That’s why under Caspian Sub and tripleA ladder rules you can’t attack an enemy capital with ground troops in your first turn.
Like you mentioned, it turns a wonderful game into a coin flip and spoils the fun.
Japanese first turn
-
With a UK IC in South Africa, Germany should concentrate entirely on Russia except maybe taking Egypt or T-J for the income or to kill exposed UK armor. If Germany builds a CV in sz5, you shouldn’t be seeing any serious UK landings in Europe for quite a few turns.
Building a UK IC anywhere except Norway splits their forces and allow Germany to hold them off more easily. And I wouldn’t even build the Norway IC unless UK was making more than 32 IPC’s, which is rare.
-
In my games usually it turns out that Japan is small potatoes compared to Germany. Germany wins the war, Japan just makes things difficult for the Allies. This has been proven by our play when Japan has been totally abandoned by the Allies and all efforts have focused on Germany.
That said, in my experience there are some things Japan can do to make a late game Axis victory (even if Germany is KO’ed!) a possibility. The first Japanese turn, I believe they should buy one IC and a bomber. The American fleet at Pearl harbor should be crushed. If the British fleet in India is still around, it should be crushed, and if nothing has happened to reinforce India, it should be taken as soon as possible. The Russian space above Manchuria should be annihilated, as should China. All of this should happen as soon as possible. The IC should go in French Indochina and begin one of two strategies immediately - Either shoring up against an unconquered India or, if India is conquered, begin producing tanks to push into the Caucasus, Africa, and Siberia. While this is happening, the Japanese fleets (what’s left of it) should regroup off French Indochina or Japan and begin preparing for an American presence in the Pacific. The two bombers you’ll have can switch off between supporting your ground assaults and providing an extra bit of offensive power to your navy (thank god for 6 moves, they can be everywhere!). Try to maneuver the Allied navy into an attack on your navy, where your defensive fighers and carriers will pack much more firepower than their attacking equivalents. At all times, seek to deny them of the opportunity to destroy your navy completely. Harry them further by periodically invading Alaska or Canada. All the while, keep the pressure on Russia, denying them their rear area IPCs and even strategically bombing them in order to make Germany’s job easier.
In this fashion, I have played games where, when Germany fell, all of the Allies were still alive, and yet Japan came out of nowhere and conquered Russia, then crushed an Allied tank force in Eastern Europe. It was a monster, with over 70 IPCs and two monstrous navies. Granted, it still seemed like the Allies would eventually win, but it was truly an epic Japanese game all the same.
-
An IC in S. Africa does not make much sense to me. I prefer to unload 8 units and a fighter into Algeria on round 1.
2 Infantry, Artillery, Armor from England
2 Infantry, Artillery, Armor, Fighter from E. USACouple this with an Infantry from T-J; 2 Infantry from India ; 1 Fighter from SZ 35 and 1 Bomber from England to Egypt (Fighter and bomber to land in Fr. Equitorial Africa or Italian Africa) and Germany is effectively out of Africa.
-
In my games usually it turns out that Japan is small potatoes compared to Germany. Germany wins the war, Japan just makes things difficult for the Allies. This has been proven by our play when Japan has been totally abandoned by the Allies and all efforts have focused on Germany.
Do not underestimate Japan contribution to final victory. German is the anvil and Japan is the hammer to crush Russia! :evil:
As you also said Japan has to do some important task on J1: destroy USA fleet at Pearl Harbour, and conquer Buratyia and China.As for the J1 buying I buy 3 TRN and save 6 IPC and then Buy the IC on J2 placing it in FIC. Several posts on this forum advocated this buying, I have tested it and it works very well for me.
Buying the IC on first turn with a bomber leaves Japan without INF for at least three whole turn, in this case Germany had really to win the war alone.
Buying three TRN, from J2 turn and subsequent Japan starts to land 8 INF on Asia every turn, and also builds other 3 land units in FIC. Normally on J3 or J4 another IC may be build, and everithing else may be thrown to Russia.
Meanwhile Imperial Navy may conquer Australia and New Zealand, and then invade Africa, damaging very much the UK economy.
Without this help from Japan, Germany alone is doomed and cannot win the war alone, repeated UK/US landing in Norway and then Western Europe will first stop German surge and then deafeat her.Jennifer, i normally prefere to use all my fleets to lands units in Norway, and going to drop units in Algeria on UK1 and US1 leave my US fleet out of position for invading Norway on UK2/US2. So I prefer to build the IC and start to send troops in Norway on UK1 and US2, leaving at the IC in SA the role to contest Africa. Later, when I have some TRN to spare I sent a force to Algeria to kick off completely Germany from Africa.
