This is an interesting theory that has a chance to work (maybe a trick one timer). I think the play of Russia could doom it from the beginning though as mentioned above. They may not see what your true intentions are (India) right from the beginning, but would certainly start bulking up to the south once the major is placed on Romania. We see some games where the Germans build like 3-4 transports in the Black Sea to assault Caucasus then on to the Mid East oil, but if you build 10 transports in the Black Sea I think the gig might be up. The thing is what can they do to stop it. UK could definitely (even unknowingly at first) mess-up your plans.
I was wondering that in the right situation if after building a major IC in Romania G1, say 7 transports in the Black sea on G2 to move slow moving units (probably a carrier to protect your transports), you then take Turkey G3 to unleash your transport fleet. Take Turkey with tanks and German inf walking down from Bulgaria plus air power and German amphib (G1 have inf/art in Berlin migrate towards Romania to load transports G3). Probably start building to def Berlin against inevitable Russian invasion at this point. Maybe have Italy clear Greece and strafe Turkey to preserve German units? With access to the Med G4 capture Egypt (if not already in Italian hands). Then through the Suez into the Mid East G5 (maybe even build an IC in Mid East for reinforcements?). G6 amphib India along with any faster moving units plowing through axis Turkey and the Luftwaffe. Both Italy & Japan might be able to aid with taking out road blocks, lending you ships to def your German navy, or air units to protect ground units or perform air sweeps etc….
Much would depend on when the US comes into play and where they spend their income (J2 or J3 attack). If when Turkey is attacked, the Germans could also kill/claim Sweden and set-up for Spain becoming allies.
Taking Sidney isn’t a cake walk either (they will see the transport fleet and pull in all resources), but with the full brunt of Japanese power it will probably fall (but I wouldn’t plan on having a lot of ground units left after the amphib). Once you kill off an Anz blocker ship J2 (and there will probably be one) the US is at war w/full income. If you go full force to Caroline Isle though, they will most likely back off the smaller the US fleet to San Fran giving you some time before they come at you full force. The Germans attacking Turkey G3 may confuse them though, and they could make some mistakes not seeing the strict neutrals come into play very often.
I’d say it’s probably easier to have Japan help with a VC win on the Euro side. Look like they are going full India crush, then side step India too migrate into the Mid East with intentions of taking Egypt, and maybe Stalingrad.
BTW this is also the reason that I don’t like how you can get a VC win on Pac (6 VC), and Europe (8 VC) because it generally involves an axis power completely selling out their side of the board to help their partner win on the other. Either the Japanese air strike Moscow to soften them up, losing the entire Japanese air force. Not caring if you just sacrificed your fleet because your buddy is going to win the game etc… So unhistorical it makes me LOL. With that said though, both the Japanese and Germans had their eye on the Jewel of the Commonwealth Empire (India). They even had some join ventures planned early in the war. Including a German (spy’s) led government coup to spark a revolution, aided by a Japanese naval blockade/invasion (thinking was that India itself wanted to be free of their suppressors). The Japanese infighting with-in changed their mind (ships were turn back), and decided to go island hopping instead. Although India fought very effectively for the Commonwealth, there were many POWs from the African campaigns that tuned to the dark side.
Germany taking India was a classic strategy in the classic edition. The difference there was of course the amount of spaces from Germany to India: 5. Now its like 11, depending.
In G40 India is weak. I’ve never seen India hold against a concerted Japanese thrust. I think sending the Germans on such a wild diversion would probably be too costly in that it would allow the USSR and other allies time to pile on in Western and eastern Europe.
I think your right Karl, most of Europe would probably fall to the allies, but could the Germans hold Berlin long enough for the Pac win? It can even be difficult for the Japanese to drop India with everything they have at their disposal, so could the Germans do it turn 6,7 or 8? I do like to explore different paths though (keeps the game fresh). Some off the wall strat can be a lot of fun compared to the old basic full blown Barbarossa etc… You may not win, but hey you got them back peddling for a few turns, and almost pulled it off. The only thing at stake is who supplies the beer for the next game, and I own a Party Store :-D
Once australia is lost, liberating it with usa rarely if ever happens. I have lost sydney as USA before and I have taken it as Japan before. What happens is the americans convoy japan and work on other vcs. It is too easy to defend australia with Japan. 1) lots of air to park 2) 3 inf a turn.
So yes you want to rush a convoy on Japan so you can take back the other vcs within 2-3 spaces from japan seazone (there are 3).
For the record, and I didnt read everyone’s post so dont yell at me if I am repeating you, but Japan need not worry about protecting their new transports purchased on round one. There is literally nothing that can possibly hit them in any direction or manner.
Other that that, I am wondering what the point is on taking India with Germany. Other than the “cool…” factor of course.
Jen, I can’t recall anyone talking about defending japan transports… You do need to defend round 1 transport buys if you DOW J1, just takes a couple destroyers and 3 fighters…
The point of getting it with germany is so that Japan can get Hawaii or Sydney and claim a pacific VC win quickly.
The blatantly obvious flaws have been pointed out so far. Russians attack germans after they land in caucasus… that was the big flaw.
I prefer to convoy East USA with germany… just my preference if I am going all out for the pacific win.
Go back and reread the opening post, he talked about splitting the Japanese fleet up round 1 to protect the 3 new transports. Can’t remember if he said to DOW J1, but I don’t think he did.
Okay, diverting attention so that Japan can focus Australia makes some sense, but it’s not that easy. Too easy for the United States to run down some warships, planes and ground troops, and move them back up to Hawaii. You need more subterfuge - or at least when I win in the Pacific (which is darn close to the only time I win with the Axis lately) I need to be sneaky and sleazy and underhanded to do it.
Why do you have such a hard time winning with the axis? It is so easy.
I must only play the best allied players then. Of course, it could also be that I hate doing what everyone else does so I do new stuff.
Yeah I don’t always do sea lion feign armor/mech take russia round 6-8 and J1 DOW. Sometimes I J2 DOW. Sometimes I go through with sea lion. Sometimes I convoy East USA with Germany and go all out for the pacific win.
You just need to have a plan for how you are going to obtain a VC win. There are only so many VCs so strategies are somewhat limited in that sense.
The intention of this strategy is to secure a fast pacific win in under 10 rounds. It is much like the convoy east usa strategy.
I would consider this “new stuff.” I prefer the term “fun strategy.” If I only cared about winning with the least amount of risk sign me up for sea lion feign to barb and J1 or J2 DOW.
@Cmdr:
Other that that, I am wondering what the point is on taking India with Germany. Other than the “cool…” factor of course.
I didn’t see the time frame that Germany intends to take India, but I would surmise that its a ploy to allow Japan to fry other fish in the Pacific for an Axis win in the Pacific?
Although if the German Air Force is anywhere other than in Europe I’d presume the US would make full investments into the Pacific to prevent the Axis win in the Pacific.
