing your map. I have a lot of info on Betio including Japanese gun emplacements, barbed wire, dragon's teeth and the surprisingly large number of buildings on the island.

I also have a good OOB for both sides which if it will help you, I will share.

[Orzel Bialy]

Redleg,

The barb wire, obstacle and gun enplacement data would be great info to complete the map!
I originally planned to make the island to exact scale...until I found out through planning and outlining that the island could fit on a SPWAW small map. It left very little room to blend and make an interesting map...so the scale is about 1.5 to 1.75 larger...but worth it the way it has come out so far, if I don't say so myself.
I'm at work...on lunch right now...so I'll e-mail you the maps this evening. Feel free to look them over and see what you think.
If you want to share data at any given time...or even co-operate on a project (Tarawa or anything else) let me know. I especially love doing the map work stuff....it's unit placement that I sometimes get weary and rush through.

[Redleg]

I'll either scan (if the map copies ok) or describe the emplacements for you to use.

The width of the reef (14-18 hexes) is troublesome.... I want to have the reef but hope to avoid having the players spend too much time getting shot up while trying to get to shore.

I see no problem with increasing the scale as you have done. This will serve to decrease troops density. However, it may be desireable to crank up unit speeds marginally.

It will be interesting to see how someone else has examined this battle. BTW, the book "Tarawa, A Hell of a Way to Die" by Wright has excellent OOBs and maps. Much detailed information.

[WhiteRook]

Hi,

I would like to see any of the maps you have done so far.
I am always in the mood to take a look at some ones maps!
Please just send any to my email address.

Rook

[Orzel Bialy]

Gentlemen,

I've attached the zip file containing the first map to this post.
Redleg, any info you have about gun emplacements and their placement...as well as other articles of war (wire and what-not) would really be the icing on the cake.
Rook, feel free to take a look at the map and give me any feedback that you think may enhance it.
Remember, it is scaled a bit larger and designed with what information I could pull off the web. Building placement and seawalls are placed just where the maps I could print out showed, but they were faint at times...so not everything is 100% though I tried as best I could.
Most of all...remember this is a rookies try at this...so be kind. I consider this one to be about 90-95% done as far as map objects...barring the placement of objects through the SPWAW deployment screen.

[Orzel Bialy]

That didn't seem to post the attachement. I'll try it once more....then it's on to plan "B"

[Orzel Bialy]

Got it that time!!! OK...back to work on Map #2.

[Redleg]

I have had the pleasure of seeing this great map. A fine job, indeed.

If I can be of assistance, I will be happy to try.

[Orzel Bialy]

Redleg,
Thanks. Coming from a Vet who has put out some outstanding work...I take that as a great vote of confidence. I had to cut out more ocean than originally planned...but I think the trade off has been worth it. From here there are a few more tweakings to do...but the bulk of terrain work for #1 is in place I think.
The main things I want to accomplish from this point on are:
1. get the gun types and their positions in correctly
2. place the barbed wire and other defensive works
3. last and biggest of all...get the right balance of forces
If you can send me any of your information that you can scan, that would be a great help. This weekend is my trip to the library and Barnes and Nobles...see what else I can find (including the book you suggested)
The maps have turned into something of an obession...I work on them every chance I get...at least until the wife says "Enough already!" :p
Right now the main plans are a four to five node campaign. That could change with time though..except I want to keep it managable, so nothing too monsterous can be allowed.
If you don't mind...I'd appreciate it if you would test things out and look them over from time to time...if you're willing. It's always good to have outside input.
That goes for anyone...if you downloaded the map(s) and have some input...let me know what you think.
OK, now...back to the editor....think I can sneak in another hour while the wife is in the tub!!!

[Redleg]

Yes, I will extract OOB info for both sides.

Japanese had substantially reinforced Betio with SNLF. Here's the Japanese OOB

3d Special Base Force (formerly 6th Yokosuka SNLF) 1122 men

7th Sasebo SNLF 1497 men

111th construction Unit 1247 men

Detachment of 4th Fleet Construction department 970 men

Total: 4836

This is a start. The map I sent should have data on the guns, pillboxes, ect. At least enough to get you started.

Good luck. It sounds like an exciting campaign.

[Orzel Bialy]

Redleg,
Thanks for the data. I didn't have the construction detachment from 4th Fleet on my list.
I also dug up something I wasn't aware of...that there were between 7 and 12 Japanese light tanks on the island as well...and there was a small, short battle between them and some of the Sherman's on Red 2 or 3.
I'll have to research that a bit more.
Outside of that...let's see....oh yeah, I have a version "a" of Map #1 almost done. It is done completely in desert and rough terrain tiles and gives the island a bit more of that desolate, rough look that the pictures of the battle convey. I can send it to you or post it...so I can get some feedback as to which map I should run with.
The map with the gun emplacements was a gold mine...the map I had was not really legible in some areas, nor did it show the wire and dragon teeth positions. Thanks again for that little jem.
Well, lunch is almost over....I'll post more later, after I get home and get back into the editor.

[Redleg]

Actually, there were (according to my source) 14 light tanks. They were dug in and used as gun emplacements. Type 95 Ha-Go Well camoed - covered with sand and palm leaves.

Also of interest:
4-127mm twin twin AA
8-7cm twin AA
8-13.2 mm twin AA MG
27-13.2mm single AAMG
31-13.2mm single and twin Anti-boat MGs
14-37mm AT guns
9-37mm type 94 AT with HE for beach defense

I think I got that mostly right. More later.

[WhiteRook]

Say that 1st map is a splended peice of work!

Kudos for a job well done, I really like the way you did the airfield and I also like how you handled the AT ditches!

Very well done......

[Orzel Bialy]

Rook,

Thanks for the kudos.

I messed with a lot of terrain features trying to get things to look realistic. The airfield was the produce of about four different tries to get the desired look...thought it never would come out right for a while there. But I finally worked it out.
I am still messing with some of the other terrain features...as I posted earlier I already have a second version of #1 about 95% done, and to be honest I like it better than the first one I posted.
I am still tweaking things to allow for the offshore obstacles and wire and also trying to find just the right mix of desert, summer and rough tiles to give the map the best feel of an atoll island.
With all that said...the final version of #1 should be done by the end of the weekend. At some point I will have to say "OK, stop messing with it" and get on to the deployment of forces.
Redleg, thanks again for the additional info...keep it coming! I think I have the campaign storyboarded fairly well and once I get to the next level (deployment) I'm sure all the info will be of great use in making things easier to build. Thanks again.
OK, off to work I go. Then it's the weekend off and late nights at the editor.