Introduction
Yes, this is a multiplayer LP.
Since the single player mode of this game is just for practice, I will venture forth into the public servers where a small number of active players remain. I will fight against and alongside literal armchair strategists, stoners, foreign players who don't understand why everyone else isn't typing in French, desperate clan recruiters, the occasional teamkiller or griefer, n00bs who picked the game out of the bargain bin earlier in the afternoon, indifferent admins, and a core of diehard fans who won't let BF1942 pass away.
Battlefield 1942 is a first-person shooter released in 2002 for the PC. It consists of battles across the four main theaters of World War II: the Pacific, North Africa, and the Eastern and Western European fronts. The game has a broad scope, aiming for action on land, sea and air. BF1942's main contribution to the FPS genre was the wide variety of vehicles players can control, including tanks, aircraft, and vessels ranging from landing craft to battleships and carriers.
Being an FPS, obviously there's also a lot of infantry action. You can choose from five different roles, but I will be focusing on Medic, because it's the best class.
This LP will cover the 21 battles of the original, un-modded BF1942. (No expansion packs.) The game was released with 16 battles (4 in each theater), and 5 additional maps were included in patches over the years. After I cover all 21 battles, I will revisit battles to show different scenarios or fight on the opposite team.Servers vary in size, but battles are usually 15-20 players on each side. A team wins by killing enemies and capturing control points, which become new spawn points. On some maps, holding of a majority of the control points will cause the enemy's collective lives (tickets) to decline every few seconds. On other maps, one side can lose the round by losing all its control points.
Videos
To view the videos in the best quality, enabling you to read the text, hit the "open in a new window" button to the upper right of the video, increase the size, and enable HQ. A lazier approach with a bit less quality is the "resize player" button (looks like <==> ) to increase its size and press the HQ button.
TRAILER
GLOBAL. The world's most powerful nations disagree with each other on many issues. The only solution is widespread violence equipped by the latest in technology, in as many exotic locations and involving as many people as possible.
EPISODE 00 - The Trailer Link
BATTLE OF KHARKOV
EASTERN FRONT. Russia and Germany fight over control of the city of Kharkov, the fourth-largest in Russia. Forces from both sides have dug in on opposite banks of a river that runs through the ruined city. Hoping to break the stalemate, Russian and German armies both see a large hill as an ideal position to launch artillery. Capturing the hill first and keeping it from the enemy is the top priority for both armies. With each side firmly entrenched on its own side of the river, the battle will continue until one side is bled dry.
EPISODE 01 - Kharkov Part 1 of 2
OMAHA BEACH
WESTERN FRONT. An American destroyer escorts a swarm of landing craft to a beach in northern France, hoping to establish a beachhead there. Anticipating such a move, the Germans have already prepared extensive defenses, including a hilltop bunker and artillery positions. The Americans must capture the beach and the bunker before the Germans bleed them dry. If the Germans fail to defend those positions, they will have to make their final stand at a nearby garrison.
EPISODE 02 - Omaha Beach Part 1 of 2
EL ALAMEIN
NORTH AFRICA. A small mountain range protrudes from the sands of a vast desert. Hoping to take control of this area, the British and German forces have constructed airfields on opposing sides of the mountains. Control of the air will determine which army will be able to move its tanks safely through the barren wasteland. Anti-aircraft installations have been hastily constructed in the desert at key points. Driven mad by the endless desert and the futility of war, German soldiers have gone rogue and abandon their orders to secure these facilities. Instead, they will focus on the only thing that can sate their bloodlust: basecamping.
EPISODE 03 - El Alamein Part 1 of 2
WAKE ISLAND
PACIFIC. America holds a small, V-shaped island in the middle of nowhere, outfitted with an airfield and a few anti-ship emplacements. Eager to eliminate all American-controlled airbases from the Pacific, Japan chooses to launch an invasion of the island. A Japanese aircraft carrier, destroyer, and countless landing craft are assigned to the mission. Japan's attack may come from any direction and its naval supremacy leave America with no way to reinforce or evacuate the island stronghold. America's only chance for victory lies in holding onto the island until Japan's invasion force is depleted.
