Okinawa
Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2025 10:31 pm
I have just finished my first game against the Japanese AI. I completed it with eight turns to spare. I noticed the 77 Army Division starts with an assault on the island of le Shima. Historically they assaulted the Kerama Islands during the last week of March (1945) and re-boarding transports for the assault of le Shima. While on the route between April 1st and 15th the convoy received damage by Kamikaze attacks. on April 16th the 77th assaulted le Shima. Later the division was involved in the drive for Shuri.
I suggest the start of the game be reworked with the 77th Division units on land next to the ports on the Kerama Islands. The first two turns would allow them to embark and form up an attack convoy. The next three turns would be the approach with attacks by kamikazes. That should take one to April 16th for the amphibious assault.
I also note that the USA starts with 250 MPPs and gets similar amounts each turn. This is way to much. Maybe start with enough MPPs to embark the 77th over two turns and 100 MPPs per turn thereafter for future amphibious assaults and reinforcements. It takes a while to transport men and material to the Kerama supply depots.
I also note the western part of the Island has little value. There should be some insensitive to capture the smaller cities and towns. More victory points per town or city taken?
I am also a little confused about how the Kamikazes work. I set my USA CVs to intercept, but they do not seem to try to intercept the Kamikazes. My warships also don't seem to use the antiaircraft abilities to attack them. I tried placing Battleships and CVs in front of CVLs and amphibious transports to no effect (at least that I could tell).
One last thing I noticed, when playing the Japanese, the USA AI's CVs start buzzes the Japanese ground units. They are not in bomber mode, and they are not protecting the fleet. A waste of supply that would be useful later in the game!
I suggest the start of the game be reworked with the 77th Division units on land next to the ports on the Kerama Islands. The first two turns would allow them to embark and form up an attack convoy. The next three turns would be the approach with attacks by kamikazes. That should take one to April 16th for the amphibious assault.
I also note that the USA starts with 250 MPPs and gets similar amounts each turn. This is way to much. Maybe start with enough MPPs to embark the 77th over two turns and 100 MPPs per turn thereafter for future amphibious assaults and reinforcements. It takes a while to transport men and material to the Kerama supply depots.
I also note the western part of the Island has little value. There should be some insensitive to capture the smaller cities and towns. More victory points per town or city taken?
I am also a little confused about how the Kamikazes work. I set my USA CVs to intercept, but they do not seem to try to intercept the Kamikazes. My warships also don't seem to use the antiaircraft abilities to attack them. I tried placing Battleships and CVs in front of CVLs and amphibious transports to no effect (at least that I could tell).
One last thing I noticed, when playing the Japanese, the USA AI's CVs start buzzes the Japanese ground units. They are not in bomber mode, and they are not protecting the fleet. A waste of supply that would be useful later in the game!