28 February, 2009

Battle of Tinian

At Leprecon just gone, I ran this using Memoir '44

The 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions landed on 24 July 1944, supported by naval bombardment and artillery firing across the strait from Saipan. A successful feint for the major settlement of Tinian Town diverted defenders from the actual landing site on the north of the island.
The Japanese adopted the same stubborn defensive tactics as on Saipan, retreating during the day and attacking at night. The gentler terrain of Tinian allowed the attackers more effective use of tanks and artillery than in the mountains of Saipan, and the island was secured in nine days of fighting.
On July 31, the surviving Japanese launched a suicide charge.

Japanese near airstrip await American landing craft. This position really allows no retreat. Unlike in the centre and left which have cane fields to cover a retreat to the caves.

Japanese near airstrip await American landing craft

Corsair bombs emplaced artillery on Faila San Hila Point. The general on this flank made good use of his air sorties, using this aircraft to continuously attack the Japanese artillery and its supporting infantry, and positioning it to avoid the worst of the anti-aircraft fire.

Corsair bombs emplaced artillery on Faila San Hila Point

Japanese charge Americans on beach. The initial wave comes in piecemeal, and with an amtrac attached this is too dangerous to allow develop, and too tempting to ignore.

Japanese charge Americans on beach

Americans make it ashore with armour support north of airstrip. With more on the way in on the other side of the airstrip, this will be an important attack for control of the northern shore of the island.

Americans make it ashore with armour support north of airstrip

LCT gives supporting fire. OK, so this has no game effect, I just leave the empty landing craft off-shore for visual effect.

LCT gives supporting fire

Japanese in centre pushed back. With heavy losses and tanks ashore, the pressure is too much for the Japanese to bear.

Japanese in centre pushes back

Armour skirts airstrip to find Japanese battalion lurking in jungle. This is just a lure to bring the Japanese out in the open, especially with supporting marines just out of shot.

Armour skirts airstrip to find Japanese battalion lurking in jungle

American armour ambushed in cane fields. The cane fields don't affect the operation of armour half as much as the jungle, but they can still be ambushed to great effect.

American armour ambushed in cane fields

Japanese counter-attack leaves American centre looking weak. Back-to-back banzai charges clear one of the beaches of marines.

Japanese counter-attack leaves American centre looking weak

Japanese artillery on Mount Maga spots second American wave. This represents a vital fall-back positino for the Japanese, which will surely exact a heavy price for any infantry advance across the open ground.

Japanese artillery on Mount Maga spots second American wave

Japanese armour works its way through cane fields. Having been very meagre with this unit, the Japanese have finally worked it into a position to hit weakened marine units are they work their way inland.

Japanese armour works its way through cane fields

Burning cane fields force Japanese retreat. A Japanese infantry unit, being commanded personally by Colonel Kiyochi Ogata, is forced to retreat back out of the cane fields as they catch on fire.

Burning cane fields force Japanese retreat

Japanese counter attack from airtrip hangers. With nightfall the Japanese have planned for a fierce attack designed to force the marines back onto their landing craft. It is successful, and day comes to find both sides on their last legs.

Japanese counter attack  from airtrip hangers

American foothold on Tinian secure. A barrage from the cave complex still held by the Japanese should obliterate a marine battalion on the beach, but does not. And with daylight restored a naval salvo destroys the entrenched artillery, an infantry battalion on Mount Maga and kills Colonel Ogata as well.

American foothold on Tinian secure

So victory for the Americans who won 11-17: by a whisker. Their break-point was 18.

22 February, 2009

Battle of Waterloo

I called over to a friend's place last Friday, to play Waterloo using Vive L'Empereur. He has a great setup there, with Kallistra hexes and a large 15mm collection.


