Posts made by Afrikakorps

Good points. I want to take out the Money Islands + India + lock the burma road as soon as possible, the rest is less important. This gambit is too easily prevented by the Allies and is more likely to result in a swift break down of Japan, as I am especially afraid of #2.

I will not do Pearl Harbour.

I will first focus 100% on getting the money islands and India, then go for either Sydney or Honolulu.

J1: 3 Transports
J2: Minor, Air, Naval FIC
J3: (India Crush), 3 Mech + start building carriers to counter USA

Maybe keep 1 battleship, 2 destroyer and 2 fighters in Japan to counter an early strike now Hawaiian fleet is alive and USA likely more aggressive.

This reinforces the southern fleet with 2 full carriers, 1 cruiser and 1 submarine.

Then 2 infantry from Siam can take FIC, making the attack on Yunnan stronger with 1 infantry, giving me at least a counter attack with most of my planes and 2 infantry + 1 mech on Yunnan J2. When Yunnan is not retaken, I do not need an airbare there in J2 and could build my #4 carrier in Japan.

Thanks again for another round of excellent and interesting feedback!

As you might have figured so far, I am more like Jorgen Bent Larsen, preferring onorthodox strategies based on surprise and deception. Ofcourse it really helps that my group only plays a game twice a year and now after two years I am Axis again (while both allies will play their nations for the first time in 2 again). I am also the only one that studies this forum inside out as his hobby. This makes my playstyle ofcourse more suitable than hardened TripleA veterans. There is therefore reason to believe they might act as I expect them to act. I do really not mind if I win with a Fool’s Mate the first time I use it, actually I would love it!

Nevertheless Argothair you are absolutely right it is important to be realistic, run battles with a battle calculator in advance and have a detailed plan in how I expect to have a certain amount of units somewhere (India battle). I have improved all my past strategies by sharing it on these forums as you pointed out the wrong assumptions and weak parts. So thats what I will do again.

Japan 1

J1 purchase:
• 3 Transport

Combat move:
SZ 26:
• 1 submarine (SZ 6)
• 2 destroyers (SZ 6)
• 2 fighters (SZ 6)
• 2 tactical bombers (SZ 6)

SZ 35:
• 1 Submarine (SZ 19)
• 1 Destroyer (SZ 19)
• 1 Cruiser (SZ 6)
• 1 Battleship (SZ 19)
• 2 Transports (1 Tank, 1 Artillery, 2 Infantry) – Japan, Okinawa

SZ 37:
• 1 Cruiser (SZ 20)
• 1 Bomber (Japan)
• 1 Fighter (Formosa)

SZ: 43 :
• 1 Transport (1 Artillery, 1 Infantry) (SZ 20)

Philippines
• 1 Tactical Bomber (SZ 35)
• 1 Fighter (SZ 35)
• 1 Tank (Japan)
• 1 Artillery (Japan)
• 2 Infantry (Japan)

Borneo
• 1 Infantry (Kiangsi)

Shan State
• 2 Infantry (Siam)

French Indo China
• 1 Infantry (Kwangsi)

Yunnan
• 1 Bomber (Japan)
• 1 Tactical Bomber (Kiangsu)
• 1 Fighter (Kiangsu)
• 1 Artillery (Kwangsi)
• 2 Infantry (Kwangsi)

Kwantung
• 2 Infantry (Kiangsi)
• 2 Tactical Bombers (Japan)
• 2 Fighters (Japan + Okinawa)

Hunnan
• 1 Infantry (Kiangsi)
• 2 Tactical Bombers (Manchuria)
• 2 Fighters (Manchuria)

Chahar
• 1 Infantry (Jehol)

Anhwe
• 1 Mechanized Infantry (Manchuria)
• 7 Infantry (Kiangsu, Shantung, Jehol)
• 3 Artillery (Kiangsu, Shantung, Jehol)

Noncombat move:
SZ42
• 1 Destroyer (from SZ33)

