Turn 1

Turn 2

Turn 3

Turn 4

Turn 5

Turn 6

Turn 7

Turn 8

Turn 1

USN Report: Nick opens up the way every IJN player dreams of -- by sinking every single ship and LBA in both Pearl Harbor and Indonesia.  The lack of a third LBA makes turn two very dangerous for the USN.  However, the surface losses endanger me greatly over the long run (as well as next turn).

Fortunately, groups W, X, and Y show up to control the North Pacific and base in Australia.  That's gives me 1 PoC and a serious threat to Indonesia next turn that'll help compensate for the disastrous air raids a little.

Sunk

553 West Virginia
553 Maryland
456 Prince of Wales.
453 Tennessee
453 California
443 Nevada
443 Arizona
443 Oklahoma
443 Pennsylvania
336 Repulse.
117 New Orleans
117 San Francisco
24* 5th A.F.
24* 7th A.F.

IJN takes a 6 PoC lead.

Turn 2

IJN Comments: The I-Boat goes to the Aleutians.

The IJN also has several important decisions to make on turn 2. I usually play conservatively with most of my strength in the Hawaiian Islands and Marshall Islands to prevent the block. I rarely play as aggressively as you (with a 3-area attack) or Ed Menzel (with a 2-area attack on HI and USM).

You chose a very safe response for the USN this time. I was expecting you to challenge IJN control of the South Pacific to save Lae. Sending three American CVs to the Coral Sea does not appear to be an efficient use of valuable resources, though it may help you sink a few more Japanese ships.

USN Report: I limit my patrols to areas where I think I might actually have a chance to score a flag or where the threat is absolutely critical.  Given Nick's minimal threat to the U.S. Mandate, I probably should have limited my Marshalls patrol to one or two CA.  I use my two LBA in the U.S. Mandate to dissuade any two-area attack.

After the rest of Nick's deployment, I can only come up with two plans which are acceptable.  In one, I send 4 CV to the South Pacific to save Lae while the other CV and my surface fleet win the Coral Sea.  In the end, I choose my other plan because I have seen 2 LBA and the I-Boat beat 4 USN CV too many times.  Such a disaster would end the game.  Not only that but the entire Northeast corner would be lost too easily.  So I go with the lower risk plan.

Two CV head to the Aleutians to stop the invasion of Dutch Harbor and conversion of Attu.  Three CV with minimal surface protection head to the Coral Sea not only to sink Hiryu but also to make up some of the expected surface attrition.  The rest of my surface forces go to save Midway and, hopefully, sink a third IJN CV (to make the conversion of Pearl Harbor a bit more difficult).  I figure I'll lose two CV but could get lucky and lose just one.  The big downside is the risk to my surface forces which are already

Night action against the flag comes up in Indonesia, the U.S. Mandate, and the Central Pacific!  I lose the chance to sink anything in the U.S. Mandate but I'll take less surface attrition in the Central Pacific than expected.  In the CPO, the IJN CA sinks Northampton.  My forces sink Shoho but the IJN CA makes good its escape.

The Marshalls sees two Allied CA sunk during day action while the other is disabled in one on one pursuit.  In the North Pacific, the Salt Lake City is sunk while unable to do anything except disable the IJN CA.  If you're keeping track, the surface attrition at this point is 4-0 in favor of the IJN -- and it was already bad for the USN.  Aack!

In the Coral Sea, the first round is day action.  Hiryu puts 2 damage on Enterprise.  Because I want to make up surface attrition losses, I shoot at Hiryu and both 118 patrollers.  Hiryu is sunk.  However, I merely disable both patrollers.  The next round is also day which sees the IJN lose its first surface ship, the Kongo.  At this point I feel very positive, having lost no carriers -- although I'm disappointed to have accomplished so little against the IJN surface forces with the majority of my carriers.

In the Aleutians, the first round is also daylight.  I have won every major preference roll this turn.  Junyo sinks Yorktown.  The I-Boat goes before I shoot back and sinks Hornet.  So much for my low risk move!  This result is so catastrophic that I use my CV to sink Junyo and Takao (the IJN patroller) instead of even trying to stop the invasion of Dutch Harbor.  I simply could not afford a 5 to 3 cruiser fight against the IJN bonus.  The IJN stays for night action after the invasion.  The patrolling Portland is sunk.  Both IJN CA are disabled.

