How to handle money islands as Anzac/UK

[Charles de Gaulle]

@simon33:

@Charles:

The idea is to force Japanese ships to come down to you.  Once they are in range, then you strike.  Don’t send yourself in first.

I agree with this. What do you do if the IJN camps out in SZ42 (Java) with a superior fleet? Just sit in Qld and build up?

If you are diverting so mNy Japanese ships as ANZAC, great!  I usually find that if Japan is putting a big enough fleet outside Java to halt ANZAC, there are other openings in the Pacific that can be hit.  The US could move to Japan or the Caroline Island or help Far East Russia.  Alternatively, you could ask the US to come down and scare the Japanese fleet back to air cover.  Also, don’t be afraid of fighting a more or less even naval battle with Japan as ANZAC.  If the smaller Allies can get Japan into fifty-fifty fights, the US can probably overwhelm them.  Of course, there is always that one Japanese player who buys a yon of ships and just settles with a smaller portion of mainland conquest.  In such case, be happy that Japan is focusing on you and not the Allies that count (China, Russia, UK).
@Caesar:

Very rarely do I have ANZAC go for the Dutch Territories outside their own NO. Usually with the starting transport, I take the New Zealand infantry and have them capture Brazil and leave the Dutch Islands for UK. Mostly because I have to deal with a Japan that likes to keep the peace but keep a fleet too far south to allow a loose transport to convert these islands and I have not going to risk 8 dollars of worth against earning 5 if Japan is within striking distance of Queensland.

I often see Japanese assaults on Australia to be a worthwhile trap to set.  As long as you hold Sydney, you are fine.  Besides, the US can hit the fleet (of even be outside Queensland from the start) and ANZAC should always be buying land units to fight with and send on transports.

I agree with HandGrenade.  The UK Pacific needs a land war.  If you want to fight as sea as the UK, you need to take from Europe.  It is ANZAC’s job to contest the South Pacific, possibly with US help.

[Caesar-Seriona]

@WILD:

@Caesar:

Very rarely do I have ANZAC go for the Dutch Territories outside their own NO. Usually with the starting transport, I take the New Zealand infantry and have them capture Brazil……

This is an interesting take. I have the UK take Brazil on occasion when the Japanese are slow boating, but the Anz could use the income for sure. The only thing is it would take a while to get those Brazilians into action with only one transport unless you put a couple on a US or UK transport (which could be done easily enough).

On a similar note I have had Anz gear up and take all of South America when doing a neutral crush (Argentina/Chile). With the map split where it is you kinda forget how close and easy it is for the Anz to get to S America. Obviously all the other allies need to be in concert at roughly the same time to be effective (and fun).

Well I have to admit that sometimes I play Axis and Allies and try to add on into history against the spirit of the game. I don’t do this if its going to sacrifice victory. So when Brazil gets converted, I leave the transport there and ferry these troops to Africa to help keep northern French territories from Italy or use them to keep Gibraltar in UK hands. During extreme situations, I will send them from West Africa to Egypt.

[simon33]

@Charles:

If you are diverting so mNy Japanese ships as ANZAC, great!

Depends a lot on where the USN is but in most games I’m playing it parks in SZ54 (Qld). So parking the IJN in SZ42 is blocking the USN.

[thespaceman]

Why send the US fleet to Australia? or Southern areas. Wouldn’t a more direct approach to Japan yield quicker results.

[simon33]

@thespaceman:

Why send the US fleet to Australia? or Southern areas. Wouldn’t a more direct approach to Japan yield quicker results.

The USN take a long time to be able to support an invasion of Tokyo. You need to try something a bit more indirect to weaken them first. Obviously. I’m confused by your question!

Southern areas are where the money is.

[Caesar-Seriona]

I find parking submarines off the mainland SZ while bombing Jap factories does great wonders to make Japanese peacefully agree with Allied policies.

