Peleliu Landings [Overlord]

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 24, 2025 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Beach, Destroyer, Infantry, Jungle, Location: Pacific, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Overlord Game, Pacific Theater, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Pacific

Peleliu Landings (Overlord)

Listen up. When our boys hit Peleliu, they weren’t stepping onto some quiet stretch of sand — they were walking straight into a hornet’s nest carved out of coral and steel. The Japanese didn’t waste men on the beaches; they dug themselves into the ridges, the caves, and the guts of that island, building a fortress designed to bleed us dry.

The 1st Marine Division landed under murderous fire — artillery, machine guns, everything the enemy could throw. They took casualties by the score, but they kept pushing, clawing their way off those beaches yard by yard. By nightfall, they’d carved out a foothold. Not victory — just a place to start swinging.

Peleliu wasn’t taken in a day. It was a slugging match, the kind where grit and guts matter more than numbers. And the Marines proved that when the chips are down, America’s fighting men don’t back up — they break through.

~~ General Howitzer

13 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 11

Axis – 8

Complexity:

5/5

Conditions:

Beach

Context:

Historical

Location:

Palau Islands

Year:

1944

Theater:

Pacific

Campaign:

Guadalcanal Campaign

Summary:

This is an Overlord game, so make use of the Jungle Command cards, two per side.

Objectives:

12 Medals including Territorial Control, and Exit Row medals and a sudden death hex all for the Japanese.

Terrain:

Beach and jungle terrain, and mountains, and an airfield.

Troops:

Allies – Infantry, Armor, Destroyers

Axis – Infantry, Armor, Artillery

Special Rules:

1. Majority Temporary Territorial Control – whomever controls 3 of the 4 buildings of the airfield

2. Exit Row Medals – to any Marine forces that exit

3. Imperial Japanese Army Command rules – Seishin Kyoiku Doctrine (SKD), Yamato Dashi Concept (No Surrender), Banzai War Cry

4. US Marine Corps rules – Gung Ho! rule – activate one extra unit more than the card played indicates

5. Airfield rules – no movement restrictions, no combat restrictions, no line of site restrictions

6. Jungles – Movement, must stop; Battle, only if starting in, or adjacent to hex; blocks Line of Sight;

7. Minefields,

8. Marshes,

9. Mountain terrain – only Infantry may move onto Mountains; Battle, up the mountain reduces dice by two; blocks Line of Site

10. Destroyers – attacks at 3,3,2,2,1,1,1,1

Allied Strategy:

1. The Marines should avoid the Japanese up in the mountains on their left flank. There is little to be gained in that sector. Instead direct your forces at an angle towards the center, to bring pressure to bear towards the airfield.

2. The two Exit hexes for the Marines are an excellent and achievable goal. Work your way through the jungle and send some of our boys home to safety!

3. You have a warship at your disposal on your left flank. Use it at every opportunity to degrade the enemy forces. It is close enough to the center, that you can provide some good support for the forces fighting on the center beach.

4. The Marines are able to use their Gung Ho! ability to command one additional unit – but only in one section at a time. So the Command-In-Chief (CIC) should decide which sector requires the additional unit to be ordered, to either shore up a section that needs additional defense, or to enhance an attack with one additional unit to command.

5. You start the battle with three Engineer units. Get them off the beach and into the jungle as soon as possible. They will be able to overcome the jungle terrain protections, ignoring them at Close Assault, and being able to roll three dice for each attack. This will help to quickly blunt the Japanese SKD abilities.

BIG PICTURE STRATEGY FOR BOTH SIDES:

1. Because this is an Overlord game, hand management becomes critical. At the start of the game, both sides have plenty of cards to fight with. The Allies get 11 cards, and the Axis get 8. But because they can spend up to three cards per turn, and only get replenished at the rate of 2 cards per turn, each side will begin to run out of playable cards, about half-way through the game, and will have to resort to Initiative Rolls for one of their Field Commanders.

2. The center two sections are where most of the action is going to take place. As the Marines push up toward the Airfield, and the Japanese bring their Armor out from behind the mountains, they will all converge for an awesome bloodbath on the central beach.

3. This is a long scenario with 13 Victory Points. This means strategic hits, and good defensive moves, so that you are attacking the enemy from places of protection, will slowly build up to a successful attack, unit by unit. This scenario is not won in a single decisive attack. You will need to use your forces everywhere for a total war attack methodology.

4. This is an Overlord game, so be sure to understand the rules for how the Commander-In-Chief (CIC) distributes cards, and who is authorized to attack in which sections. Clarify before the game starts, any special rules for how to apply multi-sectional cards, and Tactic cards. The official Days of Wonder Overlord rules can be found here on the General Howitzer site.

