If you can add several bid units to same area, then yes - 2inf 1arty in Ukraine are way better than 1 fighter there.
And even if not, 2inf 1arty can help several theaters - like arty Libya, inf Ukraine, inf Belorus (or EEu).
German Factory in Ukraine Turn 1
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Has anyone ever built a factory in the Ukraine on Germany Turn 1? The problem with the Eastern front has always been logistics. Why not a factory right next to the caucus? Please let me know what you think. I know this takes a lot of much needed troops away, but is it worth it?
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Germany usually does not own Ukraine on G1 to be able to build an IC there…
If they do own it on G1 and build an IC there, Russia is stacked so heavy in WR and Cauc that the Germans could never hope to hold the IC on R2 or R3.
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Ukraine can be taken by the USSR first turn, but what about the idea of a forward IC in general? I am having a hard time seeing how I am going to win as Germany. My current plan is to build about 10 infantry and two tanks first turn. I want to take out the british med fleet with my fighters and bomber, but then I feel as though I am too weak on the Eastern front. Dealing with Africa, watching your back door in W. Europe and slugging it out East seems very difficult to pull of successfully. I have read the basic germany strategy on the homepage, but I feel that leaves you very weak for a Russian offensive.
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You can take out the Med Fleet, but not the North Atlantic Fleet.
You need to save your German AF for hammering the Russian front (they lack AA protection for the most part in the advance territories).
You also need to think about keeping the Baltic Fleet alive to give pause to the Royal Navy.
Solid INF builds, with the units walking toward the Russian Front backed up by 4-7 German Aircraft with with stack of 6+ ARM poised to take advantage of any major weaknesses is your best bet as Germany.
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In order to take out the med fleet and attack Egypt you need to send just about all of your air, correct?
Doing so, makes me feel that the eastern front is very weak. I like having all of the landed fighters and bomber in N. Africa and W. Europe because it forms a wasps nest for any potential torch landing attempt. I guess i’m going to have to take a gamble, go air heavy in the med and leave myself weak in the east for a turn. Is it more imporant to secure the med fully and be weak on the eastern front? What about just taking out the DD near the Suez and leaving the BB?
I do not plan on buying the CV for the balitc fleet, but I do want to use them to delay any africa or archangel reenforcement. Any suggestions? If I try the consolidation with my sub from the atlantic I am open for air attack. I don’t think the UK would be dumb enough to bring any ships with me having 3 subs and a first shot.
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You do NOT want to let the sz13 BB live. Ever. Even if there are no bid units in Libya and you have to send the sz14 fleet to take Egypt instead of Gibraltar you will want to send the sz8 SS and 3 or 4 fighters to kill that BB. The last thing Germany want’s to do is allow the UK to have 2 BB’s in the Atlantic or give him the opportunity to sink the Med fleet with 1 bmb, 1 fig, 1 BB on UK1. Letting that BB live is worse than not attacking Egypt on G1.
And don’t worry about not having enough fighters to complete all of your attacks. If you aren’t planning on building a Baltic CV, Germany will have more than enough units to be able to sacrifice an armor or 2 trading with Russia on G1.
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My current strategy thanks to your input (everyone) is to build about 10 INF and 2 ARM first turn.
My attacks will Be Karelia from Norway and an amphibious assault from W. Europe.
Take out the Med BB with fighters and SZ 8 Sub
Take out the Med DD and storm Egypt.
This leaves me with kind of a wasp’s nest of fighters and bomber in the med that could destroy any UK or US landing in Algeria.
My fear remains that the USSR can mount a serious counter offensive on the Eastern Front.
On turn 1 is it wise to move your baltic fleet north to block the route to archangel?
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on Germanys first turn
unless you go to ˝all out attack upon USSR˝
buy an AC
and destroy the UK vessels plus USSR forces in the east
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@Francis:
My fear remains that the USSR can mount a serious counter offensive on the Eastern Front.
On turn 1 is it wise to move your baltic fleet north to block the route to archangel?
