Do the Japanese keep trying?

[Kull]

By letting them take Canton, it helps the AI? It’s a big thorn in the Australia convoy chain if it goes ( and was not historically taken). I suppose you mean to pump up the AI with as great a potential as possible to make the game more interesting. Maybe next game, when I know the ropes better. Right now I just want to win. I’m still trying to figure out HQs……

The strategic AI is controlled by scripts. The script sets an objective (typically a base or set of bases) and gives the AI a list of asset types and quantities needed to attain the objective. Each script has a start, which can either be a date or it can be triggered by the completion of a different script. The script finishes when the objective is attained, while most include an alternate which terminates the script based on (usually) a date. I'm generalizing to some degree, but that's roughly how they work.

When the AI is trying to take Canton Is (and failing in your case), there are other scripts which are waiting for that script to complete before they can activate. Usually there's a fallback option, but that will take time to activate and as a result, the AI's failure to take Canton is having an effect on your game. Not only is the AI losing assets as it fruitlessly tries to complete the script, but that also keeps it from moving on to other activities, and thus - in reality - making your game a little less interesting.

And really, what are you losing if the AI takes this objective? Why, an excellent opportunity to develop your amphibious invasion skills at an isolated location, far from other AI controlled bases, and thus almost completely absent of real risk. Better to make your mistakes there rather than the hornet's nest in the Solomons.

[Bella]

By letting them take Canton, it helps the AI? It’s a big thorn in the Australia convoy chain if it goes ( and was not historically taken). I suppose you mean to pump up the AI with as great a potential as possible to make the game more interesting. Maybe next game, when I know the ropes better. Right now I just want to win. I’m still trying to figure out HQs……

The strategic AI is controlled by scripts. The script sets an objective (typically a base or set of bases) and gives the AI a list of asset types and quantities needed to attain the objective. Each script has a start, which can either be a date or it can be triggered by the completion of a different script. The script finishes when the objective is attained, while most include an alternate which terminates the script based on (usually) a date. I'm generalizing to some degree, but that's roughly how they work.

When the AI is trying to take Canton Is (and failing in your case), there are other scripts which are waiting for that script to complete before they can activate. Usually there's a fallback option, but that will take time to activate and as a result, the AI's failure to take Canton is having an effect on your game. Not only is the AI losing assets as it fruitlessly tries to complete the script, but that also keeps it from moving on to other activities, and thus - in reality - making your game a little less interesting.

And really, what are you losing if the AI takes this objective? Why, an excellent opportunity to develop your amphibious invasion skills at an isolated location, far from other AI controlled bases, and thus almost completely absent of real risk. Better to make your mistakes there rather than the hornet's nest in the Solomons.

Interesting. Let them take Canton so I can practice Amphibious on them in a safe sandbox, free of interference. Makes sense. I'll keep that in mind for my next game. Right now I'm just enjoying the slaughter and learning the ropes

By the way, it was only early March, 1942 before the IJN landed forces at Tulagi and Guadalcanal in my game (historically I think it was May, 1942, I think?). Luckily I had two carrier TFs and a surface fleet nearby to wipe out the ships. Getting rid of the landed ground units is a grinding process, though. Tulagi is finally cleared, but it is now April 1 and they're still dug in on Guadalcanal. I've run up twice toward Rabaul with carrier groups and Bombardment TFs causing a lot of damage, and no sign of the Kido Butai yet, but I'm sure they're on their way...

[BBfanboy]

If you have Marines engaging them at Lunga, sometimes it is good to take Tassafaronga with a small force like Raiders to cut the supply arrival point for the IJA. If you give the Raiders a good supply pool on landing they can hold out for quite a while against counter-invasion.

[RangerJoe]

To really answer the question, I just destroyed a unit at Palembang. The date on the last picture will show you when this was and the Japanese are still trying to capture Palembang and Java.

Luzon 30 April 1942.png (275.94 KiB) Viewed 574 times

Southern China 30 April 1942.png (1.57 MiB) Viewed 574 times

china 23 november 1942.png (412.49 KiB) Viewed 574 times

[Bella]

To really answer the question, I just destroyed a unit at Palembang. The date on the last picture will show you when this was and the Japanese are still trying to capture Palembang and Java.
Luzon 30 April 1942.png
Southern China 30 April 1942.png
china 23 november 1942.png

Interesting. That will mess them up. I decided to follow the advice of Kull and others to allow the Japanese to make (most) historical conquests to give the AI a fighting chance. At least in Indonesia and Philippines. They need the resources. Pulled out pretty much all American and British naval and air early from the ABDA forces and sent them to Australia, leaving the Dutch to fight it out alone. They’ve done well (sank CV Soryu and a bunch of transports) but Java and the rest will all fall by June ‘42 (it’s April 1 currently). I’m fighting for Rangoon and hope to be able to keep it as the Japanese 4 month combat bonus burns out soon. The Solomons has been my playground for the last few weeks, trashing Rabaul and sinking loads of merchant and transport vessels with minimal opposition. But the Kido Butai is coming soon, I feel it in my bones, and I’ll have to fall back on Noumea and try to keep the marines alive on Guadalcanal and Tulagi.

I’ve been preparing Trincomalee for the historical great IJN raid with air and flak. Wonder if that is hard coded in or just one of the random scripts I have heard about on this thread.

[Platoonist]

But the Kido Butai is coming soon, I feel it in my bones, and I’ll have to fall back on Noumea and try to keep the marines alive on Guadalcanal and Tulagi.

Stock Guadalcanal up with supplies and minefields in the meantime. However, the AI may concentrate on Port Moresby instead, or in a place you're not expecting....

[RangerJoe]

I suggest that you try to withdraw some of the Dutch base forces that you can and disband air units, saving the pilots as well, before they are destroyed on the ground. Any Dutch unit even if they don't have anything other than support devices will be useful in rear areas to help rebuild combat shattered units.

It is not a combat bonus, it is an amphibious bonus.

The main thing is to have fun. If nothing else, you are also learning about geography!

[Bella]

I suggest that you try to withdraw some of the Dutch base forces that you can and disband air units, saving the pilots as well, before they are destroyed on the ground. Any Dutch unit even if they don't have anything other than support devices will be useful in rear areas to help rebuild combat shattered units.

It is not a combat bonus, it is an amphibious bonus.

The main thing is to have fun. If nothing else, you are also learning about geography!

I'm curious as to how the Dutch pilots (some of whom have a lot of kills and experience) will come back. As actual Dutch units in Australia?

[Platoonist]

I'm curious as to how the Dutch pilots (some of whom have a lot of kills and experience) will come back. As actual Dutch units in Australia?

There are a few squadrons like the No. 18 RAAF that arrive later in Australia that use Dutch pilots. Unfortunately, they are mostly bomber, transport and patrol outfits so you would have to retrain your fighter pilots for those missions. You can disband the Dutch fighter squadrons and they reform 120 days later, but they're mostly stuck with the obsolete aircraft models they started the war with at that point. Beyond a shipment of some Hurricane IIbs and P-40Es in early 1942 the Dutch don't receive anything in the way of modern fighter replacements in the pools for the rest of the war.

You can also retreat the Dutch fighter squadrons to some bases still under Dutch control that maybe you can hold on to with Allied help like Timor, but they'll still be facing the same issue. Lack of modern fighter plane replacements.

[BBfanboy]

The Dutch get at least one squadron of B-25Cs. That's worth having a pool of trained up pilots for.