Japanese Economy Advice

[Speedysteve]

Hi Guys,

Long time forumite here [:)] It's been about 4 years since I last played AE but with the current world scenario playing out, and quarantine my Dad and I decided to start a new AE game. It's been so long since I played I wanted to get the latest advice on the Japanese economy[8D]

We're playing a Stock historical 41 start game.

Would really appreciate your thoughts.

Planes

Don't R&D anything currently due past early 44?
Produce Kate's (30?)
Increase production/streamline production on A6M2, D3A, Oscar, Mavis, Sally, G4M, Jakes? If so suggested target production?

Industry

Stop Vehicle production when reach 10K in pool?
Armaments - increase?
HI - ?
Convert MSY to NSY - amount?
Increase Tokyo Repair yard to 50?

Ships

Accelerate all CV's upto and incl. those due in 44
Halt all AK production of those not underway
Halt all small SS production
Anything else?
AK conversion - which ones are best again and to what?

Thanks

[gervabit]

You can review these two pdfs, the one in Spanish is the one that answers several of your questions
https://mega.nz/file/CBNXzaSK#kJiUX1-Ut ... nfnfv1QihM
https://mega.nz/file/HAURVSiT#amNyfjwvo ... 3Y-93MTqhs

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Speedysteve

Hi Guys,

Long time forumite here [:)] It's been about 4 years since I last played AE but with the current world scenario playing out, and quarantine my Dad and I decided to start a new AE game. It's been so long since I played I wanted to get the latest advice on the Japanese economy[8D]

We're playing a Stock historical 41 start game.

Would really appreciate your thoughts.

Planes

Don't R&D anything currently due past early 44?
Produce Kate's (30?)
Increase production/streamline production on A6M2, D3A, Oscar, Mavis, Sally, G4M, Jakes? If so suggested target production?

Industry

Stop Vehicle production when reach 10K in pool?
Armaments - increase?
HI - ?
Convert MSY to NSY - amount?
Increase Tokyo Repair yard to 50?

Ships

Accelerate all CV's upto and incl. those due in 44
Halt all AK production of those not underway
Halt all small SS production
Anything else?
AK conversion - which ones are best again and to what?

Thanks

I am by no means an expert, and I was asking basically the same questions 3 months ago! But I also have a recent game going in 1942, so I think I can address a couple of these. I'm playing Scen 28, which is basically stock, with no supply from refineries.

Overall, you have to be conscious of burning too much supply; try not to overexpand factories for this reason. In 1944, if you have moved fuel and resources, eventually you will run low on supplies.

Airplane Builds: Depends alot on style of play; I don't think I am too aggressive

KATE: Build, but not a ton; maybe 20 a month?
SALLY: Build a handful of the Ic factories, like 5 or so, just to use the stockpile of old engines
A6M2: You'll need at least 100 a month, probably more
OSCAR: At least 50; maybe more. Don't go too nuts though, because once you get the Tojo you'll switch some units to that, and Oscar will become a secondary IJA Plane
A6M3: Build at least 3 research factories; before they produce, switch to A6M5 and later models
JAKES: At least 40; you'll need more than you think if you expand float groups
BETTY: Maybe 30 to 40?
SALLY: See comment on the Ic model; IIa, maybe 25 to 30? You may need more to replace all the 1E units, which stink; get rid of Sonias when you can
MAVIS: Don't build much; 6 or so? You'll want to switch to Emily
D3 VAL: Probably 30-40; you'll need to expand CV groups and build a stockpile in case you have a big loss.

That should get you started on planes

Expand Vehicles to 200 or so
Don't expand Armaments or HI initially. Don't ever expand LI, ever.
You don't really need more NSY; it's nice to have, but you can manage what you have. Don't expand MSY.
Accelerate all the CVs, except maybe Ryuho. I might also Accelerate Hiyo, but not Junyo; bring them in as a pair in May '42....saves points that way
Halt Yamato if you need the points, but keep building; pair her with Musashi
Don't build any subs unless you have extra points
Build all the DDs
Your choice on the cruisers
Your choice on Musashi; very expensive, but a good unit
Accelerate all the CVEs
Build TK and AO
Only build AK that convert to TK; stop all the rest

Convert some Aden Class xAK to AKE; a dozen or so
Covert a few Kyushu Class to AV; maybe 3-5

You need to mass convert xAKs at the beginning to add Troop Capacity; it takes just a few days, but you need tons

You also need to mass convert a whole bunch of xAK and xAKL to PB; focus on Ansyu-C converstion to PB. Does 14 knots; you need lots of them.

