This is my first post on these message boards; I address myself chiefly to any- and everyone else who is struggling or has struggled to master the mechanics of Gary Grigsby's massive, clunky, engrossing "Pacific War." I seem to have a history of becoming engrossed with massiveness and clunkiness: I've been fascinated by dinosaurs since childhood, and, since this past May, I've been slowly ingurgitating one of Western Lit'rature's major doorstops, "Remembrance of Things Past," after the manner of a snake swallowing a cow.
Anyhow, I've been on PW's steep (re)learning curve for the past couple of weeks, after a lapse of almost ten years. Every few days I restart the Campaign '41 game, take my lumps as the unprepared and overmatched Allies, and throw in the towel along about April 1942. My defeats are not so much bitter as exasperating. I'm an aggressive defender -- I hold on to Wake Island and Mandalay, build up Port Blair, occupy Guadalcanal at the earliest opportunity -- but I cannot escape the feeling that any success I may enjoy (such as the Lexington's incidentally picking off a stray Japanese escort carrier while supporting the relief of Wake) is purely a matter of luck. When I go forth with 16-inch guns bristling, naval aviators champing at the bit, and what seem to be excellent prospects of inflicting grievous hurt on the foe ... I generally strike air. In those moments, I fancy I understand why Stalin had generals shot. I figured out, finally, how to get Admiral Hart and Asiatic Fleet HQ loaded onto a ship and safely away from Manila before the Japanese barge in (usually from Legaspi and usually by no later than the second December 1941 turn). I somehow can't contrive to do the same for General MacArthur, however, with the result that Dugout Doug gets scooped up in the net that inevitably bags Bataan.
I also cannot escape the feeling that my AI opponent is not merely malign but given to psychotic episodes. I was considerably amused the first time or two that the Japanese launched successive waves of 100+ bombers at half a dozen patrol craft trying to break out from Hong Kong. I was considerably unamused when 100+ USN carrier planes passed up a enemy battlefleet at Rabaul to pounce on a lone transport in the same area. Nor am I any too happy whenever enemy transports -- wholly, one might even say blithely, indifferent to the presence of no less indifferent reaction forces -- enter port hexes and begin unloading troops.
Weirdest moment thus far: I dispatched a powerful British battleship group to enliven things for the Japanese garrison at Rangoon, which, please note, lies to the west of the Malaya peninsula; my ships were intercepted by an even more powerful Japanese battlefleet that had lain in wait, evidently mustering teleportation points the whole while, in Bangkok. Which, please note, lies to the east of the Malaya peninsula.
Advice, commiseration, and other sorts of comment are hereby solicited.
[ January 08, 2002: Message edited by: Steven Utley ]</p>
The War Effort
Heres one way to save your precious MacArthur (SW pacific) or Asiatic fleet HQ's.
START by changing an ANZAC base using alt C to a SW pacific base such as Timor. Then use Alt E to move the HQ along with it's leader to the new base. Change another ANZAC base to Asiatic fleet and then move it. You get 20 PP's for each HQ on the first turn and that's plenty to pull both out of harms way.
Also, you can remove ships out of ports into the 'pools' and create TF's with the remaining smaller numbers of ships (Less likely to be spotted) and retreat from Jap agression.
Sometimes it's not the 16 inch guns but a few TF's of Cl's and DD's which will stop invasions for one or two turns.
Put your land based bombers on Naval Interdiction mission and go for ships. I rarely get any satisfaction watching the bombers bomb bases even if they do get through - never acomplishes anything of lasting significance like a good bombard or sinking a few Jap AP's. Play a war of attrition in the beggining not aggressive.
Also, your low exp air groups on your carriers can get some added exp and crush merchants in Eniewetok or Kwajalin. Use F5 Sigint and see what ships are in what ports. Lots of time you'll find merchants in those ports.
Have fun!
START by changing an ANZAC base using alt C to a SW pacific base such as Timor. Then use Alt E to move the HQ along with it's leader to the new base. Change another ANZAC base to Asiatic fleet and then move it. You get 20 PP's for each HQ on the first turn and that's plenty to pull both out of harms way.
Also, you can remove ships out of ports into the 'pools' and create TF's with the remaining smaller numbers of ships (Less likely to be spotted) and retreat from Jap agression.
Sometimes it's not the 16 inch guns but a few TF's of Cl's and DD's which will stop invasions for one or two turns.
Put your land based bombers on Naval Interdiction mission and go for ships. I rarely get any satisfaction watching the bombers bomb bases even if they do get through - never acomplishes anything of lasting significance like a good bombard or sinking a few Jap AP's. Play a war of attrition in the beggining not aggressive.
