Turn 1

Turn 2

Turn 3

Turn 4

Turn 5

Turn 6

Turn 7

Turn 1

USN Report: As the Allied commander, there's not much to do on Turn One except wait for the hammer to drop and hope to get off lightly.  I get 4 BB, 2 CA, and the LBA out -- so I consider myself very fortunate.  I'm three ships ahead of the average (which I regard as one lightly damaged BB, one heavily damaged/crippled BB, one CA, and the LBA).  The Repulse makes it out of Indonesia.  I know most players don't care about the British, but it's nice to have at least one heavy patroller later in the game.  I'll use Repulse mainly to patrol the Bay of Bengal or stand by on raider status until then.

IJN gains 6 PoC.

Turn 2

USN Report: This is the hardest turn for the Allies since the IJN will press hard in Allied Home Areas as well as attempt to convert a zillion bases.  I can't set a strategy ahead of time, since I'll have to re-act to the IJN's attack.  However, my patrols are designed to give me options.  With just one IJN CA in the Coral Sea, odds are he won't be going for that strongly.  I elect to patrol with a BB -- which is likely to secure the POC by itself.  The IJN will have to commit more to the area to accomplish anything there.  If he commits too much, I won't respond -- and the Nevada may still deny him the flag.

It's a good thing I based Revenge in Singapore -- since all the rest of the British BB fail their speed rolls to Indonesia.  With only one CV in Australia I'm not much of a threat in Indonesia, but he'll still need to cover it with more than 3 LBA to be completely safe.

I don't patrol the US Mandate because I'll be putting LBA there.  I hope that two will be enough to scare off a bigger force so that I can try the unlikely knock-out (combined with the Singapore Sling) in the Marianas.  At worst it forces the IJN to use an NLF to invade the Philippines (which will save Dutch Harbor normally).

I patrol CPO, Marshalls, and SPO too to give me various block options if the opportunity comes up.  I patrol NPO just to score a POC and keep the score down a bit.

Charles elects to have the IJN go for a Pearl-emphasis strike with lots of CV and LBA along the Aleutians, CPO, Marshalls, SPO, and Indo perimeter.  I'm OK with that since it frees up my forces from having to make a desperate stand; however, it does require that I risk my CV to punch a hole and save a base or two.  The number of Allied CV lost will tell who's ahead at the end of this turn.

I abandon the NE corner, use BB in Coral Sea and U.S. Mandate to score surface attrition and POC, and use all my CV and CA in the SPO (to save Lae and take advantage of a possible hole in the Marianas).  This forfeits a lot of bases but should keep my CV attrition to a minimum.

I don't bring the British CA or CV into Indonesia -- hoping I suffer little attrition and keep an air-threat there for future turns.  Often the conversion of Pearl attempt next turn causes the Allies to give up Indo freely -- particularly when the British haven't lost much air power.  I hope to encourage that behavior!

My Marianas gambit fails but not before the LBA puts a scare into the IJN invaders.  I lose two CA in Marshalls and CPO without any benefit.  The other bases in Singapore and eventually slings to Lae.

Things go better in Indonesia where my British stick it out for three rounds to secure a night action and sink Ryujo.  I lose just one BB in exchange while two others wear their damage markers as badges of honor.  I'm happy anytime British BB get to shoot at something!

I sink a pair of 118s in the Coral Sea and U.S. Mandate such that I don't get the surface attrition I was looking for.  However, I also lose the Nevada and the Coral Sea flag as the IJN gamble to run the score up.

The South Pacific works better than I'd hoped.  I have one CV crippled over-all (although two others were disabled) but destroy Hosho and one LBA while chasing the other off with damage.  No CV losses -- albeit one will be out of action next turn -- puts me in the driver's seat.  The POC isn't too grim either.  The one downside is that the IJN is in excellent shape regarding bases -- with only Dutch Harbor, Lae, and Guadalcanal inside the perimeter, the IJN NLF have far too few targets in the coming turns.

