JFB in charge of the USN??? BtS Lite ver. 4.5 Kitakami (A) vs Falken (J)

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

CV recon: F2A-2P and 3P models come out in early 42. Then, the F4F-7 comes out in late 42. Air groups VMD-1 & 2 arrive around Apr 42. VSX-1 & 2 in Dec 42 and Jan 43.

Another goodie in mid-Dec 42...The Americans get an Armored Div that normal is withdrawn. It's NOT!!! However, you will need to stockpile 6 months worth of Sherman's to fill out the TO&E.

These were Michael's ideas from earlier versions and I think they add a nice touch.

Is your fiendish opponent working on Turn ONE? Is he going to have an AAR?

[DOCUP]

Good advise by NYgiants. Following

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd
<snip>
Is your fiendish opponent working on Turn ONE? Is he going to have an AAR?

Yes he is, and no, he probably won't. But perhaps you could convince him

[ny59giants]

Saving Fuel: The Allies have plenty of it in the USA. When moving your many TFs from USA to SoPac and Australia. There is a method to ensure you allow for stockpiles to grow. I tend to use Christmas island and Vava'u (largest port potential in this area) as my way points and potential refueling points. Set your TFs to "Do Not Refuel." Once they unload and are coming back to USA, DO NOT go for "Full Refuel" at that base to soak up fuel from there. Rather, get the TF back to one of these two waypoints to take on fuel. Once you get to those bases, set destination and home port as San Fran. Switch to "Minimal Refuel" and refuel from port. Hopefully you will refuel just enough so when your TF gets back to San Fran, your TF is in the red. You don't want to come back to USA with lots and lots of fuel in your bunkers.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Saving Fuel: The Allies have plenty of it in the USA. When moving your many TFs from USA to SoPac and Australia. There is a method to ensure you allow for stockpiles to grow. I tend to use Christmas island and Vava'u (largest port potential in this area) as my way points and potential refueling points. Set your TFs to "Do Not Refuel." Once they unload and are coming back to USA, DO NOT go for "Full Refuel" at that base to soak up fuel from there. Rather, get the TF back to one of these two waypoints to take on fuel. Once you get to those bases, set destination and home port as San Fran. Switch to "Minimal Refuel" and refuel from port. Hopefully you will refuel just enough so when your TF gets back to San Fran, your TF is in the red. You don't want to come back to USA with lots and lots of fuel in your bunkers.

Thanks, and a question... what should the fuel levels be at those refueling stations?

[ny59giants]

Christmas Island - 50 to 100k
Vava'u - 100 to 200k (this will continue to go up as you expand the port size)

Dutch TK/AOs. - Don't get them sunk! I run then to/from Soerabaja to Broome/Port Hedland as much as possible. Some of the small Ducth xAK/xAKLs are useful to get in/out of small ports later on.

Aussie based xAK/xAKLs - some convert to xAPs which come in handy.

[Lecivius]

Agreed. Even the little AO's are very useful late in the war. I also like to pull the Cavite support group, and set it somewhere safe and useful. You just don't get a lot of navy support in this game ( I never have enough, ever [:D] ). I'm watching this with vast interest.

[Kitakami]

@ ny59giants, thank you for your abundant advice!

@ Lecivius, I will take a look at the Cavite support group. I am still in the process of getting to know what I have where. Thanks!

[ny59giants]

Malaya - When the "thundering herd" leaves, I load up an Air HQ (you have two on the peninsula). Every Japanese players hates those damn Vildebeest and Swordfish. [:@] Placing it at Palembang or another size 2 AF can be nasty surprise.

Sumatra - You may need some Aviation Support here if you plan to get those short legged fighters in Malaya up to Burma/India. Port Blair is important to hold it you do.

[Kitakami]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
Malaya - When the "thundering herd" leaves, I load up an Air HQ (you have two on the peninsula). Every Japanese players hates those damn Vildebeest and Swordfish. [:@] Placing it at Palembang or another size 2 AF can be nasty surprise.

Sumatra - You may need some Aviation Support here if you plan to get those short legged fighters in Malaya up to Burma/India. Port Blair is important to hold it you do.

Following your train of thought:

1. Is it worth it to land a British division in Sumatra?
2. Is it worth it to land a brigade in Port Blair?

These are thoughts that have come up, but I don't have the experience to say yes or no...

[Lecivius]

Whatever you land in Port Blair is going to get well and truly hammered by Japanese Air. Plus it will be a cast iron PIA to supply. It can be held, but it will be expensive. It's a major thorn in the Japanese side if you do hold it, but it's hard. Plan accordingly.

