WW2 Marines - Pacific (1 Viewer)

[Warrior]

The War in the Pacific........

 

[Stryker II]

Warrior:

Your dio's are really neat, did you ever consider one on Tarawa, love that seawall assault!!!.................Stryker II

 

[Warrior]

These are all from my WWII collection.

I've followed this thread and find it very interesting on a number of levels.

From a dealers perspective, I have done very well with Pacific items, specifically the King and Country releases. A plastics company, Classic Toy Soldiers, came out with a Pacific playset around the same time K & C came out with IWJ 24-30 and within that set were a number of bunkers, pillboxes, tank positions, etc, etc made of foam that I bought, painted and sold with the K & C figures, this happened right around OTSN several years ago.

The response was off the charts. The Pacific is a passion of mine as it is many of yours, I admire the passion in this thread.

The problem is sales for the most part for K & C and Figarti re Pacific sets were not good for whatever reason, I don't get it. Matt from The Hobby Bunker launched his Wake Island series through Figarti recently, I wish him all the best and I am sure manufacturers are keeping an eye on it to see how it goes; if it takes off, maybe they will relaunch the Pacific.

Movies have not helped; The Thin Red Line, Windtalkers, Pearl Harbor, Flags of our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima and Kokoda (a must see for any Pacific fan regarding the battles between the Aussies and the Japanese along the Kokoda Trail) have all done so so at the box office and have not translated into more Pacific releases from manufacturers.

Bottom line is they are going to produce what sells, no offense/disrespect intended to the men from all nations who fought in the Pacific. I had an uncle who was in the Marines, another in the Navy and two in the Coast Guard too by the way.

Best of luck to all of you collectors, I really hope you get some figures for the theater you all seem to have a passion for..........

Regards,
George Guerriero
Minutemen Toy Soldiers

 

[kilted vampire]

George, thank you for posting all of those pictures. They look like 28mm. Who are the manufacturers? Did you paint them yourself? I like the fellow with the flag on his rifle.

 

[Warrior]

Warrior:

Your dio's are really neat, did you ever consider one on Tarawa, love that seawall assault!!!.................Stryker II

Thanks Stryker II; I knew you'd appreciate them.

Funny you mention Tarawa; it is a passion of mine. I am working on a Tarawa diorama that I will have done soon. When the second K & C batch hit (IWJ 18-23), a company produced a tarawa seawall display that measured 2 feet by 2 feet with the seawall; it was AWESOME. I probably painted up and sold at least 20 of those to go with the K & C sets; don't tell me the Pacific won't sell...............

 

[Warrior]

George, thank you for posting all of those pictures. They look like 28mm. Who are the manufacturers? Did you paint them yourself? I like the fellow with the flag on his rifle.

My pleasure KV; they are actually 20mm, about 3/4th's of an inch tall. Yes, I painted all of the figures and assembled and painted all of the kits. I also scratch built most of the scenery.

There are quite a few manufacturers, all of which are wargaming companies such as Britannia, Battlefield Miniatures, FAA, SHQ, Sergeant Majors Miniatures, Fantassin, Eureka and Combat Miniatures.

Keep this thread going boys, we need Pacific sets...........

 

[Stryker II]

George:

I have a passion for Tarawa too, have studied it for about 50 years, and have tons of research material--both published and official USMC photos. I enjoy taking any picture from the campaign, and trying to decipher exactly where it was taken on the island. I feel that this battle, was the greatest in Marine Corps history. They took, in three days, what Japan thought a million men couldn't take in a 100 years!! I have talked with several vets who were there, and they tell stories that never made it to the papers etc. If any new series comes after Wake Island, I would vote for that one in a second. The absolute heroism, in spite of terrific odds, gave the Marine Corps valuable lessons on amphibious warfare, which is still in effect today. In lots of ways, the mistakes and lessons learned there, made our victory complete in the many landings to come, and was crucial to us if we would have had to invade Japan itself--which plans were drawn up after Okinawa. I have a copy of a WWII poster which shows a Marine pointing at Japan and saying "NEXT"!!

