Why send the US fleet to Australia? or Southern areas. Wouldn’t a more direct approach to Japan yield quicker results.
The USN take a long time to be able to support an invasion of Tokyo. You need to try something a bit more indirect to weaken them first. Obviously. I’m confused by your question!
Southern areas are where the money is.
I find parking submarines off the mainland SZ while bombing Jap factories does great wonders to make Japanese peacefully agree with Allied policies.
Us fleet in the north means japan needs to respond by moving their fleet north. This allows uk and anzac to jump in and grab a few islands. Also forces japan to build more ships in response. Each ship build is 2 less land units in china.
I like sea zone 3. Its out of range of land based air which is one of the main threats. It threatwns japan enough to force fleet back to japan to defend.
This allows floating bridge to russia but there is another threat.
If japan is asleep and does not defend adequately then ussr can drop a naval base there allowing a strike on japan fairly early in the game. I think around turn 3 to 4 is possible.
Its probably not a strategy for every game but might catch an agressive opponent with the japanese fleet at Indonesia
Place for the bulk of the American fleet?
How about dead center in the heat of battle? :-D
On a serious note, I do prefer keeping most of the US Navy up north, but I almost always have American ships and planes down south helping ANZAC and reinforcements going to Hawaii for deployment. The trouble for the US in the Pacific is mobility. Either you stay back in Hawaii where you can quickly move anywhere or you move in further to safe zones like Alaska and Australia and sacrifice your range.
Anyway, to justify my first comment made in jest, the US really needs to get in the middle of the Pacific as soon as Japan gives them the chance. The Caroline Islands is the obvious route, but there are other places that can be used such as Iwo Jima, eastern Russia, New Guinea, the DEI and even places like the Marshall Isalnds with an added sea base. Once you force put the Japanese into a situation where they simply cannot be in two places at once, Yamamota is going to start sweating.
Hawaii is always a great spot because you can land on Japan or Queensland in one turn so you can threaten Japan while shielding ANZAC.
@Charles:
Place for the bulk of the American fleet?
How about dead center in the heat of battle? :-DOn a serious note, I do prefer keeping most of the US Navy up north, but I almost always have American ships and planes down south helping ANZAC and reinforcements going to Hawaii for deployment. The trouble for the US in the Pacific is mobility. Either you stay back in Hawaii where you can quickly move anywhere or you move in further to safe zones like Alaska and Australia and sacrifice your range.
Anyway, to justify my first comment made in jest, the US really needs to get in the middle of the Pacific as soon as Japan gives them the chance. The Caroline Islands is the obvious route, but there are other places that can be used such as Iwo Jima, eastern Russia, New Guinea, the DEI and even places like the Marshall Isalnds with an added sea base. Once you force put the Japanese into a situation where they simply cannot be in two places at once, Yamamota is going to start sweating.
Getting the Carolines is cool for the USA but most games I am allies it seems too much difficulty for the gain. That AA Gun adds to the fear that you will lose a plane but you can’t even get a plane there if it starts in SZ26 or Hawaii. One game recently, I intended to land ANZAC planes on the airbase but failed to take the island and my US Pacific fleet went to the bottom of the ocean!
@Caesar:
Hawaii is always a great spot because you can land on Japan or Queensland in one turn so you can threaten Japan while shielding ANZAC.
Hawaii doesn’t allow many offensive possibilities for USA. Even if you’re targeting Korea, they can easily put down a blocker.
@Caesar:
I find parking submarines off the mainland SZ while bombing ��� factories does great wonders to make Japanese peacefully agree with Allied policies.
Where are you basing your US Bombers? Why wouldn’t the IJN have a DD in range of SZ6 if they saw subs coming?
Because as I said parking a fleet on Hawaii does great wonders to scare Japanese units into going where I want them to go. Bombers bomb from USSR.
@Caesar:
Because as I said parking a fleet on Hawaii does great wonders to scare Japanese units into going where I want them to go. Bombers bomb from USSR.
The IJN should not run back to SZ6 because of the USN positioning in Hawaii or Midway. If the USN moves into SZ6, build a DD and move to SZ35 (Philippines) and then you can target the CVs with Kamikazes if they don’t run away. Also make sure most of your air force is in range. The remaining fleet is unlikely to be strong enough to defend against your concerted attack.
The fear is USA landing on Korea and being reinforced by USSR. Perhaps that is an over hyped fear but I don’t know. I think it is a pretty strong move for the USA.
IF the USA wants to play games with Japan and threaten SZ6 “Home Waters” or go far north in USSR, Iam totally fine with that, I can handle that. What I cannot handle is the USA going into the south Pacific and messing with my Money Islands, Singapore, Hong Kong, Hanoi and Manila IPC money. � That very small region on the board is worth 30 IPC in conquered territory IPC value. The exact same IPC level Germany starts the war at.
It is the most important region on the map and if Japan controls it and the USA ignores it….That is cool.
IF the USA wants to play games with Japan and threaten SZ6 “Home Waters” or go far north in USSR, Iam totally fine with that, I can handle that. What I cannot handle is the USA going into the south Pacific and messing with my Money Islands, Singapore, Hong Kong, Hanoi and Manila IPC money. � That very small region on the board is worth 30 IPC in conquered territory IPC value. The exact same IPC level Germany starts the war at.
It is the most important region on the map and if Japan controls it and the USA ignores it….That is cool.