[RangerJoe]

Research the A6M2 Rufe as it is quicker and then switch to the A6M5.
Build the B5N1 Kate until the engines run out, as well as the Ida and the Nate. They are useful for training if nothing else and you already have the engines. By the time that you get the Tojo into production, the Nate engines should be used up.
Use the G3M3 Nell for your Naval 2E bomber units because of the nice range. Better than some Allied 4E bombers. They can make nice, long range attacks on under defended convoys in areas which the allies think that they are safe. They can also make some nice long ranged night bombing attacks on airfields and ports in the enemy rear areas. [:D]

If you expand your land based but carrier capable air units to their largest size, you will need many more planes. Use the Akagi to maximize them. Remove the second group of float planes from the cruisers, use the CS to maximize them. Produce Glens with the engines that you have for your subs, produce Jakes for all other float plane units. Use up the others, then convert to Jakes. You will have to expand engine factories to get a stockpile of 500+ engines for the research bonus plus the expansion of your carrier fighter units, plus upsizing any other air units. Look to the future for what engines that you will need that you can produce now and slowly start the stockpile. You may want to skip some models that have unique engines if later models use a common engine - especially if they end up with a lower service rating. Because of my increasing the size of my air units, my Kate2, Val, and Jake production is at 60 per month.

Expand the port at Fusan and maybe the Light Industry as well to increase both the resource demand and the ability to move those resources to the Home Islands. Expand the corresponding ports for Hokkaido and Honshu.

Start building forts wherever you will need them. They will also help with low level air defense as that determines the number and effectiveness of barrage balloons.

Mike Solli has an AAR somewhere that explains his economy. He works/worked in logistics. Kull has also done work for the Allies and Japan as well.[:D]

[Lowpe]

All of Japan's planes serve a purpose, but there are two that are extremely important.

Frank
Sam

The basic rule of thumb is you need to lose 3,000 Franks to counter the P47. Which is better than losing 10,000 oscars and zekes.

With the Sam being the most important plane. George is a very honorable mention, and the Jack is an excellent defensive fighter. If you get the Sam early enough, your CVs become a huge threat again and the tables will be turned against the Allies for a while.

You need to replace the Val.

You most likely need a strong night fighter presence and you will need to make a lot of models to get all 21 or so squadrons converted to night fighter duty.

You should pick one late war fighter and research it, say 10 size 30 factories on it.

[RADM.Yamaguchi]

now that Ranger Joe and Lowpe have responded i should probably wait for Inquistor to weigh in first but i've got a new PBEM going and this is my approach (it's scen 2 though so i have a little more wiggle room)

planes:
R&D"
i'm only researching early planes at first and switch to others later thereby using only 39 R&D factories all others will remain idle (if this works)
Ranger joe suggested i use a excel spreadsheet and i am and assuming fully repaired to 30 at 63% of available time gives me the following:
A6M5c ~ 7/9/42
Ki-44c ~ 7/3/42
Ki-43IV~ 9/8/42

Production:
A6M2 - 90
B5N1 - 10 (USE UP OLD ENGINES)
B5N2 - 30
C5M2 - 10
D3A1 - 60
E13A - 90 (RESIZE AND UPGRADE ALL)
G3M2 - 30
G4M1 - 30
H6K4 - 10
KI15 - 10
KI21 - 90 (UPGRADE ALL, USE FOREVER)
KI32 - 10 (USE UP ENGINES)
KI43 - 90 (UPGRADE ALL)
L3Y2 - 10
MC21 - 10

Whenever i get enough is just turn em off

Industry:
expand vehicles by 30 or so

Ships:
Building:
Accelerate all CVs till 44, all CVEs, CS, AV, AO, and as many DDs as possible
Stop/Halt all SS, AK, AP, CL
all the rest normal

Conversions:
All Ansyu - PB
All Kiso - ACM
All Tosu - CMc/AMc (Thanks Ranger Joe)
All Akasi - AKE
All Ehime - AD
All Yusen - AK-t
All Kyush - AV (when avail)
All Husim - AR (when avail)
All Toho - xAK-t
All Std-c - TK (when Avail)

i'm pretty dumb so i have to keep it simple

[USSAmerica]

I've got nothing for Japanese Production advice. I just wanted to say, "Hi Speedy!" [8D]

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: Speedysteve

We're playing a Stock historical 41 start game.

Would really appreciate your thoughts.

Planes

Don't R&D anything currently due past early 44?
Produce Kate's (30?)
Increase production/streamline production on A6M2, D3A, Oscar, Mavis, Sally, G4M, Jakes? If so suggested target production?

Beware of A6M2, it only upgrades to Sen Baku in late 1944. You will either turn off factories for two years, or lose lots of supply for conversion. This is your best fighter, until A6M3 arrives, and your only competent Carrier Capable fighter until A6M3a. Don't overproduce it, but definitely you don't want under-produce it in early war.
Your main problem are engines. You can't upgrade your production fast enough for all your demands. Think carefully about TOJOs, and TONYs. Both use exclusive engines, but are good enough to use them well into 1944.
Players like to produce old models, to use old engines. That saves you some HI.

Industry

Stop Vehicle production when reach 10K in pool?
Armaments - increase?
HI - ?
Convert MSY to NSY - amount?
Increase Tokyo Repair yard to 50?

The other way around. You have to increase Vehicle production. You can stop Armament production once your squads gets 1943 upgrade (make sure you have data patch, or it will be downgrade). From mid 1944 Japan gets lots of reinforcements, so you will have substantial armament need.
According to my tracker 50 MSY converted should be totally safe bet.

