Observations for Japanese Player
Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 1:39 am
After 15 turns into scenario 2..here are some observations from the Japanese players perspective:
Dont's
1) Don't overestimate the power of small Japanese SNLF units. Even with high morale and experience they may fail to displace even an unaccompanied US Base Engineer unit. If they fail their 1st assault they will suffer high fatigue.
2) Don't use Nates, Claudes or Jakes on even moderately capable land-based air defences, unless they are supressed first. They can suffer heavily in the dive bombing role [8D]
3) Dont use Claudes or Nates on escort missions against even moderately capable fighter opposition. [8D]
4) Dont use Betty's on well defended port attacks unless the target ships are high value..they will drop down to 200' and get beat up
5) Dont purposely take on US PT boats with Japanese DD's. Even with a good commander, you will lose more than your opponenet. Surprisingly, a small TF of Jap PC's is quite effective when commanded well. Also PT's can and do hit defensive mines.
6) The weather over Indochina and Formosa seems to be uniformly terrible in December. Even your elite squadrons with elite commanders and good Air HQ control will sit on the runway most of the time. Try forward deploy to Mindanao or Luzon or the malay Peninsula when fields are captured. Put your construction Bn's and Air support units right behind the tip of the spear to get the fields up and running fast.
Do's
1) Load your assault TF's lightly (spread out the units among many AP's) so they can unload faster across beaches. You will suffer fewer casualties on defended beaches and your ships wont have to loiter so long, risking attack
2) Send a strong surface force with good AA capability along with your invasion force in Malaya..and park them there. They can thwart the risk of Force Z and they will attract enemy air attacks, destroying any aircraft and demoralizing the British squadrons.
3) If you succeed in damaging B-17 on the ground on turn one...keep after em with airfield attacks...they will take a long time to recover.
4) 4500 ton AP's (14 kts top speed) can reach Kendari on turn 1...a very valuable target as it has a level 4 airfield which can be used to interdict vessels escaping from the PI.
5) If you are going to use Bettys in anti-ship role...try pairing squadrons so one can rest after an attack..they are fragile and take time to refit.
6) Lingayen seems to work well as an entry point to Luzon
7) Kuantan seems to work well as an entry to the Southern Malay Peninsula...though it will take you longer than you think to unload, organize and get across to the West Coast.
8) Combining the two IJN CS's with the Ryujo works really well. If you pack the Ryujo, you can carry one Zero Daitai with 27 planes, a Kate unit and even a few dive bombers. The Jakes on the CS's are of some value for attacking merchies and ASW and recon. The Zeros can be set on 70-90% cap and will slaughter any Dutch aircraft that pay a visit. And you dont have to worry about the US CV's showing up in Scenario 2
9) Canton needs outside suppply support (there is no road link in this scenario) to keep up offensive operations in Hong Kong
Dont's
1) Don't overestimate the power of small Japanese SNLF units. Even with high morale and experience they may fail to displace even an unaccompanied US Base Engineer unit. If they fail their 1st assault they will suffer high fatigue.
2) Don't use Nates, Claudes or Jakes on even moderately capable land-based air defences, unless they are supressed first. They can suffer heavily in the dive bombing role [8D]
3) Dont use Claudes or Nates on escort missions against even moderately capable fighter opposition. [8D]
4) Dont use Betty's on well defended port attacks unless the target ships are high value..they will drop down to 200' and get beat up
5) Dont purposely take on US PT boats with Japanese DD's. Even with a good commander, you will lose more than your opponenet. Surprisingly, a small TF of Jap PC's is quite effective when commanded well. Also PT's can and do hit defensive mines.
6) The weather over Indochina and Formosa seems to be uniformly terrible in December. Even your elite squadrons with elite commanders and good Air HQ control will sit on the runway most of the time. Try forward deploy to Mindanao or Luzon or the malay Peninsula when fields are captured. Put your construction Bn's and Air support units right behind the tip of the spear to get the fields up and running fast.
Do's
1) Load your assault TF's lightly (spread out the units among many AP's) so they can unload faster across beaches. You will suffer fewer casualties on defended beaches and your ships wont have to loiter so long, risking attack
2) Send a strong surface force with good AA capability along with your invasion force in Malaya..and park them there. They can thwart the risk of Force Z and they will attract enemy air attacks, destroying any aircraft and demoralizing the British squadrons.
3) If you succeed in damaging B-17 on the ground on turn one...keep after em with airfield attacks...they will take a long time to recover.
4) 4500 ton AP's (14 kts top speed) can reach Kendari on turn 1...a very valuable target as it has a level 4 airfield which can be used to interdict vessels escaping from the PI.
5) If you are going to use Bettys in anti-ship role...try pairing squadrons so one can rest after an attack..they are fragile and take time to refit.
6) Lingayen seems to work well as an entry point to Luzon
7) Kuantan seems to work well as an entry to the Southern Malay Peninsula...though it will take you longer than you think to unload, organize and get across to the West Coast.
8) Combining the two IJN CS's with the Ryujo works really well. If you pack the Ryujo, you can carry one Zero Daitai with 27 planes, a Kate unit and even a few dive bombers. The Jakes on the CS's are of some value for attacking merchies and ASW and recon. The Zeros can be set on 70-90% cap and will slaughter any Dutch aircraft that pay a visit. And you dont have to worry about the US CV's showing up in Scenario 2
9) Canton needs outside suppply support (there is no road link in this scenario) to keep up offensive operations in Hong Kong
