Islands of Destiny: RA 5.0 Japanese Side

[pws1225]

Unless you know you will need a ton of Ha-44 engines, I would turn those off too. And depending on what your xAK inventory looks like, you can probably turn off all merchant ship yards. Same goes for naval shipyards with the exception of DDs and E boats with high ASW ratings. Those HI points are better spent on late war fighters IMHO.

Although I am not as experienced a JFB as many on this forum, I have played one PBEM into mid-1945 and found that the late game is just as much fun as the early and mid-game phases. It just requires a different mindset. Here is what I learned from my vast experience of going the distance one time. [:'(]

Broadly speaking, in the early phase of the war a JFB's mindset should be focused on expansion and securing the borders of the Empire (the JFB's 'happy times' of running amok almost any where on the map). During the middle (plundering) phase, the mindset should turn to fortification and hauling as much loot (fuel, oil, and resources) back to the Home Islands as possible. But in the late game IMHO, a JFB's mindset needs to shift over to playing the role of spoiler. During the late war, the Allies have simply grown too strong to defeat and Japan has become the underdog. But as every good underdog knows (paraphrasing Kenneth Grahame), there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply denying the favored side their anticipated victory. In game terms, that means denying the AFB's anticipated major Allied victory by VJ day. In fact, due to the wonders of 20-20 historical hindsight, you can consider this goal to be the single strategic objective of the entire war. Every tactical decision you make from Dec 7 onwards can be evaluated by gauging how well it helps you achieve this single goal of denying your Allied opponent his victory. The proof of how well you played the game lies in the 'pudding' of the final phase of the game. [;)]

So with this strategic goal in mind, you can evaluate how well any course of action you take will help you achieve your ends. In this vein, I see all the sound advice you have received from more experienced players than me such as ny59giants, Obvert, Lowpe, Grafin, etc. all seem consistent with this goal: play for the long game. And as far as doing a banzai charge with your SCTFs as 1225psi and I described in prior posts, while it is great fun, I consider it at this late stage of the war as being a desperation move best left until later. If it were me, I would wait until Canoe moves to close the circle around the Home Islands by invading Okinawa, Formosa, Hong Kong, or Can Ranh Bay. Then, only if the situation is right and you are prepared and the attack offers a good chance of frustrating Steve's plans and will delay an Allied victory would I do it. That's a lot of 'ands', but damn it sure is fun! [:)]

So there's my two cents worth of wisdom. Use it as you see fit. Some might see this strategic vision of playing the game as being excessively modest. Maybe it is, but can you realistically expect to do any better? I don't think so. Besides, having some strategic vision is better than having no strategic vision at all.

[John 3rd]

Expected to come home and find a bunch of Postings but have to admit I am disappointed. Read pws's comments prior to leaving and thought Michael would have throw the HOLY Hand Grenade from using Tracker on two of my turns. Alas--it was not be since those turns hung up in my email all day. He now has them and I can expect a raking over the coals anytime here on the thread.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: John 3rd


As said before I am sending a large number of AKs--50+--to pick up the last of the major INF, CD, HQ, and ENG/BF units from around the perimeter. They can really be used to help elsewhere. Have been doing this for quite a while but want to grab the rest of them while I still can.

Pretty much lost all oil/fuel in Borneo with the notable exception of Balikpapan. Palembang, Java, and Sumatra still doing A OK without any serious threats currently.

Make sure as Lowpe said to turn off refuel for all transport TFs. Use the AKs with healthy full bunkers and run them dry.

Judging from the Allied position, all of your fuel/oil shipments are in immediate jeopardy. If he has bases on the Western PI he can just send in marauding Fletchers and hit any convoys you send around the edge of Indochina. It's a one day flank run for Fletchers (at 16-18 hexes).

If he gets serious all of your old fields are already in B-29 range and some in B-24 range.

You have about 2-4 months of HI stored and about 3 months of fuel to run industry saved. You have enough supply to run the Empire for a 3-4 month period but that all depends on where it's located vs where you're fighting. So if he shuts off the oil/fuel spigot now you're done before Jan 45. Probably much sooner. [:(]

All of this depends on your opponent's interest in shutting down your industry. In the meantime use only your big and fast tankers. You can't risk oil/fuel in 12-14 knot ships through the South China Sea now. Only the Tonan 15 knot and other large 18 knot TK/AO. (Do stop production of all TK/merchant ships as you won't need more).

You are going to make John fail his PMC.[X(]

Japan's economy will fail no matter what, but you will still have light industry cranking out supply so you can fight. And the economy failing is simply your HI shutting down. Hey, that is not the end of the world.[;)]

You just need to realize all fuel is destined for HI factories for as long as it lasts. Any ship adventures need to be pulled from the bunker of other ships. You might even be able to grow your fuel supply by eliminating a lot of shipping and pulling from the bunkers.

