The Burma campaign was the British Empire’s primary campaign in the Pacific Theatre. Burma was a British colony and was significant for connecting supply lines between India and China. Japan invaded Burma in 1942 and had great success conquering most of the country. The Allies were nearly pushed out of Burma and what ensued was a long and grueling campaign of stalemates, back and fourths, guerilla warfare, and little gains until the Allies finally started pushing back Japan in 1945
These are a few ideas for Premium/ event squads that would be thematic for the Burma campaign
Indian soldiers fought all throughout WW2 as part of the British Empire from North Africa to Italy but nowhere was more significant than Burma as Japan posed an immediate threat to India. This would be a Riflemen squad.
Their unique weapon could be the Lee-Metford rifle. The Lee-Metford was the first bolt-action rifle of Britain adopted in 1888 until it was replaced by the
Lee-Enfield. Even after obsolescence the Lee-Metford remained in stores throughout the empire and were issued to home guards
The Chindits were a British special forces long range penetration group that fought behind Japanese lines in the Burma campaign. Their name is a slang of the Burmese word for lion. This would be a Guerilla squad.
Their unique weapon could be the Lee-Enfield No.6 Mk I. This was an Australian experimental jungle carbine based on the SMLE
Gurkhas were an indigenous people of Nepal and served with the British Empire. They fought in North Africa and Italy but most importantly in Burma as Japan was an immediate threat to India and Nepal. Gurkhas gained a reputation as fierce warriors. This would be an Assault squad.
Their unique weapon could be the Sten Mk IV, an experimental Sten designed for Paratroopers
They would also have a unique melee weapon. The kukri was a traditional Nepalese short blade and was widely used by Gurkhas and it proved vital in jungle warfare.
The 50th Parachute Brigade was the first airborne unit of the British Indian Army. It consisted of three battalions; 151 Battalion consisting of British, 152 of Indians, and 153 of Gurkhas. They were pivotal in delaying Japanese forces during the Battle of Imphal as Japan tried to breakthrough the Allied lines in North Burma and invade India. The paratroopers later served in Operation Dracula of the recapture of Rangoon, the capital of Burma. This would be a Paratrooper squad.
Their unique weapon could be the Bren Mk III. The Bren Mk III was a shortened and lightened Bren for jungle warfare in the East and airborne forces.
Merill’s Marauders was an American special forces long range penetration unit operating in the Southeast Asia theatre, fighting in Burma. They were inspired by the Chindits. They were the only American combat unit serving in Burma. This would be a Guerilla squad.
Their unique weapon could be the “jungle style” M3 Grease Gun. In the harsh jungle combat of the Pacific theatre it was common for soldiers to tape multiple magazines together for various guns for quick and easy access
The Fifteenth Army was the Japanese army that fought the entire Burma campaign from the brief invasion of Thailand to the first invasion of Burma throughout the grueling slog warfare to the Allies final push to liberate Burma. In 1944 the 15th Army launched Operation U-Go to push the Allies out of northern Burma and invade India but the operation was a disastrous defeat and the 15th army was nearly destroyed at the Battles of Imphal and Kohima. The 15h Army was finally defeated as the Allies launched successful offensives to finally liberate Burma as the 15th retreated. This would be a Riflemen squad. Since the 15th Army served in the oppressive tropics and jungles of Burma they could have a unique tropical appearance.
Their unique weapon could be the Type 38 Short Rifle, a shortened variant of the Type 38 similar to the Type 99
Thailand was an ally of Japan. Originally neutral at the outbreak of war, Thailand officially joined the Axis after Japan briefly invaded Thailand when it hadn’t yet given Japan passage through the country. Thailand acted as a springboard for Japanese invasions of Burma and Malaya. Thailand assisted Japan in its Burma campaign. Thailand primarily fought in the north of the country and against Chinese expeditionary forces, even attacking Chinese territory. This would be a Riflemen squad.
Their unique weapon could be the Siamese Mauser. Thailand’s standard rifle.
we’re just throwing around ideas