EPISODE 04 - Wake Island Part 1 of 4
STALINGRAD
EASTERN FRONT. The German army planned to quickly capture the Russian city, but their hopes have been dashed. Both sides are deeply entrenched a short distance from each other near a railway station in the midst of the city's ruins. There is no escaping the bitter stalemate that has emerged. The German and Russian armies vow to fight each other to the death.
EPISODE 05 - Stalingrad Link
TOBRUK
NORTH AFRICA. German forces have been rolling eastward through the desert and now aim to capture the British fort at Tobruk, near the Egyptian border. Determined to hold this vital outpost, the British construct numerous bunkers and trenches to impede the German advance through no man's land. The stage is set for a World War I style meatgrinder. This time, however, both sides will throw large quantities of armored vehicles into the fray. The battle promises a bloodbath of epic proportions.
EPISODE 06 - Tobruk Part 1 of 4
BRITAIN
WESTERN FRONT. Germany plans to obtain total air superiority over the English Channel by bombing key objectives along Britain's southern coast. The targeted installations include several radar posts and an important factory. The British must defend these vital resources with an array of anti-aircraft batteries and Spitfire fighter planes. The Germans must eliminate all of their objectives before they run out of trained pilots.
EPISODE 07 - The Battle of Britain Link
MIDWAY
PACIFIC. A clerical error resulted in the accidental evacuation of America's small island outpost. With the vital airfield totally abandoned, Japanese and American forces race to claim the prize. The highest priority has been given to the mission, and each side launches a formidable armada of battleships, destroyers, carriers and submarines to claim Midway and the surrounding waters.
EPISODE 08 - Midway Island Part 1 of 4
MARKET GARDEN
WESTERN FRONT. As the Americans advance through Europe, a daring plan is hatched to capture a city near two important bridges. The Americans hope to seize key areas with paratroopers and support them with planes who enjoy total air supremacy. Caught by surprise, a German armored division races to cross the river from the other side and expel enemy forces from the city.
EPISODE 09 - Operation Market Garden Part 1 of 2
ABERDEEN
NORTH AFRICA. The British and German armored divisions have been circling one another for weeks. Using the infinite reaches of the desert, each attempted to outmaneuver the other. Their efforts have been fruitless and supplies are running low. Incredibly, both sides find themselves in the middle of nowhere with no sanctuary or reinforcements. With time running out and no possibility of retreat, the British and Germans throw every tank possible into the fray and hope for the best.
EPISODE 10 - Operation Aberdeen Part 1 of 2
KURSK
EASTERN FRONT. Within a dark Russian forest, a clearing on high ground provides an ideal post for launching artillery. By chance or fate, both the German and Russian forces happen upon this position at the same time. Each side is equipped with plenty of armored vehicles and determined to make this small area thoroughly blood-soaked if the other side refuses to surrender it.
EPISODE 11 - Kursk Part 1 of 3
CORAL SEA
PACIFIC. The balance of power in the Pacific rests with a handful of new, massive ships called aircraft carriers. America is desperate to decrease Japan's numerical advantage in carriers; the Japanese hope to knock America out of the war. In the Coral Sea, a curious development takes place: Each side has sighted the other's one unescorted carrier. The stage is set for the first carrier-only naval battle in history. America and Japan order every plane available into the air.
EPISODE 12 - Coral Sea Link
BERLIN
EASTERN FRONT. Russia has sent its armies pouring through Eastern Europe in campaigns that, while successful, display a shocking disregard for life. The action reaches its climax as the Russian army finally reaches the city of Berlin. The last vestiges of the German Third Reich struggle against the weight of the Russian advance. If Germany loses control of the city, the war in Eastern Europe has reached its end.
