An interesting strategic wrinkle I threw into a game last night was a UK/ANZAC attack on Japan at the beginning of turn 3. This caught the Japanese player greatly off guard, as he was still consolidating and prepositioning his forces for the big attack on the DEI and the UK territories on the mainland for the beginning of turn 4. It really messed up the Japanese land war and gave the allies the momentum and initiative that is often ceded to the Japanese.

Hey all, I’m new to the forum. I’ve played 1940 Pacific a decent amount of times and I’m curious as to what the community recommends in regards to the overall US strategy. I’ve found that the US should either push for the mainland Japan blockade/Korea attack (building a minor IC on Korea also) OR seize the Caroline Islands and then help take back the spice islands/DEI so that the UK/ANZACs continue to receive their IPC bonuses.

Thoughts/suggestions?

I think the US has two primary options, assuming the Japanese go for a heavy Calcutta push:

1. Blockade the Japanese mainland while simultaneously taking Korea and building an IC there. This way the US can start liberating Chinese provinces (allowing Chinese infantry to be placed also) and pushing down towards Shanghai. The continuous convoy disruptions coupled with strategic bombing raids of the major IC on Japan would limit Japan to it’s mainland minor ICs that it likely built on turns 1-2. I’d imagine that the Japanese player would see the writing on the wall and surrender, saving everyone a few hours.

2. US captures Caroline Islands. The Caroline Islands’ air/naval base lets you threaten Japan and the DEI and Hong Kong, if you decide to go that route. Depending on the Japanese player’s moves, I’d aim for taking back the DEI. This would obviously allow the UK/ANZACs to maintain the IPC bonuses and would force Japanese air assets away from the mainland fight and buy the UK some more time. If the Japanese build naval forces to counter the US fleet, all the better; more ships = less ground troops going after Calcutta. Additionally, Japan focusing on the US navy would allow the UK to possibly launch an offensive into southern China and help liberate some Chinese territories, which can be a nuisance for the Japanese land army as well.

Any suggestions/comments from people are definitely welcome!