Scramblers

I am sold on Norway as being the goal for Allied landings in Fortress Europa.

The benefits are many for the Allies.

Denies Axis 8 ipcs, immediately. More later. Allied planes can threaten Germ proper and the Baltic Szones. Finland is next on the menu and Being in Scandinavia the threat of German counterattack is low.
4.Takes Italian forces out of the equation mostly. Biggest reason, with AF and Harbor the Allies can threaten St.Petesburg and better support Moscow by ferrying Fighters over in 1 turn. Lastly, Germans best invest extremely heavy in both W Germ and Berlin defense. The opportunities for a one-two …USA then Brit strike are limitless. Every German point spent on Fortress Europa helps save Ivan in Moscow.

The hardest part of this Strat is a good Japan player may be able to win on that side of the map. Thankfully, good Japanese players are very rare. But they are out there.

@SeaYa said in Need help determining the fate of manufacturing in Kwangtung:

That’s an interesting point! The rules often refer to “originally controlled” territories, to which the national emblem markers are referenced, regardless of current occupation. I wondered if the phrase “Chinese territory”, without the explicit “original” verbiage allowed for a Chinese occupied territory to be considered Chinese.

The sentence I quoted above seems pretty airtight, especially in the context of the rest of the section.

I think it is a moot point in this case, as I believe the Chinese are restricted from building factories anyway, but an interesting point to consider: is a (insert power) territory only restricted to original territories when referenced in the rules, or, without the word “original” explicitly stated, does it also expand to include occupied albiet not original?

I don’t believe there are any other such instances in the rules. In any case, I would say not, as the rules often also refer to “X-controlled” territories.

@Krieghund That’s kind of what I was thinking, too. Thanks!

I agree with a post that Mashmallow posted earlier, there is no guarantee that you are going to get that NO for a clear med, you should not even rely on that one. The Italians have so many uses, on the ground, with actual IPC earning territory’s that those planes can be used for, you need to weigh out their impact in the med versus potentially taking Egypt, steam rolling Greece, building an actually strong can-opener force in Russia, and even Protecting Rome.

The last few games that I have played, when I am the Axis, I get my Italian partner to seriously evaluate the Taranto raid force. If it is the max force possible, and the UK is totally on point, I say scrap the scramble, focus on more attainable objectives. As a German player, I sure as hell don’t want to burn the Luftwaffe on an air vs naval clean up battle G2, where I can lose guaranteed safe hits against Russian ground troops once Barbarossa commences. On the other hand, If the UK doesn’t bring the max force down, or they don’t make a move to middle east with SA and India navies / units, and Italy looks like they might have some time to maneuver for a few rounds, then scramble all the way. I have seen games were Italy won the Taranto raid, and from then on became unstoppable in the Med, which in turn leads to Germany being able to achieve their full potential, and results in an Axis victory.

Italy unfortunately has to play the game, or at least start the game, being completely on board to support the Germans in whichever direction they plan to strike. A strong Afrika campaign with Italian air power can lead to Italy generating sufficient IPCs to gain a bit more control over their destiny. A successful Italian campaign in the middle East, or as a can-opener can have the same impact. Italy with zero navy, and zero air force, means they might as well stockpile Rome and prepare to defend Europe, there will be no expeditionary force.

Starting R7. Wild mood swings this game. couple turns ago thought Axis had it locked up. Turn ago looked like Allies were going to win. Italian and German one-two response last turn might have swung it back to even.

First five turns were a global battle over Persia with every country involved except US and surprisingly, Japan. The French destroyer was involved.

Now the global battle has shifted to Caucasus. UK pac getting too big for its britches in ME as Large Japanese fleet with 5 loaded trns pivoted to Java instead of heading north. UK Pac needs to decide this turn whether to keep going in ME, or head back to Calcutta.

Germany finally sent its tanks into Ukraine to link up with Rostov. Germany had been holding its tanks back since R3 when Russian bombers wiped them off the map. Red Skies going to wipe out the Ukraine tanks now. The Russian bombers have been holding Germany in check, but now Moscow getting it from other side so they will eventually reach Moscow - then bombers will relocate to Siberian troops to retake Moscow.

edit: this game was the most responsible I’ve ever played Germany - their entire G3 purchase was inf for western Europe. Normally that’s pretty empty. US/UK D-Day got pushed right back into the ocean because I had so many ready inf/art in adjacent territories. and now enough planes to go after the d-day fleet.

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@dazedwit said in The Afrika Korps:

@Afrikakorps

I have new ideas for this strategy.

G4 Sealion with all out economic warfare of convoys and SBR starting G1. The amount of money you can remove in first 3 turns is most of their income - lot less inf defending London. (The way you get there is up to you but new strat I want to try - buy AB and destroyer - you can also buy a trns or carry over the money. 2 subs to 106 - or if you’re frisky, one sub, and save the other to convoy 119;
2 subs to 91 to take out UK cruiser;
1 sub, 1 ftr to 109;
1 BB, 3 Tac, 2 ftr to 110

What would stop me from scrambling 4 fighters in SZ109, just wondering there is a verry good chance of killing both fighter and sub for just 1 destroyer ( or 1 fighter )

The BB in SZ110, can be attacked by the UK fleet of 1 BB 1 cruiser 1 destroyer with 3 fighters and 1 bomber. Could remove the bomber to do taranto, if you want to scramble 3 fighters in defence thats ok with me.

As UK gibastion is not an option now but you have a working BB in the area so id love to trade that for the german BB and a bunch of airforce.

Also 110 thats 1 BB 3 tacs and 2 fighters, so 3x@3 and 3@4 against the UK+scramble of 2x@3 and 4x@4 not a bad gamble for the UK to take either.

@teslas

Send subs to take out UK cruiser in 93

Kill the boats in 93 G1 and land the planes in Southern Italy. 2 German planes (if both survived attack on French fleet) now available to scramble against Taranto.

G1 - don’t land any planes in West Germany (air base) and leave the 1 trns you start with unprotected in SZ 113. The only thing that can hit the unprotected trns is the UK bomber. If they take the bait (lots of people can’t help but go after unprotected trns), then that bomber can’t take part in Taranto.

Italy needs to land in Syria turn one. ignore Egypt. You can take Egypt later.

If UK using Gibastion strat, Italy will have 2 good options on I1

If you would like to do a Sealion, send your entire fleet to Syria and land your two tanks/two inf on Syria. UK will cross the med with their planes and prob their boats too. Germany buys a bunch of trns next turn and UK too far away to do anything about it.

If you are not planning on Sealion, send your entire fleet to Syria and land troops on both Syria and Cyprus. Cyprus will prevent the ftrs on Gibraltar for attacking your boats. Cyprus will most likely deny UK NO for rest of game so that’s good too. (this assumes UK didn’t activate Greece).

hmmm, UK should activate Greece turn one if doing Gibastion. planes can land there if Cyprus taken