Turn 1

Turn 2

Turn 3

Turn 4

Turn 5

Turn 6

Turn 1

IJN Comments: Nothing unusual in the moves -- although I sent the I-Boat to the North Pacific to try to steal a PoC from the USN.  The big news of the turn was the surprising carnage -- every thing at Pearl Harbor was sunk or bottomed with the exception of the crippled Arizona.  Three heavily damaged ships remain on the bottom there.  However, before the 7th AF was destroyed, it managed to sink the Hiryu.  In Indonesia, the 5th AF took three rounds of fire before going down -- taking the 21 AirFlot with them.  Lots of carnage on both sides!  The USN gets three CV to Australia.

The IJN losses mean that I've got fewer offensive options than I'm used to on turn two.  Fortunately, the USN options are also reduced.

Allied Report:  John scored big at Pearl sinking or bottoming everything except the crippled AZ.  The only bright spot was sinking of the Hiryu by the heroic but doomed 7^th AF.  The 5^th AF survives the first raid and is able to take out an LBA on the 2^nd round while surviving herself.  Unfortunately I lose the D/N roll and the 5^th AF goes down for no cost to the IJN.  I do manage to get 3 CVs based in Australia which will help.  But a hammered fleet and only 2 LBA will still be a big problem.

Sunk

118+3 Hiryu
34* 21 AirFlot
553 Maryland
453 Tennessee
443 Nevada
443 Pennsylvania
117 San Francisco
117 New Orleans
24* 5th AF
24* 7th AF

IJN gains the standard 3 PoC.

Turn 2

IJN Comments: As usual on Turn Two, the IJN has to push the USN up against the wall and force a fight while the USN options are few.  With 3 CV in Australia, I plan to place 4 LBA in Indonesia.  That means I'll need to use surface forces to patrol the Marshalls.  I use fairly standard patrols elsewhere with one notable difference -- namely that I use my 118s in the Aleutians and Central Pacific while using my heavier units in the U.S. Mandate.  I'm fairly certain I'll be using a two-area attack this turn given my CV/LBA losses and the USN only have two LBA.

Ed patrols the Marshalls agressively to threaten the block (and take advantage of the IJN LBA loss).  Surprisingly, he uses his LBA in the Coral Sea and the Marianas.  I figured both would be in the U.S. Mandate.  As a result, use my last two LBA in the South Pacific and Marshalls and decide to reinforce Indonsia with carriers.  I send my NLF to the U.S. Mandate with slow escorts (who can base in New Hebredes to threaten conversion of Pearl Harbor if the USN blocks the Marshalls).  I figure the USN won't fight here at all.

I send one more BB to the Marshalls -- not because I expect to stop the block, but because the chances that I'll stop it are high enough even if Ed sends everything he's got that Ed won't want to risk the entire game on that strategy.  The rest of the raiders (the faster half) head to the Hawaiians.  Unfortunately, Shoho fails her speed roll.  Normally I'd base her in Truk, but I don't want to give the USN more incentive to head to the Marshalls.  That means Shoho'll be just as hard to get to the front this coming turn.  I send just one CV to Indonesia.  That leaves the USN able to challenge Indonesia, but only at the expense of both the Hawaiians and U.S. Mandate.

The USN response is to send everything to the Hawaiians except the New Mexico (which heads to the Central Pacific to save Midway).  Even so, the USN only laps the IJN by three ships in the Hawaiians - thanks to all those surface losses at Pearl Harbor last turn.  The British commit whole-hog to Indonesia -- not to win, but to sink Junyo and take pressure off of Pearl Harbor and Samoa next turn.

Ed's move looks like a stunning success on the first round.  In the Marianas, the LBA sinks Sasebo and save the Philippines.  In the Marshalls, my LBA whiffs and the three CA retreat to Singapore (from which they'll be able to base in the Philippines when Singapore converts).  In the Coral Sea, my two CA get away to Truk after a day action.

In Indonesia, the IJN get their first break.  The first round is daylight.  The Hermes and Indomitable are sunk -- which means that the British will have no more CVL at Ceylon after Turn Three.  Since that often means Indonesia can be held for a single LBA, that's a big deal!  In return, the British gang up on Junyo -- but only manage to disable her to Truk.  Indonesia is a total IJN victory.