Also, your low exp air groups on your carriers can get some added exp and crush merchants in Eniewetok or Kwajalin. Use F5 Sigint and see what ships are in what ports. Lots of time you'll find merchants in those ports.
Have fun!
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Capt. Harlock
- Posts: 5379
- Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: Los Angeles
- Contact:
One possible way for you to get further into the game is to try the Campaign '42 scenario, or even some of the more advanced ones. But you do have a strong point. I firmly believe that Allied defeats are "hard-wired" into the code until at least mid-May 1942. Especially, the fall of Singapore; the British could have held out MUCH longer if Percival hadn't been a complete moron.
That surface battle at Rangoon was a tough break indeed. I used to use the same technique, and in one or two games I actually managed to hold Rangoon. Mind you, this was before the 2.2 patch, where the Japanese unrealistically start in possession of Bangkok. That makes the defense of Rangoon pretty much impossible.
That surface battle at Rangoon was a tough break indeed. I used to use the same technique, and in one or two games I actually managed to hold Rangoon. Mind you, this was before the 2.2 patch, where the Japanese unrealistically start in possession of Bangkok. That makes the defense of Rangoon pretty much impossible.
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
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madflava13
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2001 10:00 am
- Location: Alexandria, VA
A couple of pointers-
1. Use sigint on Japanese HQs (usually truk, kwajalein, yap). This will tell you where they're headed and you can often position TFs on reaction in the area to nail 'em
2. Don't try to hold Wake. There is too much distance to properly supply and rotate air units. TFs that try to bring in these units/supplies can get chewed up by Japanese air.
3. Put all your CV air units and back water air units on training missions, unless you know they'll be headed to the front in the next turn. This will build up their experience 1 point per turn.
4. I know you want to be aggressive, but its important as the Allies to roll with the punches and make sure you hold the Japanese... If the AI can cut your supply lines to Australia, you're toast, so don't overextend, and protect your CVs at all costs - they're all you have for awhile, just like real life.
hope this helps!
1. Use sigint on Japanese HQs (usually truk, kwajalein, yap). This will tell you where they're headed and you can often position TFs on reaction in the area to nail 'em
2. Don't try to hold Wake. There is too much distance to properly supply and rotate air units. TFs that try to bring in these units/supplies can get chewed up by Japanese air.
3. Put all your CV air units and back water air units on training missions, unless you know they'll be headed to the front in the next turn. This will build up their experience 1 point per turn.
4. I know you want to be aggressive, but its important as the Allies to roll with the punches and make sure you hold the Japanese... If the AI can cut your supply lines to Australia, you're toast, so don't overextend, and protect your CVs at all costs - they're all you have for awhile, just like real life.
hope this helps!
"The Paraguayan Air Force's request for spraying subsidies was not as Paraguayan as it were..."
Hi -
A few hints for fighting the Japanese AI, particularly in the 1941 campaign.
First off, look at Pacwar as an "air" game and move as much air power to forward bases as possible. In particular, change ALL of your tac-bombers to Naval Interdiction.
Secondly, use your PT boats to stop invasions of bases that you want to hold. The AI typically sends out transport missions without surface cover until you indicate a willingness to fight for a location. This works really well in the Central Pacific and even keeps the AI out of some of the Phillipine bases for a while. Remember, PTs are only attacked by guns, not bombs, so it takes a lot more hits to sink them than it should. Use this to your advantage.
You can't hold Singapore in the 2.2 version, so don't bother - instead hold onto Mandalay - the AI won't bother to put enough supplies into Rangoon to be able to take Mandalay, particularly if you bombard it ever turn from India. ( A great way to improve the skills of your pilots too. )
The AI in version 2.2 is more agressive than in earlier versions - it will attack undefended bases a long way off, even in the Central Pacific. And it does this in preference to attacking defended bases. One strategy from this is to pull out the Dutch forces from Borneo and put them on some of the smaller islands nearer to Australia - this slows down the AI. So don't leave any of the Eastern Pacific bases undefended until you've sunk or disabled most of the AI's CVs.
Keep your CV's in the Central Pacific where you can raid AI forward bases - the AI keeps too many ships in port and always shifts it's bombers around, so you can often get some easy pickings if you are patient. DO NOT leave your CV's on "reaction" until your land-based bombers have reduced the AI's CV's significantly. The AI still "Cheats" and will always not only get the jump on you in naval air combat, but will also always get more critical hits than you. You just have to live with it.
