Tarawa 1943

About this board game

Tarawa 1943 is a solitaire, card-driven wargame for one player, designed to play in about 60 minutes. You command the 2nd Marine Division during the invasion of Japanese-controlled Tarawa, directing eight USMC battalions through a demanding island assault.

Each turn, you activate one battalion to move, attack, and attempt to regroup. Activation reduces a battalion’s cohesion, representing exhaustion and wear, while Japanese attacks and pushing attacks further weaken your forces. Your decisions must balance immediate progress against the need to preserve combat effectiveness.

A 30-card deck provides additional resources and changing battlefield pressures. You hold three cards and may play one during the USMC turn and one during the Japanese turn. Cards can provide naval support, air support, engineers, tanks, and other valuable assistance.

• Activate and coordinate eight Marine battalions.
• Manage cohesion as your forces endure combat and exhaustion.
• Use a three-card hand to gain specialized support.
• Respond to a changing Japanese card-driven defense.

After your activation, a Japanese card determines the next threat. The defense may bring fire attacks, banzai attacks, bunkers, cross fires, infiltration, and more, creating an evolving challenge in every game. The card engine ensures that no two plays are the same.

The game uses the historical starting invasion site while also offering the alternate south beach landing possibility that Japanese forces had expected and prepared for. Victory comes from taking the island quickly while minimizing casualties.

In Tarawa 1943, high losses or a prolonged fight carry wider historical significance: Tarawa was the first invasion of the US island-hopping strategy, and a costly outcome could have led to its cancellation.