• '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    Given how the board plays out, it seems mech is not as good for Italy as it would be for Germany. (Italy can opens, Germany blitzes through.)


  • I think that’s true if you have a set direction to drive on Moscow.  The Italian mechs open up lots of flanking maneuvers, also helping to cover the main advance.  I always try and slip some mechanized forces behind Moscow,(or use them as bait to draw forces out) and Italian mobile units help give the speed and fodder for these moves.

  • '22 '21 '16 '15

    @AllyAxis:

    Was thinking about this strategy for Alpha 2+ global.

    Has anyone done it successfully?

    Attack J1 soviet far east, amur, sibera.  build a Major in Manchuria and keep UK India /china relatively occupied .  pin down the US fleet with carrier builds and park fighters on it to keep the US building in the pacific.

    Get my Italians to clear Soviet buffer troops (usually one or two units between main armies)  and get the Italy Germany one two punch going.  I found that my mech tank builds were very effective and getting to Russia quickly to support.  but I may not build as many mechs this next game.  I was matching them tank for mech.  but that may only be necessary for clearing forces (IE forces trying to take rostov , caucus ) on the way to moscow.

    Can Japan really turn the tide tho in the All Axis on the Soviets strat?  thoughts anyone?

    Hi James,

    I did it once succesfully. First turn I took France, Normandy and Southern France with Germany, so Italy can move  the troops from Northern Italy to Yugoslavia which was already taken by the Germans Round 1. With this support and Japan invading Russia Turn 2 and building a major Factory in Korea Russia was down.
    The negative side is, that India and ANZAC had no problem to survive and invade the money islands.

    Greets RobbyWestSide

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    @JimmyHat:

    I think that’s true if you have a set direction to drive on Moscow.  The Italian mechs open up lots of flanking maneuvers, also helping to cover the main advance.  I always try and slip some mechanized forces behind Moscow,(or use them as bait to draw forces out) and Italian mobile units help give the speed and fodder for these moves.

    I find that Russia is able to block Italian blitzing well.  German mechs and armor make sense, they force the Russians to be honest (defend the rear in case Italy opens a route.)  As for the other side of Russia, I usually have a couple Japanese mechs left after reinvading China.

  • Liaison TripleA '11 '10

    Italian AIRCRAFT is the best build for italy,  1 plane a turn if possible.

    The “threat” value, leaves the Russians plunking stacks of 3 to 5 men down in awkward places to avoid German breakthroughs.

  • '18 '17 '16 '11 Moderator

    Planes are only a threat if Italy has ground forces to support them, or if the break through is worth the loss of planes (popping Bryansk so German armor can blitz Moscow).  I still thing 2 or 3 infantry and a tank is enough for Italy to be effective in the short run and you can follow that up later with an invasion of Turkey and transports into the Ukraines/Caucasus if you need significantly more punch.


  • Suppose Japan ignores everything else for the first few turns and focuses exclusively on killing those 18 Soviet infantry divisions in the far east before they all run back to reinforce Moscow against impending barbarossa (please humour me I am new).

    On J1, Japan brings all three transports to sea zone 6, and buys a fourth transport plus 3 tanks.

    On J2, Japan attacks Amur with 4 tanks and 1 mech infantry (but lets assume the Russians might have already run away to Buryatia R1 which is fine because we will catch them).

    For the next few turns, Japan does nothing but build tanks and transport them to Amur, and on subsequent turns they all chase the Russians westward. Japan also assembles a big pile of planes one territory behind the first wave of tanks.  By not attacking USA, UK, etc., Japan also gets the 10 IPC NO each turn, which it uses to buy more tanks and maybe a fifth transport.  By the time USA is in the war, this Russia thing is already set in motion.

    So the Russians keep running westward and the Japanese tanks and planes eventually intercept them at Timguska on J4 and strafe them, again at Novosibirsk J5, Vologda J6, and finally Moscow J7.  Anything the USSR might do to protect those far east infantry reinforcements (like sending a fighter or tanks) would only detract from their defense against the Germans.  By J7 Germany should have USSR on the ropes and Japan finishes them off with a stab to the back.


  • PS.  If 14 infantry divisions, plus 1 artillery also arrive at Amur on J2 and then start walking westward, they will arrive in Moscow J9 (or just keep walking to Cairo i guess).  There should still be lots of planes to support them because the tanks have been used as the cannon fodder throughout the strafing that started way back at J4.


