Questions about strategy as Japan

[Sainty]

Heya. So its late 1937 and I'm fighting the chinese. Its going well and my plan is annex and then libarete them. And I started to think about the war with USA. Its time to prepare. And I have some questions.

1. I have lots of garisons. Will 1 unit of them each per island be enough to protect all my tiny islands if USA decided to attack any of them? I will have naval units to scout the waters, but I'm sure that some of their boats will go under the radar. Or my naval units will be refuling or what ever. I just want to keep the islands safe so I can go for india and beyond.
   
2. Is there any strategy or idea regarding what islands to protect and what island dont need protection? I'm thinking here if there is any rule of thumb regarding how far the enemys transport boats can reach, and from where.
   
3. Will I need fighters to pretect the waters and islands from enemy bombers?

I think that's it for now, at least. Hope somebody can help me out with the answers.

 

[Julle64]

Don't know how aggressive the AI USA currently is, but when I'm playing USA one garrison division isn't enough anymore against amphibious assaults. Only if you have fleets around then one division is ok to give you enough time for your fleet to arrive and stop the attacker.

When I'm playing with the USA I use 1 garrison division and a corps of 2-3 divisions of INF (or MNT or MAR depending of the situation) on those important islands. When the situation cools down I leave the garrison there and move the corps where needed.

 

[Sainty]

Don't know how aggressive the AI USA currently is, but when I'm playing USA one garrison division isn't enough anymore against amphibious assaults. Only if you have fleets around then one division is ok to give you enough time for your fleet to arrive and stop the attacker.

Didnt think of this strategy, and and looking at my planed navy, it seems like it will work out for me. Thanks a lot Julle64 for this tip!

 

[kane279]

I just reinforce the garrisons of islands with harbours & airfields since they would really aid the USA. all others are useless!
1 garrison is never enough.
I mix an INF+ENG to 2 Garrisons (1 with AA and one with AT) on Truk, Eniwetok, Kwajalein
the ENG-brigade in the corps is essential since it gives 40 entrenchement to the whole corps

most important thing to keep in mind for a japan game: limit the max. supply produktion to about 80, because of the many overseas depots your suppy need jumps to about 200+ if a big fleet returns for refill or you make an amphibious landing creating a bridgehead somewhere. If you don't limit the supply produktion slider, you risk loosing all gearing in the produktion lines!

trade a lot with your puppets: get their money & supply because you need it and they don't! give them bluue prints and ressources (you get those back anyway - remember, they are puppets )

 

[Count of Reval]

Heya. So its late 1937 and I'm fighting the chinese. Its going well and my plan is annex and then libarete them. And I started to think about the war with USA. Its time to prepare. And I have some questions.

1. I have lots of garisons. Will 1 unit of them each per island be enough to protect all my tiny islands if USA decided to attack any of them? I will have naval units to scout the waters, but I'm sure that some of their boats will go under the radar. Or my naval units will be refuling or what ever. I just want to keep the islands safe so I can go for india and beyond.
   
2. Is there any strategy or idea regarding what islands to protect and what island dont need protection? I'm thinking here if there is any rule of thumb regarding how far the enemys transport boats can reach, and from where.
   
3. Will I need fighters to pretect the waters and islands from enemy bombers?

I think that's it for now, at least. Hope somebody can help me out with the answers.

One garrison isn't enough, if you're determined to defend an island - especially if it's without a coastal fort. Below is a screenshot from the Coral Sea battlescenario where a human-US is attacking AI-Japan. Modifiers' tool-tips show that an attacker has an advantage (leveraged even further by the use of stronger units). US won that battle.

Can't help with the other questions, unfortunately, because haven't played the game that much. But I can guess that interceptors and fighters has to be vital for Japan - you can protect key islands with a heavy stacks from amphibious landings, but only as far as you're in supply (your navy has to ensure that) and your island infrastructure is not seriously damaged by the enemy bombers. If one of those two elements is missing, it's only matter of time when your superior troops are worn out and island is taken. (Of course, you may not to be able to produce sufficient amount of aircraft units to compete with US anyway.)

 

[Sainty]

Thank you guys. Looks like I need to set up a plan for micromanaging of the ocean. How many carriers in a Carrier Task Force would be enough in 1942-45 to have a reasonable chance against a US fleet? I will also try to have at least 4 naval bombers as backup in each critical area.

 

[Johnhawkwood]

I see we posted very simillar questiones at the same time!

I am thinking of placing 1 garrison with AA + 2 Divs with eng and art on the Islands I take from the U.S (Guam, Wake and Midway) for defence and partisan suppression, (perhaps only 2 div on Guam because it is 'behind the lines'.

On my key Japanese Islands such as Truk that are behind the lines I am thinking of placing two divs (inf + eng and art) while on my front line Islands such as Kwajalein placing three divisions and add AA to one of the inf divs. I will probably leave Islands without harbours and airports unguarded as they are of no use to the enemy.

I am also thinking of leaving a trap early in 1942- ie an island ungarrisoned that the U.S can take and then give me a target for my subs to rip into their transports and bring out the U.S fleet for that all important early battle when you stil have a skill advantage.

Japan is a lot of fun and is now my fav to play - good luck!

 

[Count of Reval]

Some impressive and experienced advice on Japan here:

Japan strategy ideas for 1936 CG?
Japan tutorial/AAR?
Best way to garrison islands as Japan?
Tell me what Japanese fleet composition should i have before taking on the US

 

[Keterex]

Heya. So its late 1937 and I'm fighting the chinese. Its going well and my plan is annex and then libarete them. And I started to think about the war with USA. Its time to prepare. And I have some questions.

1. I have lots of garisons. Will 1 unit of them each per island be enough to protect all my tiny islands if USA decided to attack any of them? I will have naval units to scout the waters, but I'm sure that some of their boats will go under the radar. Or my naval units will be refuling or what ever. I just want to keep the islands safe so I can go for india and beyond.
   
2. Is there any strategy or idea regarding what islands to protect and what island dont need protection? I'm thinking here if there is any rule of thumb regarding how far the enemys transport boats can reach, and from where.
   
3. Will I need fighters to pretect the waters and islands from enemy bombers?

I think that's it for now, at least. Hope somebody can help me out with the answers.

1) Garrisons might cut it in 36 but as the war goes on they lose a lot of power. One marine will thoroughly beat you in short order. Use them in australia to combat insurgency . Cost cutting isn't an option for important islands.
2) The islands you want to defend are the islands you need to attack from. The ilsands the ai ignores are the ones no one needs.
3) Mid ocean combat is carrier based. You will always use NAV bombers better than the AI. one bomber and 3 fighters are great ( bomber provokes ai response), send in other fighters to nail, then send in bombers to pummel. ( most islands though are far out of range of conventional aircraft). It is always nice to have a couple airfields in your deploy pool if you can afford it.