AllenK vs Mayhemizer III: Oil be back.

[AllenK]

No combats, air rebases or reorgs.

Turn ends on a 6.

A partisan appears in France on the resource hex E of Nantes.

How do Germany wish to deploy their pact markers?

[Mayhemizer_slith]

Both to offence thanks and move 2nd highest marker from defense to offence.

Japs are in deep, deep trouble...

[AllenK]

Markers go as requested. USSR puts its marker to defence.

US puts a chit in the Jap pool. It chooses Resources to China for no tension increase and Destroyers to CW which puts one marker in the Ge/It tension pool

[Jagdtiger14]

I'm thinking that perhaps Japan's beginning Chinese strategy should be to look at which resources and factories on and near the coast they should/can defend, and forget about going deep into China. I don't think its worth it...China is too big for Japan. In the board game, there is a good possibility to knock out the Commy Chinese...I don't see this same thing in MWiF. Also, in WiF its easier to get unit density to aquire and defend resource hexes deep in China...not so much in MWiF. This more limited ground strategy also allows for the Japs to build out their fleet earlier, and less ground units might be needed.

I would defend Canton/Hong Kong, Shanghai, a city line south of Manchuria: Tientsin - Peking - mountain hex NW of Peking, then resource hex into Manchuria, to Mukden to Pacific. These are just my initial impressions...I don't even have the game yet.

[Mayhemizer_slith]

My plan was to retreat to coast but I'm late now. Japs don't have CP in China Sea and USSR CAV cut railroad in Manchuria. I think I can't reorganize my HQ's in China now... In the future when playing with Japanese I stay in coastal hexes and only attack USSR or defend Manchuria....

[Mayhemizer_slith]

And what I forgot to say: Japs planned building synth oil plant now, but they have 6BB's and they used 2 oil for production! They need to build both Manchuria TER they have in force pool.

[Jagdtiger14]

I always make building synth plants and cp's a priority over everything. I like to have a constant flow of cp's every turn (US, CW, Japan).

[Mayhemizer_slith]

Units destroyed J/F 1940

[Courtenay]

Looking at the AAR's, I have seen a Japanese southern strategy in China work only against what I regard as very poor play by the Chinese. On the other, I have seen several AARs where attacks on the Communists have worked very well indeed. However, in those games I suspect the Nationalists did not do enough to defend the Communists, who are desperately short of units early. In particular, Chengchow must be defended with two units, forcing the Japanese to spend time getting rid of them.

Eventually I will test a major Japanese early push against the Communists, with decent support from the Nationalists, and see how it goes.

[Jagdtiger14]

Thank you Courtenay, I would love to see the results!

[AlbertN]

In my own experiences Japan must push into China - or China grows beyond control later on.

My way of doing it is to hit the Nationalists mainly - and to keep across the weather zone boundary because you need to swing up and down from that weather zone to have an offensive uptime of 100% pratically (Since one has european weather and the other is moonsoon that is good weather when in Europe is shit).

This is a game of force contration and Japan must screen zones vaguely, let the others attack you if needs to be, and push hard and savagely against the Nationalist. Which ontop of that have the issue of replacing units in general (Especially as many of their starting units are MILs of Cities not anymore in their possession; so at times even if they choose the Blitz table, and suffer a Shatter, you inflict indirect losses).

Let China grow too much, and you're screwed later on. You'll have a China producing like 6+ BPs per turn pressing against your troops; with your airplanes stretched to the minimum and your naval bombers recalled elsewhere for the naval war; on shortage of replacements and mostly of land actions to be taken.

Sit idle on the coast til late? If I am the Chinese player, I'll sign for it any given time. You do the Chinese game there.
It's like in comparison, Germany playing Sitzkrieg with Russia. You know the outcome.

[Mayhemizer_slith]

Can you feel Japanese pain?

I hope one of two things:
1) I would have chosen land and railed more troops to Manchuria or moved MIL to block CAV from cutting railroads. Combined was useless as USSR rolled 1 and sunk/aborted all CP's.
2) Turn would have ended after my impulse [:)]

[AllenK]

Break down Corps/Armies

Germany breaks down 5-3 INF in Budapest into 2-3 INF div and 1-4 MOT div.

Italy scraps fighter.

Production

Germany 14
2x INF
FTR-2
ENG div
2x Sub (1st)
Save 1 BB in Königsberg

Italy 8
2x FTR-2
Pilot
2x Sub (1st)

Japan 6
3x TER

China 7
Inx x2
Cav Div

CW 19

Ftr-3 x2
Pilot x2
CV 2nd
CP
Inf x2

France 3
Retrain pilot
Terr x2

US 10
Terr
Ftr-2
Pilot x2
Trans

USSR 15
Mil x3
Inf HQ
Ftr-2
Pilot

Germans declares Vichy. A 5 puts 2 chits in the US pool.

French government relocates to Algeria.

[Centuur]

Interesting. However, I don't think I would have chosen Algeria to be the Free French Home country. I would probably have gone for Morocco, since Algiers is too far in the Med, therefore vulnerable for an Italian attack. And if that attacks succeeds, the Free French force pool gets halved again...

[AllenK]

Factory destruction

Rouen
2x Paris
2x Lille

M/A 40

Initiative: Axis 6, Allies 10. Axis reroll. Axis 5, Allies 8. Allies go first.

Weather roll 4 (modded to 6).

[Mayhemizer_slith]

Japs are doomed!!! [:(]

[Jagdtiger14]

I don't think I would have made Algeria the Free French capitol either, but that risk depends on German strategy. Morocco is only slightly less dangerous than Algeria.

These Vichy results are an Axis Med strategy dream come true!

[Jagdtiger14]

What's the worst thing that can happen to Japan at this moment? I cant imagine a "doomed" scenario...other than the eventual US crushing that happens. Even if Japan were to lose all of China and Manchuria (and all the ground units)...yes, this really sucks, but you still have Korea and Vlad...plus, Japan has the power to reload and invade where it wants to. Its still early in the game as well.

I would get the Marines ready.

[AllenK]

M/A 40 Allies 1

No DoW

USSR, China Land. CW, Naval. US, France Combined.

CW Trans in Bone goes to Gib. Trans in Malta brings Wavell to Bone. Queens bring IV Mot to bone. 3 BB and CA from Gib to West Med 3-box. Various escorts. 2 subs to West Med 3-box.

France sends 2 CL to East Med 0-box. US brings CV from East to West coast.

CW sends a ground strike against the Italian Inf in Algeria. USSR 122mm bombards Kirin.

The Soviets do well.

[AllenK]

As does the A-22.