PART ONE:
Since the Germany thread is stalled until I hear from ncsswitch (until I hear whether he has a plan for controlling the Mediterranean with the Allies by G4 or G5), I am starting the UK thread. (Note that ncsswitch didn’t say that the Allies WOULD control the Mediterranean by G4 or G5, I just think that he might have a Really Clever Plan for doing so).
Key territories -
The sea zone northwest of London is safe from German fighters based at Western Europe, but is vulnerable to German fighters attacking from Norway.
The sea zone southwest of London is safe from German fighters based at Norway, but is vulnerable to German fighters attacking from Western Europe.
Anglo-Egypt is the key to Africa. If UK can prevent Germany from having one or two tanks in control of Anglo-Egypt by the end of UK1, Germany’s offensive in Africa can be severely diminished.
India is a territory worth 3 IPC. UK can potentially use this territory as a location for an industrial complex, which can either produce three ground units a turn (to wall the Japanese off), or to produce air or navy (to REALLY wall the Japanese off). Air and/or naval control of the waters around India is important, otherwise the UK makes essentially an Allied island in the midst of Axis-controlled territory.
E. Canada is a territory worth 3 IPC. If UK has an income of 33 IPC or more, it may be worth the IPC to build an industrial complex in E. Canada so UK can ferry 11 infantry into Germany. This is rare, though, and should only be done if UK can be certain of expanding yet further, or if UK already has a good stock of tanks, artillery, and/or air power. (often this can be the case, as UK can buy a few tanks in place of infantry each turn to use up more IPCs) The reason for this is that infantry are not good on attack by themselves, so UK should either get more income (so it can make some artillery or tanks), or UK should already have those artillery, tanks, and/or fighters, so it can use those infantry to best effect.
Norway is a territory worth 3 IPC. Again, if UK has a high income, it may be worth the IPC to build an industrial complex in Norway so UK can produce 11 infantry a turn. Similar as previously written.
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Since the UK is so wide-spread, the key for UK is really controlling regions, rather than specific territories.
An example, if UK can control Norway, UK will have a much easier time of controlling the sea zone northwest of London, which in turn means that the Allies can spend more on transports that will pressure the Axis, rather than carriers, which simply serve to defend the Allied transport fleets from aggression. Of course, more transports means that UK has a better threat against Norway . . .
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Also, the UK does not work well alone. This is true for all the Axis and Allied powers, but especially so for UK.
An example, if UK has an industrial complex in India, Japan can focus its power on India, and take control of it (after which Japan will have an industrial complex that is well suited to producing infantry for transport to Africa, or for moving quickly towards the Caucasus). However, if the US has produced a large Pacific navy, and is supporting Russia from Ssinkiang, Russia can afford to divert forces from Ssinkiang to India to help in India’s defense, and Japan will have to deal with the US navy, so will not be able to concentrate all its air and transports on India. (This is KJF)
Or, if the UK is attempting to help contain Germany, it would have to build air and navy to destroy Germany’s fleet, while also building ground units to move into Europe, all while Germany took away UK’s IPCs by taking control of Africa and threatened takeover of London. However, if the US has produced an Atlantic navy with transports, there will be a good number of US infantry moving into London (largely eliminating the takeover threat to London), and the UK can focus less on building defensive carriers, and focus more on building transports, infantry, tanks, and possibly fighters.
PART TWO:
Depending on what Germany did, the Atlantic may be more or less open to Allied control. One thing to watch for is an unreinforced German navy in the Baltic. If Germany built nothing for the Baltic, the UK may be able to destroy most of the Baltic fleet with an air attack. (But note that this detracts from the forces available to retake Anglo-Egypt).
(to be continued, because I forgot how many fighters UK starts with. I believe it’s four; one on the UK carrier in the Indian Ocean, two on the United Kingdom, and one on Anglo-Egypt. Is there another UK fighter on India itself?)
I’m rusty. :cry:
