Italy Strategy

Yeah, the Allied strategy is hard to prescribe as the Axis decide the direction the game goes, best way is to just get some games under the belt. I have some sugestions, based on the few games I’ve played, which are hopefully are easy to follow. I’m not very experienced though, so these tips may be sub-optimal.

Russia:
1 Avoid losing units, focus on gradually pulling back and defending Moscow.
2 Build defensively (infantry, maybe mechanised infantry in Leningrad so they can get back to Moscow when needed).
3 Pull infantry back from the far east and try to keep Moscow until they arrive.

US:
1 Put most of your IPCs into the Europe side.
2 Get transports shuttling troops across to Morocco and have enough navy to protect them. Push the Italians out of North Africa.
3 Threaten landings on mainland Europe to force Germany to spend defensively and ease the pressure on Russia.

China:
1 Be careful of leaving units in range of Japan’s air units, and be sure to protect your one fighter.
2 Take out any Japanese land units you reasonably can, they are hard for Japan to replace initially, but focus on staying alive for as long as you can.

UK:
1 Try to deny Italy income. Attack Italy’s African territories where reasonable (e.g. Ethiopia), and stop it from getting objectives.
2 Concentrate whatever navy remains after German and Japanese attacks, try to get control of the Atlantic and Med to help move troops.
3 Keep hold of key territories (e.g. Egypt and India) and if you push out from these be wary of being outflanked by transports and losing them.

ANZAC:
1 Your income is limited, if possible grab an objective or one of the Dutch East Indies to boost it.
2 If Japan comes after you early then defend as long as you can as it keeps their ships and planes out of position.
3 Otherwise annoy them as much as possible, keep grabbing Dutch East Indies islands and forcing them to invest units in takling them back.

France:
1 Stay out of the way and enjoy the ride!

If you are playing a VC game then keep an eye on the VC count, if Moscow falls make sure to hold Egypt, if India falls make sure to hold Sydney and Hawaii.

@AxisandAlliesGeneral:

then when the time comes that they are bordering Moscow, launch your massive counterattack with infantry, mechs, tanks, and aircraft, destroying them and losing only infantry. Then, once the critical European battle has been won, buy mechs and tanks and retake your territories.

Umm, this is rarely possible.

Although I tend to agree with your point about focusing mostly on the Europe side as USA.

@variance:

I remember a game where soulblighter suprised me by making a mad rush on Egypt with luftwaffe supporting Italy.  On G1 he took South France, G2 he built 3 carriers, G4 the fleet moved to Egypt, G5 they were out into the Indian Ocean, and from there he just pushed me back to Hawaii and then Japan got India and Hawaii. It was well timed and creative.

Well, there are 3 Top level German plans to start the war.

#1 Go all in on Sea Lion, you are invading.
#2 Set up for a G2 or G3 Russian Invasion, this would include a sea lion fake.
#3 Go all in on the Med. This would include Germany taking the S. France factory or Building one in Greece or Yugo. This usually means a G4 invasion of Russia.

Option #3 does not get much “play” because it is a slow play plan of attack. Most Germany strategies revolve around a quick strike at Russia and knocking them out before G8.

Option #3 is the most optimal plan of attack IF you are going for a Axis victory in the long term, Turn 10-14. Germany sweeps into the middle east, forms a navy to support the invasion of India, collects around 25+ IPC in NO’s in the middle east and Cacuss and crush Moscow from the south.

There is big upside also to option #3. That means Italy gets full support from Germany and usually will get all its NO’s also and be pumping out 25+ IPC a turn themselves. A very strong italy coupled with a crushing Germany economy never leads to bad things for the Axis powers and usually a Turn 8-10 concession speech from Chamberland.

it would be interesting to see how the famous UK Middle Earth plan of attack works out with a strong Italy and a full effort from Germany pushing in the Middle East.

@SS:

:cry: KISS  :cry:

Said otherwise, to lose IPCs in Convoy Disruption Phase, the enemy need to capture one of your originaly held valueless Islands AND put in the surrounding SZ a single submarine (-2 IPCs) or warship (-1 IPC).
Those penalties cannot be cumulative, even if there is more units in SZ, it is either -2 IPCs or -1 IPC, no more no less.

For instance, once Guam taken by Japan and having as many IJN Subs as you want in the surrounding SZ of Guam, it will cost 2 IPCs to US until all IJN Subs move elsewhere or are sunk by Allies.

A different NO, simpler but probably costlier to original owners, based on my suggestion made earlier:
All valueless Island groups controled by at least one stationed unit (Ground, Air, operational Air Base or Naval Base) gives 2 IPCs.
But cost 1 IPC to any original ex-owner, this penalty applied during Convoy Disruption Phase of this ex-owner.
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=34839.msg1355089#msg1355089

You’re welcome. I hope it helps!

That is exactly why I attack the Canadian tran/dest asw ell/ Summed up nice Jimmyhat.

Oh, and the cruiser is left in SZ 97, so if you also drop Inf.Arm in Greece, the Italians don’t have the power to kill them!

I think Anzac should take a clear mission for itself. My last game I assigned to Anzac the occupation and defence of the DEI money islands. These are worth 16 IPC to the allies and even 20 IPC to Japan. I just occupy these islands with just enough infantry to make it difficult for Japan to take them without making a sizeable investment.

Even if Japan makes this investment you have succeeded: Japan is not investing that IPC in China/India!

If JP leaves the islands alone, Anzac can build a fleet to support the US!