Defending Kwajalein Dec '41

[SierraJuliet]

Hi all.

This is my first post although prior to this I must confess to having lurked for a long time. I have appreciated the opportunity to read and consider the various strategies and tactics over the years.

For myself I am still to make the jump from playing against the AI to that of the wily human strategist. I’m also in the camp of the JFB and to date have been sorting out my preferred options for the Japanese opening moves [curse my perfectionist traits…. so many options to play with and so little time to do it in]. I’m an avid reader of John 3rd, amongst many others, and his strategies which leads me to my question.

I like the idea of canceling the initial invasion of Wake Island and invading with a stronger Kwajalein based force some days later after it has been assembled post turn 1 time warp. In a recent simulation I found that the invasion fleet was decimated after a surprise air attack launched from Enterprise (sneaky computer). I was not surprised at the destruction wrought on the invasion fleet and I got to thinking about the paucity of air support in this region in December ’41 and the attractiveness of this area as an immediate target for the American carriers in the area.

I have already considered some actions to make for a respectable counteraction should the US opt for an immediate strike against Kawajalein. I would like to know what early war deployments the JFB club deems as appropriate security in this area when setting up.

My apologies if this has already been covered and my thanks for sending me in the right direction if it has [might I add that I am mightily impressed with the camaraderie and helpfulness of the members in this forum] and secondly I hope I’ve got this in the correct area.

[RUPD3658]

Kwaj can be defended by Bettys/Nells and one 27 plane sqaudron of Zeros. This will make any attack costly early on.

If you really want to be sneaky, add 2 CVs to the Wake landings and have them hang back 1-2 hexes. If they don't reveal themselves they can set a nice trap for Allied CVs that respond to the Wake landings expecting no resistance.

[stuman]

As an allied player, I think it would be best to keep all of your troops in Japan for training and fitting. Do not try invading the DEI or S Sea area until late '43 or so. And if you agree to that strategy, then you and I could have our first PBEM [:D]
 
Actually it is a great question looked at from the allied point of view. I was pretty conservative and pulled all of my carriers back from the KB. I later wondered if I didn't miss some targets like the above given that I at least knew where the Jap. carriers were.

[RUPD3658]

Unless Japan makes an eastward thrust it is going to be weak in this area. A good Jap player relies on fear of LBA and the KB to survive this. If all those bases (Wake to Tarawa) are defended in the first 6 months there are not enough LCUs to do much elsewhere.

[Yamato hugger]

I had an allied player recently tried to land the 25th div on Tarawa in Dec 41. He found a base force, a coast gun unit and 3 naval guard units waiting for him (along with around 3000 mines). After he reloaded the remains of the division, I caught him retiring with the KB and put a pretty good dent in them.

[engineer]

KUPD3656:
Kwaj can be defended by Bettys/Nells and one 27 plane sqaudron of Zeros. This will make any attack costly early on.

 
The AI tried to hit me with Enterprise and Lexington in the first week of the war and I had about that level of force in the Marshalls along with some Claudes.  I sank one CV and damaged the other. 
 
The trouble I have with this front from the Japanese POV is that this is a side-show if you want to go for an auto-victory instead of trying to outlast the Allies.  The victory is in the SRA for oil and resources, China to get points and free troops for elsewhere, and then either India or Oz for the knock-out blow.  If you have to depend on defending the Marshalls, then you're not likely to be able to hold out until 1946.  I'm certain that someone has a strategy that manages to win in the Central Pacific by destroying USN ships and Allied merchants, but it seems the long way around compared to mainland Asia (I think Oz is a longer reach than Asia).     

[RUPD3658]

A central pacific push can win the game for Japan too. All those bases have high point multipliers so you can score a tone of points here. You are also more likely to force a CV battle early on when the odds are in your favor. At the minimum you cut off the rest of the map from the US and make the march back even longer.

In my next game I may try this. It is "War in the Pacific" after all. [;)]

[SierraJuliet]

Thanks for all the responses.   RUPD3658.  Bettys/Nells and the Zeros is exactly what I was thinking it would provide a respectable deterrent in this area.  Apart from that my reading here does indicate a healthy respect of LBA and the KB to deter early adventurousness by the allies.   Stuman….. I’ll remember this strategy when I finally commit to jumping on board for the real PBEM experience.  I guess from the allied POV you will never never know if you never ever go.   Yamato hugger… thanks for this…. Just goes to show it does pay to be prepared from the get go.   Engineer and RPUD3658… I hadn’t realized the full nature of the point multipliers of central pacific bases.  Food for thought where points are concerned.