Cape Torokina Landings

by GeneralHowitzer | May 31, 2025 | 1943, Armor, Artillery, Beach, Destroyer, Infantry, Jungle, Location: Pacific, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Overlord, Overlord Game, Scenario, Special Weapons, Strategic, Theater: Pacific

Cape Torokina Landings (Overlord Map)

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“Listen up, men! On November 1st, 1943, our boys hit those beaches at Cape Torokina like a thunderbolt. Those Marines of the 1st and 3rd Divisions didn’t blink at the sight of jungle, mud, and dug-in enemy troops. They took that beachhead by the throat and held on like bulldogs!

This wasn’t just another island—it was the gateway to busting open Rabaul and cutting off those Japanese forces. The jungle was a green hell, but we cut through it, took the ground, and started building the airstrips and supply bases to keep the hammer coming down.

That’s how you do it, boys—land hard, fight harder, and don’t stop until you’ve got a fortress behind you and the enemy on the run. That’s what those Marines did at Cape Torokina—they paved the road to victory in the Pacific!”

~~ General Howitzer

Timeline of the Cape Torokina Landings (Bougainville)

November 1, 1943 – D-Day for Cape Torokina:
U.S. 1st and 3rd Marine Divisions land at Cape Torokina. Initial beachhead secured despite Japanese resistance and tough jungle terrain.
November 2–3, 1943 –
Marines expand the perimeter, clearing Japanese defenses in nearby jungle areas.
Mid-November 1943 –
Seabees and engineers begin constructing airfields and supply bases within the beachhead.
December 1943–January 1944 –
Marines fortify positions, repel repeated Japanese counterattacks.
Japanese strongpoints isolated and bypassed.
March–April 1944 –
U.S. Army relieves Marines; continuing operations to expand and secure the beachhead.

15 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies (Marines) – 9

Axis (Japan) – 8

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Beach

Context:

Historical

Location:

Solomon Islands

Year:

1943

Theater:

Pacific

Campaign:

Bougainville

Codename:

Summary:

Objectives:

15 VP’s with various Medal Objectives for various territorial control.

Battlefield:

Islands with many rivers, roads, jungles, and hills

Troops:

Allies – 21 Infantry, 4 Armor, 2 Destroyers, with Landing Crafts to bring them ashore

Axis – 18 Infantry some with Special Weapons, 1 Armor, 1 Artillery

🔥 Winning as Allies

1. There are a number of special rules which you need to be aware as commander of the Allied forces. First, there are two islands (Torokina & Puruata), which must be taken. Because the enemy begins the battle with forces on the islands, they start the battle with two victory medals. As soon as you eliminate the enemy from an island, you will cause them to lose a victory medal, but you will NOT gain one. Also note that because the Landing Crafts (LC’s) leave after dropping off your troops, they will be stranded on that island. So make sure you commit enough troops to win, but not too many.

2. There are also three Field Bunkers which provide Temporary Territorial Medals to whichever side occupies them. But you must remain in the bunker to keep the medals.

3. What this means then, is that although you begin the battle with overwhelming force, in order to clear the islands, and then occupy the Field Bunkers, you will need to be leaving troops at each of those locations. So your attack force will be diminished for each parcel of land which you capture. This must be factored into your planning commander!

🔥 Winning as Axis

1. Your primary role in this battle is a defensive one, but that does not mean passive. You have troops which need to be prepared to fight and brought into the battle arena.

2. You have an Armor unit stuck in the corner in the right flank. Get it into the action as soon as you can.

3. You also have an Artillery which you should use at every opportunity to attack the enemy as they come ashore.

4. Make use of the Seishin Kyoiku doctrine to attack with your full force units at every opportunity in order to maximize your extra firepower while they are still strong.

5. You have a lot of forces on the two islands. Make the enemy pay for every inch of ground they take on the islands in order to reduce their main attack force.

Battle Reports

Author:

Days of Wonder

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Taukkyan Roadblock

by GeneralHowitzer | May 18, 2025 | 1942, Armor, Combat Cards, Infantry, Jungle, Memoir 44, Scenario, Special Weapons, Tactical, Theater: Pacific

Taukkyan Roadblock

The Battle of the Taukkyan Roadblock? That was a brutal wake-up call in the jungles of Burma.

It was April 1942, and the British were pulling out of Rangoon, trying to stay one step ahead of a fast and ruthless Japanese advance. But they weren’t sitting back—they were moving like ghosts through the jungle, and they slammed a roadblock right down at Taukkyan, a vital choke point on the only damn road out.

It was a classic ambush—sliced right through the retreating columns. Trucks jammed, units scattered, and bullets flying like hellfire. The 17th Indian Division fought like lions to break through, but the jungle was tight, the fire was heavy, and the enemy was dug in and deadly.

A lot of brave men didn’t make it. That roadblock caused chaos, real chaos. It wasn’t just a firefight—it was the kind of sharp, surgical move that the Japanese were damn good at: fast, quiet, deadly. It wasn’t just a fight—it was a message.

