Here is the fourth part of my topics about Call of Duty: World at War's historical inaccuracy and other mistakes, also suggestions on how to improve it.
This part will mainly focus on the issues in Burn 'em Out, Relentless, Blood and Iron, and Ring of Steel. The 6th ~ 9th mission of the game.
For Part 1 -> Moddb.com
For Part 2 -> Moddb.com
For Part 3 -> Moddb.com
MAIN PAGE: Moddb.com
Burn 'em Out and Relentless
As mentioned in PART 1
- 'The Point' seems too high, the real one is just a 30 feet-tall hill and it might don't look so rocky like in the game.
- Due to the fact that US soldiers just arrived on the white beach on the very ‘first day’ of Peleliu invasion (September 15th, 1944). So it impossible that Japanese troops could be able to capture enemy weapons and keep them inside their own bunkers on the first day of US forces invasion on the island.
WISB: Remove the American weapons from Burn 'em Out mission only, and replace them with other proper Japanese weapons.
- USMC P44 uniform should have a more Greenish tone. And there should be a variation on the uniform.
- Few of US marine AIs can use M1 Carbine in Burn 'em Out mission. And the name MUST be changed from M1A1 into M1.
- The original M1A1 Thompson (30-rounds magazine) and M1911 (Series 80 frame) models have to be changed. Also for M1911, 8-rounds capacity MUST be changed into 7 and its firepower should be increased.
- [Optional] M1 Garand is depicted as being able to reload partway through an en-bloc clip. Although it was unnecessary.
WISB: The player should have to empty their M1 Garand's clip in order to reload it again.
- Winchester Model 1897 actually held only 5-rounds, not 6.
- M1 Garand with bayonet can randomly appear in this mission as a variation for the weapon.
- [Optional] Add the actual NCO models for the USMC AIs.
- When using the Japanese AA triple 25 gun, there should be 2~4 US marines assist the player to operate and reload the gun.
- [Optional] choice for the M2 flamethrower: In Hard and Veteran difficulty, the flame thrower’s fuel should be limited (about 10~20 sec).
- New weapons and replacement weapons:
US: M1919A6 (replace the original 30 cal), M7 Grenade Launcher with 'M1 adapter' (replace the M1A1 rifle grenade adapters).
Japan: Type 38 + Type 97 (sniper) rifle, Type 96 LMG, Type 26 revolver.
- Japanese tropical uniforms need more variations and have no 'M' sign chest mark.
- There should be 1-2 more color variations for Japanese officer models.
- [Optional] Add NCO models for the Japanese troops, both Tropical and Type 98 uniforms.
- EVERY IJA troops with a regular tunic (Type 98) only had a 'Lance Corporal' insignia on their collar.
WISB: Add other insignia of ranks for the IJA troop. Or using the EASIEST way: no-collar tabs, just simply remove it. But if Treyarch insists, the insignia for low-ranked soldiers are recommended to be Private 1st class and 2nd class.
- [Optional] Add 'Button-up collar' version for the Type 98 tunic models, mixed up along with the original opened-collar (casual style) version.
- For the Japanese AI models with nationalistic HEADBAND:
The original pattern of the Japanese headband should be changed into a normal red circle (sun) in the middle of the white background. Because the original one looks more suitable for the Kamikaze pilots than the regular IJA models.
- There should be a 'helmet-scarf' version of the nationalistic headband also (a smaller cloth wrapped around the Japanese helmet).
- The appearance of Type 100 (model 1944) should be fewer, as an uncommon ~ rare weapon for the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA).
- Every Japanese officer shouldn't equip only with Type 100 SMG.
WISB: Most of them can equip with Type 38 and 99 Arisaka rifles, also with a pistol (sidearm, like Nambu and Type 26) only. About a few of them should be allowed to use such a rare/uncommon SMG.
- The real Type 99 LMG held only 30 rounds, instead of 32 rounds (as for Single Player only, the Multiplayer version did it correctly).
- My thought on the randomization of the primary firearms among the common Japanese troops:
Equipped with Type 38 Arisaka = 40-50%, Type 99 Arisaka = 20-30%, Type 96 and Type 99 LMG = 15-20%, Type 100 and others = 5-10%.