IJN converts Attu, Midway, and Singapore by isolation;  Johnston Island and the Philippines by invasion.

IJN gains 7 PoC to increase the IJN total lead to 13 PoC.

Turn 3

USN Report: This turn I need to rip up the perimeter while the bulk of the IJN forces concentrate on the conversion of Pearl Harbor -- which they'll need because I'll commit all of my LBA to its defense while keeping a huge share of my fleet on raid status.  The most telling thing this turn will be the number of IJN CV lost in the conversion and whether or not I get my shiny, new BB and Marines out of Pearl safe and sound.

I patrol Indonesia heavily -- even using British CA -- since it may end up being a gift.  The Repulse, however, begins repairs -- since I'll need her as a speedy patroller late in the game.  With no enemy patrollers in the Coral Sea (and flags in SPO and US Mandate), I use a wounded BB to patrol there.  For the same reason, I use a strong armored BB in the U.S. Mandate.  We'll see if the IJN sends a raider or two to deny me the flag in one or both areas.  I send two patrollers to the Marianas and Marshall Islands in the hopes of creating a hot spot for the IJN next turn.  I don't patrol with my lone CA in the NE corner -- preferring to wait and see if there's an opportunity.  Overall, I think my patrols are good -- but maybe too heavy if I opened up opportunities for IJN surface ships to do something other than escort the Hawaiians attack force.

I also start repairs on my crippled CV in Australia.  That draws a fast raiding force to the Indian Ocean which hopes to finish her off in air raids.  The other IJN raiders back up Pearl Harbor as expect and reinforce the Marianas in a way that makes an Allied flag there very unlikely.

I decide to attack Indonesia -- where the IJN LBA is clearly inadequate as well as save my CV in Australia by heading to the Indian Ocean.  I hope for a night action there.  I send surface forces to the Marshalls and U.S. Mandate -- as I love it when surface forces can get something useful done without needing air cover.  I keep my Dutch Harbor and Pearl Harbor units in port in the hopes of teleporting them at conversion.

In the Indian Ocean, it's day followed by night.  The CVs kill each other -- but at least I save the repairing CV.  At night I don't lose anything, but I take out three IJN CA.  That really helps me on the surface!

In Indonesia, I have a few CV disabled but take no losses while shooting down both IJN LBA.  The I-Boat is ineffective.  I believe the USN is well-advised to gang up on IJN LBA as much as possible -- that's what has enabled me to come through both of these last turns so unscathed.  Even the British will still have air cover!

I lose both CA in the Marianas.  I sink Mutsu in the Marshalls.  In the U.S. Mandate, the Idaho takes damage but lives while the USN BB sink the damaged Kongo.  I'm in great shape POC-wise this turn.

In the Hawaiians, I manage to get rid of all of the IJN CV such that my Marines and BB escape Pearl Harbor without damage.  However, it's not quite an IJN disaster -- since I sink none of Charlie's CV at all!  I cripple three but sink none.  That will mean a very potent IJN offensive force on future turns (albeit not next turn).  Nonetheless, the IJN gets the conversion he really has to have and flips another base too.  Only Lae and Guadalcanal are blue inside the perimeter!  I wonder where the IJN NLF will head next turn?  :-)

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

IJN gains 4 PoC to increase the IJN total lead to 17 PoC.

Turn 4

USN Report: This turn I need to exploit the holes in the IJN perimeter in Indonesia and the Marshall Islands.  I have fast ships (CA and CV) based in Australia and Samoa to do just that.  I try to keep my fast BB (speed 5) split up too in case I need heavier firepower.

The IJN patrols Indonesia heavily -- making it clear he'll rely on the navy to thwart my threat in Indonesia.  I decide to bring the British navy -- all of it except one dinged CA to patrol the bay -- into Indonesia anyway.  This will force the IJN to reinforce the area during raider deployment or risk the British BB smacking his cruisers.  The other IJN patrols are so light that they're of little consequence.  The Japanese don't seem to have a clear objective for the turn other than saving the ports in Indonesia and invading Lae.

