Any suggestions?

[Numdydar]

In a PBEM game and it is March '44. About to lose the Marshalls Is. I still own New Guinea from Varno West (but not for long either [:(] Most likely in the next month)

In April '44 I will get a CV (I accelerated it) plus I have two, yes two lol, that have survived so far. This brings my total carrier fleet to 3 CVs, 1 CVL, and 3 CVEs. The CVEs are mainly escorting a couple of huge tanker fleets I have moving around for ASW purposes.

So given that my planes now officially suck, but my pilots are still pretty good on the CVs, where should I make my last stand with these? I was thinking Sapian/Guam area but wanted to see if anyone have any other suggestions.

As a comparision, I fell ot of my chair laughing when Rabaul was invaded and a raid with over 500 carrier planes showed up [X(]. Considering I could get about 200 with all my remaining CVs togeather, this is no longer any where near an equal contest lol.

The Allies have lost the Yorktown, Hornet, and 8 CVEs. While I have lost 8 CVs and 6 CVLs. While not the best ratio, I sacrificed the CVs to delay occupation of New Guinea/Rabual for as long as I could. Maybe not the best plan but it seemed like a good idea at the time [:D] Of course some of the other Allied CVs were (or still are) out of service due to damage (damn those American repair parties [:@] ) as the last major CV battle we had was Oct '43.

Look forward to everyone's comments.

[Grfin Zeppelin]

Ah....looks rather grim to me o.O

In would use them as a fleet it being. that means not using them and forcing my opponent to be careful and keep his stuff together.

[obvert]

Buy back the lost air groups from the CVs and build planes like crazy. Train low nav and get your kamis into action. That's about the only stalling technique left I would think.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Numdydar

So given that my planes now officially suck, but my pilots are still pretty good on the CVs, where should I make my last stand with these? I was thinking Sapian/Guam area but wanted to see if anyone have any other suggestions.

Look forward to everyone's comments.

Pull them back to HI LBA cover and wait for him to come for them. Don't give away the VPs.

Until you lose you've won. He must have an auto-vic to do better than a draw. He has to beat you. You just need to not lose.

[mike scholl 1]

ORIGINAL: Bullwinkle58

Until you lose you've won. He must have an auto-vic to do better than a draw. He has to beat you. You just need to not lose.

The "Moose" is dead on! Japanese strastegy in the Pacific War was never to "win" in the conventional sense..., it was not to lose and hope the other side got tired of the fight. It had worked against Russia in 1904-05, and they hoped it would again in 1941-45. Their misfortune was that while Czarist Russia reacted to their surprise attack by being demoralized, the United States reacted by being enraged.

[Barb]

Another posibility is to wait for the moment enemy is strong forward - and strike at his rear/back. Allied move to Philippines/Formosa seems to open the Hawai-Sapian-Philippines route to the thrust from north.

[Bullwinkle58]

ORIGINAL: Barb

Another posibility is to wait for the moment enemy is strong forward - and strike at his rear/back. Allied move to Philippines/Formosa seems to open the Hawai-Sapian-Philippines route to the thrust from north.

Maybe, but all the Japanese can do by mid-1944 is hurt the Allies. They can't beat them by offense. Thrust out to mid=Pac and you'll sink some ships--maybe a lot--but you'll lose the offensive forces. And then there's nothing for synergy with HI forces to hold the final line. Japan-only players really need to look at the Allied OOB in June 1944.

[Fallschirmjager]

I don't play much as Japan, but I agree with the Moose. If I was the Allies I would hope that you would keep stringing yourself out so that I could keep beating you in small chunks.
Depending on how well you have done in China I would start pulling units out of China back to the HI and I would also strip Vietnam and Korea. Once the Allied ring closes in you will find you can't transport troops anymore, so I would start ASAP and keep it up.
If you think you can pull it off, I would arrange a few high speed transports and get some of those independent brigades with high EXP and also some supply and quickly run them to the Mariana Islands.
Work now with your tankers and AK's and get as much oil and supply to the HI as possible. By 1945 when the Allies take Iwo and Okinawa it will become impossible.
Towards the end of the year go ahead and reinforce Iwo and Okinawa.

