Can the US have naval superiority?

[Jennifer]

No, Shadowhawk.  Don’t put a blocker.  Only use a blocker if you think you can’t do enough damage to get through the Japanese BBs to more sensitive targets.  The reason being is you WANT them to attack your fleet!  They loose their best assets in an attack, A)  transports cannot come into the battle as fodder, B) their carriers only attack at a 1, C) their fighters only attack at a 3.  Meanwhile, your assets are increased.  Your carriers now defend at a 3 and your fighters at a 4!

No, the trick to the Pacific front, with America, is to sucker the Japs into attacking your fleet with theirs and thus reducing both fleets to cinders.  Then you can clean up whatever islands you don’t already control and rebuild faster then them.  And without a strong fleet, their land units will get bashed by Russian units moving off the German front (being replaced by British and Americans).

[squirecam]

If you count strictly O & D numbers, by J3 the japanese fleet will still outgun a solo USA fleet. It will have a slight battle disatvantage to a combined USA/UK fleet.

That said, screening is the way to go. A Japanese player could just attack for 1 round, his two BB absorb hits, you lose 2 transports. Then he withdraws.

Screening forces Japan to protect the home islands and all the others from your solomons base.  Plus, with a combined UK/USA fleet, the UK can take DEI or Borneo while USA gets Phils and DEI/Borneo.

Squirecam

[Jennifer]

@squirecam:

If you count strictly O & D numbers, by J3 the japanese fleet will still outgun a solo USA fleet. It will have a slight battle disatvantage to a combined USA/UK fleet.

That said, screening is the way to go. A Japanese player could just attack for 1 round, his two BB absorb hits, you lose 2 transports. Then he withdraws.

Screening forces Japan to protect the home islands and all the others from your solomons base.  Plus, with a combined UK/USA fleet, the UK can take DEI or Borneo while USA gets Phils and DEI/Borneo.

Squirecam

But what are the odds America only get’s two hits with a BB, 2 CV, 4 FIG, 4 TRN?  30 pts, or 5 hits on average (LL).  That’s 2 soakers in BBs and 3 actual hits somewhere.  That’s why the US has to sucker Japan into attacking.  The US can match Japan purchase for purchase, meanwhile, Japan’s homefield advantage is severely weakened by forcing them to attack a defending US fleet.

[nooob]

the key to the success of the american fleet is what the uk does with the raf on r1… if you move the fig’s and bom to w. can than on jap 1 decisions become much more difficult… of course the uk boats have  to follow suit as wel… the uk can put alot of pressure can  put on sz 60 and 59 on r1 this gives the us time to commission its fleet while jap is some what on its heels… russias contribution is to reinforce buriatia on r1

[squirecam]

1.  Japan’s starting 2 BB and 6 fighters/Bomber are also 30, not counting its DD, CV, sub potential. Plus the potential for more naval units purchased J1 or J2.

2. Japan could buy an IC, which will allow for some expendable transports

3. Therefore, a UK CV + DD + transports + sub makes all the difference defense wise

Yes, your fleet has a #'s advantage after #3. Buy why risk evan a 60/40 battle when you can take islands/mainland and force Japan to protect too many territories.

Squirecam

[Jennifer]

The point, Squire, is to take Jap islands and force them to give up control of the Pacific, or come and attack the US Fleet.  And yes, I advocate using the british fleet with the Americans.  They add extra power and can always move to join your fleet before Japan can move.

Also, if Japan takes ALL those forces to attack the American fleet, it has nothing to use in Asia.  I’ll give up an American fleet to not loose Asia. :)

[squirecam]

I do agree with you somewhat. The way I used to play the strategy was to let the UK/USA get attacked. I was more than willing then to rely in my defensive strength. Two things changed that…

1 - The advantage you have is not overwhelming. I’d say 60/40. But that means there are games where Japan will survive that fleet battle, causing you a loss. Whereas if you screen, Japan cannot prevent you from landing on the islands USA3. You reduce your risk, but accomplish the same goal.

