If the U.K. declares war, can Japan enter the DEI - or is that a DOW on the USA

@Zhukov44:

I don’t do this move as the Soviets because Japan starts with too many units in Korea/Manchuria and too much aircraft in range of Amur.

I think it’s a mistake for Japan to use its fleet/transports to attack Amur J1–they can still attack without any transports and divert a strategic bomber to Yunnan and still have 100% odds with an average +25 tuv swing.  If they send their fleet and transports south they’ll be in good position for a J2 or J3 declaration, but if Japans’ transports/fleet are stuck in sz6, Japan will have to put off its declaration till J3.

But I’m uncertain about it because however good this attack looks for Japan on paper, it will divert alot of troops from China.  The extra 6 inf in Mongolia help make up for the Allied tuv loss.  But the Soviets will also lose out financially because Japan will conquer Siberia quickly.

Massing Amur on R2 seems like the better move because the bulk of Japan’s airforce is usually out of range of Amur on J2.

Agree

@SJS063:

Why not build a naval base in Greenland  then? get some men into uk fast in case of sealion, especially if a J1 happens?

I assume you mean if a J1 DOW happens, but in that case the US isn’t restricted to staying at East US, and I’d argue that stationing at East Canada makes a ton more sense than Greenland.

I have to think that much focus on Russia would leave Japan too exposed in the water and on the coast.

If there is a Burmese stack, I almost ALWAYS attack on Round 2 with the intention of taking India round 3 - because I can park my fleet south of Burma (transports loaded to bear) and not have to deal with any blocking by the allies.  21 Fighters vs 10 Infantry, 2 AA Guns (give or take) may sound like a “WTF” moment, but if it means India’s a cake walk, it’s worth losing the 4 or 5 aircraft to clear it.

If there is no Burmese stack, it really depends on what Russia and Australia are doing.  If I can clear out all the potential blockers, then I’ll probably try for India, if I cannot, then I’ll set up my attack on the DEI and Philippines instead.

The idea behind this block is to prevent an amphibious landing in India from sz36.

Japan is m fav country to play and like many other players I try not to get into static purchaces,  as its easy to counter.  I employ this strat to quickly balance the navy between the US and Japan, forcing US to build more on the pacific side.  Generally the first 2 or 3 turns i play with japan I purchace transports and ground units, I try to get as many troops to the main land so by turn 3  you have so many troops you can afford to slowly filter planes off the mainland to newly bought carriers.  I also load the land up because I find when I go to take the DEI this usually weakens my mainland leaving openings for China an UK.

@Zallomallo:

Yes, an act of war by Japan on UK or ANZAC(and maybe France?) puts them at war with the US.

It does not put them at war.  It allows them to declare war.  There is a rather large distinction, as Japan can end the turn in seazones with US ships (or attack seazones with both US and UK/Anzac ships, ignoring the US ships) that are still friendly to them until the US declares war on the combat move of its next turn.

Japan declaring war on France has no impact whatsoever.  Japan can declare war on france and as long as they don’t attack FIC, they’ll continue to collect their National Objective.  Even if they do attack FIC, japan only loses their objective.  It does not permit the US to declare war.

A month or two ago I posted this strategy for Japan in AAR about taking the heat of Germany and taking the Mnr US VC in Nth America

@The:

A strategy employed to annoy the USA is to land units in Alaska and take the pressure of Germany so they can take Moscow. But why not take this one step further and focus on taking LA/San Fran?

This is an alternate Japanese strategy to that of the Moscow/Berlin race that is seen in most games. This could be taken over to global '40 but it would be a lot harder to preform. Also could be used for spring '42.

For this strategy to be implemented you will need to following things to have happened:

Allies play the standard KGF

No UK factory in india

No US factory in China/Sinkijiang

Here is the standard move for J1 on this strategy:

India capture with inf in FIC and Shanghai transport used to move inf from Shanghai to FIC and air support.
Move 2 inf from Japan to Shanghai with sz60 tran.
Build:
2 inf 6 Ipc
2 Art 8 ipc
2 Tran 16 ipc
total 30 ipc

Earned 33 Ipc

J2

Shanghai tran that will be close to FIC moved to sz 61 and move 2inf from Japan to Manchuria and move them into Shanghai.

