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I've been fooling around with scenario 13, Fortress Raboul, a bit and I'm coming to the conclusion that the Japanese player's only hope is to pull out as many troups, planes and ships as possible and send them home to avoid losing the points.

Has anyone looked at this scenario and considered any more positive strategies for the Japanese? The Allied player can pound any Japanese air base into the ground in no time, right from the beginning of the game. The Japanese player has only a limited number of well-placed, larger airfields and doesn't dare send out tacbombers in the daylight to try to counter the onslought. Add to this there are essentially no Japanese carriers to start with, and this becomes quite a grim exercise for the Japanese player.

This reminds me of the old Leyte Gulf scenario in Pacwar, where the Allies could grind the Japanese into dust just by bombing with B-29's, let alone all the ships and other planes.

In case I'm being too pessimistic, I'd love to hear anyone else's strategy for the Japanese on this scenario.

Thanks -

Dave Baranyi

I am playing a PBEM game as the americans in this scenario, I don't think the Japanese have it as bad as you think. I will admit I am having a harder time than I thought exerting my airpower, but the IJN has a 3000pt advantage in score to start and totally outfleets the US. On Day 11 the Japs get 4 fleet CV's to the Americans 1, with the next US CV not arriving for around 100??? days I think.

I gambled that I could take shortlands before his CV's and BB arrived, and almost pulled it off. But now we are in a stalemate of sorts, his CV's vs my LBA.

As it stands now - I think around turn 40 I have Lae under siege, but his Bombardment attacks have crushed Dobudura pretty good and he has kicked me off Shortlands..

Wow - your opponent is obviously a lot better Japanese leader than I am! I find it hard to move ships around at all and supplying outlaying bases is really costly.

Maybe you just have to be a lot more aggressive in your air attacks.

Thanks for the comments -

Dave Baranyi

I see Ironpaw didn't mention his invincible BBs

He has done a good job of gaining air supremacy, but I moved all my air assets to Rabaul and Truk after they commited suicide against Lunga. Every time he launches a strike against Rabaul he faces over a 100 CAP depending on what formations I'm resting. I've chewed up a few of his B-17s this way. Once he takes Lae though I'm going to be in trouble.
IP you're doing great, I'm playing another player in this one too, and I've already sunk the Saratoga and 6 CVEs along w/ the Indiana, and he and I are 10 turns behind our game. So cheers mate.