Axis Strategy

1. You have a number of powerful Armor which are capable of doing great damage to the enemy on the beach. But they are blocked in by your Infantry. So get the Infantry moved out of the way, and take a couple of turns to attack the unprotected and helpless forces on the beach.

2. Keep a few forces close to the Airfield, which is a Permanent Majority Medal Objective. If the enemy controls three of the four building hexes at the end of their turn, this will earn a Permanent Medal Objective.

3. Also keep a few forces close to the Exit hexes to prevent the enemy from escaping, and earning medals.

4. Because of the Seishin Kyoiku Doctrine (SKD), your full force Infantry units get to roll one extra dice in Close Assault attacks. If you move your forces quickly forward onto the beach, you can capture the Marines at their weakest, and with your extra dice rolls, either kill them, or push them back into the sea for retreat kills. (Although it should be noted that historically, the Japanese attacked the beach from a distance and waited for the Marines to come to them, all the while inflicting heavy losses upon them for each territorial gain.)

5. You have two Artillery units which can reach all the way to the beach. Use them at every opportunity to attack the enemy from a distance. Do not move out your forces too early to the beach. Make them come to you, and keep hitting them with the Artillery as they approach.

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Umurbrogol Pocket

by GeneralHowitzer | Jul 15, 2025 | 1944, Armor, Artillery, Campaign Book: V2, Infantry, Location: Pacific, Memoir 44, Pacific Theater, Scenario, Tactical, Theater: Pacific

Umurbrogol Pocket

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The Battle of the Umurbrogol Pocket in November 1944 was one of the fiercest and most grueling phases of the Battle of Peleliu during World War II. U.S. Marines faced deeply entrenched Japanese defenders in a mountainous, cave-ridden area known as “Bloody Nose Ridge.”

General Howitzer’s summary:

The Umurbrogol Pocket was a nightmare carved into rock—our Marines went up against die-hard defenders holed up in caves. The Japanese were dug in deep, fighting to the last man, and made us pay for every inch in blood. Flamethrowers, grenades, and guts—that’s what it took to root them out. It was slow, savage, and costly, but in the end, we crushed them. That ridge showed just how far the enemy would go—and how much farther we were willing to go to win.

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies (US Marines) – 5

Axis – 4

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Jungle Beach

Context:

Historical

Location:

Marianas & Palau Islands

Year:

1944

Theater:

Pacific

Campaign:

The Battle of Peleliu

Codename:

Operation Stalemate II

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s plus a Last to Occupy Medal Objective

Battlefield:

Combination of hills and hills with caves .

Troops:

Allies – 9 Infantry, 4 Armor, and 2 Artillery

Axis – 8 Infantry

Allied Strategy:

1. Use your Artillery and Armor as much as you can to attack the Japanese defenders at a distance. When they are sufficiently weakened, you can move in your infantry, beginning with your Engineers to finish up the forward units.

2. The fresh water river is a victory medal which goes to the Last to Occupy. Keep some forces on hand to grab it as a final victory point.

Axis Strategy

1. You have a very strong defensive position which allows you to quickly move between caves and hide your weak units when necessary.

2. Take advantage of your Seishin Kyoiku powers and attack any enemy troops using the Banzai War Cry which come within two hexes of your Infantry.

3. Guard the fresh water source, and keep the enemy away from it, as they will attempt to grab it on their final move.

Battle Reports

Author:

Days of Wonder

Resource:

Campaign Book, Volume 2

Guadalcanal [Overlord]

by GeneralHowitzer | Jan 5, 2025 | 1943, Artillery, Infantry, Jungle, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Overlord Game, Pacific Theater, Scenario, Strategic, Sudden Death

Guadalcanal

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Guadalcanal. August ’42 to February ’43. The place where the tide started to turn in the Pacific—and where the United States Marine Corps showed the world exactly what American grit looks like.

The Japanese thought they were building themselves a nice little airfield to dominate the Solomon Islands and choke off our lifeline to Australia. Big mistake. We hit that island hard, landed the U.S. Marines, and made damn sure that airstrip—Henderson Field—was going to fly our planes, not theirs.

It wasn’t a cakewalk. It was jungle rot, mud, bugs, no sleep, and short supplies. The enemy threw everything they had at us—infantry assaults, air raids, naval bombardments. But we held. We bled. And we broke them.

By the time it was over, the Japanese were down thousands of men, ships, and planes. They’d lost their shot at controlling the Pacific, and we took the initiative. From then on, it was our war to win, and we were going to take it island by island, all the way to Tokyo.

Guadalcanal wasn’t just a battle—it was a message: The United States doesn’t back down. We plant our flag, we dig in, and we don’t leave until the job’s done.

