Matrix Games Forums

let me just say that japanese infantry have got to be the toughest units in all of spwaw. i just played a scenario in which one (and this WASNT and isolated event) wounded jap infantry unit destroyed three enemy tanks. i have yet to see another wounded unit do this.

hats off to them!

p/f

"SPOON!"

Surrendering was never an option for these poor guys. Suicide perhaps but never surrendering.

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Sgt. A.Lassi 6th Company, 2nd Arctic Mortar Platoon I19/P5 Reg. Sweden

Their little problem is that the only use the gear "Forward"... That makes the defend missions to quite some firefeasts since they never stop advancing. Myself would never try to run over 200 meter of open field against HMG but these guys do... Tough bastards!

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_______________________
Thornado
- You'll never know what hit you -

I love war in the Pacific. I love it. My favorite theater of war!...WB

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In Arduis Fidelis
Wild Bill Wilder
Coordinator, Scenario Design
Matrix Games

When playing a game against Japanese troops I
will usually buy some anti aircraft halftracks etc. The quad 50's work wonders against enemy infantry!
Semper Fi
Randy

yes they are I play Jap troops alot.marines can be to with that deadly accurate rifle fire which seems to carry over to sub machine guns and Lmg and MMG and HMG haha. Try jap forces and see how bad they relay had it. No anti tank worth mentioning ecxept the 47mm at gun and a Nice Tank hunter holding his mine .
yer ownly hope if attacking is to pop smoke near enemy and hope ift provides enough cober to get in close. And then start chewing them up in point blank fights. After that Its always nice to call arty in on yerself. Whats the loss of a few troops matter as long as some of those Marines go with them

Best thing from the Japs is the 150mm Heavy Mortar.
Think that little toy is a bit overrated in SPWaW .. use 2 secs of them (4 units total), park them right around a stack of ammo transports and buy 2..3 FOs .. no problem breaking up any attack

Arralen

PS: Does anyone have facts about the use of these beasts ?

Originally posted by Arralen:
Best thing from the Japs is the 150mm Heavy Mortar.
Think that little toy is a bit overrated in SPWaW .. use 2 secs of them (4 units total), park them right around a stack of ammo transports and buy 2..3 FOs .. no problem breaking up any attack

Arralen

PS: Does anyone have facts about the use of these beasts ?

First some technical data:

Japanese, Model 93 (1933) 150-mm mortar:

Caliber: 150mm (5.9 inch).
Maximum range: 2,100 m
Length of tube: 59 inches (149,8 cm)
Weight of tube: 220 pounds (99,7 kg)
Elevation: 43º to 80º.
Traverse: 7º.
Sights: Telescopic.

Projectile reported as weighing 56 pounds (25,4 kg) and containing approximately 14 pounds (6,3 kg) of explosive.
(and it was HUGE!)

Only thing I remember, is that it was very effective in Burma against dug-in British troops...And I think US.Marines hated them as well

But then again, all mortars were deadly when Japanese troops had them. I remember a story when US.troops considered their own 60mm mortar to be useless, but when Japanese infantry used these same mortars against US.Marines in Belilou (?) - they quickly chanced their minds about it...
(I really dont know if this is really true, but I heard about it a long time ago)



[This message has been edited by Peregrine Falcon (edited January 20, 2001).]

Given their tenacity and numbers gives meaning to "call in the Marines".

given their almost unique characteristics, yes one always knows when their fighting them.

I'd say one's impression of the Japanese Inf depends largely on how the battle is set up.
For me, unfortunately the majority of experiences up to this point had been playing against them with the AI controlling.
Worse, they were all defensive battles with the AI attacking.

In that situation, the Jap. side always fared poorly. The no-retreat uuurrrahhhh code of Bushido really hurt there as the AI got itself chewed up.

Have only played a couple of battles so far where i attack the Japanese. Definately tougher there but as long as one has strong artillery support its manageable.

Got to really appreciate them more once i took control. Took Corregidor easily though the artillery and the AI's poor defence helped greatly as well

I'll give a hearty second to the notion that Japanese infantry are tough SOBs. I've tried that Iwo Jima scenario three or four times and just get disgusted after 6 or 7 turns. That one really brings home the comment made by a vet that the Japanese weren't ON Iwo Jima, they were IN it! I'm currently reading "Flags of Our Fathers", by James Bradley (a MUST read for students of the battle), and having the game map in front of me only increases the awe and respect I have for the USMC. Have any of you guys made it through that 45-turn scenario? Any suggestions, or should I just gear up, put my head down, and make maximum use of the firepower at my disposal? By the way, Wild Bill, that is a beautiful map of a VERY ugly place, down to the black volcanic ash beaches.

I have to add one more thing about my experience with the Iwo scenario. I went back and used the editor to give names of the actual company and platoon commanders for the Marines (where I could find them.) That may have been a mistake, since it's a bit disheartening when most of the platoon that raised the flag on Suribachi gets mown down in the first three turns.

Originally posted by Peregrine Falcon:
First some technical data:
Japanese, Model 93 (1933) 150-mm mortar:

Thanks a lot.

Do you know how much of them where there or how many shots they carried with them .. and to which units they belonged?

Currently there's no problem buying some of these beast into the core force .. wonder if this is correct.

Besides, max. range 2100m are 42 hexes, at least here the OOB is wrong

Do you have any data about the penetration capabilities ?

Arralen



[This message has been edited by Arralen (edited January 21, 2001).]

Originally posted by Arralen:
Thanks a lot.

Do you know how much of them where there or how many shots they carried with them .. and to which units they belonged?

Currently there's no problem buying some of these beast into the core force .. wonder if this is correct.

Besides, max. range 2100m are 42 hexes, at least here the OOB is wrong

Do you have any data about the penetration capabilities ?

Arralen

[This message has been edited by Arralen (edited January 21, 2001).]

Oops. Wrong mortar
It should be Type 96...
Here:

Type 96 150mm Infantry Mortar
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Introduced Year: 1936
Caliber: 150,5mm
Barrel Length: 1,3m
Angle of Fire: +45 to +80 Degrees
Shell Weight: 25,65kg
Muzzle Velocity: 214 m/sec
Weight: 722kg
Range: 3,900m
Production Qty: 90

and....

Type 97 150mm Infantry Mortar
(simplified Type 96, short and long
barrel models were available)
-------------------------------------
Introduced Year: 1941
Caliber: 150,5mm
Barrel Length: 1,9m/1,3m
Angle of Fire: +45 to +80 Degrees
Shell Weight: 23,8kg
Muzzle Velocity: 212m/sec
Weight: 342kg/232kg
Range: 3,850 m
Production Qty: 110


No information (so far) about their penetration capability or how mortars were distributed in IJA/IJN units, but I'll keep looking...

These weapons (type 93) were used primarily as a siege gun in China. The effective range was, I believe, much less than the stated maximum range.
Also, movement was difficult since they had to be transported by vehicle, whereas other Japanese weapons were capable of being carried by the hand or pack animal. This factor made deployment difficult in areas where roads were not available or good enough for wheeled traffic.