War Plan Orange

[Young Grasshopper]

I’ve been thinking that spotting lone subs in the Pacific isn’t very terrifying to Japan unless they are in convoy zones. Most convoy zones other than those around the money islands are along the Asian coast line, so the Caroline Islands arguably becomes the best launch point for America to get those lone subs spread out along the coast (and even around a couple of Islands). The problem then becomes the range of the American bombers to effectively take out any Japanese destroyers that take out the subs, therefore… I believe Cacutta should provide 2 bombers and Russia 1 bomber which can use Chinese territories to reach those coast line sea zones. If subs need to be in those convoy zones quick in order for war plan orange to be successful, the Allies need to help America with the mop up bombers which are crucial for taking out enemy destroyers.

Thought?

[Tirano]

I think that is a good thought YG, but it’s flawed. At this point your looking at probably a US4 turn which means India is worried about defending itself, not wiping out an occasional Jap destroyer.  Also war plan orange kind of plays into your Spanish Beachhead strategy, right? So if that’s the case the Russians shouldn’t be wasting 12 IPCS for a bomber used against Jap ships, that bomber IF bought would be used to SBR Stalingrad/Ukraine/Leningrad.  And if the American beachhead has gone well, then those 12 IPCS should be used for a couple tanks to
Be pushing torward the German front for an offensive strike. But that’s only how I’d play it.

[Young Grasshopper]

@Tirano:

I think that is a good thought YG, but it’s flawed. At this point your looking at probably a US4 turn which means India is worried about defending itself, not wiping out an occasional ��� destroyer.  Also war plan orange kind of plays into your Spanish Beachhead strategy, right? So if that’s the case the Russians shouldn’t be wasting 12 IPCS for a bomber used against ��� ships, that bomber IF bought would be used to SBR Stalingrad/Ukraine/Leningrad.  And if the American beachhead has gone well, then those 12 IPCS should be used for a couple tanks to
Be pushing torward the German front for an offensive strike. But that’s only how I’d play it.

This particular strategy thread is more about War Plan Orange without the Spanish beachhead, so I would say about 75% of American income would need to go to the Pacific. All starting units around the Caroline Islands with defensive help from ANZAC, America can spew subs from there but would probably need a destroyer blocker in front of Tokyo ships. UK buys two bombers first two rounds and infantry the rest of the way… a Russian bomber might be harder to justify. Earlier conversations in this thread suggested that the UK could help this strategy with a few subs of their own… I’m convinced now that UK bombers would be much more helpful given their overall positioning on the map.

[Tirano]

True, I wasn’t trying to derail by mentioning Spanish Beachhead, so apologies.  If U.S. Is indeed going with a KJF then perhaps a British bomber is justified, but even then you could just move your London Strat bomber that way opposed to spending India money on it. And if you need your bomber in London consider a UK Euro turn 1 buy of 5 inf for London and 1 Strat bomber for South Africa. The Strat Bomber could then be moved to India on UK2 or help a Eygpt Counterattack first before going on to Calcutta. In my games India simply can’t afford any type of offensive unit until R6+ where US has relieved pressure from Calcutta or if Japan goes with a ballsy Sydney first move.

[simon33]

I’ve just noticed that the rules apparently allow NCMing a sub into a SZ defended by a fleet which includes a hostile destroyer, unless you argue that the rule which states that DDs nullify the “Treat hostile SZs as friendly” ability overrules the rule in the sub unit description which states:

Treat Hostile Sea Zones as Friendly: A submarine can move through a sea zone that contains enemy units, either in combat or
noncombat movement. However, if a submarine enters a sea zone containing an enemy destroyer, it must end its movement
there. If it ends its combat move in a hostile sea zone, combat will occur.

This appears to imply that you can indeed move a sub into a hostile SZ on NCM even if it contains a DD, you just can’t move through it.

Triple A allows this move FWIW.

This strengthens this play, a fair bit IMO because you can’t just have a half the number of fleets as SZs to protect.