In the Central Pacific, Chikuma disables New Mexico.  New Mexico whiffs!  Midway falls.  That's huge -- especially as it blocks off the expected hole in the perimeter such that ships at Pearl Harbor cannot get to the interior.  New Mexico bases in Singapore to let her transfer to the Philippines.

In the Hawaiians, I ask for night action.  Ed agrees.  He'll get four shots at one CV and one each at two others.  I'm hoping to establish a lap on the USN with my superior firepower so that I can continue to ask for night.  However, the IJN roll several low damage rolls such that only three CA sink during this round while two others have one damage.  The Idaho takes 5 damage and is disabled to Singapore.  In return, Ashigara, Tone, and Soryu are sunk while Haruna and a 127 are disabled.  The USN still laps me by two ships -- but none of them are BB, so I ask for night action again.  Meanwhile, the I-Boat finds and sinks the Yorktown.  That makes up for Soryu's loss.

The next round is pure daylight.  However, the IJN shoot extremely well -- sinking Hornet and Saratoga while Hosho cripples the Enterprise.  The USN will have only one CV in action next turn!  In return, Shokaku and Hosho are sunk while Zuikaku is disabled.  A spectacular exchange for the IJN.  The IJN then breaks and runs for it.  Six Allied CA pursue Kako -- but only manage to disable her with 1 damage.  The two wounded CA and the Lexington pursue Kongo.  The first round is day followed by night.  Lexington whiffs!  Kongo sinks Houston.  However, the next round is day -- and Kongo is finally sunk.

Although the USN sinks a BC and tow bonus CA, its own losses of four CA are roughly equal (which works in the IJN favor -- especially since the USN was hurting on the surface already).  However, it's the CV attrition that means big trouble for the USN -- 3 USN CV and 2 British CVL are lost while another USN CV is out-of-action while the IJN has only lost a total of 4 CV (one of which is the Hosho).  With the IJN LBA returning to full power next turn, the IJN may be able to work more mischief than usual.

Saving the Philippines and Pearl Harbor are the key victories for the USN.  That will allow the USN Marines to threaten New Hebredes (not to mention Midway and the Marshalls bases).  Will that be enough?

Allied Report:  John puts the expected pressure on the USN with patrols everywhere.  I don’t like putting only 2 LBA in the USM because it will not be enough to keep John out.  Since I’m sure he will raid there with 4 or more carriers, I will be almost forced to send my fleet there to fight.  I do not want to commit to that without seeing his raiders.  Plus it has the usual disadvantages of giving up the Philippines and the NE corner.

So my first line plan is a Marshalls block with a suicide carrier as I have the flag in both the USM & HI.  (The LBA go to the CS and Marianas.)  After seeing John’s raiders and the Shoho failing her SR, I change my mind.  The suicide/block plan is guaranteed to lose 1 CV (perhaps for nothing) and maybe two.  The HI looks to me like I might lose 2 or 3 CVs.  I finally decide to go with it and send the NM to try to save Midway.  This offers the good likelihood of saving the HI/Midway giving me a hole to raid the IJN interior next turn.  And if I’m lucky & save the Philippines, John will have real problems.

But everything goes sour except the Marianas.  The Brits can’t sink the Junyo and we lose 2 carriers.  The NM loses to Chikuma so Midway is lost.  And its disaster in the HI as 3 CVs are sunk and 1 is crippled while John only loses Soryu, Shokaku and Hosho.  Argh#%*&!  Surface attrition for the turn is about even which helps the IJN.  The only bright spot in an otherwise bleak picture is the Marianas where we manage to sink Sasebo and win the area.  I certainly recognize that a HI fight like this can go bad.  It still hurts when it does!  I use the Singapore Sling to send some disabled/retreating ships to the Philippines via Singapore.  That will give me a minor threat to his interior next turn.

Sunk

436 Kongo
1+27 Ashigara
1+18 Tone
138+4 Shokaku
128+3 Soryu
014+1 Hosho
033 Yokosuka [takes New Hebrides]
033 Sasebo
117 Houston
117 Chicago
117 Portland
117 Indianapolis
137+4 Saratoga
027+4 Hornet
027+4 Yorktown
0272 Indomitable.
1241 Hermes.