10am to 12 noon

Napoleon surveys the battlefield from la Belle Alliance

Napoleon surveys le Haye Sainte

The French Grand Battery aims towards le Haye Sainte

The French Grand Battery

The attack on Hougomont begins

Attack on Hougomont begins

French Hussars make a gallant attempt on the guns north of Hougomont

French Hussars make an attempt on the guns north of Hougomont

But are driven back with dreadful losses, and later are driven from the field by well-aimed English musketry

But are driven back with dreadful losses

The French under Reille advance through Cornfield just east of Hougomont

French under Reille advance through Cornfield

French infantry advance in the centre is supported by artillery

French advance in the centre supported by artillery

and also supported by the threatening movement of Cursaissiers

And supported by threatening movement of Cursaissiers

The first Prussians arrive just south of Frichemont

First Prussians arrive

French infantry advance into the guns holding the centre of the English lines

French advance into the guns

Massed English cavalry advance behind Papelotte

English cavalry advance behind Papelotte

Lobau leads the attack on le Haye Sainte

Lobau leads attack on le Haye Sainte

More Prussian infantry arrive

More Prussian infantry arrive

along with Prussian cavalry who join their English allies

With Prussian cavalry joining their English allies

French Lancers fall on the Prussians

French Lancers fall on the Prussians

D'Erlon leads the attack to drive back the Prussians

D'Erlon leads the attack to drive back the Prussians

D'Erlon forms square against the Prussian cavalry

D'Erlon forms square against the Prussian cavalry

12 noon to 2pm

Even with the Grand Battery and cavalry in support, D'Erlon looks isolated

Even with the Grand Battery and cavalry in support, D'Erlon looks isolated

and under pressure

And under pressure

The attack on Hougomont breaks down

The attack on Hougomont breaks down

as Reille is left trying to rally broken units

As Reille is left trying to rally broken units

French battery has worked its way close to the English line in the centre

French battery has worked its way close to the English line in the centre

Reille leads heavy cavalry against the English in the cornfields

Reille leads heavy cavalry against the English in the cornfields

The attack on le Haye Sainte is blunted

The attack on le Haye Sainte is blunted

Newly arrived Prussian artillery pours fire into flank of the French infantry

Newly arrived Prussian artillery pours fire into flank of the French infantry

French heavy cavalry complete the charge on the guns despite fearful losses

French heavy cavalry complete the charge on the guns despite fearful losses

Renewed effort against the English near Hougomont

Renewed effort against the English near Hougomont

Brave French infantry stand their ground

Brave French infantry stand their ground

2pm to 4pm

French cavlary see off attackers

French cavlary see off attackers

English advance to edge of ridge in centre

English advance to edge of ridge in centre

French take le Haye Sainte

French take le Haye Sainte

French centre reinforced to expoit their success

French centre reinforced to expoit their success

Spirits are high in the French centre

Spirits are high in the French centre

Those valiant French infantrymen continue to hold out against Prussian attacks

Those valiant French infantrymen continue to hold out against Prussian attacks

D'Erlon begins to contract his lines against renewed Prussian pressure

D'Erlon begins to contract his lines against renewed Prussian pressure

Clinton outflanks French infantry outside Hougomont

Clinton outflanks French infantry outside Hougomont

English counterattack in centre

English counterattack in centre


English infantry face French artillery fire

English infantry face French artillery fire

4pm to 6pm

D'Erlon holds out against Prussian lancers

D'Erlon holds out against Prussian lancers

Reille advances towards cornfield at Hougomont once more

Reille advances towards cornfield at Hougomont once more

French clear central ridge of English defenders

French clear central ridge of English defenders

but charge by English cavalry reserve exacts heavy toll

But charge by English cavalry reserve exacts heavy toll

French troops in le Haye Sainte under pressure

French troops in le Haye Sainte under pressure

French take Hougomont

French take Hougomont

French forced to retreat from le Haye Sainte

French forced to retreat from le Haye Sainte

French hussars successful charge against blown English heavy dragoons

French hussars successful charge against blown English heavy dragoons

The battle hangs in the balance. The French right is virtually cut off and must be overwhelmed soon, without any reasonable hope of relief. They have bled the Prussians dry though due to their aggressive defensive stance.

The French left has fought over Hougomont and has held its own, but is unlikely to be able to take more than a holding role.

The French centre has been thrown back, but the Guard remains, and a well-worked attack there, supported by the heavy batteries could be decisive...

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