[WILD BILL]

A couple UK bmrs positioned in Calcutta could definitely help pick off those lone Japanese destroyers for sure. UK sub(s) would also help protect your expensive bmrs when attacking w/bmrs, or could be used to bait Japanese dd’s to isolate them, if you can build subs in India (or send them from Africa). You need to have India stay in the game though to be used as a launch pad, so they will need to be using most income for inf and def units in the early rounds. I agree w/Tirano that UK bmrs could be sent over from Europe, but I would prob send the London bmr over (maybe after a Taranto run) instead of building one in S Africa on the first turn. I’m just a firm believer in max def for London on the first turn (or save some income), and don’t generally build luxury units, or ICs in Africa unless the Germans drop all ground G1. Anz bmrs in both Queensland and India have good range for this mission (bmrs can fly back-n-forth from those ABs).

Another thing is that this form of sub ware fare takes a few turns to develop so you really don’t need to have UK build bmrs right away. You should max def both London and Calcutta, while the USA gets fleet and subs into position, then build the bmrs (which have great range) just before the US is ready to go IMO to coordinate efforts (will also help to hide your intensions). I like to have some mobile units built for the India, and this would fit into this type of swamp Japan strat because once the Japanese have to back off Calcutta a couple mech with those bmers can be pretty effective getting into China too.

[Young Grasshopper]

@ShadowHAwk:

The US can actualy do this pretty quick combined with the anzac, subs only cost 6 so even anzac can contribute here.

Even if you just keep destroying destroyers in the area it will drain resources from japan that they need elsewhere.

Agreed, I just haven’t had the right amount of games as the US to test it or come up with a consistent blueprint to gain any evidence that it works the majority of attempts. Have you been using this strat to some degree?

[WILD BILL]

YG in your games when is Japan attacking, and what are they hitting when you do see a J1 attack. I ask because we see a lot of J1 attacks (J2 at the latest). Many of those J1’s include a hit on the US Hawaiian fleet. Japan also hits the Phip and the other UK stuff too. I realize that this could be just our group, but when they hit the Haw fleet it takes a couple turns for the USA to get up to speed. It also ramps up presser on the US to build Pac to stabilize things (although they would prob rather go Europe when entering the war early). With that said I think that “War Plan Orange” could work well in this situation, but it will take a bit longer to develop. Actually it could play right into WPO because when Japan does hit the US Haw fleet on J1 they may loose a dd in the attack, and have to leave another dd in sz 26 (Haw) to block out the US San Fran fleet that will die in the counter. I’ll have to give it a go the next time those pesky Japanese kill off my Haw fleet.

[Young Grasshopper]

@WILD:

YG in your games when is Japan attacking, and what are they hitting when you do see a J1 attack. I ask because we see a lot of J1 attacks (J2 at the latest). Many of those J1’s include a hit on the US Hawaiian fleet. Japan also hits the Phip and the other UK stuff too. I realize that this could be just our group, but when they hit the Haw fleet it takes a couple turns for the USA to get up to speed. It also ramps up presser on the US to build Pac to stabilize things (although they would prob rather go Europe when entering the war early). With that said I think that “War Plan Orange” could work well in this situation, but it will take a bit longer to develop. Actually it could play right into WPO because when Japan does hit the US Haw fleet on J1 they may loose a dd in the attack, and have to leave another dd in sz 26 (Haw) to block out the US San Fran fleet that will die in the counter. I’ll have to give it a go the next time those pesky Japanese kill off my Haw fleet.

Our group doesn’t hit the Hawaiian fleet J1 although I’ve seen a lot of talk around the forums for this. I personally feel that Japan can accomplish everything it wants to, even if America keeps those ships. Our group plays with my victory token house rules which makes all north African territories very valuable to the Axis, but in order to achieve that token… they need to keep America out of the war as long as possible. This has really killed J1 attacks within our group, which is fine by me because I was getting bored with the same old script, and I find that leaving the US out is more challenging (but not impossible) for the Japanese to maintain superior positioning.

[WILD BILL]

Ok that explains a lot, good to know.

[Shin-Ji]

Perhaps I’m missing something, but in my experience, Japan can pose an immediate threat to the US/Anzac fleet almost immediately under normal circumstances.  Build a few extra carriers in the first few rounds and you’re good to go.

If the USA is spending all that cash on subs, how are they keeping their fleet alive?  Japan can simply ignore the subs and steamroll the main fleet.  Once the money islands are taken, Japan hardly even needs transports anymore.

[simon33]

ANZAC can only reach Java the next turn. No other money island.

[WILD BILL]

@simon33:

ANZAC can only reach Java the next turn. No other money island.