For ambush squads (every firearms can be equipped with bayonet): Type 38 and 99 = 60-70%, Type 96 and 99 LMG = 20-25%, Type 100 (could be attached with a bayonet, fitted to the barrel) = 10-15%.
- A new Banzai charge conditions for Japanese AIs, since this mission to the end of the US campaign:
After their main firearm ran out of ammo, most of the Japanese soldiers should be charging right at the player or teammates AIs, attacking them with gun's butt and bayonet.
And some can be running at the player or teammate AIs while holding the Japanese Type 97 hand grenade in their hand (suicide bombers).
While for NCOs and high ranked officers, some of them can use the Japanese Shin-Gunto sword for suicide charging.
- A majority of Japanese Type 94 trucks should have a greenish color base.
New for these 2 missions:
- As from the Relentless's cutscene, Roebuck said "...They're making their last stand in the jungles and caves that surround the heavy guns on the point. We take them... and we take Peleliu".
But this seems to be incorrect since there still a northern part of the island left. Also, the famous Umurbrogal Ridge aka ‘Bloody Noose Ridge’ seems to be a more appropriated place for the Japanese last stand.
- Also, the cut-scene shows that Treyarch also used and mixed up other WW2 video footage that doesn't relate to the Battle of Peleliu at all. For example, footage of 2 Japanese soldiers in the Burma campaign, one of them is throwing his hand grenade.
And seems like this also happen in some other missions as well. But as for me, it's kinda acceptable since the real footages are probably too few or quite rare to find, and at least it's not being out of place like in Black Ops 1 (for example, 1975 'Fall of Saigon' footage in 1968 missions).
- [Optional] The Umurbrogal Ridge should appear in the far background in Burn'em out.
- [Optional] It's unnecessary to feature the Japanese bunker from the 'Little Resistance' mission in Burn'em out (located behind the starting area, using 'no-clip' will help you see it better).
- Although it served a prominent role in capturing 'the Point' and suffered heavy losses, 'Company K' of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines Division was never mentioned at all in this game.
WISB: Mentioned the Company K in the intro or in the mission. Or in a better way, mentioned that Roebuck groups are Company K's 'REINFORCEMENT' to replace the company losses from the first attempt to capture the Point.
- Except for Roebuck and Polonsky, other US Marines teammates in the first half section of this mission shouldn't be killed off suddenly after the player had successfully destroyed 2 Japanese anti-tank positions.
- IJA with Type 98 tunic models should be mixed along with the tropical models for variation of the enemy (appeared together). But as for 'Burn 'em out' mission, Tropical models should be a majority of the enemy models.
- Japanese Visor cap should be REMOVED from the common Japanese soldiers.
Blood and Iron
- Possibly a mistake by developers, the original DATE settings is completely messed up (April 16th, 1945).
WISB: Since Their Land Their Blood was set on April 18th, the date setting of this mission should be changed into either 19th or 20th.
- According to the History Gaming Verified (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8dHNO4_D0w). There were TOO MANY of the fortified concrete bunkers in the battle (by overall, it looks more similar to the Siegfried line than the Seelow heights).
WISB: Replace most of the concrete bunkers into wooden pillboxes and Anti-tank ditches. And the number of 'Dragon's teeth' (Anti-tank traps) should be decreased also.
- Everything about Late-War Soviet and German models, weapons and appearances are already mentioned in Part 3.
- It's strange that a group of regular Soviet infantrymen could be able to command such a Tank. And what's even weirder is, according to Reznov orders, it seems like Dimitri did most of the roles inside his tank. Served as a turret gunner, driver, and flamethrower (radio) operator at the same time.
WISB: Made a situation or mentioned that only Reznov and Dimitri have been 'selected' to replace 2 of the lost tank crews during the battle. While Dimitri could be served as a 'gunner', Reznov could be served as either loader or the flamethrower operator/radiomen (as he also responds to the commissar orders from the tank's radio). And there should be an interaction between Reznov, Dimitri and other 3 tank crews also (or at least the tank commander).