EPISODE 13 - Berlin Link
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
WESTERN FRONT. American forces have made steady progress in their campaign to liberate Belgium when a cold wind ushers in the frost of winter. Confident neither side will be able to make an advance during the frigid weather, Americans settle in for a temporary break in the city of St. Vith. Suddenly, a division of German tanks appears from nowhere. The liberated city is within a "bulge" of newly-won territory that reaches beyond the rest of the front, and the German surprise attack threatens to pinch it off. To make matters worse, a recent blizzard has grounded all aircraft. America must hold out against the armored onslaught until reinforcements arrive.
EPISODE 14 - The Battle of the Bulge Part 1 of 2
OPERATION BATTLEAXE
NORTH AFRICA. The German and British armies have encamped on opposite sides of a bowl-shaped valley in the desert. The valley has a ring of six bunkers and countless tank traps. Though control of the valley offers no strategic benefit, the commanding generals have made the contest a matter of personal and professional pride. The armies are promptly ordered into the cauldron of death.
EPISODE 15 - Operation Battleaxe Part 1 of 2
IWO JIMA
PACIFIC. Though famous for its Mount Suribachi, the Japanese island of Iwo Jima is part of America's island-hopping strategy because of its airfield. An American invasion force supported by a battleship and aircraft carrier set sail for Iwo Jima, hoping to quickly capture the landing beach and gain a foothold. Japanese defenders care little for the beach, since it is directly in the crosshairs of their prearranged defenses. But if they wish to avoid the ignominy of defeat, they must defend the rest of the island with their lives.
EPISODE 16 - Iwo Jima Part 1 of 3
LIBERATION OF CAEN
WESTERN FRONT. The Germans refuse to give up the French city of Caen, which overlooks an important river and its only passable bridge. The Allies intended to capture the bridge shortly after D-Day, but the tenacious German defense has disrupted their well-laid plans. Hoping to add some numerical strength to their latest offensive, or at least spread the blame in case it fails, Allied command has called in Canadian army.
EPISODE 17 - The Liberation of Caen Part 1 of 3
GUADALCANAL
PACIFIC. An inconspicuous island in the South Pacific has become center stage in the titanic conflict between America and Japan, with each side holding territory on opposite ends. Correctly forecasting a protracted battle over this speck of land, the armies have built impressive fortifications and brought in armor, aircraft and naval power. Mountains and bunkers are scattered throughout. The war of attrition begins.
EPISODE 18 - Guadalcanal Part 1 of 3
BOCAGE
WESTERN FRONT. The Allied advance through Normandy has been ground to a halt in the Bocage, a land filled with thick hedgerows. American forces have spotted an opening in the Bocage where no such impediments grow, but the Germans have guessed their intentions and plan to defend the easiest river crossing. The wide open grassland near the river is a welcome respite from the Bocage and offers snipers and planes a chance to renew their deadly activities.
EPISODE 19 - Bocage Part 1 of 2
GAZALA
NORTH AFRICA. German and British forces have resided at large bases on the opposite ends of a large canyon and its surrounding mountains. Because the area is so impassable, they have left each other undisturbed in an unspoken truce. However, each army has been secretly building outposts to help them launch a surprise attack. When they happen upon each other, they are forced into the battle neither was yet prepared to fight.
EPISODE 20 - Gazala Part 1 of 3
PHILIPPINES
PACIFIC. The Japanese launch a daring invasion of the Philippines, a massive archipelago under American colonial rule. In one crucial sector, a single Japanese destroyer escorts the landing craft. American troops have already constructed an airfield and several coastal guns, but air power is limited and there are no large American ships available. The Americans must rely on their torpedo boats, which are scattered across their various island bases.
EPISODE 21 - Invasion of the Philippines Part 1 of 5
OMAHA BEACH
WESTERN FRONT. A battalion of misfit American soldiers becomes horribly lost during the mass confusion of D-Day. After failing to find their assigned landing beach, the Allied destroyer and its flotilla of landing craft decide to assault the nearest beach and hope for the best. Unbeknownst to them, they arrive at the beach designated Omaha, where the German defenders had already killed off the original American attack force earlier that morning.