IJN converts Attu, Midway, Lae, and Singapore by isolation; New Hebrides by invasion.

IJN gains 7 PoC to increase the over-all IJN lead to 10 PoC.

Turn 3

USN Comments: By my count you get your way in 8 out of 9 areas including the two very important areas – one of which was against the flag!  OK, now that you got your way in the D/N rolls, I should get my way in the battles – including both big ones (HI/USM).  The dice gods owe me – which means absolutely nothing!!

I’m taking a chance with only 4 LBA. I considered putting Lex there. But the nightmare of seeing a N roll to lose the carrier, losing the battle & having the Pearl CV raided plus locking in Wasp next turn was just too scary. I thought the IB might go to the USM, so I would at least have one operational CV that can move next turn.

IJN Comments: I patrol widely and heavily this turn in anticipation of forcing Ed to fight in either the U.S. Mandate or the Hawaiian Islands -- and to take advantage of Ed's surface and CV weakness (by running attrition up).  Of course, my ability to fight in the Hawaiians depends on how many LBA the USN deploys there.  Of course, if it's enough to deter an attack, then I should mop up easily elsewhere as forces that should go to the Hawaiians go everywhere else.

Ed patrols weakly to keep his options open and defensive responsiveness highest.  The good news for the IJN here is that there will be few USN flags this turn -- which, in turn, should help me take the PoC too high for the USN to recover.

I use two LBA in Indonesia and two in the U.S. Mandate right off.  Ed's reaction draws an LBA to the Marianas -- which I absolutely cannot afford to lose this turn.  With Ed using four LBA to guard the Hawaiians, an attack there will be somewhat risky.  My last LBA goes to the U.S. Mandate to help repulse the expected and eventual USN Marines.  My NLF heads to the Marianas to take the Philippines.

When it's my turn to place raiders, I decide to go for the maximum push on the Hawaiians -- speed rolling one CVL from Japan.  Seven CV to 4 LBA only slightly favors the IJN, so my hope is to draw the USN into a battle that will save the Hawaiians but cripple the USN fleet -- including her last CV.  The threat to the repairing ships should encourage Ed to engage!  I use my last slow CV in the Central Pacific as a guarantee -- if I lose in the Hawaiians, at least the USN won't be able to raid through the Central Pacific.  The big downside to this move is that it leaves 3 LBA and the I-Boat to stop two Marines -- not nearly enough to have any confidence in flipping Samoa.

The USN raiders rely on saving Samoa with the Marines or keeping the Hawaiians free of IJN control with just four LBA.  They raid the entire perimeter to deny me control as well as backing up their CA patrols in the Aleutians and North Pacific.  Both players have the potential to do very well or very poorly with this move!

The battle in the Marianas is short as a day action comes up against the flag.  The Philippines fall.

In the North Pacific, Marshalls and Coral Sa, my CA escape without harm.  In the Aleutians, my cruiser manages to disable the patroller to Samoa before being sunk.

In Indonesia, my LBA sink one CVL while disabling the other.  In return, one LBA takes 3 damage.  That's the end of British air power (except the Victorious) -- and will force the withdrawal of an extra ship besides.

In the South Pacific, my CA sink the Australia and disable the Arizona before being disabled themselves.

In the U.S. Mandate, it's daylight.  I put 1 damage on the 1st Marines and disable them.  However, my LBA whiff against the 2nd Marines.  The I-Boat's chance of stopping a Marine by itself is less than 28%.  However, the I-Boat comes up with a hit for 6 damage to save New Hebrides and ensure the conversion of Samoa.

In the Hawaiians, we agree to day action.  I come up on a hot streak and kill three LBA in the first round.  In return, the LBA can do nothing except disable the Zuikaku.  The remaining LBA withdraws which allows me to sink the repairing CV and three BB in Pearl Harbor during air raids with the six remaining CV.

In short, the turn was a spectacular IJN success.  In fact, aside from losing a CA in the Aleutians, I don't think anything could have gone better for the IJN -- the dice were just that good for the IJN and that bad for the USN.