Even if you trade Java a couple times Anz is doing its job of forcing the Japanese to expose ground units and transports (something that Japan doesn’t want to do). The allies are looking to trade ships to force the Japanese to build more boats and less ground for Asia.

sz54 is a great launch point for the allies, and building an IC on Queensland at some point gives the Anz much better mobility. From sz 54 you can reach all the money islands, Malaya and even the Phil (although Phil is prob where the Japanese fleet will be sitting with air cover). You may even get the Japanese to picket block certain sz’s with those valuable dd’s so US can pick em off.

[simon33]

That option of building an IC on Queensland is one I’ve never done nor had done in a game I was playing IIRC. I’d always rather upgrade an inf or two to a fighter or DD (or CV) with the money. It’s rare that ANZAC are making 30IPC per turn or enough that the IC becomes a good use of resources and when it does, it is sometimes better placed on Saudia Arabia or FIC.

[Charles de Gaulle]

Ok, so a while ago Italy became upsetting for me after Taranto…now Japan is upsetting me.  I tried this strategy as the US and succeeded. My opponents got wise. Now whenever I play as Japan I get mowed over by this strategy :cry:  now we need a “How to beat Plan Orange” guide.  Seriously.

P.S. The key to this strategy as the U.S. is to simply place a submarine or more in each Japanese convoy zone (in a standard game there will be 10); just work out the details of getting there and Japan is going to be losing ground in Asia very soon because they either have to build a ton of destroyers, or build a few destroyers(only taking out your subs in big zones like 6 and 19), or totally ignore which is admitting defeat. Good luck Japan.

[simon33]

@Charles:

Ok, so a while ago Italy became upsetting for me after Taranto…now Japan is upsetting me.  I tried this strategy as the US and succeeded. My opponents got wise. Now whenever I play as Japan I get mowed over by this strategy :cry:  now we need a “How to beat Plan Orange” guide.  Seriously.

Here’s what I might try:

• Take Guam.
  Base one DD + scrambling fighters off Philippines, Guam and Japan. That only leaves two holes for the Asian coast, SZ18 + SZ36. The latter is a long way around for the US to go. Basing a fleet in SZ18 can plug the other hole. You need to pick off the UK and/or ANZACs if they come through the bottom though.

The above won’t work if Japan is already being pushed back significantly.

[simon33]

Obviously, you don’t put up a guard that is too weak. Better to consolidate.

Your planes seem to be coming off a CV - the strat bomber is that launching from Carolines or Wake and landing on Dutch New Guinea? What’s to stop you from hitting the US fleet as Japan?

But if there’s only subs coming in, a DD + scrambling fighters can be an effective blocker.

[Charles de Gaulle]

@ShadowHAwk:

@Charles:

Ok, so a while ago Italy became upsetting for me after Taranto…now Japan is upsetting me.  I tried this strategy as the US and succeeded. My opponents got wise. Now whenever I play as Japan I get mowed over by this strategy :cry:  now we need a “How to beat Plan Orange” guide.  Seriously.

P.S. The key to this strategy as the U.S. is to simply place a submarine or more in each Japanese convoy zone (in a standard game there will be 10); just work out the details of getting there and Japan is going to be losing ground in Asia very soon because they either have to build a ton of destroyers, or build a few destroyers(only taking out your subs in big zones like 6 and 19), or totally ignore which is admitting defeat. Good luck Japan.

Maby play the standard 2nd edition rules without a bid so the allies need to devide their attention a bit more.
Good to see that the allies are becomming better at dealing with the axis.

But I never use bids!
@simon33:

@Charles:

Ok, so a while ago Italy became upsetting for me after Taranto…now Japan is upsetting me.  I tried this strategy as the US and succeeded. My opponents got wise. Now whenever I play as Japan I get mowed over by this strategy :cry:  now we need a “How to beat Plan Orange” guide.  Seriously.

Here’s what I might try:

• Take Guam.
  Base one DD + scrambling fighters off Philippines, Guam and Japan. That only leaves two holes for the Asian coast, SZ18 + SZ36. The latter is a long way around for the US to go. Basing a fleet in SZ18 can plug the other hole. You need to pick off the UK and/or ANZACs if they come through the bottom though.

The above won’t work if Japan is already being pushed back significantly.

If I’m the U.S. and Japan does this, first thing I’m going to do is say “Yay! My subs forced 3 destroyers and 9 fighters to sit around and do nothing!” Now that’s before I even get a chance to counter it…