AGAINST THE ODDS # 43: Islands of the Damned

1-ATO043

Includes two solitaire island-invasion WWII games: Pacific Alamo (Wake Island) and Utmost Savagery (Peleliu).

In the early weeks of WWII in the Pacific, Wake Island was referred to as 'the Alamo of the Pacific.' The spirit of the defense heartened a nation shocked over their losses at Pearl Harbor and bracing for invasion. When the word came out about the island sinking two destroyers and inflicting hundreds of casualties, it gave a nation inspiration and seemed to teach the Japanese that the Americans were not as 'soft' as they anticipated.

As a contrast, Peleliu was an island of marginal value and might not have been attacked at all except those in charge expected it to be so easy. Major General William Rupertus, USMC - commander of 1st Marine Division - predicted the island would be secured within four days. The five battleships bombarding the beaches complained that they had 'run out of targets' after a few hours. Both were very wrong. Due to Japan's well-crafted fortifications and stiff resistance, the battle lasted over two months, and has the highest US casualty rate for any battle in the entire Pacific war.

Both games challenge players to mix boldness with good tactics. They must gain objectives but minimize casualties...as the historical commanders would have liked to do.

Games include 175+ large, full-color 5/8-inch die-cut counters and two separate 17x22-inch full color mapsheets.

Magazine also contains articles on 1st Marine Division, 1807 Friedland Campaign wargame, Japan Strikes at US Aircraft Carriers at Pearl Harbor, Modeling Stalingrad (three area-impulse games), and terrain effects in wargame design.