- At the end of the mission, Yak 9's rockets should actually hit and destroy their targets.
- The player's OT-34-85 seems to survive TOO LONG in the places that filled with Panthers and anti-tank weapons, also some 88mm Flak and King Tigers.
WISB: Apart from a small group of T-34-85 that could be quickly destroyed in the fields, there should be at least 2 of the HELPFUL 'IS-2' heavy tanks accompanied by the player also.
Note that several IS-2 tanks were indeed participated during the Battle of Berlin, as a prominent heavy tank during the battle.
- Appearances of the IS-2 by overalls:
1) Much better firepower and accuracy, also thicker armor than T-34-85.
2) It can be attached with 'Dshk' machine gun (Black Ops 1 & 2) on its turret. And it could replace T-34-85 with the American's 30 cal machine gun*.
3) Same as T-34-85, it could have a variety of markings on its turret. But most commonly, the white stripes.
- [Optional] New tank destroyer for Soviet faction: SU-85, As an optional choice for a variety of the game’s contents. Few of them can appear either just for scenarios or at least 1 of them would assist the player in clearing this mission.
- [Optional] New tank and tank destroyer for the German faction
1) Tiger I - Same as the King Tiger, they existed in the Battle of Seelow Heights and the Battle in Berlin (mostly belong to Muncheberg Panzer Div, 502nd SS, and 503rd SS Heavy tank battalion).
Few of them can appear in this mission, recommend to replace the first and second King Tiger (one at the radio tower and another near the bunker).
2) Jagdpanzer 38(t) (Hetzer) - As already mentioned in Part 3, they certainly existed in both battles. Few of them can appear also in this mission.
- For the Soviet and German tanks in Multiplayer mode:
Soviet: Both T-34-85 and IS-2 can appear in this mode. But because the fact that T-34-85 is rarely got an MG attached on its turret, so it could be modified with proper Soviet's MGs like either mounted DP-27 or SG-43 for the sake of gameplay.
Axis: Either Panzer IV or Panther, and either the optional Tiger I or King Tiger can be used in this mode. Both tanks can be attached with a mounted version of either MG34 or MG42.
Ring of Steel
- Cutscene mistakes:
1) In the line that informs us how many defenders inside Berlin defense parameters: "45,000 Wehrmacht" and "40,000 civilian soldiers". The word 'Wehrmacht' should be changed into something else like 'Axis forces' or 'Wehrmacht and SS' or 'Military defenders'.
Because apart from Heer, Luftwaffe, and Kriegsmarine (since April 25-26th), there were definitely the FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS + German Waffen SS forces and regular SS men participated in the Battle of Berlin as well.
2) The name 'Panzergrenadiers Division 11' (as to mention the 11th SS Nordland Pzgd Div) should be changed into 'LVI Panzer Corps'.
3) As from the "2.5 million Soviet soldiers", it was just an estimated number of the whole Soviets during the entire Berlin campaign. But only about '1.5 million' that actually fought inside the city (the Battle 'IN' Berlin).
4) [Optional] The name 'Soviet soldiers' should be changed into 'Soviet + Polish soldiers', as to mentioned the 'Polish First Army' among the Soviet forces in the battle.
5) It doesn't mention about 3 million regular civilians who trapped inside the city along with military + civilian soldiers at all.
- At the end of this mission, the Reichstag can be seen from afar, which is UTTERLY IMPOSSIBLE in reality.
Since the 3rd Shock Army was fighting in Pankow borough and its districts, the very northern part of Berlin and that's mean it's VERY FAR from the central part of the city and the Reichstag itself.
WISB: The Reichstag in the background should be replaced by the Gethsemane Church (Evangelical Church of Berlin) located in the southern part of Pankow borough, at Stargarder Str. 77, 10437, near Schönhauser Allee station.
- 'Cellars' in many of the buildings should have been made properly. Because all of them were situated in the SAME level as the streets (as the ground floor of the building, not the basement as they're supposed to be).