I think the IJN holds all of the aces at this point: 1) Ports - with the conversion of Samoa and Singapore together with the threat to Pearl Harbor, 2) Bases - with Dutch Harbor and Guadalcanal as the only two left in US hands inside the normal perimeter, 3) PoC - the score goes to 19 and looks like a good bet to get to 29, 4) Attrition - the USN lose another CV and four surface hulls while the IJN lose only a single CA while the Wasp will be trapped in the Hawaiian Islands next turn, 5) Threats - the lack of any British CVL and only one free USN CV mean that my LBA can each control an area while my fleet tries to make good on the knockout threat, and 6) Mobility - the USN fleet can threaten very little no matter where it bases while the IJN will freely range.

This is what happens when all the gambles pay off.

Allied Report:  This is a difficult turn for me.  I want to defend the Marianas.  One LBA isn’t really enough, but I can’t afford any more.  I only have the repaired AZ in Australia that can protect the CS, so I send 1 LBA there.  That only leaves 4 LBA for the HI.  If John raids with his carriers, he will be a slight favorite.  But at this point, I need something to go my way, so I decide to go with it.  And there is the possibility that he won’t raid there because if he loses he will not have a good game position.  I should have patrolled the Marshalls but didn’t because I expected an LBA there.  My 2 marines attempt to re-take N Heb to save the USM.  

John does raid the HI.  I can not afford a fleet fight, so I will just have to hope my LBA can hold the area or as a minimum clear out the IJN carriers so that the Pearl ships are saved.  I thought about adding my one operational CV, but if things go badly, I might lose both CVs!  So I decide against it.  I raid areas that offer some reasonable chances for something good to happen.

Unfortunately for me, this turn is uglier than last turn.  John gets night against the flag in the Marianas, so I lose the Philippines.  He gets his D in the USM where his IB sinks the one marine that survived the LBA fire.  Samoa is lost.  And he has a hot hand shooting in the HI taking down 3 LBA with his first round of fire!  My return fire can only disable 1 CV so I have to run.  The Pearl dry docks get pounded resulting in all 4 ships being sunk.  For my 32 shots this round, I can only sink 1 CA and damage an LBA.  Things look bad for the good guys.

Sunk

1+17 Furutaka
033 Kure [takes the Philippines]
553 West Virginia
453 Idaho
443 Oklahoma
117 Australia.
117 Exeter [Removal]
027+4 Enterprise
0272 Illustrious.
0272 Formidable [Removal]
24* 5th AF
24* 7th AF
24* 10th AF
043 2nd Marines

IJN converts Samoa by isolation; the Philippines by invasion.

IJN gains 9 PoC to increase the over-all IJN lead to 19 PoC.

Turn 4

IJN Comments: While I'll do my best to convert Pearl Harbor this turn, my principle objective is to crank up the score.  Thankfully, the USN CV situation allows me to easily control the U.S. Mandate and Indonesia with two LBA each.  I use my other LBA in SPO and Coral Sea -- hoping to fight and sink the Lexington.

I patrol everything else with surface ships -- mostly just to take whatever the Allies give me.  I use enough ships in Pearl Harbor that I can't realistically lose that fight due to a lack of patrollers.  I patrol the Aleutians since I'll need a ship to escort my NLF to Dutch Harbor.  I also patrol the Japanese Islands with two CA so that I can control that big-POC area with surface ships if necessary.  I use BB in the Marshalls and Marianas to discourage Allied patrollers -- and to prevent Allied control, if needed.

Ed's patrols are fairly light -- in keeping with his need to force everything he can to the Hawaiians, where he'll need to win regardless.  Ed's bad luck continues as all of his British BB miss their speed rolls (with 5's and 6's)  to Indonesia.

I figure Ed will try to regain the New Hebrides with his Marines, but I send one of my to Indonesia just to keep my eye on Lae and the Philippines (which are both vulnerable since I don't intend to back up the Marianas and didn't flag SPO last turn).  Ed surprises me by sending his Marines to Indonesia.  He'll need a night action to take out my NLF while he takes a base with his amphibious unit.

