German Baltic Fleet

Using original rules, Germany has no real need for AA guns, especially with the 3 it already starts with. Russia will only have 2 planes for a while, since they will only be able to afford ground troops for the longest time. If it gets to the point where the Allies are attacking Berlin, Rome, or Paris the AA gun is irrelevant. I think the best is to keep one in Germany, one in either Southern or Western Europe (it can move around depending on the situation), and one out somewhere on the Eastern Front.

Most people would do it regardless if Ukraine fell or not, but if Ukraine’s FTR is still alive, use the BB to take out the DD, and take the bomber, Ukraine FTR, Libya units and two from Italy.  I don’t have my board, but I think its a tank/inf from Libya, and an inf/tank from Italy, so you have 2(1s), 3(3s), 1(4) vs and inf/tank/FTR (2/3/4)? This is why they may also put the Russian FTR in Egypt to give it that extra 4.  If you lost the FTR in Ukraine AND the Russian FTR is in Egypt, forget about Egypt G1.  Focus on destroying the CA and even the DD (BB for the CA, FTR/Bomber for the DD).  Load up in Libya on G1. The UK FTR and Russian FTR should retreat.

Be wary of one thing.  In an attempt to gain supreme dominance in the Atlantic, I get into a game of toying with the Russians.  Instead of loading my fronts, I actually pull back (I think in E.Europe), and offer bait to the Russians and see if they will land grab all the territories.  This sucks at first because it slows down Germany economy and gives the Russians money, but by spreading thin their lines, you can pour all your troops into one direction (north via Karelia/Archangel or south via Ukrain/Caucus) while Japan comes from behind via China and/or India.

It’s a trial an error thing.

I got tired of seeing the Axis win, so I thought, frak it, have the Brits buy carriers, and I support with nothing but fighters and bombers (since fighters can’t provide escort into Germany)….so the mo’fo brings all 6 Japan fighters to Berlin when I had Bombers into position.  At least the nuclear blast in S. Europe was beautiful. 
Done the 2nd Bomber.  I like it.
When I buy fighters, I stop buying subs…understand that the Brits can block it, but they’ll be expending cash they can’t afford…Besides, if they’re spending money to block my subs, who the hell is going to take out the BB?  The Russians?  They can’t afford to lose fighters.

I’ve played against two in the last month or so.

Game 1 -

R1 went badly - I had to retreat from Ukraine with the German fig still alive, and I took higher than usual casualties in WR.  G1 took out of the British BB in SZ2, and pretty much otherwise threw everything else (including the Med fleet) against the Russians, with slightly better than average dice.

On UK1 I built 3 figs, figuring that would be enough to (A) check against any Sealion and (B) take out the German Baltic fleet on UK2.  I took out the German Med Fleet with the UK med destroyer, the fig from Egypt, and the UK Bomber.  I decided to gamble on FIC with the Indian garrison, and got very good dice.  J1 was subpar, he took China, but with heavy casualties, and though he went somewhat heavy into pearl, he took several casualties, and was left with a bb, cv, and 1 fig there.

It was at this point that my brain literally fell out of my ass, and I said, “Let’s go KJF!”  (But only with the US!)  Long story/short, the US only KJF was doing okay, but slower than it needed to be.  Germany continued to spend most of its income on reinforcing the med fleet (bbs, more cvs, more destroyers, etc…), while the UK continued to build build build an airforce in the UK.  It took longer than anticipated to get a strong enough airforce with the UK to take down the German fleet.  When I finally got 80% odds, I went, and got horrible dice, and had to retreat after the first round.  Meanwhile, thanks to the R1/G1 results, Germany is pressing Russia.  Germany is sending all of its starting troops, plus a few scattered ground buys East.  Even though Europe is largely ungarrisoned, the allies can’t do anything about it, because the US is ignoring the European theater, and the UK can’t put a fleet down, allowing Germany to maintain a very healthy income.  Japan is slowly getting locked out of the islands by the US, but has overcome mainland Asian resistance, and started pressuring Russia.  Eventually Russia falls.  I feel like this is one of my worst losses in 1942.

Game 2 - R1 goes normal (took UK with a tank left, 3 fatalities taking WR).  G1 builds heavy into the Baltic, otherwise typical G1 moves (UK BB killed, takes AE with 2 tanks.)  As soon as I see the Baltic build, I slap myself and say, “Ignore Japan completely, KGF all the way.” UK1 buys 1 fig and nothing else, counters AE, and sit.  US retreats from the pacific, and makes a big naval buy on US1. ( R2 buys 4 tanks (+3 inf), and moves aggressively West.  UK2 drops huge fleet, reinforced by US2.  G3 tried to reinforce the Baltic fleet, but it was too little too late.  The UK reinforced on UK4 (while dropping troops into Norway), and was strong enough to take out the G fleet on UK5.  Pretty soon Germany is surrounded.  Japan advances quickly through Asia, but by the time it can secure Novo, Berlin has fallen to the British and the Russians are headed back home.

I don’t think the strategy is a long term winner.  It worked against me in the first game because I played very poorly, and even then had very bad dice in the key battles.  I was intimidated into some early ground buys with England early, which made the race against the German fleet tough for England to do alone.  Even so, had I just spent a turn buying fleet with the US, the allies could have easily secured the Atlantic.  Silly me.  :?

Right - I forgot about the sub in sz 8.  I’ve become accustomed to sending that sub after the defenseless UK transport off eastern Canada.  However, ensuring the destruction of the UK Battleship seems like a much higher priority.  Thanks.

To me it’s not a bad move if you only send the transports. The Germans will destroy them but you now have US ground units in the race for Africa.

That’s usually the way I play it. Especially if Germany is successful in Egypt. And like Hobbes said, if Germany decides to go after the US troops you’ve taken a turn away from it’s attack on Russia or the UK Navy.

Besides, it’s about the only thing the U.S. can do turn one. I’ve been teaching a couple guys how to play and it’s tough to tell the US players, who has waited almost an hour for his turn, to just make some buys with a plane movement thrown in there and wait another hour before it can do anything else (and there might not be much turn two either).

@nutbar:

Don’t focus on the US at all.

But what if the US focuses on you?  yeah there not a threat till a bit later but when they come you can’t ignore them

I like the Baltic carrier build. The case against it is that it’s five less inf moving towards Russia, but without a carrier, you’re going to use those Inf to defend the coast anyway. The only time I don’t build it, is if Russia’s first round attacks went really bad.