Marianas 44

[JayTownsend]

I hope you guys get to play a few scenarios from Marianas 1944 this three day Memorial weekend. Looking through them again, they look to be some of my best ones. The victory conditions really balance things out. I must give credit to all those involved: John Stafford, David Lippman, Mike Bennighof, Guy Riessen, Susan Robinson and Peggy Gordon.

I’ll most likely play the first scenario White Beach 1 & 2 this weekend, a nice one mapper amphibious landing scenario and not too large using the new Tinian map, which I am looking forward to trying out.

I remember thinking years ago how I wanted to see amphibious beach landing scenarios, now with Saipan, which has two American Landings and one Japanese counter-landing and Marianas which added one Tinian US landing, two Guam 1944 US landings and one Japanese 1941 landing, we have 5 American and 2 Japanese Amphibious landings total, with all types of new vehicles to fight on land, sea or both. Who would have ever thought back then that Panzer Grenadier would have 7 amphibious landing scenarios not counting Guadalcanal?
Besides the landings the Saipan/Marianas package added great infantry and tanks battles. The Japanese had a large quantity of armor on the Saipan/Tinian/Guam islands for their standards and many new gun types are added from small 20mm to large coastal 200mm guns and everything in between. Flamethrower engineers and flamethrower tanks add to the mix. Marine Mk-7 Rocket Trucks as well!
There were many caves in some of these battles so I came up with the cave counter so they could be move from scenario to scenario and were not fixed on the map, as most of the time their locations were not known, and this gives the Japanese player variable options on setup and scenario replay ability. Anyway I am very pleased with the cave counters.
The scenarios range from small to large, including: amphibious landings, the largest tank battle of the Pacific, the largest Banzai attack of the Pacific, urban battles, hill/mountain/jungle battles, cave battles, night and day battles. Forces now include Japanese Naval, SNLF, Army and two scenarios have actual Japanese aircraft, one in Saipan and one in the Marianas mix. The Americans have Marines, Army, Naval and the Guam Insular Force Guard units in one scenario and Marines from 1941 and the 1944 eras. Not sure what else you could ask for from a Pacific Battle!

Well anyway, I am very pleased to have the Saipan/Marianas Panzer Grenadier package. It was everything I hoped it would be and more. Enjoy the games, I am!