Iwo Jima |
| Posted by Desert Rats Admin on Mar 12 2010 |
| Home >> After Action Reports |
Well, this year was really different. We started the Americans "On the Beach" and it was damn near impossible at first. I "died" about 6 times. The Japanese had a machine gun placed to good effect about center field. Several Japanese Banzai charges actually cleared several USMC beach footholds at one point in the early part of the game.
Eventually, as surviving Marines were able to give covering fire for those coming in, we were able to start slowly moving up. I was able to take out the guys in the center position several times, and then The Japanese lost their machine gun due to gun problems. Sadly those Japanese troops placed in the CP did not support the center position very effectively and it was eventually cleared and used by the Marines. Several Marine charges finally cleared the CP and then a 50cal was brought to bear on the Large Bunker defending the Japanese Right flank and it fell. Assaults were then made on the western ridge which finally fell just before Lunch.
Burgers and All beef dogs with chili were had for lunch and then the second half of the game started. The Japanese were "trucked" out to their starting point on the first hill. The second hill behind them was their spawn point, but somehow that was not made clear at first. And the Marines had to assault. Now the first hill has very little cover, which is very much the way Suribachi was during the actual battle, so the Marines had a hard time of it. Eventually I sent a patrol around the left side of the hill to try and get behind the Japanese, or at least spread them thin on the hill. I honestly expected the Japanese to either spread thinly or fall back. But they held the hill and the two marines got around without much contact. And took the Japanese Spawn point. With nowhere to respawn they began to take casualties and the game finally ended.
While it was surely a US victory, I still look upon it more as a draw. The weather was nice for much of the day, we even had some sun. But in the later part of the day it was very windy and cold! Both sides had issues with gun problems, although for the Japanese they suffered a bit more when they lost their heavy machinegun. Up until it's failure they were doing a fantastic job with it!
Last changed: Mar 12 2010 at 4:42 PM
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