More troops in Egypt?

I seem to have reached some beginner’s conclusions on Egypt, so I’ll post them and find out whether I am on the right track.

In my limited experience even with the OOB starting set up a G1 capture of Egypt is unlikely. But a G2 capture is probable with a G Med purchase - such as carrier + 2 fighters (an idea I got from an earlier thread on this board from wittman).

Unless, that is, there is a UK1 investment in an Egyptian factory, plus probably the UK Indian Ocean fleet sailing up the Suez Canal, which means forgetting the raid on sz37. If the UK can build and defend that factory, the Allied position in the centre gains considerably. African ipcs are retained. It’s potentially a game changing ploy if it can be made to work.

I have managed to do this against triple a on hard AI without additional infantry. I have yet to play 42.2 as the Allies against a human (I said I was a beginner!) and expect the number of infantry to depend on the opponent. Playing another beginner I might even be happy with no additional infantry. Against wittman in my next forum game I’ll probably need a round dozen!

I voted for one infantry so as to put my money where my mouth is!

I like at least one there to completely deter a German player from taking a chance at it; it allows the UK fighter to be used else where immediately and potentially survive for later rounds. However, I’ve been starting to see some others make the point that 1 inf could change a lot in that region and that is somewhat of a shame. For a bid I’d favor Russian units or maybe even a DD for E.US. I just don’t want to loose that many Atlantic units from the outset. I still want to see the Allies win without a bid; I’m working on getting my group to lower our bid for the Allies, but let me not get too distracted from the original post or questions. How about 1 inf in East Africa? I know action occurred there in the earlier in the war around 1941, so it’s worth a thought.

@Private Panic, I was back pedaling against the hard AI on triple a at first, but eventually I made it pay for its weaknesses, which I feel are the Manchuria complex it likes to build on J1 and the fact that disregards any US take over of the cash islands. I’ll give it some credit since it likes to go after Moscow quickly and makes decent use of good tactics–choosing smart calculated battles and fair position of units/stacks.

To Frederick, I think a transport sacrifice could be interesting, if you’re willing to bring air into a fight instead of the battleship. It can draw off an enemy attack on the more valuable sea unit as the opponent usually calculates that its worth while to send a fighter or bomber against the easy target that presents no risk. This can be done in the med on the canal if you want to get risky in combat. I’d say 2 fighters would make it a safe play, if the Ukraine fighter survives to back up the Bulgarian one, but otherwise it’s kind of dicey sending a loaded transport and pining all your hopes on a 50/50 hit at a 3. Other places you can do a sacrifice move would be sz 14 gibraltar or sz 16 Russia, use fighters to cover the sz battle, and just keep the battleship in 15. The difficulty there is that with no transport capacity the battleship just sits around and can’t exploit the bombardment advantage, so I’d think 7 ipcs spent on G1 for another transport might keep the fight going. Or I suppose just give the battleship 1 round to float about as a distraction, and decide what to do with it on G2.

I took a long look at this.  We’ve played two games with 1942.2 so far.  I’ve been the Allies both times.  As the Brits, I’d certainly love to have more units in Africa at the start.  However, I voted for ‘as-is’ because I like the challenge.  I have to make a choice:  Use my Indian Ocean fleet to bring support from India (which means the token American/Russian force is much easier pickens) or do I try to build an IC in South Africa?  Even at only 2 units per turn, it could be enough to turn the tide and kick the Germans out, without pulling troops from India and that A.O.

Of course an IC in South Africa is going to cost initially, and at the expense of other interests.  But then, like I said, I like the challenge.
:-)

Does anyone try this bid instead of changing the opening battle?

Put a UK Industrial Complex on Union of South Africa at the start.

@Baron:

Does anyone try this bid instead of changing the opening battle?

Put a UK Industrial Complex on Union of South Africa at the start.

That’s a interesting one - think I’ll try it!

@Baron:

Does anyone try this bid instead of changing the opening battle?

Put a UK Industrial Complex on Union of South Africa at the start.

IDK, my concern is that the ability for troops to be placed in South Africa on GB1 would really neuter the Germans too much in having the opportunity to fight for Africa.  Being able to place troops there on GB1, along with America being able to land some troops on the west coast, along with possible troops from India (with only a temporary sacrifice against fighting the Japanese in southeast Asia) may be a little too much.  I could be wrong, but that’s my initial impression.

Making GB buy an IC on GB1 is safe enough for South Africa as neither Germany or Japan is in a position to get to it before GB2.  And thinking about it, even though the Russians could use the American fighter from China sitting in Moscow (or GB having it sit in India), a third (temporary) option would be making it all the way down to South Africa by A2 (I believe it will make it there by A2) for defense of the IC as well as for use with American troops on the west coast of Afica (assuming they’ve put some there).

@SEP:

@Baron:

Does anyone try this bid instead of changing the opening battle?

Put a UK Industrial Complex on Union of South Africa at the start.

IDK, my concern is that the ability for troops to be placed in South Africa on GB1 would really neuter the Germans too much in having the opportunity to fight for Africa.  Being able to place troops there on GB1, along with America being able to land some troops on the west coast, along with possible troops from India (with only a temporary sacrifice against fighting the Japanese in southeast Asia) may be a little too much.  I could be wrong, but that’s my initial impression.

Making GB buy an IC on GB1 is safe enough for South Africa as neither Germany or Japan is in a position to get to it before GB2.  And thinking about it, even though the Russians could use the American fighter from China sitting in Moscow (or GB having it sit in India), a third (temporary) option would be making it all the way down to South Africa by A2 (I believe it will make it there by A2) for defense of the IC as well as for use with American troops on the west coast of Afica (assuming they’ve put some there).

Probably true.

How about the Bid for Russia?  1 Bomber…  It does attack and allow for an additional replay in Egypt…

Not my idea.  Black Elk mentioned it as a valid startup.