Strong Germany Opening in Africa

[Guest]

Ansbach,

I struggle with this opening move every time. The problem I have with this first move is that although you save your planes, you still have to go after that BB on G2 and you will lose a plane (or two) in attacking it without fodder. If Britain goes the AC/US planes route then you are possibly losing 3 planes in 1 turn. The question I ask for myself is: are 2 infantry in Algeria worth losing planes?

I think not, especially when you have “Sea Fodder” to support your first round attacks. Which brings me to another issue I would like to ask everyone’s opinion on.

What is the German response (G2) to the British AC with US planes and possibly 2 TRNs?

I am a fan of going for it immediatly and with everything I’ve got. I won’t go more than a single round for I can usually score enough hits to take out the TRNs and the AC in one round and anything more would take more planes. I’ve seen other people wait a round or two to either build subs to take the hits or build more planes to even the inevitable loss. I think this is just prolonging and I believe it is better to get it earlier than later to avoid US reinforcement and almost a total loss to German air.

Thanks in advance.

[Ansbach]

I agree with your reasoning but not your tactics - losing 3 German fighters on G2 is almost suicide…

Tactically, I’m the opposite of you - I never go after the UK AC & transports with just German air units. I also leave the BB alone if it went north. The German fighters are needed too badly on defense! By keeping all 5 fighters alive, I can usually hang on to Western Europe for the game because I can keep 2-3 there and 2-3 in Eastern Europe. Sometimes I will buy one more so that I can send one down to Africa. The rest of my money is all infantry - if you buy all infantry every turn and keep all of your fighters alive, Germany can hold out for a long, long time…

Basically, I think that unless the Allied player makes a mistake you are better off saving your fighters for defense and conceding the survival of the Allied fleet early. Instead I hit it in the mid-game with Japan.

If you decided to hit the BB on G2, use 4 or 5 of your planes and you should lose 0-1 fighters. I think trading a German fighter for the UK battleship is debatable, which is why I usually let it escape.

[TG Moses VI]

Yes they can, but you will either get an AA roll at it - which gives you about a 40% chance of shooting down the bomber altogether - or it will have to land in Syria which Germany can hit heavily on G2.

You can just fly around the AA gun… though I doubt many players use Active AA-guns. Besides can’t that bomber land in the Caucacus?

If UK doesn’t purchase an AC but instead sends the BB to reinforce their fleet, will you attack it with your ftrs then?

[GeZe]

@TG:

Where?

if you buy a 2 transports and a tank in italy then you cam transport 2 infantry and 2 tanks to africa.

[TG Moses VI]

Whoa, buying two transports! Now you’re just asking for trouble. Trust me, the Russians will be upon you before you even get a chance to use them. :)

[Ansbach]

@TG:

You can just fly around the AA gun… though I doubt many players use Active AA-guns. Besides can’t that bomber land in the Caucacus?

If UK doesn’t purchase an AC but instead sends the BB to reinforce their fleet, will you attack it with your ftrs then?

I think over half of online players do play with AAA, and yes, the bomber can also land in the Caucacus - but that could also be a little risky for the UK.

You are right, you can pretty much write of the transport - you will almost definitely lose it to either the UK bomber or the Gibraltar BB. But it’s main function is to protect the German BB and Transport in the Eastern Med from the Gibraltar BB. If it survives that’s just a bonus.

I would probably still leave the BB alone if it made it back to the North Sea - the fighters are more important to Germany in the early stages of the game than in the later stages, so I would still wait and hit with Japan later on…

@TG:

Whoa, buying two transports! Now you’re just asking for trouble. Trust me, the Russians will be upon you before you even get a chance to use them.

I agree 100% - bad idea!

[TG Moses VI]

I think over half of online players do play with AAA, and yes, the bomber can also land in the Caucacus - but that could also be a little risky for the UK.

Yea, I for one like to play AAA (esp when I’m Axis), though I know other players will not (-> looks at TM :roll:)

I would probably still leave the BB alone if it made it back to the North Sea - the fighters are more important to Germany in the early stages of the game than in the later stages, so I would still wait and hit with Japan later on…

German ftrs. are ALWAYS the single greatest deterant. :)

[Yanny]

Sorry I didn’t reply sooner, internet connection is so slow I only have time for 6-7 posts a day.

I like your plan, with one fatal execption. That Lone UK BB, its a 2hb remember? Don’t want him on the loose. It could take out that transport with ease. And, if you decide to attack it, and the BB hits, your going to either a) Lose a fighter (if you send one) or b) lose that second Transport.

Personally, I leave Egypt for G2, and mop up the British Navy to the last ship (except India) first turn.

And your right, allowing that Sub to live is a huge mistake.

[GeZe]

@TG:

Whoa, buying two transports! Now you’re just asking for trouble. Trust me, the Russians will be upon you before you even get a chance to use them. :)

well if your willing to risk it use my strat and do a full out invasion of russia with all your air force

[TG Moses VI]

Lose your airforce, lose the game. The flak is heavy over the skies of Karelia. :-?

[GeZe]

I’ve never tried my strat but I might experament

[Yanny]

Full out invasion of Russia doesn’t work. Japan needs awhile to weaken Russia first

[Yanny]

I agree with SUD on one point here, a US IC in Finland can be very scary indeed. Will make Japan’s job that much harder.

I prefer to just transport 4 inf a turn into Africa (buy 1 Trn T1) for as long as possible. Trick is to try and get the Allied airforce out of position so you can keep those transports there. Remember, Bombers can hit Central Med. from Karelia, and still fly back there in relative safety.

[TG Moses VI]

I was kind of hard reading SUD’s post… :(

[Yanny]

I’d like to hear the man talk, he’d make my head spin. And damn, I hope I don’t have to end up playing him.

[TG Moses VI]

Yeah… I don’t mind long post. But I would like them to be a bit more organized if that isn’t asking for too much. :)

[Guest]

Wad e zay?

[TG Moses VI]

Maybe SUD would like to explain it against to patient listeners? :)

[GeZe]

maybe bid 2 trannys of italy and then buy a tranny and a sub to protect?

[TG Moses VI]

bid 2 trannys of italy

Sorry… could you run that through to me again? :)