Powered through the game last night.  Once you get going, it is as advertised…..a game that takes about 2 hours.  And, it’s  a lot of fun.

Should have done a better job of documenting turn-by-turn highlights, but I did take pictures.  Here’s the narrative highlights.

Beginning with Turn 3, the Japanese continued to pressure both American and Commonwealth forces, undertaking flanking attacks where they could get 3-1 or 4:1 odds, typically augmented by at least a +1 D6 roll modification due to air support.  The Japanese were fortunate in that their attacks resulted in surrender results, which maximize victory points.

First Commonwealth, and then  American forces withdrew to their fortresses of Singapore and Corregidor, respectively.   There are no stacking limits in fortresses, so the Japanese were again forced to make low odds attacks.

The Turn 6 attack on Corregidor was at 3:1, with a +1 D6 roll.  The Americans surrendered.  The Japanese used Turn 7 to transfer air units.  On the last turn of the game (Turn 8), the Japanese attacked Singapore, using all of their air power, including aircraft carriers.  This support was countered by the lone Commonwealth unit, but augmented by Dutch air.  That one air unit made all the difference.  The 2:1 attack had a D6 roll of “2”, which modified by the +2 for air, with a result of “no effect”.  If it had been a +3 for air, Singapore would have fallen.

The result was a marginal Japanese victory, as there were too many surviving Allied units (which reduce Japanese VIPs).

While not a simulation by any stretch of the imagination, this game forces the Japanese commander to shift resources and make attacks at lower odds than one would want; just like the real campaign.  Likewise, the Allied commander has to eventually withdraw to fortresses, and hope for a positive outcome.

It’s tense, quick and fun.

Back at the Pine Cone Lodge.

During the Allied (first) Phase of  Turn 2, the Japanese suffered a slight reversal when the Americans destroyed the disrupted unit in Northern Luzon, and their main attack in the Malayan Peninsula was pushed back by Commonwealth forces.

Despite this, the Japan build-up in both areas continued unabated, at the cost of the additional naval movement points to sustain the landing areas.

While the Americans were able to stall strong Japanese attacks supported by Formosa based air units, the Commonwealth suffered a severe defeat in Northern Malaya.  A bold (2:1 with +1 modifier due to naval air) attack resulted in four (!) Commonwealth units surrendering.

During Turn 3, the British commander,  faced with the possibility of overwhelming flanking attacks, ordered a general retreat into the Fortress of Singapore.  The Dutch responded by shifting their lone air unit to support Singapore.  Japanese units then moved to surround the fortress.  The Americans chose to consolidate their Northern Luzon defensive line and await the inevitable Japanese buildup and assault.

A good game!!!

Decided to go with the historical Japanese invasion plans as outlined in Christopher Shore’s Bloody Shambles.  His account of the air campaign is one of the most harrowing tales of military history I’ve read.

The Japanese landed on the west coast of Malaysia and the northern Philippines.  Each landing area was outside of the (Turn 0) reduced Allied air umbrella.

Both Japanese beachhead assaults resulted in D6 roles of six, with the defeated Allied forces captured (with accompanying victory points).  Each assault was supported by naval aviation assets.

In the following first phase of Turn 1, the Allies counterattacked.  The American attack disrupted one of the Japanese beachheads, while the Japanese in Malaysia were forced to retreat.