EPISODE 22 - Omaha Beach (Allied) Part 1 of 2
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
WESTERN FRONT. Britain's industry has been remarkably productive in spite of the successful German bombing attacks, but time is running out. Down to its last collection of radar towers and its last major airplane factory, Britain must find a way to repel Germany's air power. All options are on the table.
EPISODE 23 - Battle of Britain (Allied) Part 1 of 2
MARKET GARDEN
WESTERN FRONT. Another day, another bridge. The Allied advance through Western Europe has gone speedily thanks to the Americans' unfailing ability to capture important bridges intact. American forces prepare to replicate their successful Operation Market Garden plan for another river that has bridges identical those previously captured. German forces are confident they can learn from the mistakes they made the last time, but the Americans have learned some things as well.
EPISODE 24 - Operation Market Garden (Axis) Part 1 of 3
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
WESTERN FRONT. Germany succeeded in recapturing St. Vith, but only a small force survived to hold it. Fresh American tanks arrived shortly afterward, and the Germans were forced back out. Once again, the Americans must defend the snowy hills of St. Vith against German armor. With full knowledge of what happened to the last defenders, American engineers are prepared to pull out all the stops.
EPISODE 25 - Battle of the Bulge (Allied) Part 1 of 2
WAKE
PACIFIC. The Japanese invasion of Wake Island has failed, bringing a sense of joy and relief to the defenders of the remote American outpost. But it will be many months before the recovery of America's naval power in the Pacific can offer them safety from another Japanese assault. Japanese high command has determined the last invasion failed due to a lack of bravery on the part of the soldiers, not because of bad planning on their part. To prove it, they will send another invasion force of identical composition.
EPISODE 26 - Wake Island (Axis) Part 1 of 3
BERLIN
EASTERN FRONT. Germany's success in Berlin has done nothing to change the overall picture of the war. Unable to achieve a breakout from the city, the Germans of Berlin must again defend their capital city against the hordes of Russian invaders. A single thought preoccupies the mind of every German soldier in Berlin: what if the Russians cannot be contained in the alley?
EPISODE 27 - Berlin (Allied) Link
IWO JIMA
PACIFIC. American forces thought they had mopped up the last of the resistance on the island of Iwo Jima, but they failed to discover the miles of tunnels and caves filled with Japanese guerilla fighters. When American forces weren't looking, the Japanese poured out of the caves and drove the Americans off the island. America must now invade the island again. Still recovering from the insect bites he received during the first invasion, the Allied commander refuses to come ashore and instead will direct the action from aboard the HMS Prince of Wales.
EPISODE 28 - Iwo Jima (battleship) Part 1 of 3
KHARKOV
EASTERN FRONT. Though Soviet forces were successful in defending Kharkov, the ruined Ukrainian metropolis is doomed to be the setting of many more battles. Tired German forces switch to a guerilla strategy and hope to regain strength before another brute force approach.
EPISODE 29 - Kharkov (Axis) Part 1 of 2
EL ALAMEIN
NORTH AFRICA. Germany struggles to cope with the Allied superiority in numbers and logistics. Britain's ample supply lines have given it another chance to strike a blow against the key railroad junction at El Alamein. Once again, both sides race to control the anti-aircraft bunkers that will determine the outcome of the battle.
EPISODE 30 - El Alamein (Allied) Part 1 of 2
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
WESTERN FRONT. The German luftwaffe has been repelled by the British, but Germany still has planes to spare. This time, they intend to focus on bombing the factory into the ground before destroying the radar installations. It is a strategy that cannot fail if a sufficient number of pilots follow their orders.
EPISODE 31 - Battle of Britain (bomber) Link
BOCAGE
WESTERN FRONT. Germany's victory in the bocage country of France has slowed down the Americans, but not stopped them. Endless allied reinforcements continue to pour into the country. If the war situation is to be changed, Germany must deliver a crushing defeat to the Americans and keep all remaining bridges under their control.