Depending on the results of R1, Germany sometimes can stage in Karelia (i.e. Ukraine goes badly for Russia or Germany gets more than typical defensive hits in West Russia) Also depends on the buy for R1. A 3 inf, 3 tank R1 buy USUALLY puts a G1 stack in Karelia out of the question. A defesive buy R1 (like 8 inf) might allow the stack of units in Karelia, but if it might be close, THEN you might want to keep the UK transport from SZ2 from joining the BB to do a one or two unit softening up of the German ground forces, enabling a R2 attack into Karelia.
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@Amon:
on Germanys first turn
unless you go to ˝all out attack upon USSR˝
buy an AC
and destroy the UK vessels plus USSR forces in the east
There is a wide variance of opinion on the value of a German Baltic fleet.
The safer play is all ground units. Some German players like the Baltic fleet if the set-up in the east against Russia is favorable for German naval expenditures.
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I would lke to answer the Question, about blocking the UK from an attack into Karilia on UK1.
I always sacrifice a sub from the Baltic fleet and place it off of Norway to prevent the UK from either softening up or taking back Karilia. i find that this allows my Infantry one turn to catch up, and I can usually hold Karilia for several turns, and deny the UK or USA as well from re-inforcing there or even trying to go heavily into Norway for 4 or 5 turns, which means I will get income from them for 4 or 5 turns as well.
The problem is, you have to abandon western europe. Of course it will turn into a trade zone with each sie taking its’ turn on capturing it, but you will usually get it back in the trading process for 5 or 6 turns at least. Meanwhile, get as much as you can out of Africa. Make them come after you with full effort. This means less pressure on your european territories for 4 or so turns. More time to build for the push against Russia. The Eastern front is a chess match. Position is everything! Get your big stack where it can threaten the most while still being out of reach from a combined, albeit staggered, Allied attack.
Some players prefer it to be in Eastern Europe, after pulling back from Karilia, while others like the Balkans better. Belorussia is too close to the front for me unless I have at least 3 turns of full infantry builds in my stack.
As far as the fleets are concerned, they will die, at the Allies whim. All you should do is hope they get some hits when they go down.
Well, good luck, and have fun! :wink: -
Crazy Ivan,
Thanks for the advice. My current plan is to go Africa heavy in order to get the IPCs and to either discourage the allies from attempting an African Campaign, or in your words, force them to go all out to get it back. My concern with this was taking my luftwaffe out of the eastern front, and therefore being exposed to a potential joint strike at my largest eastern army from Russia and the Caucus.
A compromise for this was to go heavy in Africa, and leave all my aircraft within striking distance for any landing in Algeria. My next part of the plan was to consolidate my eastern front into a large army located in the Balkans. While this forsakes the Ukraine for a turn, it also keeps your forces from being attacked from Russia and the Caucus jointly. If I have a small army at Karelia, then the Russian army will have to divert some attention north.
Turn 2 would either be me smoking any forces landed in Africa, or flying my planes to the E. Front to lay waste to Ukraine. My big problem is that any pressure left off of Russia really makes taking Moscow that much harder. If Russia is gaining IPCs then I believe Germany is in Trouble.
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As far as the Russian front is concerned, Germany dosen’t have enough left after R1 to do much with out there. It will take a couple turns to build up and press forward. I usually leave 1 Inf per territory on the Eastern front just to make the Russians fight for them, and build my stack in EE. My first tun builds are: 1 panzer, 5 artillery, and 5 Infantry.
I put the panzer and 1 Inf in southern europe and the rest in Germany.
But that is my strat, to give my Infantry more attacking power.
one Infantry + one artillery= 4 attack points for a cost of 7 IPC.
one Infantry + one Armor = 4 attack points for a cost of 8 IPC.
After a few rounds those few extra IPC will add up.
Of course, it is not as sexy as Panzers running around so I get a tank or two every round, as they do well in the defending department later on.
Good luck in your game.
Crazy Ivan :roll: -
@Francis:
Crazy Ivan,
Thanks for the advice. My current plan is to go Africa heavy in order to get the IPCs and to either discourage the allies from attempting an African Campaign, or in your words, force them to go all out to get it back. My concern with this was taking my luftwaffe out of the eastern front, and therefore being exposed to a potential joint strike at my largest eastern army from Russia and the Caucus.
