Does doctrine matter in this series?

[Elxaime]

I would say the starkest difference in doctrines enforced through the character of the armies themselves that I have experienced is an ongoing game of Japan 46'. The US and allies have complete air and naval superiority, a massive firepower superiority on land and late war heavy armor. However the terrain in most areas is dreadful for mobile forces but good for dug-in defense. The Japanese have some artillery and a few inferior tanks, but the core of their lethality is the high assault values and fanatical morale of their regular infantry, which are all higher than C morale and many of A and B, and can operate in large battalions with twice the recovery rate of the Allies.

As a result, the Allies dominate the few open spaces, but in close country have to engage hand to hand. US tanks get swarmed by assaults if they are not cautious, and basically operate as mobile pillboxes shelling from 2-hex distance (Japanese lack of decent AT guns is mitigated by relatively high Japanese infantry AT values, presumably due to their willingness to use suicide satchel charges, etc.). The US Marines have several tough divisions with high fire and assault values, and there are plentiful US combat engineers. But due to the numbers, morale and toughness of the Japanese infantry, once the initial Allied advance slowed due to arrival of Japanese reinforcements, fighting has evolved into a WW1 style slugging match reminiscent of Verdun. It is basically now a question of Japan getting battered during clear weather, holding their own during rain and mud, and seeing if the Japanese recovery rates can keep pace with Allied ability to inflict casualties. The entire setting, a last ditch defense of Japan evolves into a very grim feeling as you know as Japan you cannot win the war militarily, but you have to defend the home and Emperor.

In my experience, early Japanese victories in these PZC titles come mainly from first time Allied players who are shocked by the high casualties of the early beach landings and despair and give up. The US has to stomach these and push through, Omaha Beach style, as casualties drop considerably once you are off the beaches. Right now, around turn 100+, Japan has lost about three times as many men as the Allies.