Usually in my games, I’ve had to leave those islands alone, I try to have UK, ANZAC, and/or France take those islands rather than the US only due to US having such an insane amount they already make. However US Korea is such a pain for Japan because this will allow USSR to pull off their eastern front, liberate China, and prevent Japan from making a navy off their homeland.
“If you are hurting your enemy, good; if you are killing him, great.”
Americans anywhere in the Pacific hurt Japan, but the question is what kills Japan?
Sacking their reserves?
Or
Threatening their homeland?
Just my opinion, but I like a minor force down south helping Australia (fighters, bombers, destroyers, submarines) and a major force up north. Splitting up your navy is fine as long as you won’t be attacked by Japan. This splitting is not really a severe disadvantage because Japan has to split up in the same ratio or let you have your way. Don’t be Afraid to split up your forces in the Pacific, just be cautious of counterattack and regrouping range. The same applies to playing as Japan. Of course, places like Western Europe require a different approach.
If the USA did that, as Japan I think I would sit on SZ35 or perhaps SZ33 so I could strike either force. Then what would either force do? Northern force might have to just sit tight and the southern force would have to run, I think. I guess the problem is that you could lose a few money islands. Depends on the strength of the southern force I suppose; if possible, you should hold SZ42.
The idea is not to move first, but let Japan move first. For example: ANZAC takes Java and Japan simply must take it back. Whatever Japan sends down there you destroy as the US. If Japan is not careful enough and sends too much down there, US can move north and hit the homeland.
@Charles:
The idea is not to move first, but let Japan move first. For example: ANZAC takes Java and Japan simply must take it back. Whatever Japan sends down there you destroy as the US. If Japan is not careful enough and sends too much down there, US can move north and hit the homeland.
The problem is that I have played enough Japanese players to understand that they are smart enough to let US make the first move and react to it with the exception of getting that sweet 20 dollar bonus.
What good American player would lose his cool if Japan was playing so defensively that ANZAC could do as he pleases? I consider an American navy forcing Japan to keeps its ships in the defensive AS WELL AS let ANZAC keep money islands a worth-while effort. Japan cannot ignore Allied gains and then wait for the US to move further. Those first Allied gains can be detrimental. Unless Japan is going for Russia or something, it must keep a hold on the important places in the Pacific.
No money islands, no fuel. No fuel, no war.
Except Japan not controlling those island is a huge annoyance but it isn’t a gunshot to the head for Japan.
@Caesar:
Except Japan not controlling those island is a huge annoyance but it isn’t a gunshot to the head for Japan.
True its only worth about 20ipcs for japan and 15 for the allies.
Right but I am saying is that if Japan ignores those territories, which is foolish, it wouldn’t mean defeat for Japan.
@Caesar:
Except Japan not controlling those island is a huge annoyance but it isn’t a gunshot to the head for Japan.
True its only worth about 20ipcs for japan and 15 for the allies.
Umm… an extra battleship a turn or 3 tanks on the mainland seems like it’ll add up quickly to me.
Its why, as Japan, I always self-debate between J2 taking the money islands (if I did a J1 I already took Borneo) or taking Malaya (I really like having a factory and an airfield there to cover the money islands easily and still launch tanks/mechs at India).
@Caesar:
Except Japan not controlling those island is a huge annoyance but it isn’t a gunshot to the head for Japan.
True its only worth about 20ipcs for japan and 15 for the allies.
Umm… an extra battleship a turn or 3 tanks on the mainland seems like it’ll add up quickly to me.
Its why, as Japan, I always self-debate between J2 taking the money islands (if I did a J1 I already took Borneo) or taking Malaya (I really like having a factory and an airfield there to cover the money islands easily and still launch tanks/mechs at India).
I’m interested in what you think makes Malaya worth losing a turn of money islands income for. Land-wise FIC is the same distance to India, plus you probably took FIC J1 which means you can have a factory pumping out units there on turn 3 rather than turn 4 with Malaya. I guess there’s the naval base but still FIC seems like the better option IMO
When you let your opponent dictate events without contesting them, you lose.
If the Allies do not contest the money islands early and often, Japan can do as it wishes. Given ANZAC’s position and limited income, it really has only one effective sphere of influence and that is the Dutch East Indies. Until the US can effectively contest Japan there, it is ANZAC’s job. Failure to do it will result in a loss. Yes, that means throwing transports away so that Japan will have to counterattack the Dutch East Indies (a 13 IPC swing for taking any one of three members in the chain). It means having some kind of offensive force that can contest the waters around the Dutch East Indies.
Given ANZAC’s limited income, it might be necessary for the US to shuck two infantry or a fighter each turn down to ANZAC to free up ANZAC’s income for build transports and ground troops to contest the Dutch East indies. If Japan reacts by sending an invasion force down to ANZAC, so much the better because that takes pressure off India, China, Russia, and the US if the US and ANZAC have defended properly.
Simply put, ANZAC’s job is to poke the bear and get it to charge, then crawl into it’s shell and ride out the mauling. The US can help build the shell.
It is easiest for ANZAC to contest Java and sea zone 42. However, if ANZAC can manage to build a minor industrial complex on Queensland it can also reach all the Dutch East Indies, the Philippines, and Malaya with only a one turn delay. This is often possible if Japan does not strip ANZAC of both it’s objectives (typically in the interest of killing India faster).
The Allies as a whole are an exercise in balance between offense and defense, and that includes ANZAC.
Marsh
