My thinking is as a separate game this setup is flawed, but I’m betting anything that the Global game (the one we are all going to play from here on out for the most part) is pretty balanced with the addition of all those Russian infantry to the North of Manchuria. Something tells me that India crush strategy will take a beating.
J3 India-Crush crush
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J1: Japan built a TT, artillery and naval base in Hainan. He moved the entire Japanese fleet except for a BB, CA and DD (which remained in SZ6 to protect the home waters) to SZ36. Land units in Korea moved to Manchuria, those in Manchuria to Jehol (except for the mech which blitzed to Anwhe). The provinces of Chahar, Anhwe, Hunan and Yunnan were captured. Army Shantung moved to Anhwe and Kiangsu to Kiangsi. Inactive air units non-combat moved to Yunnan. The 3 TT in SZ36 were loaded with 3 infantry, 2 artillery and a tank.
USA1: The US built a naval base in Johnston Island and moved all of his fleet there except for the DD and SS in SZ35. The transports were loaded with 3 infantry and an artillery. The fighter in WUS moved to Hawaii, the 2 fighters in Hawaii moved to Wake Island. 41 IPC’s in the bank
C1: China saved its money. The infantry in Kweichow moved to Shensi, those in Suiyuan to Kansu. 20 IPC’s
UK1: The UK built 5 infantry. The TT convoyed 1 infantry from Singapore to take control of Sumatra. 2 infantry in Singapore moved to Shan. The force in Burma moved to India. The DD moved to SZ37 and the BB to SZ41.
ANZAC1: ANZAC saved its money. The TT convoyed an infantry and artillery to take control of Dutch New Guinea. 3 fighters moved to Java (without taking control of it). The infantry in Singapore moved to Shan. The DD moved to Java and CA to SZ46. 20 IPC’sJ2: Japan built 3 TT and 3 tanks. The fleet in SZ36 moved to SZ39. The transport in SZ6 moved to SZ39 with 1 infantry and 1 artillery. All air units (except those on the carriers) moved to Yunnan. The force in Manchuria divided, some moving to Chahar, others to Anhwe. Suiyuan, Hopei and Kweichow were captured by armies Chahar, Anhwe and Hunan. The Mech blitzed to Yunnan. 46 IPC’s.
USA2: The US built 3 SS and moved his entire fleet to SZ45. The fighters in Wake moved to Guam. 18 IPC’s.
C2: China saved its money and held its line. 26 IPC’s
UK2: UK built 7 infantry. The TT transported 2 infantry from Shan to India. The other ships moved to SZ 45. 20 IPC’s
ANZAC2: ANZAC built a naval base in Dutch New Guinea. The TT transported the units there to take control of Java. The fighters moved to India. The DD moved to SZ39 (to prevent a shore bombardment). The CA moved to SZ37 (to block the Japanese TT in SZ36). The infantry in Shan moved to Burma (to block the Mech from blitzing to India). 19 IPC’sJ3: Japan built 3 tanks, 1 artillery, 2 DD and 1 SS. Japan declared war and captured Kwangtung, Burma, Shan and French Indo China. The units on the TT in SZ36 captured Borneo. 6 land units (including the tanks) crossed the TT bridge to Korea. The front line armies in China were reinforced from the rear in preparation for a major offensive next turn. The force in SZ39 eliminated the ANZAC DD and UK TT (losing 1 SS in the battle) and then conducted an Amphibious attack on India assisted by every Japanese air unit. Japan had 3 infantry, 2 artillery, 1 tank, 2 bombers, 11 fighters and 8 Tac against 22 infantry, 1 artillery, 3 AAA, 1 Tac and 5 fighters. The AAA shot down 2 fighters. At the end of the first round the UK had lost 12 infantry and 3 AAA but Japan had lost his infantry and artillery and was reduced to 1 tank, 4 fighters, 4 Tac and 2 bombers. It didn’t look good so 3 Fighters and 3 Tac retreated to their carriers, the other air units retreated to Yunnan. The lone tank, unable to retreat, was eliminated in round 2. 46 IPC’s.
