1> Yeah, I like to keep the German BB (maybe try hit & run), buy a carrier and add dd/subs over a couple turns. This forces the allies to delay by saying “We’re gonna need a bigger boat” (Jaws quote). The Italians are key in allowing the Germans to utilize the entire air force to hit the allied navy off Gib just as you noted (not always an option if the allies are paying attention). Bummer that the US was able to knock out the Luftwaffe in N Africa in your game :-( Of course Germany spending income on navy will also weaken Barbarossa, probably causing a delay sacking Moscow.
2> I could see a few inf to try to weaken the US landing force, but even 5-6 inf won’t do too much damage IMO. You’d be lucky to hit 2-3 units max so you are not getting good bang for your buck IMO (but it could have some effect because you would be def at 2, but most likely attacking at 1, so….). I get how you can have units in place, but you’re still counting on the counter attack to do the job after they have landed (including the UK), so not sure if you should weaken your force by spreading them out, and sacrificing some (those inf sacrificed could save your air force, or keep them firing in the counter attack). A good size stack in Paris is ideal, with another stack (including mobile units) in W Germany is still needed. I could see defending Denmark so they can’t 1-2 punch to rush the German capital though (depends on what the UK can bring, German navy in sz 112/113, your ability to scramble from W Germany to def sz 112/113, and units you might have in your capital if all else fails LOL).
The one thing that would concern me here is if they go for Spain, you would be out of position for an immediate counter attack, so having units in Normandy/S France would be key. They probably won’t have the strength to take out Spain, and both French coastal territories if you stack them, but that is another whole topic…
Honestly I haven’t tried to stack the beaches, too much to cover plus the game lacks an amphid defense IMO (I think that art could have been given a roll as coastal defense here, maybe even a simple first round pre-empt roll at 2 vs amphib, and attacking units are removed and don’t fire back when hit).
3> Like I said above, this is what we see most often. If you can’t take out the allied navy, then try to kill their units once they land w/counter attack from Paris/W Germany. Norway is always a target for the US, and 2-3 transports in conjunction with units from Finland/Leningrad and air power is the way to go (as you noted). As mentioned above, a US invasion of Spain would be a problem…
Good discussion, and it reinforces the fact that you need mobile units (mech) for an Atlantic Wall Defense. Also setting up “Fortress Europe” will take away from your Russian campaign. Hope Italy is in position to help def Europe, and Japan is making headway in the Russian back lands and Caucasus…