SZ35
• 1 Aircraft Carrier (from SZ33)

Jehol
• 1 AA, 1 Artillery, 2 Infantry (Manchuria)

SZ31
• 2 Aircraft Carriers
• 1 Battleship

Kwangsi
• Used air craft

SZ31
• 2 Fighters (from Korea + Japan) when needed

Placements:
• 3 Transports in SZ6

Income:

$41 Income
$4 Extra
= $45

Japan 2
Purchase new units

• 1 Naval Base in French Indo China
• 1 Destroyer
• 3 Transports

Combat Movement

Yunnan (if needed, otherwise target Malaya)
• 2 Infantry (Shan State)
• 1 Infantry (French Indo China)
• 1 Mechanized Infantry (Anhwe)
• 6 Tactical Bombers
• 6 Fighters (assuming 1 died against UK BB)
• 2 Bombers

Java (Battleship + Cruiser)
• 1 Tank (Philippines)
• 1 Infantry (Palau Islands)

Celebes
• 1 Artillery (Philippines)

Sumatra (Full Carrier + Destroyer)
• 1 Infantry (Borneo)
• 1 Artillery (Borneo)

Chinese Territories (Suiyuyan, Hopei, Kweichow, Hunan)
• 3 Artillery
• 8 Infantry

UK / ANZAC fleets when possible instead of guarding transports

Noncombat movement

SZ 30
• 2 Aircraft Carriers
• 1 Battleship

SZ 6
• 1 Cruiser (S35)

SZ36
• 3 Loaded Transports (Unload FIC)

Shan State
• All planes

Place new units

• Transport in SZ6
• Factory in French Indo China
• Naval Base in French Indo China

Collect Income

$56 Income
$5 Island Bonus
= $61

Japan 3
Purchase new units

Combat Movement

India (5 transports supported by 1 battleship, 1 carrier, 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer)
• 1 Tank (Sumatra)
• 5 Infantry (French Indo China, Sumatra, Java)
• 4 Artillery (French Indo China, Sumatra, Java)
• 6 Tactical Bombers (Shan State)
• 6 Fighters (Shan State)
• 2 Bombers (Shan State)

Likely UK Forces: 2 Fighters, 1 Tactical, 15 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 2 AA Guns
According to my battle calculations, that gives me 97.3% to win.

Hawaii (3 Transport, 1 Carrier, 1 Cruiser)
• 6 Infantry (Korea)
• 2 Fighters
• 2 Tactical Bombers

Chinese Territories (Kansu, Shensi, Szechwan, Yunnan)
• 3 Artillery
• 8 Infantry (minus casualties J2)

Noncombat movement

SZ 9
• 1 Destroyer (S6)

SZ 12
• 1 Battleship (S30)

SZ 11
• 1 Carrier (S30)

Shan State
• All planes

Place new units

Collect Income

$63 Income
$5 Island Bonus
$10 City Bonus
$ 9 UK Bonus
= $87

Quirky Turtle, very good to point this out! I will bring 1 cruiser to S6 in J2 + build a destroyer. I could keep 1 or 2 fighters in Japan that then fight in sea battle of Hawaii, depending on how much fighters there are stationed.

Another important observation is that USA only has its first turn to counter this sneak attack on Hawaii J3, 52 points in total. I hope ofcourse that he spends this on ships.

It can only work when the USA thinks it has to rebuild its fleet after J1 and because of its close distance, can attack or reinforce Hawaii in a single turn, which you negate by sacrificial blockers. The longer you wait the more difficult it is to pull it off I guess. Nevertheless it is something you can always keep in mind when the situation occurs you can do this trick. You need 1 ship at Japan and 2 ships at Caroline Islands to block Hawaii.

Even in later stages of the game, when you control India or Sydney, you can steal victory from an unaware USA player.

