What got me was when they showed the German Headquarters and the German officers were discussing the matter. They couldn’t believe that the Americans would recall their best general “just for slapping a soldier”. I guess that really shows the difference between an army of a democratic nation and an army of a dictatorship.
There’s a section along those lines in Mitsuru Yoshida’s memoir Requiem for Battleship Yamato. Yoshida was a junior officer aboard Yamato (a lieutenant, I think) during its final sortie in April 1945. One day, prior to the battle, an enlisted sailor walked past him on deck without saluting. Yoshida ordered him to halt, which the man did. IJN regulations required Yoshida to discipline the man by striking him in the face with his fist, but instead of doing so Yoshida just lectured him, saying that the man had acted stupidly and that it would have been much simpler for him to just salute, an act requiring only a small amount of effort. He then ordered the man to give him three or four by-the-book navy salutes, which the man did with great enthusiam (and no doubt with great relief at getting off so easily). Yoshida then sent the man on his way. As Yoshida himself turned to go, he heard someone order him to halt and a fist punched him in the face. One of his superiors had watched the scene and had noticed that Yoshida had failed to hit the man, so he had therefore hit Yoshida as punishment for failing to discipline the sailor properly. The superior then lectured Yoshida, saying something to the effect of “When we go into battle, we’ll see whose command style gets the best results during combat – mine or yours.”
@CWO:
Great anecdote SEP – and it’s nice to hear that Canadian whisky was raising the morale of Allied fighting men as far away as the other side of the planet! I can’t help wondering, however, about the part stating that a German U-boat was sunk off the coast of Japan, which sounds beyond the capabilities of even its long-range boat types. German subs did operate as far as the Indian Ocean, but I’m not aware of their going all the way to Japan (though some Japanese very long range subs did travel all the way to Germany).
I’m trying to find my copy of SV to recheck that story. I’m going off memory from about 5 years ago. Very good read and there were a lot of fascinating parts that really struck home.
I enjoyed the last couple posts, but back to topic:
I agree that the US navy is under represented. As someone else pointed out though the US gets to spend 52 IPCs a round as a neutral nation. I get the feeling this was their way of boosting the US fleet and allowing the players a bit more flexibility in strategies. Even though the game didn’t restrict the Japanese from making earlier attacks, I think that there might have been more emphasis on a more traditional delayed J3 attack (which would give the US time to ramp up). Always found it funny that the US could buy 2 carriers, and a battleship in the first turn while they were still neutral.
I think if you bring the US navy up to par in the set-up, the US income should be cut when not at war. Some would even suggest they shouldn’t be able to build or move until activated, but I think that is going over board.
I would like a beefier Atlantic fleet (sure add a carrier, Battleship and destroyer), but cut their income in half (26 IPCs) while neutral. The Atlantic fleet would continue to be restricted in movement, but could still come through the canal to the Pacific side (would take 2 turns to show up in Hawaii).
So US gets a few more ships, they start with 26 IPCs, but it doubles up when they go to war (52 IPCs) and their NOs also kick in. Basically their income would triple once fully activated so you get a real “Arsenal of Democracy”
I would also be cool to have capital ships take a couple turns to build, and each power could have a couple in the works when the game starts.
Japan had more than 6 carriers in 1941. It had a bevy of light carriers that really were more “medium” carriers so to speak. Look up Zuiho and Shoho and Ryujo. They were fairly capable ships in their own right.
I once saw an interesting proposal concerning the US income while still neutral.
Turn 1 = 25% income
Turn 2 = 50% income
Turn 3 = 75% income
Turn 4+ = 100% income
Whenever the US goes to war, regardless of turn #, they immediately go to 100% income plus NOs and getting their factories upgraded.
The rules say if the US hasn’t been attacked by the Collect Income phase of turn 3, they may declare war on any or all Axis powers. So that tells me that they can actually collect their full income plus NOs on turn 3. Since you don’t actually have to attack anyone when declaring war, there would really be no reason for the US not to declare war and boost their income so the Turn 3 = 75% income above is basically superfluous.
Also, I believe there was also the suggestion that both the US and USSR, while still neutral, may not develop weapons technology (however, USSR collects 100% even when neutral because they are in a more precarious position).
Another idea for tech development would be to allow the US and USSR to purchase researchers (tech rolls) while still neutral but NOT roll them. Once they are at war, then they can roll for tech with their accumulated rolls.
The US fleet would need a BIG boost to justify the income cut.
Japan had more than 6 carriers in 1941. It had a bevy of light carriers that really were more “medium” carriers so to speak. Look up Zuiho and Shoho and Ryujo. They were fairly capable ships in their own right.
That would be a nice add on for the global game.
Light Carriers:
Cost: 11
Move: 2
Attack: 0
Def: 1
Load: 1 (ftrs only)
The British had a couple of light carriers as well.
I remember the audacity as an example.
The tactic for L.CA’s could ne argued.
would the light carriers be 2 hit ?
would the light carriers be 2 hit ?
No, it would be a 1 hitter like a CR.
It def. would fit the purpose of a SS hunter and an adequate supporting ship rather then a capitol ship.
I added a escort carrier to global. Baron recommended a cost of 10 however I went with 9 as the two hit carrier was just a better deal. It ended up being:
C9, M2, A0, D1. Can carry one fighter or TB. Has ASW capability. Is one hit. The med was where they got used the most by Italy and Germany. I did put one in sz6 for Japan to help take out blockers.
I thought it was fun and worth doing. But even at 10 bucks to me it seemed like you were better getting a two hit CV.
I added a escort carrier to global. Baron recommended a cost of 10 however I went with 9 as the two hit carrier was just a better deal. It ended up being:
C9, M2, A0, D1. Can carry one fighter or TB. Has ASW capability. Is one hit. The med was where they got used the most by Italy and Germany. I did put one in sz6 for Japan to help take out blockers.
I thought it was fun and worth doing. But even at 10 bucks to me it seemed like you were better getting a two hit CV.
Interesting!
Would be cool to monitor the use a little longer.
Was it a face to face game or here on triple a?
ASW is short for?
Anti Submarine Warfare or something like that. Gives the carrier destroyer capability against subs. I did it on triplea. The main machine I use is down so I can’t access a lot of stuff. I’ll see if I can get it together again and repost it.
Here’s a link to a zip file:
https://www.sendspace.com/file/z291rm
Open triplea 1805, open maps and put the zip in there. In the games menu you’ll want the one that says no PUs. You’ll want to kill off the research facilities before you start.
I added a escort carrier to global. Baron recommended a cost of 10 however I went with 9 as the two hit carrier was just a better deal. It ended up being:
C9, M2, A0, D1. Can carry one fighter or TB. Has ASW capability. Is one hit. The med was where they got used the most by Italy and Germany. I did put one in sz6 for Japan to help take out blockers.
I thought it was fun and worth doing. But even at 10 bucks to me it seemed like you were better getting a two hit CV.
What, does Japan not have enough ships already?
Ha Ha! No I didn’t add it at the start. The Us fleet went south and Japan and HI were throwing blockers at each other. I bought one so a fighter had round trip range like a bomber.
Ha Ha! No I didn’t add it at the start. The Us fleet went south and Japan and HI were throwing blockers at each other. I bought one so a fighter had round trip range like a bomber.
Oh, okay. Sorry for my confusion.
