Mare Nostrum

[Afrikakorps]

Introduction
This is an alternative Italian strategy that is focused on controlling the Balkan, the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Mussolini has convinced Hitler that Germany needs a constant oil supply, that will be lost as soon as Operation Barbarossa starts and thus Russia no longer supplies Germany (the $5 NO for peace). Especially when deep into the Russian territories, this will provide major problems when not secured before. Therefore Goring and his Luftwaffe have been assigned in securing Egypt and the Mediterranean so new oil supplies can be opened before the Germans will pursue their mission of ‘Lebensraum’. Together with the help of the Luftwaffe, Mussolini has promised Hitler to supply the Wehrmacht with the much needed oil for the long push into Russia.

Strategic Goal
Use the Luftwaffe in the initial turns to help Italy secure Egypt. The European Axis will focus on getting their National Objectives, especially those based on oil, as soon as possible to empower Italy in particular. Italy will make strategic use of Greece to invade Southern Russia while Germany will take the northern route.

Rational for Strategy
Even with a full push for Moscow with maximized can openers of Italy, normally Moscow will be able to hold because of the UK fighter inflow. Secondly, even while Moscow might be conquered, the Axis still need Cairo to win. Cairo might be fortified by the UK and USA at that time (G9-10) and result into a stand-off. Taking over Egypt as early as possible has great benefits for the Axis, as it allows Italy to reign over the Mediterranean as it becomes very difficult for the UK to reinforce their troops, it gives the $5 for Germany and most importantly: it gives access to the Middle East oil fields. Therefore this strategy assumes that using the Luftwaffe for taking out Egypt in G3 or earlier will result into victory for the Axis. As soon as Egypt is destroyed, the Luftwaffe will return to assist in the attack on Russia. This strategy is designed for those Axis players that want to make Italy an interesting power on their own (doing something else besides can-opening).

However Italy will not stop after Egypt has been conquered, its mission is to secure oil for the German push into Moscow. This is based on that taking the Caucasus can be done by any Axis player to get the NO, and the Middle East also gives Italy the bonus as Germany. Therefore it would be better to let Italy focus on taking over the Caucasus and Middle East, while Germany focus on breaking and besieging Russia. While it can advance into the Middle East from Egypt, it will primary use the Black Sea to control Southern Russia via a factory in Greece.

NOTE: I assume standard Toronto play with 2/3 of Italy fleet defeated. In case of UK opening moves, this strategy can work out differently based on other opportunities.

1. The Hunt of the Bismarck
In order to give Italy their National Objectives as soon as possible, Germany will strafe its Bismarck and mobilize its fleet to S112 in order to attack Morocco in G2. There is a big possibility the UK will do all it can do in its power to hunt the Bismarck, losing several of their spare planes or ships while doing so. The crucial things to understand as Axis is that the Bismarck will be used as a pawn, as a distraction. If the UK focuses on taking out the Bismarck, they focus less on taking out Italy, which helps Italy a lot in their fragile first turns. You give the Italians a great gift by their second NO in I2 and trading UK air for German ships.  You might even be able to get the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen in the Mediterranean, but realize that these ships are not important for the conquest of Russia and overall victory of the Axis. You could build an Aircraft Carrier in G1 and use two fighters to reinforce the small fleet, but these fighters and this carrier will be unable to attack Egypt in G3 and are therefore not a good investment in this strategy.

2. West Africa
Italy will take Gibraltar in I1, securing their first NO with a Cruiser and Transport (1 Tank and 1 Infantry). In most cases the French Infantry from French West Africa will move to French Central Africa in F1. If the passage through Gibraltar is free and the Tank and Infantry are not a must in the assault on Egypt I2, invade French West Africa for $1. In I3 you can take the Gold Coast and two other countries as you can slip past the French because of blitzing for another $3 to give essentially a fourth NO.

3. Greece
Greece will be used by Italy to access the Black Sea and therefore Southern Russia and northern opening of the Middle Eastern oil fields. In order to protect the Italian transports, build an airbase where Germany can station three fighters. These fighters defend both the Black Sea as S97 against the USA in later phases of the game.

