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I am playing Halsey in a CHS game as the IJN/IJA My Phase I strategy is as follows.

1) Cautious but forceful in the SRA, two divisions will be tr to other duties (see below). Push in Malaya and a strong landing in Luzon but no strict time table. If the allies want to come out and play I will have 2 or 3 powerful surface groups, some subs and Bettys and Nells to deal with them.

2) Cut China in two and take out the north, then sweep the south. The Northern armies are more vulnerable, I will drive them from the cities and let them rot in the countryside.

3) The main event will be the siege and eventual capture of Hawaii. 2 divs right off will be transferred West (plus the support to go with them) and KB and the balance of the fleet will move to engage the USN, bloody it and push the theatre of operations East by making Hawaii a battlefield.

My reasoning is this.

What I really want to do is sink as many American ships in unequal battles as I can. I figure moving toward Hawaii right off is the key. This game is sometimes a psychological projection of the people who play it, I think that playing against an American (Halsey being from Ohio) they are more likely to come out and play emotionally and not just logically. American players dont want to lose Pearl as a matter of pride. And if I'm wrong it should be relativly easy going and I get a primo base.

What do you think?

Two divisions against Hawaii won't be enough. Figure at least double that.

If you invade Hawai and you succeed (expect some losses) then destroy all troops there and get out of there again mid 43. You can´t hold Hawai.

The two were for the opening moves with more to follow.

Hi

I am currently invading PH.... see the AAR Bloody Pacific. It's done with standard map.

My preliminary phase was done by the South Seas Detachment (that invaded Midway and then Johnson Island) and 16th Div that took Lahaina and then other bases around here. Lahaina is perfect as a port and airfield to besiege PH without actually landing on it. By the way PH has no HI or ressources so having troops ashore is useless before the final offensive.

From Lahaina 150 bombers and 8 BBs are pounding PH daily. And all my CV/CVL/CVE are in the area, but bombing PH with them results in too heavy losses, especially for Vals.

Second wave was the HQ 16th Army, 4 Div, 3 Eng Rgts and some ART and was landed directly on PH. Allied guns fired about 15000 shells in two days on the invasion TF, even after 15 days of pounding, and did a lot of damage.

The most important thing in this area is fuel. Counting the 128000 points aboard the TF 2 that supports KB at the start of the war, I used more than 300 000 points of fuel in the area... 80% of my TK/AO are sailing between Japan and Hawaii but Lahaina is always short on fuel... during this time tens of Ak are picking fuel in Chinese and Korean ports and bring it to Tokyo to load TK/AO there. Total shipping towards Hawaii in 2 months (it's now 2/Feb/42) is around 500 000 fuel and 350-400 000 supplies. Various Hawaii bases have no no more fuel, Midway has only 5 000. 200 000 are still at sea. Supply situation is better I have 120 000 in Lahaina, Midway and Johnson and about 150 000 still aboard ships.

Trying to land in PH with 1-2 div will probably end in disaster.... except if the CHS greatly lowered the CD defenses and garrison of PH. Taking Lahaina first allows me to pound the island, close it to Allied ships while resting CVs and also saved 25 ships hit during PH landings. I have an AR and a full fleet HQ in Lahaina.

I don't see the point in taking PH........much better to concentrate on winning the war against China.......that will pay bigger dividends later in the war.

I think the biggest problem you will have is with navigation. Send those divisions East, not West. [:)]