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Saipan 1944

AP Series	Panzer Grenadier
Designer	Townsend
Game Type	Standalone
Format	Boxed
Release Date	2012-11
Availability	In Print
Scenarios	40
Counters	330
Counter Type	Laser-cut
Maps	4

Tour Veterans

JayTownsend on 2013-01-23
driddle01 on 2020-08-29

Overall Rating, 270 votes
5 4 3 2 1 3.8
Standalone Rank: 7 of 38

Popularity: Ownership & Activity
Status	Owned by 20%	Played by 11%	AAR'd by 11%	Medaled by 1%
Rank	29th of 163	23rd of 152	17th of 150	58th of 92

	Total
Side 1	69
Draw	37
Side 2	157

	Total
Side 1	57
Draw	30
Side 2	140

	Total
Side 1	12
Draw	7
Side 2	17

	In June 1944, American Marines and soldiers stormed ashore on Saipan, a large island in the Central Pacific whose possession would put Allied heavy bombers in range of Japanese cities. Three weeks of savage fighting would finally see the island secured. The campaign saw the largest tank battle of the Pacific war, and also its largest banzai charge as almost the entire Japanese garrison (and much of the island's Japanese civilian population) chose death over surrender.

In June 1944, American Marines and soldiers stormed ashore on Saipan, a large island in the Central Pacific whose possession would put Allied heavy bombers in range of Japanese cities. Three weeks of savage fighting would finally see the island secured. The campaign saw the largest tank battle of the Pacific war, and also its largest banzai charge as almost the entire Japanese garrison (and much of the island's Japanese civilian population) chose death over surrender.

Display Scenario List (40)

Scenario	Plays	AARs	Rating
01. Red Beach	18	11	4.4
02. Green Beach	9	5	4.2
03. Probing Marines	20	12	3.4
04. Blue Beach Push	13	8	3.3
05. Punishment on Yellow Beach	12	10	3.6
06. Agingan Point Stinger	6	4	3.8
07. Throw Them Into the Sea!	8	6	4.1
08. Mopping Up Afetna Point	9	6	3.2
09. Dying on O-1 Ridge	8	5	3.7
10. Tanks in the Jungle	6	4	4.6
11. Foothills of Mount Tipo Pale	6	3	3.7
12. Aslito Airfield: The Army Arrives	7	4	3.8
13. The Marines Try Aslito Airfield	8	6	3.3
14. Third Time's A Charm?	5	2	4.2
15. Counter-Landing!	4	3	3.5
16. Slopes of Fina Susu	7	5	4.1
17. On to Magicienne Bay	9	6	3.1
18. The Fighting Sixty-Ninth	8	5	4.1
19. Exploring Hill 790	5	3	3.8
20. Rockets & Smoke	4	2	4
21. Coordination	6	3	4.2
22. Deadly Crossfire	6	4	4.1
23. Barring the Way	6	4	3.7
24. Hell's Pocket	6	2	4.2
25. Armor After Dark	5	2	3.8
26. Overlooking Radio Road	12	3	3.6
27. Mount Tapotchau	2	1	3.5
28. Death Valley	2	1	4
29. Breakout: Seven Lives for One's Country	5	3	4.2
30. Pushing Forward	3	2	3.7
31. The Unusual Situation	3	2	4.3
32. Proximity Fuzes	3	2	3.7
33. Purple Heart Ridge	4	2	4.3
34. The Fate of Company B	6	4	3.3
35. Garapon: City Fighting	2	1	4
36. Shifting the Lines	5	2	3.7
37. Mutcho Point	5	3	3.8
38. Paradise Valley	4	2	4
39. Desperation	3	1	4.3
40. Prudential Hill	3	1	3.7