The Solomons are a great location to make a stand, because you can rush engineer units in early and defend from the early lackadasical attacks with PT boats until you can build up air power. build where you can build up to 6 or more - 4 full strength fighter squadrens and a couple of tacbomber squadrens can do a lot of damage. Build up Port Moresby in particular, and place two B-17 groups there, along with 4 fighter groups, and have the B-17s go after the air fields at Raboul every turn. Build up the other local airfields and you will eventually wear down the AI - you can produce many more air craft than the AI can.
Once you've flamed a bunch of the AI's CVs, go after some of it's forward ports - you get tons of points by sinking ships. But remember, you can lose ships due to land-based air too, so use your strategic bombers to soften up air fields ahead of time. BTW - a great way to reduce Betty's and get naval air experience is to set your CV's far enough away from AI bases to attract Betty's, but too far for zeros to come along. You will know that the AI is in trouble when it starts to replace Bettys with older bombers again.
As far as surface battles go - don't bother until you have some battle ships around - and some good commanders. If the AI gets the jump, the Japanese shipborne torpedos will certainly knock out at least one of your ships, and make your fleet retreat.
BTW - the AI always has fleets on "react", particularly CV's, so don't attack with any surface fleets ( other than the PTs ) without CV support.
Once you get to late 1942, your AA fire will suddenly improve, and you will start to get some better troops, which means that you can go on the offensive. Until then, just set traps and wear the AI out.
And remember, don't give up any of your commands or commanders - move them to rear positions and take advantage of the supply points they can get for you. Australia is a great place for this - Move Asiatic Fleet, SW Pacific and ABDA there, and move Malaya to India. BTW - the AI will often leave commanders on undefended bases - go for these if you can - the less commanders for the AI, the better for you.
Have fun -
Dave Baranyi
A few hints for fighting the Japanese AI, particularly in the 1941 campaign.
First off, look at Pacwar as an "air" game and move as much air power to forward bases as possible. In particular, change ALL of your tac-bombers to Naval Interdiction.
Secondly, use your PT boats to stop invasions of bases that you want to hold. The AI typically sends out transport missions without surface cover until you indicate a willingness to fight for a location. This works really well in the Central Pacific and even keeps the AI out of some of the Phillipine bases for a while. Remember, PTs are only attacked by guns, not bombs, so it takes a lot more hits to sink them than it should. Use this to your advantage.
You can't hold Singapore in the 2.2 version, so don't bother - instead hold onto Mandalay - the AI won't bother to put enough supplies into Rangoon to be able to take Mandalay, particularly if you bombard it ever turn from India. ( A great way to improve the skills of your pilots too. )
The AI in version 2.2 is more agressive than in earlier versions - it will attack undefended bases a long way off, even in the Central Pacific. And it does this in preference to attacking defended bases. One strategy from this is to pull out the Dutch forces from Borneo and put them on some of the smaller islands nearer to Australia - this slows down the AI. So don't leave any of the Eastern Pacific bases undefended until you've sunk or disabled most of the AI's CVs.
Keep your CV's in the Central Pacific where you can raid AI forward bases - the AI keeps too many ships in port and always shifts it's bombers around, so you can often get some easy pickings if you are patient. DO NOT leave your CV's on "reaction" until your land-based bombers have reduced the AI's CV's significantly. The AI still "Cheats" and will always not only get the jump on you in naval air combat, but will also always get more critical hits than you. You just have to live with it.
The Solomons are a great location to make a stand, because you can rush engineer units in early and defend from the early lackadasical attacks with PT boats until you can build up air power. build where you can build up to 6 or more - 4 full strength fighter squadrens and a couple of tacbomber squadrens can do a lot of damage. Build up Port Moresby in particular, and place two B-17 groups there, along with 4 fighter groups, and have the B-17s go after the air fields at Raboul every turn. Build up the other local airfields and you will eventually wear down the AI - you can produce many more air craft than the AI can.
Once you've flamed a bunch of the AI's CVs, go after some of it's forward ports - you get tons of points by sinking ships. But remember, you can lose ships due to land-based air too, so use your strategic bombers to soften up air fields ahead of time. BTW - a great way to reduce Betty's and get naval air experience is to set your CV's far enough away from AI bases to attract Betty's, but too far for zeros to come along. You will know that the AI is in trouble when it starts to replace Bettys with older bombers again.
As far as surface battles go - don't bother until you have some battle ships around - and some good commanders. If the AI gets the jump, the Japanese shipborne torpedos will certainly knock out at least one of your ships, and make your fleet retreat.
