Japanese Tactical advice

[Rognar65]

My buddy and I like to play a series of matches using the same countries in order to try out different units and different tactics. In our first series, I played the Germans and he played the Americans. He beat me pretty handily although I was able to put up a good fight. The second time around, I played the Russians, he played the Germans. It was a close series, but in the end, I was able to beat him 4-3. Now we have started a Japan v. UK/Canada series. I am playing the UK and our first match was pretty one-sided in my favor. These were the two sides:

UK/Canada
Churchill Crocodile
Archer
Eagle-Eyed NCO (x2)
40mm Bofors L60
Gurkha Riflemen (x2)
SMLE No.4 Rifle
Vickers MG
Entrenched ATG

Japan
Shiden-Kai (x2)
47mm Type I ATG (x2)
Type I Ho-Ni (x2)
SNLF Fanatics (x2)
Imperial Sergeant
Honor-Bound Hero
Type 89 Mortar

Since my buddy and I are pretty evenly-matched in terms of tactics, the one-sided victory seemed pretty artificial. I'm wondering if anyone routinely plays the Japanese and if they have any tips to make a more robust Japanese build.

[Surfer_Sam]

I only play japanese with my own special "jungle" rule. Place the map as usually, but all terrain hexes are now clear hexes, and clear hexes are now jungle hexes. ( Jungle is treated like forest hexes but vechicles need a 6 to move through.) Road are kept where they are.

This is quite fun since Ha-go can move through jungles easily, while allied armor is forced to the roads

[oddfellow]

hmm... you'd better try to take out the bofors, otherwise your planes are going to be useless (or dead). Japan has an uphill battle against that croc as well. Good luck!

[Uncle_Joe]

Playing a Croc against the Japanese is kind of unfair from the get-go IMO. They are going to struggle against any form of heavy armor let alone one as cheap as that (which can also deep fry any attempt at Close Assaults which are the only way Japan can really take down heavies...with the Hero, Banzai, and/or a lot of luck).

Pull that out of the mix and the Japanese become much more competitive IMO.

[Rognar65]

hmm... you'd better try to take out the bofors, otherwise your planes are going to be useless (or dead). Japan has an uphill battle against that croc as well. Good luck!

That's exactly what happened. My Bofors shot down one of his Shiden-Kai's in turn 1. He eventually took out my Bofors with a SNLF Fanatic Banzai charge, but that was around turn 5 and it was all over but the crying by then.



Playing a Croc against the Japanese is kind of unfair from the get-go IMO. They are going to struggle against any form of heavy armor let alone one as cheap as that (which can also deep fry any attempt at Close Assaults which are the only way Japan can really take down heavies...with the Hero, Banzai, and/or a lot of luck).

Pull that out of the mix and the Japanese become much more competitive IMO.

Not a bad idea. Maybe I'll switch out my Crocs in the future for something lighter.

[FSSF]

The Croc. That is also what first jumped at me when I saw your army list.
It is unfair vs Japan. Japan has a tough time even against basic Shermies, so imagine vs a 7/6 Superior Armor 2! The japanese AT gun is a waste of time, even against medium tank, so forget about taking out a Croc. 3 or 4 Ho-Ni ganging up on it might have a chance but would waste a lot of ressources. I don't think Crocs were used against japanese anyway

[Anubis]

One unit is all you need, SNLF Fanatics. Done deal.

[CaptainHans]

The croc is a problem. But it can be taken out. I once knocked out 2 of them in round in a tourny. So it can be done. When I look at your Japanese build I see not enough of the core infantry. Take out the 47mm and maybe replace the planes with something else so that you can save enough points to buy more arisakas. If you are not playing advanced rules then you don't need the planes. If you are start taking platoons and replace the planes with zeros. The only hard rule I think you have to stick with when building a Japanese army is you need to build to the unit limit. Otherwise Crocs or Vet-Tigers I don't think it matters much. As long as their armor is under 8 you have a chance.