Display Order of Battle

Japan Order of Battle

Imperial Japanese Army
Foot Leader Mechanized Misc Motorized Towed

Imperial Japanese Army

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Misc

Motorized

Towed

Imperial Japanese Navy
Foot Leader Mechanized Misc Towed

Imperial Japanese Navy

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Misc

Towed

United States Order of Battle

Army
Foot Leader Mechanized Misc

Army

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Misc

Marine Corps
Foot Leader Mechanized Misc Motorized Towed

Marine Corps

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Misc

Motorized

Towed

Navy
Misc

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Game's Order of Battle
Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0). AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement. AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1). Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2). Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3) Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0). Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3). Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3). AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42). AFV's may Dig In (16.2). Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present. Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC) Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB) Anti-Tank Gun Carrier: half-track with anti-tank gun, NOT a Tank Destroyer APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC). River Vessels: see Rule 15.2 ~ 15.22 Unarmored Weapon Carriers: These are unarmored halftracks (Bufla and Sk7/2) or fully-tracked vehicles (Karl siege mortar) with mounted weapons. All are mechanized, except the BM-13 (Katyusha rocket launcher mounted on a truck). They are weapon units, not AFV's, so they are never efficient and cannot be activated by tank leaders. (SB)

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Game's Order of Battle

Vulnerable to results on the Assault Combat Chart (7.25, 7.63, ACC), and may be attacked by Anti-Tank fire (11.2, DFT). Anti-Tank fire only affects the individual unit fired upon (7.62, 11.0).
AFV's are activated by tank leaders (3.2, 3.3, 5.42, 6.8). They may also be activated as part of an initial activating stack, but if activated in this way would need a tank leader in order to carry out combat movement.
AFV's do not block Direct Fire (10.1).
Full-strength AFV's with "armor efficiency" may make two anti-tank (AT) fire attacks per turn (either in their action segment or during opportunity fire) if they have AT fire values of 0 or more (11.2).
Each unit with an AT fire value of 2 or more may fire at targets at a distance of between 100% and 150% of its printed AT range. It does so at half its AT fire value. (11.3)
Efficient and non-efficient AFV's may conduct two opportunity fires per turn if using direct fire (7.44, 7.64). Units with both Direct and AT Fire values may use either type of fire in the same turn as their opportunity fire, but not both (7.22, 13.0). Units which can take opportunity fire twice per turn do not have to target the same unit both times (13.0).
Demoralized AFV's are not required to flee from units that do not have AT fire values (14.3).
Place a Wreck marker when an AFV is eliminated in a bridge or town hex (16.3).
AFV's do not benefit from Entrenchments (16.42).
AFV's may Dig In (16.2).
Open-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables, but DO take step losses from X and #X results (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT). If a "2X" or "3X" result is rolled, at least one of the step losses must be taken by an open-top AFV if present.
Closed-top AFV's: Immune to M, M1 and M2 results on Direct and Bombardment Fire Tables. Do not take step losses from Direct or Bombardment Fire. If X or #X result on Fire Table, make M morale check instead (7.25, 7.41, 7.61, BT, DFT).
Closed-top AFV's: Provide the +1 modifier on the Assault Table when combined with infantry. (Modifier only applies to Germans in all scenarios; Soviet Guards in scenarios taking place after 1942; Polish, US and Commonwealth in scenarios taking place after 1943.) (ACC)
Tank: all are closed-top and provide the +1 Assault bonus, when applicable
Tank Destroyer: do not provide the +1 Assault bonus, even if closed-top (SB)
Anti-Tank Gun Carrier: half-track with anti-tank gun, NOT a Tank Destroyer
APC – Armored Personnel Carrier: These are Combat Units, but stack like Transports. They can transport personnel units or towed units. They are not counted as combat units for the +1 stacking modifier on the Direct Fire and Bombardment Tables (4.4). They may be activated by regular leaders and tank leaders (1.2, 3.34, 4.3, 5.43). They do not provide the +1 Assault bonus (ACC).
River Vessels: see Rule 15.2 ~ 15.22
Unarmored Weapon Carriers: These are unarmored halftracks (Bufla and Sk7/2) or fully-tracked vehicles (Karl siege mortar) with mounted weapons. All are mechanized, except the BM-13 (Katyusha rocket launcher mounted on a truck). They are weapon units, not AFV's, so they are never efficient and cannot be activated by tank leaders. (SB)

Display Errata (19)