The surface attrition goes against me five hulls to two.  I may be in serious trouble very shortly.  I expect Nick will take advantage of his surface strength by hunting my long patrollers even when the sea area is not critical to his plans.  I may not have the forces to recover later in the game.  Thankfully, we're playing with option 3a -- which will let the 3 CC in Pearl next turn get away.

In the CV department, I've only lost the two I thought I would.  But I've also got another crippled.  Three CV out of action on each side is a dream result for the IJN.  I also lost one base (Dutch Harbor) that I fought to save.  Any USN setback of that sort is normally disastrous.  Worse, however, is that both CV losses were in the North -- which means I'll have no air cover in the Northeast corner next turn.  So I'm very likely to lose the bases I fought so hard to keep.

This turn is a massive IJN victory -- just like the last one.  If I can't turn things around shortly, the Emperor will have his way with the Pacific.

Sunk

436 Kongo
1+27 Takao
124+3 Junyo
118+3 Hiryu
005+2 Shoho
033 Yokosuka [takes Johnston Island]
033 Sasebo [takes Dutch Harbor]
117 Salt Lake City
117 Portland
117 Northampton
117 Australia.
117 De Ruyter.
027+4 Hornet
027+4 Yorktown

IJN converts Dutch Harbor and Johnston Island by invasion; Singapore, the Philippines, and Lae by isolation.

IJN gains 8 PoC to increase the total IJN lead to 14 PoC.

Turn 3

USN Comments: With no carrier in the Northeast pocket, I expect Nick will easily take Midway this turn -- since he has surface ships to spare available for escort.  I will limit my patrols this turn in order to prevent too many unnecessary surface losses.  For that matter, with only two operational CV I don't threaten the IJN perimeter very much.  That may allow Nick to spare a CV to attack the Coral Sea (and air raid my repairing carrier).  I'll have to be careful all-around if I want any chance to recover.

Nick's patrols in the northeast corner don't give away his plans.  As a result, I keep all of my ships in that pocket as raiders so that I don't get caught in a battle I can't win -- with even more surface losses to add to my dead pile!  Nick's patrol also makes it clear that he's going to use a lot of LBA to guarantee his interior control.  The good news is that the British will get Indonesia for free such that I'll have a raiding lane into the interior next turn without having to go into a potentially punishing battle vs. IJN LBA this turn.

I patrol the Coral Sea and U.S. Mandate with only one cruiser each.  I'll likely get the flag only if the IJN doesn't commit anything else.  But I figure the risk is worth it because there's still a chance to hold the PoC below the maximum.

The big surprise of the turn is that Nick doesn't put a CV into the Coral Sea.  Of course, he wants to guarantee the conversion of Pearl Harbor -- which is why I used one Marine to threaten his LBA based in Johnston Island.  I send my other Marine after Dutch Harbor since I expect Nick to take Midway.

My raiders decide to take the easy and less risky route -- and pounce on Japanese ships in the Aleutians, North Pacific Ocean, U.S. Mandate, and Coral Sea.  I'm hoping this will keep my CV alive as well as help even up the surface attrition somewhat.  Finally, I hope to score the PoC for two of my home areas so that I can keep the IJN away from that 29!

In the first round, Nick's CA in the Aleutians escapes during daylight.  In the North Pacific, Mississippi takes 3 damage while my BB sink the 118.  That kind of trade is the reason I didn't send a cruiser to the NPO to help out.  The BB can take the hit and keep on going.  If a CA had been present, the IJN would be very happy to trade cruisers.  The 2nd Marines invade Dutch Harbor.  Although Nick gets to shoot, my CA in the Marshalls manages to escape unharmed.  In the CPO, Kure takes Midway.  At least I'm keeping the northeast corner alive for the moment.  I wonder if my LBA will be able to keep it that way!

In the Coral Sea, day action sees the IJN lose another 118.  The I-Boat torpedoes and sink my patroller while the remaining 118 runs for Truk.  The POC loss is unfortunate, but it's better than losing a carrier.

The first round in the U.S. Mandate is day followed by night.  My carrier sinks one 118 during the day action.  At night, the IJN CA puts 1 damage on my patroller.  Fortunately, my battleships easily sink the last 118 to secure the flag and POC.  The Japanese have lost four of their fastest cruisers this turn in exchange for a single USN CA.  That'll help the surface attrition imbalance a bit while forcing the IJN to use slower CA for dangerous patrols on future turns.

