Downfall?

[Von Roon]

Will this game let players get to Operation Downfall? Thanks in advance for any replies.

[Ian R]

Short answer is yes.

Slightly longer answer is that the game terminates on, IIRC, 1 April 1946. So you need to get there ahead of schedule. Having said that, this is not very hard against the IJ AI.

Fort up in the Bataan, Manilla, Clark Field triangle without moving anything out except sub born splinters of the combat engineers, and the PAF aviation, in case you lose them. Then send a dribble of small AKs with supplies through to Bataan. They get through half the time. Small ship, big ocean. You should be able to hold against the AI. Note: Keep some fighters at Clark and VPs at Bataan, but NO bombers - they eat too much supply and get shot down anyway.

Meanwhile, Malaya/Singapore and Palembang will probably go if you do this, but fort up in Java and Timor and run supplies in by the Antarctic loop route from Bombay etc. Get the aviation engineers and base forces and units or bits thereof from Malaya to those spots and build up airpower there. With luck when the KB comes by and sails around Java you'll sink/damage some carriers.

In July 1942 when the USN carrier airgroups have trained up, start a counter-offensive from Darwin up through Ambon and head back to the PI. Whilst sitting back defending everywhere else. Each offensive hop goes under land based aircover as well as the Air Combat TFs. With luck you'll secure Formosa in early 1943, and be bombing the home islands with B24s.

[Mobeer]

Yes against the Japanese AI. Unfortunately the AI doesn't garrison all its bases in Japan in any strength; Shikoku in particular is a soft touch which then lets you stage strong land based air to support invasions of Honshu and Kyushu.