Integrated Pacific War Campaign, 1941-45
Asian warfare is necessary part of the World War Two, and unique forces, weapons and maps are very attractive for the game.
However, the method used in the current game that implement any battle as “Campaign” is not suitable for Asia-Pacific war. Therefore, I suggest to implement “Pacific-War campaign” instead of implement some specific battles like Guadalcanal, Iwojima, Okinawa etc.
In this suggestion, I suggest battle between Japanese and allied nations, especially American, British (include India, Australia and other colonies) and Dutch.
Also, as you know Chinese is very important part of ABCD line, but it is a bit unnatural for Chinese troops to fight on the Pacific islands so I did not contained them. Perhaps Chinese National Revolutionary Army in Burma is interesting addition for premium squads.
Problems of currently game method
Summary
Unbalanced weapons
To make a good game, balanced weapons are necessary. However, there are large gap between Japanese and Americans.
For example, in case of submachine guns, they were quite rare and only few units used it. Also, in case of tanks, Japanese adopted Type 97 MT Chi-Ha with 47mm as a counter of M3 Stuart but when they reached to battlefields, allies already had more heavily armored tank like Matilda or Sherman etc.
Lack of weapons
To build the campaign progress, it is necessary to have various weapons and vehicles. However, except for some battles there weren’t enough number of weapons.
Especially, problems of Japanese armored vehicles were quite serious. In most of battlefields, there were only one or two types of tanks. In addition, decent vehicles which are able to destroy M4 medium tank were used only in Philippines or stayed in Japan.
Map problems
Pacific maps basis on famous battlefields have some problems.
In the South-Pacific islands like Guadalcanal, Peleliu, New Guiana etc., it is a bit difficult to make enough variation of types of battle areas: there were only beach, deep jungle, airfield and high mountains. There are not many man-made objects, and due to the small number of man-made objects, it is difficult to create multiple battle areas that change in the same area, such as in urban area, villages and fortresses.
Large islands like Philippines islands, Okinawa etc have enough size of area and have enough component.
Separation of player
In the campaign basis on single battle, there aren’t enough room for update. Due to it, if developers want to keep updating the game they have to implement new campaign.
However, this system separate player and cause serious matching problems.
Advantages of this idea
In other hand, this suggestion have each advantages below:
Large variation of map
If expand campaign from one battlefield to Asia-Pacific war in 1941-45, we can get enough weapons and it makes easy to construct campaign progress.
Also, it makes game designers easier to take balance.
Large variation of map
It is possible to implement multiple battlefield maps for one campaign. By this future, we can fight not only jungles of Guadalcanal but also urban area of Manila, hills of Okinawa, cave positions of Iwojima etc.
Highly expandable
It can contain whole battlefields of Pacific area. Because of it, it is possible to implement new battlefields in the update. Also, there are large amount of types of weapons and it is very good for update, too.
Also, implement highly expandable “theater” campaign instead of separate to multiple campaign is very good when considering the playerbase.
Weapons in the campaign
Weapons on the Axis side were used by the Japanese Army and Navy. It also includes weapons produced in factories in China occupied by the Japanese and weapons captured by the Japanese.
Allied weapons were used by American, British, Indian and Australian forces. In addition, weapons of the Dutch East Indies Army and the Chinese National Revolutionary Army in the Burma would also be suitable for Gold Orders and premium squads.
Rifle
Note:
“I” is initial of “Italy” in Japanese.
“Mo” is initial of “Mauser” in Japanese.
Japanese
As well known, Japanese did not used domestic-production semi-auto rifle on the battlefield. Due to it, we have to implement prototype weapons.
Allies
Slightly less variety of bolt-action rifles, but generally it’s fine.
Sniper Rifle
Japanese
Late models of Experimental Automatic Rifles had scope mount on side.
Allies
Same as Normandy.
Rifle Grenade launchers
Both
First grenade launcher is ordinally grenade and second grenade launcher is anti-tank grenade.
Submachine Gun
Note:
“Be” is initial of “Bergmann” in Japanese.
“Su” is initial of “Steyr” in Japanese.
Japanese
There are four types of available Japanese SMGs.
For Japanese, SMG had multiple problem (logistics, effective range etc) so service was limited.
- Imported by Navy for their ground forces: SIG-Bergmann M1920 and S1-100 (Japanese variant with 7.63mm ammo and bayonet)
- Variants of Type 100 machine pistol
- Experimental prototypes
- Captured/produced at Manchuria: Thompson SMG
Allies
For Pacific campaign, I added US Marines’ M50 Reising and Australian Owen gun.
