Hi all,
Just finished a game as Allies trying out this strategy. Both sides made mistakes but it was an interesting game. We played 10 turns and it ended in an allied victory. Summary as follows.
Germany
Pushed as far as Moscow but lost everything in counterattack. Second push east stalled at Smolensk. Landed troops into Scotland but not enough to crush 25 defenders in London
USSR
Gradually withdrew forces and hit Germans with counterattack in Moscow with 20 INF 10 ART 4 ARM 2MEC FTR TAC which wiped out spearhead. Then continued to recapture lost territories. In last few turns arrival of UK ARMs and MECs from India helped relieve the siege.
JAPAN
T1 DOW against Allies. Spent whole game trying to fight 5 ways. (UK/ANZ/ CHI/ USSR/USA). Got above 50 for two turns then got knocked down to 35 for rest of game. USSR DOW on JAPAN on turn 2 allowed US to set up land bridge to Eastern Siberia.
US
Spent 100% of income for first 7 turns in Pacific. By turn 7 had totally blockaded Japan with 3 carriers 1 Battleship 2 Cruisers 7 Destroyers 14 subs. Japanese fleet was camped at Carolines. US Tanks were marching south into China. Japan was down to 2-3 territories on the mainland and 2 Islands.
Initially parked the fleet in SZ3. This is one turn from Sanfran and can shuttle troops from Alaska. by about turn 4 US was dropping 6INF 2ARM 2 ART per turn into Asia. Japan simply could not stop this assault.
China
Spent the game trading back and forth with Japan. Basically aimed at population control so that Japan could not get organised to mount a concentrated attack or respond to UK/US land forces coming from the North and South.
UK (pacific)
Built up fleet to 2 carriers + battleship + multiple cruisers/subs/destroyers. Spent the game advancing towards Vietnam and grabbing Islands when the Japanese fleet went North to deal with US fleet.
UK (Europe) Factories in Sth Africa and Persia pumped out as much as possible to hem Italy in. Basically frontline held in Central Africa/ Iraq. Late game had to turtle London, but held till US fleet arrived.
Italy. Got to 45IPCs due to UK not doing Taronto. UK forces withdrew to Persia and Central Africa. Italy took all MED areas but couldn’t expand. Late game Fleet entered Atlantic but wasn’t enough to challenge US.
ANZAC Grabbed NewGuinea then spent next few turns trading Java with Japan. Eventually ANZ navy got big enough that the combined 3 navies swamped JAPAN.
Conclusion.
The KJF did work but UK Europe and USSR both nearly fell to Axis. By allowing Italian fleet to survive in full they easily got all their NOs and grew to 45. If Germany and Italy had put 100% into Russia they probably would have won. but they were distracted by fighting UK in Africa, and then turned to London.
Overall I would use this strategy again but would probably not go 100% with US for so long. I would build Carriers for Europe to help UK establish a more credible threat against France by about T3-4.
UK production in S-Africa and Persia was a major factor in stopping Italian expansion and keeping them bogged down despite their growth to 45.