On the plane side of things begin organizing and training future Kamikaze groups. Set them to naval attack training and 1,000 feet. Research the Toka, Ki-115 and Ki-201.
The Ki-201 is the only plane you will have in 1945-46 that can meet the Allied planes on equal terms.

I would also consider turning off some of your merchant and warship construction depending on your merchant losses. Save the supply and let it build up on the HI.

Finally, my last piece of supply is to build forts everywhere. As much as you can. Forts will slow down the Allied advance for a time.

You are basically going to go into turtle mode. Reducing your perimeter and tucking into your shell. If you leave your limbs and head exposed the Allies will hack them off. And that is just giving away unnecessary VP.

And for your dreams of a carrier battle. I have to say that you best forget it. Even if you throw everything you have at the Allies, their CAP will simply shoot them down. Retreat your carriers to Nigata.
Train your carrier Air groups as point defenders for the HI or as future Kamikazes. But you will never again sortie your carriers. They will just become bomb magnets and instant VP for the Allies.

[inqistor]

Why do you want to use them offensively? Allies can split their forces, and still be able to win any battle.


Now you should wait, and prepare for Allied invasions. If you will be able to concentrate enough planes at land to force Allied CVs to retreat, you could then move KB remnants for hunting retreating ships.

Alternatively - send them to bombard bases at West Coast, when you are sure damaged CVs are repairing there.

Or you can go with original Japanese plan, and use CVs as bait for Allied CVs, while you sneak Surface TF to kill landing invasion ships.

[Numdydar]

Great ideas all. Thank you all so much.

I did not even think about the VP loss involved in making one last stand. Also did not think about turning off the Merch ship factories. As I have been kind of role playing with the game, this is not something I would have considered doing as in RL Japan kept producing until the end. Not that it helped them any lol.

Matter of fact that is how most of my CVs were lost in the game was hitting invading forces. Which is why so many Allied CVEs were lost versus regular CVs. It seems to have delayed things as I hoped. But is it enough to really matter lol.

Thanks again for the help.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Numdydar

In a PBEM game and it is March '44. About to lose the Marshalls Is. I still own New Guinea from Varno West (but not for long either [:(] Most likely in the next month)

In April '44 I will get a CV (I accelerated it) plus I have two, yes two lol, that have survived so far. This brings my total carrier fleet to 3 CVs, 1 CVL, and 3 CVEs. The CVEs are mainly escorting a couple of huge tanker fleets I have moving around for ASW purposes.

So given that my planes now officially suck, but my pilots are still pretty good on the CVs, where should I make my last stand with these? I was thinking Sapian/Guam area but wanted to see if anyone have any other suggestions.

As a comparision, I fell ot of my chair laughing when Rabaul was invaded and a raid with over 500 carrier planes showed up [X(]. Considering I could get about 200 with all my remaining CVs togeather, this is no longer any where near an equal contest lol.

The Allies have lost the Yorktown, Hornet, and 8 CVEs. While I have lost 8 CVs and 6 CVLs. While not the best ratio, I sacrificed the CVs to delay occupation of New Guinea/Rabual for as long as I could. Maybe not the best plan but it seemed like a good idea at the time [:D] Of course some of the other Allied CVs were (or still are) out of service due to damage (damn those American repair parties [:@] ) as the last major CV battle we had was Oct '43.

Look forward to everyone's comments.

Am i the only one who has lost 20 allied CVs in a single air battle in mid 1944??? Seems everybody, playing the allies, is getting good kill ratio with his CVs late in the war.... Damn! [:D]

[ctangus]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Am i the only one who has lost 20 allied CVs in a single air battle in mid 1944??? Seems everybody, playing the allies, is getting good kill ratio with his CVs late in the war.... Damn! [:D]

Probably, but I came close! In one turn I Lost 6-8 Fleet CVs plus smaller ones against viberpol in '44 while attempting an early Iwo Jima invasion. I didn't keep exact count of the losses, it was too painful. (This was original WITP, not AE.)