US Marines at Saipan -15mm Wargame Video

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Bloody Pacific: Marines on Saipan – 80th Anniversary Wargame (Part 1)

June 23, 2024

Almost simultaneous with the famous Allied landings at Normandy, another big invasion took place in the Pacific when 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions hit the beaches at Saipan. This was the opening assault of Operation Forager, the American invasion of the Mariana Islands.

Saipan would stand as one of the true bloodbaths of World War II, with ferocious Japanese resistance surpassing anything yet seen in the Pacific. Saipan sat well within range to launch B-29 bombers over the Japanese homeland, and the Japanese knew it.

This wargame was played on the 80th anniversary of the battle, recreating 2nd Bn / 6th Marines’ landing at Red One Beach. They’re up against grimly-resolved defenders of the 136th Regiment, 43th IJA Division and even some armor of the Japanese 9th Tank Regiment.