[polish_horsy]

3 Ho-Ni to 1 Croc is a fight the Japanese can win. The problem is the Ho-Ni could die trying to get into position and the Allied player would never let you drive 3 Ho-Ni right up to the Croc and blaze away. The Chi-Nu survives a bit better but costs more and I'd prefer 3 Ho-Ni to 2 Chi-Nu as 2 Chi-Nu would not be enough to kill 1 Croc unless you get very lucky. Beyond that the Japanese can't lay a glove on the Croc.

Of course if you buy 3 Ho-Ni and the opponent trades in that Croc and Archer for 3 Stewarts and some good infantry you may as well just surrender.

[Qmark]

Now we have started a Japan v. UK/Canada series.As another crazy idea, try France vs. Hungary sometime.

[CommanderlessMosinNagant]

It's a good question, as playing on a fair basis with the Japanese without reverting to scenarios is difficult indeed. The problem arises that the Japanese have two, and only two, very good units (i.e., SNLF Fanatics and HBH) and no ability to deal with heavy armor. Of course, everyone knows this and the builds which players assemble on a competitive basis would capitalize on this knowledge. That said, here are a couple of fairly "open" formats to consider, which should give the Japanese vs. others a good chance to play relatively fairly. (IMO, scenarios have set pieces and nearly set objectives.)

1. Pacific Theatre, 1942
Restrictions:
* Japanese vs. US only
* 1942 year limit
Pros and Cons:
+ keeps the Russians out of the game
+ removes heavy armor and most anti-infantry AVs for the allies
+ removes SEPTs for the allies, but keeps the SNLF Paratroopers
- removes the Chi Nu and the Shiden Kai for the Japanese
- 81mm mortar and rangers are still available to the Americans
2. Burma Road, 1942-3
Restrictions:
* Japanese vs. Chinese plus US/UK support (vehicles/guns/commanders)
* 1942 year limit; or
* 1943 which brings in the M16 halftrack/Quad 50/Archer/Greyhound
Pros and Cons:
+ keeps the Russians out the game
+ removes heavy armor and most anti-infantry AVs for the allies
+ removes SEPTs for the allies, but keeps the SNLF Paratroopers
+ removes 81mm mortar and rangers!
+ allied support can make the Chinese infantry force respectable
- removes the Chi Nu and the Shiden Kai for the Japanese

In addition to these suggestions, one could increase the unit limit; but that would heavily favor the use of infantry and the game may revert to a battle decided mostly by mortars. Jungles maps help the Japanese, but it's very limiting in terms of game play and may favor the Japanese too much. (UK players tend to show up with Gurkhas, backed by BREN gunners and Crocs to counter.)

[malcolm_river]

For the Japanese, I'd go semi historical.

The japanese were known for using heavily fortified locations, so bring 5 or more pillboxes to the game, plus a few points of Barbed Wire to cut off certain avenues of advancement.

[Rognar65]

Round 2: New rule, no armor over 5/5

UK/Canada
Cromwell IV
Eagle-Eyed NCO
40mm Bofors L60 (x2)
Hawker Typhoon
Entrenched ATG
Gurkha Riflemen (x2)
SMLE No.4 Rifle (x2)
Intrepid Hero
Vickers MG

Japan
Shiden-Kai (x2)
Ho-Ni
Chi-Ra
Imperial Sergeant (x2)
Arisaka Rifles (x5)
SNLF Fanatics (x2)
Honor-Bound Hero

Much closer match this time. Although I did win, I lost both Bofors, the NCO, both Gurkhas, the Vickers and the ATG, and it required a pretty hot dice hand to manage it. I fear this series is going to be close.

[Predator666]

Take the croc out or drop the AT guns and switch em with another Ho-Ni. Then you have to be careful and swarm the croc with the ho-ni's. Also drop at least one plane and fill in with some cheaper infantry units.