General UK Strategy

[Blitchga]

In order to be back on topic, I tend to build up cruisers and a destroyer for the Atlantic which will move to the coast of Morocco on the turn that the US is about to move their allowing the US and UK to combine fleets against the Germany and/or Italian counter attack. I then try to bring 2 land units from Canada a turn into Morocco. I will also make sure that I can place 3 land units into Union of South Africa, most often a tank, a man and an artillery. Occasionally I will also put a minor factory into Persia as well.

As soon as I can I will build the Strategic bomber force in London to two bombers in order to keep German fighters out west to defend the factories, naval and air bases that I bomb every turn. If I can I will send my fighter escorts to force Germany to have even more fighters.

[calvinhobbesliker]

Okay then. UK builds 2 bmrs. Now your BB and CC and transports are threatened with 3 ftrs, 2 bmrs. French CC remains in Z112 as a blocker. If you build ships to defend, that’s less transports you can build. Alternatively, I can build 1 bmr, 5 inf and move the tac to UK, threatening it with 3 ftr, tac, bmr.

[calvinhobbesliker]

@Blitchga:

In order to be back on topic, I tend to build up cruisers and a destroyer for the Atlantic which will move to the coast of Morocco on the turn that the US is about to move their allowing the US and UK to combine fleets against the Germany and/or Italian counter attack. I then try to bring 2 land units from Canada a turn into Morocco. I will also make sure that I can place 3 land units into Union of South Africa, most often a tank, a man and an artillery. Occasionally I will also put a minor factory into Persia as well.

As soon as I can I will build the Strategic bomber force in London to two bombers in order to keep German fighters out west to defend the factories, naval and air bases that I bomb every turn. If I can I will send my fighter escorts to force Germany to have even more fighters.

I assume you build a Tr, inf, and tank in Quebec a turn? Does this start after US enters war?

[Blitchga]

@calvinhobbesliker:

Okay then. UK builds 2 bmrs. Now your BB and CC and transports are threatened with 3 ftrs, 2 bmrs. French CC remains in Z112 as a blocker. If you build ships to defend, that’s less transports you can build. Alternatively, I can build 1 bmr, 5 inf and move the tac to UK, threatening it with 3 ftr, tac, bmr.

The fighters and tactical do not have the range to attack until the turn that the German fleet moves out to take London on G3? You also wont have a carrier to block with as the German luftwaffe and sub force would hunt or push away away any naval blocking units.

[Blitchga]

@calvinhobbesliker:

I assume you build a Tr, inf, and tank in Quebec a turn? Does this start after US enters war?

Sort of I try to get two transports going and then I simply build two infantry for the transports and a destroyer a turn (IPC permitting as the 3 units for the Unions of South Africa are more important)

I will also take the transport that is in Canada and immediately move to take Brazil on UK2. I find that two IPC and 3 infantry to be much more useful for the UK player than the US, especially since the US has to wait until war has been declared to take Brazil.

[marechallannes]

I try to get the control of North Sea/North Atlantic as soon as possible.

_(You don’t need bombers to reach less/non escorted German transport builds in SZ 113

Buy a CV in SZ 110 and send the figthers.

Sunk 3 german transports last game.)_

UK 1:

First I send the DD, TRN from new Brunswick to UK and unload on UK. (Hoping to kill a german sub on the defense.9
Attack the Italian fleet and meet the french ships mit the CV.

Taking Persia with the Egypt-Trn + Art to get the additional infs.

Don’t like minor in Egypt.

Depends on wether I need the CV- build in SZ 110.

Produce a Trn at South-Africa + Inf + Art, DD in Canada and Inf + Art in UK.

UK2: Ship builds in UK, Ground forces in South Africa.

Try to sink the last italian ships in the med. Sea.

Slow down the italian ground-forces in North Africa.

Preparing for a combined amphibious assault with US forces vs. Normandy in UK 4.

[Blitchga]

@marechallannes:

I try to get the control of North Sea/North Atlantic as soon as possible.

_(You don’t need bombers to reach less/non escorted German transport builds in SZ 113

Buy a CV in SZ 110 and send the figthers.

Sunk 3 german transports last game.)_

of course however if three transports were built off Berlin you cannot get those ones. As well if UK has put enough planes into London to be able to build two carriers and get through the German battleship and cruiser then the UK player has not been silly and I do not need to embarrass them. I am not saying this is what I do to a UK player who does not defend London but rather one who does something other than maximize defenses on UK1.

[marechallannes]

“off Berlin” :?

Which Sea Zone do you mean?

[LHoffman]

Earlier you guys were all about buying DDs for UK… Why is this?

[calvinhobbesliker]

@LHoffman:

Earlier you guys were all about buying DDs for UK… Why is this?

To sink German subs

[LHoffman]

@calvinhobbesliker:

@LHoffman:

Earlier you guys were all about buying DDs for UK… Why is this?

To sink German subs

What if they don’t have any subs? What if there is only 1 or so left after G1… which is the typical case I have seen. Even if there were a couple, you only need about 2 destroyers because then your planes and other ships can attack them too, and since subs suck on defense, the probablitity they get hits on ships is not good. I don’t see the point in spending money on so many of them. I know there are proponents of Destroyer and Sub fleets… but I don’t see the great application.

[calvinhobbesliker]

@LHoffman:

@calvinhobbesliker:

@LHoffman:

Earlier you guys were all about buying DDs for UK… Why is this?