You will have in:
Shanghai: 5 inf
Japan: 2inf, 3art,1 arm, 1 Bmr and maybe 1 fighter
India, FIC, Manchuria 2-3 inf and maybe 1 fighter in each

Build:
same as J1

Ipc earned 33 left over from buy 3 total 36

J3
Take china with air support 2-3 fighters and 5 inf in Shanghai
Only if no SU forces in it and 2-3 inf plus fighter in it.

Build
Same as J1

at the end of this turn you should have:
Japan: 4inf, 5art, 1arm
SZ60: 1bb, 6 tran

J4 this is the important turn

Invade Alaska with 3 tran carrying 1 inf + 1art each. Use your BB bombardment to kill the inf. If Alaska has to large a force in it use all 6 tran and take all units out of Japan or use your trans to shuck units onto the mainland and push for Moscow. You shoudn’t have to do this as Britain and the USA will be focussed on taking Berlin and preforming D-DAY.

After you have taken Alaska you will be earning 37 IPC per turn.
You have 36 IPC to spend

Buy
3 inf 9
2 art 8
2 tran 16
total 33

end turn IPC total 40

Japan: 4 INF, 4 ART, 1 ARM
SZ60: 5 tran
Alaska: 3 INF, 3 ART
SZ 63: 1 BB, 3 TRAN

J5

4 TRANS shuck 4 inf + art to Alaska
3 trans in sz63 return to sz 60

Build
4INF, 4 ART

12 ipc to do what you want with

earn the 37 plus what you didn’t spend

J6

same as J5 build and move 4art+inf to Alaska
Move 4 tran back to sz60 from 63

J7…
same as J6

when you have a big enough force probably J6 move units into Western Canada. Every NCM move units that landed in Alaska to WC and strike at LA and place build units into there and try and hold from the American counter. If succesful build up your force and strike at Washington. Even without taking Washington you will win as the US forces will be trying to take LA back from you and with Calcutta and LA under your control if you and Germany have lost no VC’s you have 8 if Germany take Lenningrad or Moscow you win if Playing LHTR. If not and going for 10 vc’s Germany should be able to take Moscow and win. If playing 12 you will attack Washington and Germany will attack London. You should still win with both of you sending forces through the former SU and through Africa to collect IPC for yourselves and take them from UK.

This seems easy in concept but is hard to pull off but if successful you will win easily. Because of its diffuclty to be successful players usually stay in Alaska/WC and threaten LA rather than attempt to take it.

I tried it in revised and pulled of the capture of LA but not Washington as Moscow had been weakened by a huge German force about 6 ing, 6 art, 30 arm against about 45 SU inf We also had leningrad and calcutta so we won with one to many VC’s (We played LHTR)The Uk and US 1-2 punch in France failed as the US had to try and retake two VC’s in one turn

I’m now going to try and attempt to convert this into a G40 strat while still taking China and Far eastern Russia.

We assume that Russia moves 18 inf into Bry

Also will only see pacific side of the board as what happens in Europe doesn’t affect it much except if US starts spending Money in the Pacific

J1 build
Mnr
2 tran
save 0

Attack
Hun and Yun with normal forces

Take Amu with forces in Korea and Man

Take Cha and Anh with forces in Jeh and Sha

Take FIC with forces in siam
Hun and Yun loses may be different to what I show. But thats ok as it doesn’t majorly affect the strat.

NCM
Fig For-Japan
Fig Okin-Japan
Inf Okin v/ tran Z20-19-20 -Ksi
DD,CV,Tact,Fig Z33-36
CC,DD,BB,SS Z19-36

Place
Mnr in Shanghai
2 tran Z6

Collect
33

Now some assumptions to be made
US retreats from Phil with fig to guam
2 inf v/tran to Z23
DD - Z23

It doesnt matter if US doesn’t retreat from Phil it will mean you will occur some loses though
Lets assume China takes back Yun and strengths its position

I have entered in some standard Brit and ANZAC moves.

J1 complete J2 coming soon
Jap KAF J1.AAM