I am afraid that the biggest problem the allies still have, is that they don’t know what the Axis are going to do during the early game AND that the axis have flexibility to adapt their strategy.
Well, the game is set up that way. Germany goes before Russia… and Japan goes before US and UK. So Axis always has the initiative.
If Japan wants to do J2 , it is going to J2. But the Allies no not know that. ALLIES ALSO DO NOT KNOW IF JAPAN WANTS TO DO THE SUPERIOR G4J4 Either! TMG forces Japan to choose between a J2… or playing under pressure of MIFF … or weakening itself by not doing the optimal moves that it wants.
Why sac a BB and a DD UK1 just because you fear a J4, only to find out that Japan adapted a bit and attacks J2 taking the Uk hips for free. It makes the already viable J2 that much better.
Let us suppose at the end of J1, Japan does its usual Naval moves. Split the Naval presence between Carolines to keep US and ANZAC honest … and either Hong Kong with the 2-3 TRs… and maybe some ships on Japan to threaten Hawaii… or to Hainan with 1 or 2 TR to project its threat to execute J2 strike. Also consider Japan keep air as follows 4-6 Kiangsu , 6 on CVs and 4-6 on Kwangsi, a couple on Japan or Manchuria… Suppose you do not play TMG . Well, look at a typical J2 strike. UK withdraws everything to India or Java on UK 1. The TRs are lost . Any blockers Allies may be foolish enough to keep are lost. Japanese Air power is spread over strike areas… Phillippines, all the DEI islands, Central China to help eliminate Chinese resistance and and Kwangsi . Usually Malaya or most DEI fall on J2. Hawaii AND Queensland is under threat. Right so far?
Now imagine the same scenario…. except …1) That on USSR2, the Soviet20 have moved to Amur…2) That you have 2 blockers in Borneo and Malaya and you play TMG . Let us suppose Japan decides to do a J2 strike. Now, they have to choose their targets…. the problem… is that there are too many targets!!! What are the Priority targets for Japan… DEI? Phillippines? Dutch New Guinea? The Soviet20? Japan knows they are coming next turn… or Hawaii? Or Queensland?? Or do they ignore ALL of these targets and go on to kill the Blockers… and try to Airsweep Shan state… Take Malaya… ( which might be re-taken!) … or keep pushing into China?!
Not to mention that leaving the Siberians in the east just invites Germany into Moscow beyond repair. I would even go as far as saying that the siberians Always must retreat to Moscow except when Germany goes SL.
My outlook is that the Soviet20 are in the East. Use them there. Use them when Japan is still figuring out WHEN and WHO to strike. Take AWAY some options. Take away Japan’s flexibility. Take AWAY its ability to use the 12+ Units on Manchuria and Korea that magnifies its ability to strike!!!
The Soviet20 are the BOON Allies have… the ONLY real force in proximity to Japan that can make it look over its shoulders, my friend LeClerc. Give the Soviet20 teeth… they will make Japan howl. Start making them plod backward to Moscow is only going to make Tojo do a song and dance!
I admit I praise J4G4 most of all Axis strategies these days but I wouldn’t hesitate to take the offered free ships and do J2 anyway. If Germany is not going anal about launching Sea Lion, that is (J2 is the worst you can do if Germany wants to do that). After all, if J2 is launched opportunistically, there is still the G4 part of the success and if the USA looks like going KJF, a J2 will not hurt the Euro-axis at all, not even if they would want to do SL!
No. Disagree on the G4 part of the success.
US has option to pursue a KGF option too. it basically depends on how many units survived in the fall of London ( if Sealion is successful)… how much Luftwaffe is left . And how big a German Navy was built on G1 and G2. I have seen SeaLion where Germany takes London with 1 tank… with 1 SB only remaining in the Luftwaffe… In that case… USSR and US should be able to take out Germany.
If SeaLion is a failure… Germany will fall faster than Japan. Axis has to take that into their calculations.
POINT HERE IS THAT J2 ALLOWS US in early… early enough that… it can make a difference.
Last but not least, it is very easy for Japan to keep its TRS loaded J2 as a preventive action. When I come to think of it, for a J4 I’m not doing anything better anyway with those troops (load/unload J2 and then load them again J3 to sail them to their destination to invade J4. This basically nullifies Mahatma but he will most likely indeed be able to get away to safety if Japan is THAT determined to J3/J4.
TRS loaded are troops not fighting China… its a losing preposition for Japan in the long run
Once again: KJF required!
And apart from a J1DOW I won’t be looking into KJF’s before the allies have proven to me that ‘GIF’ also works.
To each his own ofc, but personally I don’t want to be limited to ‘KJF’ as the only viable OOB allied answer to everything.
AGREED!
