Basic Allied Strategy

BruceAZ · Post by **BruceAZ** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:13 am

I have a dumb question (or questions) but can’t seem to find an answer in the past posts or other forums. I am hoping someone can give me the basics without too much trouble. Hopefully, this will help the other newbies. [8|]

I do not want to start a game that will last a long period of time only to find out in my 40th turn that I made a basic error in strategy. Soooo, can someone(s) give me some basic pointers to start the game from the Allied point of view? There seems to be a lot for the IJN but little for the Allies. [X(]

I don’t want to get bogged down in a campaign only to find out my opening strategy was flawed…

1. For example, I need to build a base network to support the war and was going to follow the historical lines. But what are some good base locations or pointers?

2. I know I will lose the Philippines, so should I save as much as I can? The same with the Dutch?

3. I want to try and save Singapore but this looks hopeless too especially if the AI starts pulling assets. Is this a good plan or foolhardy?

4. I assume I will be in a defensive mode and must protect Australia. I really like the Shortlands because of their excellent harbor but it does not seem practical at this early stage. Where would you recommend the build-up to begin?

5. My gut feeling is to send all AK’s and TK’s full of supplies or fuel to initial buildup points before I turn them into auto-convoys and save the AP’s for troop movements, etc. Good plan?

6. Is it wise to upgrade your only two carriers with better planes, initially, or send them to sea to keep the AI off balance? I know they are critical and I cannot afford to lose them but war is a game of risks.

Any advice or help is appreciated.

Recon
Semper Fi

SunDevil_MatrixForum · Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:20 am

BruceAZ · Post by **BruceAZ** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:24 am

Thanks Sun Devil. I am going through a big learning curve and can use all the help I can get.

Recon
Semper Fi

Raverdave · Post by **Raverdave** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:25 am

Trade time and space, fight with everything that you already have in place to try and slow the Jap down.................you have to look towards surival until '43 when you can start hitting back.

SunDevil_MatrixForum · Tue Aug 03, 2004 4:27 am

Ok I ran about 8 different searches with the search function, then went back 34 pages to July 8th and worked my way up. I encourage anybody with more tips to help us allied players out and contribute to this thread.

rogueusmc · Post by **rogueusmc** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 5:07 am

And he encourages me to continue being a pain in the @$$...[:D]

Just kidding...I leave everything where it is and try to cause the Jap as many problems as I can.

I expand and fortify all of my Oz bases as well as the Russian and Indian bases. And I set all the units at these bases to auto upgrade and reinforce.

DrewMatrix · Post by **DrewMatrix** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 6:58 am

Really short suggestion about evacuating/staying in PI/DEI. You can't pull everything out. Big units are expensive in Political Points. So I spend my PPs pulling out techincal units (bases/engineers). The Big Infantry units I delay with.

Re Aircraft I use them aggressively (low altitude = 5000 ft for lvl bombers and 100 feet for Ftrs) vs AK/APs That way I a) lose a lot of planes I figure I would lose anyway b) cost the IJ transport he really needs c) get some of my air units to high experience (60s and 70s) pretty fast. You can disband to merge the shreds of the Dutch AF.

The Dutch Air Units are cheaper in PPs to move out than many of the US (if I save US units I save several small ones, not one, huge 48 sized unit). But the Dutch can't upgrade until mid 42.

Oh yeah, don't move all the PI/DEI units you save to Oz/New Guinea. Send some to the Burma/Indian Ocean area.

Just my $0.02

sacorsair · Post by **sacorsair** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 8:16 am

One thing I have done vs the Ai is you pull all the USN Flush Deck DDs and send them to SF for convoy duty they get there fast and they arnt worth a flip in surface combat anyway.

ctid98 · Post by **ctid98** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 10:26 am

Haven't played PBEM yet so this is what I tend to do against the AI.

1) Reinforce Midway and Wake if you still have it with a small base force and CD unit and then move a fighter squadron and PBY's there to search for a sneaky AI move. Not very likely....

2) The South Pacific, all those empty bases and no one to send to them. I set my warships to patrol a few hex's south of Rabaul and Lae and set to react. This should drive off any early attempts to grab these. You may even be able to get more units up there.

3) Malaya. I grab everybody I can from India and send them to Singapore. Make sure you replace the crap generals with ones that will fight. Slowly fight your way back to Singapore making sure not to leave people isolated, you'll need all the troops you can get. Set all aircraft to naval attack. The AI sends ships like lambs to the kebab house. The hex's around Singapore, have naval TF's there to intercept the AI's trying to land on the West coast. I have about 4 of them and their all under Singapores CAP. Last night the AI sent a dozen plus AK's with no escort and ran into 2 BB's plus escorts, in daylight! OUCH!

4) The PI. You can't get any supplies in without heavy loses, so try to cause as much trouble with the troops as you can.

