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Generalized US strategy - 5/3/2021 10:49:32 AM

lerugray

Posts: 160
Joined: 12/22/2014
Status: offline

Hello all

Excited about this game as I am interested in learning more about this theater, however I am kind of at a loss as to generally what the US strategy should be, and how/when I should be using my naval units. I can gather that I want submarines to stalk convoy lanes and have destroyers defend my own. When, for example, can the US start to move towards Asia?

Another thing I am not sure if I am doing right, I try to get all my non submarine naval units out of Asia on the first turn and usually into Australia, if I can I try to start to build up a secondary fleet there with British units.

I've noticed in a few games that I sometimes running out of Oil too quickly with the British, I'm assuming maybe that means im doing too much naval movement? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

Post #: 1

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/3/2021 11:47:52 AM

gwgardner

Posts: 6722
Joined: 4/7/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: lerugray

Hello all

When, for example, can the US start to move towards Asia?

Early US moves must be vigilant for the Japanese carriers. Use your COMINT units to find the Japanese fleet. Decide on a strategy - are you intent on ultimately regaining the Philippines? Do you want to island-hop to establish bases for strategic bombing? Do you aim ultimately to take the Japanese oil resources? Do you decide to go after the main Japanese naval bases at Truk and Rabaul?

So many possibilities. You're ready to move on those goals when you have accumulated enough assets. Air support, oilers, amphibious transports, more carriers, transports, strat bombers, units with engineering capability to build airstrips - again so many things to consider.

Another thing I am not sure if I am doing right, I try to get all my non submarine naval units out of Asia on the first turn and usually into Australia, if I can I try to start to build up a secondary fleet there with British units.

I do the same, but must also protect the Indian Ocean convoy lanes and guard against any Japanese moves there.

I've noticed in a few games that I sometimes running out of Oil too quickly with the British, I'm assuming maybe that means im doing too much naval movement? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

Allied oil is scarce early on, because of their unpreparedness. By mid-'42 things start to improve in that regard, but you're right - you can't just keep fleets at sea constantly, and those Commonwealth minor countries need oil from the UK and the US also.

(in reply to lerugray)

Post #: 2

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/3/2021 3:18:32 PM

lerugray

Posts: 160
Joined: 12/22/2014
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

quote:

ORIGINAL: lerugray

Hello all

When, for example, can the US start to move towards Asia?

Early US moves must be vigilant for the Japanese carriers. Use your COMINT units to find the Japanese fleet. Decide on a strategy - are you intent on ultimately regaining the Philippines? Do you want to island-hop to establish bases for strategic bombing? Do you aim ultimately to take the Japanese oil resources? Do you decide to go after the main Japanese naval bases at Truk and Rabaul?

So many possibilities. You're ready to move on those goals when you have accumulated enough assets. Air support, oilers, amphibious transports, more carriers, transports, strat bombers, units with engineering capability to build airstrips - again so many things to consider.

Another thing I am not sure if I am doing right, I try to get all my non submarine naval units out of Asia on the first turn and usually into Australia, if I can I try to start to build up a secondary fleet there with British units.

I do the same, but must also protect the Indian Ocean convoy lanes and guard against any Japanese moves there.

I've noticed in a few games that I sometimes running out of Oil too quickly with the British, I'm assuming maybe that means im doing too much naval movement? Any advice would be appreciated, thanks!

Allied oil is scarce early on, because of their unpreparedness. By mid-'42 things start to improve in that regard, but you're right - you can't just keep fleets at sea constantly, and those Commonwealth minor countries need oil from the UK and the US also.

How exactly does one go about protecting convoy lanes? I had destroyers all along one on the way to australia but Japanese sub groups kept showing up and I was unable to attack them in anyway way, unsure how to respond. Thank you for the other answers!

(in reply to gwgardner)

Post #: 3

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/3/2021 3:50:36 PM

gwgardner

Posts: 6722
Joined: 4/7/2006
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On the convoy window assign escorts to the various convoy routes. Purchase more escorts on the production window.

Add to the convoy escort strength by placing destroyers and carriers on the convoy lanes.

Each turn the reports will indicate whether the convoy lanes were raided, and what kinds of losses - to the raiders or to the escorts and merchant ships.

< Message edited by gwgardner -- 5/3/2021 3:51:58 PM >

(in reply to lerugray)

Post #: 4

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/3/2021 5:16:54 PM

jwarrenw13

Posts: 1897
Joined: 8/12/2000
From: Louisiana, USA
Status: offline

The key word for the Allies is PATIENCE. You can't do much at all until you start getting transports except get ships sunk. gwgardner's comments are excellent. Also if playing on RANDOM, be prepared for unexpected and ahistorical Japanese moves just as you start to make your first offensive moves.

Another couple of things. China can be helpful in making the Japanese use up units and resources. Take any opportunity that arises with China starting on the first turn. Don't just play a passive defense. Be active without sacrificing a lot of units in attacks. And I always push Indian units forward into Burma to delay the Japanese in case they move quickly into Burma toward eastern India. Just keep units in their way in Burma and in China, and it helps. And I put several British units into India/Burma as soon as I'm able.

Submarines can also be attacked with lanbased air if you have the opportunity. If using your own submarines as the ALlies, remember they are very ineffective at first. Read the opening game notes. And watch out for Japanese landbased air.

(in reply to gwgardner)

Post #: 5

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/3/2021 7:00:53 PM

lerugray

Posts: 160
Joined: 12/22/2014
Status: offline

Thank you guys, I appreciate all the advice. Finally, where/which are comint units?

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Post #: 6

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/3/2021 7:13:00 PM

bwheatley

Posts: 3650
Joined: 12/13/2004
Status: offline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x-s1kOBojI

this video changed my life, understanding how warplan works with oil. It's super nuanced and I would prefer a little more verbose UI but i get what Alvaro was going for.

