Iwo Jima (Battlefield 1943)

"This volcanic island off the coast of Japan saw some of the fiercest fighting in the war. The USMC won a decisive victory on February of 1945, and the photograph of five marines raising the American flag on top of Mount Suribachi has become a classic image."

- Loading Screen Tip

Iwo Jima is a map featured in Battlefield 1943. It features a wide variety of combat, from long range to close quarters combat, and features boats, jeeps, tanks and fighters. The map emphasizes on close range combat around most of its flags, as there are many trenches, buildings and bunkers, as well as forested areas which prevent long range sight. Other wider areas open up to long range combat with a small range of hills and the prominent Mount Suribachi which provides a dominant view over most of the map.

Carriers
The aircraft carriers are the starting points of the two factions. They consist of either the Shokaku (IJN) or the USS Enterprise (USMC). They spawn two fighters and four LCVPs. The Japanese aircraft carrier is closest to the Lighthouse, whilst the American one is closest to the Fishing village.

Fishing Village
The Fishing Village is a small concentration of buildings at the base of Mount Suribachi, and is the closest flag to the USMC carrier. This base is a very useful place to control, as it can be used as a base to quickly take the Mount Suribachi, Lighthouse and Bunker flags. The steep hills surrounding the beach also make it difficult for players to take out players landing at the flag on boats without exposing themselves. However, as no emplacements or vehicles spawn at the flag, it is difficult to defend against a determined ground or naval attack.

Lighthouse
The Lighthouse flag is the closest flag to the IJN carrier. Capturing the lighthouse flag allows players to easily access the lighthouse, which is a prominent feature giving good visibility over the northern side of the island. However, this also means that any player trying to use it as a sniping point can find themselves heavily exposed.

The trenches around the flag grant the defending side valuable cover against attacking troops, and also make it difficult for any attacking side to place a manned tank near to the flag without the tank becoming stuck in the trenches. There is an M1919 Browning machine gun that spawns near to the flag, making it easier to defend than the Fishing Village flag. No vehicles spawn at the flag, although there is a close by bunker with a Type 95 Kurogane spawning next to it.

Mount Suribachi
Mount Suribachi dominates the island, and is the highest point on the map. Several bunkers, machine guns and sandbagged positions makes a frontal assault on the mountain difficult, but flank routes along the sides and back of the mountain allow attackers to bypass the frontal defences, and the lack of air defences towards the seaward side of the mountain makes an insertion via a fighter easy.

It is a key vantage point for Scouts and for domination of the map, and it is very useful as a staging ground for further attacks, as tank drivers and Scouts can use the excellent visibility to eliminate any defenders and defences. When captured, three M1919s, one 40mm Bofors, two jeeps and one tank spawn, with the tank and jeeps changing depending on which team controls the flag.

Airfield
The Airfield is the most important point on the map, yet it is one of the most difficult to defend for a long period of time. It houses the largest amount of land vehicles, with two jeeps and two tanks and an extra fighter spawning when captured, as well as two 40mm Bofors AA guns and the Air Raid Bunker placed there, making controlling the flag crucial to both sides. Though heavily fortified with emplacements, it is surrounded by dense vegetation and large buildings, meaning infiltrators can bypass any defending players to capture the flag.

As well, the flag is placed within a large building that can be captured from within or atop the building, further making it difficult to defend. However, it also has a concrete bunker, facing towards the Bunker flag, and two guard towers overlooking the air strip, making it difficult for any vehicles to assault the flag without being spotted. It is notable for close-quarters engagements and vehicle warfare, making Infantrymen essential. Surrounding it are many buildings. Usually they have no action, but can be a fairly good to destroy tanks with grenades and anti-tank weapons. Also surrounding it, a large mountain. This is a great place for sniping because you are safe from riflemen and infantrymen, and if you are sniped, you can hide behind the cliff.

Bunkers
The Bunkers is an isolated flag along the southern edge of the island, though is more easily accessed by the USMC from their carrier. Players using an LCVP can make a quick detour to get an early start on this flag. It is in a critical position, as the holders of the flag can easily defend the Airfield from the direction of Mt. Suribachi. Defenders of the flag have two bunkers, one of which is equipped with an M1919, to defend from, as well as trenches and sandbags, making it difficult to attack, and the IJN can use it to have a clear line-of-sight on launched LCVPs and fighters from the USMC carrier.

Both sides can use the flag as a point to launch attacks on the Airfield or defend the approaches towards the same area. Since the area is built up with a notable amount of trenches and small bunkers, explosives such as hand grenades and rifle grenades are very effective against infantry, while the tight confines of the area makes ambushing vehicles easy. No vehicles spawn at this flag, although a Willys MB spawns next to the tower by the beach close to the flag.

Trivia

 * On the smaller of the islands between Mount Suribachi and the Japanese aircraft carrier and on the side closest to Mount Suribachi, the phrase "Haggard was Here" is written in the sand.
 * A sandcastle with the Swedish flag (found on all maps in the game, as well as in Atacama Desert on Battlefield: Bad Company 2) is located on one of the small islands near the USMC Carrier.