Massive Japanese carrier buys

Well I think building submarines and focus on supporting china on the mainland. Carriers don’t help them on the land war and Japan needs to keep HongKong and Shanghai to win. They also have less troops available for invading India.

I have seen it work okay in some games… it is not as powerful as you would expect.  The Allies ship block for the first few rounds to prevent the Japanese Navy from directly engaging with the much smaller fleet next to Queensland.  Eventually, Japan will need to pull back the fleet to the sea zone adjacent to FIC so that the carrier-based planes could support operations in Mainland Asia.  At this point the Allies have more opportunities to strongly contest the money islands.

I won’t call it a bad plan, but it is not as strong as you would initially guess based on the ability to spend a mere 16 PUs and have an extra loaded carrier in your fleet.  America spends 4 subs and gets roughly the same performance, albeit at a slightly higher price.  Account for the opportunity cost of needing more planes on the Japanese carriers and the Allies have a method to approximately match the strength.

The hidden benefit from a fleet with 8+ carriers is that Japan can decide to exit operations in the Pacific and drag a massive strike force to help out in the European/African theater.  If the Allies succeed in a costly KJF effort, with China out of control and the Money Islands too difficult to dominate, load up some transports and sail West to allow victory on that side of the board.

How does Japan keep control of the mainland when buying so many carriers?

@ShadowHAwk:

With 6 carriers bought in the first few rounds you are not building factories or land units.
This is 1 carrier a round with some rounds 2 carriers. That leaves you with about 40 ipcs of ground forces for the first 5 turns. Even china will outproduce you on the mainland.
Nice to have transports but they are worthless without the troops inside them.

@oysteilo:

I think the goal is to avoid fighting for the DEI, or at least make it extremely less favourable for the allies to engage. Sure, it may come at a cost at the mainland but +5 for the DEI is worth it. In any case the game is pretty much normal until (J2) J3

As Oysteilo stated, the game is pretty much Standard until J2, J3 the latest.

Assuming a 1x IC plus 2x TT’s on J1 followed by a 3x Mech for IC in Kiangsu plus whatever assets you may now choose.

All Japan has to do is building CV’s from there on with a couple of Inf.
The advantage J has is that it doesn’t have to buy a whole pack like the US has to do (1 CV with 2x Ftr’s).
Japan starts off allready w. 21 Planes.

Another huge advantage for J is that it also starts with two BB’s.
Japan is able to easily split her IJN into two later even three equal groups.

Having BB’s is different to have to buy them.

I think a good approach against the massive CV build up is to build as well CV’s but lend them to Anzak. Focus on sub and dd buys and a few Bmbrs and try to outproduce Japan with them.
India crush should be held off or even prevented.

What approach did you choose Oysteilo?

Maybe we should think about a different approach on Japan.
Stack Havaii but also Wake with one DD, 3x Ftr’s and 2-3 Bombers.
That way Japan needs to step back going Full throttle towards the South and has to guard all purchases on sz6.
As long as the US keeps buying a blocker for Havaii USN should be safe there and send empty CV’s down  Queensl. for Anzak Ftr’s plus assets (Subs, loaded TT’s, DD’s).

If Japan leaves new bought ships not well defended. KILL IT.
Hack the line of support!

Built CV in FID means less troops on India.
Anzak should take chances to IJN on Java. Dented Carriers can’t hold Planes.
Anzak purchases should be adapting to this wear down tactic (Ftr’s, SS).

What you think?

Sorry, i meant Wake as suggested in my post.
Havaii gets stacked each turn with buys from previous round.
Of course you send the USN down to Queeny.

It should look like:

Wake 1xDD, 3x Ftr’s, 2-3 Bmbrs

Pearl 1-2 CV’s, 1-2 DD’s, 3-4 Ftr’s on Havaii

Queeny BB, CR’s DD SS and Anzak units

San Fran. Previous buys like CV DD 2x Ftr’s (44ipc) or add a loaded TT.

You should be able to DZ sz6 and Queeny…
If necessary to destroy new builds from Japan and reinforce Wake/Pearl.

You also should be able to send down a loaded or loaded CV with an accompanying DD and replenish Pearl from S.F. with that.

You should be able to Strafe sz6 every now and then. And react in no time if necessary.

Unless i made a mistake in my thought process you should be fine.

4 Ftr’s  and 3 Bmbrs.