Suggestions for my 100 point Japanese army.

[ezto]

As I look through these first two sets i see that the Japs are better off with just soldiers, but i can be wrong. The ��� tanks never did make an allied tank sweat (exept for the chinese). Should i wait for the air units, which were the real japanese "DEAL?", or should i give it a try as it is. I want to make an offensive Japanese army...

[ezto]

How is this for now...
*3 Chi-Ha ---- Manuveranility/Knock outs tanks
3 Type 1 Ho-Ni ---- Best shot at destroying enemy tanks.
@SNLF Captain ---- Must have
@Imperial Sniper ---- Counter their Must have, pick off Soldiers
@Type 92 Machine-Gun Team ---- Help knock out infantry
@2 Type 89 Mortar ---- Help knock out weak tanks and infantry
5 Arisaka Rifle ---- Protect flanks, keep enemy busy
2 SNLF paratroopers ---- Support/Strike fear which will force opponent to keep units by his guns, obj.

Total= 15 units, 100 points.

Work in groups * @

My first attempt. Please give me your comments/Critisism

[General Di Caro]

I think your question beings up a good point-- which is that the standard game construction deters anyone from using the Japanese because of their weak units-- even their infantry and machine guns are substandard. How, one might ask, did "the Japs" even win a battle with this junk?

Well, the Guadalcanal scenarios lend some great balance, because they incorporate more terrain and defensive position detail.

But there are just some things that can't be incorporated.  Take Operation Barbarossa for example.  When the Germans invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, they routed the Soviets for six months in every sense of the word and captured hundreds of thousands of Russian troops with their Panzered encirclements, and as a result of what was criminal incompetence by Stalin (and delusion that the Germans wouldn't attack), among many factors. 

However, in this game- if one were to play a 1941 scenario with the units provided- the Germans would have no answer for the Russian tanks (which of course mirrors reality).  The KV-1 stat card incorrecty lists that unit as 1942, so if one were to play with historical accuracy, the Germans would have at best the Panzer Mark III (no early Mark IV models are provided, even though they weren't too effective against Soviet armor either: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer_IV).  The Soviets would have the T-34 and the KV-1.

The Soviets should win every 1941 skirmish under these scenarios, because you just can't factor in to a nice fast-playing board game the circumstances that led to the disaster that was 1941 for the Soviets.

That being said, I love the game... play it as much as often.... use hardly any house rules... and think your Japanese army is fine, depending on what your opponent is using.  Use the Banzai Charge!  If you make it through defensive fire, it basically guarantees you will kill the enemy unit.

-The General

[Yankee Slayer]

The general is right.  Japs have weaker units than the other major contries in the game.  The army you choose look preaty good.  But you shouldn't always use the same army if you play with the same persons because they will adapt very fast.  If your opponent get a IS-2 you'll have to be lucky to take it out.  But the good news is that this unit is so expensive that you rarely see one in 100 pts games.

I trick from my brother si to use a mortar with your SNLF captain.  Infantry will need 6 on their cover roll to survive and you can shoot them safely from 8 hexs !! This is very good to get rid of the enemy infantry even when the have some cover. 

Use your paratrooper to get rid of dug up MGs.  Most of the time they will get killed in the process but if you get rid of the MGs, you infantry (most part of your army) will breath easier.

As I said earlier you must not always choose the same units or your opponent will choose according to this selection.  I would recommend using one or more 47mm Type 1 anti-tank gun.  They are cheaper than tanks and are less vulnerable to tank attack.

Good luck.

[killercelery]

I'm not sure about the 47mm Type 1 anti-tank gun., I've used some and they never get to do anything on the enemy tanks, except the T-70, but it's true it helps against transport vehicle and armored cars.

[ezto]

Thanks for the responce. Now im really pondering if I should wait for the Zero's instead of making this army right away.

[General Di Caro]

I suggest you go with the Japanese Type VIII No-Chi-Kawasaki Tank... it's 95 points.  Versus Armor 26/24/22.  Defense 12/11.  Speed 11.

Oh, wait.. no such tank exists.  Sorry.

[ezto]

I see the sarcasm, but I bet the zeroes will be pretty good.

[General Di Caro]

I think the Americans should get the Enola Gay bomber unit... with the ol' A-Bomb.  It should have the "Incinerate" special ability.
That would handle them Japanese dug in defenders.. and everything else on the map.

Enola Gay.  100 points.  Versus Everything.  100,000/100,000/100,000

[DFlynSqrl]

Enola Gay.  100 points.  Versus Everything.  100,000/100,000/100,000

Heh, go ahead and use the Enola Gay, but I'm not helping you count your hits after you toss 100,000 dice!   

[djensen]

Don't forget about the Ho-Ni. That is a great little tank for 12 points.

[General Di Caro]

The Guadalcanal scenarios have some Japanese armies made up of all Arisaka's and Machine Guns.  They are in a defensive position and very tough.

[ezto]

As I look through these first two sets i see that the Japs are better off with just soldiers, but i can be wrong. The ��� tanks never did make an allied tank sweat (exept for the chinese). Should i wait for the air units, which were the real japanese "DEAL?", or should i give it a try as it is. I want to make an offensive Japanese army...

I said offensive. Almost all armies defend better than they attack, but the challenge is on the offence.

[General Di Caro]

I could have sworn you called me at midnight last night and shouted into my ear, "I SAID DEFENSIVE!!!!"

[ezto]

Don't forget about the Ho-Ni. That is a great little tank for 12 points.

I think the Ho-Ni is a better bet than the Chi-Ha and they are worth the same.