Japan strategy please

I’ve had success pressuring ANZAC.  A few subs down that way can work wonders.

@Trisdin:

I would never attack the states before turn 4, the only exception is if sealion was successful.

Correct me if I am wrong, but, by attacking the Dutch/ANZAC/UK, the US can simply enter the War, no?

By taking the Islands, this is seen as a provocation to the UK and with that the US can now declares to any Axis forces, no?

Yes, and so in this strategy the US is able to go to war with German on US2.  Better get ready.  This really ends up putting the crunch on Italy, who now has to worry about 2 powers in the med.

America comes in the war in the third round so I believe that Japan should hit in the second round stay powerful in the Caroline islands move to anzac like your going to land there, also hit China hard use your air force to eliminate units ,also hit Russia and think about getting a major factory take N.O.from USA and try to take as many Islands as possible Germany and Japan Need to work together to take out Russia.    The group I game with dont play the victory cities.

@suprise:

America comes in the war in the third round so I believe that Japan should hit in the second round stay powerful in the Caroline islands move to anzac like your going to land there, also hit China hard use your air force to eliminate units ,also hit Russia and think about getting a major factory take N.O.from USA and try to take as many Islands as possible Germany and Japan Need to work together to take out Russia.    The group I game with dont play the victory cities.

American comes at the end of their third turn, they can’t make any combat movement before the fourth if Japan didn’t declared on Allies.

One thing that worked for me against china in the game I m playing now is that i attacked  a stack of mixed brit & china units 5 inf and 2 art plus a chinese plane and brit palne in his first effort to form a front in yunnan. He felt pretty confident about holding, as all i could get in where two Mec inf but I could send in 17 planes all up (As we are playing OOB still) What ended up happening is he got four hits so i took the loss of the two fights but new that it was worth the risk as I had eliminated China’s main form of attack for future rounds. This has handicaped the chinese and is working great.If your playing alpha 2 ithink you dont have so many jap planes but I think if you thought about positioing yourself to do it early with the planes you do have it could be worth the risk. Also I send my Jap bombers over to help the  germans early in the game to bomb moscow it sounds way out but all it takes is an airbase in suiyuyan. If done early in the game along with german bombing this can realy stuff moscow. The russians have a tendency to fly out and do attacks with planes so they cant get back to moscow Maybe 1-2 rounds Bombing runs maybe able to be made without the worry of interceptors. I brave the interceptors with my bombers as it’s only one roll of 2 or less for each fighter for 1 round of combat . you need Luck.

@Trisdin:

Japan begins alfa+2 with 21 aircraft total. Not sure how your strategy would work if the Brits and china don’t stack in one territory that can be reached. As for bombing Russia you would need to pay the soviets $12 when declaring war, plus lose another $12 for the bomber you will lose to interceptors and you have spent $24 trying to give Moscow an average 4 damage to it’s IC. I wouldn’t do it.

Japan doesn’t pay Russia 12, Russia just collects an additional 12.  It’s like any other NO.  Maybe that’s what you meant, but it’s not what you said?

One time collection.

Thanks for the response. Twice I was Japan, the first game I tried Pearl Harbor in 41 (second round) it didnt work for me. I had some real bad rolls.  The second game I had better rolls and the USA made some poor purchases.When USA came out to sink my fleet the dice were in my favor and I still had my fleet it kept USA at bay. I added to my fleet, then I built a factoy.  I was also blessed with a powerful German ally who went all out push on Russia once France fell.In the 8 games of Alpha +2 Japan was able to hold their own in 3 of those games

Japan by J2 can get a major swing in economy……Ill lay it all out

J1 purchace 3 transports
Japan makes the standard China moves  
all navy save a Carrier from seazone 6 to carolines including transport and one inf
transport from SZ 19 inf and art from manchuria to SZ 36 (kwangsi) with remander of navy
transport from SZ20 moves to sz19 picks 2 inf from manchuria back to sz20 unloads Kangsi

now your set up for J2  
make a navel purchace

If USA stayed in Hawaii you can smack them hard from Carolines  or you can smack Anzac if USA retreated, the transport can take solomans, transport in SZ20 can grab the inf from Okinawa place in guam(5 or 7 NO), transport in SZ36 takes Borneo, Inf from Kangsi and some planes take HongKong. Inf in Siam take FIC, Navy in SZ 36 moves to Phi with 3 transports. You should still have enough ground and air around to kill china and close the burma road.  You should have enough ground and transports to take the DEI or most of it next turn.  So…

In the least Japan has made gains on China, stopped 4 allied NOs gained one themselfs, destroyed at least one navy and is set up for DEI.  And really hampered  Anzac and UK Economy all with at least 2 turns before USA can get anywhere.  Japan should be making close to 50IPC a turn.

@Trisdin:

I am seriously considering attacking all the reachable US ships on J1. If I don’t, I feel I will be giving the US time (to build up) money (NOs) and position (consolidated fleet).

Be careful attacking America too early in the Global game.  Granted, the earlier that Japan attacks the greater the advantage that they have against the Pacific allies; however, an early attack not only bring America into the war against Japan, but against Germany/ Italy as well.

A J1 attack would allow America to start invading Africa on US2, and start pushing into the med on US3 and 4… this would be devastating for the Axis in Europe.  Germany and especially Italy need as much time as possible to make early gains against Russia/ Africa respectively.  If the US is allowed to enter that early, Russia should have no trouble holding back the Germans and it will be a quick game for the Axis.

In my group’s Global games, the best thing that the Japanese can do is force the US to devote its resources into the Pacific theater rather than the European.  If Japan can put pressure on the US and force it to take its eye of Europe, this will give Germany and Italy the time they need to topple Russia.  For that reason, I suggest attacking on J3 (at the earliest) or J4 to give your allies time to do their thing.  If you are playing a straight Pacific 1940, I see no reason not to attack on J1 or J2.

I have considered a J1 attack seeing that USA can’t do much in Europe with a cruiser you’d have to go heavy.  I prefer the J2 that way you can punch Anzac and Calcutta in the face and still try to stiffarm USA.

J2 attack is considered the “best” since you prevent the UK Pacific and ANZAC from grabbing the ENTIRE DEI FIRST from the get-go.  If you let these powers take the DEI first, there’s now defensive infantry there you need to shoot through, necessary amphibious assaults and more infantry/art needed for transports, carriers needed for air support; it becomes a huge mess very quickly.  While you do have the big fleet units and are better equipped to fight for the islands, if you can take the DEI first without needing their extra support the ships and air can used offensively elsewhere and not necessarily relegated to guard duty for your transports.  The UK and ANZAC also start with pathetic navy units in the area and generally can’t get to most of your transports or put up much of a fight in the first place (they’re really only there as blockers and to help drop off land units); another reason to beat them to the DEI first so you don’t have to fight landed troops already there.

However, if Germany is attempting Sealion, it might be a good idea to wait it out for another turn.  Just that you know you’ll be headed into the long slog for the Pacific theater with UK Pac at 30 and ANZAC at 20 with their NOs…  So possibly take it a bit slower.  (Though, with the new rule for the US being able to declare war on the Axis if London falls, there’s really not that much point of waiting till J3, the US will be coming after you anyway.)

Sarge, do you realize the UK and ANZ have to be at war with Japan to get their NO’s in Alpha 2?