Breaking Heartstrings

George Kelln

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Operation Breaking Heartstring, 21 February 1944, Parry Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands

USMC Seaborne Landing vs. Japanese Defence

The USMC 1st Assault Wave: a total of 32x LVT(A)2 + 12 LVTA)1 carrying 40x Marine Squads loaded down with MMG, HMG, 60mm Mtr, 81mm Mtr, FT, DC, & BT landing Green Beach 2 & 3. The landing kicks off tomorrow night

USMC 1st Assault Wave.jpg
 

fhtech

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Operation Breaking Heartstring, 21 February 1944, Parry Island, Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands

USMC Seaborne Landing vs. Japanese Defence

The USMC 1st Assault Wave: a total of 32x LVT(A)2 + 12 LVTA)1 carrying 40x Marine Squads loaded down with MMG, HMG, 60mm Mtr, 81mm Mtr, FT, DC, & BT landing Green Beach 2 & 3. The landing kicks off tomorrow night

View attachment 5534
OMG. The Marines are tidal wave. Looks the first turn for Marines may end on monday(tongue in cheek). Waiting to see Japanese Defensive fire against this wave.
 

George Kelln

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Breaking Heartstrings Update: Scenario 1 - End Turn 5

The tsunami that is the USMC seaborne landing has crashed upon the shores of the small island of the Eniwetok Atoll, but the tidal wave of Marine amtracs was fettered somewhat by the Japanese MG and Anti-tank gun fire, resulting in nearly 60% losses on Green Beach 2 and about 15% losses on Green Beach 3. Green Beach 2 landing has practically being repulsed with few amtracs carrying Marines left. The landings on Green Beach 3 has proved more successfully with amtracs crowding the shoreline disgorging their troop loads on the beach. A light tank amtrac has even penetrated deep into the middle of the island, with a few Marine carrying close behind, but these are now somewhat isolated with Japanese appearing all around them, even falling out of the palm tree, attempting to launching Tank-Hunting Hero at them.

The Japanese they are light on infantry, but heavy on crew served weapons, having a plethora of twin 12.7mm MG, 37mm A-T Guns, .50-cal HMG that have been making Swiss-cheese out the Amtracs.

Now that the Marine on the ground and bringing their guns to bear, it is frightening the amount of firepower they have; the amtracs are firing with 14FP and two at point blank vs. a squad in 1+3+5 pillbox 28+3 resulted in the 4-4-7, ELRing, then striping, and finally Half Squading; after which the Marines pilled on the pillbox and took it out in CC (5:1 odds). The light tank amtracs are bringing their guns about and starting to fire Canister, but the Japanese are either entrenched or in pillboxes. The Marines of Green Beach 3, will have help out the troops on Green Beach 2, while at the same time spreading out and secure a beachhead.

Air Support has being somewhat sporadic, with a 50% chance of it arriving each turn, it has only showed 3 time in the 5 turns; and last time it showed up it was chased away by heavy AA fire from the island AA Defences (4x 75mm AA Guns); and of the two other times it arrived, it did little against the entrenched Japanese.

The two batteries of 5-in (127mm) Naval OBA have switched from HE to WP in order to cover the vulnerable amtracs during their run into the beaches. Green Beach 2 has had more success with the NOBA landing every turn, while Green Beach 3 it has landed twice of the possible 5 times. Luckily, with a shorter distance to the beach it didn't prove detrimental to the landing.

Next session will be Friday 14 September, starting with Turn 6.

41368208_10155942754526925_6527090679091298304_n.jpg
Boundary between Green 2 & 3

41282587_10155942754446925_7201816026814611456_n.jpg
Green Beach 2 (foreground) & Green Beach 3

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Green Beach 3 Beachhead

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Green Beach 2 toehold
 

George Kelln

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Breaking Heartstrings update: I am looking a pair/group to undertake a playing of the Breaking Heartstrings Tactical Scenario.

Players/groups must have at least two sets of USMC & Japanese counters (as you'll need more than one set for some counters) also have some experience with PTO and Seaborne landings.

Players/groups should be able play at least 3-4 times per month and be able to send regular reports.

If you can help out please PM (georgekelln@gmail.com) thank you.
 

George Kelln

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SITREP: Operation BREAK HEARTSTRINGS

Tonight Turns 5&6 with USMC moving first.

It was a rough night for Dave and his 1st Battalion Landing Team (BLT), of the initial 16x LVT(A)2 and 6x LVT(A)1 he has 2 left (one of each type) and has managed to land 2 squads. Andrew's Japanese machine-guns, AA Guns, and AT Guns have taken their toll; the Green Beach 2 landing has been repulsed.

Things went a bit better on Green Beach 3 for my 2d BLT; of the 16x LVT(A)2 and 6x LVT(A)1, I managed to land about 10x LVT(A)2 and 4x LVT(A)1 on the island and quickly disgorged my Marines from them. I then started to establish a beachhead, but had to divert 2 platoons to Green Beach 2 to help clear out the Japanese positions along the beach. Having suffered minor losses, I started advancing my Marines inland, encountering more and more Japanese.

The Japanese have inflicted heavy losses on the Marines during the run in, but once the Marines land and start bring their enormous amount of firepower to bear, the Japanese begin to wither under weight.

We have one more guarantee turn (7) and then we start rolling for game end on turns 8, 9, & 10. The landed Marines have to have established a beachhead, clearing out Japanese gun positions so the 2nd Wave can quickly land with little of no fire against them.

Note the US LMG are in fact Bangalore Torpedoes, I keep forgetting to bring the actual counters from home.

Green Beach 2 in foreground.
41721425_10155956475271925_4718945843028164608_o.jpg
 

George Kelln

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Operation BREAKING HEARTSTRINGS, Parry Island 22 Feb 1944: SITREP: Completed 8.5 of possible 10 turns, Green Beach 2, a platoon is hanging on to a few pillboxes taking a heavy pounding by the Japanese defenders. Green Beach 3, about a company (minus) maintains a small beach head; it had attempted to expand it east across the road but suffered casualties including a 9-2 leader.
Parry Island G2 & G3.jpg
 

BigAl737

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Tweezers, counter jars, pens, dice of various colors and sizes, plano, unused counters, a suction cup thingee, scratch paper, a dog eared copy of the pocket rule book...I love all the detritus of a blood and guts session of ASL.
 

von Marwitz

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Tweezers, counter jars, pens, dice of various colors and sizes, plano, unused counters, a suction cup thingee, scratch paper, a dog eared copy of the pocket rule book...I love all the detritus of a blood and guts session of ASL.
But where is the spilled can of beer washing on the shore of that island? :D

von Marwitz
 
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