"Tank Squadron Tanaka on Desperatu Island" Topic
13 Posts
All members in good standing are free to post here. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the posters, and have not been cleared with nor are they endorsed by The Miniatures Page.
Please do not use bad language on the forums.
For more information, see the TMP FAQ.
Back to the Wargaming in the USA Message Board Back to the WWII in the Pacific Message Board Back to the WWII Battle Reports Message Board Back to the Photography of Miniatures Message Board Back to the Old School Wargaming Message Board Back to the Early 20th Century Battle Reports Message Board Back to the Campaign Message Board Back to the Blogs of War Message Board Back to the 28mm WWII Message Board Back to the Interwar (WWI to WWII) Message Board
Areas of InterestGeneral World War One World War Two on the Land World War Two at Sea World War Two in the Air
Featured Hobby News Article
Featured Link
Featured Ruleset
Featured Showcase ArticleThinking to invade German-held Europe? Then you'll need some of these...
Featured Workbench Article
Featured Profile Article
Featured Book Review
|
ge2002bill | 11 May 2019 4:34 a.m. PST |
Date: 1937 Location: Desperatu Island, Philippines Situation: Japanese and USA 28mm tanks collide ---------- We have seven IJA tanks and want to use them. So in our adaptation of Plan Orange; the what-if Japan and the USA went to war in the 1930s, they are trundling along on our fictional island here: link This very brief story uses short captions and dialogue to tell the tale. ----- Respectfully, Bill P. Chronicler for The Adventures of General Pettygree |
ColCampbell | 11 May 2019 8:15 a.m. PST |
Another good chapter, Bill. Thanks, Jim |
Frederick | 11 May 2019 10:27 a.m. PST |
Nicely done! The US force is pretty short of anti-tank firepower for the next round |
ge2002bill | 12 May 2019 6:31 a.m. PST |
Thank you Jim and Michael for looking in and taking the time to offer reflections. Appreciated. Respectfully, Bill P. Chronicler for The Adventure of General Pettygree |
Katzbalger | 12 May 2019 12:54 p.m. PST |
I wonder if the knocked out Stuarts will re-appear…under the flag of the rising sun. Rob |
von Schwartz | 12 May 2019 5:45 p.m. PST |
What about "The Haunted Tank" he never got hit? |
Mark 1 | 13 May 2019 11:09 a.m. PST |
Nice story. Looks like an interesting battle. I might point out, though, the discord between the timeframe you name, and the equipment you placed on the battlefield. You claim the scenario is placed in 1937. Ol' Tanaka is well set with his Ha-Go light tanks. Production of this tank began in 1936, but didn't really ramp up until 1938. So he got some of the newest rare and advanced weapons. Good for him. As to the Chi-Ha medium tanks, well, gosh Tanaka must have some kinda pull! Getting the new medium tanks a full year before they entered production (first hundred or so built in 1938) is some accomplishment! I mean maybe he has family connections or something. Got an inlaw named Mitsubishi, perhaps? Or perhaps in the alternate timeline of the scenario the Japanese have accelerated the production program. It is within the realm of possibilities, at least, as the type was accepted in 1937 even if production had not yet started. But then in a twist of fate he stumbles upon a time-travelling US Army force equipped with future-fantasy gear! Yikes! The M3 Stuart didn't begin production until 4 years after this scenario. In fact, even the M2A4 light tank, the first US light tank with a 37mm cannon, had not yet entered production in 1937. Or even 1938. The most capable US light tank in 1937 would have been an M2A2, equipped with 2 turrets, one of which was armed with the key AT weapon of the US Army in that timeframe -- a .50cal MG! But then we should look at the AT assets in the infantry's hands, too. The M3 37mm AT gun didn't enter production until 1940. It wasn't even a dream in 1937. It was only after assessing the Spanish Civil War that the US Army realized that a high-velocity AT gun was a necessary tool of a modern force. Up to that time, the standard US Army infantry AT weapon was … you guessed it, the .50cal MG! Well, some units also had old M1917 37mm trench guns, too. But in truth, I think I'd rather have had the .50cal. And the US didn't have any halftracks in 1937 either. The M2 was developed in 1939/40. But the larger M3, which would was big enough to carry an armored infantry squad, and was the base for the M3 75mm tank destroyer (prototypes of which were sent to the Philippines in time for the 1941/42 campaign) did not enter production until 1941. I don't mean this to sound like criticism. It isn't. Gaming is for fun, and it looks like this was a fun game. Might also be fun to game a 1937 scenario with 1937 equipment. It would show just how desperately behind the US Army was in that timeframe. Would also make the Japanese tanks look pretty modern and altogether formidable -- which is a bit of perspective most of us lack. -Mark (aka: Mk 1) |
ge2002bill | 13 May 2019 8:56 p.m. PST |
Thank you very much Mark, We are using an old concept. Use what we have and what is available in our imagineered world. Appreciated and glad you helped with this information. Your points are cheerfully well-taken. Respectfully, Bill P. Chronicler for The Adventures of General Pettygree |
wargamingUSA | 17 May 2019 3:39 p.m. PST |
Having conducted a number of small unit operations on Desperatu Island (as Americans, Pau Pau New Guinian irregulars, and Australians) I can tell you it is quite a place. General Bill's terrain, troops, and hospitality make it the perfect afternoon or evening escape. The only problem… we can't get General Bill to stop painting Japanese so at some point they will necessarily overrun all the allied forces. |
von Schwartz | 18 May 2019 6:21 p.m. PST |
To paraphrase past presidential candidate, Pat Paulson… Picky, picky, picky. (smile) |
von Schwartz | 18 May 2019 6:30 p.m. PST |
Hey on a more upbeat note, has anyone ever considered doing a General Patton thing, after the German surrender, turning the Germans around and going after the Russians? I mean, what a variety, you could have German Tigers and Panthers fighting alongside US Pershings, E8 Shermans with 76MM, Chaffees, British Centurions after 1946, Cromwells, Comets, and Sherman Fireflys. Sounds like fun!!! |
Mark 1 | 20 May 2019 12:14 p.m. PST |
…has anyone ever considered doing a General Patton thing, after the German surrender … going after the Russians? Has anyone ever NOT considered it? OK quick show of hands: Who among us has Pershings and Chaffees? Oh me, me, I do! And who among us has IS-3s and T-44s? I do, I do! Anyone got some P-80s? La-9s (or even 11s!?!).
-Mark (aka: Mk 1) |
thedrake | 19 Aug 2019 1:02 p.m. PST |
Liking your report and imagination behind the campaign. Is there more links to this campaign on your blog??? Well done! |
|