Andy (K & C) told me at Chicago, that he enjoyed his marines, and felt they were some of the best figures he had ever done--I totally agree with him!!! I love your dios and support...............Stryker II

 

[lancer]

Hey guys, count me in on Tarawa also. It is my favorite WW2 battle bar none. While I am no expert on it, I certainly appreciate the valor of the men and difficulty of the operation. Men like Bonneyman and Hawkins have always been my heroes. -- lancer

 

[Warrior]

Stryker II,
You are dead on 1000% in your views on Tarawa; what those Marines did on that island in 76 hours is nothing short of spectacular.

The exploits of the 2nd Marine Division will forever life in the heritage of the Corps.

And you are also correct in that they learned many valuable lessons after that invasion regarding all future landings in the Pacific.

What a price paid for those lessons.

 

[binder001]

Re: WW2 Marines - Tarawa

For those that don't know about it yet, try the "Tarawa on the Web" site. It's a labor of love. It has about the BEST single set of information on the tanks on Tarawa. Here's a link;

http://www.tarawaontheweb.org/

A couple of 1/35th models have ben released that have the "baby elephan" insignia seen on the Ccompany C M4A2 Shermans. Tarawa was the action that really convinced the Marines that they needed medium tanks for the assaults, the previous light tanks were helpful but lacked the extra armor and firepower. The Marines used the diesel-powered M4A2 as the Army had priority on the preferred M4 and M4A3 types.

Gary

 

[kingtoot]

It's good to see new blood in this fight. A 54mm metal set depicting Tarawa would be fantastic. I still believe, despite this new disappointment in CS, that they are the only company to vividly portray Marines and Japanese slugging it out at the seawall edge and beachhead. Their animation and eye for detail is just great. A great book to read is "25 Yards of War", by veterans mostly from the Pacific campaigns. One story in particular is of Jim Russell, USMC, He won the Navy Cross at Tarawa for his actions. I met him a few years ago. He and my dad grew up together and joined the Marines together.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Re: WW2 Marines - Tarawa

For those that don't know about it yet, try the "Tarawa on the Web" site. It's a labor of love. It has about the BEST single set of information on the tanks on Tarawa. Here's a link;

http://www.tarawaontheweb.org/

A couple of 1/35th models have ben released that have the "baby elephan" insignia seen on the Ccompany C M4A2 Shermans. Tarawa was the action that really convinced the Marines that they needed medium tanks for the assaults, the previous light tanks were helpful but lacked the extra armor and firepower. The Marines used the diesel-powered M4A2 as the Army had priority on the preferred M4 and M4A3 types.

Gary

Looks like the US had Shermans and the M3 Stuart light tank while the Japanese had Type 95 Ha-Go light tank (comparable to the Stuart?). The K&C Iwo Jima tank is a Type 97 Chi-Ha medium tank. They also had Type 96 light tanks.

A book on Iwo Jima tank combat (I do not have it) is http://www.missing-lynx.com/reviews/usa/tankwarfareiwojima_1.html

Terry

 

[Stryker II]

Lancer: I have always wondered about Hawkins and his scout-sniper platoon. They landed on the end of the pier 15-20 minutes before the first wave, to clear out any resistance from there. I think a neat dio would be to have that scene somehow duplicated.

Bonnyman, was a hero in his own right too, for the deeds he did in helping to secure some of the high ground on top of that major jap defensive position. There is a book by Robert Leckie, called STRONG MEN ARMED. It is quite possibly one of the best books ever published on the Marines and the pacific war. It takes you thru each major island campaign, like you were there--the sections on Tarawa is awesome!!! Leckie will be one of the men honored in the new series from HBO--The Pacific..............Stryker II

 

[Stryker II]

It's good to see new blood in this fight. A 54mm metal set depicting Tarawa would be fantastic. I still believe, despite this new disappointment in CS, that they are the only company to vividly portray Marines and Japanese slugging it out at the seawall edge and beachhead. Their animation and eye for detail is just great. A great book to read is "25 Yards of War", by veterans mostly from the Pacific campaigns. One story in particular is of Jim Russell, USMC, He won the Navy Cross at Tarawa for his actions. I met him a few years ago. He and my dad grew up together and joined the Marines together.

