Bougainville - The Forgotten Campaign

Exploring Bougainville: A Crucial Yet Overlooked Campaign

The Pacific Battle History Almost Forgot

Bougainville: The Forgotten Campaign from Lock ’n Load Publishing brings players to one of the least known but strategically important campaigns of the Pacific War during World War II. In late 1943, Allied forces launched an invasion of the island of Bougainville in the Solomon Islands as part of the broader effort to isolate the major Japanese base at Rabaul. What followed was a long and difficult campaign fought in dense jungle and rugged terrain, under constant threat of counterattack.

In this tactical wargame, players command American and Allied forces struggling to establish and defend their beachhead while Japanese forces attempt to drive them back into the sea. Infantry units, machine gun teams, mortars, artillery support, and armored vehicles all play a role as both sides maneuver through thick jungle, across rivers, and over rough ground to control key positions on the island.

Bougainville: The Forgotten Campaign focuses on platoon and company-level combat where leadership, terrain, and coordination determine success. Jungle warfare limits visibility and makes movement difficult, forcing players to plan carefully, position their forces wisely, and react quickly to enemy attacks. Reinforcements, artillery support, and tactical maneuvering become critical as the battle unfolds.

The game presents scenarios that capture key moments of the Bougainville campaign, allowing players to explore different tactical situations faced by both Allied and Japanese commanders. Each engagement highlights the intense, often-overlooked fighting that took place during this important Pacific campaign.

Bougainville: The Forgotten Campaign delivers a tense and historically inspired experience that places players in command of the soldiers who fought in one of the Pacific War’s most challenging and often overlooked battles.