I send all of my CV to the Hawaiians.  Although it'll be 8 CV to Ed's 5 LBA and the Wasp, it could be a very close fight -- and one I could win if I manage to score a night action first.  I also use three CA in the Aleutians to guarantee that my NLF reaches Dutch Harbor.  I send three BB to the Japanese Islands to guarantee no Allied flag there.  I send enough surface to the Hawaiians to guarantee a lap on the Wasp if I get a night action.

Ed ducks.  This is the right USN move.  He has to trust to luck in the Hawaiians -- and can't afford to throw away his fleet for what would then be a phyric victory.  He moves to create holes in the line in the CPO and Marianas and to try to gain a flag in the Marshalls (to create a hot spot for next turn).  His move to NPO is for attrition and to keep the PoC score low (and make a counter-invasion of Dutch Harbor easier next turn).

In the Japanese Islands, night action sees the De Ruyter sunk easily.  In the North Pacific, the IJN disables the patroller.  There are then multiple rounds of whiffs before the Maya is sunk.  In the Marianas, the Yamashiro sinks the Arizona while taking 4 damage in return.  After a round of whiffs, the Mississippi finishes off the crippled Yamashiro -- paving the way for a potential invasion of the Philippines.

In the Marshalls, the first action is day followed by night.  During daylight, Lexington puts 7 damage on Yamato and disables her to Yokosuka Navy Yard.  At night, Hyuga sinks Canberra before being crippled and disabled to Yokosuka Navy Yard.  Finally, the I-Boat disables the Lexington to Pearl Harbor.

In Indonesia, the first round is day.  However, the IJN LBA can only manage 3 more damage on the 1st Marines.  Sasebo holds off on picking a landing site.  The 1st Marines limp ashore to claim the Philippines.  The next round is also daylight -- which sees the IJN LBA sink Shropshire and Dorsetshire.  Sasebo then re-takes the Philippines for the Emperor.  The only benefit the Allies end up getting from the battle is that Sasebo won't be around next turn.

In the Hawaiian Islands, the first round is day.  The IJN manages to sink Wasp, shoot down one LBA, and put 2 damage on another.  Definitely not enough against LBA!  The USN responds by sinking Akagi and crippling Zuikaku while disabling Zuiho and Hiyo.  I still have four CV to face four LBA, so I decide to give it one more round.  I sink one more LBA and damage another for two points.  That leaves the Allies with 3 LBA -- two of which have two damage.  In return, the Allies sink Shoho and whiff on the rest.  Three to three.  A couple of sixes in my nine dice could turn the tide.  But, once again, I shoot down just one LBA (one of the damaged pair).  In return, both Junyo and Ryujo are disabled.  One to two doesn't look good -- even if my one is Kaga -- so I beat a retreat.

The attrition this turn looks very good for the IJN -- trading two CV for one plus 3 LBA while trading two surface hulls for three (not counting the six British that won't be back next turn).  The base situation looks even better.  Only Guadalcanal holds out within the normal perimeter.  The POC is terrific too -- with the IJN going up another 8 and looking like an easy candidate for 29.  The only downside is the loss at Pearl -- and the huge hole in the perimeter the Allies can exploit next turn.  Fortunately for me, the USN only has Lexington and Victorious to threat me while I'll have six LBA and five operational CV.  In fact, since there'll be no CV on the western half of the map, I'll own Indonesia next turn for a single wounded LBA.

Ed's in a tough spot.  But if there's one thing I've learned about Ed (who's won more championships than everyone else combined in the past four years), it's that one can never let up on him!  Kick him when he's down is the only plan that works!

Allied Report:  John presses in the HI again threatening a KO.  I’m forced to use the only viable defense I have for the HI – my 5 LBA.  That gives up a lot, but I don’t have any choice. 

I have one marine and most of my fleet based is based in Guad/Australia.  In a poorly thought out move, I send the marine to Indo instead of the CS.  There is almost a 30% chance for success to get the Philippines or Lae.  But there were better odds of retaking New Heb and that is probably what I should have done. 

John does send all his carriers to the HI going for the KO.  (I probably wouldn’t have gone for the HI.  I would have patrolled the HI (less heavily) to force the 5 Allied LBA there, but then concentrated on locking up the other areas.  But John has me in such bad shape that his approach will likely win for him also.)  I can’t fight his fleet in the HI so I pick spots that I should win.  I decide to bring the Wasp out as I want to win the battle quickly to preserve LBA for next turn (and improve my chances for holding the area).  Lexington goes to the Marshalls in an attempt to win control of the area.

This is not a good turn for me either.  It’s D/N in the Marshalls which lets John sink my patroller.  In the NPO, the Maya disables my patroller before being sunk.  Sixteen shots in the Marianas over 3 rounds can only cripple/disable the Hyuga while he sinks the wounded AZ on the first round.  My marine barely survives John’s first round of Indo fire during a pure Day action.  Sasebo stays at sea.  In retrospect I probably should have run at this point to save the marine for next turn.  But I decide to go for it and take the Philippines.  But it’s pure Day again and Sasebo re-takes the Philippines.

The HI isn’t much better although I do hold the area.  I lose the Wasp (thankfully during Day) and 3 LBA over 3 rounds while my 24 shots can only sink 2 carriers – not a good trade for me.  Sigh.  Worse yet the POC has gotten to 27 and likely will hit 29 next turn with only a 1 bid.  Ugh!  But we will not give up.  Quoting a previous USN commander “We have not yet begun to fight” – which sadly in this case is really true.

Sunk

444 Yamashiro
1+27 Maya
146+4 Akagi
005+2 Shoho
033 Yokosuka [takes Dutch Harbor]
033 Sasebo [re-takes the Philippines]
444 Valiant. [Removal]
444 Warspite. [Removal]
443 Resolution. [Removal]
443 Revenge. [Removal]
443 Arizona
117 De Ruyter.
117 Canberra.
117 Shropshire.
117 Dorsetshire.
026+4 Wasp
24* Marine AF
24* RAAF
24* RNZAF
043 1st Marines [takes the Philippines]

IJN converts Dutch Harbor by invasion.

IJN gains 8 PoC to increase the over-all IJN lead to 27 PoC.

Turn 5

IJN Comments: My objectives this turn are to lure the USN into a fight where I can sink his remaining CV, secure a solid perimeter in CPO, Marshalls, and U.S. Mandate (and, if possible, the NPO), and run the score up.

With only two POC needed to hit the 29 maximum, I patrol Coral Sea, South Pacific, and Marianas lightly.  I'll take whatever the USN gives up freely, but don't really need these areas this turn.  With a solid perimeter, I can easily take them next turn if necessary.

It only takes one wounded LBA to secure Indo this turn, but I use two anyway because I want to stop the Marines.  I use two LBA in the Marshalls and one each in NPO and US Mandate.  This reflects the critical nature of the center of the perimeter vs. the edges.  The USN uses his LBA in SPO and Coral Sea as well as the Hawaiians, as expected.  I counter by sending my NLF to the Coral Sea to threaten Guadalcanal.

The USN sends his Marines to Indo (as expected) and to the U.S. Mandate.  As a result, I send two raiders (one CV and one BB) to the U.S. Mandate to ensure that the USN doesn't get control.  I don't mind if he takes New Hebrides, since I don't plan to keep the Mandate next turn.  But I don't want him to get the base AND the flag.  The flag is what I really want -- to keep those reinforcements from reaching SPO next turn.

I also bolster the Japanese Islands the same way.  Ed can deny me control easily if he chooses, but I want it to be expensive.

Ed raids my interior (SPO and Marianas) as well as hitting the U.S. Mandate.  This demonstrates why I sent my NLF to the Coral Sea (where the USN couldn't back up his LBA with ships).

Combat is a disaster for the USN.  In the North Pacific, we trade CA during night action before the USN BB run away.  In the Marianas, Ed disables my patroller.  In Indonesia, my LBA sink the Marines   In retrospect, I should have sent a spare CVL to Indonesia too.

In the Coral Sea, the first and second rounds are night.  That allows my NLF to invade Guadalcanal and chase the LBA away from SPO and then allows my CA to escape.  In the SPO, my CA escapes during day action.  The USN CA escapes with a disable result in the Marshalls.  Even losses so far favors the IJN!

Day action in the U.S. Mandate sees Lexington sunk.  The USN whiffs against the LBA.  The I-Boat whiffs on Vicky as the USN Marines invade New Hebrides.  The next round is day followed by night.  Victorious is disabled with two damage and whiffs in return to ensure IJN victory.  The night action sees the IJN whiff entirely while Kaga and Fuso are blown to smithereens.  The USN then beats a hasty retreat.

