I’ve been thinking about a strategy to try in my next game as the Axis in which Germany and Japan both pull out all the stops to take Moscow.
Here it is:
G1:
Build 1 factory upgrade, 1 infantry, 1 artillery, save 3.
Attacks:
sz106: 2ss vs. 1dd
sz109: 1ss, 1ftr vs. 1dd
sz110: 1ss, 3ftr, 3tac vs. 1bb, 1dd
The purpose of these attacks is to eliminate Britain’s transports and destroyers while saving as much of the luftwaffe as possible for later use in clearing out the med and/or attacking Russia.
sz115: 1bb, 1ca, vs. 1bb
baltic states: 1inf, 1art (amphibious), 1bmr, 2inf
eastern poland: 5inf, 3arm
By starting the invasion on turn 1, you can take out 6 Russian infantry at minimal cost and begin reducing their income.
France: all available land units.
Non-combat moves:
All unused land units march towards Russia. 1 submarine moves to sz125 to block Russia’s national objective.
Placement:
Upgrade Germany factory, place 1inf and 1art in Germany. These units will be shipped to the front next turn.
Japan’s turn:
Build 1 air base, 1 transport, 1 artillery. If Russia moves their 18 infantry to Amur, replace the air base with something else.
Do all the normal China attacks except bring only 1 bomber to support the Yunnan battle. Hit Kweichow with 3 bombers if feeling lucky. Bring entire navy to sz6 and land all fighters and tactical bombers in Manchuria. Bring all available land units into Amur. Land the bombers as far north as possible. Place 1 air base in Manchuria. On the following turn, Japan will be able to hit the entire Russian stack unless they moved the 6 Buryatia infantry to Yakut on the previous turn.
Italy will try to accomplish its normal goals, but may wish to take Gibraltar as well to hold Britain back a few turns.
On Germany’s next turn, use the Luftwaffe to help clear the Med for Italy, if applicable. Build 9 armor, an infantry and an artillery. Continue pushing into Russia.
On Japan’s next turn, build a major factory in Kiangsu and hit the Russian stack. Take as many Russian territories as possible. Dump 8 land units into Korea and keep your entire Navy in the sea of Japan. The purpose of the Navy will be to keep America honest in the Pacific. If they ignore you, you can hit Hawaii and/or British Colombia on the next turn and move your entire air force to Japan in preparation for a follow-up landing. If the Pacific is barren, you should be able to do the British Colombia strike and land about 22 aircraft on the following turn, causing major headaches for the US. They should be able to fight you off eventually, but they won’t be hitting Europe in the meantime.
On future turns, Japan and Germany will push as many land units as possible into Russia with the goal of surrounding Moscow by turn 8. If the battle of Moscow looks bad, don’t take it. Better to keep them penned in and not a threat than to give them the chance to come back. Pump a few infantry or artillery a turn until the battle looks good, devoting all other resources to fighting off America and the British and to helping out Italy.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