In the big fight for Pearl Harbor, the first round is a night action -- which sees the 1st Marines blown into a million pieces.  Since I want to sink some IJN carriers, I stick around for day action anyway.  The first day round is a USN disaster.  All I can do is sink Zuiho and put 1 damage on Zuikaku and Soryu.  In fact, all three hits were for 1 damage.  I roll no disable results at all.  Nick responds by shooting down two LBA and damaging another.  That's a big enough firepower swing that I run to avoid throwing my LBA away.

My poor results in the Hawaiians mean that the USN will have more LBA than normal this coming turn; however, the IJN will have a lot of CV available to continue the offensive.  Fortunately, the USN will have four of its own CV and a raiding lane through Indo to use them.  That should make for a very tough fight this coming turn.

Sunk

1+18 Mikuma
1+18 Mogami
1+18 Suzuya
1+18 Chikuma
005+2 Zuiho
033 Kure [takes Midway]
117 Quincy
0272 Illustrious [Removal]
0272 Formidable [Removal]
24* 5th A.F.
24* RAAF
043 1st Marines
043 2nd Marines [takes Dutch Harbor]

IJN converts Midway by invasion; Pearl Harbor by isolation.
USN converts Dutch Harbor by invasion.

IJN gains 7 PoC to increase the total IJN lead to 21 PoC.

Turn 4

USN Comments: Despite having four operational CV, my back is against the wall.  The IJN will clearly hit the PoC maximum and is too close to the Full Applebaum.  The IJN has suffered very little attrition and is still on the offensive.  That will make my position very difficult.  Fortunately, four CV do mean that I'm not out of it -- not by a long shot.

Nick goes on the offensive -- striking for the U.S. Mandate and Coral Sea heavily.  That should guarantee a lock on 29 PoC.  It also just as good a way to invade Guadalcanal as the normal SPO maneuver and threatens the knockout besides.

Nick guards the perimeter with LBA.  He'd be happy to give up SPO, Marshalls, and the Hawaiians -- since that'd mean giving up the U.S. Mandate and Coral Sea and facing an abominable basing situation that would allow no follow-up next turn.  With no forward bases such attacks are fairly pointless.

My goals this turn are to 1) save Guadalcanal and win SPO, 2) save the U.S. Mandate, and 3) threaten Indonesia.  Hopefully I can trade my LBA for his carriers while opening up raiding lanes and securing the position from which I'll counter attack.  With no Marines available, my only chance to use my LBA on attack next turn is by keeping what few bases I do have this turn.

Nick's patrols make it too dangerous for me to commit heavily.  With the 29 POC virtually guaranteed, I decide to hold everything in the NE corner to raid except a single CA in the Japanese Islands.  That will keep the IJN from easily adding them to the "sunk" column.  Aside from the aggressive British (to maximize the threat of the US flag in Indonesia), I patrol nothing else at all.  Instead, I rely on LBA to patrol the Coral Sea, U.S. Mandate, and South Pacific.  Unfortunately, with New Hebrides and Guadalcanal on the line, I have to split my LBA to have any chance to stop the two IJN NLF.  It'd be much nicer if I could concentrate them in SPO and Coral Sea!

Nick's LBA placement leaves Indonesia slightly on the weak side.  Surprisingly, the IJN doesn't back up the LBA with a small CV -- preferring instead to stay on all-out offensive operations (aside from the small number drawn to the Japanese Islands by my NE raider threat).

I decide to cover the U.S. Mandate with my surface fleet (since they're unneeded elsewhere).  The lap is big enough that I should easily deny the area -- even more if my LBA can put up a long fight.  I'll have enough BB that the typical IJN surface edge shouldn't be too big a problem.  I use the Wasp on a suicide mission to stop the NLF in the Coral Sea (with a goal of winning the SPO with LBA only).  Finally, I guess my odds in Indonesia are around 40% -- which is better than my current chances in the game.  With the high probability that two USN CV will make it out of Indonesia alive, I decide to go with the gamble.  If I win I can really turn the game around.  If not, I should still be OK if I save Guadalcanal and win SPO and the U.S. Mandate.  I just wish I had another four CA to raid into the Marianas.