Ships

Accelerate all CV's upto and incl. those due in 44
Halt all AK production of those not underway
Halt all small SS production
Anything else?
AK conversion - which ones are best again and to what?

Submarines are great in 1942. Produce them. Midgets are useful as kind of local minefield, just put them in Bases which you suspect will be bombarded.
Like RADM.Yamaguchi said, you need lots of ACMs. You don't even have half needed for maintaining your minefields. And convert any transport you can into PB, you don't need that much carrying power.
Those xAKs with liquid space are great for hauling goods from DEI.

[Speedysteve]

Hi Guys,

Thanks so much for the replies and advice! Lots for me to think on! I think for Turn 1 I will just do the orders, moving of units, changing of airgroups and LCU prep. For Turn 2 I'll focus on the industry stuff and plan plane strategy and production

[Speedysteve]

Hi Q-Ball, Hi Mike. Hope you're both well? [:)][8D]

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Speedysteve

Hi Q-Ball, Hi Mike. Hope you're both well? [:)][8D]

Very, thanks! Just shut inside like the rest of us!!!

[Speedysteve]

Yes indeed! 'Odd' times for sure....

[PaxMondo]

I would echo Lowpe's comments and emphasize he is one of the most experienced, and best, IJ players in the forum. So I would listen to his advice carefully.

To that I would only add a couple of things:
1. I never turn off either VEH or ARM. I have never, ever run out of HI in a game. So, why not have some excess ARM? Lacking ARM would be terrible if you had HI, but ability to build ARM …
2. I prefer to RnD 2 (two) late war fighters, both Frank AND Sam with at least 10 factories each. It means most other aircraft come in at historical dates, and I am ok with that. Those two fighters arriving early and in BIG numbers are critical. With PDU ON, I also consider a 3rd fighter: either George or Jack. I prefer George, but truthfully Jack is just as good a choice.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

1. I never turn off either VEH or ARM.

In a scenario one style game, barring Japanese AutoVictory (which is possible btw), the Allies will be bombing the Home Islands sometime in 1944. Most AFBs are clueless about what to bomb and how to bomb, but every now and then they know what they are doing.

One of the best, if not the best TOE item Japan gets is the Type 3 Medium tank. It is seriously overpowered versus historical usage. It transforms the IJA!

I would even go so far as to convert a factory in Korea to making vehicles. I had one game where the only factory making vehicles was the one I switched in Korea the others bombed into rubble. Japan's only vehicles produced for over 6 months was that little hidden gem. I had to change stockpile settings in an attempt to funnel all that factories production into Type 3s -- but that only partially works depending upon what arrives each day.

Never, ever run out of vehicle points.

[PaxMondo]

Yeah, the type 3 Med Tank is a real gem. As you say, you need to have a large VEH reserve to be able to build out 3 divisions worth of it and 4 or more brigades of armor.

[RangerJoe]

How good would they be on defense on atolls? Backed by artillery and some infantry as padding?

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

How good would they be on defense on atolls? Backed by artillery and some infantry as padding?

Atoll defense, if needed, should always include multiple units one of which being an armored unit (even armored cars!).

Why, simply put the smaller armored units are the absolute last targeted by shore bombardments, many times I have absolutely destroyed an auto shock invasions by having an armored car (17av) unit there that survived thru multiple BB bombardments while all the other units there acted as a soak...unfortunately, they aren't the last targeted by aerial bombing.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Yeah, the type 3 Med Tank is a real gem. As you say, you need to have a large VEH reserve to be able to build out 3 divisions worth of it and 4 or more brigades of armor.

The Type 3 is way overrated in the game, anti armor value high enough to kill a JS-3 heavy tank which is just plain BS. But that's it about the tank and even the Type 1 tank has high enough anti armor value to kill pretty much any Allied tank it's going to meet.

The real benefit would be a high anti soft rating as this is what would give you an advantage but it only has 22 anti soft which isn't all that great. A USA 43 Rifle Squad also has 22 anti soft and it also has 55 anti armor which is 5 higher than the 50 armor rating of the Type 3 tank. No game changer to me and it also never turned the three IJ armor divisions into anything like Waffen-SS Panzer Divs for me in my games.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

The real benefit would be a high anti soft rating as this is what would give you an advantage but it only has 22 anti soft which isn't all that great. A USA 43 Rifle Squad also has 22 anti soft and it also has 55 anti armor which is 5 higher than the 50 armor rating of the Type 3 tank. No game changer to me and it also never turned the three IJ armor divisions into anything like Waffen-SS Panzer Divs for me in my games.

Type 3 also has increased range. I am not too worried about using Tanks to fight infantry, rather Japan needs to be able to counter Allied and especially Soviet tanks late game. Type 3 outperforms the Type 1 by miles.

[Speedysteve]

Hi guys. I’m still to do my plane and r&d production tweaking but up to day 3 now. Will do it next turn. I’ll post my thoughts on what I’m going to aim for.

First a couple more questions.

1.) what’s the criteria again for resource flow over sea? Thinking of Fusan to the HI and from Hakodate to Aomori. Does fuel/oil flow too?

2.) For R&D do you select the next plane in the chain then move the factories to the next one in line once they’re repaired etc?