The Battle of Angaur Island - The Matrix Games version of Rising Sun

<span style="font-size: small;">[Angaur, Palau Islands: [H2H] [HISB] [GD]: With the occupation of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands by early 1944, American attention in the Central Pacific turned to the Palau Islands. The weak defenses of the Palaus and the potential for airfield construction made them attractive targets for the Americans. Angaur is a tiny volcanic island, separated from Peleliu by a 6 mile strait. A small indigenous population lived by farming, fishing, and phosphate mining. Two regimental combat teams (RCT) of the U.S. 81st Army Infantry Division, under the command of Major General Paul Mueller, were given the task of capturing Angaur Island. The island was defended by Major Ushio Goto with the 1st Battalion, 59th Infantry Regiment (reinforced). Major Goto, did not have sufficient troops to defend all possible landing points, so he concentrated his strongest defenses on the excellent beaches to the southeast of the island, codenamed Beaches Green 1 and 2 by the Americans. Unfortunately for him, all his effort was spotted by reconnaissance overflights some months earlier and so the American plan was to land on the lightly defended beaches to the north (Red) and east (Blue). Major Goto decided to rely upon the natural barrier provided by the rain forest and the distance between vital areas of the island to deter any Allied landing over RED and BLUE Beaches. Before dawn, on 17 September 1944, the warships of the task force under Rear Admiral Blandy, began to bombard Japanese shore positions, followed by 40 fighter-bombers that bombed and strafed enemy positions behind the beaches. At 0810, the approach to the shore began with the 81st Army troops mounted in LVTs. The battle for Angaur Island had begun! [ALL] [N EA] [N VV] [Special rule - no Banzai] </span><span style="font-size: small;">(Note - Terrain modifications made to encourage more historical play - 9/08/2012)</span>