My CA in the Japanese Islands is sunk unceremoniously during day action.  In CPO, the IJN CA runs away while the sun shines.  In retrospect, my BB never should have gone there.  This move will force her out of the corner and weaken the force there substantially -- all in exchange for a removing 1 POC and a meaningless flag in CPO.  Oh well, live and learn.

In the U.S. Mandate, the Japanese aim at my battlewagons.  One bonus baby goes down while the other is damaged.  In return my LBA disable Shokaku which causes the IJN to retreat.  There's no pursuit since I'd be leaving almost all of my BB firepower behind.  It's expensive, but not as bad as it could have been!

In the Coral Sea, the first action is day.  Whew!  The LBA score nothing but hits and disables before sinking their target.  However, the Wasp whiffs.  The suicide mission is nothing but suicide.  Guadalcanal and SPO fall without a fight.  Not good as I now MUST win Indonesia to have any chance in the game.  Who'd have figured that the piece of the Coral Sea mission which was the most likely would be the one to fail?

In Indonesia, the battle starts badly.  The Lexington and the damaged Enterprise are sunk.  In return the Allies manage to shoot down only one LBA.  The I-Boat misses her chance to end the game.  Whew!  The next round the IJN gang up on Saratoga but only disable her.  In exchange, the Allies shoot down one more LBA with one lucky hit.  The next round the IJN whiff.  The British land a lone hit for 4 damage to win the area.  Gasp... Hack... Wheeze...  Was that ever close!

The conversion brings the British -- who still have two CVL -- forward where they'll be a real threat next turn.  The British have been the luckiest part of my fleet so far, so this could be a really good development.  Could it be that the IJN won't be at  29 after Turn 5?  My returning Marines will be based in Singapore too -- with dreams of Okinawa!  Unfortunately, no USN CV will be based in Indonesia...

Sunk

34* 24 AirFlot
34* 25 AirFlot
34* 26 AirFlot
033 Yokosuka [takes Guadalcanal]
033 Sasebo
5+65 South Dakota
444 Valiant [Removal]
444 Warspite [Removal]
443 Ramillies [Removal]
443 Royal Sovereign [Removal]
117 Chester
137+4 Lexington
027+4 Enterprise
026+4 Wasp
24* Marine A.F.

IJN converts Guadalcanal by invasion.
USN converts Singapore and Saigon by isolation.

IJN gains 8 PoC to increase the total IJN lead to 29 PoC.

Turn 5

USN Comments: With few carriers available this turn (but lots of LBA), my strategy this turn is to see what the IJN does and take whatever opening Nick leaves.  Nick makes an excellent move by playing to defend the territory and PoC lead he's established -- and taking Dutch Harbor.  My lack of CV in Indonesia lets the IJN control the Japanese Islands and Marianas for a single LBA each.  Fortunately, a lone LBA in the SPO isn't enough to stop me -- since I can bring the British CVL and the last remaining USN CV together there.

My surface losses make it impossible for me to challenge the IJN elsewhere.  Fortunately, I've got three Marines to puncture the IJN perimeter.  While the IJN grabs Dutch Harbor at night, so that my LBA don't even get to shoot, my own Marines take Guadalcanal and the Philippines.  I land a second Marine on the Philippines too -- so that I can safely fly LBA in the Marianas next turn.  I figure, correctly, that the IJN will go after Attu next turn -- such that Guadalcanal isn't threatened by NLF next turn.  Nick brings his NLF on in Japan.  There's a mild threat to the Philippines, but not much since my Turn 6 reinforcements can help defend it (and only need to stop one NLF).

The first round in the SPO is night.  The I-Boat whiffs, so the LBA runs away to keep Nick's defensive options open next turn.  That ends the turn with no ship losses on either side.  In fact, the only pieces "lost" are withdrawals or amphibious units that succeeded in their invasions!

Sunk

033 Kure [takes Dutch Harbor]
0272 Victorious [Removal]
043 2nd Marines [takes the Philippines]
043 3rd Marines [takes Guadalcanal]

IJN converts Dutch Harbor by invasion.
USN converts Guadalcanal and the Philippines by invasion.

IJN gains 4 PoC to increase the total IJN lead to 33 PoC (29 PoC Maximum).