A compromise for this was to go heavy in Africa, and leave all my aircraft within striking distance for any landing in Algeria. My next part of the plan was to consolidate my eastern front into a large army located in the Balkans. While this forsakes the Ukraine for a turn, it also keeps your forces from being attacked from Russia and the Caucus jointly. If I have a small army at Karelia, then the Russian army will have to divert some attention north.
Turn 2 would either be me smoking any forces landed in Africa, or flying my planes to the E. Front to lay waste to Ukraine. My big problem is that any pressure left off of Russia really makes taking Moscow that much harder. If Russia is gaining IPCs then I believe Germany is in Trouble.
In G1, I usually use only one fighter on the Russian Front using the other to take out UK fleet and Egypt. Aircrafts used in Africa may land in Libya and from there they can support attack in Ukraine in G2.
I usually attack Karelia in G1 and Ukraine or Belorussia, stacking my army in EE. Following two turns I switch territories with Russia (Karelia, Belorussia and Ukraine) trading units with Russia. Buying a lot of infantries and panzers Germany will strengthen his position. If Russia is so gentle to come in range of my EE army I will strafe it down to a couple of units.
For the 4th turn Japan should be in position to attack Moscow and then in G4 I try to prepare for moving to Ukraine my main German Army. A large stack of infantry in Ukraine give to Russia a big problem. Both West Russia and Caucasus are threatened. Russia may:- defend both, then Germany may attack one of them in the following turn;
- defend only one (for example) West Russia, then Germany, depending on the board relative position, may advance or send a picket force;
- pull back from both territories for stacking Moscow;
During this turns the main objective for the Kriegsmarine is to hinder the UK, USA fleet movements. I do not spend nothing for naval units, buying only infantries, panzers and stukas.
Usually, I do not buy any artillery, attacking structures based on infantry and artillery matched one to one, are more subject to skew than infantry/panzers attack structure. Few artillery together with the stack of infantry are useful, however, so after the buying of inf and panzers if some IPC are left convert some infantry to artillery is useful for increasing the attack punch. -
For the 4th turn Japan should be in position to attack Moscow and then in G4 I try to prepare for moving to Ukraine my main German Army. A large stack of infantry in Ukraine give to Russia a big problem. Both West Russia and Caucasus are threatened. Russia may:
- defend both, then Germany may attack one of them in the following turn;
- defend only one (for example) West Russia, then Germany, depending on the board relative position, may advance or send a picket force;
- pull back from both territories for stacking Moscow;
Wow, 4th turn assault on Moscow for Japan? That’s very agressive and usually indicative of poor allied play out against Japan. A compentant allied player can delay Japan with strong pull back moves as well as possible counter-attacks via tanks based in Moscow.
I think more that your point is that you would hope to be able to push on Russia from both the east and the west of Moscow at the same time.
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Yes Axis_roll, I have not expressed correctly the concept! Sorry!
Thanks for your obervation.I intend that for 4th turn Japan is able to start the assalt towards Moscow. I do not mean that Japan is near the Moscow territory. Usually Japan is still 2 (or 3) territories away from Moscow territory in the fourth turn.
But in the fourth turn the Japanese should be able to increase the pressure from the east and IMHO a good move for Germany is to increase also pressure from the west. At same time something should be tempted to slow the UK/USA from giving support to Russia.My overall idea is to not going head on against Russia in the first turns but wait for Japanese support. I think that is better to attack from both sides the Russia. Germany, in some cases, may conquer Moscow alone, but generally an help from Japanese make the operation more quick.
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Even if Germany holds Ukraine early, better build 5 more inf instead in Germany/Italy and march them east. 2 turns later, they arrive (compared to 6 inf Ukraine could have built by then).
It’s more flexible so, because the 3 inf in Germany and 3 in EEU or Balkans are adding to the defense of their ‘pipeline’ and can reverse at any time if needed.My preferred 1G build is 12inf 1arty = 40 IPC. Tanks are good to add later or replace the slow flow, creating a ‘cumulative charge’ in which 4 turns of production arrive over 2 turns to overwhelm Ukr/Caucasus/Moscow.
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You do NOT want to let the sz13 BB live. Ever.
Orly?
Evar?
Nevar?
Sarah Michelle Gellar?
