Iwo Jima: First Ashore*
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Date: February 19, 1945*
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Battle Type: USMC Assault vs Japanese Defend*
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Design: Dick (Boomer) Burleigh*
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Historical background:  Iwo Jima, a volcanic island only 8 square miles in size lies in the North Pacific Ocean approximately 700 miles fron Tokyo, Japan.  In early 1945 it was used by Japanese fighter squadrons defending the main islands from bomber attacks by the approaching Allied forces.  Capturing Iwo would put an end to the harrassing fighter attacks and provide a safe haven for damaged US bombers returning from Japan.  Unlike the tropical islands of the South and Central Pacific, Iwo was a desolate, sulfuric wasteland.  It's black sand beaches of volcanic ash and sandstone caves would prove to be unexpected and costly obstacles to the US Marines sent to wrest control of Iwo from the Imperial Japanese.*
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70,000 Marines were sent to take Iwo Jima from approximately 27,000 well dug in Japanese.  Although the map of Iwo fits into the SPWW2 screen, the true size and complexity of the combatant forces cannot be well represented within the game limits.  Neither can the violence of the encounter.  The intent of the scenarios in this series is to represent the nature and the "feel" of several notable combat situations that occurred during the 35 day campaign for the island.*  
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The first scenario depicts the first day of the assault on Iwo Jima.  At first, after a relatively quiet few minutes ashore, the Marines of the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions thought that their landing might be unopposed.  Not so. The heavily fortified Japanese bastion of underground caves and tunnels was unimpressed by pre-bombardment. The quiet moments noted by those first ahore was shattered as soon as the Japanese defenders emerged from their shelters and manned their guns.  As Marines packed the beaches, all hell broke loose.*
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Design notes:*
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This is a large, complex scenario.  Do not expect it to be easy.  Marine vehicles and even grunts on foot had a great deal of difficulty negotiating the black sands of Iwo's beaches. This problem is well depicted in the scenario.  Beware of your own close artillery and air support.  The v-hex placement in this scenario represents the actual advance gained by the USMC by nightfall of the first day.  Smaller, simpler scenarios of the first days fighting can be found in "Sever the Head" and in the User Campaign.* 
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Designed to be played as USMC.  Dedicated to all those who were there.*
