The Battle for Guam

in celebration of Steve and my birthdays I ran a wargames campaign over the weekend, using Piquet's Theatre of War and Richard Borg's Memoir '44 to run the Guam Campaign of 1944


The Set-Up

When writing this scenario I undertook to allow a broad range of actions and intentions by both sides. Obviously, the best chance of the Japanese stopping the US Marines cold was on the beaches. But would they be able to get enough forces to those beaches in time? Would a delaying and guerrilla strategy in the interior of the island, far from the supply dumps on the beaches, give better return?


The US Marines had certain powerful advantages, namely quantity and quality. But given the circumstances any real setback inflicted on them by the Japanese was going to be more damaging to the Marine Corps’ ability to take the island. A victory by the Japanese might not mean that the island wasn’t taken, but it might mean that the army had to be called in, and several Marine regiments sent back to Australia/Hawaii for rest etc.
Imagine it, the ignominy of having the Army take an island that the Marines could not!


The main resources I used were online versions of US armed forces histories
The Recapture of Guam by Major O.R. Lodge, USMC and
Liberation: Marines in the Recapture of Guam (Marines in World War II Commemorative Series) by Cyril J. O'Brien

Background to the Guam Campaign

To most American planners the islands of the Southern Marianas were essential in the drive to shorten the war. They occupy a central position dominating the Western Pacific on an arc from Tokyo through the Ryukus to Formosa, the Philippines, and northern New Guinea.
Their capture would cut the strategic line of communication from Japan to its island holdings in the South Pacific and effectively isolate the garrisons there and would, for the first time during the war, permit Americans to operate on interior rather than exterior lines.In addition, enemy planes could no longer stage through the airfields of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam to attack American forces hammering at the Japanese bases in the South and Central Pacific.

But uppermost in the minds of the high-level strategists were three further considerations that made the target even more attractive. First, from the same airfields now being used by enemy planes and other sites selected for early development, B-29's of the Army Air Forces could initiate raids on Japan itself. Secondly, capture of Guam would permit the establishment of a submarine refuelling point much closer to enemy areas. And finally, Apra Harbour offered a good anchorage for an advance naval base. 21st July, 1944

Major General Roy S. Geiger decided to send in Colonel Merlin F. Schneider leading the 22nd Marines in to take Agat Beach. The Regiment is met by Colonel Tsunetaro Suenaga’s 38th Regiment, and delay in getting the Marine attack underway led to Suenaga bringing up reserves to meet it head-on and with maximum firepower…

Japanese hold Town against Armour flanking attack [Battle for Agat Beach]

The Marines attempt to get as many as possible up the beaches, to avoid being pushed back into the water, this proves to be difficult given the lack of armoured support for the advance. The Japanese are cautious with pushing forward and only do so in order to grab defensive terrain features.

US Marines race through artillery fire from LCVPs to town [Battle for Agat Beach]

In the centre the Marine advance is slower, with fewer companies making it off the landing craft, and those that do are in danger of being split by the small rivers running down the beach.

Japanese advance on US Marines before more can disembark [Battle for Agat Beach]

Covered by artillery support the Marine advance on their right goes well, but the Japanese with artillery on both flanking hills give as good as they get.

US Marines reach ridge overlooking beach [Battle for Agat Beach]

The 22nd Marines are beaten, but the Japanese forces are no better off. Schneider’s regiment has avoided the disaster of being pushed off the beach, but only just…

23rd July, 1944

As the US Marines prepare to take Agat Beach on a second attempt, the Japanese commander ordered a night attack. Again the Japanese are extremely lucky in getting all their available companies into the fight, and their numbers almost match the Marines huddled around their landing craft.

Japanese wipe out US Marines right flank [Night Attack at Agat Beach]

The Japanese night attack was launched very early, and the Marines are praying for dawn as visibility remains very bad for the entire battle. Conversely they know that the Japanese artillery is zeroed in on some of their positions and that daylight will only bring a torrent of fire.

Japanese Banzai charge reached the landing craft [Night Attack at Agat Beach]

The night-fighting is especially fierce around Agat town, where the Japanese artillery pushed back dangerous advances made by the Marines. The Marines do make headway and slowly they take the blocks despite the frenzied counter-attacks by the Japanese battalion.


