Problems with a japanese side

Frankly, a weekend game is going to cut your numbers down, then requiring people to 'double uniform' is going to reduce it even more.

I've only ever double uniformed at one event, and never again, the sheer amount of extra crap to lug around is unbelievable.

But if you think you can get the numbers, then go ahead and organise something, maybe the 34th guys could host it as their site is very 'jungly'.

Cheers
Martin

If it was to be successful then I think you would have to have an organiser that was willing to put on a game once a year. You can see it if you have read through Craig's Copenhagen game list the statement that the fact that going forward there is going to be a game for the early war kit of a number of nationalities means that people will not mind to source gear if it is for a viable ongoing style of game.
I mean I would. Banzai and all that...

Minimum Japanese loadout would be a helmet cover over a British Mk3 helmet
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/E2Z-IJA-WWII- ... 3cd6a743ff

Or even just field caps. Looking at the shape of them it looks like it might actually be possible to replicate one from a post war soviet pilotka. Add a peak, strip of faux leather, neck cloth and a star and you're away.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WWII-WW2-JAPA ... 2a2e752c11

As for running a game myself, I wouldn't have a clue where to start and I am useless at organising stuff. As mentioned before, it would need to be an annual event for people to invest the time and money so it would probably work best if we got a group of people together to get this off the ground.

I think thats the officers cap although the same guy also does the enlisted man's version with the neck flap, SOF also now do Japanese. I suppose its inevitable that I will eventually do a Japanese impression. As it would only be low numbers I think Martin is right, Fireball would make a good site, perhaps its something we could look at for next year, I am sure we could get a Japanese look alike squad at least.

It would be nice to do some special rules for the Japanese to help with the feel and get some banzia charges going. maybe if you are shot while doing a Banzia you can still take 10 steps and bayonet an enemy if in reach before dying

I'd consider doing a IJA impression. And I'm at the very least intrigued by the idea of special rules. However, let us agree now make sure that the Japanese team is properly represented as the fighting force they were and Not just 'Opfor' for the USMC. The majority of people who are dead keen on a PTO game appear to be 'The Pacific' fan-boys who just want some evil nasty banzai charging fanatics to mow down. Just how I'm seeing it.

I don't think we want Banzai charges to be encouraged. What we want is well hidden and tough to displace Japanese ambushes. The special rules would just be to make them tougher to get rid off. Self tying your bandages will not encourage Banzai charges as the moment you stop to tie it you'd be dead. It will however mean that the Japanese will hold a position until the last man. We could however throw in a Banzai charge at the end just to keep the punters happy
What we could do is have a Japanese officer who is able to change the rules the Japanese play by so at times they are self tying their bandages, at other times they get 10 seconds extra life after they die etc. so that the allied players never have a clue what's going to happen next.
You could even hide some trapdoors (square piece of board) and allow the Japanese to respawn at any of them unless the allies have found it and placed a satchel charge on it (bags supplied at start of the game to the allies). Basically anything to disorientate and confuse the allies and create the impression that they could be attacked from anywhere at any time.

I don't think we want Banzai charges to be encouraged. .

Oh yes we do Sneaky beaky Japanese is good too but just would not be right without a Banzai charge Besides I have the rubber bayonet

Maybe the odd one or 2 then
We just don't want that to be all the Japanese do.

From what I've read, it seems that the Japanese used the banzai charge to unnerve and dislodge dug in enemies as well as try and break a stalemate when they were defending. It would be silly to have the Japanese banzai charging every 5 minutes but the odd one here and there wouldn't go amiss.

In terms of battles we could do, I've been thinking that we should start off with one of the battles in which the Japanese were on the offensive, such as Malaya, the Philippines, the initial invasion of Burma etc. Then we could move on to the battles in which the Japanese were defending i.e. Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and the later Burma battles. That way both sides would get the experience of being on the offensive and defensive.

If we were fighting Americans I could probably overcome my distaste for the WW2 IJA and bodge up an impression, but the fact is that the Japanese will just be viewed as a targets for a bunch of ooo-aaahing USMC. Whatever, it is just one of those things and no different to Nam games, as extensively discussed already in this section.

Banzai charges would easily be covered by the Russian flag charge rules we've used in a few other games, huge fun to take part in and scary to be on the wrong end of. But in general, efficient, well hidden and skilful Japanese vs blundering loud US is probably the way to go.