[thespaceman]

Us fleet in the north means japan needs to respond by moving their fleet north. This allows uk and anzac to jump in and grab a few islands. Also forces japan to build more ships in response. Each ship build is 2 less land units in china.

I like sea zone 3. Its out of range of land based air which is one of the main threats. It threatwns japan enough to force fleet back to japan to defend.

This allows floating bridge to russia but there is another threat.

If japan is asleep and does not defend adequately then ussr can drop a naval base there allowing a strike on japan fairly early in the game. I think around turn 3 to 4 is possible.

Its probably not a strategy for every game but might catch an agressive opponent with the japanese fleet at Indonesia

[Charles de Gaulle]

Place for the bulk of the American fleet?
How about dead center in the heat of battle?  :-D

On a serious note, I do prefer keeping most of the US Navy up north, but I almost always have American ships and planes down south helping ANZAC and reinforcements going to Hawaii for deployment.  The trouble for the US in the Pacific is mobility. Either you stay back in Hawaii where you can quickly move anywhere or you move in further to safe zones like Alaska and Australia and sacrifice your range.

Anyway, to justify my first comment made in jest, the US really needs to get in the middle of the Pacific as soon as Japan gives them the chance.  The Caroline Islands is the obvious route, but there are other places that can be used such as Iwo Jima, eastern Russia, New Guinea, the DEI and even places like the Marshall Isalnds with an added sea base.  Once you force put the Japanese into a situation where they simply cannot be in two places at once, Yamamota is going to start sweating.

[Caesar-Seriona]

Hawaii is always a great spot because you can land on Japan or Queensland in one turn so you can threaten Japan while shielding ANZAC.

[simon33]

@Charles:

Place for the bulk of the American fleet?
How about dead center in the heat of battle?   :-D

On a serious note, I do prefer keeping most of the US Navy up north, but I almost always have American ships and planes down south helping ANZAC and reinforcements going to Hawaii for deployment.  The trouble for the US in the Pacific is mobility. Either you stay back in Hawaii where you can quickly move anywhere or you move in further to safe zones like Alaska and Australia and sacrifice your range.

Anyway, to justify my first comment made in jest, the US really needs to get in the middle of the Pacific as soon as Japan gives them the chance.  The Caroline Islands is the obvious route, but there are other places that can be used such as Iwo Jima, eastern Russia, New Guinea, the DEI and even places like the Marshall Isalnds with an added sea base.  Once you force put the Japanese into a situation where they simply cannot be in two places at once, Yamamota is going to start sweating.

Getting the Carolines is cool for the USA but most games I am allies it seems too much difficulty for the gain. That AA Gun adds to the fear that you will lose a plane but you can’t even get a plane there if it starts in SZ26 or Hawaii. One game recently, I intended to land ANZAC planes on the airbase but failed to take the island and my US Pacific fleet went to the bottom of the ocean!

@Caesar:

Hawaii is always a great spot because you can land on Japan or Queensland in one turn so you can threaten Japan while shielding ANZAC.

Hawaii doesn’t allow many offensive possibilities for USA. Even if you’re targeting Korea, they can easily put down a blocker.

@Caesar:

I find parking submarines off the mainland SZ while bombing ��� factories does great wonders to make Japanese peacefully agree with Allied policies.

Where are you basing your US Bombers? Why wouldn’t the IJN have a DD in range of SZ6 if they saw subs coming?

[Caesar-Seriona]

Because as I said parking a fleet on Hawaii does great wonders to scare Japanese units into going where I want them to go. Bombers bomb from USSR.

[simon33]

@Caesar:

Because as I said parking a fleet on Hawaii does great wonders to scare Japanese units into going where I want them to go. Bombers bomb from USSR.

The IJN should not run back to SZ6 because of the USN positioning in Hawaii or Midway. If the USN moves into SZ6, build a DD and move to SZ35 (Philippines) and then you can target the CVs with Kamikazes if they don’t run away. Also make sure most of your air force is in range. The remaining fleet is unlikely to be strong enough to defend against your concerted attack.

