War Planning

[Gustavius]

I just received my copy of WitP and am about to start the strategic scenario with a good friend (for now...). I would like to have a discussion here on what the major objectives should be early on in the game, and how I best use my initial forces as a Japanese player. I understand discussing the strategic war and not specifics can bed somewhat difficult and abstract, but perhaps it´s possible to divide it into 6-months increments.
Increment 1: dec ´41-jun ´42, objectives: Singapore, Phillipines, etc...
Anyway, any hints and recommendations for a new player on the big issues would be appreciated! Thank you![&:]

[Andy Mac]

Only one I can think of (as I tend to only play Allies) is not to be greedy ingapore especially can hurt you if you try for Palembag to early.... avoid the tempatation.

For the rest in the early game securing phillipines and Malaya are no.1 priority until you do that you are hampered.

After these campaigns are completed is the period of Allied vulnerability.

Andy

[Culiacan Mexico]

ORIGINAL: Gustavius

I just received my copy of WitP and am about to start the strategic scenario with a good friend (for now...). I would like to have a discussion here on what the major objectives should be early on in the game, and how I best use my initial forces as a Japanese player. I understand discussing the strategic war and not specifics can bed somewhat difficult and abstract, but perhaps it´s possible to divide it into 6-months increments.
Increment 1: dec ´41-jun ´42, objectives: Singapore, Phillipines, etc...
Anyway, any hints and recommendations for a new player on the big issues would be appreciated! Thank you![&:]

My opinion from limited experience…

Plan long term. Plan small. Plan details.

For example.

If you plan on taking the Gilberts, you will capture four small islands. This can be done with a single SNLF as it hops from one empty base to the next, but what will you defend these bases with? Let us say you decide to use four small SNLF spread out over this island group. They will defend, but really need fortifications to be at there strongest. So you might need to ship in some Construction Bn. (Engineer) of some sort to get this started, because construction is not quick. Each of these bases if manned will need supply, and especially if you do build up fortifications; and this will probably have to be shipped from Japan… a significant number of days away. What about recon? These bases are exposed and you could use some early warning if the American decide to pay a visit…perhaps some seaplanes based at Tarawa for early warning would be nice. Where do they come from and how will they be supported?

Initial attacks in the Philippines and Malaya are already planed, plus most players are being much more aggressive in China than historical. It would be odd for the Allied player to ignore reinforcing the SW Pacific early in the war, well before it was done historically… so you might want to move quickly in this direction.

Island Hoping
Examine the map and airbases. You should try and have aircraft to cover your invasion forces and your level bombers work best from air bases level 4 or greater where they will also need aviation support units and supply. Especially early, a 4 or greater airfield with supply and aviation support with some A6M2 and G3M or G4M groups can total disrupt defenses in the DEI.


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