Plans to add the U.S. Marines?
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Plans to add the U.S. Marines?
Hello,
I just bought the Core rulebook for Chain of Command from my game club as we are planning on making it our April project. Everyone is making terrain, assembling forces and learning the rules.
I should have read the rules before deciding on an army because on the same day I bought the book I bought a box of U.S. Marines. Only to find out there are no rules for the U.S. Marines.
Will there be rules released for Uncle Sam's Wayward Children or do I need to see about trading the box for U.S. Army troops or another nations forces?
I just bought the Core rulebook for Chain of Command from my game club as we are planning on making it our April project. Everyone is making terrain, assembling forces and learning the rules.
I should have read the rules before deciding on an army because on the same day I bought the book I bought a box of U.S. Marines. Only to find out there are no rules for the U.S. Marines.
Will there be rules released for Uncle Sam's Wayward Children or do I need to see about trading the box for U.S. Army troops or another nations forces?
Re: Plans to add the U.S. Marines?
Search Chain of Command Forum for US Marines. You’ll see a number of discussions regarding them and some TO&E’s. The planned Far East Handbook should really become the definitive CoC source for US Marines. Unfortunately it’s publication has been delayed due to health issues at Lard Island. Many of us are waiting for this handbook.
- Truscott Trotter
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Re: Plans to add the U.S. Marines?
Exactly. Stephen Philps has a nice 1944 Marine list on his Saipan campaign the late 3 team one and as mentioned above there are several Marine and Japanese floating about both on TFL blog and CoC facebook page.
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Re: Plans to add the U.S. Marines?
Excellent, thank you! this will do nicely until the book releases.
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Re: Plans to add the U.S. Marines?
G'day Krugerannd,
US Marines will definitely be in the Asia-Pacific Handbook. current submission is for three lists: A 1942 list covering the Philippines and the early Guadalcanal campaign; a 1943 list covering Solomon Island campaigns, New Britain campaign, and the Betio/Tarawa landings; and a 1944+ list covering the remainder of the war and the use of the three fire-team squads.
All of these lists have been submitted to Richard for the handbook.
Cheers
US Marines will definitely be in the Asia-Pacific Handbook. current submission is for three lists: A 1942 list covering the Philippines and the early Guadalcanal campaign; a 1943 list covering Solomon Island campaigns, New Britain campaign, and the Betio/Tarawa landings; and a 1944+ list covering the remainder of the war and the use of the three fire-team squads.
All of these lists have been submitted to Richard for the handbook.
Cheers
Re: Plans to add the U.S. Marines?
I am also close to completing a Makin Island campaign that will have the Marine Raiders list. Can't wait to see more gaming in the Pacific!
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Re: Plans to add the U.S. Marines?
Greetings all,
Below is a brief summary of the information I could gather on US Marine Raiders.
Marine Raider Battalions:
1st Raider Battalion “Edson’s Raiders”: Guadalcanal Aug 1942 invasion of Tulagi Island, defense of Edson’s Ridge; New Georgia invasion Jun – Oct 1943
2nd Raider Battalion “Carlson’s Raiders”: Raid of Makin Island Aug 1942; Guadalcanal Nov 1942, Bougainville invasion Nov – Dec 1943
3rd Raider Battalion: Russel Islands Feb 1943 (no combat); Bougainville invasion Nov – Dec 1943
4th Raider Battalion: Guadalcanal Nov 1942, New Georgia invasion Jun – Oct 1943
1st and 4th Raider Battalions combined to form 1st Raider Regiment in Mar 1943; 2nd and 3rd Raider Battalions combined to form the 2nd Raider Regiment in Sep 1943; all raider units disbanded Jan 1944; redesignated 4th Marine Regiment, which later became part of 6th Marine Division.
Most of their battles appear to have been as conventional light Infantry battalions rather than as raiders.
Getting the exact TO&E of Marine Raider battalions has proved to be a bit tricky. When initially formed, the 1st & 2nd Raider Battalions used totally different TO&E as their commanders had markedly different opinions on the matter. It was the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion that conducted the Makin Island raid in 1942 (thus prompting the Japanese to improve its defenses - to the chagrin of the 27th Infantry Division in 1943). This battalion was led by the somewhat eccentric (and newly promoted) LTCOL Carlson who had some very "out of the box" ideas on how his unit should operate. Near as I can find, the 2nd Raider Battalion was organized as follows:
PHQ: LT (SL) SMG, GSGT (SL) SMG
3 x squads (10 men) = SGT (JL) SMG & 3 x fire-teams (3 men) SMG + BAR + M1 Garand
An alternate source indicates the following platoon organization at Makin Island: PHQ: LT (SL) SMG and 3 x squads (10 men) = SGT (JL) SMG, 1 x BAR, 4 x SMG, 4 x M-1 Garand with the squad operating as a single team. No mention of a platoon sergeant!
This same source indicates that the Squad Leader + 3 x three-man teams was a later squad organization adopted as standard across the two Raider battalions of the 1st Raider Regiment in Mar 1943.
