Teaser

[ComradeP]

This may surprise most of you, but the vast majority of the defences on Kyushu are trenches. Why? Because the Japanese had a chronic shortage of concrete and other materials needed to make more permanent defensive structures. They did not have the years the Germans had to prepare an Atlantic Wall type defense and had to cover a much larger empire when it came to providing resources.
This is not say that aren't bunkers, but they are pretty much the exception rather than the rule.
Makes everything quite interesting - particularly with the naval and air firepower available to the Allies....

David

According to the user manual, a bunker represents mostly timber/wooden field fortifications whereas a pillbox represents concrete and steel structures.

I've commented on that before, reasoning that PzC could use some of FWWC's fortification variety for a more pronounced difference and with bunkers that you can create during a scenario or which were log bunkers as an intermediate step between trenches and concrete structures as the difference between soft and hard target type and the accompanying advantages make the difference between trench and bunker night and day unless the attacking force has high hard attack value equipment.

My impression from the Pacific War was that the landings on islands in the outer defensive ring tended to face log/sand bunkers instead of concrete bunkers. As long as there are suitable trees around, such field fortifications can be created without specialized construction tools or additional materials.

There were only about 270 Japanese from 2 Company , 2 Battalion, 23 Regiment, 6 Division in the landing area, but they were concentrated around Cape Torokina itself and gave the southern landings significant difficulty. There were about 25 Japanese pillboxes in this area, and their single 75mm gun, concealed in a coconut log and sand bunker, managed to sink four landing craft and damage several others. The LCP containing the wave commander was one of those hit, and this threw the landing of 1/3 Marine Regiment into serious confusion. Sergeant Robert A. Owens led an attack that neutralized the gun but cost him his own life; he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The 1 Battalion commander, Major Leonard M. Mason, though wounded, was able to restore order before being evacuated.

From: http://www.pwencycl.kgbudge.com/B/o/Bougainville.htm