Original Steel Panthers converted scenarios

[Oche]

Lambeti Plantation, June 1943*
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Date: June 28, 1943*
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Battle Location: Lambeti Plantation near Viru Harbor, New Georgia, Solomon Islands*
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Battle Type: USMC (Assault) vs Japan (Defend)*
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Description:
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On the night of June 27th, men of the 4th Marine Raider Battalion started out from Segi Point and landed near Lambeti Plantation in total darkness right under the Japanese noses. On the morning of the 28th, Lt. Col. Michael S. Currin's men advanced on what was believed to be a small Japanese garrison in the area.*
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Notes: Converted/adapted by Jose Logrono from the original 1995 Steel Panthers wargame.*
*
Design by: Darwin "Whiterook" Barnes (Scenario found in Hapshott's Steel Panthers scenario collection @ www.alternatewars.com/Games/SP/SPanthers.htm).**

[Oche]

Tarawa's Crimson Tides 1943*
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Date: November 20, 1943*
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Battle Location: Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands*
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Battle Type: USMC (Assault) vs Japan (Defend)*
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Description:
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In early 1943, the Japanese had established a protective perimeter around their homeland consisting of several island constellations. A key to the United Stated success in the Pacific was a strategy of island hopping. By leapfroging Japanese held islands, Japanese garrisons where isolated from Japanese supply sources. Tarawa is on record as the first U.S. amphibious assault on a defend atoll. 1,009 Marines would die when their landing boats hung up on an undisclosed reef forcing them to wade hundreds of yards, in chest deep water, to shore. The tragic mistakes made at Tarawa directly affected the success at Normandy and throughout the Pacific Theatre. When the few Japanese prisoners were asked if there was a moment when their moral flagged, they answered, "yes - when the dying Marine just kept coming." Tarawa, in ratio between casualties and troops engaged, ranks among the costliest battles in american history.*
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Notes: Converted/adapted by Jose Logrono from the original 1995 Steel Panthers wargame.*
*
Design by: Mel Smith (Scenario found in Hapshott's Steel Panthers scenario collection @ www.alternatewars.com/Games/SP/SPanthers.htm).**

[Oche]

Kwangtung, China, 10 Mar 1940*
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Date: March 10, 1940*
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Battle Location: Kwangtung, South-Central China*
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Battle Type: Japan (Assault) vs Nationalist China (Defend)*
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Description:
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In an effort to secure southern China & liberate more improvished Chinese, the Imperial Japanese Army launched an amphibious assault near Kwangtung. They expected minimal resistance to this surprise move & hoped that many Chinese would welcome the change in their local government. The commander of a key Japanese formation was ordered to advance from the beach & secure the nearby hills.*
*
Notes: Converted/adapted by Jose Logrono from the original 1995 Steel Panthers wargame.*
*
Design by: Unknown (Scenario found in Hapshott's Steel Panthers scenario collection @ www.alternatewars.com/Games/SP/SPanthers.htm).**

[mkr8683]

Originally Posted by Oche

Lambeti Plantation, June 1943*
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Date: June 28, 1943*
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Battle Location: Lambeti Plantation near Viru Harbor, New Georgia, Solomon Islands*
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Battle Type: USMC (Assault) vs Japan (Defend)*
*

I thoroughly enjoyed this scenario, but the deployment of the USMC forces is terrible.

You have a company of Marine Raiders supported by tanks and armored cars, plenty of room to maneuver, and thus, the initiative. What you don't have is arty or air, beyond a single light mortar team.

What the IJA have is a dug-in rifle company supported by heavy MGs, field guns, and mortars. Moreover, the defense is multi-tiered, and it's a tough nut to crack.

Instead of attacking this Japanese line at a single point with everything you have, your forces are thinly spread, attacking it along its length.

Consequently, I took a lot of casualties, one platoon being so badly mauled it was effectively out of the fight because they couldn't move with all the suppression. I eventually turned the battle when the forces in the north, supported by tanks, were able to capture the Japanese HQ area and then link up with the forces in the south. I ended the fight with 41 casualties, no vehicles lost, and 129 Japanese casualties.

I know how it is with these old scenarios.. in SP1, you could almost walk over defensive positions in some scenarios. However, in SPWW2, things are much closer to real life and it's not a cakewalk. I think I would fairly easily destroy the AI if I played this scenario as the IJA defender. If you ever redo this scenario, I'd change up the deployments for the USMC.