1. Ship fuel and oil back. Heck with Obvert's advice about using only fast tankers, try with everything until you fail. Be creative. You might really surprise yourself about how much you can get out and back. Especially if the ships are there now in the DEI/Singers.

2. Rescue troops.

Really think hard on any other use of fuel except to power your Heavy Industry.

Heavy Industry:

1. Turn off all merchant builds. If fuel gets really scarce later on, and you have the HI, you can turn it back on for a few days to build some ships and then drain their fuel once they arrive.

2. Look at naval ship builds with a very critical eye. Try to shut some off here. Try and shut a lot off here.

3. Never turn vehicles off. Ever.

4. I didn't look at armaments, but at some point that can be turned off too. Most likely.

More later as I think on it.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

You are going to make John fail his PMC.[X(]

Japan's economy will fail no matter what, but you will still have light industry cranking out supply so you can fight. And the economy failing is simply your HI shutting down. Hey, that is not the end of the world.[;)]

Canoe rebel is less aggressive about wrecking industry than Jocke was in my game. John has some hope to get to 45, but at this point he needs to know what all of these numbers mean. LI will still produce ir resources are stockpiled, but I'd hazard a guess there aren't more than a few months worth in the HI. So the shipping of resources from Hokkaido, Sakhalin and Manchuria needs to be on full throttle too. [:)]

You just need to realize all fuel is destined for HI factories for as long as it lasts. Any ship adventures need to be pulled from the bunker of other ships. You might even be able to grow your fuel supply by eliminating a lot of shipping and pulling from the bunkers.

1. Ship fuel and oil back. Heck with Obvert's advice about using only fast tankers, try with everything until you fail. Be creative. You might really surprise yourself about how much you can get out and back. Especially if the ships are there now in the DEI/Singers.

I'm assuming here he has a plethora of large fast tankers now for the remaining ports since thee are not as many to ship from. You don't want 12 knot ships chugging through Allied infested waters for days getting lit up by search, then torched at leisure. Get through fast!

[ny59giants]

First screen shot is Industry - Global.

NO VEHICLES!!!

[obvert]

Can you isolate for the Home Islands?

[ny59giants]

Now on to Supply & Fuel...Looks like you need to get some TKs down to Java.

[ny59giants]

Now Oil & Res.... looks like you need to get over to Hokkaido to pull out its Oil.

[Lowpe]

We don't need no stinkin vehicles. Just tanks in June of 1944![:D]

Not good fuel picture there...

[ny59giants]

Now to the bases in Japan....

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: obvert

I'm assuming here he has a plethora of large fast tankers now for the remaining ports since thee are not as many to ship from. You don't want 12 knot ships chugging through Allied infested waters for days getting lit up by search, then torched at leisure. Get through fast!

Ok, you are right...but only because there is so little oil and fuel to pull.[:)]

[ny59giants]

Where all you HI is being spent....

[John 3rd]

I had a bathtub brainstorm. Dan and I have made a ridiculous agreement on no night-bombing of bases or ports. Will NOT repeat that mistake next game.

There is no discussion on night naval attacks by air. Has anyone tried this? Was just reading my Fast Carriers book and it spoke at length on this topic. I have 3-4 Daitai of Frances and 3-4 Daitai of Jills that could be set to night naval attack in the Philippines Area. Is this something to ponder or useless?

[ny59giants]

Naval Shipbuilding still going for ......

[John 3rd]

On TKs. Have three BIG TF of TKs presently. One of AOs. One TF of TK and the AOs are heading south past CRB moving to Singers. The second TK TF is leaving the Home Islands moving SW. The last TK TF is approaching the Home Islands carrying 90,000 Fuel and 80,000 Oil.

There was 100,000 more Oil in Hokkaido but it just got moved to the Home Islands. Will continue to gradually ship it there but want my big TKs moving for at least one more fuel run.

[ny59giants]

Engines...one of my favorite parts of Tracker!! [&o]

[ny59giants]

IJA Planes...building and R&D

[ny59giants]

IJN Planes....building and R&D

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I had a bathtub brainstorm. Dan and I have made a ridiculous agreement on no night-bombing of bases or ports. Will NOT repeat that mistake next game.

There is no discussion on night naval attacks by air. Has anyone tried this? Was just reading my Fast Carriers book and it spoke at length on this topic. I have 3-4 Daitai of Frances and 3-4 Daitai of Jills that could be set to night naval attack in the Philippines Area. Is this something to ponder or useless?

Don't hold your breath, here. Works once in a blue moon.

You need high dl, night naval search, very short range, good weather, and moonlight and radar helps too. Very difficult to pull off. Emily works well, because, when they do fly they are tough and shoot twice.

I once put 300 Betties with radar on night naval strike against the Allied Deathstar...50% damaged or sunk (my Betties) not a single hit that I recall.

[John 3rd]

DRAT! Lowpe--I am now going back to the bathtub for further inspiration.
[:'(]