Panzer Grenadier Headquarters - Library: Armor of Saipan #2

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PG-HQ Library - Panzer Grenadier Hall > Scenarios > EqRS002

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Tanks in the Jungle Armor of Saipan #2
(Attacker) Japan	vs	United States (Defender)

Formations Involved
Japan		136th Infantry Regiment
Japan		1st Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Force
Japan		47th Independent Mixed Brigade
Japan		9th Tank Regiment
United States		2nd Marine Division

	Total
Side 1	0
Draw	1
Side 2	0

Overall Rating, 1 vote
5 4 3 2 1 4
Scenario Rank: --- of 964

Parent Game	Armor of Saipan
Historicity	Historical
Date	1944-06-16
Start Time	03:00
Turn Count	14
Visibility	Day
Counters	155
Net Morale	0
Net Initiative	0
Maps	4: 80, 81, 82, 83
Layout Dimensions	86 x 56 cm 34 x 22 in
Play Bounty	199
AAR Bounty	167
Total Plays	1
Total AARs	1

Battle Types
Inflict Enemy Casualties
Rural Assault

Conditions
Off-board Artillery
Illumination

Scenario Requirements & Playability
Armor of Saipan	Base Game
Saipan 1944	Maps + Counters

Introduction
The Japanese counter-offensive began in the late night hours of June 16th and continued into the dawn of the 17th. One of the biggest tank battles in the Pacific broke out as the Japanese deployed their newest medium tanks, the Shinhoto Chi-Ha armed with a high-velocity 47mm gun. The Japanese Army and SNLF worked together in an attempt to drive the 2nd Marine Division back into the sea in one great effort.

Introduction

The Japanese counter-offensive began in the late night hours of June 16th and continued into the dawn of the 17th. One of the biggest tank battles in the Pacific broke out as the Japanese deployed their newest medium tanks, the Shinhoto Chi-Ha armed with a high-velocity 47mm gun. The Japanese Army and SNLF worked together in an attempt to drive the 2nd Marine Division back into the sea in one great effort.

Conclusion
As dawn crept through the foliage, the rising sun found that 24 of General Saito's tanks were burning wrecks, and 300 of his infantry were killed in exchange for 100 Marine casualties and a few Marine 105mm and 75mm guns knocked out by counter-battery fire. Overall, the counterattack resulted in a total Japanese defeat. Marine bazooka teams, 37mm anti-tank guns, M2/75mm halftracks and some M4 Sherman tanks all helped to shatter the enemy armor. Had the Japanese launched this attack the night before when chaos still reigned on the beach, the result may have been different.

Conclusion

As dawn crept through the foliage, the rising sun found that 24 of General Saito's tanks were burning wrecks, and 300 of his infantry were killed in exchange for 100 Marine casualties and a few Marine 105mm and 75mm guns knocked out by counter-battery fire. Overall, the counterattack resulted in a total Japanese defeat. Marine bazooka teams, 37mm anti-tank guns, M2/75mm halftracks and some M4 Sherman tanks all helped to shatter the enemy armor. Had the Japanese launched this attack the night before when chaos still reigned on the beach, the result may have been different.

Additional Notes
Scenario 0 from the Golden Journal. It is a modified version of Saipan 1944 scenario 10.

Display Relevant AFV Rules

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario'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 Anti-Tank Gun Carrier: half-track with anti-tank gun, NOT a Tank Destroyer

AFV Rules Pertaining to this Scenario'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
Anti-Tank Gun Carrier: half-track with anti-tank gun, NOT a Tank Destroyer

Display Order of Battle

Japan Order of Battle

Imperial Japanese Army
Foot Leader Mechanized

Imperial Japanese Army

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Imperial Japanese Navy
Foot Leader

Imperial Japanese Navy

Foot

Leader

United States Order of Battle

Marine Corps
Foot Leader Mechanized Misc Towed

Marine Corps

Foot

Leader

Mechanized

Misc

Towed

Display Errata (1)

1 Errata Item
	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 AARs (1)

Armor of Saipan, scenario #2: Armor of Saipan

Author	JayTownsend
Method	Solo
Victor	Draw
Play Date	2025-05-08
Language	English
Scenario	EqRS002

Armor of Saipan, scenario #2: Armor of Saipan

I have played Saipan scenario #10: Tanks in the Jungle with an American victory, I played Armor of Saipan scenario #1: Massed Armor of Saipan with a Japanese victory and now Armor of Saipan scenario #2: Armor of Saipan, with a Draw, which is really scenario #0 in the supplement and uses some modifications from the original scenario #10, with better Japanese armor and a bit more American armor, now that, that is cleared up, on to the small AAR.

Since I have played a few variations of the original scenario now, I wanted to try somethings differently this time, as I enter the Japanese 1st Yokosuka Special Naval Landing Forces on the north edge of map 80 this time, which gave the American trouble from the beginning. The Japanese spread out and attacked on three three avenues, Roads/Trails with their armor and infantry, so as not to bunch up so much this time around. The Marines have a lot of ground to defend, so the main defenses are with any roads/trails to their approach and of course hex 0610 on map 80, the radio station.

The First 8 turns are under cover of night, so the Japanese use this to rush forward in all the possible areas and engage the dug-in Marines in assault or adjacent combats, which is no easy task. It was a bloody struggle for both sides and I believe I ended the game with a turn left, as neither side were going to change the outcome of this battle. The Japanese had lost 34 steps and 4 leaders but controlled a few beach hexes and the Americans had lost 29 steps and 4 leaders, resulting in both sides achieving a major victory or a Draw!

Fun stuff, now I have recorded plays on all three version of this scenario and the upgraded Japanese armor did help them.

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