The collapse at Taukkyan was a key reason why southern Burma slipped right through our fingers. It forced the Allies to fall back all the way into India. But mark my words—every inch we lost, we learned from. And when we came back, we came back with fire in our guts and iron in our fists.

~~ General Howitzer

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 5 + 2 Combat Cards

Axis – 5 + 2 Combat Cards

Complexity:

3

Conditions:

Jungle

Context:

Historical

Location:

Burma

Year:

1939

Theater:

Pacific

Campaign:

Burma Campaign

Codename:

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s

Battlefield:

Jungle with two intersecting roads, a roadblock, a village, and some hills.

Troops:

Allies – 8 Infantry, 4 Armor

Axis (Japan) – 9 Infantry with some machine guns and anti-tank special weapons.

Allied Strategy:

1. Big Picture: while you do not have to get through the roadblock, it does present a challenge for the British as a rallying point for the enemy.

2. Before you attempt an Infantry attack, use your Armor units to attack the Japanese units at a distance, and reduce each unit by at least one figure, in order to eliminate their Seishin Kyoiku Doctrine power.

3. You have some powerful forces on your right section. Get the Infantry moved forward and into the nearby jungle, so that the roadway is clear to allow your Armor to advance and get into the attack.

Axis Strategy

1. Big Picture Strategy: with their special weapons of machine guns and anti-tank guns, plus the roadblock present a significant opportunity for the Japanese to hold off the Brits.

2. Because of the British tanks, you cannot just stay behind your sandbags the whole time. They will slowly pick you off, and degrade your attack ability. You will have to deal with the tanks, perhaps through specialized cards such as Barrage, Air Power, Behind Enemy Lines, or the Combat Card ‘Giretsu’, the Japanese BEL card.

3. With the right set of cards, and as long as most all of your forces are still at full ‘Seishin Kyoiku Doctrine’ strength, a full scale assault on your right flank could prove successful.

Battle Reports

Author:

Days of Wonder

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Bardia

by GeneralHowitzer | May 17, 2025 | 1941, Armor, Artillery, Desert, Infantry, Location: Libya, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Strategic, Theater: Mediterranean

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Bardia, January 1941—now that was a proper kick in the teeth for the Italians, and the Aussies delivered it with style.

This was the first big ground fight cooked up and led by an Australian outfit—6th Australian Division, under General Mackay—and let me tell you, those boys weren’t there to play games. Their target? Bardia, a heavily fortified Italian stronghold in Libya. Italians thought they were sitting pretty behind wire, guns, and concrete. Big mistake.

The 16th Brigade hit ’em from the west—smart move, weakest spot in the line. The engineers crawled through hell, cut through barbed wire, filled anti-tank ditches, and cleared a path like pros. Then came the punch: Matilda II tanks from the Brits’ 7th Royal Tank Regiment rolled in with the infantry. After that, it was a hammer-and-anvil job—17th and 19th Brigades came crashing in to finish the job.

By the end, Bardia was ours. Thousands of Italians surrendered, and the whole damn front cracked wide open. That victory let the Allies charge deeper into Libya and gave Rommel a reason to pack his bags for North Africa.

The Aussies proved two things at Bardia: one, they could plan and fight like hell; and two, when you combine tanks, grit, and coordination—you win. That’s the kind of war I like: fast, bold, and overwhelming.

~~ General Howitzer

7 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 6 + 2 Combat Cards

Axis – 6 + 2 Combat Cards
(Note that Italian rules call for a loss of one Command Card for every Italian unit/hex lost, until 3 remain.)

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Desert

Context:

Historical

Location:

Libya

Year:

1943

Theater:

Mediterranean

Campaign:

Western Desert Campaign

Codename:

It was part of Operation Compass

Summary:

Objectives:

7 VP’s, including two building territorial objectives and two hill territorial objectives for the Allies

Battlefield:

Desert terrain with a branching roads running through it, and some dunes.

Troops:

Allies – 8 Infantry, 4 Armor, 2 Artillery

Axis – 10 Infantry, 1 Armor, 2 Artillery

🔥 Winning as Allies

1. Big Picture Strategy: follow the roads that points like an arrow to your targets in the center section, which contains four territorial medals awaiting you at the two towns and two hills.

2. Watch out for your right half of the battlefield which is dominated by the Italian artillery.

🔥 Winning as Axis

1. Big Picture Strategy: stay behind the sandbags! The Italians are in a defensive posture, and tactical wins are not worth the cost to your forces should you venture forth from your sandbags.

2. Be aware that the rules of engagement for the Italian nation is that for every unit/hex which gets destroyed, you lose one command card, down to three cards in your hand. This makes the loss of any unit devastating to your offensive capabilities.

3. You have a strong set of Artillery on the left side of the battlefield. Use them at every opportunity.

Battle Reports

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

St. Joseph’s Farm

by GeneralHowitzer | May 16, 2025 | 1942, Armor, Artillery, Combat Cards, Desert, Infantry, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Tactical, Theater: Mediterranean

St. Joseph's Farm

Chouigui Pass—November 1942. One hell of a day for the U.S. Army, and the first time our boys showed the Krauts what American steel could do.

We were green, no doubt about it. The 1st Battalion, 1st Armored Regiment—part of my beloved 1st Armored Division—rolled into action near a place called Chouigui Pass, northwest of Tebourba. The brass might call it St. Joseph’s Farm, but I’ll tell you—there was nothing holy about what went down there.

Our men, riding those M3 Stuarts and M4 Shermans, spotted a German convoy and didn’t hesitate. They tore into it with everything they had. And wouldn’t you know it? A short time later, they ran into the 10th Panzer Division—real hardened bastards—but our boys didn’t back down.

We hit ’em hard. Burned up their vehicles, shattered their lines, and let ’em know the Americans were here and we weren’t playing. It wasn’t some grand campaign-ending victory, but it mattered. It was the first time U.S. armor took the fight to the Wehrmacht and came out standing.

That fight at Chouigui Pass proved something: our tanks could run, our boys could fight, and American grit was just getting started. North Africa wasn’t going to be easy—but after that day, the Germans knew we were in the game.

And from there, we only got meaner, faster, and a whole lot more dangerous.

~~ General Howitzer

5 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 5 + 2 Combat Cards

Axis – 5 + 2 Combat Cards

Complexity:

2

Conditions:

Desert

Context:

Historical

Location:

Tunisia

Year:

1942

Theater:

Mediterranean

Campaign:

Tunisia Campaign

Codename:

Summary:

Objectives:

5 VP’s, including St. Joseph’s Farm as a Temporary Objective for the Axis.

Battlefield:

Desert terrain with a branching road running through it, and ridges on each flank, which provide the defensive surprise that historically occurred.

Troops:

Allies – 3 Infantry, 8 Armor, 1 Artillery

Axis – 5 Infantry, 5 Armor

Allied Strategy:

1. Historically, the Allies surprised the Germans by hiding their Armor reserves behind the ridges. In this scenario, the enemy obviously knows you are there, but you can still use the ridges as defensive protection until the Axis Armor gets close enough for you to launch your Armor assault, and maybe recreate history with an Allied victory.

Axis Strategy

1. Historically, the Axis were surprised by the Allied forces hiding behind the ridges. You know they are there, and they outnumber your forces, so you will need to score some quick hits against the forces in the center, to take them out of the action before their support shows up on the flanks.

Battle Reports

Author:

Days of Wonder

Link:

Battle of Westerplatte

by GeneralHowitzer | May 6, 2025 | 1939, Artillery, Countryside, Infantry, Location: Poland, Medal Objectives, Memoir 44, Scenario, Special Weapons, Strategic, Theater: Western

Battle of Westerplatte

September 1st, 1939—0448 hours. That was the shot that lit the damn fuse on World War II.

The Germans kicked things off by bringing in the battleship Schleswig-Holstein, sitting nice and cozy in Danzig harbor, and then—boom—she opened up with a full broadside on the Polish outpost at Westerplatte. They thought they’d scare the Poles into folding before breakfast.

Then came the assault: crack German marines, three platoons strong, storming across the land bridge, expecting a little parade through the depot. They even blew open the rail gate like it was just another drill. They thought they were walking into a skirmish.

Wrong.

They walked straight into a kill zone. The Poles were locked, loaded, and waiting—concealed firing positions, crossfire, barbed wire, the whole damn package. And those German troops? They didn’t find a pushover—they found hell on Earth.

The plan was for the Poles to hold for twelve hours. Instead, they held that godforsaken strip of land for seven damn days—against artillery, naval fire, and relentless infantry assaults. They bled, they fought, and they showed the world what grit looks like under fire.

Westerplatte didn’t stop the war. But it told the Nazis one thing loud and clear: this wasn’t going to be easy. It became a symbol—of resistance, of courage, and of never giving an inch when everything’s on the line.

The lines were drawn, the fuse was lit, and history roared to life in a blaze of fire and steel.

Now the only question left is—when it’s your turn to hold the line… will you stand, or will you fold?

~~ General Howitzer

6 VP’s

Card Balance:

Allies – 5

Axis – 6

Complexity:

4

Conditions:

Countryside

Context:

Historical

Location:

Poland

Year:

September 1, 1939

Theater:

Western

Campaign:

The Invasion of Poland

Codename:

Fall Weiss / Case White

Summary:

Objectives:

6 VP’s, plus one Permanent Medal Objective for each side (The Destroyer and the Supply Shed.)

Battlefield:

Contains countryside with a road, a railway, and a river.

Troops:

Allies – 10 Infantry (3 figures each), 2 Artillery

Axis – 10 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Destroyer!

Allied Strategy:

1. Because of the surprise nature of the attack, all of the Polish Allied Infantry only have three figures each. They are therefore very quickly overrun by the German forces. Gain the hits you can, and protect the Supply Shed!

Axis Strategy

1. You have a Destroyer at your disposal, with massive range. Use it every chance you get.

Battle Reports

Author:

Originally developed for the Belgium Open, 2017; Also used by The Finest Hour Open, Chicago, 2025.

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