Isn't this the type of feedback I said I'd give months ago I have some AARs written up for the first set of Pacific scenarios you posted.. I just never got around to getting them to you. I'll rectify that failing of mine soon.

Great work, Jose, I love these walks down memory lane.

Matt

[Oche]

Originally Posted by mkr8683

I thoroughly enjoyed this scenario, but the deployment of the USMC forces is terrible.

You have a company of Marine Raiders supported by tanks and armored cars, plenty of room to maneuver, and thus, the initiative. What you don't have is arty or air, beyond a single light mortar team.

What the IJA have is a dug-in rifle company supported by heavy MGs, field guns, and mortars. Moreover, the defense is multi-tiered, and it's a tough nut to crack.

Instead of attacking this Japanese line at a single point with everything you have, your forces are thinly spread, attacking it along its length.

Consequently, I took a lot of casualties, one platoon being so badly mauled it was effectively out of the fight because they couldn't move with all the suppression. I eventually turned the battle when the forces in the north, supported by tanks, were able to capture the Japanese HQ area and then link up with the forces in the south. I ended the fight with 41 casualties, no vehicles lost, and 129 Japanese casualties.

I know how it is with these old scenarios.. in SP1, you could almost walk over defensive positions in some scenarios. However, in SPWW2, things are much closer to real life and it's not a cakewalk. I think I would fairly easily destroy the AI if I played this scenario as the IJA defender. If you ever redo this scenario, I'd change up the deployments for the USMC.

Isn't this the type of feedback I said I'd give months ago I have some AARs written up for the first set of Pacific scenarios you posted.. I just never got around to getting them to you. I'll rectify that failing of mine soon.

Great work, Jose, I love these walks down memory lane.

Matt

Thanks Matt, no problem with those AARs, i just wanted to get the ball rolling with the scenario conversions, it was something i couldn't postpone any further and had to start doing as a tribute for Steel Panthers.

[DRG]

Originally Posted by mkr8683

I thoroughly enjoyed this scenario, but the deployment of the USMC forces is terrible.

You have a company of Marine Raiders supported by tanks and armored cars, plenty of room to maneuver, and thus, the initiative. What you don't have is arty or air, beyond a single light mortar team.

What the IJA have is a dug-in rifle company supported by heavy MGs, field guns, and mortars. Moreover, the defense is multi-tiered, and it's a tough nut to crack.

Instead of attacking this Japanese line at a single point with everything you have, your forces are thinly spread, attacking it along its length.

Consequently, I took a lot of casualties, one platoon being so badly mauled it was effectively out of the fight because they couldn't move with all the suppression. I eventually turned the battle when the forces in the north, supported by tanks, were able to capture the Japanese HQ area and then link up with the forces in the south. I ended the fight with 41 casualties, no vehicles lost, and 129 Japanese casualties.

I know how it is with these old scenarios.. in SP1, you could almost walk over defensive positions in some scenarios. However, in SPWW2, things are much closer to real life and it's not a cakewalk. I think I would fairly easily destroy the AI if I played this scenario as the IJA defender. If you ever redo this scenario, I'd change up the deployments for the USMC.

Isn't this the type of feedback I said I'd give months ago I have some AARs written up for the first set of Pacific scenarios you posted.. I just never got around to getting them to you. I'll rectify that failing of mine soon.

Great work, Jose, I love these walks down memory lane.

Matt

IMHO it's "a good thing"(tm) that scenarios aren't delivered gift-wrapped and predictable. I ASSUME the deployment matches the original closely and yes MUCH has change to the code since SP1 but 41 friendly casualties, no vehicles lost, and 129 enemy casualties in an attack is hardly a "bad" outcome even IF the initial Raiders deployment is "terrible"..it may have been that way in RL...we don't know but field commanders are rarely if ever given ideal conditions to tactical problems so if this scenario is an exercise in creative tactical thinking all I can say is "good"........and " don't change a thing.......


as for

I think I would fairly easily destroy the AI if I played this scenario as the IJA defender.

it's an EXTREMELY RARE scenario that can be played out equally from both sides. It's hard enough getting it to work in one direction let alone two and if it would be easy to play as the Japanese then you have a good newbie beginners scenario and from the USMC a moderately difficult one for experienced players


