Posts made by Afrikakorps

@Cow:

Fastest I have won with Japan is turn 6. Round 8 is typical if USA ignores the Pacific.

So the only way to win as Allies is KJF is what you say?

Russian attack force Finkand R2 will be:

1 tactical
2 fighters
3 tanks
1 artillery
11 infantry

Yes Germany can counter reinforcing Finland with airforce, but my experience is Germany luftwaffe is active around the med in G2.

The other option is a R3 attack of finland, building 3 art in R1. Then its
16 infantry, 1 mech, 4 artillery, 4 tanks, 2 fighters, 1 tactical

Actually R3 is wiser I think, do you agree?

Actually it is a KIF strategy, as Italy will be taken out first. I fully agree with your statememt that Italy can become a strong power. However it is also the easiest to take out, sorry for not highlighting this earlier.

Ofcourse UK will play an important part in this, and the UK focus remains the Med, but gaining control of the med is not too difficult, especially because I will send the pacific fleet of the USA to the med. Against Japan that fleet is nothing, against Italy/Germany it a largish fleet that will dominate the med, it can be at Gibraltar the moment the Axis declare war. Ofcourse several blockers remain against Japan and 1 transport that will keep reinforcing Hawaii.

Also those USA bombers can help out when somehow the Axis has maintained a fleet in the med, as I experienced that there is not much more effective as destroying smallish Axis fleets as bombers.

The USA fleet in the med will ofcourse first destroy enemy fleets. Then it will convoy Italy to death, when possible (they have 2-3 transports) even take Rome as they will be supported by 15-20 bombers. Don’t forgot UK will also having an income of 35 IPC.

A nice mission of the USA transports is to pick a Russian tank + mech that just captured somaliland and libya in R5 and bring them to Sardinia + Sicily in R7

By starving Italy so decisive this leaves Germany with 3 choices
1. Try to help Italy, which helps Russia
2. Ignore the situation and go for Russia only, Rome will soon fall and Paris liberated
3. Try to do both, more likely making mistakes and spreading its power

So this is what it will like turn 4-6
Med: USA and UK fleet infested
Scandinavia: Russian land troops, several British fighters
London: 15-20 USA bombers

About Russia becoming equal of Germany
37 starting IPC, assuming DOW2
Iraq = 5 IPC - R3
NO = 5 IPC - R2
Scandinavia = 11 IPC - R3
Somaliland + Libya = 7 IPC - R5
Sicily + Sardinia = 6 IPC - R7

58 IPC at R3.

Ofcourse Germany will have taken several countries, my plan is to lure him to the South (by underdeploying) as that is where the money is for him, while I will be able to hold Leningrad. However the Southen route is also the slowest for Germany that buys me some time and with the big income can build a counter-force from Moscow which will defeat or stall him before getting to Caucasus.

Germany without Scandinavia is only 44 IPC (+ balkans), maybe + 10 from Russian territories in G3 but I doubt it. Then USA bombers start pouring in bombing industrial complexes lowering Germany income another 10.

Big Russia, big Russia, healthy UK against 30-40 Germany. It will be too much for him. Russia will start to overproduce Germany and counter-attack. This is the point USA shift focus to Japan.

Actually it is KGF, so USA, UK and USSR will play extremely aggressive against Germany focusing to take Scandinavia as soon as possible.

In the pacific the Allies make sure they don’t lose by giving Japan headaches annoying and counter-attacking everywhere it does not expand to. Yes I will lose some places but it will not be enough for Japan to win the game on time.

Scandinavia is balancing point between Germany and Russia. As soon Russia gets it (because massive USA bombers + UK aid and combine this with Iraq and Africa profits they well be able take on Germany.

Main point is not to see Russia as the big victim but as the big potential that can get USA like incomes without even taking German countries (besides Scandinavia). Of all places, Scandinavia is most difficult to defend for Germany, especially whem USA bombers take out the baltic fleet.

Oke, it will be too easy for Japan to ignore and focus on India + money islands without consequences while the USSR is greatly weakened on the atlantic side. So not a good idea.

@larrymarx:

If I were the Japan player I would just go for Yunnan anyways. I think the only thing you can do to divert them is to actually stack Amur on R1. If the Japanese ignore that threat, you can actually punish them for it. If they crush Amur, they can’t crush Yunnan, especially if you keep reinforcing it.

With the Siberians crushed in J1, do you think this will be worth giving Yunnan another turn (more reinforcements) and the Allied efforts to build Fortress Yunnan will be game changing for the Pacific side? After all now Japan can take Siberian countries and focus 100% on Yunnan.

In my case I am positive the surprise factor in our live game will make it work, especially since the Axis enemy will be inexperienced. With TripleA it might not against the professionals ofcourse.

@larrymarx:

Let me throw down some numbers just for perspective.

Japan starts the game with:

11 fighters
8 tactical bombers
2 bombers

Your proposed force is:

12-14 infantry
1 mech
1 tank
7 fighters
2 tactical bombers

For this battle to be better than break even in TUV terms, Japan needs to bring 6-8 ground units depending on the number of infantry you have in your stack. There is a significant possibility that Japan will already have this force available on J2 (4 from Kiangsi and 4 from transports that send troops to Kwangsi).

I find it striking that an all-out Allied defense of Yunnan vs. an early Japanese thrust would be so evenly matched. Perhaps this was an intentional feature of the global 1940 setup?

In any case, I’m not so sure this is a good move. Let’s say that Japan “takes the bait” and crushes the stack on J2. They will lose half their air force, but they won’t really need it as much either now that China and UK pacific have the wind knocked out of them. Also, Russia has given up a turn of builds and then some considering the starting units that they have diverted, and America can’t rush to Calcutta’s aid.

As the Axis, I would immediately change my delayed war strategy and focus my efforts on Southern China and Calcutta over on the Pacific side and on Russia over in Europe. I would be happy with this outcome as the Axis.

OK so somehow we want to do a feign as Russia to let Japan not have its full capacity available against Fortress Yunnan in J2. What about sending the Russian fighter + tactical to Timgusta while the 18 Siberian group in Buryatia. This will make the Japanese player think I will reinforce the 18 Infantry with my aircraft to advance from the North, hopefully keeping some of his aircraft north. Then in my R2 those aircraft reinforce Yunnan, while the 18 Infantry stack Amur.

Instead of Yunnan the Red Tigers can also reinforce north when Japan does indeed get too much land troops next to Yunnan to make a difference?

@MEANWHILE:

@Afrikakorps:

@MEANWHILE:

How can Russia land in China while neutral?

They declared war on Japan in R1 by moving in 1 tank and 1 mech. infantry from Volgograd to Sikang.

Got it. In that case, Japan simply builds transports, moves back to the coast, and takes French IndoChina T1. T2, still ignoring Yunnan, Japan loads all transports and sends fleet+loaded transports to coast of FIC, taking units from Japan proper or the coast. The airforce also lands on FIC. For T2 Japan builds airbase+naval yard on FIC. T3, still ignoring Yunnan, Japan swings to Calcutta and the whole Yunnan gambit was an utter failure, even if the British used blockers since Japan will be there the turn after or after with the bombers it built T3 and the 10 factory on Calcutta will be bombed to the ground with no money to build.

In sum, your gambit can simply be ignored.�

No problem, actually India will be stronger than normal in this gambit, because it can get all its units back in time + build the normal infantry stack while this time it is reinforced by the Red Tigers. I don’t mind that China is ignored, I mind that I can make China spiral out of control very early.

UK1: Build 5 infantry, collect 26 IPC
UK2: Build 8 infantry, collect 10 IPC
UK3: Build 3 infantry, …

24 infantry, 1 artillery, 1 mech, infantry, 1 tank, 2 tactical bombers, 7 fighters, 3 AA guns, in India before J4. Can be more when Atlantic UK is also used as reinforcements.

@MEANWHILE:

How can Russia land in China while neutral?

They declared war on Japan in R1 by moving in 1 tank and 1 mech. infantry from Volgograd to Sikang.

First of all the Axis player I will face likes to keep the USA and USSR out of the war as long as possible to build up his forces and destroy the forces he is already at war with (China, UK). I am already a big fan of Russia involving himself with the Chinese front by keeping the Siberian forces north and send a mechanized team to help out Yunnan. I think this might be an interesting gambit / strategy against J1 and J4.

However I just got an idea, as the Russian airplanes can reach Yunnan in 1 turn. Yunnan is next to India the most important zone on the Pacific board, if China can keep it early by making it Fortress Yunnan, Japan is in trouble as China become a big headache. Yes Japan can ignore China and go for the Siberian route or through India, but lets just assume that it is much easier for Japan to just deal with China while also dealing with Russia and the UK.

There is nothing you can do about Japan taking out Yunnan in J1, as the Russian fighter and tactical will not change the odds much against 3 Infantry, 1 Artilery, 1 Fighter, 1 Tactical and 2 Bombers.

However you could surprise the Japanese player by going all in on Fortress Yunnan before J2. This will make taking Yunnan too costly for Japan and will either cripple Japan very early in the game or make China spiral out of control early in the game.

R1: build 3 fighters, move 1 tank + mech towards Yunnan, move the Leningrad fighter to Moscow
C1: retake Yunnan and reinforce with all your units + 4 infantry you build (now total of 10-12 infantry on Yunnan)
UK1: make unprovoked action, declaring war on Japan by reinforcing Yunnan with 2 infantry, 2 fighters, 1 tactical (now total of 12-14 infantry, 2 fighters, 1 tactical on Yunnan)
R2: move all aircraft + tank and mech to Yunnan (now total of 12-14 infantry, 1 mech. infantry, 1 tank, 2 tactical bombers, 7 fighters on Yunnan)

Japan has too few land troops available in J2, it might not have all its aircraft within range so soon because of the Russian 18 infantry stack is still there and can not handle Fortress Yunnan without losing most of its aircraft.

The Red Tigers (Russian Aircraft) can reinforce India when needed, or meet up with the large Russian stack north and wipe Japan out of the mainland. It is also fast enough to be back in the motherland Russia for the final battle, while in the meantime it gave Japan a lot of headaches!

For Russia this first turn investment in the Red Tigers means ofcourse 10 less infantry in R1. However lets look at it this way: if you can ensure Japan will not be able to reach Russia, you stopped the second front. Through all three possible routes, Siberia, China and India, those 5 fighters + 1 tactical will be of great value in addition to the infantry stacks. Russia is to Japan what German is to Russia, so why not abuse this? Those 10 infantry less will not make a difference against a determined Germany and at least you prevent yourself from being surrounded from all sides.

India has the support from the Red Tigers, there will need to be some calculation, but this might even be enough to stop a possible India crush from Japan?

Japan that loses the mainland has no chance of winning in the pacific, so is forced build up land forces or try go through Siberia or India, allowing the USA to focus on Germany.

Thats a lucky one for me! I played the Russian turn, likely an unconvential one, I did something stupid with the fighter I think haha. Only I don’t see how I can share it to you again for the Japanese turn… Its also late here so I will be likely trying again tomorrow night. Lets see if I can figure this TripleA thing out.

No scramble

No scramble

What an excellent report, you are a grear story teller!

About ignoring Russian forces in Scandinavia and go directly for Moscow. That still needs 5 turns at minimum, those northern Russian in the meantime force Germany to deal with them or they take back Leningrad. Scandinavia alone allows 4 infantry to be upgraded to 4 tanks. Combine this with fighters from UK and more extra income from Middle East + Italian zones.

About the Siberian troops retreating to Moscow, how can this ever be a good idea? You make sure there are 18 infantry not being part of the game for 6 turns?? Any Axis player would be declared insane for not using 18 infantry for the offense… In only 2 turns you build all them right in Moscow while those 18 do something usefull such as killing Japanese, saving you 6 IPC per turn by keeping the Japanese honest or make sure China gets enough time to remain annoying for Japan by playing cat and mouse in the North

Some ideas following Cows arguments. The moment the Axis started to dominate the game was when they started to be more aggressive, likely the Allied will start to dominate the game again when they start to be more aggressive.

An aggressive UK in the med is already common sense, why not a more aggressive USA, Russia and Pacafic?

Japan is strong with its enormous airforce, but it can not attack northern russia, southern china, the money island, india and caroline islands / hawaii at the same time, while the Allies can attack from all sides. Concentrated Japan can overpower any of them, but when the Allies are on the offensive from the start on Japan, it will have difficulty to expand somewhere without losing territory where is retreating.

