Japanese presence in atlantic

Do you ever plan, from the outset, to send a combination of planes and ships to attack the American/British Navy in the Atlantic?  I’ve found this to be the most effective way to get Japan directly involved in the game rather than just nibbling at the edges.  The plan requires a skilled defensive strategy with Germany, likely with 100% infantry purchases.  It has worked well in my recent games, however.

Japan must accept that it will not significantly pressure Moscow, but it can still easily build enough infantry to take and hold SFE, Yakut, China, Sinkiang, India, and Persia by turn 6, while building 4 new fighters in the process.  On turn 7 the Japanese air force flies from Persia to Europe, and the ships have just arrived at Brazil from the Cape of Africa.  On turn 8, the successful destruction of the entire Atlantic fleet should be likely.

It doesn’t tilt the game in favor of the Axis, but it does increase their odds substantially in my opinion.  Is there a fatal flaw to this plan that I’m missing?

Sorry if this is covered in an old thread.  I’m coming back to the game after about 15 years!

I feel like a Russia-Japan non aggression pact would make it too easy for Germany to be taken down.  The real battle of the game is whether or not Japan gets to Russia before everyone else gets to Germany.

I am simply one of those folks who disagrees with attacking Pearl Harbor, under almost every circumstance.  So what if that fleet heads for the UK.  That is 3 rounds from now, and cannot be used against Germany until round 4.  If the Axis is not in a strong economic position by round 4 with a good strangle-hold on Russia by that time as well as possessing a number of UK territories, they might as well surrender.

If Russia took Manchuria, then you consolidate your naval forces to maximize your initial strike on Manchuria (2 BB’s, 2 tranny’s worth of troops, lots of air-support).  If not, then use most of the fleet to either take SFE, or Australia.  Or use your Phillipine Tranny to assist in India (as you suggest).

But for maximum effect against Russia, you have to go 2-prong as Japan, with the main strike eating away Russian IPC’s to reduce INF builds (making Germany’s job easier), and the second prong weakening UK by taking IPC from them and forcing Russia to defend on 3 fronts: in Karelia, against forces coming through Yakut, and against forces coming north out of Persia or Sinkiang.

Russia cannot hold a large number of territories securely.  They can probably build up Novo pretty well, but then cannot also build up in both Evenk and Kaz.  So if you sustain 2 prongs against Russia as Japan, you WILL crack through with at least 1 prong to have troops adjacent to Russia; forcing Russia to defend home territory instead of Western frontier, allowing Germany more chance to advance.  Or, if the strategic situation is right, you converge your 2 prongs on Novo doubling your strike power there and leaving a sizable force adjacent to Russia and able to strike if able, or to sweep north or southwest to gain additonal IPC’s.

Ignoring Russia is a bad idea, especially early when those extra IPC’s create additional INF every round.

Strike hard, strike fast.

@shermie:

Get there “the firstest with the mostest”

It don’t work if’n your most is chewed up
so’s the Allied’s least can take it back!

Note: This is another way of saying, “The Logistics guy on MASH, whom Hawkeye hated so much, had it right!”

Only India is close enough to Russia to make it worth it. Make sure Japan has plenty of tr. to constantly send inf + armor towards Russia; that´s really more important than an ic.

We’re playing with restricted first turn (USSR can’t attack first turn) and higher IPC allottment to every nation except (you guessed it) Russia.

This is the root of your problem. If your group feels that the Axis is underpowered, then your group should use bidding to determine the Axis player, and how many extra IPCs they get. Search the internet, and this board for more information about bidding.

Generally, RR is enough to balance the game for middle-experience players. Bidding is needed only when experience grows to the point where the axis can not win anymore than 10-20% of the time.

Well, I wouldn’t do this if (a) Luck went bad with Germany, money needs to be spend helping Russia/Africa or (b) There are actual German Naval units left alive.

In my personal Opinion, Japans main point in exsisting, Is to take some of the allies attention away from Germany, and to force russia into a two front war. Since Japan has a larger Pacific fleet then America does, after you deystroy the hawaiin fleet, the coastal fleet will run to panama with its tail between its legs. While japan attacks china, india and russia, this takes IPCs away that cant be used against Germany. Japan Is usually the turning point against The sovies.