5) Get your subs out hunting, all of them!

Beyond the first 2-3 months, wait it out and try to hit and run without risking too much.

2ndACR · Post by **2ndACR** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 10:38 am

ctid98,

Your Malaya plan might work against the AI, but it would plain get alot of troops slaughtered against a PBEM opponent.
Singapore is way too easy to isolate. I feel you would be better off building a defense line above Rangoon.

But I am a IJN player.

ctid98 · Post by **ctid98** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 10:53 am

Trust me, Singapore can die in PBEM!!!

Unless they release a patch were troops can swim, there on their own.......

Damn, should have been, 'their on their own!'

tsimmonds · Post by **tsimmonds** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 12:12 pm

ORIGINAL: ctid98

Trust me, Singapore can die in PBEM!!!

Unless they release a patch were troops can swim, there on their own.......

Damn, should have been, 'their on their own!'

Or maybe even, "they're on their own."[;)]

ctid98 · Post by **ctid98** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 12:28 pm

Indeed, one day I'll master it. But not today, too busy playing WitP!

UncleBuck · Post by **UncleBuck** » Tue Aug 03, 2004 4:47 pm

Well for DEI, I try to play a Concentration game. I look at it as a Dutch CiC would view it. I have lots of small units spread out over a large area. I pick places to choke off sea lanes and move subs there. I then also do the same with Air assets. I send as many Base force and Squadrons I can scrounge together to strong points that can cut sea lanes as well. Example. Batavia and Sorebaja have lots of supply and can produce their own supply so good spots to build up forces. Same with Palembang. I leave troops and planes in Singapore to harass JP movements and consolidate to the two hexes adjacent to Singapore to hold out as long as I can. I also put a strong point at Balipapkan and move Trakan forces there. There is a nice little strait enemy forces have to come through where you can put mines and subs. Kendari is another strongpoint; it produces its own supply. I also leave a small detachment at Bali, and Koepang. These two bases give me the ability to hop the shorter range aircraft to and from the other bases. This gives me two more fall back positions and a place to stage fighters to give wounded ships a hiding place. AS for Shortlands it is nice but to early.

Remember that you have a long road ahead. DO not try to do too much too soon. You can never have too many supplies, or to much training for your troops. I find that making Palmyra or Christmas Island an interim supply point is good. I do not send massive supply convoys to OZ off the bat but send them to Palmyra and a sustenance convoy to NZ. I use the large convoys to PH, another to Palmyra, and then another to Auckland. I keep Auckland supplied with supplies, but it is storage for Resources and Oil. Then I can do short haul to Sydney to supply OZ. I believe this saves Sys damage on long hauls, and builds up supply at major points faster. Lots of two week trips instead of one big two month trip.

In the South Pacific, I build up Suva (Fiji) and Pago-Pago. These are to support forward bases at Baker Island, Noumea Atoll and Canton Island. This allows me to cover the Gilberts and the approaches south from Truk. I can't really do much about it, but if I see a force coming I can try to get the transports out of the way.

As for setting up the supply chain. Dedicate 10 AK (7kers) to upgrade to support ships in SF. Detail some of the AK's to Suva and capture the ones in the SOPAC already and keep them there. Once you evac the transports out of PI, and DEI you can't use all of them. Move them to Southern Australia and NZ to support these areas. The allies in 1941-42 s all about pre-positioning and logistics. Do not go on the offensive. DO raids and get forces in position for Future operations. Move them into Port Moresby, Noumea, and Brisbane. Pick where you want them to go and let them train.

The Offensive weapons you have are subs and ML's. Use your surface forces to cover carriers doing practice runs on JP out posts. Just bide your time, not get anxious.

UB

BruceAZ · Post by **BruceAZ** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 3:22 am

ORIGINAL: SunDevil

Ok I ran about 8 different searches with the search function, then went back 34 pages to July 8th and worked my way up. I encourage anybody with more tips to help us allied players out and contribute to this thread.

Wow! [X(] This is pretty impressive! Maybe someone should put together a strategy manual to capture all these great tips against the AI. Thanks again Sun Devil. [:)]

Recon
Semper Fi

chili614 · Post by **chili614** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:32 pm

I too have only played the AI so far, but this strategy has worked for me as the Allies.

Pull all forces in the Phillipines to Clark and Manila. Turn off repair, move the planes to DEI, and pull as much supply as possible from the outer bases with single AK's. Move the rest of the ships to DEI. You will eventually run out of supplies, but this will tie up the Japanese for a few months. Send all your subs out on day one.

