Kelly Whiting,
Thank you for the report.
"I started my new game as the US - Emporer level. I'm on week 44, 1939.
I had no idea they started the game so far behind in everything except the Navy. Their bombers and fighters suck - bad. Their Dauntless torpedo bombers are far less effective then the Japanese Kates. Most of the country is empty of any defensive forces (though given the distances, the US Navy, and the Axis preoccupation with other enemies, that shouldn't be a serious problem). They have 6 real Infantry Divisions (they also have 2 very weak ones in the Philippines, but I don't really count them - they are lambs for the slaughter). Further, there are no barracks in the US and very few other improvements and no workers. I basically had to start from scratch. Which I did of course. Mostly focused on consolidating my fleets, gathering what I do have into the best defensive posture I can manage, and developing the continental US into a serious production center."
Kelly Whiting
Yes only the US Navy was strong September 1939.
"When the game opened, the Graf Spee was just off Puerto Rico. I staged several of the useless Bomber squadrons down there (bombardment of 8? come on) and started trying to bomb it. Over 2 turns I did no damage and had a squadron shot down by its flak (I was using 4 squadrons there). My Atlantic fleet, scattered uselessly along the Atlantic seaboard, slowly gathered off Miami. Once the Ranger got in Dauntless range, I added those 2 squadrons to my runs and then my luck changed (the Graf Spee had sunk 1 of my WW1 Destroyers that I had run down to keep an eye on it in the interim - then I strung several out as bait to keep it in range of my aircraft). My bombing runs that turn - both the land-based bombers and the 2 Dauntless squadrons from the Ranger - reduced it to 4 hit points - then I ran WW1 Destroyers at it until I finally got lucky and sank it - I think it sunk 8 or 9 of them before that happened."
Kelly Whiting
Frustrating, but realistic though.
"The Japanese took Guam last turn. Very irritating. I had 2 special fortress divisions there with a defense of 12 - they attacked with 2 infantry divisions (with an attack of 11) and BOTH WON. They should have at least eaten up 2 divisions of the Japanese before succumbing."
Kelly Whiting
Active play from Japan-AI.
That is positive.
"I staged all the rest of my bombers out to Hawaii and placed the WW1 DDs there in the harbor. I also shipped a couple more fighter squadrons out there and I am bringing 2 artillery brigades and an infantry division out to defend it. My 1 transport also has a marine division (my only 1) and 2 more infantry divisions in it and my Pacific fleet, minus subs which are scattered in 2 enormous cordons across the central and eastern Pacific as early warning scouts, will take them from Hawaii and try to take Kwajalein. I'm hoping to draw out the main Japanese fleet - especially the carriers - and take them out. My fleet has all 4 of my carriers and all 12 of my Pacific BBs. I've transferred almost all of my ground and air stuff to the west (I'm also sending the Ranger with some CAs and CLs through Panama to join the Pacific fleet). My first priority is to destroy the Japanese fleet and start chewing them up. Then I'll worry about Europe."
Kelly Whiting
In version 2.5 US Marines will only be autoproduced.
"In the Philippines, the Japanese have struck lightly. They sent in loads of DDs, CLs and submarines. My 10 WW1 DDs, 1 bomber and 5 subs managed to destroy, so far, 4 DDs, 8 submarines and 1 CL. But I note that there were 3 invasion forces at Guam with CAs, so I expect landings in the Philippines soon and I am down to only 2 DDs and my lone bomber left. I hesitate to rush build any Infantry there - I've pretty much dedicated the whole force to sell itself as dearly as possible and that's it - I'll come back later. The Brits ran some CLs up, then turned around and left without doing anything and the Dutch have lost a lot of subs, DDs and CLs fighting around the Philippines. I was hoping for better results from my allied fleets but right now its pretty ugly. The French lost several DDs too."
Kelly Whiting
It will be interesting to follow how Japan-AI will perform in this playtest.
"I've planted spies with Italy, Germany and Japan and I note the Japanese already have 118 Infantry divisions - no real movement on their other units. The Germans have increased their Pz IIIe's a bit, but their Pz IIs are depleted - and they are increasing the size of their 88s. I see no movement in China yet - and Germany has conquered Poland and European Netherlands, as well as 2 Belgian cities. The French are holding firm so far everywhere I can see. No other movement that I can tell anywhere else. I granted all of my allies all the resources I had available right out of the gate."
Kelly Whiting
Probably the 88s also will be autoproduction only in 2.5.
"I'm still in the consolidate, build improvements and land development phase. I haven't really started building any units yet. I am building a pair of Dauntless squadrons to put on the Enterprise and Yorktown (they have space for another squadron each) and I'm also building Buffalo fighters to replace the standard (i.e. useless) fighters on the Ranger, Saratoga and Lexington. Other than that, I'm building a couple of Infantry every now and then to start covering my cities. I'm irritated that the US can't build any kind of militia unit for garrison duty (the ability to construct National Guard units would be handy). I have to build main-line Infantry for that.
On tech - I'm aiming to build B-25s as fast as possible. I need decent bombers as fast as possible. I would also note that my people appear to be very fractious. My larger cities keep errupting in unrest. My total lack of garrisons - my small amount of luxuries (which, by the way, doesn't make any sense to me for the continental US - Rocoteh - you may wish to re-examine the US resources for the future). The problem is severe enough that I had to shift some money from tech to entertainment - further slowing my development"
Kelly Whiting
However (based on earlier US playtest reports) I think you will find
out that after a while US power will grow very fast.
Thank you for the report and welcome back.
Rocoteh