Light Machine Gun
Note:
“Chi” is initial of “Czech” in Japanese.
Japanese
Both Type 91 and Type 97 were machine gun for armored vehicles, but they could equip bipods for ground battels.
Type 96 and Type 99 can equip bayonet and scopes. It would be interesting equipment in the game.
Japanese captured lots of ZB vz.26 machine gun at 2nd Sino-Japanese war. In addition, they adopt it officially and manufactured over 20,000 on captured Chinese arsenals during WW2 .
11th Year Type LMG and Type 91 Tank LMG used rifle’s 5 rounds clip. Experimental Type 3 LMG used feed strip similar to heavy machine guns.
Allies
For Pacific campaign, I added unique US Marines’ Johnson M1941 machine gun.
Flamethrower
Japanese
Different to US, Japanese used lots of flamethrowers since the early of war because it was effective weapon when attack bunker and urban warfare.
Navy used not only Type 93/Type 100 but also outdated Mk.1 Flamethrower (一号火炎放射器).
Allies
At the late of war, they often used flamethrowers to attack Japanese cave positions.
Motor
American motor seems heavy a bit.
AT Weapon
Japanese
Due to Japanese did not had light-weight anti-tank rifle, I selected HEAT shell launchers.
Except for naval 8cm rocket launcher, they were never used in the battlefield. Naval 8cm rocket launcher was used during Battle of Philippine in 1944.
Allies
There’s no problem.
Handgun
Japanese
FN Browning M1910 was one of the most popular officer’s personal handgun in the Japanese army.
In Japanese army, officers used personal handguns, so they had about hundreds of types of pistols. Because of it, Japanese arsenal have to supply not only domestic Nambu 7mm/8mm/9mm cartridges but also .25ACP, .32ACP and 7.63x25mm Mauser etc. (Although, it seems that they refused to supply some minor ammunition when requested to do so.)
Example: IJA 19th Division
将校准士官軍装用拳銃同実包補給の件
In case of IJA 19th Division, there were twenty-eight types of pistols.
Number of bullets requested for procurement (over hundred) were below:
8mm 14th Year Type: 1619
8mm Type 94: 1430
7.65mm Browning (M1910): 802
7.65mm Mauser Medium (M1914): 244
6.35mm Mauser (1910): 212
7.65mm Royal (Ruby): 168
6.35mm Browning (FN baby): 199
7.65mm Colt (M1908): 114
Allies
I inserted Colt Pocket Hammerless which is used by officers.
Armored Vehicles
Japanese
Type 3 MT, Type 4 MT and Naval 12cm SPG were not sent to battlefield.
Type 1 Gun Tank equips decent 75mm field gun, but protection is limited. Type4 Gun Tank equips mighty 15cm howitzer and it can destroy all US tanks.
Allies
To take balance, I added multiple light protected vehicles. Their protection are limited but have good mobility.
Aircrafts
Japanese
There are really lots of good aircrafts and it is difficult to select them.
Generally speaking, army’s aircrafts are suitable for ground battles.
Allies
Same as above.
Marines’ naval aircrafts will be interesting.
Battlefield
In the Pacific War, battles were fought not only in jungles, but also in mountains and urban areas.
In the game, developers can choose several battlefield as a map of Integrated Pacific War campaign. In addition, they can add several battlefield as a new map in the major update.
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Philippine
- This islands became battle field two times.
- Battle of Philippine in 1944 was one of the largest battle of the Pacific War. Both functions mobilized vast numbers of aircraft, warships, and soldiers.
- Not only jungles but also large city like Manila became a fierce battlefield.
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Okinawa
- One of the fiercest battles of the end of the war.
- Okinawa was a part of the mainland with a large population, so there was a large number of Japanese soldiers, including child soldiers.
-
Iwojima
- Battle for a volcanic island in the distant sea.
- Heavily fortified island and there were lots of cave positions.
-
Malaya / Singapore
- Battle over Singapore, the largest base of British forces in the East.
-
Burma
- A very important front for supply routes to China. Not only British commonwealth but also Chinese National Revolutionary Army participated the battle.
- The Battle of Imphal was a particularly important decisive battle, after which the Japanese forces in Southeast Asia collapsed.
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Guadalcanal
- The Battle of Guadalcanal was one of the first defeat of Japanese army. It is an important battle where offense and defense are switched.
- Jungles and open sandy estuaries are the main battlefields.
- This island was called “飢島” (Ga-To / starvation island) by Japanese.
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