Immediate support options were: 60mm mortar teams and M1919 LMG teams & Demolition teams
There is also a claim that the battalion used a Boys ATR to destroy a Japanese seaplane at Makin!
Do any of our American friends have more details or authoritative sources?
Cheers
Below is a brief summary of the information I could gather on US Marine Raiders.
Marine Raider Battalions:
1st Raider Battalion “Edson’s Raiders”: Guadalcanal Aug 1942 invasion of Tulagi Island, defense of Edson’s Ridge; New Georgia invasion Jun – Oct 1943
2nd Raider Battalion “Carlson’s Raiders”: Raid of Makin Island Aug 1942; Guadalcanal Nov 1942, Bougainville invasion Nov – Dec 1943
3rd Raider Battalion: Russel Islands Feb 1943 (no combat); Bougainville invasion Nov – Dec 1943
4th Raider Battalion: Guadalcanal Nov 1942, New Georgia invasion Jun – Oct 1943
1st and 4th Raider Battalions combined to form 1st Raider Regiment in Mar 1943; 2nd and 3rd Raider Battalions combined to form the 2nd Raider Regiment in Sep 1943; all raider units disbanded Jan 1944; redesignated 4th Marine Regiment, which later became part of 6th Marine Division.
Most of their battles appear to have been as conventional light Infantry battalions rather than as raiders.
Getting the exact TO&E of Marine Raider battalions has proved to be a bit tricky. When initially formed, the 1st & 2nd Raider Battalions used totally different TO&E as their commanders had markedly different opinions on the matter. It was the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion that conducted the Makin Island raid in 1942 (thus prompting the Japanese to improve its defenses - to the chagrin of the 27th Infantry Division in 1943). This battalion was led by the somewhat eccentric (and newly promoted) LTCOL Carlson who had some very "out of the box" ideas on how his unit should operate. Near as I can find, the 2nd Raider Battalion was organized as follows:
PHQ: LT (SL) SMG, GSGT (SL) SMG
3 x squads (10 men) = SGT (JL) SMG & 3 x fire-teams (3 men) SMG + BAR + M1 Garand
An alternate source indicates the following platoon organization at Makin Island: PHQ: LT (SL) SMG and 3 x squads (10 men) = SGT (JL) SMG, 1 x BAR, 4 x SMG, 4 x M-1 Garand with the squad operating as a single team. No mention of a platoon sergeant!
This same source indicates that the Squad Leader + 3 x three-man teams was a later squad organization adopted as standard across the two Raider battalions of the 1st Raider Regiment in Mar 1943.
Immediate support options were: 60mm mortar teams and M1919 LMG teams & Demolition teams
There is also a claim that the battalion used a Boys ATR to destroy a Japanese seaplane at Makin!
Do any of our American friends have more details or authoritative sources?
Cheers
Last edited by Len Tracey on Wed Mar 31, 2021 6:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Plans to add the U.S. Marines?
I'm presently building a 1st Marine Raider Battalion force based on "Edson's Ridge" and found this to be a useful source...
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/U ... index.html
Edson's Raiders at that time were typically 8-man squads with M1903 Springfield Rifles and a BAR team, with the NCO's upgrading to M1921 Tommy Guns wherever they could finagle them.
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/U ... index.html
Edson's Raiders at that time were typically 8-man squads with M1903 Springfield Rifles and a BAR team, with the NCO's upgrading to M1921 Tommy Guns wherever they could finagle them.
"One hundred rounds do not constitute firepower. One hit constitutes firepower..."~ Col. Merritt Edson, 1st Raider Battalion, U.S.M.C
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Re: Plans to add the U.S. Marines?
Thanks mate, I logged that on my favourites.
I've read an extract of that pamphlet before and it was one of the sources I turned to. Having the full article now is much better.
I've also corrected some typos and errors in my previous post after reviewing my notes.
I have drafted CoC lists for both Marine Raiders (four separate lists to cover different units and time frames) and Para-marines (one list) for submission to Richard.
My sources tend to agree with you concerning Edson's Raider's TO&E, although I've been quoted 2 x BAR in the squad. I believe the 3rd and 4th Raider Battalions also used the same organization as the 1st Raider Battalion. From what I've red, LTCOL Edson enjoyed more favour with USMC hierachy than LTCOL Carlson (Edson became a general, Carlson didn't).
Happy to hear any further feedback or suggestions.
Cheers
I've read an extract of that pamphlet before and it was one of the sources I turned to. Having the full article now is much better.
I've also corrected some typos and errors in my previous post after reviewing my notes.
I have drafted CoC lists for both Marine Raiders (four separate lists to cover different units and time frames) and Para-marines (one list) for submission to Richard.
My sources tend to agree with you concerning Edson's Raider's TO&E, although I've been quoted 2 x BAR in the squad. I believe the 3rd and 4th Raider Battalions also used the same organization as the 1st Raider Battalion. From what I've red, LTCOL Edson enjoyed more favour with USMC hierachy than LTCOL Carlson (Edson became a general, Carlson didn't).
Happy to hear any further feedback or suggestions.
Cheers