4. Middle East
With Egypt fallen and the UK Pacific crippled as soon as possible (JDOW1) the Middle East will not be heavily fortified. This changes when the UK realizes the defense of Egypt is impossible against the Luftwaffe and retreats to the Middle East. In any case, the prime mission of Italy is to conquer the Middle East. With the Mediterranean secured in the early turns this will lift Italy to around $30 income. With the Middle East Italy is able to become really powerful with around $50 income.

Germany
Germany helps Italy as much as possible with their navy and air force in the initial three turns combined with a G1 attack on Southern Russia. They will attack the S91 cruiser and S106 destroyer + transport and attack Morocco in G2. They load two infantry on the I1 built transport and build a transport in G2. All Luftwaffe goes to attack the UK and protect the Italians and in G3 you attack Egypt with all planes and 4 infantry. However, Germany will not waste any of its income (besides a transport) to ships and mainly builds land troops to be able to conquer Leningrad G4 or/and be able to break Bryansk in G5.

Japan
Japan will help Italy by being very aggressive and crippling the UK Pacific in its first turn while doing the Pearl Harbour attack on the USA. This will force the USA to focus on Japan, allowing Italy to become expand fast. In case the USA focus on Italy, the Japanese will secure a win in J6. Most likely however, the USA will first focus on Japan giving Italy some space to grow.

Germany
G1: 2 Bombers, 1 Submarine
G2: 5 Bombers
G3: 9 Tanks
G4: More Bombers

Japan
J1: 3 Transports, 1 Artillery
J2: 1 Minor Factory in FIC, 1 Naval Base, 1 Transport, 1 Artillery, 1 Infantry
J3: 1 Minor Factory in Malaya, 3 Artillery, 5 Infantry
J4: 6 Mechanized Infantry, 10 Infantry

Italian Builds
I1: Save Income
I2: Minor Factory in Greece
I3: Airbase in Greece, 2 Transports in S100
I4: More Troops

Italy Turn 1

Purchase new units
1 Transport

Combat Movement
Greece with 1 Bomber, 1 Tank, 2 Infantry
Yugoslavia with 2 Artillery, 2 Infantry
Gibraltar with 1 Tank, 1 Infantry
Tunisia with 1 Mech, 1 Artillery, 1 Infantry
Alexandria with 1 Tank, 1 Artillery, 3 Infantry
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan with 2 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Kenya with 1 Infantry
S93 with 2 Fighters, 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine
S92 with 1 Cruiser, 1 Transport (1 Tank, 1 Infantry

Noncombat movement
3 AAA from Northern Italy to Rome
3 Infantry from Rome to Northern Italy

Place new units
Transport in S97

Collect Income
$17 Income
$5 National Objectives
$3
= $25

Italy Turn 2

Purchase new units
1 Minor Factory in Greece, 2 Tanks

Combat Movement
Egypt with all possible land troops and air force to weaken it for G3 attack
French West Africa with 1 Tank, 1 Infantry
Algeria with 1 Mech, 1 Artillery, 1 Infantry
Congo or Tanganyika if possible with 1 Infantry

Noncombat movement
3 AAA from Northern Italy to Rome
3 Infantry from Northern Italy to Yugoslavia

Place new units
Factory in Greece, Tanks in Northern Italy

Collect Income
$20 Income
$15 National Objectives
$1
= $36

[Ichabod]

How do you play G40, is it in face-to-face games or on triplea?

[Arthur Bomber Harris]

Usually I will leave the Bismarck alone as the UK. It is annoying later on, but going after it can jeopardize Egypt, as you mentioned.  Taking out some of the German subs in the Atlantic takes priority.  I don’t see how Egypt magically falls early on with this plan, unless something goes horribly wrong on UK1. A skilled opponent should have just enough forces that you couldn’t take it without large German sacrifices.

As Ichabod asked, are you playing enough quality opponents?  The tripleA games are much better for testing out strategies because calculating battle odds and outcomes becomes much easier. You also can sit and analyze options for an hour, something that is too frustrating in face to face matches. Hence, you can’t count on players making significant tactical errors.