Turn 6

USN Comments: This turn the IJN usually wants to lure the USN into an unwinnable battle -- often against renewable LBA.  If I can, I want to avoid that fate.  The IJN patrols allow me to take a fairly safe option -- patrolling each area with a combination of surface and air power while still keeping enough firepower available to discourage any IJN gambles.  As expected, both the Japanese Islands and the Hawaiian Islands are far too powerful to challenge while the back areas are too tough for my small contingent of ships in Attu to challenge.

As a result, my move is designed to move to forward bases to maximize my power next turn while putting the maximum number of LBA in the Aleutians in an attempt to save Attu.  I decide against throwing the last British 0272 against the LBA in the Japanese Islands.  With Singapore under my control, the British ships are very valuable pieces -- so I don't want to sacrifice them foolishly.  I'll need all those cruisers as patrollers during the next two turns!

The I-Boat goes after my carriers -- but, thankfully, misses Saratoga.  In the Aleutians, I fear a repeat of the earlier North Pacific invasion of Dutch Harbor.  Fortunately, it's daylight.  My LBA come through admirably -- not only stopping the invasion of Attu, but sinking both IJN NLF!  That'll help my chance of keeping Attu (not to mention other key bases) next turn.

I move the POC three in my direction.  That'll help, but I'll need to do better next turn to overcome the IJN lead.  The IJN only need a swing of 12 to win while I need to keep it down to 10 or less.  That'll be a tough proposition since the IJN is certain to pick up 8 next turn (in the Japanese Islands and North Pacific).  I have to play the next two turns perfectly in order to pull it off!

Sunk

033 Yokosuka
033 Sasebo
443 Resolution [Removal]
0272 Indomitable [Removal]
043 1st Marines [takes Saipan]
043 4th Marines [takes Maleolap]

USN converts Saipan and Maleolap by invasion.

USN gains 3 PoC to decrease the total IJN lead to 26 PoC.

Turn 7

USN Comments: Studying the map, it's clear that I can overwhelm the IJN in the Hawaiians and Cental Pacific, but that I won't have the force needed to challenge the Japanese Islands.  So I quickly decide not to throw away my strength in foolish challenges.  The big problem I have is that Nick only needs a swing of 12 to win.  Nick will get 2 from the North Pacific and 6 from the Japanese Islands and his NLF will threaten to get another 2 from the Aleutians (it's two because the USN won't be able to get that PoC next turn from lack of patrols).  That means Nick could win as easily as denying me control  of the Japanese Islands next turn!

I patrol carefully to allow maximum LBA in the Aleutians and to ensure that the IJN can't get anything else without throwing away his chances at the Japanese Islands next turn!

Everything goes pretty much as expected after that -- although the huge commitment of LBA to the Aleutians is a bit of a surprise.  It makes sense, though, since Nick doesn't need them to secure the Japanese Islands.

During my raiders, my analysis of the situation indicates a fairly easy Japanese victory on turn 8 as things stand.  The IJN will have nearly as many CV as I will plus they'll have 6 LBA.  As a result, I decide to risk an 027+2 CVL on a raid into the Japanese Islands.  The goal is to trade her in a day action for the damaged Zuikaku.  Then I hope the F-Boat will take out the damaged Soryu.

Unfortunately, it's night in the Japanese Islands -- so Cowpens is wasted for nothing.  The F-Boat whiffs too.

In the Aleutians, it's daylight.  The IJN shoot badly -- only putting 2 damage on an LBA.  In return, I use all but one LBA against the NLF -- sinking her.  My shots against Taiho prove fruitless -- with a mere disable.  That's enough to get Nick to run -- since he doesn't want to trade LBA at this point (and I would gladly do so).  So I finish the turn with the best score possible -- a IJN lead of 17.  That leaves a swing exactly equal to the bid of 3 for a tie game.

I can afford to give up no more than two PoC this coming turn while Nick will be looking for a four PoC swing.  Fortunately, there are few areas where Nick can realistically pick up that kind of swing -- and he won't want to try Indonesia with my LBA able to participate and my fleet standing by at Truk.  The likely scenario is an all-out battle for the Japanese Islands.  Unfortunately, I'll be an underdog during daylight actions and going against the flag to secure a night action (against the still formidable IJN surface fleet).  It doesn't look promising, but I certainly still have a chance!