2 - In tournament games, which is what I play often, you are limited in time/rounds. You cannot afford to lose your fleet. Even though it might be a wash and a long term good thing, with a time limit there is not enouigh time left.

Squirecam

[Jennifer]

I agree, in the first few rounds you might want to hold off on loosing the fleet.  The first few rounds are when you want to grab East Indies, New Guinee and if you can, the Phillipeans.  By then, Japan should be good and mad at you and willing to throw anything they have at you to stop you from also grabbing Okinawa and starting to put “feet on the street” in Asia minor. (another tactic to force them to attack is to build an IC in New Guinee…it does Japan almost no good and it really makes them mad at you.)

By the time you have collected those islands, you should be concentrated enough with some DDs, some Trannies, a couple ACs and a BB (or two if you are feeling lucky) to stop a full scale Japanese assault.  Sure, you can pretty much kiss your fleet good bye, but then so can Japan.  Meanwhile, you now have an IC in New Guinee (if you built it) to pump out a couple subs and a couple trannies to annoy the ever living yoohoo outta Japan.

BTW, the whole goal of this game for me is to tick the other player off to the point they stop using rational thought.

[Guest]

I still want to know what you are taking all those Islands with…

UK does not HAVE a fleet, they may have a few scattered ships, but no FLEET in the Pacific on UK2, not if Japan is being played by a competant player.

[Jennifer]

I’m taking islands with 1 BB, 1 TRN, 1 ARM, 1 INF.  If my Hawaiian fleet exists, add that.  Also, the Brits have a fleet, unless Japan squandered her resources sinking it instead of the US fleet, in which case Japan’s probably down a few more ships.

Sure, it isn’t easy.  but what jap player (who isn’t playing me) is expecting it?

[Guest]

Japan has Naval superiority to begin with, and more FIGs to boot.

UK fleet AND Pearl fleet are dead J1 (most of the UK anyway).  And I still have an AC and a BB in the south Pacific, and a fleet US needs to attack at Pearl…

[Jennifer]

You’d be surprised how often I see the Pearl fleet sitting intact on US 1, Switch.  By the time Japan’s dedicated enough firepower to take out the British fleet, without suffering any real losses, they don’t have enough to take out Hawaii, in their opinion.  In mine, I go all out, if I loose, well Japan’s toast.  If I win, then Japan’s on easy street.

[squirecam]

@ncscswitch:

I still want to know what you are taking all those Islands with…

UK does not HAVE a fleet, they may have a few scattered ships, but no FLEET in the Pacific on UK2, not if Japan is being played by a competant player.

UK does have a fleet. 1 CV, 1 DD 1 sub 2 transports. Together, thats 10 def. Not enough on its own, but when added to the USA, it makes it difficult for Japan.

Probably YOU never have a UK fleet because you waste it attacking that japan transport rather than save it.

Squirecam

[NoMercy]

@squirecam:

UK does have a fleet. 1 CV, 1 DD 1 sub 2 transports. Together, thats 10 def. Not enough on its own, but when added to the USA, it makes it difficult for Japan.

Probably YOU never have a UK fleet because you waste it attacking that japan transport rather than save it.

Squirecam

Hey Squirecam,

if you are never going to use your UK fleet to kill the transport or contest africa. (then i want to play as the axis everytime vs you)

it isn’t wise to let the Japaneese Transport live at any costs. (I send the 1 DD, 1 AC after it) and 3 inf, 1 Fgt to Egypt to contest it with the germans.

your UK fleet is doing you no good sitting around in the pacific doing nothing. even if you manage to grab a island lets say New Borneo. you wasted everything the UK had in the pacific to take a island for 1 turn that is not worth 4 ipc.

you’d be surprised how fast land-based and Air-craft based figs can go from the main-land to the pacific and back and forth.

[squirecam]

@NoMercy:

@squirecam:

UK does have a fleet. 1 CV, 1 DD 1 sub 2 transports. Together, thats 10 def. Not enough on its own, but when added to the USA, it makes it difficult for Japan.