BTW - the AI always has fleets on "react", particularly CV's, so don't attack with any surface fleets ( other than the PTs ) without CV support.
Once you get to late 1942, your AA fire will suddenly improve, and you will start to get some better troops, which means that you can go on the offensive. Until then, just set traps and wear the AI out.
And remember, don't give up any of your commands or commanders - move them to rear positions and take advantage of the supply points they can get for you. Australia is a great place for this - Move Asiatic Fleet, SW Pacific and ABDA there, and move Malaya to India. BTW - the AI will often leave commanders on undefended bases - go for these if you can - the less commanders for the AI, the better for you.
Have fun -
Dave Baranyi
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Steven Utley
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 10:00 am
Thank you, thank you, one and all. I began implementing some of your suggestions yesterday when I started the Rising Sun scenario afresh. I had already caught on to using every available airplane for naval indiction: the Japanese inevitably get into Singapore and Java, but sometimes they eat snakes getting in, thanks to my motley assortment of Wildebeests, Hudsons, Blenheims, and Martins. (I remain unconvinced, however, that patrol boats do anything but draw fire.) The temptation to hold on to hold onto certain peripheral bases is still too powerful for me to resist at this point. My fortunes in the Southern Resources Area have been variable, but by early Spring 1942, I usually still hold Mandalay and always have troops, engineers, and heavy bombers operating from Wake Island and Port Blair. Neither of these island outposts has fallen in the learning-session games I've played thus far. I realize, of course, that it's only a matter of time before the Japanese turn their attention from the East Indies. I hope to have the carriers Lexington, Saratoga, Enterprise, Yorktown, and Hornet lying in ambush when they do. If nothing else, a crushing defeat at the hands of the Combined Fleet may cure me of my tenacity.
Or not. The great advantage wargames have over war is that nothing is irrevocable.
In any event, I shall keep you posted on my progress. Thanks again.
Or not. The great advantage wargames have over war is that nothing is irrevocable.
In any event, I shall keep you posted on my progress. Thanks again.
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Steven Utley
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 10:00 am
Having spent a portion of the morning browsing and occasionally grazing through other Pacific War threads, I am heartened by the discovery that none of my problems is unique. (Well, aside from those teleporting Japanese battleships.) This evening, I shall return (to coin a phrase) to the game much bolstered by useful hints on everything from optimum task-force composition to aircraft-production schedules. Watch out, Yamamoto!
I also prowled a bit on the Struggle Against Japan and War in the Pacific fora. The common subject of these message boards has long fascinated me -- I have a closetful of old boardgames such as Solomons Campaign and Indian Ocean Adventure, and seem to have read all the same books by Walter Lord, H.P. Wilmott, Paul Dull, etc., by which everyone else swears. I do believe I'm going to like it here.
I also prowled a bit on the Struggle Against Japan and War in the Pacific fora. The common subject of these message boards has long fascinated me -- I have a closetful of old boardgames such as Solomons Campaign and Indian Ocean Adventure, and seem to have read all the same books by Walter Lord, H.P. Wilmott, Paul Dull, etc., by which everyone else swears. I do believe I'm going to like it here.
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madflava13
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2001 10:00 am
- Location: Alexandria, VA
Glad to have you here... This is a great board, and everyone really knows their stuff... Be careful when you post something - if its wrong, someone will point it out to you! JK, everyone's here for the same reason, and I learn something new each time I read a new post. Have fun and speak up if you get stuck anywhere or need some advice - we all do.
Chris
Chris
"The Paraguayan Air Force's request for spraying subsidies was not as Paraguayan as it were..."
I recommend that you DO try to hold onto Wake and Port Blair. Don't give them up, if the Japs want to take them, make them pay.
Wake can be reinforced on turn 1, if you are willing to do so from Midway. You might have to change some base HQs to / from SouthPac and northPac to be able to get any transports in port, but it is possible. Otherwise it'll take an extra turn to go from Pearl, but do so right away.
Port Blair is best garrisoned by a split from the division on Ceylon.
Wake can be reinforced on turn 1, if you are willing to do so from Midway. You might have to change some base HQs to / from SouthPac and northPac to be able to get any transports in port, but it is possible. Otherwise it'll take an extra turn to go from Pearl, but do so right away.
Port Blair is best garrisoned by a split from the division on Ceylon.
Still playing PacWar (but no so much anymore)...