[Afrikakorps]

Thanks for the replies, I play face-to-face games. While I am tempted to eventually install TripleA so that I can play Axis and Allies more often and test all these strategies several times. I do detest starting to use a battle calculator as the game will turn into a statistical exercise while I prefer the deception and luck aspect of war. Nevertheless I agree starting to play online to help me improve the strategies. I do play alpha 3+ as version.

However, how do you see Egypt not falling?

Egypt
7 Infantry, 2 Artillery, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Tank, 1 AAA, 1 Fighter, 1 Tactical Bomber

Possible reinforcements
2 Infantry India, 1 Infantry Syria

I2: 5 Infantry, 2 Artillery, 1 Tank, 2 Fighters, 1 Bomber
G3: 4 Infantry, 5 Bombers, 4 Tactical Bombers, 4 Fighters

[Ichabod]

Germany can take London or Cairo if it wishes. You just have to play the game to see if the squeeze is worth the risk. Sometimes it is. Dice results impact many plans quickly too. If Germany isn’t doing what it’s supposed to do to reach Bryansk on round 5, Russia might be able to afford expensive purchases like tanks and artillery. At which point it might make sense for the US to gear up to land 10+ transports in Europe (instead of KJF) since Russia is growing stronger. Then let the German air force suicide itself into Cairo (Italy walks in) so that it has no air light saber to deal with the western allies’ landings.

I prefer axis. I mostly play triplea live. Sometimes I play through the forum (which is slower because you post your moves and have time to study it like Arthur Bomber Harris (ABH) mentioned). I’m not as good as league players like ABH are but I think I hold my own in live. I’ve gotten a lot better since he beat me 2x with a 30 IPC bid about a year ago.

If you think triplea is just a statistical analysis, you’re missing much. I can understand why you might not like the battle calc. But it gives the allies a chance. You’re less likely to have all of these scenarios described where the allies just fall back while the axis just waltz in. That just doesn’t happen in triplea live. Just because there is a battle calc doesn’t change the fact that it is still a dice game. Often people forget that. You could have a 91% chance of winning a battle with 5 units left over, but once the dice is thrown those odds can go poof quickly. A whiff by the attacker and a strong 1st defense roll and now those winning odds are gone.

[MarshmallowofWar]

@Arthur:

Usually I will leave the Bismarck alone as the UK. It is annoying later on, but going after it can jeopardize Egypt, as you mentioned.  Taking out some of the German subs in the Atlantic takes priority.  I don�t see how Egypt magically falls early on with this plan, unless something goes horribly wrong on UK1. A skilled opponent should have just enough forces that you couldn�t take it without large German sacrifices.

It always amuses me how the “a miracle happens here” box gets left out of these plans. Quite often the poster is used to playing only against a particular style of play, or against particular opponents, and the plan falls apart with a little analysis from someone who thinks differently from the posters’ usual opponents.

Marsh

[Ichabod]

@Afrikakorps:

Collect Income
$17 Income

Quite often Italy collects less than 10 IPCs income on turn 1. Often there is a UK carrier and a couple other ships in sz 97. Sometimes 1 fighter on the carrier. So, a lot of Italy’s money is convoyed turn 1. This of course effects their following purchases ect….

[Imperious Leader]

NOTE: I assume standard Toronto play with 2/3 of Italy fleet defeated. In case of UK opening moves, this strategy can work out differently based on other opportunities.

Do also assume the axis get a bid in G40 and that money goes to some Italian naval assets? like say bid at 12-20?

[KaLeu]

It’s ‘Taranto’, not ‘Toronto’. Taranto is in Italy. Toronto is in Canada.

[Lil Blue Spider]

@Afrikakorps:

Italian Builds
I1: Transport
I2: Minor Factory in Greece
I3: Airbase in Greece, 2 Transports in S100
I4: More Troops

Italy Turn 1

Purchase new units
1 Transport

Combat Movement
Greece with 1 Bomber, 1 Tank, 2 Infantry
Yugoslavia with 2 Artillery, 2 Infantry
Gibraltar with 1 Tank, 1 Infantry
Tunisia with 1 Mech, 1 Artillery, 1 Infantry
Alexandria with 1 Tank, 1 Artillery, 3 Infantry
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan with 2 Infantry, 1 Artillery
Kenya with 1 Infantry
S93 with 2 Fighters, 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine
S92 with 1 Cruiser, 1 Transport (1 Tank, 1 Infantry

Although I have only just registered, your post sparked my interest since I love tinkering with strategies in the Med and the Middle East ever since starting to play this game. This certainly is an unorthodox idea, even for me!  :-P
I do have a couple of questions though. Mainly because you assume both a very passive British player and, it seems, some very lucky dice rolls on your part.

