General Kuribayashi - Japan - WW2 - Tadamichi Kuribayashi


	The Generals of Japan ^{AXIS and ALLIES RTS} Tadamichi Kuribayashi

General Tadamichi Kuribayashi was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, best known for his role as overall commander of the Japanese garrison during most of the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. His name became well-known outside of Japan in the 2006 movie Letters from Iwo Jima, where he was portrayed by actor Ken Watanabe.

Kuribayashi recognized that, without possibility of re-supply, reinforcement, naval support, or air support, he would not be able to hold Iwo Jima against the overwhelmingly superior military forces of the United States. But loss of Iwo Jima would place all of Japan within range of American strategic bombers, so Kuribayashi determined to make the fall of Iwo Jima as late as possible and planned a campaign of attrition, by which he hoped to inflict such severe losses on the Americans that they would reconsider the planned invasion of the Japanese mainland.

Kuribayashi had studied other American assaults carefully and decided not to contest seriously the Allied beach landings. Instead, defense of Iwo Jima would be fought almost entirely from underground.

The Japanese honeycombed the island with more than 18 kilometers (11 miles) of tunnels, 5,000 caves, and pillboxes. Kuribayashi also instructed his troops that each man should kill ten of the enemy before dying, and he strictly forbade the banzai charge, which he viewed as ineffective. His men proceeded with the "silent" charge, which confused the Americans, who were accustomed to the traditional loud "banzai" charge, as in the Battle of Saipan.

Kuribayashi adressed his soldiers:

We will defend this island to the limit of our strength
We will take bombs and throw ourselves under the tanks to destroy them
We will infiltrate enemy's lines and exterminate them
We will shoot at each one deadly shoot
We will never be killed before killing ten enemy soldiers
We will harass the enemy with guerilla actions until the last of us

Kuribayashi's death remains a mystery. His men provided contradictory reports and his remains could not be traced. He was most likely killed in action upon leading the final assault. The general's body could not be identified afterwards for he had taken off his rank badge to fight as a regular soldier. Less credible theories of his death include suicide (seppuku).

The US declared Iwo Jima secure on 26 March 1945, after 6,800 U.S. Marines were killed and more than 17,000 wounded. Only 216 of the 21,000 Japanese defenders survived to be captured.

^{From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia}

"Death before Disgrace."
^{Tadamichi Kuribayashi - Axis and Allies RTS}

Banzai Charge

1000

300

+50%

^{AXIS and ALLIES RTS}

Banzai Charge - "Makes your units go temporarily berserk, giving them a boost to morale and attack value."

Somewhat ironic that the most powerful special op available to General Kuribayashi is Banzai Charge, since he strictly forbade the banzai charge (which he viewed as ineffective, see above) during his defense of Iwo Jima.

Although we don't see any direct evidence this special op effects morale directly, it does provide target units with an immunity to fear, and temporarily increases their health and recharge time (attack speed) by 50%. Since this special op works on infantry and vehicles, it can prove useful in many game situations.

Espionage

400

300

^{AXIS and ALLIES RTS}

Espionage - Targets an enemy building to reveal the enemy’s current economic status and steal money.. If the enemy target doesn't have $50 you don't get it (so target the eco whores). The 400 EXP is somewhat expensive for the effect of this special op, netting you only $50 and some limited intel on the economy of the target. Probably best to save your EXP for your Banzai Charge in most situations

Mechanized Resupply

300

+25%

^{AXIS and ALLIES RTS}

Mechanized Resupply - Provides supply to targeted mechanized regiments. Also increases resupply rate by 25% so it will affect mechanized units even if they are already in supply. Max targets of only 4, so don't expect it to supply an entire mechanized division.

When it comes Japan, their AT Mech are the worst in the game, and Artillery Mech are very vulnerable to any of the special op bombs, and will likely be killed by a single, well placed/timed bomb. That being said, there are very limited uses for this special op. Better to save your EXP for your Banzai Charge.

Corp Reorganization

1000

3600

(1) Corp HQ

^{AXIS and ALLIES RTS}

Corp Reorganization - Everyone has to deploy a new corp hq from time to time. Don't be hasty about placing that second corp (this special op can only be used once per hour). Make sure you have resolved the situation that caused you to lose your first one! You can always ask your allies if the have a safe place, their base defenses may be better than yours.

If there is no safe place wait until there is one! Move your technology buildings in the meantime, as they may be subject to attack following the fall of your corp hq (losing those buildings too will limit the regiments you can produce).

Keep in mind your second Corp HQ will become a "high priority" target for your enemies. If they can destroy your second corp, and your technology buildings, you will be stuck making only light tanks or halftracks (depending on the tents you have left), which really can't compete in the later stages of the game (or any stage of the game for that matter).

Tadamichi Kuribayashi - Although Banzai Charge can prove useful in a variety of different situations (since it effects infantry and vehicles), the rest of the special ops of Kuribayashi have little effect in online play.. This makes Kuribayashi Japan's weakest general. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the inherent strengths of Japan [LINK]