@Cmdr:
Yes, they can hit Archangelsk, W. Russia, Caucasus, Ukraine, Manchuria, China, Kwangtung and FIC at convenience.
However, on Russia 2, what territories do the Russians need their fighters to attack?
W. Russia and Ukraine most times.
OK. Let’s break this down by territory groups.
Kwang, and FIC: Russia won’t have any ground units to support fighter attacks here until R3, at least. Bad idea to attack with only fighters on R2.
Archangel: moving your fighters to Sink on R1 just to move them back to attack Arch on R2 is just wasteful. Might as well leave them in Russia or Caucasus in that case.
West Russia!: Russia usually stacks here. If germany has units in West Russia by G1 such that you have to use the fighters to counterattack them on R2, then the game is probably over already.
Caucasus: Russia usually leaves the AA here to prevent a German free SBR so if they took it on G1 your counterattack will involve only ground units unless you want to risk your fighters to AA shots. Another bad idea.
China, Manchuria: territories with merit. If you want to use them to attack China or Manchuria on R2 then they can only participate in the WR attack to be able to make it to Sink in non-combat which means on R1 you are limited to A) exposing an armor to help take Belo, B) attacking Ukraine with only 3 inf, 1 art, 3 arm and no fighter support, or C) attacking ONLY West Russia on R1. Any one of those gives Germany a bonus. And that doesn’t even take into account the fact that you also move an armor to Sink by R2.
Ukraine: another territory with merit. But that means that you have commit artillery and armor to take Belorussia or Karelia for 2 turns while your fighters are going to Sink and coming back which was my whole point.
@Cmdr:
Meanwhile, the Germans are still getting their ducks in a row to push on Russia and England can handle keeping Karelia liberated quite easily for a few rounds while America liberates Africa and Pressures the Japanese Fleets.
With the UK building an IC in India, how do you propose they keep Karelia liberated on UK1 or 2 without their underdefended fleet being crushed by a Germany air and/or baltic fleet attack? You can’t build a CV on UK1 if you build an IC in India so the UK fleet will be vastly outnumbered and outgunned on UK1 and UK2 meaning Russia will be responsible for Karelia and, with their fighters in Sink and unable to reach it for 2 turns, they are committed to using art or arm to trade it or leave it in German hands.
@Cmdr:
Point is, the argument that Russia is out of her fighters for 2 rounds is absurd. They aren’t even out of them for one turn! And they are safe, unlike parking them in Caucasus if you hit W. Russia/Belorussia. No way to make them safe in Caucasus then. Not 100% safe that is.
If you move the Russian fighter to Sink on R1, they can only hit WR on R1 and Ukraine on R2 when they return. That adds up to 2 turns you have to use ground units only to trade karelia and Belorussia while your fighters are going to Sink and back. And if you move them to Sink on R2, they can only hit Ukraine on R2 to be able to make it to Sink no matter where they are based at the end of R1 and only Ukraine on R3 on the way back. Again, 2 turns of only ground units able to reach Karelia and Belorussia. Plus, if you use your fighters to attack Manchuria on R2 they will be unavailable for anything but Ukraine for 3 turns. This is simple math and I thought that you had a degree in Mathematics. THAT’S the absurd part.
Unless you are willing to let Germany keep control of Karelia and Belorussia, Russia will be throwing away a ton of offensive ground units trading those territories while their fighters are screwing around in Asia. Best hope Japan does something stupid to make that a good strategy.