There are some micro things you can do to send fleets between ports to maximize oil retention.

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Post #: 7

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/3/2021 7:18:07 PM

gwgardner

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quote:

ORIGINAL: lerugray

Thank you guys, I appreciate all the advice. Finally, where/which are comint units?

Communications Intelligence units, purchased on the Diplomacy screen. They can be deployed on the map to hopefully increase the clarity of your intelligence in that area. The intelligence points can be used also to purchase code-breaking, and to re-encrypt your own communications.

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Post #: 8

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/3/2021 8:48:44 PM

lerugray

Posts: 160
Joined: 12/22/2014
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

quote:

ORIGINAL: lerugray

Thank you guys, I appreciate all the advice. Finally, where/which are comint units?

Communications Intelligence units, purchased on the Diplomacy screen. They can be deployed on the map to hopefully increase the clarity of your intelligence in that area. The intelligence points can be used also to purchase code-breaking, and to re-encrypt your own communications.

ah okay, the game suggested to play with diplo off so I did for this first game

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Post #: 9

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/3/2021 9:51:02 PM

gwgardner

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Accruing and spending COMINT points is on the Diplomacy screen, but separate. You can leave Diplomacy OFF but still do COMINT stuff. It's on the Diplomacy screen because it's a convenient way to target the enemy's encryption.

< Message edited by gwgardner -- 5/3/2021 9:52:14 PM >

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Post #: 10

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/3/2021 11:26:03 PM

AlvaroSousa

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Joined: 7/29/2013
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Diplomacy should be OFF for this the Pacific. It is only there in case someone wants to make a scenario. There is absolutely zero reason to have it on.

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Post #: 11

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/4/2021 8:02:36 PM

lerugray

Posts: 160
Joined: 12/22/2014
Status: offline

Just gave up on a game where after waiting till July of 42 I tried invading some of the islands only to get immediately bogged down and quickly picked apart, maybe I should wait to do any naval invasions until US infantry upgrades?

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Post #: 12

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/4/2021 8:19:52 PM

gwgardner

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Joined: 4/7/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: lerugray

Just gave up on a game where after waiting till July of 42 I tried invading some of the islands only to get immediately bogged down and quickly picked apart, maybe I should wait to do any naval invasions until US infantry upgrades?

Did you take a port? That's absolutely a must, unless you can provide beachhead supply. Need to be able to bring in air units also and/or CVs, but the Japanese carriers may be lurking, so watch out.

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Post #: 13

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/4/2021 8:25:46 PM

lerugray

Posts: 160
Joined: 12/22/2014
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

quote:

ORIGINAL: lerugray

Just gave up on a game where after waiting till July of 42 I tried invading some of the islands only to get immediately bogged down and quickly picked apart, maybe I should wait to do any naval invasions until US infantry upgrades?

Did you take a port? That's absolutely a must, unless you can provide beachhead supply. Need to be able to bring in air units also and/or CVs, but the Japanese carriers may be lurking, so watch out.

I forget exactly where but I think I was trying to take a port, I was using the invasion hexes highlighted in green on the map as a guide.

(in reply to gwgardner)

Post #: 14

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/4/2021 9:37:30 PM

Starstruck

Posts: 54
Joined: 9/24/2013
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quote:

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

On the convoy window assign escorts to the various convoy routes. Purchase more escorts on the production window.

Add to the convoy escort strength by placing destroyers and carriers on the convoy lanes.

Each turn the reports will indicate whether the convoy lanes were raided, and what kinds of losses - to the raiders or to the escorts and merchant ships.

But it appears that only escorts and combined carrier/destroyer fleets can be used to protect convoy lanes from submarines, since non-carrier surface fleets can only attack submarines that are adjacent to a non-ocean hex (per the manual's Naval Combat Permission Table). In other words, don't bother to send DDs out alone to defend convoy lanes (unless they are protecting convoy lanes next to non-ocean hexes or expecting surface fleet engagements). Is this right?

(in reply to gwgardner)

Post #: 15

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/4/2021 9:43:56 PM

gwgardner

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Destroyers can go out alone to be placed on convoy lanes. They will add to the escort bonus within a 24 hex range on the convoy lane.

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Post #: 16

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/4/2021 10:25:05 PM

jwarrenw13

Posts: 1897
Joined: 8/12/2000
From: Louisiana, USA
Status: offline

In the Solomons the islands are initially UK owned and remain so unless the Japanese invade them. So you should usually be able to find an island to land on without an invasion, secure the port, put in some airpower, repeat. Draw out the Japanese into naval battles hopefully with smaller groups of carriers than 6. Much easier than opening with invasions. Also consider Papua New Guinea and secure what the Japanese don't secure in their initial offensives. You can often secure San Cristobal, Espiritu Santo, and even Guadalcanal and possibly even Lae in New Guinea before the Japanese get there. Just do it as soon as you have transports available.

Edit - And the Allies really can't go on the offensive until 1943. The second half of 1942 is when you stop the Japanese expansion and start building up for future offensives. Don't expect to accomplish a lot offensively in 42. The Allied player needs lots of patience.

< Message edited by jwarrenw13 -- 5/4/2021 10:47:31 PM >

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Post #: 17

RE: Generalized US strategy - 5/5/2021 4:18:51 AM

Starstruck

Posts: 54
Joined: 9/24/2013
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quote:

ORIGINAL: gwgardner

Destroyers can go out alone to be placed on convoy lanes. They will add to the escort bonus within a 24 hex range on the convoy lane.

Ok - I see that now. From the manual it looks like any surface fleet will add to the escort bonus (at different rates) as long as they are within a 24 hex range on the convoy lane.

Thanks!

(in reply to gwgardner)

Post #: 18