el cid again
Posts: 16922
Joined: 10/10/2005 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Fishbed Something that people didn't quite try yet AFAIK, is making a scenario or a roleplay about keeping the US out of the war until a certain date. What about doing a PBEM where the Allied player would have to stand down any US troop or airgroup until the Japanese attack an American base? Even though it is highly doubtful the Roosevelt-led USA would have stepped back and done nothing, well, I just don't see them starting the war so easily just like that with an invasion of Malaya or the DEI, but without a clear Japanese aggression against US forces. A scenario having US forces appearing only in late December after a serious political buildup at the House to pass the declaration of war could be interesting, and give the Japanese player a new kind of challenge: much more freedom in the DEI and Malaya and a good headstart, but you'd have to keep an eye on the Philippines, lose the element of surprise against US forces, and restrain from attacking a US territory until a certain date. Apparently FDR made the decision for war before it happened. See Cruise of the Lanokai, RADM Vince Trolly. As an LT, in 1941, he was one of three young officers given secret Presidential orders by Adm King, who also was privy to intel not made available to Mac or others in theater. Three small vessels were fittd as minor warships - the vital gear being a 3 inch gun, a flag and a radio! They were to get in the way of Malaya bound convoys of the Japanese, violate the rules of the road until fired upon, and THEN reveal the ensign, broadcasting the IJN had "fired upon a US warship." One of those three ships actually made such a patrol - but failed to find a convoy - before events overtook the plan. Lanokai finished fitting out just too late - war had begun - and took on other missions described in the book - including an epic voyage to AUS - the last surface vessel to escape Manila Bay bigger than a PT boat. Also, it was formal policy that "any attack on British or Dutch territory would be treated like an attack on the USA." History does not support your thesis.
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