Sunk

033 Kure
027+2 Cowpens
043 2nd Marines [takes Johnston Island]

USN converts Johnston Islands by invasion; Lae, Kwajalein, and Truk by isolation.

USN gains 9 PoC to decrease the total IJN lead to 17 PoC.

Turn 8

USN Comments: I can give up a two PoC swing this turn and still win, but I'm not favored to win the Japanese Islands -- worth a swing of six.  So I make my move to tempt the Japanese into raiding outside the Japanese Islands -- particularly in area where there's only a swing of one available.  I also patrol the North Pacific with only a single CA.  Since I can't get LBA there, this gives the Japanese an easy 1 PoC swing in exchange for an LBA (which I would dearly love to see leave the Japanese Islands).

I use one CA each in the Marianas and the Aleutians too -- so that I can still control the area if the NLF take the LBA's base(s).  In retrospect, I should have used the CA in the Marianas as yet another patroller in the Japanese Islands.

I keep two fast BB, my big CV, and my slow BB as raiders (figuring the latter would end up as raiders anyway).  Sadly, 6 of my 7 speed five BB miss their speed rolls.  That's the kind of roll I need in combat -- not for speed!

Nick takes only one piece of bait -- sending a 436 to the Aleutians to escort his NLF.  This is a reasonable choice -- since Nick needs a swing of 4 to win.  He can get three just by stopping me from controlling the Japanese Islands.  The Aleutians would make one more.  Even though I've got 5 LBA there, this is a better option because stopping two NLF is actually more than twice as difficult as stopping one.  However, the CA I used on patrol there will be my ace -- since I can keep the IJN from controlling the area by keeping his 436 from shooting at my cruiser while ignoring his NLF.

In the Aleutians, I win day action and easily sink the Kirishima to win control for the Allies -- even though the Japanese still have both NLF and could disable my LBA..  Instead Nick uses both NLF to reinforce Dutch Harbor.

I have a small lap in the Japanese Islands, so I try for night.  However, it's to no avail as the sun shines on Japan.  Worse, the IJN opens by sinking NINE carriers and disabling three more (some with damage).  The USN will have only one full-size CV and three CVL in the second round.  That means I have to shoot down the LBA now!  Ouch!

It turns out the bad news gets worse.  All 16 Allied CV managed to shoot down only one LBA -- they don't even hit any of the others with 36 total shots.  They also sink Kaga and Hiyo.  They disable nothing.  The F-Boat sinks Zuikaku, but it's too little and too late.  My only hope now is an obscene number of night rounds against the flag in a row!

Of course, the very next round is also day.  The IJN easily sink three of the remaining four CV while disabling the other with damage.  I expected to lose this battle, but figured it would last longer and be much closer than the blowout it was.  Nick really demonstrated the power of the NE corner for the IJN -- even when it was incomplete (since Attu never did fall).

IJN Comments: It was interesting that losing Singapore and Saigon on turn 4 did not make things all that difficult for the IJN. Having a lead of 29 POC and a relatively intact Japanese fleet allowed me to control the areas I really needed on turns 5 through 8 to still win the game.

Our result in the Japanese Islands was very different from that of the Applebaum-Menzel match. I looked over that game's summary last night. Ed had the advantage of recapturing Pearl Harbor on turn 7 (which allowed the American turn 8 reinforcements to reach the Japanese Islands) and he got 3 night actions in a row against the flag (very unlikely) to whittle down the Japanese aircraft carriers before downing the LBA.

Sunk

436 Kirishima
145+4 Kaga
138+4 Zuikaku
124+3 Hiyo
34* 24 AirFlot
033 Yokosuka
137+4 CV 10
137+4 CV 12
137+4 CV 16
137+4 Intrepid
137+4 Saratoga
027+2 Bataan
027+2 Belleau Wood
027+2 Monterey
027+2 Princeton
027+2 Cabot
027+2 Langley II
1241 Hermes.
043 1st Marines [takes Midway]
043 3rd Marines

USN converts Midway by invasion; Pearl Harbor by isolation.

USN gains 11 PoC to decrease the total IJN lead to 6 PoC.
After the bid of 3 is applied, the IJN win by 3 PoC!

Congratulations, Nick!