I agree with the shield and sword statement. It is my experience that Germany on its first turn should buy a transport for Italy and all men. Regroup your tanks and all your infantry into Eastern Europe and plan to take Karelia on turn 3 if possible. Turn 2 can work but can be costly. Germany should buy mostly all men on turn two and three as well and move them into Eastern Europr so as to overwhelm Russia and get ahead of their infantry total. Once Germany has more infantry than Russia attack Karelia with men and tanks only, save your planes. From Italy send two full transports every turn into Egypt and Trans Jordan until you secure the Suez and subsiquently Africa. Meanwhile Japan hits China, and India and then all out Russia, while still maintaining suppremacy in the Pacific by staying one step ahead of the US and as someone else mentioned take out as many US and UK ships as possible while not over commiting your fleet and only losing the cheap expendable replaceable pieces. An IC is a good idea if you are sure you can hold it: Manchuria is good to go after Russia, but can be reinforced by Japan transports anyway, FIC is safer but India is the best of both if you can capture and hold it, because it is two squares “a tank blitz” away from Caucauscus and Trans-Jordan and you can move fleet through the Suez if needed and assist Germany in conquering Africa as required. Not to mention taking precious money away from the UK. Japan would then purchase three tanks every round for India (or FIC) and keep that up until Russia falls. From India or FIC you can also launch a strike on Australia and New Zealand to further hurt UK. If UK buys an IC on India, Japan MUST capture it at all costs or UK will get the upper hand and its game over. If Germany and Japan hit fast and hard as a unit first at UK to bankrupt and “stall” them and get the valuable money they need and at US to “stall” them, then maintain that stall on both of them and go all out Russia so as to hit Moscow on the 5th or 6th turn from both sides, the Axis will have an IPC victory easily or if using victory cities (AA50 and new) or complete victory rules they will be on their way to world domination. :-)
Russian strategy, offensive tactics
-
Switch,
I agree Belorussia should be taken, it forces the GER player to consolidate/retreat. RUS opening has to be very limited and very lucky.
-
I am also a fan of the Belo attack because I think Russia needs to save all offensive pieces it can to with stand the germans. With a large West Russia stack and Inf and armor from R1 purchases you can put a huge dent in german offensive plans by taking Ukraine on R2. From there I would invest in mainly inf for a few turns to reinforce then slip the occasional ARM or ART to bolster your force for when the cavalry comes
-
Urkaine on R2 can probaly be taken with limited forces. If the GER makes a play in that area.
-
I understand why W Russia/ Belorussia makes sense.
To me the issue is one of choices and options, rather than IPC values etc. A successful attack against the Ukraine limits Germany’s opening choices. They have to kill the Russian armor in the Ukraine, so that’s one place they have to go. Only 5 German Fighters means that difficult choices need to be made regarding their usage.
For example- we’ve all seen the Sub/ 3 Ftr opening against the British Battleship result in both a Sub and Fighter being lost- a 4th Ftr usually means you only lose the Sub. Killing the Battleship in one round also means a 33% chance that you keep the sub. Nice to have that sub as Germany.
In Egypt- personally when I have 6 German Fighters one of them goes along with the Bomber to make sure the battle only lasts one round- otherwise the Brit Fighter will probably get to swing twice. The difference between having 1 Armor and 2 Armor in Egypt for Germany is huge. If you kill them in one turn you might even end up with an Inf left as well (50/50 chance in a 1 turn battle), which completely stops Britain from taking back Egypt on UK1, almost single-handedly ensuring that your economy ends up around 45-47 until the inevitable Allied cleansing of Africa.
Finally, if Germany has to go to the Ukraine, the northern thrust is weakened. IMO Germany going heavy in the north is much more deadly to Russia. The typical lone Russian in Belorussia is an easy kill, whereas 2-3 Russian Armor in the Ukraine needs around 3-4 Inf and one of your Fighters to get the job done.
A German Artillery and Armor are also nice to kill.
Yes a Ukraine attack weakens Russia’s offensive capabilities, but it does the same to Germany.
