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Well I'm waiting for the first patch before starting any games.. hopefully soon!

I'm looking at alternative Japanese moves. I would like to knockout Burma if possible early. What I'm thinking is instead of assaulting Singapore is to isolate it and use airpower to keep it (mostly) closed down. Any advice on the practicallity of this?

Cheers

Rob

Tried the same against AI. Worked well as the AI will continue to send in convoys to Singapore, while Allied ships and airplanes in the area soon were a minor threat.

I have often wondered why the Human PBEMs have never tried this...........I guess that Singapore is just too valuble to the IJN player to leave it in Allied hands, as Singapore is a key base from which to launch operations into the DEI and Burma. Besides which you would still have to have troops on the Malay peninsula to block the Allied forces, so you might as well use them to knock out Singapore rather than just rotting in the bush.

A human opponent will probably be far more agressive on "secondary theaters", like Kuching and Palembang, if Malaya is not under attack. Also he will probably attack Thailand is faw troops are in Songkha and Khota Baru.

So as Raver says, if you are obliged to send several divisions to Malaya, the best use for them is to attack.

Holding Thailand should be easy as the Japanese... I might see how it goes... or I may not (loose lips sink great plans!)

Think of the same thing in the Phillipines, should be able to just isolate most of it...

In fact if I invade NZ then everything is cut off

Cheers

Rob

Your largest oil source on the map is right under the nose of Singapore's air threat. It can not be ignored. Should you choose to ignore it you will pay the price in tanker losses coupled with submarine attacks.

Thanks Frag, the plan is to shut it down with airpower, hopefully make him commit planes forward The lots of Dutch bases are a problem, but their air support is generally small.

Cheers

Rob

Thanks Frag, the plan is to shut it down with airpower, hopefully make him commit planes forward The lots of Dutch bases are a problem, but their air support is generally small.

Hahaha! I thought that until Mogami took on my KB with all the Dutch air groups and sent me running for a port!

In fact you would be better isolating the PI rather than Singers........providing that you effectly block the joint AND shatter all the airfields and ports. But I have to ask the question....why? Is it not better to waste...er...spend a couple of months destroying the LCUs (good for victory points) and taking over the title to land ownership? What is the driving force behind you not taking the fight to the Allies? Do you have plans to use the troops elsewhere? Or are you just wargaming a what if?

ORIGINAL: jrcar

Thanks Frag, the plan is to shut it down with airpower, hopefully make him commit planes forward The lots of Dutch bases are a problem, but their air support is generally small.

Cheers

Rob

Said the same thing when I took Kendari and Palembang on turn 2 against the AI.
Those dang TIV(?) type a/c that carry torps will hurt you bad if you get too close.

Now turn 10 in that game and am slowly strangling Singapore from the air and ground.
Oil and resources are building up real quick in Palembang. As soon as I take Singapore and continue pounding the Dutch it will take awhile to carry all that oil to the Home Islands.
Have massed alot of tankers and transports in Camrahn Bay just waiting for the all clear.

I wonder if you could do what 2nd ACR is talking about, just leave a couple good strong blocking forces on the Malay Peninsula and devote the other troops to invading India. There is not enough in India to stop you early in the game. A Quick Invade of Rangoon and Columbo or Tricom would set up a large windfall for JP. Now you could close China from two sides.


UB

You would have to do this overland. Remember that Singapore's coastal guns (BIG ONES) will shoot at anything the goes past it and through the strait. There is a Dutch battery at the top of the strait too.

Land most of your force at the base just North of Singapore then march in. Let the other bases between Singapoe and Thailand whiter on the vine.

ORIGINAL: UncleBuck

I wonder if you could do what 2nd ACR is talking about, just leave a couple good strong blocking forces on the Malay Peninsula and devote the other troops to invading India. There is not enough in India to stop you early in the game. A Quick Invade of Rangoon and Columbo or Tricom would set up a large windfall for JP. Now you could close China from two sides.