This sort of thing would of course be ideal for a 24 or 36 hour game format, but again, you'll slash your numbers. Living off a bowl of rice in the dripping jungle is suddenly quite appealing

Cheers
Martin

From what I've read, it seems that the Japanese used the banzai charge to unnerve and dislodge dug in enemies as well as try and break a stalemate when they were defending. It would be silly to have the Japanese banzai charging every 5 minutes but the odd one here and there wouldn't go amiss.

In terms of battles we could do, I've been thinking that we should start off with one of the battles in which the Japanese were on the offensive, such as Malaya, the Philippines, the initial invasion of Burma etc. Then we could move on to the battles in which the Japanese were defending i.e. Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and the later Burma battles. That way both sides would get the experience of being on the offensive and defensive.

The problem will be that the side on the offensive is at a disadvantage and it is likely to be harder to get Japanese players for the first game.
Maybe a fictional Scenario?
Shortly before the fall of Berlin a plane managed to make it through Russian territory and intelligence indicates that it may have contained plans for a Nazi superweapon. It's destination was Japan but it was shot down and crash landed in dense jungle...

This would give us the option of supplementing the Japanese with some Germans on a very limited basis.

If we were to go with a fictional scenario, I'd want to stay away from far fetched fictional scenarios like that. Maybe we could have something like "Marine raiders link up with British soldiers who have been fighting alongside the local indigenous tribe as guerillas". The only reason I suggested earlier battles was because the Brits were in KD during those and loads of the Brit players have KD (myself included). As martin says though, the Japanese would just be viewed as opfor for the Marines, doesn't mean they can't be a skilful and effective opfor. As more become interested, the Japanese side will develop into something like the German side, naturally. If a Far East/Pacific game got off the ground, I think more people interested in primarily playing Japanese would join the hobby.

I would be happy to play a Japanese soldier at a game, as long as the kit (or look a like kit) was very cheap. As it probably wouldn't get much use.

Frankly, a weekend game is going to cut your numbers down, then requiring people to 'double uniform' is going to reduce it even more.

I've only ever double uniformed at one event, and never again, the sheer amount of extra crap to lug around is unbelievable.

But if you think you can get the numbers, then go ahead and organise something, maybe the 34th guys could host it as their site is very 'jungly'.

Cheers
Martin

umm got me thinking now , now a nice small ish game , bit more relaxed uniform wise than normal to account on getting some japanese and marines ..... will ponder you never know maybe for 2015

The Banzai generally came as a result of fighting the Chinese; they lacked automatic weapons, so a headlong charge often succeeded in taking a position. Obviously it was less succesful when used against the British and Americans.

A Japanese side should stress infiltration, getting behind an enemy, then shooting them up. Banzai charges, particularly late war, should be more about a tactic of last resort rather than the first 'go to' strategy, or you're going to get the shit shot out of you every five seconds and it's going to be stale really quickly, not to mention at odds with how the IJA operated.

Giving the Japanese three bandages might be an idea, gives them a bit more staying power.

Chris, if you're suggesting what I think you're suggesting, I'll be there! Fireball would be a tidy site for a Pacific game. Not to mention, I've been dying to do a Burma game in 14th Army kit since I've started in WW2 airsoft. That said, more than happy to get Japanese kit together.

Well worth a try!

Well I already have the Aussie hat on it's way from Singapore so I would definitely be up for a Jungle game. Just need the shirt and US HBT trousers and lace up gaiters.
Now if only someone would make an Owen SMG...

About the Owen SMG, I think there is a possibility of converting a Sten perhaps? Not entirely sure though it's just something that crossed my mind.

Speaking of wonder weapons I might get the type 89 grenade discharger from Tokyo, why, because it's quite a game changer and also it's cheaper than buying either the Tanaka or KTW versions of Arisaka rifle.

Also on a side note Mosin Nagants make good stand ins for Arisaka rifles and are more versatile because I can use them in Ost front games too... rifle for all seasons :p Slatingrad for winter and with some minor modifications it s a good rifle for pacific fighting too. Also unlike K98 the Bolt on Mosin and Arisaka is more similar.

Russe11's Owen gun has already been made (Sten used as the donor), you can find the topic in the weapons section (it looks bloody brilliant!).

I would think the K98 would be a better match for the Arisaka.

The Model 38 italian smg's now available, might be a relatively easy conversion to the type 100

You would just need to alter the hop and magwell and possibly use MP5 mags?

i was wondering if the sterling on a stock like that could work ?