My original question was whether or not there were any restrictions on the number of Axis troops in North Africa because of supply problems. That has yet to be answered in any official manner, aside from a statement by 03321 that there will be no restrictions. With no restrictions, and the Germans moving before the UK and the US, with the Italians moving after the UK but before the US, how do the Allies deal with the probable loss in the first German move of Egypt?
You have detailed in your post on the German strategy thread on how to inflict the maximum damage possible on the UK in the German turn. If Axis players follow that strategy, the UK will be severely crippled, and probably unable to mount any significant defense of the Middle East, assuming average die results. As Japan also moves prior to the UK, the UK player will have extremely limited production, given the probable emphasis of the Japanese on attacking south. The Russian player does have a large number of Industrial Centers, but will likely be fully occupied in dealing with the German assault, although it might be possible for the Russians to deploy 2 infantry into Persia, to contain the Axis penetration towards India.
The one redeeming factor in this is the limited number of Japanese transports on the first Japanese turn. This may make it possible for the UK player to consider an Industrial Center in India, depending on exactly what the rules governing Japanese-Russian relations are. As those are unknown, any prediction of what the Japanese might do is fruitless.
Given the severe gutting of the US Navy, probably the best US strategy is to get a foothold in Africa, build units in China to harass the Japanese to whatever degree possible, and reinforce the UK to limit the possibility of Germany attempting Operation Sea Lion, with reinforcing the UK taking precedence over the African foothold. Actions in the Pacific will need to be based on what the Japanese accomplish in the first turn. Likewise, any builds will be dependent on combat results from the German and Japanese attacks on the UK, Russia, and the US. The US having only a single transport in the Atlantic makes major reinforcement of the UK difficult, and will probably dictate the building of at least 2 transports in the Atlantic. The US should plan on loosing the battleship near Hawaii, the ships and forces in the Philippines, and probably some of the ships off of the West Coast in the first Japanese turn.
The major initial problem, as I see it, for the Allies, is how much pressure can Russia and the US put on Germany and Japan, while helping the UK to recover from the initial German attacks. If that succeeds, then the probably best strategy is for the US to keep some pressure on Japan with its fleet and the Chinese, while helping the UK and Russia to kill Germany. By gutting the UK and US navies, and stacking the odds in North Africa, Mr. Harris has set the 1941 scenario up for the possibility of a fast Axis win.
I cannot say that I am impressed by that, but it will sell games. That is the bottom line, selling games.
