I was wondering what are some of the moves people have been making with ANZAC after war has been declared with Japan? ANZAC has a few options from helping keep the American fleet safe, or raiding money islands. They also could save money for a fleet build later in the game.
When I am playing ANZAC, I tend to buy a lot of subs and dd’s for attritional sea battles with Japan. Usually attempts to get convoy raiders into the money islands and keep Japan spending on naval builds. One of ANZAC’s con’s is that they are saddled with a 3 unit build, this makes it hard to keep a fleet supplied and I have seen Japan move into command of the seazones and ANZAC convoy raided down to 4ipcs:(.
Assume that Japan is going to try and keep ANZAC penned and America is not spending 100% of income in the pacific.
I think the ANZAC are more subject to the whims of the enemy than any other player. You might get a couple of islands early on. You might have a fortress of fig. and infantry. It really depends on what Japan does since they could ignore ANZAC vs other natural theaters on the board.
If Japan is focused on taking out India, then I like to move my navy out around the pacific just to be nuisance to Japan (convoy raids, force them to keep escorts with transports, etc.) I try not to get them into a position where they can get ambushed by aircraft or a fleet. I like to buy a transport so that I can take Islands that the Japanese are not defending.
I actually kind of like playing as ANZAC. I normally do not get attacked (since I try to keep my ships away from the enemy) and I get to be a general pain in the a$$ to the Japanese.
When I play Japan, I find that ANZAC is really hard to deal with. Especially once USA is in the war. You get so busy dealing with the US Navy, trying to stomp out China, go after India and get and keep the DEI, that you don’t really have time or resources to deal with ANZAC. Yet here they come in little bits. A sub sinks an enescorted transport, trapping valuable troops on some island. A transport with a couple of men takes Java or Celebes, wrecking your DEI NO and taking valuable IPCs from your income. So you have to try and escort every transport, send destroyers out looking for subs and leave garrisons on your DEI conquests. Those men might be better used elswhere.
Plus, if you go down with a significant force to try and spank ANZAC, here comes the US with huge fleets possibly threatening Japan. Whenever I have tried to take out ANZAC, it usually gets me into trouble because I have to commit too many resources for too little gain and leave other, more valuable areas weakly defended.
Once, I bought nothing but fighters for ANZAC. Than over the course of 4 turns, I bought 5 empty aircraft carriers for the U.S. I just kept landing ANZAC fighters on them and even though it was very difficult to plan attacks with the units combined, they were excellent defense for my other American ships.
@Trisdin:
Once, I bought nothing but fighters for ANZAC. Than over the course of 4 turns, I bought 5 empty aircraft carriers for the U.S. I just kept landing ANZAC fighters on them and even though it was very difficult to plan attacks with the units combined, they were excellent defense for my other American ships.
Wow, I really like like this idea. Kinda simulates the cooperation between Mac A and the Australians. Since there are no little island fighter bases like we actually had, the AC sorta represents this. I plan to try it out!
I think Anzac should take a clear mission for itself. My last game I assigned to Anzac the occupation and defence of the DEI money islands. These are worth 16 IPC to the allies and even 20 IPC to Japan. I just occupy these islands with just enough infantry to make it difficult for Japan to take them without making a sizeable investment.
Even if Japan makes this investment you have succeeded: Japan is not investing that IPC in China/India!
If JP leaves the islands alone, Anzac can build a fleet to support the US!