UB

Well, India is a little too far for the Japanese supply. Remember that you can ignore Singapore and Malaya first maybe, but on May 1942 at least you need to have Palembang fully running for you or the Japanese industry will be drastically reduced.
And at this stage most of the shipping devoted to far operations should be relocated to bringing ressources to Japan and back supplies to the forward bases.

I think Japan can take Ceylon but there is nothing interesting here and it will be a logistical nightmare. It is also possible to land in Southern India but you will take bases with no oil, very few HI and a lot of ressources but you will have a hard time using them and the India economy won't lack them at all.

The only interesting part of India for Japan is Bengal, as you may attack it overland. And as the Allied player it is the area you should hold in force. With a reserve force in Central India maybe.
Anyway if the manages manages to capture Calcutta and Diamong Harbor it will find itself with a good situation and maybe he can continue to advance in India. But that is a strong 'if'....

All my planning for IJN (ready for a PBEM once a patch is released) goes from December to April or June but what I will do after the initial expansion (if all goes more or less according to plans) is still a mistery for me. To be precise, I wonder what my strategic goals should be at this stage...

I'm looking at what-ifs and seeing if I can do a Rabaul on the Allies (Isolate it and run the supplies down) while using the forces freedup elsewhere.... New Zealand comes to mind But isolating China from Burma would be nice.

The Aim would be to use follow-on divs to clear the Phillipines first. To do this I think taking Borneo (Tarakan, Balikpapan) and SE DEI will provide some oil relief. Gives an option on taking Darwin as well.

Cheers

Rob

ORIGINAL: Raverdave

In fact you would be better isolating the PI rather than Singers........providing that you effectly block the joint AND shatter all the airfields and ports. But I have to ask the question....why? Is it not better to waste...er...spend a couple of months destroying the LCUs (good for victory points) and taking over the title to land ownership? What is the driving force behind you not taking the fight to the Allies? Do you have plans to use the troops elsewhere? Or are you just wargaming a what if?

Interesting that you should say New Zealand as I think that it is very much over looked by the IJN players. In my current PBEM against Luskan (and in all of my test games) I have found that NZ is critical to holding the south pacific, as a supply dump, safe port and ideal place to rest troops, as well as being the linch-pin to Australia's SLOC to the US.

Only problem I see with the NZ approach is supplying the forces you put there.

Thats a LONG, LONG way from your major bases.

Jumping to the bases you have to take on turn 1 or 2 has a few drawbacks for PBEM as I see it.

Took Palembang on turn 2 a few times relativly intact, but a few times it was basically destroyed.
If that 1 major base takes more than 60% damage to the oil and resource there, I see it as a
game ender. There is no way I see for Japan to survive. They can repair it slowly, but the supply
costs will eat them alive.

I do love the non Historical first turn you can set up though. Landing on around 17 bases on turn 1
and 3-6 more on turn 2. You can take and begin securing the DEI and PI very quickly. I have found the
Historical start way to ineffiecent for the IJ player. Takes a while to set up and a good case of writers
cramp from note taking. Who goes where and does what, where do they go from there if everything falls
into place. Do you have a ton of supply loaded up for immediate dispatch to start repairs? Did you
remember to transfer your air groups around so that they will be where they need to be for future ops.
With the Historical first turn, the allied player knows exactly where and with how much you will hit.
It gives him a lot of breathing space do to the IJ player having to spend days or a week loading up
his second wave and supplies for his 1st wave.

Just my thoughts.

Agreed, NZ could be "a bridge too far" for the IJN, but when you look at the distruption that it would cause the allies by taking it, then it seriously has to be looked at.

Agreed, NZ could be "a bridge too far" for the IJN, but when you look at the distruption that it would cause the allies by taking it, then it seriously has to be looked at.

Lot softer nut to crack then Sydney ... look at the VP values for NZ ... it just begs for a visit [:'(]

Methinks that I have done the Allied Fanboy club a dis-service by bringing the subject up[:'(] Hope I don't get blackballed out.[:(]

Your up for review....[:D]