USMC Campaign v0.9, released 25 Mar 2012

[flakfernrohr]

Peleliu was riddled with caves. It was a very very bloody and costly battle for the US.

I watched an interesting documentary the other night about incendiary weapons. There was an interview with a Marine who won the Congressional Medal of Honor (MOH) for knocking out 7 Japanese pill boxes on Iwo Jima. The man was all class and respectful about his experiences on Iwo Jima and what happened to the men that met their fates from his flamethrower. He said the life expectancy for a flamethrower Marine on Iwo Jima was about 5 minutes. He said the Japanese had great fear of them and they usually targeted them more than they did officers. They can only fire about 20 yards and less than 10 bursts. So they have to refuel constantly.

The first flamethrower was invented by a German before WWI as in infantry weapon, but the British and the French both got them too. Flamethrower tanks were invented by the British in WWII by Hobart for DDay. The US, USSR and Germany quickly followed suit.

I put this in this thread about flamethrower troops and tanks because you really need a flamethrowing Sherman for the island campaigns and scenarios. I'm not adept enough with a computer to make one, but there are instructions how to do it on the forum by Kerensky. Since you are good at making Icons, maybe you can give a try. Your units are always very nice.

As for different ship grafixs, take a look at the DMP mods. I think they have some different ships and I think they are nice enough guys to let you use them in your mod if you ask them (giving credit of course)

[huertgenwald]

Actually the first flamethrowers were used in the east-roman (byzantine) empire and then forgotten for more or less over a millenium.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flamethrower#Origins

[VPaulus]

Nice ships.

[bebro]

flak, I include flame tanks as bonus units. You can get the first M3 Satan "flamer" after Tarawa, because I read after encountering those heavy fortifications there the need for them became urgent.

Later they can be upgraded to Sherman Zippo flame tanks indeed. There's some conflicting info about flame tanks and specific versions around, for example if the M5 had a flame tank version in use or if it remained a prototype. There was also an (improvised I tink) LVT with flamethrowers.

Haven't decided to include the latter, but M3 light and M4 Sherman medium flame tanks will be there definately as bonus.

I didn't look into those instructions yet, but I guess it's mostly how to add the flame anim, which is probably taken from the engineer units. Should be no prob (I hope).

[Ballermann]

Nice Ships

[flakfernrohr]

flak, I include flame tanks as bonus units. You can get the first M3 Satan "flamer" after Tarawa, because I read after encountering those heavy fortifications there the need for them became urgent.

Later they can be upgraded to Sherman Zippo flame tanks indeed. There's some conflicting info about flame tanks and specific versions around, for example if the M5 had a flame tank version in use or if it remained a prototype. There was also an (improvised I tink) LVT with flamethrowers.

Haven't decided to include the latter, but M3 light and M4 Sherman medium flame tanks will be there definately as bonus.

I didn't look into those instructions yet, but I guess it's mostly how to add the flame anim, which is probably taken from the engineer units. Should be no prob (I hope).

Those units will be awesome to use in a battle. Fantastic. Just the thing to root out a cave and bunker infested mountain.

You know what is interesting is that all the armor shipped to the Pacific Theatre were "soft skinned" steel, not the hardened steel sent to Europe. It was because the Japanese did not have the armor fighting capacity other than infantry, to battle the Shermans and Stuarts.

[flakfernrohr]

Actually the first flamethrowers were used in the east-roman (byzantine) empire and then forgotten for more or less over a millenium.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flamethrower#Origins

Yes, in the documentary they covered that when they told about Greek Fire. I had heard of it before but did not know how it worked. Very interesting documentary

[bebro]

You know what is interesting is that all the armor shipped to the Pacific Theatre were "soft skinned" steel, not the hardened steel sent to Europe. It was because the Japanese did not have the armor fighting capacity other than infantry, to battle the Shermans and Stuarts.

Indeed. Also the longer barrel Shermans were for Europe only as far as I know. The USMC used short-barreled M4 A1, A2, A3 (105) support version, plus some others like those Zippos. They also did very interesting field modifications sometimes, added improvised armor, even sideskirts.

