some time ago i had this plan as following:
the discussion about it you can find here:
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=20472.0
it is not absolutely clear-cut, but i think worthwhile thinking about. at the time it was made there was only OOB-rule in action. maybe it works better with alpha 2+ since fighters can scramble from any coastal territory with an airbase in it.
but, i think this one can be optimized to a real bad strategy, bad for russia, of course! :D
let us assume the britisch fleet is sunk, france conquered. the G1-build is three transports and a destroyer acompanying the fleet in sea zone 112 (Battleship, cruiser, transport). this all sums up to a considerable force able to threat the uk and russia at the same time, hoping the british is bulding up a home defence with more infantry than fleet components.
If you build a naval base in finland in G2, is it possible to use it in the baltic sea sea zone 115 as well as in sea zone 127. i am trying to plot a shuck-strategy from western germany to russia in the north sake of widening the frontline deep into the russian north.
instead of trying a sea-lion you go to finland via the baltic sea with the complete fleet in G2 buying mostly infantry with some artillery and a naval base in finland! (and subs for naval “defence”), return to sea zone 112 in G3 building the same as in G2, you can land in G4 in northern russia (novgorod, karelia, archangelsk, nenetsia).
in G1 there come two infantry to norway with the first transport. finland gets activated by the two infantry originated from norway, counts up to six infantry. in G2 more eight (maybe a tank, artillery etc.) to finland. in G3 more eight troops from germany to norway with the fleet on the way back from finland. in G4 once again, but this time to novgorod!
in total: 32 troops in scandinavia! (23/24 in karelia etc., eight in norway)
If you attack in G3 to conquer karelia and vyborg germany should have 16 troops available to achieve this. meanwhile it should be clear to conquer and trying to hold the baltic states, just for the tanks getting trough there to novgorod in G4 etc. therefor the massive infantry builds in G1 and G2.
at the same time germany should be able to bring in 15/16 troops to novgorod from the north, eight with the fleet plus troops from the baltic states, mech infantry, tanks, airplanes (all of them).
russia can sum up not more than 20 infantry, three planes (two fighters, one tactical bomber), three artillery, some tanks (depends on russian buys).
what do you think? is it a good idea or just waste of material?
what counter-strategies could be applied? is the building of a naval base in finland too obvious?
what specific buys for germany, the uk and for russia would you suggest? etc.
how should italy assist? from I1 on bringing troops to southern russia or not?
i think this strategy is useful for a real attack there or just for feint it. so it could be possibly make it a lot easier to go through the ukraine instead, because the russian troops have to mass in the north seeing a big attack coming.
if it successful, russia would have lost more than two thirds of its army, leaving a lot territories open to be conquered.
rock`n roll! :D