Thanks a lot for the feedback, after thinking about it I still like the 4 transport buy in J2 when Pearl Harbour has been attacked. I agree I will stretch myself to the maximum, making optimal use of the starting fleet the Japanese have.

Yet in South East Asia, you do not face much naval resistance:

UK: 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer
ANZAC: 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer

Japan: 1 battleship, 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer, 1 full carrier (assuming sub + destroyer died in philippines attack)

The USA fleet in SZ10 is already powerful and could start hunting your northern fleet directly, this is indeed a problem. Even if this is the case, you can move your fleet to caroline islands and send 3 fighters from Kwangsi (most of my planes will land there in J1) to the aircraft carriers so you have 3 more planes scrambling giving you the advantage. You have to discard this plan immediately however as you can not build transports in unprotected S6. If USA is aggressive, take the slow conservative approach while taking money islands asap.

I hope (and assume) my pearl harbour attack with german sub in atlantic and philippines invasion will influence the USA to be more defensive in the first two turns, building up his fleet (having lost 3/4 of his fleets in J1). This gives me breathing space to manoeuvre my fleet and have unprotected transports build in S6.

Fleet balance between Japan and USA after succesful J1:

USA: 1 battleship, 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer, 1 transport, carrier w/tac & ftr

Japan: 1 battleship, 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer, 2 carriers w/tac & ftr (assuming all fodder besides blocker died in pearl harbour)

Without the airbase, how can the air come to kill India?
Shan State. You take it with 2 infantry from Siam. My experience is that Allies find Malaya so essential you prefer defending that place. They also like to use its air for Iraq or other missions. In case they do wipe Shan State, retake it in J2 in favour of a money island. Securing Shan State the turn before you attack India is crucial. I do realize now that with continued focus of UK on taking Shan State you indeed face a problem for your planes to land.

How can we get 4 TT’s worth of troops without budgeting for those?
I take the 8 infantry I left in Korea for keeping the Russians honest. Northern china is then indeed undefended. It does mean I have 10 transports full of troops, this gives me the flexibility to go for India, Sydney or Honolu in proposed sneak attack.

When does this plan not work?

• USA is aggressive in its first turn or reinforces Hawaii
• Shan State is taken by the UK

Ofcourse an important aspect of this is surprise and forcing the Allies to play defensively. As USA (not one too experienced) on the board my enemy would likely first rebuild and then start to attack (when 3/4 of my fleet is wiped). Same for UK, Japan that is super aggressive would likely result in UK wanting to preserve Malaya and India, not attacking but turtling. Only when they indeed react defensively to my first turn, it can work.

A proactive and aggressive Allied from the start will make it much harder for Japan. Yet even when that happens, Japan is not doomed, it needs to change course from this plan, unite its fleet again (can be done in J3) and push through Sydney or India more slowly (but still within J5).

Do remember I can have 7 transports full of reinforcements in FIC J3 to fight the Chinese in this plan + the Money Islands in J2.

About atlantic help
Italy will indeed not be helpful, Germany however does not detract much from its normal course. Instead of attacking S106 with 2 subs, you now attack it with 1, the other to USA cruiser + transport. In case you get lucky, that sub killed 19 IPC + convoy cost to USA.

Hello there,

I got this insidious idea while working on my Japanese strategy. It is focused on a J3 India Crush combined with J3 Hawaii Attack, therefore stealing the victory in J4.

Germany and Italy can help Japan to attack the USA at atlantic map (G1 sub attacks cruiser + transport) and (I2 invades west indies with transport that took gibraltar)

J1: 3 Transports
J2: 4 Transports, Naval Base FIC
J3: Whatever you like
J4: You won

J1: Standard JDOW1 attack with Pearl Habour Attack, Chinese Moves, FIC, Philippines, Borneo, Kwantung, UK Battleship.

J2: Take rest of islands, move to India with transports and planes. Make sure you have 3 ships available that can block S9, 11 and 11 (this is crucial).