The chances for the USN are so low that Ed will be forced into a desperation attack in the CPO next turn against the teeth of the IJN.  Since the USN has no CV, I can control Indonesia, Marianas, and South Pacific with one wounded LBA each -- maybe less depending on Allied basing.  The Japanese Islands and Aleutians can be controlled by a single CA.  The rest of my fleet and LBA will be in CPO.  The POC will stay at 29 even if the USN beats me in the CPO.

If Ed doesn't beat me, I win the Japanese Islands with two CA on Turn 7 while every other unit I own goes to Indo for a 10 POC swing.  If Ed doesn't beat my entire fleet on one of the two moves, the IJN will have a lock at the end of Turn 7 with four POC to spare.  Either way he'll only be able to bring his Turn 6 reinforcements to the party.

I can write this here because Ed already knows all of this.

Sunk

444 Fuso
145+4 Kaga
033 Kure [takes Guadalcanal]
117 Minneapolis
137+4 Lexington
0272 Victorious. [Removal]
043 2nd Marines
043 3rd Marines [takes New Hebrides]

IJN converts Guadalcanal by invasion.
USN converts New Hebrides by invasion.

IJN gains 5 PoC to increase the over-all IJN lead to 32 PoC (29 Maximum).

Turn 6

IJN Comments: I execute my plan -- although, since the USN had only three CA in Australia, I briefly considered using ships to control one of the Marianas or South Pacific.  I decided against it since it would have likely meant a USN wrap on my CPO fleet.  Everything except two CA and the repairing Yamato head to the CPO -- including both NLF and three LBA.

Ed knows what's coming, so he passes on the chance to patrol the North Pacific and Marshalls in order to bring everything to the Central Pacific -- including two Marines of his own.

There's only one battle.  The IJN have a surface lap of four.  The first round is day followed by night.  Since I believe I can win a protracted surface fight, I decide to shoot only at USN CV -- and let the USN worry about the NLF and Marines.  I sink only Cowpens while disabling the other 027+2 CVLs and crippling and disabling CV-10.  I put three hits of one damage each on the other two USN CV -- the Essex and CV-16.  In return, Ed sinks Zuikaku, Junyo, Zuiho, and Haruna while he disables Hiyo, Ryujo, and Kirishima.  A terrific round for the USN with just one problem -- he disables Sasebo to Midway.

The IJN still have a lap of two surface ships -- which is not enough to shoot at the Marines -- but which is enough to shoot at the USN CV.  Essex is sunk while CV-16 is disabled.  Astoria and Vincennes are also sunk while Colorado, New Mexico, Mississippi, Alabama, and Indiana are disabled.  South Dakata with 2 damage and Massachusetts with 3 damage are also disabled. 

The USN never shoots back because there's no chance to remove the IJN LBA at this point -- which locks the game.

I'm sure some will question my decision not to shoot at the Marines.  My view is that my six LBA would easily win Indonesia next turn while my surface fleet would be a solid contender this turn even without them -- so I was willing to have them disabled in order to get the USN CV out of the area while using my own NLF to draw their fire.

The USN needed a perfect day round to have any hope at all.  Given that my surface forces sent 7 BB packing on the first round, it's quite likely that the USN surface fleet would have come out on the short end of the stick too.  Ultimately, that's exactly the kind of fight I wanted to draw the USN into.

Sunk

436 Haruna
138+4 Zuikaku
124+3 Junyo
005+2 Zuiho
117 Astoria
117 Vincennes
137+4 Essex
027+2 Cowpens

IJN gains 3 PoC to increase the over-all IJN lead to 32 PoC (29 Maximum).

With a guaranteed swing of 8 PoC for next turn (6 in the Japanese Islands plus one for the USN inability to patrol the Aleutians or Marianas), the best score the USN can achieve next turn would a gain of 9.  Since the maximum turn 8 gain is 17 plus the bid of 1, the minimum IJN lead of 20 cannot be overcome.  The IJN has a lock at this point.  Just one month after December 7th and it's all over...

Congratulations, John!