Japanese hold town against advance by US Marines left flank [Night Attack at Agat Beach]
As the Japanese victory seems inevitable; the Marines right flank is being crushed and their centre is in danger of annihilation; the Marines live up to the grandest traditions of the Corps – Bladensburg, Beallau Wood, Tarawa – and break the Japanese Regiment at the cusp of their triumph!

[The Marines drew three ‘Their Finest Hour’ cards in four turns! Turning a decisive defeat into another bloody draw]

24th July, 1944

Geiger lands Lt. Colonel Alan Shapley’s 4th Marines on Agat Beach, in an attempt to join up with the 22nd Marines and establish a serious force superiority over the Japanese defenders.
As that is about to happen, the Japanese attempt to push the US Marines 22nd Regiment off their beachhead again.

This time however, the Marines are outnumbered and without any artillery assets, as well as being stuck around their landing craft. The tiring Marines recognise their dire situation, and attempt to make the Japanese pay the cost in another mauling.

The 4th Marines are withdrawn from the beaches in disarray.


25th July, 1944

Geiger, eager to open up the battle for Guam to a region where the Japanese do not have such an advantage quickly lands the 21st Marines under Colonel Arthur H. Butler and the 9th Marines under Colonel Edward A. Craig on Asan Beach.

Moving inland from Asan Beach, the combined 21st and 9th Marines moves to Mount Tenjo where the Japanese 48th Independent Mixed Brigade under Major Hamada is stationed, overlooking Agat Beach.
The 48th avoids battle, despite the favourable terrain.

Although the Japanese 38th have withdrawn from the beach to lick their wounds they are obviously preparing to push the new Marine arrivals off Guam to join their comrades.

The 4th Marines decide to move before they have a chance to complete their plans, and advances past Agat town to clear the beachhead.

This battle does not go well for the Marines, although several sections of the battlefield hold their own, the Japanese slowly squeeze the life out of them, and forcing the Marines back to their start line.


26th July, 1944

Sensing an opportunity Shapely orders the 4th Marines south of Agat towards Mount Alifan, where any attempt by the Japanese to finish his unit off will occur in the defensive foothills. This leaves behind any chance of his taking a base of operations for the amphibious corps and is extremely dangerous.

Butler quickly ordered the 21st and 9th to engage the opposing 48th: “They can’t avoid battle again and still hold onto these hills!” This time the Japanese cannot avoid the battle and are flanked by the superior numbers Butler has brought to bear. The flank march takes control of the vital summit of Mount Tenjo itself and with his big guns brought to bear on those defensive positions the Japanese do control, the battle is over almost before it can begin!

Now Geiger sees the opportunity to sweep in behind the 38th holding Agat, but instead Butler orders his units to follow up and harry the 48th down towards the Pago River.


27th July, 1944

Following up, the Xth Marines catches the Japanese 48th at Pago River.

Massed US Armour prepares to advance [Battle of Pago River]

The disparity in numbers is dreadfully apparent, and given that the Marines have also succeeded in bringing a strategic reserve of halftracks for their infantry, mobile howitzers and heavy tanks the Japanese can only hope to sell their lives dearly.

Japanese defend hill despite the fearful odds [Battle of Pago River]

Initial pushes from armour units find the main strength on the Japanese side. They have refused their left flank and are trusting on the Pago River to slow down the Marine advance on that side.

US Marines centre backed up by mobile howitzers [Battle of Pago River]

The Marine attack on their left meets with some serious resistance, the Japanese have several batteries dug in on a hill, supported by several infantry companies. Meanwhile in their centre they begun to move units (including some armour) around a hill and some jungle to take advantage of a sloppy Marine advance.

Japanese lurk in elephant grass [Battle of Pago River]

Japanese defensive formation in the expanse of elephant grass is smoked out and destroyed with the help of a seriously effective air strike by the Marine flyers, and the last remnant s of the Japanese force charges out to attempt to drive one Marine unit into the river.

Cut off, the last Japanese platoon charges [Battle of Pago River]

On the Marine left the stiff resistance on the hill is crushed by an armoured spearhead, backed up by mechanised infantry. The Japanese are wiped out to the last man!

US Marines left takes vital hill after destroying massed batteries there [Battle of Pago River]

Aftermath
Unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to run the final battle of the campaign, but I hope to have it run at the next Thursday night available for the group…
Given the beating both sides have taken in the campaign so far – it will definitely be the decisive battle.