I think leaving SZ110 alive is a PIVOTAL MISTAKE for Germany not to hit
I rolled through just the battle 5 times. Someone who’s very familiar with Sealion please correct me if I’m wrong in regards to the best case scenario setup for the Germans in SZ110 post Sealion. This is what I’ve garnered:
G1: AC + 2 Trn
G2: 10 Trn
G3: 1 AB (Holland) 1 AC, 1 DD (Thats 51 IPC and what my play through netted G2 for collect income).
Assumption: Germany never loses a Ftr through the French and SeaLion campaigns giving it 5 total Ftr to work with.
G3 Ends its turn with the following in SZ110:
2 AC each w/ 2 Ftr & TacB
2 BB
1 Cru
12 Trn
AB with 3 Ftr to scramble
Note Germany also has 5 starting TacB that I am going to assume Germany takes as losses prior to fighters, so lets say theres 1-3 left on Holland after landing 2 on the second AC
R1: 3 Subs (Leningrad), 1 Bomber (Moscow) 2 Inf (Moscow) - Save 1
R2: 3 Bombers (Leningrad) - Save 1 (2 Total)
R2 NCM: Fly Bomber to Leningrad
R2 NCM: Move 4 Subs from SZ127 to SZ125
R3: 3 Inf (Leningrad) 3 Inf (Ukraine), 7 Inf (Moscow) - None banked
R3 CM: Move 4 Subs (SZ125 - SZ110), Move 4 StratB (Leningrad to SZ110 to Eire)
UK1: 9 Inf (London)
UK1 NCM: Move SZ110 Fleet to SZ109
UK1 NCM: Move 1 Cru from SZ91 to SZ109
UK1 NCM: Fly 1 Ftr from Gibraltar to Scotland
UK2: 4 Subs (SZ109), 1-2 Inf (London)
UK2 NCM: Move 1 Inf from Scotland to Eire
UK2 NCM: Fly 1 StratB to Iceland
UK3 CM: Move 1 BB 2 Cru 4 Subs (SZ109 to SZ110), Move 2 Ftr (Scotland to SZ110), Move 1 Bomber (Iceland to SZ110)
US1: 2 AC, 1 TacB (on AC), 1 DD (all in SZ101)
US1 NCM: Fly 1 Ftr 1 TacB (SZ10 to SZ101 to AC), Fly Ftr (E.USA to SZ101 to AC)
US2: 2 Bombers, 1 Inf (E.USA), 3 Trn (SZ101 from C.USA IC) - Save 3
US2 NCM: Move 2 AC each w/ 2 Ftr/TacB, 1 Cru, 1 DD (SZ101 to SZ102)
US3: Buy 8 Subs (SZ10)
US3: Fly 2 Ftr/TacB (SZ102 to SZ110), Fly 3 StratB (E.USA to SZ110 to Eire)
US3 NCM: Move 2 AC, 1 Cru, 1 DD (SZ102 to SZ104), Move 4 Trn w/ 2 Inf, 1 Art, 1 Tank and 3 Mech (SZ101 to SZ104)
I rolled the battle through with Russia then UK and then US 5 times this morning. At no point did Germany come close as in all 5 roll throughs.
The Germans ended up flying Aircraft over Allied subs that due to the no defensive value of the Trn lost Germany the battle each time.
What I think it comes down to is that Germany needs at least a single DD intermingled to allow its air power to keep hitting the subs.
Funny thing is that the subs can’t hit the aircraft so once you eliminate that destroyer with a hit from your subs, you’re back to where you were - subs attacking and taking out the Trn and the Aircraft unable to hit them. This basically happened every time when the UK went.
Once the Trn were dead, there was no point in the US sending its Aircraft from Eastern US to Eire and putting them at risk so its possible to bring a bigger Liberation fleet for the US for US4 with those 36 IPC. Although due to unit placement restrictions, the most you can really add is 3 more Inf to fill out the US3 purchase of Trn or put more units in the Pacific.
I’ll get back later with results where G3 purchases 1 AB, 1 AC and 2 DD instead of 1 AB, 1 AC and 1 BB which may require the US to get involved in the battle.