EPISODE 32 - Bocage (Allied) Part 1 of 2
BERLIN
EASTERN FRONT. In yet another war-torn sector of the German capital, Axis forces struggle to defend against the Soviet advance. Their best hope is to contain the Russians within the alley--but they are too late. A desperate counterattack ensues.
EPISODE 33 - Berlin (Axis breakout) Part 1 of 2
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
WESTERN FRONT. After another reversal at the outskirts of St. Vith, the German High Command decides the strategy must change if the plan is to succeed. Tank commanders all throughout Germany's armored divisions are sent to attend special team-building exercises and motivational speaker presentations. At the end of the weekend, their confidence renewed, the armored forces of the Axis are deployed once again.
EPISODE 34 - Battle of the Bulge (Axis blitzkrieg) Link
TOBRUK
NORTH AFRICA. After a stalled offensive in the deserts of North Africa, the German armored divisions suffer from low morale. Hoping to boost their spirits, the Germans order the evacuation of the fort of Tobruk so that they can win another victory when the British reoccupy it. The British are determined not to lose another battle at Tobruk, but will they be able to reinforce the stronghold in time?
EPISODE 35 - Tobruk (Axis blitzkrieg) Part 1 of 2
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
WESTERN FRONT. The Luftwaffe's reign of terror over the southern coast of Britain continues. Finally learning to focus on the British factories first, the Germans disable and then toy with the hapless radar defenses.
EPISODE 36 - The Battle of Britain (Fighter/Expacks) Part 1 of 2
LIBERATION OF CAEN
WESTERN FRONT. After the disastrous effort to liberate Caen, the Canadians' morale is at an all-time low. The bossy Americans in charge of the overall war effort continually remind them that the entire post-D-Day schedule is at risk. With the situation desperate, one brave but unpredictable Canadian tank commander prepares to go dangerously off-script.
EPISODE 37 - The Liberation of Caen (Allied) Part 1 of 2
EL ALAMEIN
NORTH AFRICA. The British troops in North Africa celebrate a decisive air victory over the Germans. If they can press the advantage and successfully attack enemy airstrips, the British stand a decent chance at grounding the German air force entirely. With so much at stake, the mighty B17 bomber is called into action.
EPISODE 38 - El Alamein (B17 bomber) Part 1 of 2
GUADALCANAL
PACIFIC. The battle over the island of Guadalcanal is a continuous see-saw of attritional warfare between the American and Japanese forces. Just as the Japanese gain the upper hand, the Americans counter-attack. A shipment of the newly-constructed M1 Garand rifles has arrived on the island, and the Americans hope the pinging instrument of death will turn the tide.
EPISODE 39 - Guadalcanal (engineer) Part 1 of 2
TOBRUK
NORTH AFRICA. The momentum of the desert campaign hings on the battle over the fort at Tobruk. In preparation for the assault, the Germans have cut off the British supply lines. With a steady stream of German tanks coming through the valley, the British must use their resources wisely if they hope to win the day.
EPISODE 40 - Tobruk (allied) Part 1 of 3
BERLIN
EASTERN FRONT. Block by block, house by house, the war rages through the streets of Berlin. The Russians are confident they have the numbers necessary for victory, but Stalin demands the capture of the city by May Day. Spurning accuracy for firepower, each Russian soldier is issued a new assault machinegun. It is not as useful as the medic's weapon, but everyone is curious to see it in action nonetheless.
EPISODE 41 - Berlin (assault) Part 1 of 3
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
WESTERN FRONT. German spies report General Patton's prized M10 heavy tank is being refurbished in an American outpost near St. Vith, a city considered to be outside German reach. A daring plan is concocted to steal the tank and cause embarrassment for Patton by using his most cherished possession to kill as many American troops as possible.
EPISODE 42 - Battle of the Bulge (stolen M10) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
LIBERATION OF CAEN
WESTERN FRONT. Canadian forces successfully ambushed German positions from behind at the river near Caen. Just as Canadian forces were on the verge of wiping out German resistance, everyone in the vicinity mysteriously blacked out. When they awoke, they found themselves in the same position they had been in just prior to the Canadian assault. Undeterred by the deus ex machina, Canadian forces launch another attack, mindful that the same ambush is unlikely to work twice.