J3:
Crush India with all southern forces (5 transports + air)
Attack Hawaii with 4 transports + aircraft planes (4 total)
Move blockers to S9, 10 and 11 so USA fleet can not re-take Hawaii in 1 turn.

In case you captured India and Hawaii, you will win the game in J4

Rationale
The idea is that you do not allow the USA to slowly take control of the Pacific. After you did a pearl harbour attack in J1, combined with Philippines and possibly even G1 submarine attack, the USA desperately needs to rebuild its fleet. This gives you a head start, as the USA is likely not going to be aggressive and building transports, but aircraft carriers and other surface ships. It forces him to play defensively on which you can capitalize as Japan by using weakness of defence of Hawaii (4 transports + 4 planes can take it when not reinforced). The insidious part is that even while his fleet is likely stronger than your Japanese one after two rounds of building ships (and so his idea that Hawaii can be retaken and is therefore safe) you deny him that access by blocking his stronger fleet, capturing victory because of the rules (6 capital cities for 1 turn)

USA only gets to build two times, USA1: 52 and USA2: 65 to counter this sneaky surprise tactic.

USA can counter by reinforcing Hawaii from the start and by being very aggressive. 1 succesful G1 attack with submarine on his cruiser and transport in that sense could be very helpful attracting attention away from Hawaii.

Thoughts?

Hello all,My group played the submarine the following:

When there are no destroyers, submarines can submerge or try a sneak attack (hit at 2). When they do a sneak attack, they are not able to attack normally.

Therefore, in case at attacking a lone cruiser, it can try to kill it in 1 hit, while the cruiser can not shoot back. However, after this try, it can not attack again for a second hit. It exchanges its normal attack for a sneak attack.

Is this correct?

Or can a submarine that attack a cruiser first send its sneak attack (torpedo) and in case of miss, start its first round of combat (so another try) however now the cruiser can try to strike back?

I have indeed become convinced a standard overwhelming Axis opener (besides maybe Italy who is in a desperate state with not much to lose and lots to gain) is the best option as Arthur has been warning me for a long time. Fortitude is an important aspect of a good general, but luck can also conceal the skill of a general.

There is one moment in the game you can absolutely decide what happens and that is G1 and J1. To win (important) battles is to attack with overwhelming odds.

I also realized there is no way to attack that UK cruiser while sending two subs to S110. I would like the Bismarck to strafe S111 so the two subs are a must.

S111: 2 sub, 1 bb, 1 fighter, 1 tactical
S110: 2 sub, 3 fighters, 3 tacticals, 2 bomber
S106: 1 sub

My goal is helping Italy out by/while weakening the UK in the first three rounds while preparing for a succesful Barbarossa. Cruiser is indeed greater priority.

Good pointing out the weakness, I will add at least 1 sub to SZ110 and maybe divert a place? Still 2 subs to S106.

@weddingsinger:

I do love having a lot of bombers and a couple of subs available because it makes Gibraltor a difficult spot for the U.S./UK unless they over spend (then Japan can win)

Or use bombers to sink UK transports in Southern side of Suez Canal or even in the SZ next to Ethiopia (you have to land there, but to sink 2 transports?  totally worth losing 1 bomber)

And if you’ve still got lots of bombers after round 3, you can just use them to annihilate Russia or slip a few over to China and help Japan.

Yes I agree, upgrading your Luftwaffe from 2 to 7/8 bombers in G2 will add a lot of flexibility to your play I think, especially because all Allies need to take their firepower and range into account. Kill that small UK fleet, bomb Russia to hell, strike Egypt, prevent USA landings etc. That artillery buy G1 will add some nice body and punch to your Russian stack while still keeping Sea Lion open.

My new German buys will be

G1: 6 Artillery, 1 Sub (S125)
G2: 5 Bombers (G3 Egypt Raid)
G3: 8 Mech, 2 Tanks
G4+: Bomber Spam

Germany swarms the med and Egypt with its Luftwaffe while preparing a concentrated slow push for Moscow G6 by DOW3. Lack of second round fast movers will be compensated with extra bombers for punch.