19 Errata Items
	Ships of opposing sides cannot be in the same water hex. Landing-crafts and amphibious units can be in assaults with ground forces when they hit beaches. (Shad on 2013 May 06)
	Caves: Units inside caves do not get First Fire on the attackers. The attacker assault gets a -2 column shift for units that are inside the cave only. This means potentially a split column assault resolution similar to direct fire. The side with worst combat results (including Morale checks) must leave cave hex, this includes units in an out of the cave. In such cases the other side gets a Free Shot. (Shad on 2013 May 06)
	The leader (s) on a LVT 4 only help the unit in the same LVT 4. Leaders can provide morale help to other LVT 4s in the same or adjacent hexes Jay Townsend via Consimworld (Dan_Huffman on 2020 Mar 18)
	Any LVT A(1) , A(4), and LVT afloat that fail to recover from demoralized state retreat to the map edge. They stay there until at least disrupted or good ordered. Then they can proceed to the beach hexes. (Dan_Huffman on 2020 Mar 18)
	LVT 4s are open top APC. LVT 4s do not unload their unit into the water after an adverse morale effect. Jay Townsend via Consimworld. Same source as other two errata I submitted. (Dan_Huffman on 2020 Mar 18)
Scen 3	Japanese Victory Conditions should say: The Japanese win if they eliminate three or more American steps. (JayTownsend on 2013 Mar 06)
Scen 7	The Japanese setup should say: Enter anywhere on the north, east or south edges of Map 82. (JayTownsend on 2013 Mar 06)
Scen 8	The scenario uses 32 counters, not the 62 listed in the scenario summary. (Hugmenot on 2013 May 02)
Scen 10	Hex 0610 is considered on Map 80 for victory conditions. (JayTownsend on 2013 Mar 06)
Scen 12	The American OOB setup shows a Marines symbol but should be an Army symbol. (JayTownsend on 2013 Mar 06)
Scen 13	This scenario is 20 turns long, not 10. (JayTownsend on 2013 Mar 06)
Scen 15	Japanese setup should include at any ocean hex at the end of the sentence. (JayTownsend on 2013 Mar 06)
Scen 25	Japanese enter anywhere on the north edge of Map 82 on Turn 1 (JayTownsend on 2013 Mar 06)
Scen 34	Japanese Morale is 7/7, not 3. Japanese Initiative is 3, not 7/7. (t1M0t8yk on 2014 Dec 25)
Scen 36	The distance between Tinian and Saipan is only 3 miles. (JayTownsend on 2013 Mar 06)
	LVT 4 is a one step open-topped APC. Any scenarios where units and leaders start loaded on LVT 4's and enter the board via ocean hexes do not activate in the regular manner. While at sea, all LVT 4's activate like AFV's with leaders, and move toward beach hexes. While moving toward the beach hexes they don't need to use all MPs or move in a straight line. Once they are on the beach, they must follow standard activation rules for both land and water hexes. LVT 4's that are destroyed at sea do not trigger leader decapitation. (Shad on 2013 May 06)
	The A1 has an inherent leader and two combat steps. Its counter should have been given an amphibious armor symbol. (Shad on 2013 May 06)
	The A4 has an inherent leader and two combat steps. Its counter should have been given an amphibious armor symbol. (Shad on 2013 May 06)
	The 8-3 Marine Infantry counter appears in most of the Saipan 1944 and Marianas 1944 scenarios, replacing the 10-3 DF valued Marine counters for those scenarios and is currently published in the most recent Saipan printing. (JayTownsend on 2015 Dec 26)

Display Nations (2)

Nations at War - Scenario Appearance Percentages
Japan	100%	Japan
United States	100%	United States

Display Battle Types (11)

Battle Types - Scenario Appearance Percentages
Inflict Enemy Casualties	58%	Inflict Enemy Casualties
Hill Control	20%	Hill Control
Entrenchment Control	20%	Entrenchment Control
Beach Control	18%	Beach Control
Cave Control	18%	Cave Control
Exit the Battle Area	13%	Exit the Battle Area
Rural Assault	10%	Rural Assault
Amphibious Landing	8%	Amphibious Landing
Urban Assault	5%	Urban Assault
Road Control	3%	Road Control
Airfield Control	3%	Airfield Control

Display Conditions (9)

Conditions - Scenario Appearance Percentages
Off-board Artillery	58%	Off-board Artillery
Entrenchments	25%	Entrenchments
Caves	15%	Caves
Randomly-drawn Aircraft	10%	Randomly-drawn Aircraft
Smoke	10%	Smoke
Minefields	8%	Minefields
Illumination	8%	Illumination
Terrain Mods	8%	Terrain Mods
Naval Bombardment	5%	Naval Bombardment

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PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Games > Saipan 1944

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