EPISODE 43 - The Liberation of Caen (Allied) Part 1 of 3
MARKET GARDEN
WESTERN FRONT. Axis forces have pierced Allied defenses and swarm across the otherwise impassable river. The Americans decide to make their stand at the old church and direct any counterattacks from that position. The battle lines are likely to swing back and forth, but the Allies wish to keep control of the church for as long as possible.
EPISODE 44 - Operation Market Garden (church defense) Part 1 of 3
PHILIPPINES
PACIFIC. The Japanese continue to gobble up island after island of the American colonial stronghold. Allied forces must choose between making a stand at each island fort or to send their troops out in the patrol boats and attack the Japanese flotilla. Any mistake, however minor, can have serious consequences for the Americans.
EPISODE 45 - Invasion of the Philippines (Allied) Part 1 of 5
STALINGRAD
EASTERN FRONT. The endless meatgrinder in the ruins of Stalingrad has taken its toll on both armies. The Russians seem to have an infinite number of troops, but they are running desperately low on supplies. Survival in the close-quarter combat of Stalingrad relies on having a machinegun. Sadly, not every Russian soldier can be issued one. The unlucky are given an engineer kit and told to make do.
EPISODE 46 - Stalingrad (engineer) Link
BERLIN
EASTERN FRONT. Having exhausted its supply of German medic kits stolen during the great advances of '44-'45, the Russians must again issue engineer kits in the close-quarter battle of Berlin. Luckily the Russians have some tanks to throw around, but the engineer's rifle will be tested in the machinegun-friendly environment.
EPISODE 47 - Berlin (Allied engineer) Link
WAKE ISLAND
PACIFIC. The Japanese army considers switching to a semi-automatic rifle, as the Americans did with their M1-Garand. However, leadership is skeptical. As a trial run, the Japanese invaders of the tiny American outpost at Wake Island will use the new rifle type and report back with the results.
EPISODE 48 - Wake Island (engineer rifle) Part 1 Part 2
MARKET GARDEN
WESTERN FRONT. Intrepid American forces have seized control of Arnhem, but a massive German armor group is stationed across the river. Outnumbered and unable to destroy the bridges, American engineers must do their best to defend the bridges and slow down the Germans as much as possible.
EPISODE 49 - Operation Market Garden (bridge defense) Part 1 Part 2
MIDWAY
PACIFIC. Japanese scholars have long been fascinated by a small area within the Pacific that purportedly has mysterious properties comparable to those of the Bermuda Triangle. Since the area is centered around the American outpost of Midway Island, the war provides Japan with its first opportunity for serious investigation. Allied and Axis forces attempt to conduct serious war operations at Midway, but strange occurrences prove distracting.
EPISODE 50 - Midway (strange things afoot) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
IWO JIMA
PACIFIC. As American forces began the invasion of the Japanese stronghold on Iwo Jima, they were stunned to see the island defended by the exact same kind of defgun cannons in place on the American outposts throughout the Pacific. The ensuing investigation revealed that the defgun manufacturing company's notoriously drunk, womanizing CEO had been selling them to both sides before the war. In response to the public outcry, he is kicked out of his cushy mansion, drafted and sent to the frontlines on Iwo Jima. After his battalion manages to capture one of the cannons, he must use his knowledge of the weapon to fend off a massed counterattack of Japanese storming down Mount Suribachi.
EPISODE 51 - Iwo Jima (defgun challenge) Part 1 Part 2
SUBMARINE
PACIFIC. The ineffectiveness of submarine torpedoes has been kept under wraps by the authorities, but just barely. Those responsible for the failure of the torpedoes wish to keep the scandal from going public, but only for the altruistic purpose of maintaining American morale. It is hoped that an American submarine will be able to sink at least one ship in the battle of Guadalcanal, for appearances' sake.