@KGrimB:

G3 DOW Opener

G1 purchase:

• 6 artillery
• 2 infantry

Combat move:

SZ 111:

• 2 submarines (118 & 124)
• 1 fighter (norway)
• 1 tactical (western germany)
• 2 bomber (germany)

SZ 110:

• 2 submarines (103 & 108)
• 3 fighter (holland & western germany)
• 3 tactical (western germany & germany)
• 1 battleship (113)

SZ 106:

• 1 submarine (117)

France:

• 7 infantry (holland & western germany)
• 3 artillery (holland & western germany)
• 1 mech (western germany)
• 1 tactical (poland)
• 5 tank (holland & greater southern germany)

Normandy:

• 3 mech (western germany)
• 1 tank (holland)

Yugoslavia:

• 9 infantry (greater southern germany &  slovakia & romania)
• 2 artillery (greater southern germany)
• 3 tank (poland & slovakia & romania)
• 1 fighter (slovakia) –----------------------------> land in tobruk

Noncombat move:

Finland:
3 infantry (norway)

Bulgaria:
1 infantry (romania)

SZ 113:
1 cruiser (114)
1 transport (114)

Poland:
All units in Germany to Poland

Germany:
2 infantry (denmark) —> by transport

Planes to holland and western germany

Placements: all in Germany

Collect 70 IPCs

---

This opener:
Expands German income (taking Yugoslavia instead of strafing it)
Clears British Home fleet
Provides German opportunity to attack Greece
Provides additional defense in tobruk on UK1
Leaves Sea Lion open with a transport buy G2
Provides Italy with opportunities to grow their income with Southern France and does not divert Tank in Albania from heading East.

Italians can potentially take Alexandria on I1, reinforced by German air on G2, and capture Egypt I3 after a G3 airstrike.

The plan is a slow concentrated push using the infantry and artillery available early to stack Eastern Poland G3 and move to Bryansk on G5 for a G6 Moscow. Mech and Armor arriving from France and purchased on G2 and G3 can keep up with the stack.

A G2 purchase of 70 IPCs could look like:

• 5 tank (germany)
• 5 mech (germany)
• 1 fighter (western germany)
• 1 sub (112 or 113)
• 1 artillery (france)

The fighter buy replaces the fighter you send to Africa on G1 and I think it is important to buy aircraft and submarines with Germany to delay allied landings. The sub also disrupts the Russian NO for R3. The artillery in France can start a stack to counterattack any coastal landings.

I’ve had 3 wins against different players the past few weeks following this general plan. It becomes very dangerous for Russia to counterattack because you have a larger stack than them, more aircraft, Italian can-openers, and any Russian units that stay too far west can be cut off from having a chance to reinforce Moscow. The overwhelming ground force that you have will force the Russian player to retreat and reduces the number of small infantry casualties you would otherwise suffer. Your air force also has the flexibility to hit Egypt or assist in Russia as long as you buy 1 plane a turn to keep up with your expansion. You are still hitting Moscow G6.

Great opener!

@Tjoek:

@Afrikakorps:

Do you never scramble against G1 attacks? If there are 3 fighters scrambling, battleship + cruiser, is it not a risky battle without full commitment.

Generally speaking: no. That’s exactly why Germany needs to allocate enough forces to make it unattractive as well, unless you want them to, but that means Germany will lose valuable planes as well.

No 50/50 battles  :-D

However, when you manage to lure UK to scramble in G1 (losing some planes yourself but also killing UK fighters), did you not prevent a Taranto attack? Especially when you managed to kill the Gibraltar cruiser with two subs.

Yes perfect. Really interesting as Ethiopia is definately not such an important goal for UK in our games. I agree on Taranto, however do you never scramble against G1 attacks? If there are 3 fighters scrambling, battleship + cruiser, is it not a risky battle without full commitment.

