OPERATION MAJESTIC
"There are times Pettygree when tabletop gamers suffer from inertia. Reasons are numerous, but perhaps the most relevant causes today are duties naturally, unstable degrees of health understandably and overdoing modern addictive distractions."
"Quite so Mac. One remedy though is to get out of our chairs to associate with our fellows to move wargame units and throw dice in companionable fun. Otherwise inertia, lethargy and/or indolence, pick what you will, become our jailers."
"Looking forward to activities is the tonic. Planning, painting, organizing and using our collections in games somehow moves us to action. When absent, inertia abounds."
"So let's give the boys something to look forward to, eh Pettygree? Bill's imagineered Operation Majestic Campaign offers such opportunities."
"Right. If he can pull it off, our chaps will have four games to play in an...."
IMAGINEERED INVASION OF JAPAN
Courtesy: freeworldches.maps.net
Though the planned invasion of Japan thankfully did not occur, we can imagineer doing so. Operation Majestic (formerly Olympic) landings were planned for November 1945 at the bottom of Kyushu, the southernmost major island of Japan. Our adaptation calls for a....
Four Game Operation Majestic Campaign on Kyushu
1. November 1945: Allies have landed and move inland to break the Nambu Line.
2. Air Campaign interdicts Japanese reserves moving south to counterattack.
3. Allies move north into the interior past the city of Kagoshima
4. Japanese secret weapons arrive to turn back the Allies.
Game #1 NOVEMBER 1945
On 1 November 1945 (7 June 2025 for us) American and Australian forces came ashore respectively on Red and Green Beaches. Having learned that defending shorelines was too costly due to Allied naval bombardment, IJA forces deployed inland along our fictional Nambu Line. The mission was to slow the Allies until strong counterattacking forces waiting much deeper inland could intervene.
At Easy Red Beach....
"Nobody's home Lieutenant. They skedaddled!"
"Okay for now Reynolds. They're up country some for sure."
The wargame Battle of the Nambu Line played on 7 June 2025 resulted in fairly even losses for both sides. However, the IJA elected to withdraw assuming that more Allied units would appear long before IJA reinforcements could arrive.
Game #2 NOVEMBER 1945
INTERDICTING IJA REINFORCEMENTS MOVING SOUTH
IJA armored column heads south....
"Hai, (Yes) General Yamada."
"Sasaki, spread out your tanks. They are too close together if attacked by air."
"Yes I will - immediately, Sir."
Kadena Airfield, Island of Okinawa
Taken by the USA before the end of June 1945, the Island of Okinawa bears approximately 475 miles south of Kyushu. Eight B-17s are taxiing on Kadena Airfield headed for Kyushu to interdict roads and railways to slow the arrival of IJA army units converging on Allied forces moving north from the beaches. (Collection from Lewis S.)
Tentative Game Date: Late July or August 2025.
B-17s supported by USN and Australian escort planes versus the Japanese Air Force.
Game #3 NOVEMBER 1945
THE BIG PUSH NORTH
American GIs cautiously approach a ford north of the Nambu Line
"See anybody Max? I got you covered."
"I don't see nobody. What did you expect Lenny, a greeting committee? said Max. Wave BB forward. She'll flush out any birds across the stream."
"Here she comes," said Lenny.
"With some extra help," offered Max.
Tentative Game Date: October or November 2025.
The armies of both sides collide somewhere on Kyushu.
Game #4 1946
IJA Wonder Weapons Arrive
"So, this is the big one, Sergeant Endo?"
"Hai, Captain Nakamura. Our new 90mm Compression Cannon!"
"Well, let's see what she's got. Pull it around to the side of the factory and demonstrate the cannon," ordered Nakamura.
Endo rotated the Chi-Nu as told. After a moment a peculiar crackling humming sound was heard followed by a bright copper colored blast.
"With this we will win the war!," thought Nakamura.
Tentative Game Date: Early 2026.
CLOSING REMARKS
1. Campaigns are tough to see through to completion. Hopefully the absence of map movement, not tracking casualties, offering a variety of different game types and spreading out the games over a period of six months will see completion. Also not everyone needs to be at each game. However, some games could be run twice.
2. We use what we have. All photos are staged to illustrate our adaptation. GI's are from the collection of Chuck The Lucky. All vehicles are from the authors collection.
3. Rules: House rules except for Game #4. There we will use....
Because it has sci-fi stuff fictionally invented after 1945.
4. What is, "Overdoing modern addictive distractions?" One of these is scrolling on electronic screens. My marketing group director has information that the average adult sits before screens 7-8 hours a day wasting their lives. Is this the zombie apocalypse?
5. Your remarks are welcome.
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