Very limited experience here, but…
I am looking at the game board ('41) and wondering why Russia only has 1 tank and 2 artillery, but has a worthless little submarine still???
I like the idea of restoring Moscow to 8 IPC, no reason it should be significantly less than everyone else’s. I think the eastern blocks shoulda been grided out, not spun like a wheel like they are.
Italy seems really menacing if they take out Africa. That’s +11 IPC a round for Italy, not insignificant! Outside of that, yea, I don’t see why they shouldn’t focus on keeping the Allies out of Europe while Germany pounds on the underpowered nation of Russia.
Remember, Russia had a massive army in World War II. Between Russia and England, Germany and Italy should be stalemated, it was the addition of American forces that turned the battle. In Classic and AAR this is the case. UK/USSR can hold their own against Germany without American support and they can win with American support.
Just from what I see, I’d say Russia should get +2 Fighters, -1 Industrial complex in Karelia and merge a couple of the Territories with Moscow eliminating their IPC values (hence raising Moscow to 8 IPC value). This won’t change much in the way of Russia’s income, but it would at least give Russia something other than artillery and tanks to trade with.
If not two fighters, one at least. They DID have an air force!