Toy Soldiers in the Pacific, or SWPA in 54's, Part 3

 Last time I discussed the organization of the US Army Rifle Squad in the Southwest Pacific Theater, or SWPA. While the organization called for twelve men in two or later three teams, the reality was more likely to be a squad organized into teams but with maybe nine or ten men. What helped to make these diminished squads effective is the two leaders (Squad Leader and Assistant Squad Leader), both NCO's, that allowed the team concept to work. Thus you had the BAR Team (2 men) and  Scouts (2 men) under the control of the Squad Leader, while the Rifle Team (6-7 men) was under the Assistant Squad Leader. 

 

The Japanese, on the other hand, while having a larger Rifle Squad (13 to 15 men), it was less flexible due to the fact it had but one leader, and at least in Western eyes, of relatively low (Corporal) NCO rank. By no means does that take away from the skills and bravery they exhibited throughout the War but rather illustrates differing tactical thought. A single unit is much easier to control since they all are following the same orders. So while the IJA (Imperial Japanese Army) was effective, it also demonstrated some rigidity insofar as the leader was to be followed without question. Unfortunately this also led to a certain lack of initiative among the NCO's and even Junior Leaders if the situation changed unexpectedly.

 

Shown below are two photos showing the ideal organization of the Japanese Rifle Squad. In this case it is a Type B squad (13 men) as opposed to a Type A squad (15 men). But I will repeat my admonition about reality vs. the organization chart. Thirteen men might be ideal, but units missing 3 to 5 men would not be uncommon. 

This photo shows the Squad Leader with the LMG crew.

 

 

Here is the bulk of the Squad, the Riflemen.

 

 Keep in mind that they would act together as one large "team" giving a high level of firepower but with less flexibility in terms of their tactics. Still, it worked. 

 

Next time, I'll report on a recent battle using the FUBAR rules, along with some of my modifications. Until next time... 

 

                                         

Toy Soldiers in the Pacific, or SWPA in 54's, Part 2

 In my last post I wrote about my quest for using toy soldiers for war gaming the struggle in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) between the Allied powers and the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). The idea was to find a relatively simple set of WW2 rules that could be reasonably used to fight small battles and encounters in the jungles of the area. I received several suggestions including Donald Featherstone's early rules published in his classic Wargames. While they showed some promise, I wanted something a bit more complex and I think I have found them with FUBAR, a free set available for download (www.fubarwargames.wordpress.com/downloads/, and edited by Craig Cartmell). Included among the supporting documents (the rules being only a single page) are platoon organizations for the major combatants. Between that and the rules, one should be pretty much ready to go. 

While facing an opponent on the other side of the table is always enjoyable, the rules play well with little modification solo. 

So how are the units organized? The answer to that question is somewhat problematic. Every unit has a TO&E (table of organization and equipment) giving the unit's size, leadership, and weaponry. Most war game rules start with units at full strength, an ideal that is in reality rare. Casualties, administrative demands, sickness, outside training all eat away at the unit's actual strength. This is something that should be reflected when we set up our games (campaigns are of course great for doing this). The picture below illustrates my point. 

US Army Rifle Squad of twelve men in  two teams: Squad leader and BAR team (R); and the Rifle Team and Assistant Squad Leader (L)

 

 

 

 

 While this is the ideal, the reality in WW2 was a squad of 9 or 10 (and sometimes fewer). More next time!