The fear is USA landing on Korea and being reinforced by USSR. Perhaps that is an over hyped fear but I don’t know. I think it is a pretty strong move for the USA.

[PainState]

IF the USA wants to play games with Japan and threaten SZ6 “Home Waters” or go far north in USSR, Iam totally fine with that, I can handle that. What I cannot handle is the USA going into the south Pacific and messing with my Money Islands, Singapore, Hong Kong, Hanoi and Manila IPC money. � That very small region on the board is worth 30 IPC in conquered territory IPC value. The exact same IPC level Germany starts the war at.

It is the most important region on the map and if Japan controls it and the USA ignores it….That is cool.

[Caesar-Seriona]

@PainState:

IF the USA wants to play games with Japan and threaten SZ6 “Home Waters” or go far north in USSR, Iam totally fine with that, I can handle that. What I cannot handle is the USA going into the south Pacific and messing with my Money Islands, Singapore, Hong Kong, Hanoi and Manila IPC money. � That very small region on the board is worth 30 IPC in conquered territory IPC value. The exact same IPC level Germany starts the war at.

It is the most important region on the map and if Japan controls it and the USA ignores it….That is cool.

Usually in my games, I’ve had to leave those islands alone, I try to have UK, ANZAC, and/or France take those islands rather than the US only due to US having such an insane amount they already make. However US Korea is such a pain for Japan because this will allow USSR to pull off their eastern front, liberate China, and prevent Japan from making a navy off their homeland.

[Charles de Gaulle]

“If you are hurting your enemy, good; if you are killing him, great.”

Americans anywhere in the Pacific hurt Japan, but the question is what kills Japan?

Sacking their reserves?
Or
Threatening their homeland?

Just my opinion, but I like a minor force down south helping Australia (fighters, bombers, destroyers, submarines) and a major force up north.  Splitting up your navy is fine as long as you won’t be attacked by Japan.  This splitting is not really a severe disadvantage because Japan has to split up in the same ratio or let you have your way.  Don’t be Afraid to split up your forces in the Pacific, just be cautious of counterattack and regrouping range.  The same applies to playing as Japan.  Of course, places like Western Europe require a different approach.

[simon33]

If the USA did that, as Japan I think I would sit on SZ35 or perhaps SZ33 so I could strike either force. Then what would either force do? Northern force might have to just sit tight and the southern force would have to run, I think. I guess the problem is that you could lose a few money islands. Depends on the strength of the southern force I suppose; if possible, you should hold SZ42.

[Charles de Gaulle]

The idea is not to move first, but let Japan move first.  For example: ANZAC takes Java and Japan simply must take it back.  Whatever Japan sends down there you destroy as the US.  If Japan is not careful enough and sends too much down there, US can move north and hit the homeland.

[Caesar-Seriona]

@Charles:

The idea is not to move first, but let Japan move first.  For example: ANZAC takes Java and Japan simply must take it back.  Whatever Japan sends down there you destroy as the US.  If Japan is not careful enough and sends too much down there, US can move north and hit the homeland.

The problem is that I have played enough Japanese players to understand that they are smart enough to let US make the first move and react to it with the exception of getting that sweet 20 dollar bonus.

[Charles de Gaulle]

What good American player would lose his cool if Japan was playing so defensively that ANZAC could do as he pleases? I consider an American navy forcing Japan to keeps its ships in the defensive AS WELL AS let ANZAC keep money islands a worth-while effort.  Japan cannot ignore Allied gains and then wait for the US to move further.  Those first Allied gains can be detrimental.  Unless Japan is going for Russia or something, it must keep a hold on the important places in the Pacific.

No money islands, no fuel.  No fuel, no war.

[Caesar-Seriona]

Except Japan not controlling those island is a huge annoyance but it isn’t a gunshot to the head for Japan.