USA3: With the bonus, the US built 1 BB, 1 CA, 2 DD. The fleet in SZ45 attacked the Japanese fleet in SZ 39 supported by the fighter in Philippines (which would land on the carrier, the other fighter would land in India). Japan won the battle, eliminating the US fleet but had little left. The TT moved to SZ19. 2 units landed in Manchuria and 2 in Kiangsu. The fighters in Guam eliminated the TT in SZ43 and moved to Philippines. 62 IPC’s.
C3: China built 8 infantry and placed 6 in Manchuria and 2 in Kiangsu. 14 IPC’s.
UK3: The UK built 3 tanks and retook Burma. The UK fleet attacked the remaining Japanese fleet in SZ39 with air support from India and eliminated it. 14 IPC’s
ANZAC3: Anzac built a bomber and TT and captured the Celebes from Java. The fighters eliminated the infantry in Shan. 27 IPC’sAfter his would-be India-Crush was crushed, Japan surrendered. Japan starts the game with a more powerful military than each individual Allied state but it is less impressive compared to the combined Allied military: Japan’s army (including AAA) and fleet is is about the same and the perceived air might amounts to just 8 extra units, which superior Allied production soon surpasses. High attrition Japanese ‘crush’ strategies that end up exchanging air units for Allied infantry are lethal to Japan as it instantly removes its starting advantage. On the other hand, if the Allies co-operate fully, exploit 1-2 combos and wage an aggressive war of attrition they should win most if not all games regardless of what Japan does.
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How’s this for a “Crush India” campaign . . .
J1 - You gotta declare war on India (and Anzac), still keeping the US out till later in the game
Take Kwangtung and if possible the UK ships floating about.
Set up IJN ships around Borneo and Malaya for convoy disruption.
Navy set up in SZ 6 & 36
Great call on the Naval Base on Hainan Isl. Exactly where I would have put it.
Purchase Transports for India Invasion (Use existing Trans. and North Asian forces to move to Kwangsi )J2 - Attempt to secure Borneo, Malaya, SZ 37, 38, 39.
Convoy Disruption in SZ 39.
Bombing runs on Calutta
Land forces advancing through Yunan could secure Shan State and Burma
By now, Indias money has dried up like the Saraswati and they are ripe for Invasion.
If you can secure “Ceylon Isl” you can purchase a T3 Naval Base to facilitate transport back to Hainan Isl.
Purchase max trasnports and enough to fill em (include North Asian force)
Continue the Loaded Transport Purchase until India falls. Once it does, the rest seems easy as Sushi (Pie).J3 - Now we’re ready to continually invade India until it crumbles. Anzac and US may attempt to reload it with fighter planes via West Autralia Air Base OR Philipines Air Base OR with a small amphibious force but if your IJN forces are concentrated in the Indian Theater they should be able to take out whatever the Allies can muster ( IMHO ).
I’d like to only take Anhwe, Hunan and Yunan and leave the Chinese to only 3 units per turn.
Also, I like to use the Korea, Manchuria, Japan land forces as the units for my transports.
The J3 sudden capture of multiple Indian targets is right along with what I like to do. Single out the stranded opponent and hit em hard. In the last few years, I’ve learned to appreciate the value of crippling your enemies economy.Best of luck in your future games,
Cheers,
Starlight Sniper -
Thanks for the reply but you’re wrong about the J1 declaration of war against the UK because it then enables the US to declare war on Japan in US1 (with a 30 IPC bonus). In addition by declaring war in J1 any fleet in the Hainan base could be blocked from reaching India by Allied ships before J3 and if the Allies build their Johnston-New Guinea highway the Japanese fleet (and transports) is vulnerable to the destruction shown in the J3 India-Crush crush. Also, Yunnan might be harder to capture if the UK/China turtle there. Almost all crush strategies assume a fairly passive response but a more aggressive one can turn the tables and might require abandoning the crush strategy. The Japanese player should probably have reconsidered his position when the US fleet moved to New Guinea in US2.
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I must have got the rules about the unprevoked declaration mixed up.
Starlight Sniper
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