After patrols, I assume the IJN will guard the Japanese Islands and its three repairing CV (minus two damage each) with at least two LBA.

However, the Japanese deploy their four LBA on the perimeter in SPO and the Marshalls.  Together with the move to Indonesia, this is a clear attempt to set up a secure perimeter for Turn Five -- presumably relying on the IJN domination of bases to make up for any interior raids this turn.  Not coincidentally, it's designed to keep me from converting the bases in any of the hot spots.

I patrol to force the IJN to take my threat in the Marshalls and Indonesia credibly.  I deploy one BB in the Coral Sea and U.S. Mandate -- again to score POC and keep the score low.  I don't commit more than that because I know the IJN has a lot of raiders available -- and I don't want to lose a lot of ships in a raid.

I also patrol the empty Hawaiian Islands and let my LBA patrol the SPO for me.  Unfortunately, I don't have LBA to spare to patrol the Mandate and Coral Sea.

The IJN LBA and raids are a bit of a surprise.  The IJN raids my home areas for POC -- in exchange for surface attrition.  On the other hand, Charles gives up the Hawaiians without a fight.

He also leaves the Japanese Islands wide open.  I respond to that by sending two CV with 3 CA to escort them.  The result?  the IJN loses one CA and three CV without the slightest threat of losses to the USN.  That's 3 POC too.

I use surface forces only in the Mandate and Coral Sea.  That allows the IJN to deny me both areas -- but the IJN loses two fast BB in exchange for a heavily damaged, slow boat.  I deny the IJN the CPO while sinking a CA in exchange for damage.  I also deny the IJN control of the Marianas by sinking his CA there.  That will make the Philippines vulnerable next turn.  I lose one CA in the Marshalls before running.

In the South Pacific, I sink Akagi and take down both LBA in exchange for a single CV.  However, the IJN stop both Marines (sinking one and disabling the other to Guadalcanal).  In Indonesia, a day followed by night action allow the IJN to disable most of the British battlewagons before they open fire.  The British lose the CA that remain.  The British only manage to sink one IJN CA.  The British will be down to just four ships next turn (after withdrawals) -- just one BB, two CA, and one CVL.  Shockingly, the British carrier gets away!  The IJN easily take Lae.

The IJN have all of the bases inside the perimeter except Guadalcanal.  However, with a Marine securing that base it's unlikely that they'll finish the full Applebaum line.  However, the turn is otherwise a disaster for the IJN -- losing tons of surface ships and four CV altogether.  Worse, the score stays at 17 -- where it's unlikely to reach the mid-20s.  The perimeter has holes in the Hawaiians and SPO.  USN CV strength is still excellent while the IJN is down to five.  Thankfully, Allied LBA will finally reach full power next turn -- which will make all areas with Allied bases easy to control.

However, the IJN base situation is so strong that the game is definitely not over.

IJN captures Lae by invasion.

There no change in the score to leave the IJN lead at 17 PoC.

Turn 5

USN Comments: My goals this turn are to keep the POC score low.  The open raiding lanes I created last turn will help me do that fairly easily.  I also need attack lanes for my reinforcements next turn.  I expect this is where the IJN will try to stop me -- by trying to create a perimeter.

In fact, the IJN patrols and LBA make it clear he's conceding the South Pacific and trying to set up a line from Indonesia to the Hawaiians through the Marianas and Marshalls.

My CV strength will let me challenge only one of this perimeter areas.  I decide to make that area the Hawaiians -- even though it's a bit tougher than the Marshalls -- since a win there will flip Pearl Harbor to my control.  I send surface raiders into CPO, Japanese Islands, and NPO.  I send a BB to the Marshalls just in case I get a lucky night action.  The rest of my surface forces head to SPO for advanced basing.

The British get shredded in Indonesia when night refuses to come up.  I easily deny the Japanese control of CPO, NPO, and the Japanese Islands -- scoring good 3-1 surface attrition along the way.  Even Musashi goes down.  I lose a CA in the Marshalls before running away.