Kingtoot: I will definately check this out, I'm sure it was quite an experience and honor to meet Jim Russell. I imagine he and your dad had many experiences to remember...............Stryker II

 

[Stryker II]

Re: WW2 Marines - Tarawa

For those that don't know about it yet, try the "Tarawa on the Web" site. It's a labor of love. It has about the BEST single set of information on the tanks on Tarawa. Here's a link;

http://www.tarawaontheweb.org/

A couple of 1/35th models have ben released that have the "baby elephan" insignia seen on the Ccompany C M4A2 Shermans. Tarawa was the action that really convinced the Marines that they needed medium tanks for the assaults, the previous light tanks were helpful but lacked the extra armor and firepower. The Marines used the diesel-powered M4A2 as the Army had priority on the preferred M4 and M4A3 types.

Binder: I will definately check this out also. There is suppossed to be a new book out or coming out soon called TARAWA'S GRAVEDIGGERS. It goes into great detail, about what happened to the gravesites on the little island, and how a major discovery, has led to the finding of several men that were considered MIA there..................Stryker II

 

[lancer]

Lancer: I have always wondered about Hawkins and his scout-sniper platoon. They landed on the end of the pier 15-20 minutes before the first wave, to clear out any resistance from there. I think a neat dio would be to have that scene somehow duplicated.

Bonnyman, was a hero in his own right too, for the deeds he did in helping to secure some of the high ground on top of that major jap defensive position. There is a book by Robert Leckie, called STRONG MEN ARMED. It is quite possibly one of the best books ever published on the Marines and the pacific war. It takes you thru each major island campaign, like you were there--the sections on Tarawa is awesome!!! Leckie will be one of the men honored in the new series from HBO--The Pacific..............Stryker II

Read Leckie's book many years ago and loved it. I also am very impressed with Hammel's many Marine and Navy titles. I thought "76 Hours" was outstanding. -- lancer

 

[Stryker II]

Stryker II,
You are dead on 1000% in your views on Tarawa; what those Marines did on that island in 76 hours is nothing short of spectacular.

The exploits of the 2nd Marine Division will forever life in the heritage of the Corps.

And you are also correct in that they learned many valuable lessons after that invasion regarding all future landings in the Pacific.

What a price paid for those lessons.

Warrior: they were an awesome fighting unit, but then again, all six marine divisions and air wings were tremendous!!..............Stryker II

 

[Stryker II]

Read Leckie's book many years ago and loved it. I also am very impressed with Hammel's many Marine and Navy titles. I thought "76 Hours" was outstanding. -- lancer

Yes I too have all of Hammel's books and he also does an outstanding job. Have you ever seen any of the official Marine Corps Monographs (history) of the individual island battles? They were done shortly after the war, and the one on the second Marine division is called FOLLOW ME!! It is probably the best source, up until Hammel's Bloody Tarawa, that had tremendous photos of all sections of the battle. Some of it looked like the surface of the moon, pocketed with 16 inch shell holes. Fantastic book!!!.............Stryker II

 

[Stryker II]

Re: WW2 Marines - Tarawa

Binder: that is a very impressive site, I will be doing some looking on it for sure, thanks!!

The sherman Colorado, what more can you say and China Gal!! One of them was set on fire they drove it back into the lagoon and put the fire out, and continued fighting--what combat efficiency!!!..............Stryker II

 

[Stryker II]

[A banzai charge at the seawall or shortly inland from it--perhaps the first night or early dawn--it wouldn't get any better than that!! Hand to hand fighting and the marines using anything and everything to turn them back. It would be kinda like the big Banzai charge in Merrill's Marauders around that lake. There were guys fighting everywhere with everything they had including shovels!!...........Stryker II