[John 3rd]

ANYTHING that goes into Sumatra should be written off. If you get something out then that is great but it is better to plan on loosing ANYTHING that goes into Sumatra.

I like it when the Allied player tries to hold Port Blair...

[Bif1961]

I normally but a British Division in Palmebang it denies it to the Japanese for normally 6+ months and ruins the oil wells once he takes it after a protracted battle. Downside, you lose a very good British Division and it is hard the rebuild since the British don't have a lot of squads per turn showing up as replacements, and the lowered experience.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: Bif1961

I normally but a British Division in Palmebang it denies it to the Japanese for normally 6+ months and ruins the oil wells once he takes it after a protracted battle. Downside, you lose a very good British Division and it is hard the rebuild since the British don't have a lot of squads per turn showing up as replacements, and the lowered experience.

On just that possibility, I get there to TAKE Palembang BEFORE substantial troops can be brought in!

[PaxMondo]

Yeah, think about things as the normal IJ player you are. You should know exactly what you like to see and what you hate to see as the IJ. The latter items are what you want to do.


Things like
Take Adak early and reinforce it big. Force the IJ to send the KB up there if they want it.
Reinforce Diego Garcia. Again, goal is to force the IJ to commit the KB way out there.
Create a blood bath in Burma. Force action there with Indian troops ...
etc

Right? Get the KB sailing across the globe ... stalemates that eat up supply. things like that. Its easier switching (I think) from IJ to allies as a player because the IJ holds the initiative early and you know exactly what can slow that down.

[John 3rd]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Yeah, think about things as the normal IJ player you are. You should know exactly what you like to see and what you hate to see as the IJ. The latter items are what you want to do.


Things like
Take Adak early and reinforce it big. Force the IJ to send the KB up there if they want it.
Reinforce Diego Garcia. Again, goal is to force the IJ to commit the KB way out there.
Create a blood bath in Burma. Force action there with Indian troops ...
etc

Right? Get the KB sailing across the globe ... stalemates that eat up supply. things like that. Its easier switching (I think) from IJ to allies as a player because the IJ holds the initiative early and you know exactly what can slow that down.

The Japanese player had better be careful. These are not the Aleutians one is used to... [:D]

[ny59giants]

Rather than the traditional KB being 6 CVs operating off Hawaii, you have 4 parts to content with. Three TFs made up of 2 CVs, CVL plus KB-4 of 3 CVLs (CRB). KB-1 & 2 at Pearl, KB-3 at Babeldoab. Keep track of them the best you can.

As Allies, you will have 4 American CVs as of Jan 1st. There are some CVL and CLV hybrids that have limited use that you will want to convert to full CVLs. You can cause some havoc, but you have to be careful.

I would open up a game as Japan to see how things have changed. There have been some re-positioning of forces from my game vs Gen Patton to this version. Don't be surprised to see something show up in new area.

[Kitakami]

@all, many, many THANKS!

I guess the name of the game is do unto him what you'd hate to be done unto you... a very interesting mindset to look at things from. These are my current thoughts:

- Diego Garcia I had not considered. It is now on my list.
- The Aleutians are now quite interesting. I see four bases with increased garrisons, base forces, construction troops, and even a CD unit. To take them it will take a major operation now.
- For me, the Japanese economy has always been the deciding factor. It is in a much lowered state. If I can make Falken overspend, and I can delay his getting the resources he needs, I stand a good chance, notwithstanding slightly higher early losses. I know. I have crashed the Japanese economy a couple of times .
- Japanese flattops... I must be where they are not, I think. Take little bites, win little battles. Be strong where he is weak. Be absent where he is strong, unless I must hold on to something.
- Burma is a theater I need to give enough attention to. I'll reinforce it as much as I can without leaving India open for an invasion. Still, even if India is invaded, I think it is not that easy to conquer.

My esteemed opponent sent me an email last night, with a status report:

Hi,

Just wanted to give you an update... Turn 1 still going on.
So far, i've done:
- Industry, Engine, Airframes, Unit Resize changes (very minimal), Bases, LCUs, and existing Non-Sub TFs.

Left to do:
- Existing Sub TFs, Airgroups, Test of Turn with existing TFs w/Airgroup settings, and then I have to start creating the new TFs. Although there are about 300 of those, they usually only take me 3-4 days.

If everything goes well, should be done everything by end of the week, then it's game time.

That means we should see the results of the first 2-day turn soon. Once again, thanks all for reading this and for pitching in.

[BBfanboy]

One small point about the old USN DDs - if you do the first upgrade available in the game (in stock), you can no longer convert them to APDs! Not sure if that little surprise is still in the BTS scenarios.

[John 3rd]

I hate two day turns!