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madflava13
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2001 10:00 am
- Location: Alexandria, VA
I personally disagree about Wake. I feel like its a little bit too far out to properly supply/defend... I don't like how many escorts you have to tie up to get convoys in there against the AI air from Kwajalein/Eniwetok - I personally prefer to have those escorts ready in the SW Pacific to blunt the japanese advances - especially if you get one of the hell-bent for leather AI options... Different play styles I guess.. I do agree with the Port Blair assessment thoguh.
"The Paraguayan Air Force's request for spraying subsidies was not as Paraguayan as it were..."
Against the AI, I do not defend Wake Island. It does not seem to matter as most often the AI does not try to invade it.
My favorite strategy for defeating the AI is sending every land unit I can to Java along with the best of my land based air - set to naval interdiction. And get an engineer their ASAP to increase the size of the airfields.
The British fleet can support Java without being withdrawn, and the LBA can then start sinking ships. The AI will not give up easily, even when it starts taking heavy losses. If you keep Java, and if you give it top priority you will, the jap ai will beat itself to death against it, and then will be paralyzed for the rest of the game.
It will be expensive to the British and ABDA fleets, and it will eat up air units, but the campaign almost always ends with the allies still holding all of Java.
Many of my human opponents have seen this strategy as well, and it is one of my biggest fears when playing against a human allied opponent. If heavily defended, Java can be a very difficult and expensive nut to crack.
My favorite strategy for defeating the AI is sending every land unit I can to Java along with the best of my land based air - set to naval interdiction. And get an engineer their ASAP to increase the size of the airfields.
The British fleet can support Java without being withdrawn, and the LBA can then start sinking ships. The AI will not give up easily, even when it starts taking heavy losses. If you keep Java, and if you give it top priority you will, the jap ai will beat itself to death against it, and then will be paralyzed for the rest of the game.
It will be expensive to the British and ABDA fleets, and it will eat up air units, but the campaign almost always ends with the allies still holding all of Java.
Many of my human opponents have seen this strategy as well, and it is one of my biggest fears when playing against a human allied opponent. If heavily defended, Java can be a very difficult and expensive nut to crack.
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Steven Utley
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 10:00 am
I, too, have noticed that the Japanese AI seems in no hurry to grab Wake Island. I'm curious to learn if my building up the island as an advance base will have any discernible effect on Japanese strategy. Ditto, Port Blair and Timor.
Trying to hold Java is always exciting, and may be more so than usual in the Rising Sun scenario I'm now playing, as Prince of Wales, only very minorly damaged during its initial sortie, is now being used to stiffen ABDAFlot out of Batavia. (Repulse survived, too, but just barely. I've been pretty lucky so far: only one of the battleships at Pearl Harbor was lost, though the rest were banged up a bit, and this using the even-steven setting.)
Trying to hold Java is always exciting, and may be more so than usual in the Rising Sun scenario I'm now playing, as Prince of Wales, only very minorly damaged during its initial sortie, is now being used to stiffen ABDAFlot out of Batavia. (Repulse survived, too, but just barely. I've been pretty lucky so far: only one of the battleships at Pearl Harbor was lost, though the rest were banged up a bit, and this using the even-steven setting.)
I have found that if you get the Wake airfield up to its maximum (4) it will NOT get isolated and will get supplied by the routine convoy system. 2 defense Bns plue maybe an independent regiment / brigade is all they you need to hold it.
Then later on, in late 1942, you can try to grab Marcus Island from a sleeping AI, especially if it is locked in combat in the SWPAC area.
That will really set the AI off into a frenzy. From Marcus, you can place B24s and P47s to bomb Tokyo. All without setting off the kamikaze trigger!
By all means build up port blair and timor, just make sure you have British or Australian troops to hold them, the Dutch will melt at the first rifle shot and the Indian units need more experience to be effective. Less than 30 exp means a chance at the "2 squad defense" every time they are attacked. Don't risk it.
Then later on, in late 1942, you can try to grab Marcus Island from a sleeping AI, especially if it is locked in combat in the SWPAC area.
That will really set the AI off into a frenzy. From Marcus, you can place B24s and P47s to bomb Tokyo. All without setting off the kamikaze trigger!
By all means build up port blair and timor, just make sure you have British or Australian troops to hold them, the Dutch will melt at the first rifle shot and the Indian units need more experience to be effective. Less than 30 exp means a chance at the "2 squad defense" every time they are attacked. Don't risk it.
Still playing PacWar (but no so much anymore)...