EPISODE 52 - Submarine Link
OPERATION ABERDEEN
NORTH AFRICA. Germany's armored forces have massed in the deserts of North Africa in an attempt to outmaneuver and overwhelm the British. Coincidentally, the British arranged to mass their own tanks in a nearby location. Each side is initially unaware of the strength of the other's forces. Given the number of tanks on each side, Germany and Britain both face the potential destruction of their armored columns. Their early movements may prove decisive.
EPISODE 53 - Operation Aberdeen (Axis engineer) Link
OMAHA BEACH
WESTERN FRONT. American forces have been tasked with the capture of the enemy bunker among the impressive fortifications of Omaha Beach. The American commander knows that if all of his troops selfishly choose to snipe and let their fellow soldiers die while trying to take the bunker, all is lost. The commander believes the best course is to set an example for his men and swears off all sniping for himself. The Germans eagerly await his arrival.
EPISODE 54 - Omaha Beach (Attack bunker) Part 1 Part 2
BERLIN
EASTERN FRONT. The endless siege of Berlin continues. With the German capital completely surrounded, Axis defenders begin to face serious shortages of weapons and equipment. All-important medic kits and tanks are not available for every soldier trained in their use. Only the useless-seeming engineer kits remain, and as for tanks, the Germans will have to make do with what they find.
EPISODE 55 - Berlin (Axis engineer) Link
EL ALAMEIN
NORTH AFRICA. A German artillery specialist has spent his entire life perfecting the use of mobile artillery. With the outbreak of worldwide hostilities, he petitions the German government for an opportunity to practice his craft. Unfortunately, the German military has come to believe that artillery is worthless in combat. On the other hand, air power reigns supreme and there is a shortage of qualified pilots.
EPISODE 56 - El Alamein (flying episode) Part 1 Part 2
OMAHA BEACH
WESTERN FRONT. The Germans successfully place a spy in Britain, a development neither side expects. When the American troops attempt their D-Day landing at Omaha Beach, hostile tanks await them. Worse yet, the Germans have prepared defgun cannons to hit the American destroyer at the planned landing point. Virtually the entire American force is wiped out and their ship is sunk. The only thing that can save them is a Christmas miracle. Too bad it's June.
EPISODE 57 - Omaha Beach (epic failure) Part 1 Part 2
GAZALA
NORTH AFRICA. British troops in the deserts of North Africa have been plagued by low morale, and the experts are called in to remedy the situation. The consensus is that the infantry feel powerless to deal with hostile tanks and airplanes; only the British using vehicles seem to have any control over their fate. To give the infantry a greater sense of well-being, they are issued bazookas and told that they are just as effective against hostile armor as their own tanks are.
EPISODE 58 - Gazala (Anti-Tank kit) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
KURSK
EASTERN FRONT. Russia and Germany mass their armored forces as the largest tank battle in history is about to unfold. The high stakes create anxiety among the commanders on both sides, who get cold feet and decide to risk fewer tanks. To make up for the shortage, engineers bring dynamite to the battle so they can throw explosives at the enemy instead of shooting them.
EPISODE 59 - Kursk (engineer) Part 1 Part 2
OPERATION BATTLEAXE
NORTH AFRICA. The German advance continues in spite of the valiant British defense. Even the most optimistic of the British commanders realizes the game is over when the German armor begins bombarding the British airstrip. Indeed, the Germans are so overconfident that they begin to send their repair crews to the airstrip to help maintain the tanks while they assault hapless infantry.
EPISODE 60 - Operation Battleaxe (engineer) Part 1 Part 2
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
WESTERN FRONT. As the Germans prepare to assault Britain from the skies, Britain's foremost pilot breaks his leg in a jeep crash. Undaunted, he decides to attack the enemy planes using the one weapon everyone considers useless against aircraft: the anti-aircraft gun.