Naturally this may be effective only in our games, because Germany normally ignore Africa and use Mediterranean fleet to harass russia, performing landings in Ukraina or dropping an INF in Caucasus to exploit the bombard every turn. Also for this reason UK/US are more focused on sending as soon as possible troops in Norway and then in Russia.
The problem is… when Japan come to claim Africa and gets a free IC in SA! :oops:
So for the future it can be useful to swith to your strategy. How do you organize the fleet movements when you send troop in Algeria in Uk1/US1?? :? -
What is Japan going to do with an IC in South Africa???
-
What is Japan going to do with an IC in South Africa???
Nothing of particularly useful but… it simply can not be leaved in UK hand! :-D
-
If UK builds an IC in UOSA and I’m Japan I would be pretty happy … :mrgreen:
-
The nice thing about the Algerian landing is you combine the US/UK and USSR fleets. Then you can move your fleets from SZ 12 to SZ 6 to land in Norway on Round 2, again with your fleets merged.
Also, if you land those units in Algeria you can always take them up to Norway if you want, or you can keep Germany from getting +9 more IPC a round.
-
Yeah, but moving USA fleet from sz12 to sz6 do not allow to transport land unit (other than the units in Algeria landed in US1). Other US unit in US2 are in North America.
I agree with you that landing so many unit in Algeria will stop more effectively African occupation than an IC in SA, but it will cost units and tempo.
Moreover I believe that USSR fleet (a single sub really) may not reach sz12 on R1 i f I do not miss( right now I have not the map in front of me) -
Build 3 Transports, 6 Infantry on USA 1.
Now you have 6 Infantry in England and 2 Infantry, Artillery, Armor in Norway on USA 2.
-
I do not want to seem dumb, but, only to better understand, I was persuaded that US fleet transported 2 Infantry, 1 Artillery, and 1 Armour from EUS in Algeria on US1. So to have them in Norway I should embark them, again, and then transport them in Norway, offloading from SZ6.
TRN and units build in US1, may hit norway in US3, not before, if I do not miss.
As I said before I have no map at hands, right now. -
Round 1:
USA Buys 3 Transports, 6 Infantry
USA Invades Algeria with 2 Transports, Destroyer, 2 Infantry, Artillery, Armor, Fighter and Bomber and joins
{England: 2 Infantry, Artillery, Armor, 2 Transports, Battleship}
{Russia: Submarine}
Round 2:
USA moves the Algerians to SZ 6/Norway
USA moves 3 Transports form SZ 10 to SZ 8
USA moves 6 Infantry form USA to England -
Which is, hitting Norway in US 3 :-)
-
Well, the NEW units are hitting Norway in USA 3. The OLD units are hitting on USA 2.
There is no physical way to hit norway with America on USA 1 without cheating.
-
I think Romulus was trying to figure out how to hit Norway with OTHER than the original forces that went to Algeria.
-
Well, you can do it that way too. It would take just as long. E. USA to Algeria to Norway.
-
Ok now I understood!!! Thanks!
The key is to have both UK and US fleet always togheter in the same sea zone, to minimize chance to be attacked by German airforce, and then leaving UK troops to fight in Africa while US troops go to Norway, regrouping fleets again in sz6. Thanks Jennifer! It is a very effective coordination of movements! What seemed strange to me was the fact that US troops land in Algeria on US1 and then embark for Norway in US2, but now all is clear!I know, naturally, that without cheating it is impossible for US troops to hit Norway on US1, and this is the reason that in our games we have never landed US troops in Norway on US1. :-)
-
The key is to have both UK and US fleet always togheter in the same sea zone, to minimize chance to be attacked by German airforce, and then leaving UK troops to fight in Africa while US troops go to Norway, regrouping fleets again in sz6.
I would only add that they stay together until BOTH are able to withstand the German thread from Air and any remaining naval forces independently… then the US has other duties to attend to besides nursemaiding UK TRN’s in the North Sea…
-
Pardon me switch but… what it means “nursemaiding”?
Ok, I agree, I am only referring to the first three turns. Whit allies I alway try to have two task force composed by 1 AC, 2 Fig, 1-2 DD and several TRN (at minimum) prior to separate UK and US Fleets. But you are right for sure!
-
Nursemaiding would be being the protector…
USA Atlantic Fleet having the job of protecting UK TRNs
Initially combined fleet for mutual defense is a good idea, but UK needs to build their own fleet defense so that the US Atlantic Fleet can go pursue other activities instead of just keeping UK TRNs from being sunk by German Air Force.
Suggested Topics