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Steven Utley
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 10:00 am
I am just about through February 1942. Singapore fell a week ahead of schedule, and nothing but damaged destroyers came of my attempts to evacuate British and Dutch garrisons crowded into Balikpapan. Otherwise, things are going better than I expected. Mandalay, Port Blair, and Wake Island are still mine, the Ambon garrison has been evacuated to Timor, Java is well stocked with aircraft, and there's a full U.S. division on Guadalcanal, supported by Halsey's two aircraft carriers at Espiritu Santo. Cruiser forces operating out of Batavia and Darwin have annihilated a couple of incautious transport groups, Dutch submariners have claimed numerous merchant ships and tankers in the strait between Borneo and Celebes, and American submariners patroling between Kavieng and Truk have sunk the battleship Nagato and let a little water into the carrier Hosho.
I'm not having any luck, however, getting Australian units to board transports sitting uselessly at Broome, Darwin, and Brisbane. Doesn't seem to matter who asks them, General MacArthur or General Blamey, or whether the transports are U.S. or British. Suggestions?
I'm not having any luck, however, getting Australian units to board transports sitting uselessly at Broome, Darwin, and Brisbane. Doesn't seem to matter who asks them, General MacArthur or General Blamey, or whether the transports are U.S. or British. Suggestions?
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Blackhorse
- Posts: 1415
- Joined: Sun Aug 20, 2000 8:00 am
- Location: Eastern US
Australian units attached to ANZAC HQ can not leave Australia. (They were, historically, "Home Defense" forces.)
Over time, some of these units will be automatically transferred to SW Pacific HQ. Then they can be shipped overseas.
Over time, some of these units will be automatically transferred to SW Pacific HQ. Then they can be shipped overseas.
WitP-AE -- US LCU & AI Stuff
Oddball: Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?
Moriarty: Crap!
Oddball: Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?
Moriarty: Crap!
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Capt. Harlock
- Posts: 5379
- Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2001 8:00 am
- Location: Los Angeles
- Contact:
I’ve been working on a defensive strategy you might like to try. Generally, the Allies can't defend effectively against the Japanese until May or June 1942. The LCU's are not experienced enough, and the CV's don't have enough fighters. (Side note: the upgrade in fighters happened with the change from the F4F-3 Wildcat to the F4F-4, which had folding wings.) But there is one place I've found that can be successfully defended against the Japanese AI: strangely enough, it's the Philippines.
The key is to use airpower to keep the supply lines open. First and foremost, do not put the SW Pacific HQ on anything other than Full Human Control – it will move airplanes around as far as San Francisco. As soon as you can, move an extra squadron of Warhawks or Kittyhawks, and an extra squadron of medium bombers, into Manila. This will prevent the main Philippine bases from becoming isolated. Naturally, you’ll want to set the bombers to Naval Interdiction to interfere with the Japanese landings and re-supply. The best tac-bombers for the job are the A-20 Havocs; you don’t need a massive bomb load, and the Havoc handles itself well against enemy fighters. A few months later, however, you should try a squadron of Beauforts – they don’t have to be set to NI to attack enemy ships.
Mind you, this approach will cost you heavily in aircraft losses. It’s a good idea to put only half of your air squadrons in Clark AFB and the other half in Manila, or even Bataan for the fighters. And move the B-17’s out of the Philippines entirely. This will prevent the Japanese from destroying all your planes on the ground. March some LCU’s down to Manila as soon as possible to keep the base, but move the SW Pacific HQ to Bataan as soon as the enemy shows up, just in case they get lucky and capture Manila. You might also change the leader of Asiatic Fleet to the most aggressive commander you can so as to get more PP’s and supplies. This method should allow you to build up supply stockpiles up to 8000 units. Your fully supplied LCU’s will do a much better job at resisting the first Japanese attacks, and the AI often quits trying after one or two repulses.
Two important things to note: the Eastern Australian bases will not change over to SW Pacific under Full Human Control, so you’ll have to do that “manually” when you have a comfortable reserve of PP’s. Lastly, this strategy will NOT work against a half-way competent human player!
The key is to use airpower to keep the supply lines open. First and foremost, do not put the SW Pacific HQ on anything other than Full Human Control – it will move airplanes around as far as San Francisco. As soon as you can, move an extra squadron of Warhawks or Kittyhawks, and an extra squadron of medium bombers, into Manila. This will prevent the main Philippine bases from becoming isolated. Naturally, you’ll want to set the bombers to Naval Interdiction to interfere with the Japanese landings and re-supply. The best tac-bombers for the job are the A-20 Havocs; you don’t need a massive bomb load, and the Havoc handles itself well against enemy fighters. A few months later, however, you should try a squadron of Beauforts – they don’t have to be set to NI to attack enemy ships.
