So, when did you use the Higgins Boat?

[Longasc]

Andrew Higgins ... is the man who won the war for us. ... If Higgins had not designed and built those LCVPs, we never could have landed over an open beach. The whole strategy of the war would have been different.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

But apparently he meant WW2 and not OoB:Pacific.

Because I am now at Leyte and landed aaaaaaaaaand... didn't have the Higgins Boats as I chose Field Medic. There are only two more scenarios, Okinawa and Tokio. Now I really wonder if they make such a difference, remembering the thread that declared Field Medic useless because of the "Jeep". The Jeep is indeed useless.

But how can the Higgins Boats, so far not in action at all, make up for permanent cash income when fighting with Infantry?

[Greven]

Higgins boats are available fairly early (I don't remember exactly when though...), but they're kind of "hidden" in the transports choices (you have to scroll down to discover them...

[Longasc]

Hmmm no, rather was talking about the choice between the improved landing crafts (=Higgins) or the Field Medic specialization that US players have to make early on.

[Greven]

Then I don't understand what you want to know...

You say" Higgins boats, not in action at all so far..." but I used them for a while, I think they're available at Guadalcanal IIRC.

[Longasc]

No, you don't understand. I am sorry that you don't.

[gunnergoz]

Then I don't understand what you want to know...

You say" Higgins boats, not in action at all so far..." but I used them for a while, I think they're available at Guadalcanal IIRC.

I think you are confusing Higgins Boats (technology choice) with the LVT-1 (transport you can purchase for infantry units.)

[monkspider]

They don't make a big difference for sure. I think the only scenario that I was thankful to have them on was New Georgia. There are no amphibious landings in Okinawa and the beaches in Japan weren't heavily contested as I recall.

[gunnergoz]

Andrew Higgins ... is the man who won the war for us. ... If Higgins had not designed and built those LCVPs, we never could have landed over an open beach. The whole strategy of the war would have been different.

- Dwight D. Eisenhower

But apparently he meant WW2 and not OoB:Pacific.

Because I am now at Leyte and landed aaaaaaaaaand... didn't have the Higgins Boats as I chose Field Medic. There are only two more scenarios, Okinawa and Tokio. Now I really wonder if they make such a difference, remembering the thread that declared Field Medic useless because of the "Jeep". The Jeep is indeed useless.

But how can the Higgins Boats, so far not in action at all, make up for permanent cash income when fighting with Infantry?

It should make much more difference than it actually does in the game. In the game the Higgins Boat simply allows you to attack the same turn as you land, instead of landing, taking enemy fire then attacking on the following turn. If you do a good job of suppressing the defenders, you can manage without the Higgins Boat. But those extra RP's from the Ambulance Jeep choice are really useful, especially as the game wears on. I think this is an imperfect and imbalanced choice that was not made IRL. Beer and pretzel games are like that.

[Longasc]

Yeah gunnergoz, I agree to your assessment. Makes me really wonder how people could recommend the Higgins Boat choice at all.

[gunnergoz]

I've tried playing OOB:P using some "realistic" choices (based on 40+ years of study of that war) and found that the most important ones historically for the US war strategy IRL (Higgins boats, Radar, pilot training) don't pan out as well as the alternatives in the game. They are viable choices, simply not possessing a dramatic difference that points out their historic value. But again, it is a game, not a simulator or training aid.

[simcc]

Higgins boats is useful in Guadalcanal, new Georgia and a few more can't really remember all scenario name but those things help to clear bunker fast 2 Higgins with marine + an engineer get the bunker on the turn you come ashore

[uran21]

I thought Field Medic as specialization and Medical Jeep as a unit are not necessarily connected to each other but since they are with me from almost beginning I don't recall exactly is there any bond between the two.

At the start of Leyte I choose Higgins Boats specialization. Based on what you said those specializations occur at different times with different choices than in previous campaign playtrough or? Anyway I didn't ask myself how this could be better on the long run compared to some other specialization but doing landings with tanks in Leyte I discovered my odds to attack infantry in towns are not so favorable to spend a tank on it. It is a whole different story if tank lands adjacent to bunker or structure of sort. So the whole landing ended with only ONE shoot fired from a tank using Higgins Boats.

Since I had technical problems early on during scenario I went back to campaign autosave and since at this point my specialization choice was not saved I choose other specialization instead. The one related to early appearance of super planes.