Late War Japanese Tactics

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Lowpe
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Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by Lowpe »

Post your late war Japanese tactics and tips here.

Got a special plane you can't live without?

A favorite unit?

A combination...like mines and DP guns.

How about upgrades.

This is a blank chalkboard...lets fill it up with ideas!

Here is one to start things off:

I like to try and lure Allied fleets into CD guns and minefields. Very tough to do, but can be done.

Now it is your tun!
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PaxMondo
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by PaxMondo »

Tsurugi and Toka. Lots. But to use them, the deathstar has to get close ... 5 hex.
Remember that you don't need to convert units to kami ... by '45 a lot of pilots will auto kami. I generally have +40% of my DB's turn into kami attacks after 1/45.
Night Naval attacks really work, IF you have a high DL on your target. That means 24/7 NavSearch and lots of it ... and a lot of losses, so you have to be able to rotate units to maintain morale.
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Lowpe
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by Lowpe »

Thanks Pax.

I have been thinking about how to minimize losses of NavS planes to the Deathstar. It seems to me the best you can do is train up some recon planes (2nd Myrt, Dinah III) and use them at max altitude. Jakes, Norms, Betties, Nells, Emily fly too low and and slow and get eaten alive.

Enggame Tactic: Prepare for the massive Army expansion of fighters in March of 44. A rough rule of thumb is you need 2-3 times more Army fighter production than Naval for the endgame. The Army gets all those wonderful size 49 Fighter Sentai's and you need to be prepared to fill them with pilots and frames.

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Lokasenna
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by Lokasenna »

How late is late war?

General rule: don't try to do too much. A VP is a VP.
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rustysi
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by rustysi »

Not a late war tactic, but I've found a use for the Japanese midgets. I've had some success using them as an anti-invasion force. Actually got the idea form AFB's and their use of PT's as an anti-bombardment force. So when an invasion starts I create some midgets at the invasion base or one one or two hexes away and hit his invasion TF.

Even if I don't get results I figure I may be able to exhaust his DC supply and then bring in the bigger killers and hit a few transports. This is against the AI which doesn't escort too well, but I figure it could be useful in a PBEM early in the game when Allied escorts may be somewhat limited. Figure it'll work best in the Solomons, Marshalls, and Gilberts.
It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once. Hume

In every party there is one member who by his all-too-devout pronouncement of the party principles provokes the others to apostasy. Nietzsche

Cave ab homine unius libri. Ltn Prvb
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rustysi
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by rustysi »

Tsurugi

Was wondering about these, never got to the point where I could use them. I do however have some research going from day one.[;)] Thanks Pax.
It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once. Hume

In every party there is one member who by his all-too-devout pronouncement of the party principles provokes the others to apostasy. Nietzsche

Cave ab homine unius libri. Ltn Prvb
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Lowpe
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by Lowpe »

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

How late is late war?

General rule: don't try to do too much. A VP is a VP.

6/44 and later
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Lowpe
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by Lowpe »

Pay attention to the moon and weather.

Convert MGB to MTB; use them in 2-4 ship Task Forces to hit and run Allied task forces, especially landings.
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Chickenboy
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by Chickenboy »

ORIGINAL: rustysi

Not a late war tactic, but I've found a use for the Japanese midgets. I've had some success using them as an anti-invasion force. Actually got the idea form AFB's and their use of PT's as an anti-bombardment force. So when an invasion starts I create some midgets at the invasion base or one one or two hexes away and hit his invasion TF.

Even if I don't get results I figure I may be able to exhaust his DC supply and then bring in the bigger killers and hit a few transports. This is against the AI which doesn't escort too well, but I figure it could be useful in a PBEM early in the game when Allied escorts may be somewhat limited. Figure it'll work best in the Solomons, Marshalls, and Gilberts.

I like the idea of midgets to disrupt Allied landings, or at least stick your finger into their eye. In a 6/44 game involving the Marianas campaign, I was able to satisfactorily use them around Guam and Saipan.

The only reservation I have is their attendant VP cost. For a 'throwaway' weapon system like that, I recall they were expensive VP-wise. If the endgame is a VP for VP contest, it's an argument for moderating their use.
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rustysi
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by rustysi »

The only reservation I have is their attendant VP cost. For a 'throwaway' weapon system like that, I recall they were expensive VP-wise. If the endgame is a VP for VP contest, it's an argument for moderating their use.

While I agree, and I prefer to use the VP 'system' for the determination of victory, I generally don't let it constrain me. There are always the intangibles to take into account. The what if's if you will. How much did he need that APA that I sunk. How many troops were lost because of that sinking. How much supply did I eliminate and how much did he need it then and there. I sunk an AGC? Good did I kill the commander too. Things like that.
It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once. Hume

In every party there is one member who by his all-too-devout pronouncement of the party principles provokes the others to apostasy. Nietzsche

Cave ab homine unius libri. Ltn Prvb
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PaxMondo
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by PaxMondo »

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Thanks Pax.