Mind you, this approach will cost you heavily in aircraft losses. It’s a good idea to put only half of your air squadrons in Clark AFB and the other half in Manila, or even Bataan for the fighters. And move the B-17’s out of the Philippines entirely. This will prevent the Japanese from destroying all your planes on the ground. March some LCU’s down to Manila as soon as possible to keep the base, but move the SW Pacific HQ to Bataan as soon as the enemy shows up, just in case they get lucky and capture Manila. You might also change the leader of Asiatic Fleet to the most aggressive commander you can so as to get more PP’s and supplies. This method should allow you to build up supply stockpiles up to 8000 units. Your fully supplied LCU’s will do a much better job at resisting the first Japanese attacks, and the AI often quits trying after one or two repulses.
Two important things to note: the Eastern Australian bases will not change over to SW Pacific under Full Human Control, so you’ll have to do that “manually” when you have a comfortable reserve of PP’s. Lastly, this strategy will NOT work against a half-way competent human player!
Civil war? What does that mean? Is there any foreign war? Isn't every war fought between men, between brothers?
--Victor Hugo
--Victor Hugo
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Steven Utley
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 10:00 am
I mean to try all of the strategies suggested above in future games. At the moment, I'm well into May 1942, somewhat to my surprise, as I had thought that the Rising Sun scenario automatically ended early that month. Perhaps AI has elected to go into extra innings because the Japanese are behind schedule. American and Filipino forces have been penned up on the Bataan peninsula for a good long while now and are probably subsisting on mule meat, if single-digit supply factors mean anything. Nevertheless, they have bloodily repulsed repeated, albeit rather half-hearted, Japanese assaults. The enemy has also been quite lackadaisical about grabbing other Allied outposts: the Filipino units in Mindoro have been totally ignored since the Japanese pushed them to the north side of the island in early December 1941, and Panay and Rabaul fell only very recently. Moreover, the doughty Australians have yet to be put down in the latter location, and, meanwhile, an American division has come in by way of the side door, so to speak, at Gasmata. The Japanese experience in the Bismarcks is proving a bitter one. A single 300-plane raid by five U.S. carriers sank 26 of 50 merchant ships at Kavieng, and a follow-up raid bagged another half-dozen. (Forty-three attacking Betty bombers were also shot down.)
Indeed, though the opposing navies have yet to engage (while Halsey was raiding Kavieng, the just-out-of-reach Japanese carriers raided Rabaul), sunken merchant ships and auxiliaries fairly carpet some patches of sea bottom. Japanese submariners are having themselves a Happy Time around Oahu. From the Molucca Straits to the Truk-Kavieng gantlet, U.S. and Dutch submariners have just slaughtered Japanese merchant ships and tankers. (One of my U.S. sub captains off Truk apparently delights in knocking off destroyer escorts, too.) In a single turn, a cruiser force out of Timor and a Broome-based group built around Prince of Wales wiped out three Japanese transport groups, escorts included, off Flores. In the Dutch East Indies, where the Japanese have occupied all of Sumatra and are pushing the Dutch, Australian, and Indian units steadily eastward along the length of Java, there, too, my obsolescent land-based bombers have wrought great havoc, though at terrible cost to themselves (thanks to combat air patrols from those pesky elusive Japanese carriers). I may not know how much longer this scenario is going to run, but I do know that at this rate, in a longer campaign scenario, the Japanese would really be hurting by the end of 1942.
Indeed, though the opposing navies have yet to engage (while Halsey was raiding Kavieng, the just-out-of-reach Japanese carriers raided Rabaul), sunken merchant ships and auxiliaries fairly carpet some patches of sea bottom. Japanese submariners are having themselves a Happy Time around Oahu. From the Molucca Straits to the Truk-Kavieng gantlet, U.S. and Dutch submariners have just slaughtered Japanese merchant ships and tankers. (One of my U.S. sub captains off Truk apparently delights in knocking off destroyer escorts, too.) In a single turn, a cruiser force out of Timor and a Broome-based group built around Prince of Wales wiped out three Japanese transport groups, escorts included, off Flores. In the Dutch East Indies, where the Japanese have occupied all of Sumatra and are pushing the Dutch, Australian, and Indian units steadily eastward along the length of Java, there, too, my obsolescent land-based bombers have wrought great havoc, though at terrible cost to themselves (thanks to combat air patrols from those pesky elusive Japanese carriers). I may not know how much longer this scenario is going to run, but I do know that at this rate, in a longer campaign scenario, the Japanese would really be hurting by the end of 1942.