~~ General Howitzer

13 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 9

Axis – 7

Complexity:

5

Conditions:

Jungle

Context:

Historical

Location:

Solomon Islands

Year:

1943

Theater:

Pacific

Campaign:

Guadalcanal Campaign

Codename:

Operation Watchtower

Summary:

This is an Overlord game, so make use of the Jungle Command cards, two per side.

Objectives:

13 Medals including Territorial Control, and Exit Row medals and a sudden death hex all for the Japanese.

Terrain:

Jungle terrain with a 21-hex hill in the center which is a majority-control objective for one medal.

Troops:

Allies – 21 Marine Infantry, 3 Artillery

Axis – 24 Japanese Infantry, 3 Artillery

Special Rules:

1. Majority Temporary Territorial Control – whomever controls most of the 21-hill hexes gains 1 Medal

2. Exit Row Medals – to any Japanese forces that exit

3. Sudden Death Hex – to any Japanese forces that maintain control of the hex at the start of their next turn, total win for the Japanese

Allied Strategy:

1. Big Picture Plan when defending against the Japanese onslaught, is to reduce every full-power unit by at least one hit in order to cancel our their Seishin Kyoiku Doctrine.

2. Because of the special Rules, it is imperative that the Marines defende the center section, and prevent the Japanese forces from overwhelming the hill, to gain that point; or exiting out the back, to get those points, or most importantly, never let them gain access to the sudden death hex.

Axis Strategy

1. Big Picture Strategy for Axis; while the flanks provide an excellent attack possibility, if you have the cards, they should always be considered secondary to your primary objective of overwhelming the 21-hex hill and gaining all the extra win points associated with it, and the exit hexes, and the sudden death hex.

2. When given the opportunity on your flanks, move your forces towards the central section to continue to put pressure on the enemy and eventually overrun his position.

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Clearing Matanikau River

by GeneralHowitzer | Jan 3, 2025 | 1943, Artillery, Infantry, Jungle, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Pacific Theater, Scenario, Tactical

Clearing Matanikau River

The Battle of the Matanikau River was a series of engagements during the Guadalcanal Campaign in late 1942, part of the Pacific Theater in World War II. The battles focused on clearing Japanese forces from the Matanikau River area on Guadalcanal to secure the perimeter around the strategic Henderson Field airbase, held by U.S. Marines.

In several operations between September and November 1942, U.S. Marines, supported by naval and aerial bombardment, launched attacks against well-entrenched Japanese positions along the river. These actions disrupted Japanese attempts to launch counterattacks against the American-held airfield.

General Howitzer’s summary:
We swept the jungle clean—rooted out every last Japanese fighter and locked down the western flank of Henderson Field. Those clearing fights weren’t just mop-up—they were the nail in the enemy’s coffin on Guadalcanal. That island was the start of our long march west, and by God, it was the turning point that broke their back in the Pacific.

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6

Axis – 5

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Jungle

Context:

Historical

Location:

Gaudalcanal

Year:

1943

Theater:

Pacific

Campaign:

Guadalcanal

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s

Terrain:

The Matanikau River cuts horizontally across the battlefield.

Troops:

Allies – 10 Infantry, 2 Artillery

Axis – 9 Infantry, 1 Artillery

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Allied Strategy:

1. Big Picture Strategy: your job is to clear the Matanikau River of all enemy belligerents. This will require advancing across the river, but do not do so until your two Artillery units have softened up the enemy forces. This primarily means to hit each unit at least once, thus eliminating the Seshin Kyoiku Doctrine with their powerful plus 1D attack powers.

2. Once they have been sufficiently softened up, and you have the right card combination in hand for an attack, then advance and win!

3. Be aware that the enemy infantry on your left flank at a4 is both a danger and an opportunity: a danger, because they are close enough to attack and gain a tactical medal win; but an opportunity, because they are trapped across the river, separated from their forces without a quick escape.

Axis Strategy

1. Big Picture Strategy: As you are outnumbered, this is primarily a defensive scenario for the Axis. But if you can build up the cards to mount an attack in on one side, you should do it. For example, your Infantry at a4 on your right flank is within striking distance of the enemy Artillery, if you had a Behind Enemy Lines card.

2. Be wary of the powerful Allied Artillery, which historically, was able to turn the tide in many engagements in the Pacific. Keep at least five hexes away from them until you are ready.