In the Hawaiians, my 3 CV and one CVL should be enough to take down two LBA unless Charles gets lucky with the LBA and I-Boat on the first round.

Of course, luck is just what Charles gets.  The first round sees all three American CV sunk.  Only one IJN LBA is shot down.  In the second round, the Victorious is also sunk -- which makes my holding the Formidable back a mistake.  I'll be left with just one British ship next turn.  The Victorious, alas, is unable to shoot down the final LBA.  That saves Pearl Harbor and the perimeter for the IJN.  The POC score is very low, however, so the USN is still in command of the game despite this disaster.

USN converts Lae by invasion.

IJN gains 2 PoC to increase the IJN total lead to 19 PoC.

Turn 6

USN Comments: This turn the IJN will take advantage of his perimeter -- which will be enough to keep me out of the Aleutians for good.  I also expect him to strongly contest another one or two areas.  I don't expect him to fight for any place where my LBA can go -- including Indonesia with Lae reinforced by an extra Marine.

IJN patrols make it clear one of those extra areas will be the Marianas.  I don't patrol there -- figuring I'll go only if necessary.  I patrol everything else I can reach.  I go lightweight in the Hawaiians, figuring that if I was the IJN that'd be the other area where I'd fight.

The IJN LBA back up the Marianas and push hard into the Hawaiians.  However, the Hawaiians force isn't as much as I'd expected.  However, it's plenty enough to stop one lone patroller.  As a result, I decide to make my effort against the IJN in the Marianas where I hope to stop three NLF in order to allow my Marine in Indo to secure the Philippines.

The battle in the Hawaiians goes as expected -- with me losing my CA and Marine and escaping with the slow slug.

The Marianas fight starts with a day action.  I hope to go against the NLF.  However, after the IJN removes 5 CV including all three big ones, I'm in bad shape.  I sink his three CV but can't dent the LBA.  Once the NLF land, I figure it's not worth sticking around and retreat.  I'd hoped to cause a lot more carnage among the IJN ships but can't risk the CV against LBA when it's against the odds.

This turn improves the IJN position substantially by moving the POC score up by 1 and scoring flags that will make the Japanese Islands and NPO easy wins for the Japanese next turn.  I definitely can't afford another turn like the last two!

USN converts Maleolap by invasion.

IJN gains 1 PoC to increase the IJN total lead to 20 PoC.

Turn 7

USN Comments: The IJN patrols show that he's going to win the CPO and NPO.  I patrol everything I can reach in a way that won't invite IJN opportunism.

However, the IJN LBA moves quickly show that Charles understands that he still has to pick up a few hard POC.  The three NLF back up the move to the Marshall Islands.  Charles is going for all the extra POC he'll need this turn.

I'm actually spread thin enough that it's possible the IJN will pull off an upset in one of the Marianas, Marshalls, or Hawaiians.  Of course, one big benefit of my engage widely strategy is that any LBA I shoot down this turn won't be available to defend the Japanese Islands next turn -- and may help make up any POC lost this turn.

The first round sees night action in all three areas.  In the Marianas, the IJN is just waiting to see what happens in the Marshalls.  The night round sees Yamato, Soryu, and two NLF sunk.  The third NLF is disabled with damage.  The F-Boat has nothing to shoot at.  The IJN lose the chance to deny the USN one POC here.  That's enough to get the Marianas LBA to withdraw.

In the Hawaiians, the IJN are here to fight.  The night allows the Marines to take Johnston Island without taking a shot.  The first day round sees the IJN whiff.  In return, one LBA is shot down.  That's enough to prompt the IJN to surrender.

IJN Surrender: I think i can concede this game at this point.  It does not seem feasible for my 1 LBA to win the battle in the Hawaiians against your carriers.  I needed either the Marianas and to steal a PoC (Marshalls) or the Hawaiians to have a shot on Turn 8, I don't even know how much of a shot it would have been, but I'm pretty much dead now.
 
Good luck in your remaining games!