G4 strat

[KillOFzee]

Since you are waiting until G4 anyway, have you given any thought to putting transports in z100 and an airbase in Greece?  Landings in the Black Sea region can really throw USSR off balance, especially with the new Soviet NO that makes Iraq so valuable.   

It's good in theory, but when I've tried it, I realized that the air base plus 3 transports costs more than the value of the territories it takes. The air base in Romania had the sole purpose of protecting those transports, so its really 15 IPCs down the tube in my opinion, plus the 21 IPC cost for transports.

G4 is a great time for an attck on Russia. You pretty much have Leningrad guaranteed on G5 if you build and move wisely. Also, you get to collect the 5 from Russia right til the end.

Agreed.

[Vance]

It does cost a lot, but the payback is not just the territories you take; it's the disruption and distraction that it causes the USSR.

[Alsch91]

I agree that the Black Sea investments are hard to justify, but it is definitely plausible.
One way to get a little bit more bang for your buck with this strategy is to use Greece, rather than Romania, for your staging territory.  You have to do it one turn later - taking Greece on G2 - but this give you a bit more flexibility.

You can build into the Black Sea and the Med from Greece, and an airbase in Greece protects both Black Sea transports and Italian fleets in the Med.  Kinda nice.

[Spendo02]

I'm a big fan of 10 Inf on G1. �  It makes both Moscow and London have to play defensive - and if London doesn't, you have 68-72 IPC to still be able to send 7 or so TT into London (and you WILL SBR London).

How will you keep your surface fleet during UK1?  That effectively nullifies any Sealion threat.

Explain your reasoning.

I send 2 SS, 3 Ftr, 3 Tac into SZ110.  I withdraw once I lose my SS
I send 2 SS, 1 BB, 1 Ftr, 1 Tac, 2 Bomber to SZ111.
I NCM my CR to SZ112, land as many aircraft as possible in W.Germany.

UK can choose to not scramble and give up its ships or scramble and face losing its air force.  G2 you use your CR if it isn't attacked (because your BB is a juicy target) and finish off any ships the UK has left from G1 with all the Aircraft in W.Germany.

I assure you, there is PLENTY left to still land a Sea Lion on G3, you may just have to direct a Ftr or two to SZ110 to prevent any UK aircraft from thinking of scrambling against your CV, DD, possibly CR and of course TT.

It works, I've done it against a too comfortable London.

[Vance]

I agree that the Black Sea investments are hard to justify, but it is definitely plausible.
One way to get a little bit more bang for your buck with this strategy is to use Greece, rather than Romania, for your staging territory.  You have to do it one turn later - taking Greece on G2 - but this give you a bit more flexibility.

You can build into the Black Sea and the Med from Greece, and an airbase in Greece protects both Black Sea transports and Italian fleets in the Med.  Kinda nice.

The timing of this coincides nicely with a G3 amphibious assault on Syria.  Transports can be built in Southern France G2 and protected when they go to z99 on G3 by scramble cover from the new Greece airbase.  Now if Japan can take India early so UK doesn't interfere, you might manage to establish a minor in Iraq and put transports in z100.  This plan would be a good reason to delay attacking USSR until I3/G4.  You would have them defending on two fronts, with a push up toward Novgorod and a second coming up through Caucasus. 

[Stalingradski]

I really like this Vance - gets a good head start in the Middle East for the Axis.

[italiansarecoming]

I'm thinking if you had sufficient Italian troops to can open on I3 then g4 a blitz of mech and tanks could take out a big stack of the Russian army. I also think that a small naval build should happen as this still will allow Italy a chance in Africa. Infantry buys and artillery buys should happen as well. So they can attack the territory the italians did not can open. This is not exact buys however a naval buy by Germany and a can open by Italy seems a smart way to go.

[Vance]

I really like this Vance - gets a good head start in the Middle East for the Axis.

Thanks!  Yeah you do get a strong head start by going this way.  The Soviets get to build their forces for the first 3 turns but they are neutral and can't activate North Persia until round 4 if you don't attack them.  Meanwhile you land in Syria with 3 inf/3 art on G3, and then on G4 you activate the 3 Iraqi infantry and also land another 3 inf/3 armor in Syria. 

On G5 you can hit anything the allies have put in North or Central Persia with 6 inf, 3 art, 3 armor.  Planes from Greece airbase can also reach North or Central Persia and land in Iraq!  That prevents the Soviets from getting the "Spread of communism" NO for Iraq and Ethiopia etc.  At the same time as you do this you are taking Novgorod.

On G6 you can land in Caucasus off transports in z110 and meet up with the units from North Persia.  From there, if you can hold the middle east oil NOs and Novgorod/Archangel I don't see how Russia can keep from starving to death while Germany is earning ~70IPCs per turn.

[TheDictator]

most of the time I play with Russia, so I think since Germany goes before Russia It should attack very soon since Russia has only so much men there on the front line.