[bebro]

Working on scenario no.9 now, Assault on Eniwetok. You'll have to assault Eniwetok and Parry in the Eniwetok atoll (left out Engebi in the north, which was taken before Eniwetok. This will probably be the easiest of the "atoll" scns.

Then later with Saipan etc it gets harder again.

Meanwhile I did a lot of terrain work, changed the jungle tiles, added extra ground tiles and beaches, modified roads etc. I still have to work with those terrain tiles to make them look more "connected", but this is the style now:





PS. Anyone who can guess what the darker "road"-style gfx in the second pic (top left corner) represents gets a virtual cookie

[VPaulus]

I prefer that Japanese flag. I was going to suggest it. As for the American one, I think I prefer the original and not the USMC.
The tiles are looking good.

[bebro]

I prefer that Japanese flag. I was going to suggest it. As for the American one, I think I prefer the original and not the USMC.
The tiles are looking good.

I actually think the US and IJN flags look better indeed, the gfx is simply too small to get the USMC flag out in good quality.

But since I have Japan army, army air force in "Japan" as one nation, and IJN plus their land and air forces in a separate country I used both flags.

Same for US, I have USMC and US army, army air forces in separate nations to avoid equipment mixes that shouldn't happen. I thought it could be confusing to use the same flag then.

[VPaulus]

I see your point. But I'm not sure if this will be more confusing... although this is a game played by gamers with a good WW2 knowledge.

[flakfernrohr]

Working on scenario no.9 now, Assault on Eniwetok. You'll have to assault Eniwetok and Parry in the Eniwetok atoll (left out Engebi in the north, which was taken before Eniwetok. This will probably be the easiest of the "atoll" scns.

Then later with Saipan etc it gets harder again.

Meanwhile I did a lot of terrain work, changed the jungle tiles, added extra ground tiles and beaches, modified roads etc. I still have to work with those terrain tiles to make them look more "connected", but this is the style now:





PS. Anyone who can guess what the darker "road"-style gfx in the second pic (top left corner) represents gets a virtual cookie

One road system I see on the left is grey, maybe it is sea shells as pavement in lieu of gravel and sand

The one parallel with the beach may be a landing strip built the Sea Bees using the steel runners over sand. Is that the terrain you are asking a question about?

BTW: The Marines will always tell you, "first in, last out" when it comes to them and anyone else on an island campaign.

Since you are talking terrain here today and making changes, how will you do the black sand on Iwo Jima? There was NO vegetation. Will you do "cave" MG nests, bunkers, etc?

[bebro]

re sand, didn't plan ahead so far yet, maybe. On color photos it looks rather dark brownish than black though. I certainly want to have caves, but it's not easy to depict, so I have to see. Haven't done any work on them so far.

As for bunkers etc, I have some different types yes, but no specific mg nests so far. The fortified unit near the mines in the last screenie I call "dugout" (no idea if it's a good name). It's somewhat "between" bunkers and normal inf - it is immobile, has better defense than normal inf but is not as well protected as a bunker.

As for the dark strip, I want to use those modified road gfx as anti-tank ditches, but I'm not sure whether people recognize them (in-game they're labeled though), or find the gfx too confusing. Here's another pic:

[Ballermann]

Nice screens

[flakfernrohr]

The fortified unit near the mines in the last screenie I call "dugout" (no idea if it's a good name). It's somewhat "between" bunkers and normal inf - it is immobile, has better defense than normal inf but is not as well protected as a bunker.

If it's a Japanese "bunker" better call it a Barbeque Pit!

[bebro]

Finished scn9, and took a while to playtest what I have so far. Some probs with naval transport aside it's going smooth. So there are now ca. 5 scns to make for the main path, which will be released after some additional testing. Scenarios for the alternative path can be filled in later.

However, weekend time is also preview time - some new unit art:

[VPaulus]

Great!

[Ballermann]

Very good

bravo.gif

[flakfernrohr]

Bebro, you are a very good icon maker. Great job.