The last of the Pacific Card sets were finally released and I had to pick them up (of course). This set is interesting, in that it is multiple set in one (kind of like the US Marines/Army). The set includes cards to field the various British forces in the Pacific and Burma, the Australians and the Indians. As mentioned earlier, no New Zealanders.
All the cards are of the usual Battlefront quality and come in the standard card boar box. The Austrailians and color coded differently than the British, so they stand out.
So, the force cards are broken into two for each of the major groupings. Australians are green and the British/Indians are blue. The Aussies give you Infantry, Militia Infantry, Commandos, Grant, Stuarts and Sentinel companies. The British and Indians include British Infantry, Indian Infantry, Stuarts and Grant companies.
Starting with the Aussie infantry, you get veteran troops that are careful. The usual options, like the other books. Interesting add of the dismounted Carrier platoon. I think this would be a nice add in the other books!
Then we get the cards for the Militia, which are all aggressive and of course cheaper. You get plenty of support weapons of the same quality. No dismounted carriers in this case though…
The regular Aussies have the same heavy support that is careful. They also get some Kittyhawks for air support.
Next we get the Commando cards. Here you just get the regular section with a special count section. These are all Fearless/Veeran/Careful and get a 2+ to hit in melee.
The tank cards are as listed in the army book. You get the Stuarts, Grants and Sentinals. The latter are what if tanks. All are careful, which is interesting for a mid war allied armored force.
We come to the British and these are “discount” troops. Gone is the veteran careful stats of the desert, replaced with aggressive green troops. Clearly, here to represent the performance of the British in the earlier battles against the Japanese.
The British support options are the same as the Aussies, but you get the Polsten 20mm AA. This fills out the force.
The Indian cards are similar to the British, except they are all fearless. It does include the wheeled Indian Pattern carrier (I guess I need to paint mine up now).
We finish up with the armored options. You get companies for the Stuarts and Grants, all still careful. To this is a platoon card for Valentine IIIs used in Burma. There are also armored car options or the Marmon Herrington and the never fielded Boarhound (in interesting choice for a mid war Pacific monster).
All in all, a nice set. I am glad Battlefront did not dry to sell separate sets to make more money! A must buy, if you field British or Commonwealth forces for the Pacific or Burma. Unless you have New Zealanders….
- Manteuffel