Interesting discussion. It prompted me to order a copy of Beachhead and has me poking around the library.
Some of the debate about opposed vs unopposed amphibious was frustrating from a historical perspective although understandable given the gaming interest in tactical battles. One of the observations I was listening for but didn't hear was that despite the notorious reputation as the most complex or difficult operation...MOST amphibious operations are successful, and really only about 4-5 opposed ones weren't successful.
To the question of whether we're missing games on opposed landings, I'm not sure (yet). We're all looking at the comprehensive Wiki page...but it sadly doesn't break out which are opposed and which aren't. You've inspired me to dive into a couple of books that may present better answers:
- Merrill L. Barlett. Assault from the Sea: Essays on the History of Amphibious Warfare (Naval Institute Press)
- Theodore Gatchel. At the Water's Edge: Defending Against Amphibious Assault (Naval Institute Press)
- Timothy Heck and B.A. Friedman. On Contested Shores: The Evolving Role of Amphibious Operations in the History of Warfare (MCUP)
- D.J.B. Trim and Mark Charles Fissel, eds. Amphibious Warfare 1000-1700: Commerce, State Formation and European Expansion (Brill)
These reference MANY amphibious campaigns that were opposed at least at the tactical level...but more often at the operational. At the risk of being pedantic, the focus on the opposed landings at the beach tended to ignore a broader historical trend which is stopping the landings at the beach is incredibly hard...although you'd not get that feel from any of the DG D-Day at...games...but that sustained opposition at the next ridge(s) is what can doom a campaign too. That was the frustrating thing about Gallipoli where neither the ANZACs, the British, or the French got much further a short distance from the beaches.
As for missed historical ops...Japan vs China and Soviets vs Japan stick out as maybe worthy of treatment. There ARE a couple of games looking at China's amphibious attacks against Taiwan's offshore islands in the early 1950s. But mainly through Formosa Force Games.
Speaking of Formosa, the US was working hard on the invasion planning of Formosa which was supposed to happen before Okinawa (which, technically...wasn't opposed at the beach, fwiw)...that could be an interesting game. And I'm not sure we've ever had a good Red Storm Rising retread of the invasion of Iceland!
I would be greatly interested in seeing/thinking about a logistics game looking at transporting troops from the troop transports to the landing craft to the beach...
Long ranty post...but good episode. Thanks!