thoughts on a Japanese strategy?

[Cmdr Jennifer]

Because Italy should be able to handle India while Germany is now weakened and needs help with Russia.

[Young Grasshopper]

Because Italy should be able to handle India while Germany is now weakened and needs help with Russia.

Have you ever taken Calcutta with Italy?

[Cmdr Jennifer]

I took Sydney with Italy once.  Won that with 6 Victory Cities in the Pacific.

[Ruanek]

I took Sydney with Italy once.  Won that with 6 Victory Cities in the Pacific.

That must have been a monstrous (or displaced) Italy.

[Young Grasshopper]

I took Sydney with Italy once.  Won that with 6 Victory Cities in the Pacific.

Does that mean you took Calcutta on your way to Sydney or if you wanted to take Calcutta with Italy, you could?. I guess my point is, I have seen Japan do really well about 5 times and each time involved sacking Calcutta. I'm just surprised that I don't see more strategy talk about this move.

[Cmdr Jennifer]

No, it was a total surprise:

Hong Kong
Kiangsu
Japan
New South Wales
Philippines
Hawaii

[sargon]

Played a game where the U.S moved fleet to Hawaii. J1 3 tt, consolidated fleet in sz6 and moved 3FT and 3TAC to Carolina. J2, built 2SBM and 3TT and moved entire fleet with 6TT loaded to Hawii water. J3. built factory, dd's and subs DOW on U.S. hit them with 16 planes and entire fleet. Lost my subs and dd's and one CA. U.S. fleet sunk and took Honolulu. Puts Japan in position to hammer U.S. builds in homewaters off San Fran.

Cavaet. Allows Calcutta to build up too but hope to make up for it with tanks from factory.

[shadowguidex]

No, it was a total surprise:

How the hell could Italy sneak up on ANZAC and "surprise" them........

You should be able to see loaded transports from many zones away....it's not like you had Calcutta with Italy, you clearly had to leapfrog south Asia.  I call shenanigans.

[Cmdr Jennifer]

Oh, it's not hard.  The Japo-Italian fleet was in SZ 26 then Japan moved down and crushed the Australians.  After that, Japan strafed NSW failing to get it due to dice.  Australia put in 2 more infantry leaving 3 infantry, AA gun to defend it (it's fighters having been stripped to defend India) and Italy attacked with 2 infantry, artillery, armor, cruiser.

[otahere34]

First, I buy 3 transports. Next I go for Sydney my first turn. I use the inf. in the Carolinas and the fighters on the carrier for the land fighting. I use the navy to destroy and ships in the bordering sea zone. I then load up the 2 transports near Japan and move them to the Carolinas to invade again, because ANZAC will surely take it back next turn since you only have on inf. I Shut down the Burma Road, and push in the north with 2 inf and an artillary from Manchuria 1-2 spaces behind the leader.I also shift all my AF south to help in the push on india. Of the 2 times i've tried it, it worked once, the second time I shifted my 2 transports towards india to try and help there, but it didn't work. This way, you imediatly eliminate the "pest" in the pacific, and can focus on everything else. I usually go for the DEI Once I eliminate the British navy, which might not be the best idea, but with 24 or so from taking anzac twice, and eliminating the "pest" I see it worth it.

[Young Grasshopper]

First, I buy 3 transports.

I have seen this a few times and I don't understand it, I know you are going for Sydney first but if you don't get more infantry on the mainland before your trip, it's bye bye coastal territories and so long Shanghai and Hong Kong. If you buy 3 transports J1, that will give you 6 that need to get filled J2. Personally I would buy 2 transports and 4 infantry for a nice balance of both boat and cargo.

[otahere34]

First, I buy 3 transports.

I have seen this a few times and I don't understand it, I know you are going for Sydney first but if you don't get more infantry on the mainland before your trip, it's bye bye coastal territories and so long Shanghai and Hong Kong. If you buy 3 transports J1, that will give you 6 that need to get filled J2. Personally I would buy 2 transports and 4 infantry for a nice balance of both boat and cargo.

I don't play Alpha +2, I just heard of it recently, but in OOB, There are 6 inf, and an artillary and I think a tank. So I load up with 4 inf, the arty, and tank, then replace J2, along with another transport or so.

[JamesAleman]

First, I buy 3 transports.

I have seen this a few times and I don't understand it, I know you are going for Sydney first but if you don't get more infantry on the mainland before your trip, it's bye bye coastal territories and so long Shanghai and Hong Kong. If you buy 3 transports J1, that will give you 6 that need to get filled J2. Personally I would buy 2 transports and 4 infantry for a nice balance of both boat and cargo.

I don't play Alpha +2, I just heard of it recently, but in OOB, There are 6 inf, and an artillary and I think a tank. So I load up with 4 inf, the arty, and tank, then replace J2, along with another transport or so.

There is nothing wrong with 3 transports, it just does not fit his style.

Yes in both OOB and Alpha2+ you should have 6 infantry 2 artillery and a tank, plenty for your 6 transports as you also have the okinawa and iwo jima infantry to draw on. If you use a caroline infantry, thats 12 units, or a Korean one draws 1 unit from the mainland.

It may be that he likes to transport units to the mainland and thus requires more built turn 1. That's just a different style that works for him. When I don't build 2 subs, I build 3 transports with Japan for my Pacific first campaigns.

[Young Grasshopper]

Yes..... I do prefer a strong mainland campaign. But I just can't see how you can head towards Australia with 6 full transports early in the game, and keep China in check.

[Alsch91]

The ground troops and planes you start with on the mainland are enough to keep China very busy for about 5 turns.  1-2 ICs on the coast will take over after that.  Transporting from Japan to China is fairly unnecessary, as long as you don't throw away those troops you start with through some accident.