Death Ride: Tarawa

Death Ride: Tarawa brings Grognard Simulations’ Death Ride system to one of the most intense amphibious battles of the Pacific War.

The game focuses on the U.S. Marine assault on Tarawa, where the challenge is not whether the island can eventually be taken, but whether the Marines can get ashore, build a bridgehead, and clear the Japanese defenses within the brutal time pressure of the operation.

A major feature is the detailed landing system. Marines begin aboard transports, move into landing craft, approach through beach lanes, and then have to deal with reefs, congestion, mines, wire, and heavy Japanese fire. The result is a tense opening sequence where just reaching the beach in usable condition can feel like a battle of its own.

Once ashore, the Marines must fight through dug-in Japanese positions with aggression and careful use of supporting arms. Smaller scenarios focus on individual beaches, while the main campaign covers the broader struggle for the island.

This is a serious Pacific Theater wargame for players who want detailed amphibious operations, heavy tactical pressure, and a compact but demanding battlefield. Tarawa was never going to be the gentle one.

Contents include: eight 11 x 17 inch map sections, five unit counter and marker sheets, Death Ride: Tarawa master and supplemental rules, system charts and tables, and amphibious landing charts including wave and transport charts.