EPISODE 61 - The Battle of Britain (flakker) Part 1 Part 2
OPERATION ABERDEEN
NORTH AFRICA. The endless Libyan deserts swallow the armor of Britain and Germany, which have long since lost track of their supply lines. Despite the impressive size and mobility of their forces, each side is caught in the open with nowhere to call home.
EPISODE 62 - Operation Aberdeen (attacking main) Part 1 Part 2
GUADALCANAL
PACIFIC. Realizing their enemies are more accustomed to jungle warfare, American forces have subjected the island of Guadalcanal to an experimental defoliant. Once most of the jungle was stripped away, the island became vulnerable to air attack. Now the Japanese pilots must prove their superiority in the air. Otherwise the Emperor will end up looking like a total mook.
EPISODE 63 - Guadalcanal (flying episode) Part 1 Part 2
EPISODE 64 - CAEN
WESTERN FRONT. The Canadians plan to make another push against the stubborn German stronghold of Caen. Despite its natural fortifications, the Germans decide to send their tanks out across the river to intercept the Canadians. If they succeed in destroying the Canadians' first detachment, they may be able to bluff them into thinking the Germans have a more numerous defense force.
EPISODE 64 - Liberation of Caen (Axis tank defense) Link
EPISODE 65 - CORAL SEA
PACIFIC. The American Navy, foreseeing an air attack against its carrier, has stuffed the ship full of engineers to repair future damage. But because of American air supremacy, the carrier does not come under attack. Since no soldier is meant to be idle, the engineers are asked to fly over to the enemy carrier and do some damage.
EPISODE 65 - Coral Sea (engineer) Link
EPISODE 66 - IWO JIMA
PACIFIC. America has achieved total naval supremacy in the Pacific but must crack each important island stronghold on the way to Japan. Japanese forces are determined the hold the island of Iwo Jima. Their best chance is to kill the Americans at the heavily-defended landing beach. But once the Americans get a solid grip elsewhere on the island, Japan's chances of success fall rapidly.
EPISODE 66 - Iwo Jima (Axis) Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
MARKET GARDEN
WESTERN FRONT. News of Hitler's latest meltdown has reached the ears of even the lowest-ranked officers of the German army. The race is on to secure a victory and lift the spirits of the weary dictator. But it is the Americans who remain on the offensive, and their surprise paratrooper drop near a key bridge threatens to derail everything.
EPISODE 67 - Operation Market Garden (Axis engineer) Part 1 Part 2
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
WESTERN FRONT. The noose is tightening around the Third Reich. An important shipment of supplies got stuck in a blizzard, leaving many Germans with only unfamiliar weapons.
EPISODE 68 - Battle of the Bulge (AT & sniper) Part 1 Part 2
BERLIN
EASTERN FRONT. Soviet forces trample through the ruined city of Berlin, rooting out the defenders who remain. The Russian supplies are tenuous. Political dissidents and complainers throughout the Soviet Union are merely issued stern warnings due to the bullet shortage. To alleviate the problem, Russian troops in Berlin are asked to use dynamite instead of guns wherever possible.
EPISODE 69 - Berlin (expacks) Part 1 Part 2
SUBMARINE
ATLANTIC. The Soviets have installed nuclear missiles on their submarines, finally bringing the vessels up to par with tanks and medics. But the commander of one of their nuclear submarines has decided to defect to the United States. When the Soviets discover his intentions, they dispatch another submarine to hunt down and destroy it.
EPISODE 70 - Submarine episode Link
THE LOST EPISODES
EPISODE 71 - Operation Aberdeen Part 1 Part 2
EPISODE 72 - Fog of War Link
EPISODE 73 - Philippines Original Run Part 1 of 3
EPISODE 74 - Kursk Original Run Part 1 of 3
EPISODE 75 - Stalingrad Original Run Part 1 of 1
EPISODE 76 - Battle of the Bulge (Original Run) Part 1 of 2
EPISODE 77 - Gazala (Original Run) Part 1 of 3
ANIMATED GIFS DIRECTORY See Guava's library of animated gifs for this LP here:
Animated GIFs