I have been thinking about how to minimize losses of NavS planes to the Deathstar. It seems to me the best you can do is train up some recon planes (2nd Myrt, Dinah III) and use them at max altitude. Jakes, Norms, Betties, Nells, Emily fly too low and and slow and get eaten alive.
Yes, but I still use the 2nd Nell. That range. Yep. lose a lot, but DL is DL. And night NavSearch works too.
ORIGINAL: Lowpe
Enggame Tactic: Prepare for the massive Army expansion of fighters in March of 44. A rough rule of thumb is you need 2-3 times more Army fighter production than Naval for the endgame. The Army gets all those wonderful size 49 Fighter Sentai's and you need to be prepared to fill them with pilots and frames.
Caveat is your CV airgroups ... if you are ok expanding those to 49, that can be a lot of IJ fighters. George/Jack/Sam, all good fighters ....
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PaxMondo
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by PaxMondo »

ORIGINAL: rustysi
Tsurugi

Was wondering about these, never got to the point where I could use them. I do however have some research going from day one.[;)] Thanks Pax.
380 mph and 800kg bomb. As a straight bomber, they are impressive. as a kami .... [:D]

If there was one thing that I could ask for in the game, it would be that kami's get their range doubled ... the range 5 should be 10 as the plane ain't coming back, and 10 hex range on the Tsurugi/Toka really makes a difference. Good news is that it is easy to mod in, and my personal mod has it.
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Lowpe
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by Lowpe »

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Caveat is your CV airgroups ... if you are ok expanding those to 49, that can be a lot of IJ fighters. George/Jack/Sam, all good fighters ....

I personally don't do that. The IJNAF has a serious fighter withdraw about June of 44. It really stinks.

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Lowpe
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by Lowpe »

ORIGINAL: rustysi
The only reservation I have is their attendant VP cost. For a 'throwaway' weapon system like that, I recall they were expensive VP-wise. If the endgame is a VP for VP contest, it's an argument for moderating their use.

While I agree, and I prefer to use the VP 'system' for the determination of victory, I generally don't let it constrain me. There are always the intangibles to take into account. The what if's if you will. How much did he need that APA that I sunk. How many troops were lost because of that sinking. How much supply did I eliminate and how much did he need it then and there. I sunk an AGC? Good did I kill the commander too. Things like that.

Against a player, and a massive invasion they just die like flies.

They are better used hitting the smaller, cleanup invasions that the Allies often do.

Also, I had good luck with them in any island chain where they can run in and still run out and be disbanded...adjacent islands for example.

If the midget is sunk by grounding it is only 3 vp, but lost to a DE it is 4.
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Lowpe
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by Lowpe »

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Yes, but I still use the 2nd Nell. That range. Yep. lose a lot, but DL is DL. And night NavSearch works too.



I agree, I was merely thinking of using the Dinah III over heavily protected bases or the DS once it is spotted.
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PaxMondo
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by PaxMondo »

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Yes, but I still use the 2nd Nell. That range. Yep. lose a lot, but DL is DL. And night NavSearch works too.



I agree, I was merely thinking of using the Dinah III over heavily protected bases or the DS once it is spotted.
Absolutely ... when in DIII range, I use them a lot. But 26/21 vs 22/18, particularly in the NorPac those extra few hexes really matter.

I build a lot of DIII and G3M2, and I lose a lot. But intel has a price and I willingly pay it ... lose a lot of Glens too on Recon missions ... oh well.
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Lowpe
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by Lowpe »

All bases are assigned to a Headquarters, and on the HI there is a lot of troops assigned to General Defense or it's sub HQs.

You can move a low assault value unit to one of the Japanese Islands or Kuriles or Bonins and by paying political points convert that base over the General Defense.

This will then allow you to fly restricted troops into the island saving you lots of political points.

There are several islands that start in General Defense.

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Lowpe
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by Lowpe »

Confronting the DeathStar:


Stuff the KB with 100 percent fighters. Bad news is that there are so many planes in the Deathstar if they coordinate their attack (likely given the target is CV) the bombers will get thru and you will lose carriers.

But if you can predict the DS general movement, you could flood it with destroyer and cruiser squadrons at night looking to engage it in a night fight. You need lots of surface ships to do this...and you use land based fighters to provide LRCAP over the small fleets while the KB would draw any major strike...but why use the KB this way when you risk it. Instead park a battleship with some good AA ships at a base under a very healthy CAP.

You need to destroy 300 planes to make the loss of the battleship worthwhile...but given a lot of targets the DS usually won't coordinate their raids (much greater chance of coordination against CVs).

Another tactic is to use 1 sentai of torpedo bombers, or one squadron of a high flying kamikaze, and escort it with 4 or more of your best fighter squadrons all set to say 30,000 feet. It is the closest you can come to sweeping carriers. When I did this I used a 1/3rd of a Sentai of bombers (helens) with Georges as escorts.
The above tactic can be tried with say Franks as kamikaze although I am hesitant to recommend moving precious fighter squadrons to kamikaze status.

Only confront the Deathstar with the KB when you you have tons of land based air available and expect to lose 1000 planes easily. Be careful about engaging the Deathstar after bleeding it of planes for awhile...the Allies excel at replenishing their planes from baby carriers. Sams are a must...if you don't have Sams don't even think about fighting the Deathstar with KB -- you are better off ceding ground and keeping a fleet in being.
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by mind_messing »

Tactics can't save Japan in the late war.

The only recourse is an iron handed determination to continue the fight in the face of insurmountable odds. The simple truth is that a stubborn and persistent daily Japanese resistance can frustrate the Allies far more than any tactical tricks or sleight of hand moves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKhEw7nD9C4
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rustysi
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RE: Late War Japanese Tactics

Post by rustysi »

Classic.[;)]
It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once. Hume

In every party there is one member who by his all-too-devout pronouncement of the party principles provokes the others to apostasy. Nietzsche

Cave ab homine unius libri. Ltn Prvb
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