the first year, advice, please

[falcon2006]

I was playing a new full pacific campaign scenario, the IJN successfully launched an attack on PH, but its lucky for me to keep all old battleships survived although the majority of them would come into service again after at least a year. It seems that I got a good start, but then my carrier Lexiton was sunk with most of her screening vessels(especially CAs) by the KB. Moreover, Enterprise was severely damaged by Japanese subs. So, until the reinforcement of Hornet, Saratoga and Yortown arrived, there were no available carriers in the pacific while KBs were still bombing and even landing on some of my important islands. Now I'd like to ask for some advices from you friends, please help me, help the allies.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: falcon2006

I was playing a new full pacific campaign scenario, the IJN successfully launched an attack on PH, but its lucky for me to keep all old battleships survived although the majority of them would come into service again after at least a year. It seems that I got a good start, but then my carrier Lexiton was sunk with most of her screening vessels(especially CAs) by the KB. Moreover, Enterprise was severely damaged by Japanese subs. So, until the reinforcement of Hornet, Saratoga and Yortown arrived, there were no available carriers in the pacific while KBs were still bombing and even landing on some of my important islands. Now I'd like to ask for some advices from you friends, please help me, help the allies.

Don't lose all your carriers. You're welcome.

Seriously, the game is six years old and folks probably aren't going to write you an essay. There are tens (hundreds?) of thousands of posts here in the forum about what you should do. Just start reading.

[HansBolter]

Thanks Moose.

I saw this post and thought wow is that an open ended question.

I could write a book in response, but have neither the time nor inclination to do so.

Tons of good advice on the subject here already.

Since Moose gave you one quick simple recommendation I'll do the same.

On December 8th scour every last port on the map for xAKs and xAPs and get them headed to supply and troop source locations such as San Fran, LA, Cape Town and Aden.

Most of the shipping you need to start getting troops and supply to necessary locations are scattered to the four winds.

[pontiouspilot]

Welcome to the addiction!

The above is not Bull Shit! Lesson 1: As a beginner Allied player I would avoid pitched carrier vs. carrier combat until your mid'42 plane upgrades occur. After that only engage in '42 if you are very confident you have numerical advantage. Such a numerical advantage won't occur unless KB is split up. This doesn't mean that your carriers are useless just make sure they are causing their trouble where KB isn't. Lesson 2: Learn how to search or you will never know where KB is.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Advice: read Mundy's "too much iron in my diet" AAR. There you will find that the Allies can still kick around even after really horrendous losses

Are you playing AI or PBEM?

[falcon2006]

Umm, I believe that you just misunderstand my meaning or I did not say clearly. I am not asking for an operation list of the next 4 years in the game, what I mean is that before my reinforcement of carriers and new screening vessels arrive, apart from hold on Manila, Singapore and other vital postion, what else strategy may I consider to reduce my current weak position and make some repulse if necessary. My current fleet composes of less than 10 cruisers and a group of destroyers, should I retreat them to PH?

[Alfred]

We do not know you have a weak position because you have not provided any meaningful details.  No info on
 

• device pools
• aircraft pools
• available naval assets
• disposition of units, be they air, land or naval
• bases held and in what strength/level of development
• enemy axis of operations
• Victory Point situation
• whether this is against AI or human player
• where the existing frontline is and the condition your units are on that frontline
• what date is the game at, there is a huge difference depending on whether it is currently Feb 1942 or Dec 1943
• your tactical and strategic dispositions and style

and many more.  You stating you have a weak position means absolutely nothing.  Many players say similar things when in fact they have the complete opposite.
 
Alfred
 

[Chijohnaok2]

ORIGINAL: falcon2006

Umm, I believe that you just misunderstand my meaning or I did not say clearly. I am not asking for an operation list of the next 4 years in the game, what I mean is that before my reinforcement of carriers and new screening vessels arrive, apart from hold on Manila, Singapore and other vital postion, what else strategy may I consider to reduce my current weak position and make some repulse if necessary. My current fleet composes of less than 10 cruisers and a group of destroyers, should I retreat them to PH?

Holding Singapore is generally very difficult against a competent player controlling the Japanese Empire and holding Manila for long is nearly impossible.
With the lost carriers and escort ships you described that challenge is made even more difficult.
In my humble opinion, based on my own games and from reading player AAR's, many players controlling the Allies will conduct a fighting withdrawal and establish some key island bases necessary to build a supply chain from the West Coast of the USA to Australia.

As some in this thread have already mentioned, wanting to conduct "repulses" are generally difficult (even if you don't lose your two starting carriers).
You need to do a lot of scouting and if you do conduct any repulse before your mid-1942 air and naval upgrades you better be very sure that you are hitting your opponent in a weak spot and that the KB is nowhere in the area.

As some have mentioned, there is a lot of wisdom to be learned by reading the AAR's of people who have played before.

PS: to what Alfred said---knowing more about the sorts of things that he listed would give us a better understanding of your current situation.

[wegman58]

I would also read EVERYTHING in The War Room. Gives you ideas.

[Mundy]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury
Advice: read Mundy's "too much iron in my diet" AAR. There you will find that the Allies can still kick around even after really horrendous losses
.

You're too kind, Jorge.

[;)]

[Mundy]

With carriers down, the allies have to rely more on their land based air. This is difficult, as fighters at start will have problems escorting bombers to any meaningful range.

I would shore up India early. I had lots of troops cut off in the east and killed there when Cannonfodder took Calcutta and moved north.

I learned a lot through pain, but I'm certain my next war will go much better. Lots of previous conservative playing opponents taught me a lot of wrong lessons. Now that I've seen what the Japanese can do with a skilled aggressive player, I can watch out for certain things.

[PaxMondo]

Speaking from the IJ perspective, without CV's anything the IJ wants in the Pacific they can take. Don't try to deter them, it will only increase your losses. Offer road bumps but don't lose any strategic assets. Just remember in late 43 you can take it all back.

Don't lose INDIA! Start Fortifying in the North at Karachi and move your MLR south as you can. You can move a lot of US assets to India, do so. They won't do much good in SF or LA on vacation.

If the IJ can take and hold India for 12 Months (by India, I mean everything south of Delhi on the map), the allies are in trouble. That economic boost given to the IJ means that they will have many more aircraft than you can handle until LATE 45 after VE which in turn means you are in trouble in terms of a timeline to win.

So:
reinforce India
delay everywhere else.
do raids to cause the IJ to react to you
wait until late '43 before you try anything big. You need F6F's and Essex CV's to face the KB.

[rustysi]

Lesson #1, the KB is the 600lb gorilla in the room. Lesson #2, refer to lesson #! So you've learned the hard way not to mess with the KB too early. Common rookie mistake. So now drop back 10 and punt. IOW move back regroup and don't tangle with the KB until you have the strength to do so. Which won't be for a while. As said above you need to build a LOC to the islands in the central/south Pacific and on to OZ.

Meanwhile Japan will take what she wants more or less. Taking does not mean holding and Japan can become overextended. Look for these opportunities to make limited counterattacks, mindful that the KB can not be in the area to oppose you. Eventually you should be in a position to overwhelm the Japanese provided you don't allow yourself to be destroyed piecemeal. Good luck and happy hunting.

[crsutton]

You are going to take your beating like a man, and like it...[:D] Seriously, if you are the Allies and playing the AI, you are going to win. If you are playing a human opponent, you are probably going to win as well. Allies are gonna get pimp slapped around in 1942. Just be patient and as the Moose says, don't lose your carriers.