200 point Japanese Anti-USS Missouri Fleet

Captain_Arrr · 200 point Japanese Anti-USS Missouri Fleet

I got stomped twice by the USS Missouri and I intend to do something about it! My friend tends to use the Missouri with potentially the USS Atlanta and at least one unit of Hellcats. With the subpar air units of the Japanese, an air strike is out.

So I will attack from the surface and the depths. This fleet is designed to deny the US fleet's strengths and attack the 73 point monstrosity!

I have my sub task force that will contain two I-19s and two I-26s designed to attack from under the waves. He tends to bring little anti-sub warfare so I am pretty sure these boats will be molested very little. They will arrange in a line between the fleets and will use their long range torpedoes to attack the Missouri ASAP! I might engage the infiltrator ability of the I-26s, but I have not heard favorable reviews of this ability.

I will have one surface group be the Musashi with an Akitsuki. The Mushashi will engage the Missouri when she's lost a hull point or two. I may also use her to rush in right away. But my plan with her is to finish off the Missouri and take out anything else smaller. The Akitsuki will provide air cover.

The next group will be 4 units of Zekes. Their only job will be air defense. It'll probably be suicide, but I have to try and make sure those bombers and Torp. bombers don't get to the rest of my fleet, especially the subs. Plus I will need them to protect the Emilies. A carrier would be just a point drain and a huge target. I plan on sending all fighters out on the first turn to take advantage of the Surprise ability. Then on subsequent turns sending out only two at a time.

Group 3 will be 2 Isokazes. They are there purely to use their Long Lance Torps to attack anything they can, but hopefully the Missouri. They will also engage any enemy subs if needed, but I hope for the Emilies to do that.

Finally I will have 2 Emily Floatplanes. Their only missions will be to attack enemy subs or smaller targets of opportunity. I chose them because they are tough enough to maybe survive AA and fighter attacks thanks to their defensive armament. As well as having variable armaments to take care of many smaller targets. They're cheaper than Kates, better all around than Vals and Judys, and more durable than the Bettys.

4 Zekes
2 Emilies
Musashi
Akitsuki
2 Isokaze
2 I-19
2 I-26

acs0424

hm, something to counter those subs is a 24 point trick i use. avenger with st.lo. expert asw allows the avenger to roll 5 asw dice.

IJN Fuso

If you're opponant brings Mizzou and little ASW, your build should do the trick. The subs, if nothing else provide a great distraction, and with the ability to shoot at Range 3, should cause those Avengers to stay away from your surface fleet.

4 Zekes for Air cover - good. You're looking to abort a few Avengers along the way - buying time for your subs to do thier thing.

The I-26 on a center row, is a nice way to attack any carriers he brings. If you do not intend to use Inflitrator (and placing on the center row) then consider I-19s instead. You'll save 6 points - which is another Zeke.

The only question I have is why 2 Emilys? What are these going to do? ASW? Try this instead: 2 more Akits. Now you have 2 Akit/ Iso groups. These provide additional Mizzou busting power with thier LLs.

Something else to consider - how about adding a Shoho and Akit instead of 2 Akits? Shoho is cheap at 9 and it provides a Zeke boost. It also just might provide an additional distraction for your opponant's air. If he's attacking a Shoho - he's not attacking subs or Mu. Which buys time again

This fleet will need as many torp rolls as you can get, so buying time is a good thing. If he ignores your Shoho group, you just might be able to steal an objective with it.

___________________________

Playing Japan - I've had great luck with LL swarm builds. Consider this:

2X Yahagi - 28
2X Iso - 22
5X Akit - 50
2X Shoho - 18
4X Zeke - 24
3X I-19 - 36
Nachi - 19

200 total. Keep your LL cruisers at Range 5 or Range 3, or Range 1. Your DDs at Range 3 or Range 1 to maximize LLs into your enemy BB. You'll get +4 init - which means your entire fleet will be able to get into optimal torp range. You'll lose DDs every turn. But it only takes 3 LLs to sink any battleship - even the Mighty Mo. You'll force him to engage because if he does not, you take the objectives.

jfkziegler

I definitely agree that trading out the I-26's for I-19's is a good idea, since it will get you another Zeke. Avengers could ruin your day very quickly, and you want as much air defense as possible.

Captain_Arrr

Thanks for the advice.

Unfortunately I have no more Akits. or I-19s to do any of your ideas. I do know know he has only one unit of Avengers, he usually brings devastators and 2 Wildcats and 2 Hellcats, so I think the subs will be safe.

The Emilys will basically attack targets other than the Mo and subs. I chose the Emilies because they were cheap enough, could go out every turn, and are the least likely to be taken out by the Hellcats as opposed to a Kate unit.

The only problem I see with a shoho is that two fighter units strafing can sink it in turn 1. I Have never been impressed with the Shoho at all. i could understand it being a distraction, it it could at least stay afloat a turn.

Okie

I'd try:
Mushashi - 66
shoho - 9
2 x Isokaze - 22
4 x I19 - 52
2 x Emily - 20
5 x Zeke - 30
Total = 199 pt's

Good surface guns, Mushashi, Lot's of torp's, Good ASW, 3 Zeke's for air cover each turn, 1 being an expert. I think a pretty good fleet!

Okie

The US counter:
Iowa - 68
Princeton - 16
2 x Fletcher - 14
4 x Barb - 48
Avenger - 14
Dauntless - 13
2 x Hellcat - 20
Wildcat - 7
Total = 200 pt's

IJN Fuso

Commissar_JPH

There are 7 I-19s for $0.35 at miniature market right now.

There are also 15 Akitsukis for $1.25 at miniature market right now.