January is fast approaching, and that means Armies of Imperial Japan will be hitting bookshelves around the world sooner rather than later. We’ve looked at the national special rules and the new infantry sprue, and now it’s time to meet a few of the units you’ll find inside the book. Some are brand new, while others are old friends who’re returning to Bolt Action: Third Edition in an altered form. Let’s dive in!
Lone Sniper
We kick off with a returning stalwart of Second Edition’s expanded roster, the Lone Sniper! Exactly what it says on the tin, this unit is a sniper on his lonesome, and can be armed either with the eponymous rifle or an LMG. Being alone gives him a nice little points reduction, and with Infiltrators and Fieldcraft he’s a properly sneaky sort, perfect for picking off officers or (with an LMG) opening up on enemy infantry. He’s also a fantastic way to use the ‘spider hole’ included on the new plastic sprue!
War Dogs Handlers
Who let the dogs out? Apparently, it’s the Japanese, who’ve brought their hounds to the battlefield! This unit is pretty classic of the late Second Edition era, and we know players have been straining at the leash for more of these slightly ‘out there’ squads to join the roster. With Infiltrators and Tough Fighters you can get a nice little 4-man squad to give you some forward-deployed ‘bite’ in the midfield – just what you need for hunting down those pesky enemy spotters and observers. Building this unit couldn’t be easier – get some Japanese infantry, and add your dogs of choice. The new Soviet sprue immediately springs to mind as a convenient source…
Suicide Anti-Infantry Team – Kirikomi Tai
Suicide teams have always been a key part of Japanese forces in Bolt Action, allowing you to sacrifice a unit to create a really big explosion. Previously, these have been limited to anti-tank roles (the infamous ‘lunge mine’, which of course is included in the new book), but the Kirikomi Tai brings a frightening anti-infantry dimension to Japanese lists. Able to lurk in forward deployment courtesy of Infiltrators (something of a theme for Japanese teams), they can inflict a very nasty 2d6 hits in Close Quarters when they blow up, making them a very real threat to any enemy squads. A canny foe will gun them down at range, but if you can manoeuvre them into position to strike they can be a seriously unpleasant surprise. Any model with a satchel, big backpack, or lots of grenades can represent the Kirikomi Tai, so get creative with those conversions!
Bamboo Spear Fighters – Boeitai Squad
We couldn’t talk about Japan without mentioning the legendary Bamboo Spear Fighters! These chaps were absolutely bonkers in Second Edition, and it wasn’t uncommon to see competitive Japanese armies looking more like a Pike & Shotte force than a Second World War platoon. That wasn’t quite what we wanted in Third Edition, but they’re icons of the book (and we know many of you have absolutely loads of them in your collections) so there was no way we were going to leave them out! Now, however, they’re significantly more in line with their historical formation, with the triple-header of Unpredictable, Poor Morale, and Green making them a somewhat unreliable proposition on the battlefield. Nevertheless, with the ability to field up to 15-man squads for dirt cheap, they now give Japanese players a low-cost infantry option, freeing up points elsewhere in their lists – and who doesn’t like fielding a giant horde every now and then?
Armies of Imperial Japan drops in January, and this is just a small selection of the units you’ll find within its covers. Have you pre-ordered yet?
