There’s been a lot of discussion on this point already on earlier threads. Definitely avoid any naval in India. Two ways you can set this up with Russia.
(Russian buy of 4inf/3art or 3inf/2art/1tank)
1. Defend Egypt with one Russia FTR to ensure a SZ37 battle (SS, 2CA, CV, 2FTR) vs. Japan CV, BB, 2FTRs. The plus side if successful is obvious. This damages Japan’s navy and allows for a full onslaught of KJF.
2. If you’ve been broken by the utter failures of this attack, don’t send the Russian FTR to Egypt. Your Eastern Russian troops should rendevous “surrendering” the first three eastern Russian territories to Japan. The 3IPCs won’t fall right away, and your troops can provide a temp poop shield against a northern incursion. Troops that can get into China on turn 1 should take advantage of this. In addition, completely abandon Karelia (yeah, the IC sucks, but they can’t blitz through it either). Strike WRus and Ukraine. But for the Ukraine attack, I’ve gone the route of using the 3inf, 3 tanks(2 if you plan to route one to defend the US FTR ASAP, which can help), 2FTRs. I figure it will take two Rounds to win, so after Round 1, retreat back (assuming you’ve virtually nuked the Ukraine w/exception of FTR). Your tanks can withdraw to Caucus (and you probably just lost only the inf). WRus is an all-in, from Moscow, art from Caucus, Karelia, Archangel. Hopefully, you can lose just 2-3. Anymore and this could blow up in your face. Send both AAs to WRus to provide poop shield. The Caucus tanks will allow you on R2 to send 1-2 via India or China as required. NCM planes to caucus, place art and supports in caucus, inf in moscow.
UK
Ok, so let’s go with option 1 from Russia:
Use a buy of 2art,1inf (for India) and either buy 2 FTRs, or save cash.
FTRs need to get to India if you are buying. Either land in WRus or think Africa (south of Sahara) to route your planes there. Combat is going to be limited with exception of SZ37. You can get ballsy with 2 trans/4inf for subsequent invasion, but you may need the transports to run like hell if you fail (I consider three units destroyed a victory for UK, so you may want the transports to run). If you have a shot at the Med fleet or Baltic fleet, take it (top choice for me would be to eliminate the Med, because you may not get another chance for a long time). NCM everything into India. It’s ok to lose Burma…withdraw! Persia, w/d into India as well. That should give you a fighting chance with the inf and your buy. If Japan’s SZ37 fleet was destroyed, you bought yourself plenty of time.
Option 2 for the UK:
Buy should remain the same
The solomons is the key here to keep Japan in check. You MUST take the Solomons UK1 to give the Allies the needed jump. Your Indian fleet now commits attack pattern suicide. Either you can go into the Med and hit the BB (if an egypt attack was tried, and failed on G1), knock out the DD/Trans off China’s coast (land UK ftr in China with US FTR/2inf/Russians). Borneo can be an option with your CA/Trans, but any troops away from India can provide early termination for India. It’s a risk, but high risk, high reward. So your only other options is to run to pull the Japan fleet off station or block.
US
Japan SHOULD NOT attack PH. It’s got priorities, and PH can no longer be afforded. If Japan realizes what is happening, or the Solomons by the UK utterly failed, it may position its fleet to prevent a US incursion there. But this gives up a strong initial push into Asia. If Borneo fell, it may come down to a bigger balls contest because the Japan Fleet could position itself in Borneo within striking distance of the Solomons, but the US may just say f it and go anyways…helps if Solomons fell for US to consider moving south). Did your EUS fleet survive? If so, shame on the German player for letting 22 IPCs slip into the Pacific. So, with that being said, the US buy: CV,2DD,2SS (or you can go CV/BB/DD or CV/2DD/SS/2inf, etc).
You probably won’t have any combat as the US. If you fear the Japan fleet from hitting you at the Solomons, you’ll have to wait a turn, but this could cost you momentum. Get your fleet there (also take your trans to help load up in the Solomons). This begins the shucking needed to take the cash islands from Japan. Get your Bomber and 3 FTRs there as well (only the one EUS FTR won’t make it).
Knowing this you may want to use the DD and the EUS FTR to see if you can clear any remaining German SS (if it is off Canada, you can land your FTR in West Canada, and still make it to the Solomons with your CV on US2). If not, send it along with your Transports to go through the Canal, and your CA goes to WUS to meet up with the Fleet. Start moving land units to the WUS (so you don’t have to buy any, but you can just pick them up in the transports too).
Everything should be placed in WUS.
Round 2 and on:
Russia can’t really defend against Germany with the amount of tanks bearing down so quickly. Your buys need to focus on inf/art for counterattacks. Save the tanks.
China won’t hold forever, so your troops there will may to withdrawal by R3, but they are the only reason Japan may not go after India, and that extra turn can make India from a defensive force to an offensive one. India by R4 (UK should have it fortified) will allow a withdrawal of any back up you had there.
UK continues fortifying India via inf/art and Fighters via the UK. Eventually, if things are going well, UK3 or 4 you should look into a tank. Do not go offensive unless you have good numbers. The aggressor in these battles on 42 when its close always seem to eat it in the end, so take advantage, but don’t overextend. Hit and runs work well too. If you saved cash on UK1, this may have helped prevent an all out assault on WRUS by Germany, and now you should have money to drop some naval (especially if planes are out of position).
The US needs to begin helping Russia on US2. Look at beginning to split your buys on US2 (if German SS presence is heavy off your coast, you may have to go more EUS than WUS. From here on out it’s continue to buildup in the Solomons and shuck troops and ships there for strikes. Hopefully US3 or US4 you can hit targets (US2 if you are really lucky). Eventually you’ll only be buying troops to shuck to the solomons, and liberating Africa and other points of interest.
Be mindful though. You are on the clock. R7 you will find yourself pinched. The goal is to see Moscow hold till Round 8. After that, it’s all bonus time.
This is my thoughts on a weak KJF move (because I feel you HAVE to fight in Africa/Med to save Russia). Most people who aim the other way look at 4DDs with US1.
If you are still having issues winning with the Allies, just eliminate the Karelia complex. It may be just enough to slow down the German advance (be mindful you will need an inf there to block blitzes since the IC is gone).