3. Make use of your Seishin Kyoiku Doctrine and the Banzai War Cry to overwhelm the enemy when they get too close.

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Iwo Jima – The Meat Grinder

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 10, 2024 | 1945, Armor, Artillery, Infantry, Jungle, Memoir 44, Pacific Theater, Scenario

The Meat Grinder (Iwo Jima)

The “Meat Grinder” on Iwo Jima was not just a nickname—it was exactly what it sounded like. In February ’45, our Marines walked into a hornet’s nest of bunkers, tunnels, and artillery, all dug in by Japanese defenders who were ready to fight to the last man.

Every yard was paid for in blood. Concealed machine guns, artillery, and traps cut men down as they clawed forward. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t quick—it was steel against flesh, and the cost was high. But those Marines never quit. Day after day they smashed into that fortress, until finally the defenses cracked.

Taking the Meat Grinder was hell, but it was necessary. With it in our hands, the island opened up, and the road to victory on Iwo Jima was clear. It was proof again that American grit and guts could chew through anything—even the toughest rock the enemy could throw at us.

~~ General Howitzer

7 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 5

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Jungle

Context:

Historical

Location:

Iwo Jima

Year:

1945

Theater:

Pacific

Summary:

Objectives:

7 VP’s

Battlefield:

Island jungles and hills with caves, allowing for quick movement by Japanese

Troops:
Allies – 10 Infantry, 7 Armor, 2 Artillery

Axis – 9 Infantry, 2 Armor, 3 Artillery

Allied Strategy:

1. Because the Engineers can avoid terrain restrictions during close assault, you need to quickly get them up to the sandbagged hills where the enemy are lodged, and dislodge them!

2. Use your artillery to soften up the enemy before the assault.

3. You need 7 VP’s to win, so you are going to have to address the artillery and deal with it.

4. Your forces on the right and center sections are really bunched together. You need to get some early movement for your infantry, or they will be subjected to some no-retreat hits.

Axis Strategy:

1. You are outnumbered in the center and right sections. Your left flank has more units than the enemy. If you can get your armor into position to defend the open terrain, it will make it difficult for the enemy to move approach.

2. You outnumer the enemy with artillery, 3-2, so use it to soften up the enemy as they approach.

3. Make good use of your full-powered units through the Seishin Kyoiko Doctrine (SKD), to advance on the enemy and roll the extra dice to quickly knock them senseless.

Classic Battle Reports:

(percentage of Allied victories)

30%

Author:

Link:

Wake Island

by GeneralHowitzer | Nov 1, 2024 | 1941, Artillery, Beach, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Pacific Theater, Scenario

Wake Island

Wake Island was a little speck in the Pacific, but in December ’41 it became a fortress of American grit. Right after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese thought they’d steamroll it. On the 11th, they charged in—and got their noses bloodied. Our Marines and gunners blasted ships out of the water and sent the enemy packing, the first time in the war a U.S. force had thrown back an amphibious assault.

But the enemy came back heavier on the 23rd, with more ships, more planes, and more men than that tiny garrison could handle. The Marines fought like crazy, but Wake was finally overrun. Even so, their stand proved to the world that Americans don’t just roll over—we fight, we bleed, and we make the enemy pay dearly for every inch. Wake Island was no surrender; it was a warning shot that the United States was in this war to the finish.

~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

5 – 5

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Beach

Location:

North Pacific

Year:

1941

Theater:

Pacific

Campaign

Codename

Summary:

The Wake Island scenario has the Japanese attacking Marines who are defending. The beachfront is barricaded with a row of wire. But if they can get past that barrier, every town and fortress hex is a victory medal objective for them.

Objectives:

6 VP’s, plus the Axis have potentially 10 (!) Medal Objectives.

Battlefield:

A flat beach defended with wire and Marines in bunkers and one artillery.

Troops:

Allies – 5 Infantry, 1 Artillery

Axis – 12 Infantry!

Allied Strategy:

1. Historically the Allies were overwhelmed in the second attack when 1500 invaders attacked, so the goal is to get some quick hits before they reach the Medal Objectives.

2. Use your artillery at every opportunity, especially early in the game before they move away from it.

Axis Strategy:

1. As a general rule, avoid the artillery in the center-right. Move your troops to the left and attack the left flank. There are plenty of VP’s available on the left side without even having to go anywhere near the artillery.

2. However if you have the cards for a sustained and rapid attack on the right, do it. The fact that there are two hexes unprotected by wire allows the you to very quickly reach the enemy bunkers.

3. You can use your advance infantry unit to quickly gain control of the field bunker at M6, and its VP. Then three more Objective Medals are available to you in the towns. Then as you quickly bring other infantry forward the advance unit can attack the enemy infantry in the town at K8. That’s a total of 5 VP’s relatively unprotected. If you can survive the artillery attacks while you seek out your 6th VP on the left flank, you could have a win to brag about!

DoW Battle Reports

(percentage of Allied victories):

32%

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link: