Posts made by wilkinson1974

@djensen:

I’ve almost finished the new main website. Now I need some good new content.

Please nominate members that have posted good strategies for Axis & Allies Revised (2004) or somebody who would formulate a good stratgy for the main site.

If you want to nominate yourself, you can. If you want to send your nomination privately for yourself or another person, then please send my a private message via the board.

If you are nominated and do not wish to contribute, please indicate in this topic or send me a private message.

Our gaming circle has found an easy win strategy for the Allies in an infinite game(no VC- world domination).  It takes advantage of the destroyer bombardment strategy.  It works on two easy goals-  gain naval superiority in the Atlantic, and develop destroyer bombardment if you are the US.

If you are the US, you spend 10 IPCs every round until you develop destroyer bombardment.  The US should purchase 2 destroyers every round, and use the rest to build inf in L.A…  The second round, repeat the previous, moving the inf to West Canada.  Eventually, the US will develop the destroyer bombard, usually by round 3.  I have never played a game where it went beyond round 7.  The US should continue to buy 2 destroyers every round, and load the inf in West Canada.  Once the technology is achieved, start a small stream of inf into GB.  The US will only need the 2 trannies- one to put troops in GB from E. Canada, one to invade germany from GB.  Keep in mind, by round 7, the US should have at least 16 destroyers.  This means the US will be able to bombard (on average) 8 german units off the map by round 9.  They will be bombarding 10 units off in round 11, etc.  Since there is no risk to the US destroyers, this metric only builds.  If the US is worried about a Japanese invasion, they can build one DST every round after the 7th, and use the rest to stack infantry in the West.  The US will also have 25 inf on the ground by round 8 in Canada.  Japan won’t be able to mobilize fast enough after breaking Russia, to make a successful invasion of the US.  Eventually, the US will be bombarding untits off the map faster than both Germany and Japan can build them.

GB merely needs to get the German Navy out of the way, and not get invaded in the first 3 rounds(realtively easy goal for the UK).

I know this sounds weird, but it works in the infinite game always.

@yamamato456:

Am I missing something here?  What about bonzai charge=infantry that attack as well as they defend.  If infantry defend the best for how much money they cost, then infantry attacking just as well are the ATTACKING unit for there money.  A unit that is good at defending and attacking and is cannon fodder is a good unit.

The only downside to this advantage is the fact that no other unit type can be involved in the attack…  But let’s face it…  20 attacking infantry is quite formidable.  It makes bulldozing asia much easier.

@Vann:

Who do you think has the best National Advantages? Which one is the best for that country?

Have to go with the U.S. Superfortress….  If I am playing the US…  I also try to pick up heavy bombers.  Between the 2, you are reducing Germany’s IPC production buy 16 IPC’s(with 3 bombers) and Japan’s by 7(avg, one bomber) every round after the 4th…  with no risk to any of your units.  Makes a HUGE difference by rounds 6 and 7.

Nod…  with the 8 bid…  Does Germany have enough to take GB outright anyway?..  4 ground with 2 planes and a bomber…  would be close…  besides…  You could build 5 trannies and strafe GB in round one and sea lion outright in round 2…  instead of going after Egypt in round one…  You could bring the Med fleet east…  take out the BB and attack GB with 8 trannies in units…  plus 5 planes and a bomber…  risky…  A gimmick attack, but would be fun to try once for kicks.

Wilk

@trihero:

well lol if you’re using LHTR techs apply at the end of your turn so you can’t research LRA and then immediatley use their increased range to attack London.

Chuckle…

Give the Germans an 8 bid…  drop a tranny in the Baltic, burn all your IPCs getting long range aircraft…  Sea Lion out of the gate…  Use the Atlantic sub to block US from counter…  Game over 1st round  :-D

Wilk

@trihero:

See Wilk’s got the idea. The Axis is set up for more losses than wins because it’s too slow to take Russia.