- For the Berlin signposts
1) 'Tegel' sign should be changed into 'Mitte [1]'
2) 'Tiergarten' -> Either 'Barnim' or 'Tegel'
3) 'Mitte [3]' -> Either 'Tegel' or 'Wittenau'
- Only 3 of the German propaganda posters exist in the Single-player.
WISB: The posters should have more variations, recommend to use the Volkssturm, Hitler Jugend, and any proper late-war posters.
Also from above, 2 of the original propaganda posters should be changed:
1) Fake 'Nicht Spenden Opfern' should be changed into a real one.
2) A poster with German soldiers from '1940' should be changed into something more proper.
- [Optional] Seems like a compass need to be 'Remagnetized' a little bit, a direction that pointing into the South-West should be changed into the 'South' instead.
- Since the real Hitler's birthday is April 20th, NOT 23rd. So the first Commissar Makrov's dialogue MUST be changed from "On the Fuhrer's birthday... A barrage of Katyushka rockets will tear Berlin to pieces" into something like "Since the Fuhrer's birthday... A barrage of Katyusha rockets has been tearing Berlin to pieces".
- Everything about Late-War Soviet and German models, weapons and appearances are already mentioned in Part 3.
- [Optional] Player should be equipped with Mosin Nagant 'M44 carbine' version (mentioned in Part 3, attached with folded bayonet) as a starting weapon along with TT-33 pistol.
- Since this mission until the end of the campaign, M44 and (optionally) M38 version can be appeared along with the M91/30 version, about 40-50% of the Bolt-action rifles among Soviet troops.
- [Optional] Seems like 2 Katyusha at the starting section were left unguarded by the Soviets, there should be at least 2-3 Soviet soldiers stand nearby them also.
- American's 30 cal on the turret of T-34-85 should be REMOVED completely (no MG mounted on it).
- At least 1 IS-2 heavy tank with a Dshk machine gun could be used to replace one of the T-34-85 during the final section of this mission (recommend to be a front tank).
- As from above, there should be a turret gunner (tank crew) commandeered the IS-2's MG first. After he was shot down by the enemy, then we can get on the tank to use its turret.
- In this mission, Fallschirmjager (paratroopers) and the [Optional] Luftwaffe personnel (Part 3) should appear in this mission as a majority (or at least about a half) of the defenders.
Due to the historical fact that the 9th Fallschirmjager Division (some paratrooper veterans mixed up with many of Luftwaffe cadets/trainees, most of which have no combat experiences at all) had mainly defended the Northern/North-Eastern areas (possibly including the Pankow borough) during the battle.
- As from above, I believe there should be more than just paratroopers and other Luftwaffe units that defending those areas, so I'd recommend to include the Heer units (based on those from 18th Panzergrenadiers Div., 20th Motorised Div., and Munchenberg Panzer Div.) and Volksstrum men to join the battle also.
- Waffen SS units are unnecessary for this mission since the 11th SS Pzgd Div was defending the South-Eastern sector of the city during the first stage of the battle (April 20th~24th). And other SS units are most likely to be defended the central part of Berlin.
- New German units:
1. 'Hitler Youth' (Hitlerjugend) - Based on the several HJ units during the Battle 'in' Berlin.
Overall appearance:
1.1) Black HJ uniforms with Hitler Youth dagger, HJ armband, HJ belt buckle, and other proper insignia.
1.2) Their ages for models should be based on the 15~18 years old teenagers (no children, it's unnecessary).
1.3) Many of them should be armed with Panzerfaust (similar to Volkssturm).
1.4) Their primary weapon is mostly Kar98k, but few can be equipped with other firearms like MP40 and MP28 (will be described later).
1.5) Their sidearms/pistols should be randomly mixed between P38 and Luger P08, and some of them can be equipped with a secondary weapon (pistol) only.
1.6) Few of them can be operating a mounted machine gun.
Note: HJ unit is [OPTIONAL] for this mission, but RECOMMENDED for Eviction, Heart of the Reich, and Downfall.
2. [OPTIONAL] 'Volkssturm leaders' - Few of them can appear among Volkssturm members.
Overall appearances:
2.1) Their insignia of ranks on their M40 greatcoat and M40 tunic could be 'Kompanieführer' (company leader) and 'Zugführer' (platoon leader).
2.2) 2 models among 15~30 Volkssturm men.
2.3) They can be equipped with slightly better gears and better weapons like MP40, MP28, and STG-44.
Note: The above unit is [OPTIONAL] since for this mission until Downfall (the end of the campaign).
- Panzerfaust can be significantly used since this mission until the end of the campaign.
- New German weapons (since this mission until the end of the campaign), all guns are [Optional]
1. MP28 - Used to be appeared in COD: WWII, although it NEEDS to have a LOWER RATE OF FIRE like in reality. This 20-rounds SMG can equip by few Fallschirmjager, Volkssturm, Hitler Youth, and SS/Waffen SS men
Note: 32-round drum magazine can be used as an unlockable attachment for this gun in Multiplayer mode.
2. HP-35 (Hi-Power) Pistol - As a new pistol for German soldiers. This 13-rounds pistol can appear among some of Fallschirmjager and SS/Waffen SS men.
3. Gewehr 98 - The older and longer version of Kar98k, could be equipped by some of Volkssturm and Hitlerjugend men. Some or few can be attached with a bayonet.
Overall performance (compare with Kar98k): Slightly higher accuracy and firing range, but takes a longer time to reload, also to aim and swap.
4. MG08/15 - Used to appear in BO2 and BO3, but NEEDS to have a lower rate of fires. It can be used by Volkssturm men as a mounted-machine gun, few of them can appear in this mission and Eviction.
UPDATE: Special for Hitlerjugend unit - Regular German battle cries + new voices (younger German voices) and new dialogues with more fanatic feelings.
[Special Optional] - Continuation from Part 3:
- I think it'd make more sense and more appropriate if Reznov and the gang belong to the "8th Guards Army" instead of the 3rd Shock. Since it was originally the '62nd Army' from the Battle of Stalingrad, and it was the army that directly attacking the 'town of Seelow' also.
And after the Eviction mission, they would have later joined the 3rd Shock Army to assist them in taking the Reichstag.
- If these changes have been accepted, then the presence of German paratroopers (9th Fallschirmjager Division) and the Luftwaffe personnel should have been replaced by the FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS Waffen SS from the 11th SS Nordland Pzgd Div. Since their defending positions were certainly in the South-Eastern area of Berlin, and the 8th Guards Army has directly attacked that part of the city.
- Change a location from the 'Pankow' borough into the 'Köpenick' borough.
- According to the 8th Guards Army advancing direction and Stadtbahn (east-west) routes (S-Bahn 'S3' line).
Reznov and his troops should get out from the train in the area near the 'Köpenick' station (present days Berlin-Köpenick station), then they should be advancing 'south' directly into a center of Köpenick district area.
- The Gethsemane church can be changed into (known in the present days as) 'BEST-Sabel Gymnasium und Integrierte Sekundarschule' building, near Bahnhofstr./Lindenstr. bus station.
- Signposts: Pointing into the 'West' direction = Neukölln and Tempelhof, 'North-West' = Karlshorst and Friedrichshain.
Extra historical accuracy details according to The Frosty 1's video - "Listing Every Historical Inaccuracy in Call of Duty World at War":
Relentless
- **For every Pacific mission: Judge from how Miller (players) holding and using M1919A4, he could get burned by the heat from firing the gun rapidly.
[UPDATED2] PanzerMan info:
- By 1945 there were no longer "commissars" in the Red Army. The term The commissariats were replaced by "Zampolit" or political officers.
- Political Officer Markhov's model should be replaced, from M35 into the "M43" model. Besides, he wears the wrong insignia (he has buttonholes on the cap of the quartermaster service of the Red Army). He needs regular infantry shoulder straps in the rank of senior lieutenant/captain. Plus, Markhov's visor cap got the wrong color, since the original one is the colors of artillery and tank units.
- For an example of the correct Markhov's visor cap: Steamcommunity.com
That's it for Part 4. If you have any disagreement, questions or even more suggestions, feel free to leave it here in the comment section or contact me personally in a private message box.
See you later in Part 5!
FeReise