To sink German subs

What if they don’t have any subs? What if there is only 1 or so left after G1… which is the typical case I have seen. Even if there were a couple, you only need about 2 destroyers because then your planes and other ships can attack them too, and since subs suck on defense, the probablitity they get hits on ships is not good. I don’t see the point in spending money on so many of them. I know there are proponents of Destroyer and Sub fleets… but I don’t see the great application.

Well, most of the time, Germany still has 2-3 subs left. A smart German player will build a sub in the Baltic to stop the UK NO. However, DD’s are the cheapest defense for a fleet except carriers.

[LHoffman]

@calvinhobbesliker:

Well, most of the time, Germany still has 2-3 subs left. A smart German player will build a sub in the Baltic to stop the UK NO. However, DD’s are the cheapest defense for a fleet except carriers.

In my experience, G1 typically leaves 1 or 2 subs, as Germany is forced to take hits on them. And yes, I agree that building one for the Baltic is smart. But there is really no way to get to it until late in the game.

My only argument against buying them is that England, again in my experience, does not need defense on the seas. I mean, they do, but the German player does not typically attack the British ships after G2 because it becomes a waste of their air force. In which case, cruisers or battleships are better for thier bombardment capability AND their defense capability. And you are right that carriers even more superior in fleet defense… all the more reason to buy one of those instead.

I guess this is just my personal strategy. I never buy large numbers of destroyers, and I only buy them singly when I see a direct sub hunting need for them.

[calvinhobbesliker]

@LHoffman:

@calvinhobbesliker:

Well, most of the time, Germany still has 2-3 subs left. A smart German player will build a sub in the Baltic to stop the UK NO. However, DD’s are the cheapest defense for a fleet except carriers.

In my experience, G1 typically leaves 1 or 2 subs, as Germany is forced to take hits on them. And yes, I agree that building one for the Baltic is smart. But there is really no way to get to it until late in the game.

My only argument against buying them is that England, again in my experience, does not need defense on the seas. I mean, they do, but the German player does not typically attack the British ships after G2 because it becomes a waste of their air force. In which case, cruisers or battleships are better for thier bombardment capability AND their defense capability. And you are right that carriers even more superior in fleet defense… all the more reason to buy one of those instead.

I guess this is just my personal strategy. I never buy large numbers of destroyers, and I only buy them singly when I see a direct sub hunting need for them.

The problems with buying CVs and BBs are that they are expensive and useless if Germany does Sealion. I prefer spending money on at least 2 tanks a turn in south africa.

[LHoffman]

@calvinhobbesliker:

The problems with buying CVs and BBs are that they are expensive and useless if Germany does Sealion. I prefer spending money on at least 2 tanks a turn in south africa.

No, I do agree. But I am not thinking about a Sealion here. I’d like to see it in practice so I can formulate ideas on it, I don;t know if I like it or not yet. But my thoughts for the Royal Navy are for a non-Sealion game. At least non-Early Sealion game.

My current game is the first in which I have played as the Allies, and as Britain we made sure to budget 6 IPCs a turn for a tank in SA… two would be even better. I think that is a necessary element to hold Africa. That plus a UK1 Taranto… we did that too and it worked brilliantly. Italy has been a non-factor in our game because of it.

[Blitchga]

I always have destroyers to regain control of the Atlantic. Germany (and even Italy can help in this) can build 2-4 subs a turn and easily wrestle the Atlantic away Britain and even delay the US if it is done right. If both Italy and Germany concentrate and some subs and strategic bombers they can virtually delay the US for turns after they enter the war. I wont go into details as I have written them down before.

As for what SZ I mean when you build out of Berlin I am talking about SZ 114. The transports can easily still get to London and are completely safe from attack until the SU enters the war which shouldn’t be happening if you decide to go after London.

[calvinhobbesliker]

@Blitchga:

I always have destroyers to regain control of the Atlantic. Germany (and even Italy can help in this) can build 2-4 subs a turn and easily wrestle the Atlantic away Britain and even delay the US if it is done right. If both Italy and Germany concentrate and some subs and strategic bombers they can virtually delay the US for turns after they enter the war. I wont go into details as I have written them down before.

As for what SZ I mean when you build out of Berlin I am talking about SZ 114. The transports can easily still get to London and are completely safe from attack until the SU enters the war which shouldn’t be happening if you decide to go after London.

Z114 is 2 turns away from invading London. If, on G2, you move then to Z112, I can kill the fleet with my airforce. If you put it in Z113, I still attack it with air and build carriers to land on

[marechallannes]

“off Berlin” is out of range for Sea Lion.

So I’am right to catch less/non escorted TRN in SZ 113 with a CV new build.

[Blitchga]

Look obviously this is not the post and if you don’t believe me then play me and do a non-defensive build and I will show you exactly what I mean. I have done it several times and know that it works. Stop putting it in with the “I am going to do sea lion no matter what” strategies as that is not what I said it was. I said that if UK does NOT defend itself then you can embarrass them by taking their capital.

[marechallannes]

@Blitchga:

As for what SZ I mean when you build out of Berlin I am talking about SZ 114. The transports can easily still get to London and are completely safe from attack until the SU enters the war which shouldn’t be happening if you decide to go after London.

We are talking about UK-strategies and possibilities to knock out german transports.

Does not matter if the transports go for Russia or UK.

But in SZ 114 the transports aren’t a danger for UK, but save from UK air strikes, that’s right.