Japan sacking Egypt

[wheatbeer]

If you’re dedicated to doing this, I doubt the Allies can stop it.  But after you sail past Calcutta, you’re sending a strong signal that Japan has forfeited a Pacific victory.

With this strategy, what turn does Japan Declare War against the Western Allies?

[Make_It_Round]

Interesting idea… but I have some concerns:

What about the US blockading SZ6 and sitting on Japan’s throat for the rest of the game with their mega-navy, as it likes to do (especially since your defence is now sitting in the Med)?

And what should be done about an India that survives to pump more land units into the Asian subcontinent?

Isn’t it better for Germany to help Italy out in a much more effective and immediate manner, and get their NO in the process?

As is pointed out above you’re gambling on an Europe board victory only… but the US can counter on either front, making life very ugly in either the Pacific or Atlantic, as he sees fit.

And some praise:

It’s still a very attractive prospect, particularly when teamed with an early land push into China and the USSR, so that Japan’s planes have a place to fly to (and back from), to further assist the Axis in the European theater.

J1
Build naval port in Hainan, buy 1 transport + 1 artillery with remainder.
Wipe out USSR border stack.
Usual shenanigans in China.
Non-combat move all naval units to SZ36 (off Hainan), few planes to Korea, rest down south.

J2
Build minor IC in Korea, two transports, fodder.
Keep kicking USSR, Mongolia & China with air, land.
Move all naval to SZ39 (off India).

J3
This is the last turn of peace before the Allies start kicking back.
Build 3x tanks and fighters for second wave land attacks.
Keep pushing deeper into the endless field of 1IPC territorities.
Move all naval to SZ80, take Iraq for +3 inf.

J4
Is where the crystal ball gets hazy.
Iraq minor IC is a must, more tanks and planes for Korea.
Fleet is within striking range of West India, India (if unblocked), or Ethiopia (to help Italy and fight strange USSR bonus) and Egypt (if unblocked).
Feint to South Africa might also be effective, if conditions are favorable.
By now, USSR is getting whipped from both ends (hopefully you’ve driven into Yenisey and Kansu), UK is very worried (neutered in Europe and threatened in Africa / Asia), and US has only just entered the war as an aggressor.

I’m beginning to warm to this idea, having taken the time to work it out…

[Witt]

I am sure it works, but the whole idea hurts my sensibilites. I love history to the point of silliness. Would rather lose than, dare I say, cheat!
I have to do it the hard way, or not at all.

[barney]

the whole thing about global is to give you options that weren’t taken in the real war
one of the japanese admirals proposed this strategy

should be interesting to game out:)

[Make_It_Round]

@Barney: which Japanese admiral? Reference please…

[Witt]

Do it if you feel happy. I just cannot.
I am sure one Admiral suggested it, but it was shouted down as ridiculous because Japan had everything they wanted/needed right in front of them.
Their war was not Germany’s. Irony of WW2 is that it could have been 2 separate ones. Hitler made it a world war by needlessly,  and erroneously, declaring war on the US after Pearl Harbour.
But that is history.
This is a game. A bloody good one.

[Make_It_Round]

@Wittman: You’re exactly right, it’s a game. And the proposed strategy is permitted by the rules of the game (i.e., it doesn’t count as ‘cheating’). So you shouldn’t feel guilty for trying out ahistorical strategies.

In fact, every game that is played is ahistorical in some sense (e.g., doesn’t rigidly comply to the order of battle, or the types of casualties, etc.), so your objection is an unprincipled one (i.e., if you can’t stand the idea of using this strategy, you oughtn’t be able to stand the idea of playing the game at all).

[Witt]

Maybe I lack imagination. Am not bothered if I am thought strange. Have said I am happy to lose. I play.

[Noll]

I actually employed this in a game. And Axis won.

I got MiddleEast + Egypt and then africa IPCs with Japan. Bought everyturn 10inf in Japan.

[barney]

@ Noll

Kuroshima

google kuroshima admiral
scroll down to war and remembrance
click that and it 'll take you there

I don’t know where wouk got his information,but his other comments on the history of the war seem factual

[Noll]

The Obvious counter to this strategy is USA going full Atlantic or Bomber Happy.

[Cow]

well allies kinda have to liberate egypt or they lose when russia / volgograd is taken. So it is pretty obvious what happens next.

usa goes full atlantic and uses his right now pacific fleet to convoy japan.

[GuamSolo]

Some time ago Young Grasshopper detailed his account of the Japanese Navy taking Egypt (around J5) combined with a G1 Barbarossa.  It is a good read and details actual game moves and his opponent’s reactions rather than just speculating outcome.  Japan takes India J4 and then progresses into Med.  He builds about 10 infantry a turn in Japan to protect homeland rather than invest so much in Korea.  The thread is called: G1 Attack on Russia.

[Cow]

yeah well the allies only have 1 play when that happens.  use the pacific naval that is there right now to take back dutch islands and convoy japan. buy full atlantic with usa (maybe some subs in the pacific for convoying).

it is not a big deal. the convoy system and all that is supposed to prevent japan from leaving the pacific. Also the high value of the islands is brutal.

