@Baron:
It seems that in mid-game M3 really help USA and somehow UK.
Once Luftwaffe is out, you can use 2 groups *three TPs from EUSA to NWE or France.
Germany cannot hold that long.
And early game, it allows more direct combat involvement.
No need to foresee two turns ahead, it takes less patience to play US that way.
South African IC at set-up was very important to block German expansion south of Sahara.
And it preserved UK economy from falling radically. Keeping it in play against Axis.
Of course, South Africa’s units clearly benefit from M3.
It preserved India and Australia TPs, and it increases Inf, Art mobility in Arabic Peninsula.
Coming faster in Egypt or Persia or Syria.
So, it seems M3 first is better for IJN then USA and UK get the better hand out of it.
Still Cruiser is purchase to protect TP. When speed matter, Cruiser are in high need.
However, BB is slow but still 2 hits make for a good core fleet when attacking smaller fleet (3 or 4 combat units).
I really like all these redesign units. More balanced between themselves.
It worth the fun to explore this 1942.2 game.
And with additional UK ICs make for a more historically-themed 1942.2.
C5 A0 D0 StB are just at a right cost to not being rebuffed if an IC is only half damaged, making only 3 pts and losing any points left if roll is above 3, not a detterent.
Also, loosing a few of them is part of the risk and not a tragic TUV swing, as it was OOB.
A lot of Russian’s IC were bombed and is part of strategy against Russia.
Caucasus IC was maxed out and a wasted land for 3 turns now.
It feels like Stalingrad.
I have no critic on M3 and C5 till now, make for a better A&A experience but I’m just wondering if it is balanced.
After 6 rounds, IJN is massively invading Asia but Russia get relieved because of Western front opening.
I probably played badly Germany, I will restart around G3 or G4 to see where it can go.
I was rushing too fast against Russia with both Germany and Japan.
I restarted by G3. I kept my Med Carrier and Fgs+TcBs.
I tried to take French Equatorial Africa with 2 Infs with Cruiser and TP M3.
USA launched 1 Cruiser and 2 Fgs to get ride of them.
3 TPs landed in FEA and crush G Infs.
Cruiser and TPs make a good combo, and Carrier can provide more air firepower when it is too far for the rest of the fleet.
South African IC is still pretty useful to repel Germany. Pouring 2 units per round is a must.
This time, IJN has sunk 2DDs+2TPs in Red Sea by Egypt. An IJN Cruiser and DDs made the kill.
Now, UK use more Tanks to rush unit from South to North Africa.
By round 6, there is still a fight for Australia and a cat and mouse game between US original PTO fleet and IJN 2 BBs+Carrier.
Australia was used to reinforced USA fleet with 2 DDs.
These 2 ICs are quite poor in production, pouring 1 unit per turn each, but it gives an idea about how Australian resources were limited.
I used US Cruiser and 2 TPs to land into Soviet Far East, releasing a bit of pressure in Northern Crush.
IJN has to split fleet, sending Cruiser and Fg+TcB up north to sink this US fleet.
Next turn, I used another Cruiser and 2 TPs to reinforced Eastern Australia and US fleet.
Japan occupying Western Australia, both ground and Naval combat will occur during this round.
Luftwaffe is incredibly efficient on escorting or intercepting mission.
US lose 1 StB and 1 Fg to them in russian Sky.
Also, Japan and G bombers are quite effective, and lucky on damage at Moscow.
But, G bomber was blown G5 over Moscow.
They maxed out in R5, Russia only built 2 units R6.
However, being overwhelmed from every side, Russia manage a daring strafing run against 2 Infs, 1 art and 4 Tank: only 1 Tank survived and all Russians retreated back home, with a TUV swing of 19 IPCs.
This might relief Russia for next round, waiting Allies to knock on Western Front.
Germany is quite overstretched again, 19 damage to repair on R6 (NWE, Berlin and Caucasus)
With 36 IPCs left, 12 Infantry is not enough to fill all IC production capacity.
G don’t have enough money to purchase Tank or Fighter.
There is so many TTys to occupy around Russia, I hope any Art, Tank and planes left will be enough to crush Moscow.
Bombers are quite a useful tool. IDK if it can be abusive actually.
Both Russia and Germany are suffering from it.
This bombing command may need to purchase more units to see if it is broken.
This game, only UK and Japan purchase 1 bomber.
In a less conventional game, it is a strategy to try next time.
I’m still pretty amazed by the new WWII in-depth experience all SF rules provides.
I don’t miss at all regular bombers, and with TcBs introduction it provides the A4 we want. And I saw a German U-boat, fleeing in SZ1 out of reach of air attack coming from UK, it was a first time.
It feels like U-boat found the North Atlantic gap. :-)
I also use again DDs A1 D1 C5 blocker in PTO, once by US and another time by IJN.
Being cheap and weak, they do something which was almost never seen in such mid-range economy game.
It needs some experience to watch for M3 units but now, I’m getting use to it.
Easier to prepare against surprise amphib from Japan or WUSA.