Move everything you have in Malaysia to Singapore ASAP and start a supply convoy from Karachi on Turn 1. Set fighters to CAP and bombers to naval strike and do not attack the Japanese besieging the base (stay behind those defences!) This worked for me and I was able to lift the siege in July of '42. Move all units in India to Rangoon ASAP as this is the lynchpin of the entire arena. Once you driveback the assault on Rangoon, COUNTERATTACK! The Japanese send almost everything to Singapore, you may well be able to take back Malaysia, Burma, and quite a bit of Indochina without significant opposition. Move British ships up to Columbo or such until some reinforcements arrive and/or the Bettys move down to DEI so you can harass shipping with them.

In Dutch East Indies, you have to accept that Borneo is a goner. Send planes and ships to Java and Sumatra and have them wait to interdict invasions of these islands. Concentrate forces in Batavia, Palembang, Medan, and Sorijaba. Send the Dutch PT's to Singapore where they can make hit and run raids on AK's unloading at Jahore. Dutch (with the ships from PI) naval forces can cause quite a bit of damage but watch out for Japanese carriers. I forgot about them and lost the whole of my ABDA fleet.

Baker Island, Canton Island, Suva, Midway, and Wake (if you have it) are good bases to build up to stage for Central Pacific (Gilberts, Mariannas) invasions as shipping becomes available in '43.

I used the US carriers for hit and run raids on Truk and Rabaul but avoided major combat. They took some damage, but nothing significant (I think Enterprise took 20 sys at one point...) Planes based in DEI and Singapore eventually sank 4 Japanese CV's and by this time I went looking for the remaining carriers with my 6 CV's.

I am only in Sep of '42 right now, but this has worked for me. I held Rangoon and Singapore, destroyed the Japanese attackers at Singapore, took back Malaysia, Siam, and Burma, and have taken all of Indochina except Hanoi. Hanoi is defenseless now, but I am not taking it so I can push the retreating units in Indochina into Haiphong and destroy them. I repelled 3 invasions of Java and one of Sumatra with surface task forces before they were destroyed by Japanese carriers. My air forces now harrass Japanese ships trying to pick up resources. The Japanese push down the Solomons was stopped mainly by luck. I just happened to send 3 CV's there to raid Rabaul and caught the main IJN invasion force unescorted and decimated it. The Phillipines held out until June of '42 but finally fell. The invasion of the Gilberts will probably begin in January.

SunDevil_MatrixForum · Fri Aug 06, 2004 4:24 am

bump

Caltone · Post by **Caltone** » Fri Aug 06, 2004 4:46 am

ORIGINAL: SunDevil

BruceAZ I will post some different threads that answer some of your questions. This is by no means comprehensive, and some of your questions I do not think have been brought on this board.

Dedicated to the Allied Fan Boys [:D]

Shipping in the first few days as Allies
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D648338

Defending Burma and India
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D656947

British Navy Tips (Singapore and India)
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D659737

More Burma Strategy (Retaining Ragoon)
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D667163

These 6 links have to do with amphibious assualts and bombardments
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23655527

http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23647383

http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23677642

http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23664113

http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23657108

http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D677642

Counteracting Japanese Player Lingering at PH strategy
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23672640

Number of Escorts in a Convoy
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23672043

Allied First Day Questions
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23675876

Allied Support Ship Question
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23669567

Austrailian Supply
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23677555

Rail-Road Supply to Darwin Austrailia
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23670488

Loading Troops Tips
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23668515

Barge and PT Boat Respawning
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23668413

Sub Tenders Question
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23668265

Respawn of US CAs and CLs
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23672698

Allied HQ questions
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23667822

Saving the B-17s at the Philipines
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23668573
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23671182

SIGINT advice for allies
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23669530

Converting Transport AK's to other important utility ships *****
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... 6%23673088

Allied Production Tips
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D656139

West Coast Units
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D656628

Repairing Planes
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D657480

Supply/Resources and Oil
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D657899

More HQ questions
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D658129

Scouting with subs
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D660039

More Transport strategy for Allies
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D665358

Air Unit Transfer
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D662790

ASW Patrol vs Naval Search
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D668626

Saving the ABDA HQ
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D668680

Allied Advance from N. Austrailia
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D676700

More Allied Production
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D662768

Early Game Dutch Help
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D678806

Allied Plane Production
http://www.matrixgames.com/default.asp? ... m%3D681122

This was all I could find for now, if anything is left unanswered that it will have to be discussed in this thread. Hope this helps everyone.

Holy Mackerel Sapphire [X(] that's alotta links

BruceAZ · Post by **BruceAZ** » Sat Aug 07, 2004 6:49 pm

Another shameless bump for other newbies playing as the Allies against the AI. [:D] (Good stuff in this post!! Some of you have this game down pat! [&o])

Recon
Semper Fi

SGT Swanson · Post by **SGT Swanson** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 12:19 am

Well BruceAZ when your ready for your first PBEM game, just let me know.

sgt.swanson@leswanson.org

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