@Elsass-Lorraine:

I do it, along with Taranto. No Tobruk. I usually try to bid an artillery in Sudan so I can take Persia with the Indian transport. I use the cruiser for bombard in Ethiopia as well.

At what point as UK, do you not do Taranto anymore?

@Arthur:

I started playing through the strategy with a relative standard UK move in the Med area:  a successful Taranto sunk the SZ97 fleet with the loss of a cruiser (about average).  Ethiopia also fell on UK1, with the help of a transport from India along with a cruiser bombard.  Net cost: 1 infantry.

Italy responded with the proposed I1 move, succeeding with a lucky Greece attack but failing badly in Yugo with the very weak amount of forces sent in there.  Tunisia fell with no casualties.  At the end of turn 1, Italy collected 7 PUs.  Convoy raids cost 5.  This leads them with too little money to buy that planned I2 factory in Greece.

By turn 2, I have the following Allied forces in Egypt: 7 inf + 1 mech + 3 art + tank + tac + 2 fighter + bomber

If Italy attacks on I2, there still will be 9 units left in Egypt.  Building an Allied airbase in Egypt also wrecks the plan.  Now on to Germany:  you will likely to have lost 4 planes during the first couple of rounds of attacks.  That leaves you with 9 German planes.  I also only see one transport that can reach Egypt on G3.  There is a good chance that you could take the territory IF you are willing to sacrifice your entire German air force to achieve the goal.

Delay the attack by another round and the Uk forces in Egypt will grow much bigger with additional fighters flown in and ground troops transported over.  You aren’t taking it unless you devote almost nothing into the Russia campaign.  I don’t think that is a wise plan since you also have to deal with America who can build mostly transports because Germany sacrificed too many planes.

Perhaps you can explore the details of building an aircraft carrier on G1, bringing it into the Med by G3, and then launching attacks of opportunity starting on G4.  If you can keep the Med clear, you get an Axis bonus, can deny UK a bonus, and prevent those pesky convoy raids against Rome.

I indeed start to like the aircraft carrier buy on G1. I think I will change the G1 buy to
G1: 1 Aircraft Carrier, 1 Bomber

I hope that it will give a strong Sea Lion signal to UK, building defensively, not scrambling and not doing taranto attack. However I will not place fighters on it, as they would be useless anyway against Morocco. Maybe this invites a UK1 attack on S112 (as also the wounded Bismarck is there), maybe the UK fleet gathers in S109. In G2 I can attack that fleet with my fleet + bombers (1 battleship, 1 cruiser, 1 carrier, 3 bombers) starting to convoy the UK while the bombers can still participate on a Egypt G3 strike and that transport still takes Morocco in G2.

To make the other attacks a bit safer, I will only get 1 fighter to Tobruk or Rome, likely Tobruk as the Carrier + destroyed Cruiser will likely influence the UK player to do not do Taranto.

This changes my attacks a bit
S110 = 1 sub, 3 fighters, 3 tactical bombers, 1 bomber
S111 = 1 sub, 1 battleship, 1 tactical, 1 fighter, 1 bomber
S106 = 1 sub
S91 = 2 subs

Italy
Greece (2 Infantry, Tank, Bomber, Fighter)
Alexandria (Tank, 1 Artillery, 3 Infantry)
Tunesia (1 Mech, 1 Artillery, 1 Infantry)
Gibraltar with 1 transport and destroyer (1 Tank, 1 Inf)
Yugo still with 2 Art and 2 Inf, after German strafe this should be enough
French with 1 Cruiser, 1 Fighter, 1 Sub

However with my Taranto fleet alive I have 2 transports, 1 Battleship, 2 Cruisers, 1 Destroyer and 1 Sub and lots of options.

