Mid to late war Japanese Naval Production

[ny59giants]

I'm in mid-October '43 for the first time as Japan and am playing Scenario 2 in a PBEM game. The last three Unryu CVs will be done in the next few weeks and the extra shipbuilding points need to be spent on what?? I have lots of early to mid-war along with the late war subs that can be built. Which ones do you recommend or halt permanently?? What class of late war warship do you accelerate or not?? I just accelerated CV Shinano, so the two big Taiyo Class CVs will be done in early 44.

Thanks!

[PaxMondo]

Mike,
 
I don't build many subs, particularly after the early game.  For me, they are simply allied VP's waiting to be harvested.  xAKL's are cheaper pickets and just as effective in that role.
 
I like to get all of the ASW and DD's that I can as soon as I can once all of the capital ships have arrived.  By mid-43 I'm really not building much else.  Saves a lot of HI ....

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I'm in mid-October '43 for the first time as Japan and am playing Scenario 2 in a PBEM game. The last three Unryu CVs will be done in the next few weeks and the extra shipbuilding points need to be spent on what?? I have lots of early to mid-war along with the late war subs that can be built. Which ones do you recommend or halt permanently?? What class of late war warship do you accelerate or not?? I just accelerated CV Shinano, so the two big Taiyo Class CVs will be done in early 44.

Thanks!

Hi ny59giants,

You're farther along in your game than I am by one month. Still, after getting the Unryus completed, I'd agree with PaxMondo-focus on DDs and ASW. Submarines are a +/- at this stage of the war, but I've still had luck with them (in scenarios) in mid-1944.

Beyond that, I'd turn off my naval yards and stockpile the HI for fighter production in 1944-1945. You're going to need it!

[Puhis]

I think in late 1943 or 1944 only ASW ships are worth producing, and maybe some subs. I'd shut down shipyards and save HI points.

[PaulvonHindenburg]

I think in late 1943 or 1944 ASW ships are worth producing too.

[Gridley380]

You've been able to finish by the end of 1943 ships Japan had trouble finishing in 1945?!?

Just how many are "all" the Unryu's, BTW? All six that were laid down?

[WO Katsuki]

1) Suggest to build the submarines, they are pretty useful if you mass a lot of them in a single area and can sink an essex or two

2) Finish as many carriers as you can, better to have a 2-1 disparity in numbers than a 3-1

3) ASW. if you are playing stock scen 1 or 2, those
uber patrols with 14 depth charge racks will slaughter the USN sub fleet

beyond that, I'd turn off my naval yards and stockpile the HI for fighter production in 1944-1945

precisely an argument to make separate materials and HI points for ac and ships

Most people do that but it's pretty gamey, since japan historically had lots of steel to make their carriers but hardly any aluminum by 1945 (shinano and the unryus were sitting in port without any planes)

the best jap ship production system would be pretty much like PTO IV -->

1)tons of steel required,
2) time to completion, and
3) limited by the number of slots available
(CV/BB size slots, CVL/CA, DD/SS, Merch, Aux, etc.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Gridley380

You've been able to finish by the end of 1943 ships Japan had trouble finishing in 1945?!?

Just how many are "all" the Unryu's, BTW? All six that were laid down?

It requires choosing to expand shipyards by a fair amount (and therefore stockpiling less HI), or shifting production from other things... In my AI games, I've been able to stably accelerate all of the CVs and CVLs so that I'll be receiving the first 2 Unryus and first Taiho (along with all their planes!) before the Allies get any of the Essexes in May of 43.

The number of Unryus in the building queue, in stock, is indeed 6. Plus 2 Taihos. If accelerated early in the war, and you maintain that acceleration, it's possible to get even the last ones by the end of 1943. Which provokes a question of my own - does anyone know if the last 3 Unryus, which are designated as Unryu 12/44 class in Tracker... If they arrive before 12/44, are they still the upgraded version? My guess is yes...

[Miller]

Yes the last 3 Unyrus arrive fully upgraded. I'm in Nov 44 now and have all the CVs, CLs and decent subs in play. The only thing I have accelerated now are DDs and the uber Es. All remaining merchant shipping halted as not needed.

[SuluSea]

In theory I like the idea of extra RO boats. If nothing else it keeps the allied player honest in his approach moreso than a picket AKL would and who knows you might get the big shot off.

Don't forget to reassess your support conversions as the war winds down and your support needs dwindle.

Case in point a Lima Class xAK is worth 13 victory points but a Lima Class AKE is worth 24 VPs. Convert those AGs, ADs and whatever back into xAKs if they're not essential to the war effort as it's free points..

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: SuluSea

Case in point a Lima Class xAK is worth 13 victory points but a Lima Class AKE is worth 24 VPs. Convert those AGs, ADs and whatever back into xAKs if they're not essential to the war effort as it's free points..

HAd not thought about this ... good point. We all know where they're ending up by game end ...