ORIGINAL: guctony
ORIGINAL: SoliInvictus202
well I think there are basically two approaches to the Hawaiian Islands:
1) an early conquest with the "knowledge" that they, most likely, won't have been heavily reinforced - however it is highly unlikely that the Allied player will commit his carriers....
2) a later conquest (as FatR has analyzed it is recommended to still attempt it during the "invasion bonus") which might get the Japanese player the so much desired decisive battles, on his terms and without the involvement of much LBA, still during the time of Japanese Naval Aviation supremacy....however there are several aspects (especially the wish for a decisive battle) that would call for an invasion even after March '42
with more and more people trying this approach more and more AFBs will think about heavily reinforcing Christmas Island and actually moving the Inf Rgts at San Francisco to PH to rebuild the Divisions at some stage... (which is SOP anyway mostly by some) -
having looked at a possible PBEM with Reluctant Admiral as the Japanese myself I have come to the simple conclusion that PH is the one location anywhere on the map, where you can predict an Allied counter-invasion at some point. now of all places the Hawaiian Islands have the huge advantage that there is no way, whatsoever that the Allied player will bring in LBA support without considerable prior warning (recapture of MI or CI) - thus it is a very favourable spot to defend even later in the war...
now having read many approaches to this PH invasion, written by John 3rd or FatR or even the late war ideas of Nemo, I have become convinced that a move onto Hawaii is the one operation that will force the Allied player in a VERY costly counteroffensive at some stage....
I have considered others as well, like Perth, Ceylon, Australia, New Zealand (some operations must accompany the invasion of PH, as supporting operations).... but none of these are as necessary as Pearl Harbor...I stand corrected, but I am pretty convinced that I am right there....
just a few thoughts on this PH-business - sorry for hijacking the AAR, John 3rd
PS: if the invasion of PH does not delay the Allied player somewhere in the Indian Ocean, then it will seriously hamper any offensive moves in CenPac and SoPac - if accompanied by other invasions like Perth and/or Noumea/Marquesas/Fiji/Pago Pago even more possible axis of advance can be eliminated
It seems very rational to PH in RA scenario. I tried it with a very good opponent. At first war seemed like over. 4 allied CVs down in 4 month time along with 13 BBs. A line From PH to Suva drawn. But in the end the lower amounth of fuel and supply had diminished my effort. And for a clever Allied player you put a big dent to your defence posture. Look at Witp AE map as your pc desktop image. In game map the distances are not so much but in reality PH is way way too far away to effectively follow double front quick reaction business.
Same situation occurred in my RA70 game w/ DH. I did/have projected into hawaii, then I start having fuel problems across the empire. Takes about 3 months of fuel production to recover.
now in 43 i am on a shoestring.
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