Agreed

Germany can grap up and extra 5-7 IPCs for about 3-4 rounds in Africa.  Most Brit players will give up the 3IPCs in India to keep Germany from picking up 10 in Africa.  I have played 3 mock games using switch’s strategy of merging the fleets off of Algeria in round 1 after Germany took Egypt.  I had GB building trannies in round one, and pulling troops off of India and shoring up southern africa.  With the combined builds of GB and the US, Germany was never in a position to threaten that navy beyond round 2, or the navy built by the US stationed west of GB by round 3.  Yes, Japan had a cake walk in the south for a while, but I managed an organized retreat from tha Japanese on all fronts.  By the time Japan had enough forces massed to make it’s first attempt in round 7, Russia always had 25+ russian troops, 6 allied inf, 2 planes, and at least 4 other allied planes defending her.  Even though the Allies had to way till round 3 to make their push into Europe, Germany was in no position to help Japan by round 6, and was ripe to fall by no later than round 8.  Because the allies shored up Russia’s western front, Russia was collecting 7 inf worth on money every round.  With the fighters(and other cheap ground units) being thithed off by the US and GB, Russia could hold indefinitely after round 8.

This being said….  Germany would fall sooner(round 6 or 7) if they don’t pick up the extra coin for a while.  For the IPC expenditure, Africa is well worth the effort.  I have only seen the Axis win once without getting into Africa…  Russian player(me, first time playing Russia) didn’t stack properly on Japanese front…  Had the Japs knocking on Moscow’s door by end of round 4…  eeek.

Wilk

Wilk

@Octopus:

Overall, I believe it is worth while for Germany to make an attempt to take Africa.  The German Med fleet is in trouble to begin with so make the British use their units to attack the fleet after dumping off an infantry and artillery into Anglo-Egypt.  Force the UK to use their forces to keep Africa from falling into the German’s hands.

If Germany holds some of Africa, then there are less IPCs going into an invasion of Germany.  If the US or UK move to bail out Africa, then there are less units going to invade Germany.

Overall, the German effort is minimal and the Allied effort is significant.  This fits into my book as a “worthy” cause, but don’t get your hope up too high on taking over the entire continent.

@Trigger:

I don’t understand the people who use history for strategy. I mean, Japan lost. So that just about screws any history based plan for them.

The game is not entirely accurate on history for history’s sake…  From 1942-1944, the US aggregate production in military units nearly equalled that of Germany, Italy, and Japan combined(Our grandfather’s kicked a** on the battlefields and oceans, our grandmother’s kicked a** in the factories).  The Allies from 1942-1944 outspent the Axis better than 2-1.  How long do you think the Axis would last if the US were collecting 65IPCs per round, GB 35-40, and the Russians collecting 35 out of the gate?  The result would be the same as history.

Wilk

@ncscswitch:

An SZ12 US/UK fleet consolidation being one of those :-)

Hmmm…  4 trannies, 1BB, 1sub, and 1DD off the coast of algeria by G2… The most the Germans can bring to it if the fig dies in the Ukraine in R1, and a fig is left in SEU after the attack in Egypt(SZ15) on G1, and the sub lives killing the BB in the Med in G1…  Germans can at most bring…  4 figs, a bomber, and a sub…  Since the Russian sub would have first strike on German sub(DD negates German first strike)…  That battle is less than 50/50 for Germans…  With the UK building trannies on GB1, and the US building an AC and trannies in US1…  You could merge the fleets west of GB--  (if attack in G2 doesn’t happen) would be around 8 trannies(4uk, 4us), 2DD(us), BB(uk), AC(us), 2 planes(us), and a sub(rus) in a position to strike either Norway or WEU in force in round 3…  interesting…  I like it, Switch…

@ncscswitch:

As you mentioned, the India IC cannot be defended.  The BEST you can do (and this surrenders Africa to Germany) to defend it under normal ciurcumstances is 5 INF, 1 FIG, 1 AA.  Egypt’s forces are most likely gone after G1, so you have TJ INF, Persia INF, the India AC Fig, and the 3 starting INF.  Against that Japan can bring 2 INF (MAYBE 4 if UK failed to kill the Kwang tranny), 4 FIG’s and a Bomber.  It is a costly battle, but winnable.

Then Japan is building within tank range of Caucuses… so it IS a threat to Russia… a VERY strong threat.

Add in Germany gaining the 9 IPC’s in Africa, UK being down the 3 in India and the 2 for Persia and T-J, and you knock out UK’s income before they finish building fleet (especially with the expense of the IC from UK1), so Germany is facing greatly reduced amphib forces against their own territories OR sent to support Russia’s northern territories…

It is jsut a BAD move.

As the Axis, I LOVE an India IC.  As the Allies… it is almost universally fatal against a good player.

I have to agree with switch on this one…  I tinkered with a KJF strategy a short while back…  You can effectively slow down Japan for 2 rounds, but you can’t keep them from toppling India by round 4 at the latest.  Normally, Japan is more than able to drop a factory in Manchuria by round 4 as well…  This means that 12 tanks are now within striking distance of Moscow by round 7(plus whatever was shipped to Asia from the Island).  Keep in mind this is worst case scenario for Japan…     My recommendation is to build your stacks in Yakut in the first round, and back them off into Russia slowly keeping them out of striking distance of combined inf/tank/fig attacks.  You can even do the organized retreat idea with Russian, Brit, and US troops in the south(Yes…  give Japan India…  the IPC loss by Japan will be FAR less than the IPC loss for the Allies when Japan attacks India).  Japan’s suuply lines are long, and hard to effectively support.  Force Japan to spend its own IPCs putting factories on the ground.  Russia should be able to hold out till about round 8, which is enough time for the other allies to cripple(if not beat) Germany.  Russia falling in the same round(or even the round before) as Germany is a win for the Allies.  And, yes, our group plays for world domination in our games.

Wilk

@trihero:

A couple of issues:

1. The British navy is susceptible to being hit by 2 subs as well as about 3-4 fighters + 1bomber if they take Norway and have the Russian sub “block” the Baltic navy. Subs can sail through all naval units unless there’s a destroyer present. Therefore, the attack in SZ3 favors the Germans at no cost to their airforce unless you buy a navy.

2. You miss the second part of the equation which is the med fleet is going to Gibraltar on G1 so the fleets are linking on G2. The British can’t afford to try to take out the linked fleets on G2. 5 fighters + 1 bomber + 2 tran + 1 battleship loses 73% of the time against 2 fighter, 1 carrier, 3 subs, 1 battleship, 1 destroyer, and 2 transports.

That being said, there are still very easy counters to a German navy which is attempting to link, but none of the answers I like have to do with the UK spending so much money on carriers/fighters early on when you can have the US do it for you.

Let’s go back to my original post…  I said Egypt was attacked…  This means the German BB and tranny in the Med went east in G1.  It is impossible for them to link with the Baltic fleet in G2.  Also, go ahead and split that fleet…  My combat sim tells me that the chances of losing both subs is about 70%.  I’ll just attack the capital ships with the planes instead(97% chance of vicotry).  The subs(if they don’t die in the attack in SZ3 on G2-chances are they will) in GB3 are next.  Even if one of the subs survives, you splash the russian sub with a plane from SEU, and re-merge your fleet in SZ3, the subsequent counter(5 figs and a bomber against 1sub, AC, 2planes, DD, and tranny) attack is a 2-1 fight in favor of the allies.  If the Axis get lucky, the Americans finish off what’s left in US2.  Any way you look at it, I have have accomplished what I wanted to…  The Baltic fleet is gone by GB3.  Believe me, We have run into this scenario many times playing…  The Baltic fleet has never been able to survive past the 3rd round.  The reason we invest in the carrier is it prevents early invasion attempts by Britain and the US.

Wilk

Agreed.

You can’t let the Baltic fleet live past the second round…  Here is what normally happens in our games if the Germans place a substantial build in the Baltic on G1(usually a pair of trannies or an AC with planes landing from mainland).  The Brit player buys planes, as many as he can build.  He moves his fleet into SZ3…  Taking Norway if he can.  The Russians on R2 move their sub into SZ6.  This prevents the Germans from bringing the Baltic fleet with their planes to prematurely sink her majesty’s fleet.  Most of the time, in our games, the most the Germans can bring by air against the fleet in SZ3 is 3 planes and a bomber(2 planes on carrier, 1 fig from WEU, and bomber from Germany--  one would be lost to siniking of Brit Med BB in G1, one plane is in Libya from the assault on Egy in G1, and the last is in SEU from the attack on the Brit DD in the Med).  The odds in that fight are against the planes…  That being said…  Unless the German’s want to spend more costly IPCs on the Baltic fleet, the Brits will be able to bring at least a BB, 2 trannies, a bomber, and 4(possibly 5)figs against the AC, 2 figs, 2subs, DD, and tranny in the Baltic.  This is a 90% win for the allies, and the potential is there for the BB to live.  The Brits generally build an AC and a tranny in the second round to begin their replacement, and a pair of Trannies in GB3.  With the Baltic fleet out of the way, the Brits can start landing troops about anywhere(which the Americans would be doing in round 3).  If the Germans build navy in round 2, they are giving up precious time to make land grabs from the Russians.  In our games, the Russian player is aggressive in the first 1-2 rounds, then turtles up a bit when the Germans can start making a strong push in G3.  Unfortunately, the Germans won’t be in a position to make a really strong push if they spent 24-32 IPCs in the first 2 rounds on their Baltic fleet…  Just my thoughts.

Wilk

@88:

The two Transport purchase, if  NOT dealt with, allows Germany a great deal of flexibility in the north, especially if followed up with a Carrier on G2. As Tri said, the idea is not to take Britain, but to gain the initiative. From G2 on 6 Inf can be moved to Karelia, or take back Norway if in allied hands.

If Britain moves up to block, mutual annhilation of the UK fleet and German Baltic fleet (with 2 Transports added) on G2 is absolutely to German advantage, and here’s why-

According to Switch he would have purchased a Carrier and sub on UK1. Another Carrier would then be purchased on UK2. That’s 40 IPCs in material. I assume Transports would still have to be built to allow for ground troops to start helping to defend Russia. In the meantime Africa has had no British troops to start cleaning it up from the initial German invasion and move south. If the British pulled out of India to slow Germany down then Japan has no opposition, and Switch being our resident Japanese expert knows that soon you’ll have a GIGANTIC Japan. If the British try to slow down Japan in India, Germany with any competent play eventually makes it to S Africa, with Japan eventually smashing routinely into Egypt, Persia, and I E Africa. In the meantime Japan has, at their leisure, taken Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia. British economy is evaporating.

My point is… while Britain is spending precious IPCs resurrecting a fleet, and not placing any (or at the most minimal) boots on the ground while cranking up again, it’ll find itself making around 20 IPCs with almost no airforce. Germany has bought time.

I realize that I’m echoing much of what Tri said, but it’s because what he said was sound thought. I hope that I added the bigger picture of the ripple effects that it might have on the rest of the game.

That’s my opinion… but I might just be a silly idiot who makes bad moves.

@88:

Did I mention that it’s more than just a Fighter… it’s also an Artillery and an Armor killed. Also the Ukraine is worth 3 IPCs ( 29 IPCs sounds like 8 Inf and an Arm on R2).

With an aggressive Russian purchase of 3 Inf and 3 Arm on R1, you end up with 5 Armor total on the board- not bad. If you go with a more conservative 5 Inf/ Art/ Arm you still have some teeth and a little more bulk. If you go 8 Inf you shouldn’t try to take the Ukraine at all as you won’t have enough offense left on the board.

I respect the Belorussia move- it’s solid- I just think there’s more of a long term gain for the allies when the Ukraine is taken.

I, too, like smacking the fighter in the Ukraine…  It forces Germany to use its plane(Balkans) to splash the DD in the Med, rather than having a plane for both the DD(Ukraine) and Egypt(Balkans).  This move keeps Africa painted tan at least an extra round(if not permanently).  If the Germans happen to go after Jordan rather than Egypt and fail…  The Ukraine attack could potentially open the door for the Indian fleet to enter the Med.  The Germans are effectively neutered at this point…

@critmonster:

what is the experience level of your group?

I played the “non-revised” game a few times, and have been playing 4th Ed for about 6 months now.  Our group gets together about once a month, but I typically play 3-5 mock games a week and 1-2 live mini games a week during our breaks.  I am not the most experienced player, but I would like to think I’m at least competative.  I usually play my best after I take my worst beatings…  I try not to make the same booboos twice if I can help it.

@AdamD021:

Say Germany spent most of its money on a BB in the baltic, then what?

Then the Russians continue making costly(for the Germans) land grabs from the Germans.  If the Russians get into the 30+IPC range by the end of round 2(possibly 35 by round 3), it is nighty night for the Germans.

Nod

Our group doesn’t play victory cities since it is very easy for the axis to be +2 on the VC count by round 3…   I have never seen the following tactic used in a game…  But I have always wondered how it would play out…   Again…  Germany fails to take Egy in G1…   Take the plane from the Indian fleet…  attack the solomon sub with the fighter and the sub and tranny in Australia…  land the fighter on the ac at pearl.  Take the rest of the Indian fleet and sink the tranny off of kwantung(bring the fighter from egypt and drop it on the ac off of kwangtung).  Bring the DD to the Indian and drop a factory in India.  Bring the bomber from GB and drop it in Sinkiang.  Use it to splash unprotected Japanese trannies in GB2.  Japan has interesting decisions to make now…  The fleet in Kwangtung is a tranny, DD, carrier, and a plane(2 hits in R1, And 1-2 Likely in R2) unless the Japanese decide to bring the fighters from asia(likely allowing the Americans to live in China).  Japan also can’t go heavy into pearl(has been strengthened now by the extra fighter) now unless they want unguarded trannies(can be attacked by sub and tranny in solomons).  Even if the Janese are successful at Pearl, the US counter would drop the remaining fleet…  And the US could be in a position to attack the remaining Japanese fleet in US2.  The US could drop a factory in Sinkiang…  pull an inf and fighter back(get some russian reinforcement…  The Allies can now be building 5 units a round…  Japan can outbuild, but if the trannies are kept to a minimum for a couple of rounds, the Allies would have a sizable presence in Asia by round 3.   Like I said…  I have never tried the following strategy in a game…  Anyone tried this?  with or without success?

My preference is to forsake India for the moment by reinforcing Egypt with inf from Syria, Jordan, and India.  And moving the Indian fleet to the DD in the Med.  Germany will effectively be kicked out of Africa at that point.  If Germany bought an AC for the Baltic fleet in G1, and placed 2 planes on the flat top, buy 3 planes and move the brit fleet into striking position in the north by Norway.  The Russians can prevent the Germans from sinking your fleet prematurely by moving their sub in a blocking position west of the Baltic.  In GB2, start buying replacement fleet and attack the Baltic fleet(1tran, 2 subs, 1 dest, 1ac, and 2 fighters…  Germany probably won’t build expensive Navy in G2) with your BB, tranny(maybe 2 if the canadian tranny wasn’t sunk in G1), 5 planes, and the bomber(the chances of victory or mutual destruction are 92% and 5% respectively).  By round 4, you should be able to hit Norway in force if you weren’t able to attack in GB1(or if the US doesn’t barge in by force in US3).  You can also hit other areas valuable to Germany with little(or no) naval intervention by rounds 5 to 6.  Stay focused…  Japan will be threatening Moscow by round 6(Germany’s push will be halted around round 4 or 5--  He’ll have other attacks to stave off with his units) if the Russian player allowed the Japanese player to smash his eastern infantry with tanks.  If he backs the infantry off instead of making a dying stand, he can have a sizeable stack in Moscow by round 6.  Japan really won’t be able to take Moscow until round 8 if the Russian player plays his eastern stacks correctly.  Germany typically falls in round 7-9 in these games that I play.  If Moscow falls in the same round as Germany, the Allies will eventually win.  The games get sticky if Germany falls a round later than Moscow.  Japan has time to get their units in place to possibly liberate Germany in those cases.  Just my thoughts.  Hammer away.

I am beginning to think it is better to play for a long game…  Heavy INF builds, with light TNK builds.  I typically try to splash the tran in Canada with my sub, sink the BB in the med with 3 planes and a bomber(land remainder in WEU). This also keeps the US out of Algeria in R1 unless he likes the transports sunk.  I Attack Egypt if the Russians leave the Ukraine alone, or Jordan(Egypt in G2) if the Ukraine plane is scapped by the Russians.  Since the Baltic fleet is fodder, I usually move them into a Norway blocking position in G1.  This at least keeps the Brits out of Norway in G1, and it allows me to mobilize the Norway troops to the east.  You could use Eastern Europe as your main staging point in the east(the tanks can be used to counter a WEU invasion).  Unfortunately, the low mobility of the infantry will allow the Russians to dig in.  The Eastern front would stalemate almost instantly.  If the Russians don’t tread in an area where to can counterattack strongly, they should be fine.  Because their(Russia) supply lines are shorter, you won’t be able to effectively force the matter either.  The result would be easy demolition of your(Germany’s) exposed tanks.  You can make early gains in Africa, but you should be nearly kicked out by round 5 or 6.  Germany should be pulling 40+IPCs for the first 3 rounds, and 35+ for the next 3.  If you take a defensive stance, you should be able to last into round 9.  The only question that remains is how quickly can Japan make the Russians miserable?  Any flaws in this thinking?

@trihero:

How early are we talking about a UK landing in West Europe?

We’re talking round 2 if you don’t beef up the Baltic. Round 1 the Baltic fleet is gone to 2 fighters + 1 bomber, and the UK purchase is 2 tran 3 inf 1 tank. That means 4 inf + 3 tank + 1 art + battleship + remaining airforce can attack Western Europe on Round 2, and a UK purchase in Round 2 could instantly reinforce the navy with say a carrier or something if the German airforce looks problematic.

Germany can take Africa and hold it if she is willing to committ some of the air power there, even with the Indian replenishment.

You can’t take Africa in the long run without spending too much effort there. Any airforce you commit down there is stuff not being used against the Russians, nor threatening any of the Allied shipping. The Allies can always make 1 big drop in Algeria and start marching down on turn 2 (latest 3) which costs you resources to deal with.

Just how heavy are your tank builds? Like 6 tanks + 3 infantry, about that much?

