I find it quite difficult to keep China from being killed. How would you suggest doing it?
It’s pretty much impossible to keep China alive if Japan focuses on them. It’s more about prolonging death and being annoying than not dying.
destroyers are the best for blocking, essentially trading and sacrificing units. Although it’s not a historically realistic tactic, it works in this incarnation of the AA games.
What about using DDs in conjunctiion with SSs? The subs can soak hits in the early rounds right, for only 6 IPCs instead of 8 IPCs. I understand the extra #3 attack over a #2 gives the DDs a slight plus for the IPC cost, but i think adding a couple subs could give a small bonus to the final numbers.