Matrix Games Forums

Tree and I are about to embark on our (hopefully) last test run. This is a game that we plan to play for real, not trying to break things or find/abuse exploits. Some major changes have been made to this version, chiefly the removal of "test code" that allows us to see things like current air densities in ocean hexes for example. This version is likely very very similar to the one that will be released. Will try to give as much information as I can as I go.

Prost!!!

So.... can i start holding my breath now???

Don't know... How long can you hold it?[:D]

The first step in my planning process as the Japanese is always where to draw my lines. In WitP, I always look at Midway as essential, but in AE, you can only support 6,000 troops there. Considering its proximity to Pearl it is very unlikely to be able to defend itself in the long term. I will probably take it, but I wont leave any defenders there.

There are no solid defensive positions between Hawaii and Japan so this area will have to be patrolled by CS's. I will take Wake to use as a patrol base and will defend it as best I can, but the only improvements I will make is to fortify. I will not expand the port or airfield. This in my opinion would just serve to make Wake a more tempting target for him to hit in the future.

The Marshall/Gilbert chain presents some problems as well. In looking at the map of this area, almost all of the islands are the 6,000 troop variety.



But there are some defensible positions. Roi-Namur (the base NW of Kwajalein) is a level 4 airfield, as is Maloelap. Wotje is a level 3. The rest are mostly 0's with a couple of 1's. But if you look at the islands with the red arrows, Kusaie is an unlimited size island while the rest are 30,000 (division plus) sized. And most of the islands south of Tarawa are as well. This makes for an interesting defensible line right down to Samoa/Fiji. Ailinglaplap will become my main defense base in the Marshalls with a supply base built at Kusaie. In AE you can only have 250 engineers (counting engineering vehicles) working at any given time so I will ship troop in based on that. Also, unloading troops at a friendly base with little to no port facilities is painfully slow, so I will fly in the engineers via Mavis transports and patrol planes from Kwaj and begin improving the ports. The enemy bases I will land the engineers with the assault troops (in fact in some cases the engineers will be the assault troops) as unloading on an enemy base is far quicker than at a friendly one.

Tarawa will be my southernmost "planned" defense base. If I do expand southward from here, the bases wont be improved only fortified.

South of Tarawa, only Ocean and Nanumea are of the 6,000 variety. The rest are 30,000. Note Takiteuea in the middle. See how the name is in white lettering and the islands around it are gold? This means it isnt an atoll and the attackers wont have to shock attack on landing.



Canton and points east are all of the small size also, so worth taking to deny them to the enemy, but not long term defensible positions.

The Solomon islands are virtually identical to CHS. My main base here is usually Munda. I dig a division in at Lunga on Guadalcanal, but I dont usually improve it. In this case I will expand its port to level 1 or 2 to help with unloading supplies but Munda is a 0(2)/0(3) meaning I can have a size 6 airfield size 5 port there once everything is finished.



Moresby is a target I usually go after mainly to deny its use to the other guy more so than using it as a base. Lae is usually my main base in New Guinea although I improve the bases around it for mutual overlapping air support.

Northern Oz is something I take to keep the bombers off the eastern end of the SRA. Daily Waters is as far south as I push (just south of the rail line. Note the addition of dot bases (there is one on the island NE of Darwin as well just off the map).



The addition of Normanton (the yellow arrow) makes going further south risky, but by the same token, it makes taking NE Oz more tempting to the Japanese. Will have to see how things go in other areas.

The rest of northern Oz. Note there isnt a long open gap between Broome and Perth any more.

In our last game, I did a direct assault of Java (hitting in late Dec 41) I landed at 2 points with 2 divisions each and drove south, splitting the island into 3 pieces which were mopped up. He had moved the 18th Brit division in before my landings, but it didnt help. I rarely do the same thing twice between different games, but this one may be the exception since it worked so well last time.



Semarang is a level 5 port and very nice for unloading followup troops and repairing damaged ships. Kalidjati (the western landing site) is a level 4 airfield and excellent for air support. Land a nav HQ on the east and an air HQ on the west with your assault troops.

Burma (The red arrow is Rangoon). The AVG starts here but can only transfer to China (unless PPs are paid). You can see that an overland assault into India isnt a desirable option. National borders isnt an option that will be in at launch so we have a house rule to prevent restricted commands from crossing borders (India command is a restricted HQ) This applies to Kwantung as well.



Moving over land to Akyab isnt really a good choice either.

Perth.

Ceylon and the Maldives.

"The Line". Where I expect to be by April 42. What to do after? I see 5 possibilities:

1) Drive to Samoa. The line of islands makes for a stable defensive line to protect supply ships. Would likely be conducted in concert with option 2.

2) Drive to New Caledonia. All the islands south of the Solomons are unlimited sized meaning they could be made defensible.

3) Drive to Perth. Once the immediate area is under control, its a long march or sail for the allies to come back into the area. Rail movement can only be done between controlled bases, meaning the allies would have to hoof it to get back in the area (unlikely) meaning a sea attack would be the only allied option.

4) Indias outer islands. Ceylon starts with 3 brigades, but the additional bases in Ceylon would make it harder for the allies to interdict the airfields preventing land based air cover protecting inbound supply convoys. Ceylon is a death-trap in WitP for the Japs, but Im not so sure about AE.

5) Drive into the Aleutians. There are several regiments here that could be killed and maybe tie up allied resources. Biggest problem here is the allies know they can give it up with no real effect. Still, might be nice to take to base sub flotillas and maybe a couple of CVLs to raid west coast convoys.

Fiji / Samoa

New Hebrides / Santa Cruz

New Caledonia

OMG, 176 hits while I was writing that!! You guys really ARE starved, arent you? [:D]

What about an attack on Pearl Harbour?