@Emperor:
What the navy can do that air support can’t is protect transports in SZ5 so you can easliy ship units, especially infantry\artillery from Germany to Karelia in 1 move. That’s the point Kevlar was making, and why I like a G1 naval build. +1 Kevlar.
I see what he is saying, and it is the best defense I have heard so far. I still don’t think it is an optimal build though. 22 IPC’s on non aggressive units on T1 that I am guessing could be dead by T2, if the Allies find it neccasary to destroy and Italy can still be destroyed by T3 If the allies want. So you shuttle out 2 extra units with a transport and lose a navy T2, while delaying the UK for 1 turn, and maybe the US for 1 turn on ship builds. Is that worth it?
Another question to ask yourself, can the UK just ignore this navy? All the UK needs is a fleet you can’t sink. It can still kind of ignore an admittidly annoying navy while still funneling troops to Scandinavia and Western Europe, if it has a navy you can’t sink. Is that money really best spent to funnel 2 extra units to russia?
Also, you could have built 2 fighters or a bomber and a fighter to help minimize the casualties when attacking karelia, and then land them there for defense, if you can hold it for a turn.
There may very well be opportunities later in the game to build a navy, but T1 just seems like a gambit and a half