The Japanese Player has three advantages at the beginning of the game which he must utilize to the utmost. First, there is the initial numerical superiority; second, there is artillery parity; third, there is the Banzai attack. The Japanese Player must remember that he cannot cover all the beaches. As a result, he must attempt to cover the more important areas while maintaining a mobile reserve. Once the U.S. forces have landed, he must bring in as many units as possible to oppose the landings. This is where the numerical superiority pays off. The Japanese Player must react quickly because this advantage will not last. He must ignore his own casualties. As long as there is a chance of defeating the U.S. forces on the beaches, these attacks must be kept up.
Should the U.S. Player succeed in establishing a firm beachhead, there will come a point where the Japanese Player must break off contact with the enemy forces. Delaying this even one Game-Turn can mean the difference between a Draw and losing the game. When this point in the game occurs, the Japanese Player should withdraw his remaining forces to the roughest terrain available. From this point on, it is merely a matter of survival. The U.S. forces will have overwhelming strength. The Japanese Player will be attempting to avoid contact with the enemy while trying not to be surrounded. Under no circumstances should the Japanese Player perform a Banzai attack, even if the elimination of a U.S. unit is assured. The U.S. Player will simply have such superiority in numbers that the loss will not matter to him. Remember, all the Japanese Player has to do at this point is to survive until the end of the game.
The first problem facing the U.S. Player is simply getting and staying ashore. Two avenues of action are open. The first is to invade six adjacent Beach Hexes. This will give the U.S. Player concentration of forces and allow his units to support each other. However, if he chooses a beach area near to the Japanese mobile forces, he could find himself in serious trouble.
The second possible action for the U.S. Player is to invade several different areas. This has the advantage of forcing the Japanese Player to spread his mobile reserves over a wide area and almost guarantees the successful landing of at least one invasion area. However, one or more of the remaining invasion areas may well be lost. Also, it will prove difficult to concentrate forces and will adversely affect reinforcements.
After the U.S. Player lands, he should attempt to push a little in shore and establish a defensive perimeter. This will mean that the reinforcements for the first one or two Game-Turns should be infantry, as they will be needed on the perimeter (note that this infantry should be marine, not army). After a perimeter has been established, as much artillery as possible should be brought ashore. Sufficient artillery will make the U.S. forces immune to even Japanese Banzai attacks. It will also prove of immense value in any attacks.
Once sufficient forces have been brought ashore, an all-out offensive should be started with the objective of clearing all Japanese units off the island. Remember, that the fighting is taking place on an island, and it will often be possible to pin Japanese units against the coast. Attempt to surround enemy units whenever possible. One last word of caution: beware of stray Japanese units. Only one enemy unit need survive to turn a sure victory into a Draw.
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