Probably YOU never have a UK fleet because you waste it attacking that japan transport rather than save it.

Squirecam

Hey Squirecam,

if you are never going to use your UK fleet to kill the transport or contest africa. (then i want to play as the axis everytime vs you)

it isn’t wise to let the Japaneese Transport live at any costs. (I send the 1 DD, 1 AC after it) and 3 inf, 1 Fgt to Egypt to contest it with the germans.

your UK fleet is doing you no good sitting around in the pacific doing nothing. even if you manage to grab a island lets say New Borneo. you wasted everything the UK had in the pacific to take a island for 1 turn that is not worth 4 ipc.

you’d be surprised how fast land-based and Air-craft based figs can go from the main-land to the pacific and back and forth.

But I do kill the transport, with the UK fighter. I just dont waste my fleet by sending the carrier/DD to do so. Here’s why:

1 - The carrier/DD will die, without inflicting a hit, due to the DEI BB. Therefore, you have wasted 28 IPC.

2 - The fighter cannot be countered. It lands safely, providing Bury defense.

Squirecam

[NoMercy]

if you were to land the fighter in the mainland. I would have to think China would be the best spot as I find Japan can have a bad round of dice and barely win or lose that battle.

your saying a CV + DD will die without taken a hit? ( I love the idea of forcing the Japaneese to send in stuff to kill that. you got to think it takes 1 BB + some fighters or a fighter/bomb combo to kill it.

reason is, a CV and DD both defend on a 3… (that BB is only taking 1 hit…) that means a plane is dying. So on the contrary to what you said. I think the CV + DD has a good chance of taking a fighter out.

[Jennifer]

You can consolidate the British Fleet and then force Japan to send it’s precious BB and CV after it.  You should get one of those capitals at least before they sink you, even if you don’t keep the fighter with it.

Meanwhile, the US fleet at Pearl might be sunk, but Japan will be sending a lot less navy then what it could and that’s easy to counter attack.  Just use the BB, DD and USAF (land in Hawaii) and you should retake that.  Now Japan hardly has a “vast” superiourity, but rather a few scattered boats.

[squirecam]

@NoMercy:

if you were to land the fighter in the mainland. I would have to think China would be the best spot as I find Japan can have a bad round of dice and barely win or lose that battle.

your saying a CV + DD will die without taken a hit? ( I love the idea of forcing the Japaneese to send in stuff to kill that. you got to think it takes 1 BB + some fighters or a fighter/bomb combo to kill it.

reason is, a CV and DD both defend on a 3… (that BB is only taking 1 hit…) that means a plane is dying. So on the contrary to what you said. I think the CV + DD has a good chance of taking a fighter out.

CV + DD = 6 = ONE hit on average. Therefore, on average, a BB+CV (DEI) + Fighter + Bomber will on average, kill it, in 1 round, without any japan losses.

Bury (6inf +fighter) is better than China, IMHO.

Squirecam

[Jennifer]

I always give up Bury and SFE.  Shouldn’t I be?

Always felt the fighter served better on the German front.  You can always put 2 tanks in Russia and fire them off to Yak to defend, and 6 def from 2 units is better then 4 def from 1 unit.  IMHO.  Same cost.  Only tanks can also attack if needed.

[squirecam]

@Jennifer:

I always give up Bury and SFE.  Shouldn’t I be?

Always felt the fighter served better on the German front.  You can always put 2 tanks in Russia and fire them off to Yak to defend, and 6 def from 2 units is better then 4 def from 1 unit.  IMHO.  Same cost.  Only tanks can also attack if needed.

If you keep Bury, thats +1 USSR 1, plus +1 from USSR 2 and +3 from Manchuria which you will walk into USSR 2, +1 from Bury round 3, when Japan has to take back Manchuria and potentially keep swapping FIC, or be in danger of losing Kwang.

It means more $$ for USSR to fight off the Germans, USSR can have 32+ on round 2-3 depending on circumstances (24 + 3 ukr +2 WR + 3 manch)

Squirecam