I am playing  Germany for the first time in a live game with my buddies…   I am anticipating them to employ the west russia stack with the 4 inf build in the Caucaus.  I don’t believe the player playing Russia will try to take the Ukraine on R1.  My counter in my mock games has been to consolidate in Bel. with my inf and tanks.  I go after the BB in the Med with 3 fig and a bomber(land them on WEU, attack the destroyer in Egypt with a BB, tran(with inf and tank), and plane(lands in SEU).  I attack Egypt 5 on 3 with another plane(lands in libya).  I sink the transport in Canada with my Atlantic sub, move the Baltic fleet into a blocking postion in Norway.  I bring the Norway troops east with plane support and take out the minimal armies in Karelia.  I drop a few inf and the art in WEU.  I have tried different builds turns G1-G3…  If I build tanks thru the 3 rounds, I am able to take the West Russia stack, but I leave the tanks exposed to easy counter.  I can bring the 5 inf and 10 tanks(2 from EGY and 8 from G1 build) into the Ukraine on G2…  This allows me take the Caucaus after the Russians counter the West Russia strike.  Also, the Russians will be around 50/50 on taking the Caucaus back in R3.  The issue is…   By the end of Round 2, the KGF strategy will be starting to gather some steam.  You need to start shuffling troops to protect Western Europe(Norway will be a loss).  Should I build tanks in G2 to continue my push in the East?  Or should I build Inf to attempt to stop the invasion of WEU in round 4?  Also, in my mock games…  if I build all inf, every turn, The Eastern front comes to a grind…  Is it better to play for a long game with Japan saving the day, or go for the quick strike?  It seems to me Russia has just enough to prevent itself from falling in 4 rounds…   which is enough for the other Allies to start making Germany miserable.  any ideas?  Thanks in advance.

Germany would be ready to rock and roll with an extra 8 in Africa…  They would benefit far more than giving the 8 to the Japanese since there is very little to check Japan in the long run in Asia.  The Germans would not need to pull troops from Europe to successfully assault Egypt(closing the Suez-sealing off the Indian fleet), and they’d be able to drop reinforcements to prevent an American counter in US1 in Algeria.  The Germans can go after the Brit BB in the Med with the BB prtotecting the planes(The BB isn’t needed to protect the transport against the Destroyer in the Med when amphibbing Egypt because the amphib isn’t necessary).  The sub could be used to sink the tranny in Canada, hamstrining the Brits efforts in Norway in GB1.  They could move both fleets together in G2… without sacrificing Africa.  And take 4 IPCs off the Brits in G2 as well…  Plus the rest of Africa in G3(would be enough to offset what is lost to US in US2)…  Even if the Allies are aggressive in the first round, there is no reason why Germany would be collecting less than 39IPCs(as opposed to 37) in round1, 42 in round 2, and 44 in round 3.  This almost guarantees that Germany will hang around no less than 7 rounds(more than likely 8 or 9)…  Long enough for Japan to strike down Moscow.

Wilk

@trihero:

I dunno, I’ve been talking with a very good Revised player and he never will play the Axis unless he has a bid of 8 (1 inf in Libya 1 tank in Algeria).

Even if the Brit fleet moves within striking distance of the Baltic fleet in round 1, the Germans shouldn’t be able to hit it with anything except planes(in round2) if the Russians seal off the Baltic with their sub.  This will allow the UK to place another AC and a trannie with the fleet in round 2(with the americans dropping planes on it).  The Brits would have 2AC, at least 3 planes, 3trannies, and a battleship against the german AC, 4 fighters, a bomber, 2 subs, a destroyer, and a trannie.  With just 3 allied planes in the mix, it is a 40-60 LOSS for the Germans if they attack.  The odds are worse if the Americans find a way to get 2 planes on the carrier at the end of round 2.

Wilk

@ncscswitch:

Um guys… one thing as you rage back and forth over UK landing forces in the north free-and-clear becaue the Germans are heading for SZ7…

That move assumes that UK is building it’s fleet somewhere SAFE, like SZ2.

The point of GOING to SZ7 AND of linking the fleets is to allow Germany to either A) defend against allied navy/AF attacking the German navy or B) to be able to put that UK navy that has been building AT RISK.

If the Brits sail their fleet to within reach of me on UK1, guess what?   I am NOT going to bother linking the fleets… I am just going to take out the UK fleet with 2 subs, 1 TRN, 1 DST, 1 AC, and as many figs as I feel like using, plus a bomber.  I leave the med fleet in the med to shuttle forces into Africa AND to strike any US trannies that approach Africa unguarded or lightly guarded.

It is not a “set in stone” strategy.  It is used to counter a “safe” allied naval build up and force the allies hand on their intial naval build up.

But again, if UK negates the need for such a shift to threaten, then just attack them and be done with it.

sheez…