 Editor in Chief Bill   | 22 Sep 2022 5:27 p.m. PST |
Which battle involving the U.S. Marines makes the best miniature wargaming scenario? |
 ColCampbell  | 22 Sep 2022 6:05 p.m. PST |
I would suggest the various actions on Guadalcanal. Jim |
| SBminisguy | 22 Sep 2022 6:06 p.m. PST |
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 Saber6 | 22 Sep 2022 6:10 p.m. PST |
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| pmwalt | 22 Sep 2022 6:21 p.m. PST |
Guadalcanal … then Peleliu |
| microgeorge | 22 Sep 2022 7:00 p.m. PST |
Edson's Ridge, Guadacanal. |
| Editor in Chief Bill | 22 Sep 2022 7:36 p.m. PST |
A bit more specific, gentlemen. Edson's Ridge is a good example. |
| FilsduPoitou | 22 Sep 2022 7:47 p.m. PST |
Battle of Derna? 8 marines leading a few hundred Greek mercenaries against corsairs. First battle fought on foreign soil post-independence. |
| DisasterWargamer | 22 Sep 2022 7:49 p.m. PST |
Battle of Derna on the Shores of Tripoli – "Leathernecks" Battle of Belleau Wood in France WWI – "Devil Dogs" If forced to chose smaller actions of Belleau Wood – would do the opening Assault on Hill 142 – or one of several action in the woods or the action across the wheat field |
| FusilierDan | 23 Sep 2022 4:13 a.m. PST |
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| dBerczerk | 23 Sep 2022 4:25 a.m. PST |
Hadley's Hope, site of the terraforming colony, LV-426. |
| Wackmole9 | 23 Sep 2022 6:12 a.m. PST |
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| rjones69 | 23 Sep 2022 6:26 a.m. PST |
Peleliu – The Point
Tarawa – The D+2 Japanese counterattack |
| Major Mike | 23 Sep 2022 6:43 a.m. PST |
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| Grelber | 23 Sep 2022 9:30 a.m. PST |
Harpers Ferry, 1859. You get to have Robert E. Lee and Jeb Stuart in command. Grelber |
| Bismarck | 23 Sep 2022 9:42 a.m. PST |
Cape Gloucester…Suicide Creek.
Aogiri Ridge. Too many from Peleliu and Guadalcanal to choose from. |
| Shagnasty | 23 Sep 2022 10:33 a.m. PST |
I like the outcome of "Alligator Creek" at Guadalcanal. |
| advocate | 23 Sep 2022 12:02 p.m. PST |
No love for the Halls of Montezuma? |
| Major Mike | 23 Sep 2022 12:05 p.m. PST |
I'll also add the defense of the US Legation, Beijing, 1900 |
 Old Contemptible | 23 Sep 2022 12:57 p.m. PST |
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 etotheipi  | 23 Sep 2022 1:44 p.m. PST |
Grenada
The Burning of the Philadelphia If it were the Mexican Marines, I'm not sure how to specify several of the engagements with the Zetas … but, that. |
| pmwalt | 23 Sep 2022 3:19 p.m. PST |
A few more specific USMC battles to consider
Withdrawal from the Chosin Reservoir (Korea)
Battle for Hue City (Vietnam)
Assault into the Meatgrinder (Iwo Jima, WWII)
Battle for Sugar Loaf (Okinawa, WWII) |
| Wolfhag | 24 Sep 2022 6:59 a.m. PST |
With Tarawa, Okinawa and Peleliu the Japanese units are all going to be hidden in bunkers or caves so not a good fit for miniatures. Guadalcanal especially the Long Patrol: link which could be a campaign game as there are many engagements. Alligator Creek is basically a shooting gallery with little maneuver. Hue would be fun but good luck finding an ONTOS. Belleau Wood would be good for a campaign game as it's a multiday battle with attacking and defending. For VN the Hill Fights: PDF link and Force Recon engagements in I Corps. Wolfhag |
| rmaker | 24 Sep 2022 2:05 p.m. PST |
Bladensburg makes a pretty good game. |
| rjones69 | 25 Sep 2022 7:37 a.m. PST |
With Tarawa, Okinawa and Peleliu the Japanese units are all going to be hidden in bunkers or caves so not a good fit for miniatures. That's not true. The Japanese are hidden until the Americans get close enough to spot them (if the Japanese have been shooting at the Americans, that increases the spotting distance). Once the Japanese in a bunker are spotted, the top is taken off the bunker, revealing the Japanese miniatures inside. Then the American and Japanese miniatures can engage in close combat (shooting, grenade throwing, flamethrowing, Marine assault into the bunker, Japanese banzai charge out of the bunker, etc.), depending on the tactical choice of the players. The same applies to Japanese in fighting holes and trenches. Once the Japanese are spotted, the miniatures are out on the table, Also, some of the engagements at Tarawa and Peleliu involved Japanese counteroffensives (e.g., the D+2 Tarawa assault I mentioned earlier in this thread), which means the Japanese miniatures are out on the table. Eric Alvarado has run several of his Tarawa and Peleliu scenarios at HMGS conventions using the above-described mechanics, and they work really well. |
| Blutarski | 25 Sep 2022 3:48 p.m. PST |
The "Sugarloaf", Okinawa.
Sixteen separate USMC assaults were required before the Japanese defenders were finally driven out A very tough battle. B |
 miniMo | 27 Sep 2022 9:38 a.m. PST |
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 Wolfshanza | 29 Sep 2022 10:07 p.m. PST |
Random bar in Kin 'ville  |
| miniMo | 30 Sep 2022 8:30 a.m. PST |
Battle of Sacket's Harbor, 1813 |
| Wolfhag | 16 Oct 2022 7:03 p.m. PST |
rjones69,
That's not true. The Japanese are hidden until the Americans get close enough to spot them (if the Japanese have been shooting at the Americans, that increases the spotting distance). In a game, you can do it however you want. If you are going to paint the figures you may as well get them on the table. What I meant was that historically, the Marines rarely spotted individuals in spider holes, bunkers, and caves nor would they know how many were in there. There may be 1-2 defenders occupying it or it could lead to underground tunnels that any number could filter in to replace causalities. This is why bunkers were destroyed and cave entrances closed. If not they could be re-occupied after the Marines bypass them. Of course, there were some exceptions. The tactic was to suppress/screen the objective and then assault it with flamethrower fire and then place demo charges. Wolfhag |
| Old Contemptible | 24 Oct 2022 5:28 p.m. PST |
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| Wolfhag | 25 Oct 2022 6:01 p.m. PST |
Yes, Belleau Wood and also Hatai and Central America. Marines against bandits in the jungle. Wolfhag |
| Apache 6 | 13 Nov 2022 5:28 p.m. PST |
- Fox Hill in Korea, holding key terrain allowing most of 1st MARDIV to fight it's why out. |