On your first move, you try to take Greece with your Strat Bomber and the troops from Albania. That is a battle of two 1’s, a 3 and a 4 against four 2’s. Not very much in your favour… yet detrimental to your entire plan should it fail. Now you mention you do not like calculating battles, but if I put this one through the calculator anyway, you only have a 65% win. What’s more, the average unit left is close to 1, meaning you will have to sacrifice your Strat Bomber most of the time in order to claim Greece. That does not make for a very good Italian first turn I would say.

Furthermore, you plan to take Algeria, which will by then have 2 French Inf, with your leftover(!) troops from Tunisia: 1 Mech, 1 Inf, 1 Art. Not only is that fight only marginally in your advantage again, this is assuming you lost nothing before. If you did, its at best an equal fight, at worst a French overweight.

There are more examples of this, but you get the general idea now.

Besides this tendency to overestimate your own rolls and underestimate any possible counter moves, you also make some straight out errors. As pointed out by others here, there is likely a left-over British fleet in S97. I assume the Luftwaffe takes this out for you? This does however mean like they pointed out, that you gain less income and cannot possibly build a transport in S97 on I1 right - unless I am mistaken and missed some rule?

Last, I am puzzled as to what Germany does exactly. You mention building a transport on G2. Then how does Germany do an attack on G3 with 4 infantry?

[Arthur Bomber Harris]

Agreed with your observations of assuming a passive UK opponent along with good luck roles. Knowing my typical round 1 luck, Italy would get one hit in Greece while the defenders get two. Now you are mad as heck because the territory is going to be a pain to capture and you missed out on a bunch of income. Also, having the UK do nothing in the Horn of Africa in the first round is uncommon.

Throwing in reality, I only see Egypt fall 5% of matches between good opponents. It usually only happens when there is awful luck. I don’t see anything special in this plan that would give it a much higher probability.

Afrika Korp, I like your energy and atypical thinking. It can take you far when you more thoroughly probe outcomes. Don’t expect to find an amazing plan where you likely look at the board on turn 4 and say, I WIN. Instead search for strats that give you a minor tactical edge early in the game that can be slowly widened to a strong position by turn 7 or so. Often the game is not determined until Turn 14-17 when luck hasn’t tipped the match one way or another. I know that you detest TripleA and fully recognize that face to face matches are more fun. Having said that, the only way to get bovine-level openings is through countless matches against good opponents. Players will carefully battlecalc exactly how many troops need to end up in Egypt on turns 2 and 3. Just one more fighter or a couple infantry can make a huge change.

[Omega1759]

He likes to blog about the game and mix history with it. It’s a form of entertainment I suppose, as opposed to siting down and playing!

[Arthur Bomber Harris]

I started playing through the strategy with a relative standard UK move in the Med area:  a successful Taranto sunk the SZ97 fleet with the loss of a cruiser (about average).  Ethiopia also fell on UK1, with the help of a transport from India along with a cruiser bombard.  Net cost: 1 infantry.

Italy responded with the proposed I1 move, succeeding with a lucky Greece attack but failing badly in Yugo with the very weak amount of forces sent in there.  Tunisia fell with no casualties.  At the end of turn 1, Italy collected 7 PUs.  Convoy raids cost 5.  This leads them with too little money to buy that planned I2 factory in Greece.

By turn 2, I have the following Allied forces in Egypt: 7 inf + 1 mech + 3 art + tank + tac + 2 fighter + bomber

If Italy attacks on I2, there still will be 9 units left in Egypt.  Building an Allied airbase in Egypt also wrecks the plan.  Now on to Germany:  you will likely to have lost 4 planes during the first couple of rounds of attacks.  That leaves you with 9 German planes.  I also only see one transport that can reach Egypt on G3.  There is a good chance that you could take the territory IF you are willing to sacrifice your entire German air force to achieve the goal.