Germany is much better defended, so that is why Allied landings are not that scary for Germany as it can both defend the West and advance on the East, generally winning the games for Axis.

It is a time clock, and while Axis has figured to make their time go faster and more efficient, the Allied are lagging with old ideas that USA needs convential landings to suport the Allies.

I disagree.

I think Germany has a lot of trouble fighting two fronts when USA negates these three things:

1. LOGISTICS
2. PRODUCTION
3. SAFE SPOTS

1. Logistics is killing the German fleets, making his expansion and inner reinforcemets much more difficult, USA from London excell in this
2. Production is bombing all important German factories so Germany will be losing lots of IPC and even halting builds at some places (20 damage on Germany).
3. Germany has many safe spots where it can land aircraft, USA bombers range negates this and forces lots of troops to make his Luftwaffe is defended, those troops are not attacking Russia next turn.

So I see lots of benefits for a USA that invests the first 4-5 turn in Bombers against Germany. After that, they are free to respond to the situation, most of the time this will be to support the Pacific.

Same for Russia. It can have conquered Scandinavia in R3, while all builds are focused on the defense of Moscow. When UK and USA are doing their job, Germany will have a very difficult war. The moment they reach Moscow might be the moment they lose Berlin…

For only 10 IPC force the USSR might have lots of extra IPC in the middle east + africa. Already in 2 turns Iraq it has paid for itself. I will also send 1 tank, 1 mech and 1 fighter to help out the Chinese, while all Siberian forces retreat first turn and then go on the offensive (or lure Japan ground troops in pursuit).

I think it is possible to overpower the Axis much earlier than the Allies are doing currently. The roles are simple

UK takes down Italy and takes all those countles opportunities, whittling down Axis small bits while making sure they defend their capitals well. ANZAC plays the same way, taking that money island or killing that lone sub etc.

USSR provides manpower, land troops, land troops and more land troops, so does China.

USA provides the expensive and heavy stuff, bombers, capital ships. Bonus for them is taking Rome.

In this way all the Allied forces play to their strengths, not their weaknesses. For example Russia can more easily get land troops against Japan / Germany, while aircraft is too expensive. So, logically, the USA has lots of difficulties getting land troops to Germany, so don’t bother, bring those Bombers instead.

So no USA is not 100% bombers, but it will be their focus in the first turns. Ofcourse some transports or subs etc. might be a good addition based on the gameplay.

Thank you for the game, I think Iraq is always a great deal, but a lone mech. infantry + tank might be sufficient for the extra Italian bonuses. I think it is a mistake to leave Italy in Ethiopia, so kill them with UK. Same for Tobruk. However Libya + Somaliland might be empty anyway so bonus. Then when USA is in med, use their transports to take Sardinia amd Sicily.

R3 = +5 IPC bonus per turn
R6 = +12 IPC bonus per turn
R8 = +18 IPC bonus per turn

For an allocation of 10 IPC USSR troops it is indeed just a sideshow, it should not dictate the UK besides leaving empty Italian zones. However it is a profitable sideshow so worth doing.

OK 20 bombers might be an overestimate, however I don’t think Russia ia helpless when Germany ignores the nothern troops that are concentrating to take over Scandinacia. The extra income gained from an aggressive Russia north and south might make defending Moscow a lot easier. What the USA bombers will achieve is dead German fleets, board control and low production output for Germany or other useful stuff.

No problem, around the time he reached Moscow the USA has 20 bombers that can either do a suicide run, stack Moscow that is now able to spam tanks instead of infantry. If Germany ignored the north and thus Leningrad a few USSR transports combined with those USA bombers + UK invasion fleet makes Berlin a possibility.

Within several weeks I will have another game, will try the strategy again, still think it has a lot of potential.

Russia delays Japan in the East while concentrates near Scandinavia.

Because USRR concentrates north Japan can not go all out on China, leading to their survival for several turns longer making the expansion of Japan slow and painfull.

USA builds bombers and send them to Scandinavia asap

USA bombers sink the German fleet and now the USRR can overpower Germany in Scandonavia letting it become rich enough to take Germany on 1 vs 1, because Germany lost Scandinavia early.