I would say that the UK battleship at Gibraltar and Anglo-Egypt are Germany’s two most crucial battles. But that’s only if Germany doesn’t have a decent chance on securing London. True, that’s almost never. But that’s ALMOST never. Not “never ever”.
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@Francis:
Has anyone ever built a factory in the Ukraine on Germany Turn 1? The problem with the Eastern front has always been logistics. Why not a factory right next to the caucus? Please let me know what you think. I know this takes a lot of much needed troops away, but is it worth it?
You get all kindsa weird strats, and a lot of German strats get cooked up. You oughta join the Caspian Sub Yahoo group. Building a factory in the Ukraine is what I think they refer to as the Donut shop. Or the Hot Dog Stand. Or something like that.
I am of the opinion that you never want to build an industrial complex with Germany, barring extremely unusual circumstances. If you build an industrial complex, that’s 15 IPC that you didn’t spend on infantry or tanks, and you probably want an AA gun there, which takes time to move up. You then have an additional point that you need to defend.
If the Allies are landing in Western Europe or containing Germany in some other fashion, then you need units in the west anyways, in which case you’ll want tanks at Eastern Europe to defend Eastern Europe and threaten any Allied landing in Western Europe. 15 IPC is three less tanks you can use.
If the Allies aren’t landing at Western Europe or messing with Germany (i.e. killing Japan), then you have to crack Caucasus before Japan feels the pain, probably using S. Europe’s fleet starting G3-4 to support. Once you crack the Caucasus, you have a 4 unit production center on Moscow’s doorstep. So why not build an industrial complex then? Because even then, you have a S. Europe battleship and transport; 16 IPC buys two more S. Europe transports that can drop right into any number of territories (Ukraine, Caucasus, Anglo-Egypt, Trans-Jordan), giving the Germans far more flexibility, and two fodder transports can help against light Allied air attacks on the Med fleet.
So what happens if the Allies didn’t land at Western Europe or land troops at Norway/Karelia, and built a big fat load of fighters, which can blow up the Med fleet? Well, then, just build a hell of a lot of tanks with Germany, and bust Moscow in the face; Moscow can put up a spirited defense, but with Japs in the East and Germans from the west, you start seeing Axis tanks traded for Allied fighters, which just isn’t a good deal for the Allies.
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@Francis:
My current strategy thanks to your input (everyone) is to build about 10 INF and 2 ARM first turn.
My attacks will Be Karelia from Norway and an amphibious assault from W. Europe.
Take out the Med BB with fighters and SZ 8 Sub
Take out the Med DD and storm Egypt.
This leaves me with kind of a wasp’s nest of fighters and bomber in the med that could destroy any UK or US landing in Algeria.
Usually you park 1 fighter 1 bomber at Libya (they can’t go anywhere else after hitting Anglo-Egypt and/or the UK destroyer), and park others at W. Europe. If you park at W. Europe, you can trade some European territories and land back at W. Europe, or you can start the W. Europe/E. Europe (or whatever the second territory is) fighter split. You do the fighter split so you can trade territories with Russia; if the Allied navy gets close, half the fighters can hit, if the Allied navy gets closer, all the fighters can hit. You do not park air in Africa usually.
My fear remains that the USSR can mount a serious counter offensive on the Eastern Front.
Oh noes, they have people. with guns! imma get in my tank and drive away! Well of course Russia’s gonna try to mess with you. But there isn’t a whole lot you can do about that anyways. What would you do to try to shut the USSR down on G1? You can’t do it. So just do what you CAN do.
On turn 1 is it wise to move your baltic fleet north to block the route to archangel?
Move the Baltic fleet out as a group, and it gets totaallly fried by Allied air/navy. Doesn’t help that the UK can drop at least a transport in as fodder (they don’t HAVE to send the UK battleship, and if they don’t, you can’t blow the battleship next turn with German air). Just leave the Baltic fleet where it’s at. Let the UK blow it up. If the UK uses air on it, fine, the UK loses fighters, so what if you traded 36 IPC of navy for 10-20 of fighters; you weren’t gonna do a lot with most of those ships anyways. I mean yeah, some ppl go for a German Baltic carrier on G1, but I’m not really a supporter of that.
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