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This thread is for the Japanese perspective on this game:

tm.asp?m=1817163

I have never played the Japanese side from Day One in a PBEM before, so I opted for a relatively conservative opening move. . .mostly historical with a few minor variations. It is now January 18th, 1942. Things are going OK with the Japanese economy....supply situation is OK, production expanding but not so rapidly as to throw things off balance, so I don't need too much advice there. The Mod we are using is of my own design and provides a lot of production options for the Japanese player, new toys for both sides, as well as some tweaks to reduce the lethality of air-to-air combat. So far that seems to be OK.

Strategically I am not too happy. The Pearl Raid resulted in several badly damaged battleships according to Aztez, but I have no confirmation of anything actually sinking. I hold Wake, Tarawa, Makin, and Nauru. KB is in excellent condition and is currently at Truk, waiting for the arrival of a destroyer division tomorrow, at which point KB will be reorganized and be sent in search of the American fleet. Mini KB is at Palau taking on fuel and preparing to support invasion of Davao.

I hold the northern Phillipines and we are shapiing up for a big land battle at Clark Field soon. I hold Brunei and Kuching, but a huge 100-plane B-17 raid recently shut down the airfield at Kuching and cost me 30 Zeroes destroyed on the ground.

I hold most of Malaya and he seems to have retreated most of his troops into Singapore. We are preparing our seige forces here, supply situation is adequate. A recent attempt to gain air superiority over Singapore was a complete disaster....over 40 Zeroes and 40 Nells destroyed with only about 20 P40s lost in return. He has pulled back almost all his air power into Singapore and right now I don't have enough to contest it.

My troops have entered Burma and Rangoon should be captured by the end of the month.

Aztez adopted a VERY aggressive defense in China, attempting to seize Canton although I have stalled him there. I don't intend to do much in China except hold ground until I get the DEI under control.

Aztez continues to make threatening noises about some sort of special operation coming soon....perhaps with the American carriers for all I know. He's not afraid to fight and makes a firm effort to contest every invasion with surface combat units. I have made him pay for this and much of his Asiatic fleet assets are already destroyed, although I have not seen Force Z yet. . .I am assuming that he will deploy it for maximum effect.

Current plans:

Invasion of Davao in about a week. After that moves against the eastern coast of Borneo and Rabaul in early February. I want to use KB to seek out and destroy the American carriers, but he's been cagy about their location and so far KB's probes have found nothing.

My thinking is that I have been moving too slow and conservatively, perhaps playing too 'realisitcally'. I want to speed things up, but most of all I want to bring the American carriers into battle and destroy them. Obviously the main way to do this is to threaten something that he MUST defend....any ideas?

The biggest fleet unit lost so far was the cruiser Maya, destroyed in late December at the Naval Battle of Vigan....she was lost via magazine explosion when struck by an 8 inch shell from USS Houston. I have also lost one of the old CLs in the same battle, and 3 destroyers, two of them old units.

Japanese submarines have already destroyed several frieghters attempting to carry supplies into Singapore.

quote: Obviously the main way to do this is to threaten something that he MUST defend....any ideas?

Attacking Port Moresby might be a good idea, a good allied player will try to defend it.

Things are in motion....KB is escorting a large landing force to invade Rabaul...after the troops land, KB and associated replenishment group will be heading south towards allied shipping concentrations detected in the New Caledonia area. A couple of enemy cruisers have been confirmed present in this area....perhaps the Allied carriers are here? If not we can at least sink some supply convoys. KB will then swing back north, refuel and take on any needed replacements at Truk, then act as support for Port Moresby invasion force scheduled for early February.
 

Update
Game day is February 27, 1942
I now hold Rabaul, Lae, and Port Moresby...an attempt to draw the US carriers into battle by seizing these areas did not succeed, but the consolation prize is certainly worth it.
I am speeding things up in the DEI...landings will be taking place at Palembang and Tarakan within 5 game days. I have moved too slowly in the DEI but that is changing now.
I have pushed his forces out of Clark Field and into Manilla. Engineers reduced Manila fortifications from 9 to 7 on the first attempt at a deliberate assault which got me 2-1 odds.
First attempt at taking Singapore resulted in 0-1 odds but heavy casualties for both sides. Heavy bombing and artillery bombardment will continue while my armies rest and reduce disruption in preparation for another attempt.
I now (finally!) hold Davao and Menado. I wasted too much time sealing this area off. Live and learn.
I hold Rangoon and Pagan...he appears to have withdrawn all of his Burma forces into Mandalay. i was able to cut off and force two brigades to surrender near Moulein, which was pleasant.
Stocks of Zero and Oscar airframes are building up nicely.
 
Aztez continues to make threatening noises about some sort of counter offensive....his US carriers? Could he try something bold like raiding Japan?