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Steven Utley
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 10:00 am
While playing this particular game, I have begun to feel that I've arrived -- pretty much grasped the mechanics of Pacific War, leaving chiefly the nuances of strategy to be learnt at leisure. Next game, I shall know not to over-garrison Wake Island, in which the Japanese apparently have only passing interest. If there's no getting Australian "home-defence" units onto transports to beef up the Java garrison, I'll have to move U.S. units all the way from Hawaii. If I can get the jump on the enemy in the Bismarcks, as I could have in the current game, there can't be much point in first going for the Solomons. If it's impossible to defend Singapore, there's no point in reinforcing the place; British (Indian, rather) units that start the game in transit are surely better sent to Sumatra, Java, or even Port Blair -- I'm tickled by the prospect of landing at Rangoon, behind the Japanese forces stalled at Mandalay -- also by that of invading Marcus Island while the Combined Fleet is committed in the Southern Resources Area. (As of May 1942, Admiral Yamamoto, headquartered at Singapore, has at least eight aircraft carriers in the region, plus strong surface forces, including battleship Yamato.)
The corollary to my entertaining these and other ahistorical ideas is my not knowing how to implement some historical ones. How, for instance, does one go about replicating Doolittle's feat, fly B-25s off the Hornet to bomb Tokyo?
[ December 17, 2001: Message edited by: Steven Utley ]</p>
The corollary to my entertaining these and other ahistorical ideas is my not knowing how to implement some historical ones. How, for instance, does one go about replicating Doolittle's feat, fly B-25s off the Hornet to bomb Tokyo?
[ December 17, 2001: Message edited by: Steven Utley ]</p>
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madflava13
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2001 10:00 am
- Location: Alexandria, VA
You can't, unfortunately, bomb tokyo with B-25s... However, if you send in some CVs to do the job, watch the AI -- it will go nuts in response. Its kinda fun as long as you can get your CVs out in time. Also, about the Japanese subs hurting you around Oahu - put as many PBYs and SBDs as you can spare in the area. They patrol automatically for subs, and once detected, subs are much less effective at attacking ships. Otherwise, sounds like you're doing ok. I'd worry a little bit about the Combined Fleet heading over to Rabaul, but sounds like you've got them occupied for the time being...
"The Paraguayan Air Force's request for spraying subsidies was not as Paraguayan as it were..."
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Steven Utley
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Wed Dec 12, 2001 10:00 am
Java and Mindoro finally fell to the Japanese in late June 1942. Weirdly enough, U.S. and Filipino forces at Bataan on Luzon are getting supplies from somewhere and, far from merely cooling their heels, appear to be gearing up for a counteroffensive.
Halsey's five carriers operated in the Java Sea for a time, never quite managing to close with the Japanese flattops, but nevertheless picking off the escort carrier Taiyo and some of its escorts, and accounting for the great majority of 414 land-based Japanese aircraft shot down in a single week.
U.S. ground forces engaged with the enemy at Gasmata and Rabaul are slowly gaining the upper hand.
In July, a battleship group commanded by Admiral Lee, aboard the North Carolina, engaged Japanese battleships off Marcus Island; the New Mexico, three enemy battleships, and the heavy cruiser Myoko were sunk. An invasion force comprising a Marine Raider battalion and two Army divisions then landed at Marcus, annihilating the garrison. The Japanese commander committed suicide.
Six U.S. carriers are now operating in the Central Pacific, awaiting the inevitable Japanese riposte.
God, this is fun.
[ December 17, 2001: Message edited by: Steven Utley ]</p>
Halsey's five carriers operated in the Java Sea for a time, never quite managing to close with the Japanese flattops, but nevertheless picking off the escort carrier Taiyo and some of its escorts, and accounting for the great majority of 414 land-based Japanese aircraft shot down in a single week.
U.S. ground forces engaged with the enemy at Gasmata and Rabaul are slowly gaining the upper hand.
In July, a battleship group commanded by Admiral Lee, aboard the North Carolina, engaged Japanese battleships off Marcus Island; the New Mexico, three enemy battleships, and the heavy cruiser Myoko were sunk. An invasion force comprising a Marine Raider battalion and two Army divisions then landed at Marcus, annihilating the garrison. The Japanese commander committed suicide.
Six U.S. carriers are now operating in the Central Pacific, awaiting the inevitable Japanese riposte.
God, this is fun.
[ December 17, 2001: Message edited by: Steven Utley ]</p>