Game of the Week, Dec 9 to 15
Hi everyone,
It’s time for Game of the Week!
Following up from our Game of the Week on October 28th, Panzer Campaigns: Japan ‘45, this week’s Game of the Week is Panzer Campaigns: Japan ‘46.
79 years ago it was decided that March 1st, 1946 would mark the launch of Operation Coronet, the main invasion of the Japanese Home Islands, following Operation Olympic as covered in Panzer Campaigns: Japan ‘45.
Panzer Campaigns: Japan ‘46 is the brand new 4.05.1 version, and our product description encapsulates this campaign well:
With the successful completion of Operation Olympic, the Allies had established air bases and naval ports on the southern half of the Japanese home island of Kyushu from which they could be used for Operation Coronet. Panzer Campaigns: Japan '46 - Operation Coronet covers the invasion of the Japanese home island of Honshu with the goal being to capture Tokyo and the factories and farmland of the Kanto Plain. Coronet would have been the largest invasion of the war. Two Allied armies, composed of eleven corps, would have participated in the campaign.
There are 59 Scenarios included. All use the historical forces that had been allocated to the Main Islands invasion, only to be cancelled due to the surrender of Japan on September 2nd, 1945. This followed the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August 1945.
The longest campaign scenario is 608 turns, with most scenarios a very playable sub-50 turns.
The master map (90,678 hexes) covers south-east Japan, from Utsunomiya in the north to Tateyama in the south. The Tokyo metropolis and Kanto Plains are featured.
Panzer Campaigns: Japan ‘46 includes the aforementioned playable scenarios and campaigns, as well as a Getting Started scenario to introduce new players to the game system. The included scenarios are a good mix of small (company), medium (battalion) and large (regimental) engagements.
The Order of Battle has over 5,000 units from the US, British, Commonwealth, French, and Japanese forces that were planned to participate in the campaign.
We included a lot of historical documentation and notes with this title, you can review each by clicking on the links below.
There has been a range of books covering Operations Coronet and Olympic. Following are some representative books for anyone that would like some more background on the campaign. You can click on the book images below to be taken to the Publisher or Amazon, if applicable.
Informational
“Hell to Pay: Operation Downfall and the Invasion of Japan, 1945-1947” by D. M. Giangreco has been updated from the original 2009 version and is considered one of the best works on what would have been an unprecedented conflict.
"Downfall: The End of the Imperial Japanese Empire" by Richard B. Frank - This book provides insight into Japan's surrender and the planned invasions, including Operation Olympic and its significance.
"The War in the Pacific: From Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay" by Harry Gailey - This book offers a detailed look at the Pacific campaign and discusses the strategic plans for invading Japan.
"With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa" by Eugene B. Sledge - While focused on the battles of Peleliu and Okinawa, Sledge’s memoir provides context for the brutal fighting that influenced Operation Olympics’ planning.
"Codename Downfall: The Secret Plan To Invade Japan" by Thomas B. Allen - This book explores both the Allied and Japan's military strategy and the considerations that led to the decision not to proceed with Operation Olympic.
"Death Is Lighter than a Feather" by David Westheimer. A fictional account of the Downfall invasion that follows characters on both the Allied and Japanese sides.
Now for video content:
The Strategy Wargamer shared his first impressions of Japan ‘46, here.
Unonimus has a thirty-two episode playlist covering his play against the AI in the 608 turn campaign game. He also assisted with many of the spellings of the Japanese locations.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEBIvX3dyzbJvNbjER2H4qknHr2fZotbq
The first episode is below:
Following are some in-game screen shots of what to expect. Each image can be clicked for a full-sized view.
As mentioned, the build we are making available today is the new 4.05.1 version. A range of new features have been included, and you can read the Changelog here. All new purchases will be this latest version.
If you don’t already own this title, what are you waiting for? You can buy it directly from our dedicated product page.
We hope you enjoy this week’s Game of the Week. Like all WDS titles, there is a lot of game play included at a very attractive price.
Never fails. No matter strategy game In play in the Pacific War (SGS or WDS) my victories always feel hollow. Oh the casualties when I play the Allied side. I never fail to pause and think about what would have it been like if this invasion happened.
I love this game.
I purchased Japan ’46 after playing Japan ’45. I usually focus on the European Theater but decided to try the Pacific. I really enjoyed playing both Japan ’45 and ’46. I also recommend these games; they may seem over whelming, but I played a few turns per day until I finally defeated the Japanese. Most fun was capturing Tokyo with forces from both landings.
I definitely recommend the game. Since the campaign is an invasion scenario, its beginning is more manageable especially for the Allies player, so you won’t be overwhelmed because of the number of units just by looking at them.
I shall definitely continue the series, by the way. I just don’t know when.
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