Delay the attack by another round and the Uk forces in Egypt will grow much bigger with additional fighters flown in and ground troops transported over.  You aren’t taking it unless you devote almost nothing into the Russia campaign.  I don’t think that is a wise plan since you also have to deal with America who can build mostly transports because Germany sacrificed too many planes.

Perhaps you can explore the details of building an aircraft carrier on G1, bringing it into the Med by G3, and then launching attacks of opportunity starting on G4.  If you can keep the Med clear, you get an Axis bonus, can deny UK a bonus, and prevent those pesky convoy raids against Rome.

[MarshmallowofWar]

Perhaps he doesn’t build with Italy on I1, which would give him enough for a factory in Greece. But why bother? He already has a 13 unit capacity in sea zones 96 and 97…

Baffled…

[Afrikakorps]

Thanks for the feedback!

I plan to eventually start playing TripleA. I indeed love writing about it and looking at the board for things to try out, but only play twice a year. This will be my last strategy for now, soon will try them.

Some reactions:

We now had two games in a row the Axis (not me) took Greece in its first turn, however I see the point. Three lucky hits and Italy is toast. As Greece is crucial to the plan, I will need to to look how to do this.

I indeed forgot UK navy convoying!

Ethiopia is very uncommon in our play, only I have used it so far. Usually UK pacific liberate Itan as soon as possible. I should be prepared however.

G1 attack the UK cruiser for the med, S110, S111, S106. Reinforce Tobruk with two fighters. I could also reinforce Italy with 2 fighters and a tactical for scrambling. Especially with the cruiser taken out this might complicate things for the UK1.

G2 attack med fleets, morocco, luftwaffe lands in africa.

The Grand Strategy is that the Axis Europe are in a much stronger position to attack Russia when they have control over the oil fields. In order to control the oil fields you have to secure the two gateways (Egypt and Caucasus). This gives Germany extra income but especially Italy benefits most and becomes a third major Axis (instead of minor). If I have to adjust my buys, or wait for my attack on Russia, that is OK. However, I do not want to buy fleet for Germany besides 1-3 transports to attack Egypt from Southern Greece.

I could also DOW4 with Germany and build
G1: 2 bombers, 1 sub
G2: 4 bombers, 3 transports
G3: 10 tanks
G4: 10 tanks

That gives G3 attack on Egypt all 3 infantry, 3 artillery, 8 bombers + all surviving luftwaffe.

Also very important: when Egypt / Middle East is secured by the Axis, the UK can not send stacks of fighters to Moscow. Therefore taking Moscow as Germany will be easier than normal.

[Omega1759]

G1 attack the UK cruiser for the med, S110, S111, S106. Reinforce Tobruk with two fighters. I could also reinforce Italy with 2 fighters and a tactical for scrambling. Especially with the cruiser taken out this might complicate things for the UK1.

You attack S110, S111 with what?

How can 2 German fighters make it to Tobruk, 2 fighters to Southern Italy and one Tactical to Southern Italy? None of these planes can attack 110/111.

I do this G1 as well and the Death Star clears out the Med!

[Cow]

My opponents won’t play Allies unless they have a 24 bid now a days.

It is really hard to bust Egypt when the Allies place 2 subs 2 Arty 1 mech

[Afrikakorps]

@Omega1759:

G1 attack the UK cruiser for the med, S110, S111, S106. Reinforce Tobruk with two fighters. I could also reinforce Italy with 2 fighters and a tactical for scrambling. Especially with the cruiser taken out this might complicate things for the UK1.

You attack S110, S111 with what?

How can 2 German fighters make it to Tobruk, 2 fighters to Southern Italy and one Tactical to Southern Italy? None of these planes can attack 110/111.

I do this G1 as well and the Death Star clears out the Med!

