Japanese Pearl Harbor Strike Force

[bcdane]

Wanted to know if there is a reason why the Japanese Battleships (as opposed to the Battlecruisers) begin the game with the Pearl Harbor Strike Force.

Historically, the six battleships (Nagato, Mutsu, Fuso, Yamashiro, Ise, and Hyuga) remained in Japanese Home waters. Only 2 battlecruisers (Hiei and Kirishima if I remember correctly) were with the Pearl Harbor strike force. In game terms, I believe the 2 battlecruisers would equate to one battleship unit, not the four that start with the Pearl Harbor Strike Force.

The Strike Force also had two cruisers (of the Tone class), and a destroyer group (not sure if they were called squadrons or flotillas). Japanese destroyer groups were usually lead by a light cruiser. In game terms I would think this would equate to 1 cruiser unit, and maybe 1 destroyer unit. Hard to tell on the destroyer unit, since I believe the battleship and cruiser units are suppose to include some destroyer escort. In the game, the Strike Force has 2 cruisers and 1 destroyer.

Bottom line is that it seems like the Pearl Harbor force has 3 extra battleship units and 1 extra cruiser unit.

I'm asking because as the Japanese player these "extra" units could be put to good use elsewhere.

[Bill101]

Hi Bcdane

Sorry for the delay in replying but I wanted to check my sources in the local library before replying.

It is true that the Main Body of the Combined Fleet (i.e. these battleships) didn't take part in the Hawaii operation, but instead remained in Japan and for the most part didn't do very much for the first part of the war. Instead they conserved precious fuel by remaining in port, while some training was also carried out.

Now, if we were to have them start the game in Japanese home waters, then it has a lot of potential to upset the balance of play in South East Asia early on. For instance, the allies made a valiant attempt to hinder the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies by assembling a small multi-national fleet, which saw action at the Battle of Java Sea. If these battleships were to start at Japan then they could be in the Java Sea in time to effectively squash any attempts by the allies to do what they historically attempted to do, and I quite like the fact that the allies at the moment have the potential to inflict some damage on the Japanese navy in Indonesian waters early on.

So this will require some thought.

[xwormwood]

Bill101:

maybe this could be solved through a pop-up question at the begin of the japanese first turn?

option a)

Stay at Japan for x turns and receive x amount of cash (saved fuel) or earn x points of experience (training) or a free naval tech or a free political chit

option

sail to pearl (no change)

option c)

free to move, starting from japan (lose x amount of cash)

:confused:

[LampCord]

Hi Bcdane

Sorry for the delay in replying but I wanted to check my sources in the local library before replying.

It is true that the Main Body of the Combined Fleet (i.e. these battleships) didn't take part in the Hawaii operation, but instead remained in Japan and for the most part didn't do very much for the first part of the war. Instead they conserved precious fuel by remaining in port, while some training was also carried out.

Now, if we were to have them start the game in Japanese home waters, then it has a lot of potential to upset the balance of play in South East Asia early on. For instance, the allies made a valiant attempt to hinder the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies by assembling a small multi-national fleet, which saw action at the Battle of Java Sea. If these battleships were to start at Japan then they could be in the Java Sea in time to effectively squash any attempts by the allies to do what they historically attempted to do, and I quite like the fact that the allies at the moment have the potential to inflict some damage on the Japanese navy in Indonesian waters early on.

So this will require some thought.

In my mind, anything that helps Japan is good for the game balance. Having played 4 games as the Allies vs. hardest AI, I'm convinced Japan has no chance in the long run. Once the US forces get fully churned out its like a hot knife through butter. Hmm... come to think about it, the Jap units are yellow. Like butter...

My next game will be as the Japs so my opinion might change then but right now, it feels heavily slanted towards the Allies.

[xwormwood]

Japan suffers under very harsh research limits, while the US get often long range Jets in 1943, while in mid 1944 they already don't know anymore where to spend all this incoming cash.

[bcdane]

Hi Bcdane

Sorry for the delay in replying but I wanted to check my sources in the local library before replying.

It is true that the Main Body of the Combined Fleet (i.e. these battleships) didn't take part in the Hawaii operation, but instead remained in Japan and for the most part didn't do very much for the first part of the war. Instead they conserved precious fuel by remaining in port, while some training was also carried out.

Now, if we were to have them start the game in Japanese home waters, then it has a lot of potential to upset the balance of play in South East Asia early on. For instance, the allies made a valiant attempt to hinder the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies by assembling a small multi-national fleet, which saw action at the Battle of Java Sea. If these battleships were to start at Japan then they could be in the Java Sea in time to effectively squash any attempts by the allies to do what they historically attempted to do, and I quite like the fact that the allies at the moment have the potential to inflict some damage on the Japanese navy in Indonesian waters early on.

So this will require some thought.

Bill,

Haven't checked the forums in awhile, so I didn't see your reply. Much appreciated.

I suspected play balance was a factor (since in my original post I indicated I could put those units to good use). Oil was the factor keeping these 6 battleships in port. They came out for Midway, and I don't think they did again until Leyte Gulf, at least not any major operations.

Thanks again,

[bcdane]

Hi Bcdane

Sorry for the delay in replying but I wanted to check my sources in the local library before replying.

It is true that the Main Body of the Combined Fleet (i.e. these battleships) didn't take part in the Hawaii operation, but instead remained in Japan and for the most part didn't do very much for the first part of the war. Instead they conserved precious fuel by remaining in port, while some training was also carried out.

Now, if we were to have them start the game in Japanese home waters, then it has a lot of potential to upset the balance of play in South East Asia early on. For instance, the allies made a valiant attempt to hinder the Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies by assembling a small multi-national fleet, which saw action at the Battle of Java Sea. If these battleships were to start at Japan then they could be in the Java Sea in time to effectively squash any attempts by the allies to do what they historically attempted to do, and I quite like the fact that the allies at the moment have the potential to inflict some damage on the Japanese navy in Indonesian waters early on.

So this will require some thought.

Bill101:

maybe this could be solved through a pop-up question at the begin of the japanese first turn?

option a)

Stay at Japan for x turns and receive x amount of cash (saved fuel) or earn x points of experience (training) or a free naval tech or a free political chit

option

sail to pearl (no change)

option c)

free to move, starting from japan (lose x amount of cash)

:confused:

These seem like reasonable "trade-offs" if it is decided that leaving these in Japan would tilt things too much in favor of Japan. Although, I think the Japanese need all the help they can get to stay in the game through 1/1/46