Don

[Oche]

Lingayen, Philippines, 22 Dec 41*
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Date: December 22, 1941*
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Battle Location: Lingayen Bay, Philippines*
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Battle Type: Japan (Assault) vs USA (Defend)*
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Description:
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The War in the Pacific had been a great success for Japan. The US Clark Air Field Was in flames & their navy had been dispersed. As part of the Japanese 48th Infantry Division, a key battle group assigned to invade the Philippines by assaulting Lingayen Bay. They were ordered to capture several hills & a crossroads. Latest intelligence reports available to the Japanese indicated that the beaches were lightly defended & that the defenders had no armour present.*
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Notes: Converted/adapted by Jose Logrono from the original 1995 Steel Panthers wargame.*
*
Design by: Unknown (Scenario found in Hapshott's Steel Panthers scenario collection @ www.alternatewars.com/Games/SP/SPanthers.htm).**

[Oche]

River of Red, Matanikau River, Guadalcanal, 23rd of October 1942*
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Date: October 23, 1942*
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Battle Location: Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands*
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Battle Type: Japan (Assault) vs USMC (Defend)*
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Description:
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On the 20th of October, General Sumiyoshi began probing the US defences on the Matanikau River held by the 3rd Battalion, Us 1st Marine Division. This was the 3rd attack on the river line with tanks advacing across the wide sand bars & was to coincide with support from another company of tanks, but this support never appeared. With dogged determintation, the Japanese attacked. But only a single tank breached the US lines. The Japanese losses were heavy: some 600 men were killed trying to cross the river..*
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Notes: Converted/adapted by Jose Logrono from the original 1995 Steel Panthers wargame.*
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Design by: Unknown (Scenario found in Hapshott's Steel Panthers scenario collection @ www.alternatewars.com/Games/SP/SPanthers.htm).**

[Oche]

The Fall of Meiktila, IV Corps, 225th Tank Brigade. 28th of February 1945*
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Date: February 28, 1945*
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Battle Location: Meiktila, Central Burma*
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Battle Type: UK (Assault) vs Japan (Defend)*
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Description:
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British Fourteenth Army has pulled off a great coup, having convinced the Japanese of Burma Area Army that IV Corps had been committed along the Irrawaddy north of Mandalay. In fact, the veteran units composing IV Corps had been secretly and skillfully shifted nearly a hundred miles south of their supposed location. The armour of 225th Tank Brigade easily punched through the local Japanese screens on that stretch of the Irrawaddy River. Having burst into operational manouvering space, Pert's 255 Tank Brigade and Cohen's 7th Indian Division charged deep into the Japanese rear, aiming for the rail hub and supply center of Meiktila. On the 28th of February, the Shermans and Daimlers of 255 Tank Brigade swept around the northern flank of the garrison at Meiktila and assaulted the city from the east. The poorly equipped Japanese fought house-to-house, throwing suicide squads equipped with pole charges and molotov cocktails against the attacking British and Colonial Troops.*
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Notes: Converted/adapted by Jose Logrono from the original 1995 Steel Panthers wargame.*
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Original Design by: Mitch Hagmaeir (Scenario found in Hapshott's Steel Panthers scenario collection @ www.alternatewars.com/Games/SP/SPanthers.htm).**

[Oche]

Charlie Dog Ridge, 25th of February 1945*
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Date: February 28, 1945*
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Battle Location: Volcano Islands, Iwo Jima*
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Battle Type: USMC (Assault) vs Japan (Defend)*
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Description:
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The 1st Japanese-held airfield on Iwo Jima was taken with relative ease, but not the 2nd one. Even with Mount Suribachi taken, enemy resistance to the north was still better. A series of craggy plateaux filled with treacherous narrow ravines made getting to the enemy a nightmare for the US Marines. The 1st Battalion of the 24th Regiment was given the task of taking the heavily fortified Charlie Dog Ridge, which was just to the southeast of Airfield Number 2.*
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Notes: Converted/adapted by Jose Logrono from the original 1995 Steel Panthers wargame.*
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Original Design by: Wild Bill Wilder (Scenario found in Hapshott's Steel Panthers scenario collection @ www.alternatewars.com/Games/SP/SPanthers.htm).**