Lol tobruk OR southern italy

S110 = 1 sub, 2 fighters, 3 tactical bombers, 2 bomber
S111 = 1 sub, 1 battleship, 1 fighter, 1 tactical bomber
S106 = 2 subs
S91 = 1 sub

France = 1 tactical, 1 fighter, 2 mech, 6 infantry, 2 artillery, 4 tanks
Normandy = 1 infantry, 1 artillery, 1 tank
Southern France = 1 tank, 2 mech
Yugoslavia = 7 infantry, 2 artillery, 1 fighter

I see indeed miscalculation, only 2 fighters in rome, no tactical bomber

[Lil Blue Spider]

Again, you are spreading yourself way too thin here!

S111 = 1 sub, 1 battleship, 1 fighter, 1 tactical bomber

-> Scottish Fighter Scrambles, making it a fight slightly in the favour of the British. (2, 4, 3, 4 against 2, 3, 4 and 4, but you will lose one 4 if your fighter has to go down).
In S110 you are bound to lose a fighter.

Normandy and especially Southern France are gambles and you will likely lose a lot in France itself especially if that AA hits something. S91 is not in your favour either.

Not to mention that in this plan you would be sending 3 German transports without any form of escort down. With the RAF (or even the French fighter from London) looking for every opportunity to take that down, you would only really be safe if you stuck to Italian seas and a scramble there. But then, that defeats the purpose of sending them down in the first place.

Not to mention this would all leave London free to do as it pleases with 2 transports and 2 destroyers left and no real worries about the Luftwaffe which you send down to the Med. And Russia might also just go more aggressive as long as it sees you are not in a position to attack yet and stack on your border.

Do not get me wrong, I favour an empower Italy strategy. But you try to do everything at the same time and that usually means all will fail or succeed with marginal troops left over. The advantage that Axis turn 1 have is a sheer might of numbers. Do not easily discard that in your plans. Overpower, do not go for even fights where the allies stand a chance with a good roll of the dice.

[Afrikakorps]

I could send another sub to S111 instead of S106, however because of the strafe and the importance of killing the S106 destroyer + transport (as otherwise gibraltar might be reinforced I am not sure if it is worth it. I could also leave the cruiser of S91 alone for another hit on S110. However killing that cruiser might mean NO taranto. Also scrambling in S110 usually means, no taranto, especially when there are German fighters in Rome.

I can lose 1-2 planes in G1. However in a S110 trade and therefore stopping taranto I am able to trade, as I do not have to use those planes to mop up S97 in G2.

I could stall both Normany and Southern France for a turn and wait patiently for G4 to attack Egypt so that the atlantic ships (bismarck) can protect the transports. The normal fighters can not attack the transport, however that british bomber is indeed able to sink them before they arrive in Egypt.

London has 1 transport and 1 destroyer in the atlantic but I will have build bombers and the German fleet is still in the Atlantic at the start of G3.

The plan is based on the quote of a fellow Axis and Allies player

The best way to force your hand in Egypt as Germany is to land heavy air Tobruk first turn (atleast 2 fighters).  Build two bombers G1.

Italy moves into Alexandria I1 no issue, or obliterates the allies stationed there.

G2, Build all bombers again, and land ALL planes in Alexandria (or bombers in Rome).   You should have 12-14 planes in Alexandria and upwards of another 5 in West Germany.  Egypt cannot stop a G3 air blitz; and UK cannot counter the italians in Alexandria.  At best the british can run.  (which happens 3/4 times).  Bombers can be used against the Russians G2 during attack if necessary.

• If the british run, Italy walks into Egypt I2; Germany builds mech and continues terrorizing Russia.  Land enough German fighters in EGY to hold against british counter attack.

• If the British try to hold, Italy can strafe for a turn, or if it makes most sense - Germany alone pounds Egypt into dust G3.

The cherry on top - if you load a german infantry G2 into an Italian transport, it can land on a subsequent turn for the +5.

Yes - this manuever is expensive; and costs air power.   But it also costs the UK it’s traditional airpower arriving in Russia, and gives the Italians a huge boost.

If America does not intervene, Italy becomes a monster.  If America does intervene, Japan becomes a monster.

This is why I usually prefer to skip Taranto, and nuke Tobruk as allies now.

I could go for the strike on Egypt in G4 with 4 more bombers and the Atlantic fleet joining the amphibious assault if G3 is not a good idea.

G1: 2 bombers
G2: 5 bombers
G3: 4 bombers