[Noll]

@Cow:

yeah well the allies only have 1 play when that happens.  use the pacific naval that is there right now to take back dutch islands and convoy japan. buy full atlantic with usa (maybe some subs in the pacific for convoying).

it is not a big deal. the convoy system and all that is supposed to prevent japan from leaving the pacific. Also the high value of the islands is brutal.

You have also now to confront the full Japanese Navy in the Medi.

[Witt]

It will certainly keep Italy in the game, which is no bad thing for we Italians.
I will bear it in mind and may spring it as a surprise to a wily opponent.
Did not mean to sound rudely dismissive.

[Spendo02]

You don’t have to arrive at Egypt until around the time the Moscow is going to fall, you can take your time getting there.

I would entirely skip Calcutta in the process as it is irrelevant in the bigger scheme.

Convoying Japan is only 8 IPC.  Much of that is made up via taking China early.  Later, income becomes irrelevant for Japan as you start taking African economies at will and the 8 IPC convoy in SZ6 becomes a waste for the USA.

You want to keep the USA in the Pacific as long as possible, meaning at least 4-5 rounds, possibly as deep in as Queensland or even the Philippines / Caroline Islands works.  This buys you the rounds you need to get around India and into the Med.  This renders the early US purchases as misplaced and out of position.

[Gargantua]

Wow, Kuroshima was the same admiral who tried to over-rule Admiral Nagumo, so that a second wave of fighters would go out at pearl, looking for the Aircraft Carriers.

[BulwFi]

Sounds like a good surprise stratagy and could work along side a capture of the middle east to prevent the ‘spread of communism’ national objective and a successful FAST Wehrmacht campagin in the Soviet Union.

On the flipside Japan has completly surrenderd the Pacific to the US and Anzac, which in turn allows for a quicker Atlantic build up by the US and Britian.

Again depends on the strength of the players….

[Spendo02]

J1 and J2 you keep the majority of your starting fleet in SZ6 (exception being TT shuttles).

The remaining fleet in all other SZ’s stages in SZ36 to cover the TT movement - its enough to keep India from attacking a tasty TT flotilla.

US1 places units, consolidates off Hawaii (still a threat of 3 TT with 3 Inf/Art) and 2/3 of the Jap fleet capable of reaching it.

J2 you move your J1 purchased TT flotilla to SZ36 and keep the pressure on China, buy 3 TT, 3 Inf, 3 Art and place in SZ6.

US2 likely has 1 CV and 2 BB that can move to Hawaii - its unlikely that with J2 fleet still in range of Hawaii that the whole fleet moves to Queensland - so US consolidates off Hawaii and has a fleet that rivals the Japanese fleet in SZ6 now.

J3 Buy a NB for Hainan and put up some Infantry in Japan. Move the entire Japanese fleet from SZ6 to SZ36, move the SZ36 fleet off Malaya and use the empty TT to pick up the 2 Inf from Siam.

US3 gets foggy at this point - with no DOW by Japan US has to wonder why the wait - likely J5 KIF, so it moves its fleet to Queensland in order to trap the Japanese fleet after KIF.  It could stay in Hawaii, but realistically the US won’t be able to take Tokyo because the J4 purchase could be 10 Inf and the US just cannot field enough units to land and take Japan - Korea is still a possibility however if Russia didn’t DOW.  Potential Convoy could also occur (this is good for Japan - puts the US fleet too far behind to catch up). Whatever the US does, the Japanese fleet will stay 1 step ahead at this point.

J4 is max infantry defense if the fleet did not move off Hawaii.  If the Fleet is in Queensland I suggest a 2-1 ratio of Bombers to SS - Bombers can fly into China and skip across Calcutta quickly and the SS en masse will create issues for a US fleet approaching from the south.  Move the advance fleet from Malaya to India, and the heavy fleet from SZ36 to India. DO NOT LAND ON CALCUTTA

US4 is now at war, and can use the Queensland NB to reach Malaya or Sumatra but not where the Japanese fleet is. Assuming the US fleet moves to Malaya, it has a 3 space move next turn - so the US moves there.

J5 Japan moves the entire fleet with TT off of Iraq in SZ80 (I think).  Either NCM or attack it depending on what the Allies toyed around with.

US5 at this point likely has the beginnings of a landing fleet for Europe materializing, and the US fleet in the Pacific races after the Japanese fleet - your plan is in full effect but the US fleet will be a turn behind reaching Egypt before Japan does - and it doesn’t have many units to try to retake it from the ground units that land on J6.

So J6 includes the landing on Egypt.  You’ll have to decide what to do with the 6 aircraft on your CV at this point - if Italy has been successful at harassing the UK there may not be much left.  Its even possible you will just be reinforcing it.

Anyways, there is a summation.  You can figure out how to get all those Aircraft in China into the Middle East, it isn’t hard as long as you hold Hunan and are able to take Eastern Persia when you take Iraq.

I find it hard to realistically stop this move, and it is a slight cop-out by bringing Japan clear across the world to end the Europe war with a BOOM.