The big benefit from the 2 subs attacking the Cruiser is that if the UK still did Taranto and has its fleet in S97, the surviving subs can act as fodder. Or it forces the UK destroyer to hunt them down and be in S91, where I also want to be in my G2.

Do you not take Iran or the Money Islands as UK? Do you usually combine it with Tobruk, or is Ethiopia the main attack? Is the rest of the fleet used for Taranto?

Arthur Harris Bomber brought this up, while my experience against the move is limited (my opponents have either not realized its potential or not preferred it).

Therefore my question, when and how do you do the the Ethiopian openers as the UK, which what other moves do you combine it, and do you also keep this in mind when making your first build?

Is there something the Axis can do to prevent the UK from destroying the forces in Ethiopia?

As germany I will indeed buy 5 more bombers in G2. Also no unprotected transport by Southern France. Maybe just the troops from Morocco in G2 to Egypt in G4 for the bonus while doing an airstrike only in G3.

Italy still takes gibraltar, alexandria and greece in I1. All other attacks are bonus but not a must. It can save it income, however it must build a minor factory in I2 to work as that allows invading Caucasus in I4.

G5 should collect 20 IPC with NO

• Sweden
• Egypt
• Leningrad
• Caucasus

I2 should collect 15 IPC with NO

• Gibraltar
• Northern Africa
• Med

My assumption is that in case Italy is unleashed and Egypt in Axis control, it does not matter how much planes Germany has lost, as both are so rich that they will be able to win against Russia.

I could send another sub to S111 instead of S106, however because of the strafe and the importance of killing the S106 destroyer + transport (as otherwise gibraltar might be reinforced I am not sure if it is worth it. I could also leave the cruiser of S91 alone for another hit on S110. However killing that cruiser might mean NO taranto. Also scrambling in S110 usually means, no taranto, especially when there are German fighters in Rome.

I can lose 1-2 planes in G1. However in a S110 trade and therefore stopping taranto I am able to trade, as I do not have to use those planes to mop up S97 in G2.

I could stall both Normany and Southern France for a turn and wait patiently for G4 to attack Egypt so that the atlantic ships (bismarck) can protect the transports. The normal fighters can not attack the transport, however that british bomber is indeed able to sink them before they arrive in Egypt.

London has 1 transport and 1 destroyer in the atlantic but I will have build bombers and the German fleet is still in the Atlantic at the start of G3.

The plan is based on the quote of a fellow Axis and Allies player

The best way to force your hand in Egypt as Germany is to land heavy air Tobruk first turn (atleast 2 fighters).  Build two bombers G1.

Italy moves into Alexandria I1 no issue, or obliterates the allies stationed there.

G2, Build all bombers again, and land ALL planes in Alexandria (or bombers in Rome).   You should have 12-14 planes in Alexandria and upwards of another 5 in West Germany.  Egypt cannot stop a G3 air blitz; and UK cannot counter the italians in Alexandria.  At best the british can run.  (which happens 3/4 times).  Bombers can be used against the Russians G2 during attack if necessary.

• If the british run, Italy walks into Egypt I2; Germany builds mech and continues terrorizing Russia.  Land enough German fighters in EGY to hold against british counter attack.

• If the British try to hold, Italy can strafe for a turn, or if it makes most sense - Germany alone pounds Egypt into dust G3.

The cherry on top - if you load a german infantry G2 into an Italian transport, it can land on a subsequent turn for the +5.

Yes - this manuever is expensive; and costs air power.   But it also costs the UK it’s traditional airpower arriving in Russia, and gives the Italians a huge boost.

If America does not intervene, Italy becomes a monster.  If America does intervene, Japan becomes a monster.

This is why I usually prefer to skip Taranto, and nuke Tobruk as allies now.

I could go for the strike on Egypt in G4 with 4 more bombers and the Atlantic fleet joining the amphibious assault if G3 is not a good idea.

G1: 2 bombers
G2: 5 bombers
G3: 4 bombers