Kamikaze strikes, scrambles and stuff

  • '18 '17

    Playing our weekly game yesterday and a few things came up that we would like clarified by the experts (or at least the folks here  :-D).

    1. I was playing as Japan.  US player had a large force in SZ 6, including loaded transports (that they moved in during the NC phase of previous turn). During his combat movement phase, he takes a lone, loaded transport and conducts an amphibious assualt into SZ 19, attacking Kiangsu.  I had no ships in SZ 19.  According to the Pacific rule book, I cannot target transports with kamikaze attacks.  He then moves surface ships into the zone to protect the transport on his NC move, again negating any possible kamikaze attack.  Is this intended, or a manipulation of the rules?  It seems as though kamikazes will never be able to defend against amphib assault, nor attack carriers (since they typically follow a/c into a SZ on NC phase).  Do most people simply house rule this, or what?  If they are only good against destroyers, cruisers and BB’s, I feel they are rather useless, particularly when the USN attacks in force.

    2. As Germany, I had a lone transport in SZ 113.  I also had a stack of fighter a/c in Western Germany.  My UK opponent sent a strategic bomber to attack my lone transport and I scrambled three fighters to defend.  During the ensuing battle, if the bomber scores a hit, I can choose to assign that hit to a fighter if I so desire, correct?  I could choose to not lose the transport at all, right?

    3. Finally, Italy is conducting amphib assault into Trans Jordan from SZ 98.  UK has an airfield in Egypt, but no ships in the Med.  UK scrambles to defend against the assault.  Does this negate any shore bombardment that may accompany the Italian assault?

    Thanks ahead of time.

  • '20

    1. Looks like it is played correctly. No manipulation there. You are mistaken that they are useless. They can make a huge difference in a big battle.

    2. Transport must be taken as last casualty.

    3. Yes

  • '19 '17 '16

    If USA is parked in SZ6, I would normally buy a DD as Japan to force out the fleet, or make it suffer the wrath of the Kamikazes, which I would normally target at the CVs to allow it to be attacked on my turn, unless my fleet is more than a turn away and I need it to hit the damaged USN.

    Colt told you true.

  • '18 '17 '16

    As the Japanese player it is important to defend Kamikaze sea zones to force the Allies to send in warships so that you can use the Kamikazes. You can’t defend them all of course, but you need to defend the one that you think that the Americans will want to attack most (or the one you want to lose the least). The mistake that you made was not defending sea zone 6 to begin with. You will want to have enough ships to force the Americans to bring more than their air force or you still won’t have a chance to use the Kamikazes. Don’t forget about using airbases also so you can scramble planes to prevent your opponent from making amphibious assaults via unescorted Transports.

    It is equally important to understand this as well if you are the American player. Look for a way to exploit the Japanese to avoid the Kamikazes, or at least don’t expose your carriers to them as you might end up losing planes due to no landing space after the battle.

  • '18 '17 '16

    I made a video to help newer players understand how to use their Kamikaze Strikes to their advantage, as well as how to exploit them if they are playing the Americans against the Kamikazes. I misspoke at around the 18 minute mark or so calling American Battleships “Carriers” so please ignore that gaff.

    For the more experienced players, if you have the time watch the video and comment about how you would use the Kamikazes different in the example that I provided in the video. The more players that weigh in, the better we will all be able to understand how to play the Kamikaze Strikes from both sides of the fight. I was only able to give my own opinion in the video.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRmRXzA5N70&feature=youtu.be

  • '19 '17 '16

    However, for Kamikazes on units starting their turn in SZ6, hitting CVs has real value. Knocks off the planes which have to fly back to Midway or similar.

  • '21 '20 '18 '17

    The kami’s can actually wreck all the planes, if they tip 1 or more carriers.  Depends on whether Iwo or Russia are the intended LZ or backup LZs.

    Kamikaze are interesting because they only target surface ships, the list of potential targets is exclusive not inclusive;  so the only things that can be attacked are BB CA CV and DD (no SUB, TT, SB, TB, FIG)

    Most of the time they all get thrown at once in an attempt to screw over the carriers but its good to keep 1-2 to say, stymy the use of just 1 cruiser with a transport, or diminish the allied chances of a risk attack–-as long as you have them in reserve they can potentially deter.

    (last game 164 I attacked SZ 6 early with 1 sb 2 dd 2 sub he had brand new 1 bb 1 dd no scramblers considering his position I think he forgot to try and nuke my DDs which could have prevented the wipeout)


  • I believe just one Kamikaze will prevent shore bombardments as well, right?  That could be very valuable in itself.

  • '21 '20 '18 '17

    Agreed, so keeping 1-2 in reserve is a strong move, unless its game over if you don’t.

  • '18 '17 '16

    I was debating what do with that last one. Keeping it sounds like a good play.

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