Strategy: Operation Stall

Thanks again for the input.

We ended up getting through 5 rounds, the game is still set up. We are hoping for a Saturday/Sunday finale…

As for what I did, I opted the can-opener route with Italy and purchased mech and tanks for the first 3 rounds. Had to switch to Infantry for rounds 4/5 as the US hasn’t hit land yet but have 12 TT’s and planes and bombers ready to hit anywhere now that Germany’s last DD blocker has been wiped out. Italy did well opening for Germany and I am at the gates of Moscow ready to go for it on G6 although I am not 100% it can be taken thanks to a UK stack of fighters. If I don’t attempt it Russia is gonna get 12 more Inf, 2 AAA from the Soviet Far East plus 3 more UK fighters. And, as I said, the US is going to hit hard.

I bet that it will be fun and that it is possible to learn a lot. But honestly I don’t have the time to spare for another game.

We play with four people via mail with about one turn per week. So it is a quite slow game. Some people play and test their turns a lot, but I mae my turn in 30min without double checking.

I will try it next game I play, probably use it for Italy, since they need the Navy the most.

Our army knives are bigger than their army knives though. Waaay bigger.

You’ll have to consider whether you can hold at least Cairo while much of the US forces would be away to deal with Japan. The problem is that if you don’t do anything about Japan, it will just keep growing. Hawaii and Sydney seem safe for now, but you’ll lose the economic game if you maintain the stalemate situation in Europe while ignoring Japan. In fact, if you were playing a good human player, you’d most likely lose this game for that reason. Against the AI it will take longer, but generally it does a decent job building land units and sending them towards the enemy. Which, in Japan’s case, will be Russia. So if you keep on doing what you’re doing now, Russia will fall.
It’s at sea where the AI’s main weakness lies, but Anzac alone can’t keep it in check. In fact, that Anzac fleet at the Carolines is counterproductive, because the AI will see the direct threat to Japan, and keep Japan defended against a force of that size. So if Anzac can afford it (I don’t know about the state of the Japanese navy), it would do better to start eating at Japanese possessions that are more remote (maybe the Dutch East Indies), and the AI will start shipping troops away from Japan to use them elsewhere. Once that happens, you can sail your US invasion fleet to Hawaii. But make sure you have enough to defeat anything they build (10 units) plus any planes they may land.

A naval base may help to quickly transfer your Atlantic fleet, but it’s better placed in Southeast Mexico if you want one in that region. And remember that when your transports are in SZ 101 (US east coast), they can reach Hawaii in two turns anyway.

On a side note, the AI will typically fall for the old Denmark trick (US takes Denmark, UK sails in to take a poorly protected Germany). And a UK plane on a US carrier may also do you some good in killing some unprotected transports.

Our group has played with India and UK as seperate parts of the Commonwealth (Global 39 has the FEC {Far East Command} and the uk seperate}).  The allies have to work together and nt compete against each other.  The ANZAC player already has to share the DEI with India if either of them are going to have any real income to work with.  India and UK can work together as seperate players.

AS for the thread, build destroyers in Canada to hunt subs to work on your NO (no German Uboats in the Atlantic).  Also, bomg Germany in West Germany, Paris, Normandy…where ever you can hit them.  You may not be able to ivade effectively by yourself but you can harrass the German player enough that he has to pay attention to the Uk as well as smash the Soviets.  Landings in Norway and fortifying it takes away from Germany and opens another route to aid the Soviets.  Securing the Northern flank can help Leningrad or if need be retake it for the Soviets.  Zhukov44 was right.  Don’t lose Cairo.  Trops build in South Africa of tanks and mechs can help hold Cairo and even destroy the North African Italian army.  A IC build in Cairo, once secured will help limmit Italy and secure a route for US troops the attack the soft underside of Europe (usually not that well defended by the axis).  One last thing is hold Gibraltor if possible.  Building and air base there and sending some fighters can make US entry into the med so much easier.  It also  allows allied ships into the med to keep the Italians from their Med naval NO if the British med navy didn’t fare so well.

Correct, interceptors and escorts are not an optional rule the way they are in A&A 1942.2

@ItIsILeClerc:

What Barney said will probably work fine, since you seem to have a pretty solid plan.

I can give two answers to your questions though, but please keep in mind those things work for me, not necessarily for you too.

1. I never ignore the Siberians. I kill them, chase them down, or screen/defend against them, depending on what Russia did and what my own plans are. Since Russia moves before Japan, I adapt accordingly. Sometimes it’s even worth it to allow them 1 or 2 turns into Manchuria/Korea if you can kill them/force them to retreat later on anyway (no later than 3rd turn after), because this keeps them away from Moscow and ‘upsets’ Mongolia.
Good thing to know: Japan can take down China + India completely without the troops from Manchuria/Korea. IJAF has 21 airplanes and it’s OK to sacrifice ~4planes if this means killing the entire Chinese (or Indian) army.

2. Use them when you can ;-). Use them to deny USN shorebombardment or to strengthen the IJN if it comes under threat of an attack so stage it off Japan and/or Philippines.

I usually let russia go to korea, but make sure I can deadzone manchuria.  Especially good idea since korea is easily convoy raided.