  • @Cmdr:

    Ronrye,

    I am not stating a propensity to give up Africa with Italy.  I am only stating that Italy should send 2 Infantry and 1 Armor into Russia to take land for Germany to reinforce.  It’s faster than if Germany has to take and hold it for a round to move forward.

    Wouldn’t this fail if Russia builds a huge force at the border? So if Italy doesn’t take it, what would happen, or are you saying that if Russia puts the units out there as a wall that Germany just weakens it a lot and then retreats so that Italy can do this?

    @Vance:

    Suppose Japan ignores everything else for the first few turns and focuses exclusively on killing those 18 Soviet infantry divisions in the far east before they all run back to reinforce Moscow against impending barbarossa (please humour me I am new).

    On J1, Japan brings all three transports to sea zone 6, and buys a fourth transport plus 3 tanks.

    On J2, Japan attacks Amur with 4 tanks and 1 mech infantry (but lets assume the Russians might have already run away to Buryatia R1 which is fine because we will catch them).

    For the next few turns, Japan does nothing but build tanks and transport them to Amur, and on subsequent turns they all chase the Russians westward. Japan also assembles a big pile of planes one territory behind the first wave of tanks.  By not attacking USA, UK, etc., Japan also gets the 10 IPC NO each turn, which it uses to buy more tanks and maybe a fifth transport.  By the time USA is in the war, this Russia thing is already set in motion.

    So the Russians keep running westward and the Japanese tanks and planes eventually intercept them at Timguska on J4 and strafe them, again at Novosibirsk J5, Vologda J6, and finally Moscow J7.  Anything the USSR might do to protect those far east infantry reinforcements (like sending a fighter or tanks) would only detract from their defense against the Germans.  By J7 Germany should have USSR on the ropes and Japan finishes them off with a stab to the back.

    If you did this, Russia would fall, but I don’t think Japan could stay alive because then UKP, China, US, and ANZAC are all building up ready to smack the Japs.


  • @Cmdr:

    Italy attacks a territory, Germany lands planes and stacks it.  Japan blitzes 144 IPC and blitzes through the eastern territories and swings down into China from the rear.

    Thats what I was thinking about.  Thanks cmdr jennifer.


  • @Robson:

    @AllyAxis:

    Was thinking about this strategy for Alpha 2+ global.

    Has anyone done it successfully?

    Attack J1 soviet far east, amur, sibera.  build a Major in Manchuria and keep UK India /china relatively occupied .  pin down the US fleet with carrier builds and park fighters on it to keep the US building in the pacific.

    Get my Italians to clear Soviet buffer troops (usually one or two units between main armies)  and get the Italy Germany one two punch going.  I found that my mech tank builds were very effective and getting to Russia quickly to support.  but I may not build as many mechs this next game.  I was matching them tank for mech.  but that may only be necessary for clearing forces (IE forces trying to take rostov , caucus ) on the way to moscow.

    Can Japan really turn the tide tho in the All Axis on the Soviets strat?  thoughts anyone?

    Hi James,

    I did it once succesfully. First turn I took France, Normandy and Southern France with Germany, so Italy can move  the troops from Northern Italy to Yugoslavia which was already taken by the Germans Round 1. With this support and Japan invading Russia Turn 2 and building a major Factory in Korea Russia was down.
    The negative side is, that India and ANZAC had no problem to survive and invade the money islands.

    Greets RobbyWestSide

    Thanks Robby!  Glad to hear from you!  I have been taking Yugoslavia with the Italians,  but getting them into the eastern front faster is a nice key.  In my last Europe 1940 game I started with an Italian turn 2 attack and then reinforced with Germany.  Sounds like Cmdr Jennifer agrees with the Italians take, Germany re-inforces one two punch in the East.  I will definitely consider taking china from the rear,  but at the same time I need the 12 IPC’s to keep Japan viable if my resources and ground units aren’t going after the DEI  or UK india too hard.  excited to see this play out friday evening.  If my 2 other players show…  and I get to play the Axis which I should since its my turn.  I just have to watch out.  The Axis Cannot make major mistakes,  but the Allies can make plenty and still win the game.  Time is on the side of the Allies in the long term with the Awesomeness of the US’s 70+ IPC’s…

    Thanks for all the input everyone.

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