Hi ItIsILeClerc,
Thank you for your comments.
On #2 , If Japan DOWs on either ANZAC or UK or US, its automatically on all Western Allies…. so the US DD automatically becomes a blocker.
Now, lets go over this plan, assuming Japan “knows” about TMG and MIFF. Assume J1 strike is not in the plans for Japan.
USSR1 => The F or F+TB move East, one of the signs of impending TMG. their movement only upto Tinguska and not all the way to Yensei is so that should TMG NOT be played, they can return to Moscow on USSR2 . Hence participate in anything that ensues there from R3 Air Base. It also affects German play! All 18 INF + 2 AAA ( + any bonus Tank/Art) in Buryatia. Should Allies NOT play TMG, this stack can reach Moscow on R7… if it starts moving West from USSR2.
J1 => Player realises TMG is a possibility at this point.
BUY: Since TMG is only a possibility, will it affect its buy?! Already, Japan may have to take this into account!?! Which buy will be the most optimum against TMG?
COMBAT: Usual Yunnan and Hunan combat ensues.
NON-COMBAT:
A)Again, here Japan has to now take into account TMG . Usual move is to move troops to Kiangsu/Kiangsi /Kwangsi. Will it then keep TRs together or separate… unloaded or loaded??? Should they still be loaded, and TMG is not played, then these are troops NOT fighting in China.
B) Also, it telegraphs W. Allies to prepare for a J2 strike. Maybe they will not play a TMG. Already Japanese play is affected.
C) What about playing heavy Naval Movement to Carolines and bring 1 TR. That is one less TR transporting troops to China!
D) 2-3 CVs in Carolines means Sumatra , Malaya and possibly Java might not get the full wrath of a J2 strike.
At end of J1 - Let us suppose they have 2 TR off Kiangsi and 1 TR of Kwangsi … or… 3 TR off Kiangsi … or take any combination of TRs in SZ 19,20 or 36… or … stretch… 37 (1 TR can reach there… 2 Inf off Siam available). Also let us suppose Japan decides not to do heavy Carolines, not waste a TR movement there on J1.
Also let us suppose it moves Manchuria troops to Jehol, some Korea troops to Manchuria. Or some combination of this. This is a standard J1 move.
Or uses its TRs to take Inf+ AAA+ Art from Manchuria or Korea .
Also let us suppose it moves majority of aircraft South… to either Kiangsu, Kiangsi or… stretch Kwangsi. Again this is a standard J1 move too.
Assume ALLIES confer and decide to try TMG.
This can be done at this point, and does not have to be planned out ahead of time ( except the Soviet moves… to keep option alive).
TMG with KJF or just TMG ?! It depends on what success and builds Germany has had so far.
And UK1 , ANZAC 1 and US 1 accordingly played.
Taranto successful? or Tobruk Successful?
UK CRU in India can go to SUMATRA with TR for protection of TR as well as to help do a MIFF+
USSR2 => Moves the Soviet 20 to Amur
J2 =>
Japan is looking nervously at the Soviet Stack. If it does not have the manpower to kill it without too many losses, it’ll be a headache. Also a strike on it releases the 6 Mongolians.
If it does go after this USSR stack in Amur, then simultaneous J2 strike against Western Allies will not be effective.
If it does not kill it, and just do a J2 strike on W. Allies… it has to contend with KJF.
What is the US1 build? 2 CVs + TR in Pacific, DD in Atlantic?!! Or CV+BB+ TR in Pacific…DD in Atlantic?
If US 1 build is BIG in Pacific, Japan MUST re-consider J2 strike.
If no J2 strike, how can it prepare for a J3 strike? And avoid MIFF?!!
BUY => Affected!
A) If it buys more than 1 TR… UK BB should come to SZ 6 for MIFF . yep… the Mahatma will sip Sake and eat Sushi with the Emperor of Japan :evil: ( He was a teetotaler and strict vegetarian , for those who did not know)
NON-COMBAT:
A) If more than 1 TR in SZ 19 , maybe Malaya DD might come there. If 2+ either BB or DD will be there drinking Ale and eating Fish and Chips! :roll:
B) If J1 buy heavy on TR… and J2 buy heavy on TR… and J1 and J2 movement of TR is evenly placed on SZ 6, SZ 20 and SZ 19 or 36… … then MIFF+ … the CRU will enjoy Devilled Eggs in HongKong.
You get the picture.
The Risk should be commensurate to the possible punishment.
After all this…. the ALLIES could still CALL OFF the MIFF , NOT declare war… and withdraw to safety to SZ 38 ( off Burma ) . US Borneo Blocker to Malaya alone will suffice!!!
OR ALLIES CAN DEFER !!! :-D
HOW TO DEFER:
If J2 preparation ( Buy and Non-Combat ) is such that TMG looks good…. Japan does not do a J2 strike, but MIFF may NOT be very effective… and game on Europe side looks good for ALLIES, they can take chance with TMG and MIFF DEFERRED !!!
MIFF DEFERRED means , you Sacrifice the UK BB to the place MOST unloaded or Newly BOUGHT TRs are located.
The Mahatma , by his very presence radiating peace , keeps Japan from loading the TR on its J3 combat. :-o
You also sacrifice the UK DD in the next most unloaded TR Seazone.
All else flee to safety off BURMA
US 2 BUY Heavy pacific - 2 CV + DD
UK 2 (India) - Still buys Tank+ 4 Mechs . Does NOT take Celebes. Brings TR with 1 Inf or 2 Inf back to Shan State. Shan State is stacked with TROOPs, awaiting J3.
ANZAC 2 - Depending on Caroline force , has $14 to buy…
USSR 3 - Hits Manchuria or Korea if lightly defended. All depends on how much Japan keeps there to defend these territories. If odds are such , that one strafe can kill majority of the units… BUT NOT ALL - then strike and retreat Back to AMUR. Use planes wisely. If heavily defended… wait. Do NOT strike!!!
J3 - Attack… ? if so who!!! and where… gets too complicated from here on.
Typically, unless Japan builds a Minor IC on Asia on J1 , It has a total of 6 Inf+ 2 Art in Ahnwe , 2 I + Art in Chahar , usually 2 I+ A in Hunan , and whatever it transports on J1.
A usual J1 buy of 3 TR can be loaded with what is on Japan in the beginning of the game.
Should the 18 Soviet Inf start marching East, Japan usually starts “borrowing” from Korea/Manchuria. This is a tremendous boon for Japan.
TMG and MIFF takes these advantages away.
Hope you enjoyed reading this!