My final caveat is that I play the Axis with no bid. It’s a good challenge and a victory is more meaningful to me. The ability to add a German Infantry to either Libya or the Ukraine, along with a couple of extra IPCs to spend might change my thinking. As is I still think W Russia/ Belo is a smart opening- I just like the idea of crippling Germany in a more significant way right out of the gate.
-
Well said 88, I agree heartily that attacking Ukraine and WR is the way to go on R1. Losing that armor to the counter on G1 does hurt, but I think the loss of the German Fighter hurts him more.
Though it may not be totally smart, I’ll even hit Ukraine with an extra Inf from an Axis bid sitting there. Killing that fighter (plus the art and arm there) is that important to me.
-
A very sneaky way to achieve both preservation of armor and thinning of Germany’s, is to get sent into stunning retreat on an R2 attack on Ukraine (4 inf, 1 fig vs. 2 very stubborn German inf), and forgetting to transfer West Russian stack to defend Caucasus. Thus “tricking” your opponent into sending 3-4 armor blitzing G3 into Caucasus. In a current game this has left me as the Allies with more Soviet tanks than panzers, giving me a glimmer of hope before massed Japanese come knocking on Moscow’s gates :-o
Though if you try this brilliant strategy, I advise not having your UK bomber parked in Caucasus, kinda offsets any net IPC gain from killing German armor.
-
It’s ok, Bebo.
I understand what you are saying.
-
In our gaming group we usually only strafe ukraine and take west russia and belorussia. So that we really slow the meat wall from germany.
But taking ukraine is really good option, have anyone thought of taking norway too with russia? Attack norway with 3inf 1arm 1fig, attack ukraine with 3inf 1art 1arm 1fig and the must take w.russia. If these succeed making germany play their opening round with 4 fighters isn’t bad. But this is really taking chances…
-
The reward of attempting that much does not exceed the risk.
While it may be mathematically possibly to eliminate two German fighters on the first turn, the losses for the Russians will outweigh any gains.
-
And the losses would be massive…
Karelia would be bare. West Russia would have little in it, as would Ukraine (you have to take it to kill the FIG). And the Norway troops are out of position for defense of the Russia Front.A couple of amphibs, a couple of tanks and INF, some AF use…
Russia is left with their R1 build, and nothing else against Germany… That is a bleak Russian strat… Moscow about G3 or 4 anyone? -
i usually hit ukraine and w russia on r1, seems to be the best option, 1less fig for the germans can result in a weak germany if things dont go well on g1
-
have anyone thought of taking norway too with russia?
One reason not to attack is, like the others pointed out, it leave Russia very thin and out of position on the German front.
Another (personal) reason is that I believe it is most beneficial for UK to take Norway. It makes up for territory lost in other parts of the world so they can still pressure Germany fairly effectively. Also, they do not lose any units in the taking of the territory as Germany generally evacuates Norway, given the chance.
-
In one of my last games the Russian player took Norway on R1 and stretched himself thin enough that Germany was able to take Moscow alone while Japan messed with the U.S… I wouldn’t reccomend a Norway attack on R1. Leave it for the UK or US.
-
If Russia wants to go offensive… maximize the West Russia Stack, then start moving toward Berlin, reinforcing with ARM to the stack, securing the supply line and the rest of your front with INF.
You won;t make it to Berlin using that strat, but with some Allied pressure on the northern flank of your forward push, you can wreak havoc with Germany’s forces, and potentially castrate Germany of offensive units about the same time Russia is wiped out in their advance. Then the Allies better be poised to continue the push, or Germany is going to rebuild faster than Russia and be on Moscow’s doorstep in a couple of rounds…
-
I think that without allied support it is hard for Russia to be offensive. If the Japan and Germany players are on the same page then they are gunning for you. I agree with switch that the West Russia stack is Russia’s primary offensive weapon but without aid from the other allies they can’t defeat Germany or Japan. I suggest defending on the Japanese flank and picking your fights wisely on the German front until the UK and US fortify Karelia or attack Western Europe. No matter how offensive you want to be your primary focus has to be holding Moscow because 99% of the time the Axis will be coming from both sides.
Suggested Topics
