Operation Olympic

There is a new comic book out by Wildstorm called Storming Paradise. It is a limited series about the fictional invasion of Japan. It starts with the planning because of a major problem with the Manhattan Project, the atom bomb project. The book is written and illustrated in a realistic style and while I have only read the first issue, it seems to be historically plausible. They indicate that all aspects of the conflict will be covered in the series. With only six issues, I think that is unlikely but they should be able to touch on many issues.

The invasion of Japan to conclude World War Two has tremendous wargame possibilities. The Japanese were hording tanks, aircraft and artillery. They still had millions of troops under arms, including very well supplied armies in China and Manchuria. Many of these troops could be transferred to Japan to defend the home islands. The Americans would be using the Sherman and the Pershing tanks and would have faced more advanced Japanese tanks then they ever had before. Large numbers of suicide weapons would be deployed. The Japanese would also be using everything from the most professional and hardened troops to school girls armed with pointy sticks.

The Japanese also had major internal political problems. Historically they actually had several coup attempts and there were many who wanted to kidnap the emperor to keep him from peace elements who wanted to end the war. You could wargame attempts at a coup or try and keep the emperor from being kidnapped by your own side. Sometimes wargames can be set up with three sides. Allied players conducting normal combat operations, and two or more Japanese players who are defending against the Americans and trying to overthrow the other Japanese player as well.