The Pacific theatre during World War Two... Japanese tanks roll across China; American LVTs land under fire on countless beaches across the ocean; British and other commonwealth soldiers desperately hold their positions fighting to near starvation. The Pacific was a horrifying theatre of war. Vehicles such as the Sherman and LVT series found a niche assaulting heavily fortified Japanese bunkers. Japanese tanks held their ground as best they could against tanks that outclassed them and a huge number of aircraft sent to destroy them. The Pacific did not have Kursk or the Buldge to showcase its armor, but rather had places like Iwo Jima and Tarawa where American forces paid dearly for every inch of ground. Merrill's Marauders fought a geurilla war agains a far superior Japanese garrison; tieing up and destroying much needed supplies. The Pacific is the forgotten half of World War Two. It is hardly taught in American schools (trust me I just graduated) and hardly modeled compared to the vast European showcase. The Pacific is not lacking in Armor or Infantry and would be a great campaign. Basically anything to do with men and women fighting in the Pacific.


-Mike

I think it is a great idea. It gives me an excuse to make a Japanese tank. Always wanted to make one of those strange camouflage jobs.

I assume the Russian attack on the Japanese through Manchuria in 1945 would be included in a campaign like this?

I know someone is building a diorama right now of a Japanes MG strong hold.

The PTO is done quite often in aircraft. The one draw back I see is that there aren't many non-US armor models out there and figures are a bit harder to find. Not that it can't be a great campaign. I have an LVT on my shelf just waiting for some attention and a trip to the beach. It could be really fun, a bit of water work, and beach work - a few areas that drum up a number of questions.

Souns great!

Sounds interesting but I think that it would be better to start that campaign in the begining of year 2008 - too much campaign at once is not a good idea.

I've got the Italeri LVT and a couple of Trakz detail and conversion sets for it... I've been meaning to try a Guam LVT-a1. If I have some time to get one or two of my "in progress" kits converted to "finished" then I woul dbe interested in participating.


Dave

Sounds good! I'd be on for that. Will this cover Burma as well?

Thanks for the quick reply guys! It will cover everything from the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 to post surrender peace keeping and mop-up. Basically anything invovling axis v. allies in the pacific; so the Russians in Manchuria and Burma are deffininately fair game!. It is very broad to say the least, but I am making it broad due to the stated fact that there is very little available in the way of Pacific modeling. I will write up some guidelines and such to make it a bit more clear. I agree with the campaign start date being later rather than sooner. I myself am involved in them. December or January sounds good to me!

Thanks again!
-Mike

That would be a "Ya betcha" for me. I'll even drop out of one to get back to some of those I have waiting on the shelf. By the way this also crosses over other campaigns, the Wheels and Tires All the Way, Of Wheels and Tracks, and Crouching Armor, Puffing Dragon.
Bob

Hmmm, Pacific. Marines and Landing craft is what this one tells me.

I am on. 1st of December would be a nice start date. Then some of the Christmas holiday can be spend starting up the build for the campaign.

Thanks for the initiative

Uh oh.... It seems I can't find anything in my stash that fits in the Pacific. Let's see what I can do ( for me buying new models has the risk of getting killed by the family, you see).

Emre, I know how the family goes buddy. I get evil looks from my mother when my small paycheck goes straight to the stash!

I was thinking December 7th for the start date. And June 2nd for the finish. Gives about 6 months of build time.

The rules are basically as follows:
Any armor or infantry from any country that saw action in the Pacific area of operations from September 19, 1931 (Japanese invasion of Manchuria) to September 2, 1945 (official Japanese surrender). Dioramas and vignettes are very welcome and encouraged.

Ideas: Island hopping Marines, Japanese tanks rolling through China, Soviet tanks rolling through China, British soldiers holding desperately in the Phillipines, or Australians fighting tooth and nail to hold out against all odds.


Personally I plan on doing a small dio of an LVT and Higgins boat bogged down on Iwo. I had several family members who served in the Pacific; including two Marine brothers who were killed on Iwo Jima. This campaign is basically a tribute to all those who lost their lives during the war. Both Axis and Allied.

-Mike

Hi Mike, the start and finish date sounds good to me.

I think this will be a good campaign. Now the hunt is on for some Japanese armor. I have never tried to build Japanese armor before so this will be a nice excuse.

Unlike some other guys nobody is complaining when I buy models as I am the one bringing home most cash anyway. Maybe that is why my stash keeps growing

Nah, that's not my problem, as I use my own hard-earned cash for my hobby. The problem is my stash is literally invading the house (and it is not a small house, mind you), so my brother and my parents are going crazy. We were literally at war with mom for the dominion over the shelves and cupboards at the house

Let's see, if I can complete some builds and throw away boxes to make space, I might just smuggle the Dragon Tarawa Sherman kit

I think I will go with somethign Japanese. I've built from every other nation during WWII except Japan. It might just be a good littel side trip taht I'll need then. The start date of Dec 7 seems fitting.

Hello
You Guy's might be able to help me out. Your starting a campaign on the Pacific in your diorama section. I'm at present building a diorama to put my Elco PT boat on ( I'm on the model shipwrights sight). I've backdated it to a class 103 with torpedo tubes etc instead of the roll off tubes the kit comes with. What I'm after help with is what would you use for the sand in the Pacific. My PT Boat is being repainted on a ramp. My base is started & I have covered it with filler to give it some shape. I'm now stuck on what to use for the sand. Any help would be great. I have links to photos of the build progress so if your interested in what I;ve done look for PT174 Zebra scheme.
Thanks

Hey Shaun, I don't know if you have it across the pond, but craft sand is what I use. It is very fine grained sand. I am pretty sure it comes from mining for it is almost powder like. I mix it with a solution of 1 to 2 water and scenic glue. It has come out pretty good in the past and is available in many colors. There is probobly a better way, but I have kind of forged my way through all this stuff by the seat of my pants!

-MIke

One campaign where you won't see any Tigers

Sounds like a great idea! The Pacific Theater isn't really pictured in AFV modeling circles too much, anyway.

A december start would be good for me too, the Tamiya Chi-Ha keeps calling me and this would be a reason to listen....

Somebody will try their best to find a picture of a Tiger that was captured by the Russians and used agaisnt Japan in '45.

Haha I hope not. I will put that in the rules to make sure!

Gentlemen: Don't forget the northern Pacific -- it wasn't all sand beaches and palm trees. Google Attu, Kiska, Adak. The Aleutian Islands saw lots of action. Attu especially -- truly the forgotten front in even college history books, but it was important.

[quote]One campaign where you won't see any Tigers

Be absolutely magnificent to see something without a German in sight!

For more Japanese 1/35 WW2 armor, there are the kits from Fine Molds. I get mine from Hobby Link Japan.