Victorious IJA Lists

Yipe · **Yipe**

Howdy Everybody,

Would anyone care to share their winning Japanese army lists - either in actual play or theoretical potential? I'm specifically looking for 100 point armies, but any lists, critiques or advice would be appreciated.

Here's a bit of info about me and my group:

Though I've owned this game for over a year, I'm new to playing AAM and I'm looking for inspiration.

I only play the Japanese. More precisely, I only own the Japanese. I collected my army through the singles market and have yet to buy any booster packs. As of now, my IJA forces total around 500 points.

I prefer to play historical lists, but flavor is more important than total authenticity. My regular opponents are the US and the Soviets, though I occasionally battle against the Commonwealth too.

I own every Japanese unit except the following:

Azud Hind Fauj Infantrymen
Type 3 Chi-Nu
Type 89A Chi-Ro
Type 97 Te-Ke Tankette
Type 97 Anti-tank Rifle

For the sake of simplicity, my group plays according to the starter set rules (2 unit stacking limit, etc). We have experimented with the Airplane variants from the Expanded Rules, but don't use Overwatch, Enfilade, Single Nationality Bonuses or Platoon Formations.

My group generally uses year restrictions (1939 or 1942 so far), but I think this is done mostly for my benefit. My friends are good sports and build their lists in tandem with mine to keep things balanced. However, I'd to try my hand at a more competitive environment and see how the Japanese perform. This would also allow my opponents to use all of the miniatures from their collections.

We don't play with the revised cards or revised rules. Is this a mistake?

Here are two army lists I'm considering:

IJA TANK COMPANY (1942)
Type 87 Armored Car x2
Type 95 Ha-Go Tank x4
Type 97 Chi-Ha Tank x2
Type 1 Ho-Ni Tank x2

Total Units: 10
Total Points: 100

SNLF AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT COMPANY (1939)
SNLF Captain
SNLF Fanatic x2
SNFL Paratrooper x2
Type 92 Machine-gun Team x2
Type 89 Mortar x2
Type 87 Armored Car
Type 2 Ka-Mi Amphibious Tank x2
Mistubishi A6M Zero

Total Units: 13
Total Points: 100

I'll post samples of the armies I've played against a bit later.

Sincerely,

Yipe

Sharpe · **Sharpe**

Welcome to the boards.

It's very challenging to play the Japanese.

You might post a trade/buy thread in the marketplace. Some of the stuff you're missing is very cheap to obtain.
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acs0424 · **acs0424**

hey,
i have the antitank rifle (multiples) and the te-ke tankette (2) if youre intrerested.

as for jp armies i used a 300 point armored force usong:
5 armored cars
ha-go
chi-ha
zero x4

and others to defeat a 150 point american army!

well i can get you some of those missing units:
te-ke tankette x2
azad hind fauj x3
antitank rifle x8

let me know if youre interested by sending me a PM.
_________________
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Churchill
+45 on GTL

Yipe · **Yipe**

Thanks for the replies!

With regards to the Japanese units I'm missing, I have purposefully avoided buying them. I listed them only as a reference tool for what army lists I wouldn't be able to field.

I don't own the Chi-Nu and Chi-Ro because they are in the old scale, the Anti-tank gun because I just don't like the way it looks, and the Azud Hind Infantrymen because they are the same cost as Arisaka Riflemen but have inferior stats.

Not buying the Te-Ke was a tough call as I think it's a really neat little tank. I was praying that the revised cards would give it some kind of purpose in the game (such as a Recon SA to boost initiative or, well, anything useful), but that didn't happen. As it stands the Te-Ke is just worthless.

My question is: Am I really missing out by not having these units?

I would like to add the Chi-Nu at some point, but only in the new scale. Here's to holding out for a re-size! I know, I know...

Sincerely,

Yipe

Yipe · **Yipe**

Two quick follow-up questions:

@Sharpe
Is it really that bad for the Japanese? Should I stick with playing against year-restricted friendly lists or is there any hope for them in a more open, competitive environment?

@acs0424
I'm a little slow, so perhaps I'm missing something. To clarify - are you saying you took 300 pts of Japanese vs 150 pts of Americans and that's how you won? Thereby implying the IJA have zero hope in an even match-up against the US?

Wow. Based on these two responses things are not looking good for the Empire of the Rising Sun.

Sharpe · **Sharpe**

Yipe · **Yipe**

hey_yu · **hey_yu**

In general, Shermans are cost-effective and versatile tanks. Decent anti-tank values and exceptional against infantry.

Do you have an exact list and amount of figures of your Japanese collection to work from?
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James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

acs0424 · **acs0424**

Yipe - yes I took 300 points of japs against 150 points of americans.

The japs had to take hold of a town defended by the americans. With 12 paras dropping in first turn all hope was lost for the americans but they put up one helluva fight.

Hey_Yu is right, shermans can annhilate anything the japs can throw at them.

So I am basically saying that yes, the japs have little hope in the AAM world.

I also took a 200 point american motorised army (halftracks galor) against a mortar/sniper heavy army of japs with 4 zeros. I owned that game. 3 of the 4 zeros went down first turn and the japs had little hope of winning the whole game.

Japs VS americans, unless the Japs considerably out number the americans, the americans will win almost every time.
_________________
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Churchill
+45 on GTL

Yipe · **Yipe**

acs0424 · **acs0424**

Hm, with the fuel/ammo dump you could create a fast tank army of ha-gos and chi-has.

Or with all the obstacles and infantry you could maintain a solid defenseive line if your job was to defend the objective.
_________________
"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." - Churchill
+45 on GTL

Sharpe · **Sharpe**

No problem. It's a very nice place around here, though I've never belonged to any other fora to compare.

You're a pretty good player to beat that US force. It would be a tough match.

One of the problems is that when you're playing a Japanese opponent, you know to load up on the infantry killers. The Rising Sun is especially weak at medium range.
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hey_yu · **hey_yu**

Non-revised cards right? I think the Revised Cards are good because they improve the overall balance of the figures in the game. Granted some pieces may still be broke, cost-effective compared to other pieces, or even some worse. Some problems may occur when everyone doesn't have the latest and greatest cards. My LGS group has this issue. Some people don't have them or realize their is an update for a given card.

I'll see if I can whip a Japanese 100PT total with non-revised cards in the next couple of days with the figures you listed. Some others can comment to improve the draft or take a different route. I've played Japanese a few times. They suffer from a lack of a good tank (Except Chi-Nu with Revised Card) and their infantry are generally not good at medium ranges. However, with a Jungle (NA) map they can be a pain to play against with Banzai and Hand-to-Hand.
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James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Yipe · **Yipe**

hey_yu · **hey_yu**

Here is my initial cut at 100PT Imperial Japanese force using Advance Rules, Non-Revised Cards and your figures list. You might want to think about using the 05/26/2009 update. It lifts the unit restrictions, allowing more a troop swarm which could be good for the Japanese. Link provided below:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/aam/updates

[36PT] Type 97 Chi-Ha Tank x3
[18PT] Type 95 Ha-Go x2
[14PT] Type 92 Machine Gun Team x2
[8PT] Imperial Sniper
[7PT] Honor-Bound Hero
[6PT] SNLF Captain
[6PT] Arisaka Rifle x2
[5PT] SNLF Paratrooper
[100PT] - 13 Figures

Used the Chi-Ha and Ha-Go for dual purpose role as anti-tank and anti-soldier if needed. Feel free to update and modify as desire. Build still has issues against tanks depending on what your opponent brings. Maybe I'll revisit the build and make additional mods.
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James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Yipe · **Yipe**

Here's the 1942 Soviet list I played against three times, winning twice. Both wins were a clear victory for the Japanese, while the loss was a hard-fought battle. Go, go Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere!

Cossack Captain
Commissar x2
Mosin-Nagant 1891/30 x4
Degtyarev DP-27 x2
PPSh-41 SMG x2
82mm PN-37 Mortar
Red Army Fwd Observer
Zis-5 3 Ton Truck x2
T-34/76

Total Units: 16*
Total Points: 100

This is the 1942 IJA list I fielded against it:

SNLF Captain
SNLF Fanatics x2
SNLF Paratroopers x2
Type 89 Mortar
Type 92 Machine-Gun Team
Type 1 Ho-Ni Tank x2
Type 95 Ha Go Tank x2
Mitsubishi A6M Zero

Total Units: 12
Total Points: 100

*We allowed the extra unit as it made for some nice symmetry in the Soviet list.

Any thoughts or comments? Was the Soviet list fairly watered-down? Being new, it's hard for me to tell.

Sincerely,

Yipe

Yipe · **Yipe**

hey_yu · **hey_yu**

The Soviet list is a light on the tanks (Probably balanced for the Japanese). Not sure about the spotter in the truck with the Indirect-Fire unit though. Did your opponent have the spotter in the truck, followed by a spot for the mortar fire and move truck out of harms way?
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James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

hey_yu · **hey_yu**

Sharpe · **Sharpe**

I think the points for the Cossack Captain, trucks, mortar and observer could have been better spent. The key to beating the Japanese is lots and lots of shots, even average shots like 6 dice.
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