My German T1:

Buy 1 Transport 8 Infantry

Attack Gibralter SZ with 1 Sub 1 Fighter

Attack Great Britain SZ with 3 Fighters 1 sub 1 transport (Assuming RR)

Attack British Sub w/ 1 fighter from Ukraine (if RR or Russia didn’t attack Ukraine)

Transport 2 infantry from Southern Europe to Libya

Move Algerian Infantry to Libya

Move all Surviving Infantry to Eastern

Europe except 2 from Germany to Western Europe

Split surviving fighters between Western and Eastern Europe

Buy 10 men or 1 fighter and 6 men.

Wow, is there any bidding involved? No Russia Restricted or 2-hit BBs? The German has it tough.

10 INF instead of 9 inf. and 1 ARM? Uh I think you’re talking about Mr. Ghoul. Anyways, I try to post my strats on Germany’s T1 sometime this week but right now I have an endless amount of work to do.

Doh, forgot, bring the bomber along to attack Britain SZ.

Moses’ Masterpiece #7: Handling the Worst Case Scenario for Germany

Dedicated to Micah Burress

Russia Unrestricted represents a hard case scenario for Germany. Assuming that the Russian is playing nearly flawless with a huge amount of luck, we can expect a severely handicapped Germany for the rest of the game. The two foremost handicaps are the complete loss of Germany’s North Atlantic Fleet and of Ukraine. Also, Karelia should be a fortress, Ukraine a death trap, and the Soviet Navy should rendezvous with the British in the English Channel. What is the hard luck German supposed to do?

Note:
I have received several comments if Russia should attack Norway or Eastern Europe on T1 instead of Ukraine. First the conquest of Norway should wait until T2. Norway is basically a stranded island and sitting ducking to the Russian army. Micah Burress comments that the ARM used in the invasion is safe from a possible German counterattack at Ukraine. However, I feel this is untrue since the German Luftwaffe is used to attack the British Navy, leaving only German panzers to the dirty work. Of course by doing so, this overextends the German Army, leaving the German panzers vulnerable to attack. Eastern Europe? The question is, with what? The most I can through at Eastern Europe is 3 ARM, 3 inf (unless you want to count in two fighters, which should be used to defeat Germany’s Navy). On Germany’s T1, Germany can close the Eastern Europe pocket from both Germany and Ukraine. Three ARM is wasted and so is Russia’s hope of winning the war. Plus the extra ARM in Eastern Europe is always a determining factor.

Rules Designed for Regular A&A with submerging

Germany (32 IPCs)
Purchase: 9 inf, 1 ARM or 10 inf
Notes: In order for Germany’s own survivability in the later actions of the game it must first be strictly conservative with its purchases. Choose 9 inf, 1 ARM (preferably each turn if able) if you expect Germany to adopt a attack-and-retreat policy. Choose 10 inf (with 2 IPCs remaining) if you rather turtle with Germany, protecting you existing territories, until Japan arrives knocking on the Russian backdoor.

Combat Move:
2 ftr (Western Europe, Norway) to attack Trans in East Canada SZ.
79% chance that German ftr survives
1 ftr (Germany) and 1 sub (Western Europe) to attack UK BB in Gibraltar SZ
80% chance that at least German ftr survives
1 Bomber (Germany) to attack UK Sub in Syria-Iraq SZ
67% chance that Sub is sunk
1 Inf, 1 ARM (Libya and Trans), 1 ftr (Eastern Europe) to attack Egypt
Notes: Be sure to blitz through French Equatorial Africa to Egypt
73% chance that at least German ARM survives
1 inf from Algeria to take over French West Africa
Notes: What happens is the German sub survives the attack from Russia T1? By the numbers you can try attacking British SZ with 2 ftrs (Norway, Eastern Europe) and 1 bomber (Germany) vs. 2 Transports, 1 sub, and 1 Battleship. Results show that 60% of the time, Germany will win with 1 ftr and bomber remaining. By doing so, you have to invade Egypt using Battleship and Trans w/ 2 inf from Southern Europe to Egypt SZ. Unload 2 inf to Egypt to participate in that invasion.

Non-Combat Move:
Land 3 ftrs (1 Norway, Germany, 1 Eastern Europe) to Western Europe
Land 1 ftr from Egypt to Libya
Land 1 bomber (Egypt SZ) to Southern Europe
2 ARM from Western Europe to Southern Europe
1 ARM, 3 inf from Eastern Europe to Germany
Unload 2 inf from Southern Europe SZ to Libya

Placement:
8 inf to Germany
2 inf to Southern Europe
or
7 inf, 1 ARM to Germany
2 inf to Southern Europe

Income: 33 IPCs

Geography:
2 inf, 3 ftrs in Western Europe
15 inf, 3 ARM in Germany or 14 inf, 4 ARM in Germany
2 inf, 3 ARM, 1 bomber in Southern Europe

Notes: As you can see, Germany is in total retreat from the Eastern Front. I’m hoping that Russia will take Eastern Europe on T2. The reason being that I can unleash the full furry of the German Army (up to 17 inf, 6 ARM) and Luftwaffe (3 ftrs., 1 bomber) against any Russian Army. This force is powerful enough to take on 18 inf, 3 ARM, and 2 ftrs. By all means I have tried to take Egypt T1 to gain IPC value and insure that the remaining inf does not reach India. However, my opening T1 leaves the British and Russian fleet in the British SZ still afloat. These vessels will come to haunt Germany at Western Europe, however by attacking the British SZ I would have a 50% chance of losing everything. These planes are desperately needed for Germany in later operations like home defense and counterattacks. What else can Germany do T1 with Russia unrestricted.

Rules With Russia Restricted
Now you’re talking! With Russia Restricted I can just punish the Allies with this devastatingly brutal tactic. Best of all, no bidding required!

Germany (32 IPCs)
Purchase: 10 inf
Remaining: 2 IPCs

Combat Moves:
1 ftr from Western Europe to attack UK Trans in East Canada SZ
73.3% chance that German ftr survives
1 ftr (Germany), 1 sub (Western Europe) to attack UK BB in Gibraltar SZ
80% chance that at least German ftr survives
3 ftrs (Norway, Ukraine, Eastern Europe), 1 bomber (Germany), 1 sub (German SZ) to attack 2 Trans, 1 Sub, 1 BB in British SZ.
98% chance of victory. 30% chance of the Luftwaffe wholly intact. 68% chance of the only 1 German ftr. destroyed.
Notes: If you don’t like these odds, you can commit the Trans from German SZ to battle. Odds are 68% chance that the Luftwaffe will still be fully intact.
1 BB and 1 trans w/ 2 inf from Italy to attack UK Sub in Syria-Iraq SZ
56% chance that both German BB and Trans survives, 85% chance at least Trans survives.
Notes: The greatest risk that the German player must face, if sub hits, place causality to BB and retreat with Trans to Libya to unload.
3 Inf, 1 ARM (Libya and Trans) to attack Egypt
Notes: Be sure to blitz through French Equatorial Africa to Egypt
94% chance that at least German ARM survives
1 inf from Algeria to take over French West Africa

Non-Combat Move:
Land 3 ftrs (1 Western Europe, 1 Germany, 1 Ukraine) and bomber (Germany) if remaining to Western Europe
Land 2 ftrs (1 Norway, 1 Eastern Europe) if remaining to Eastern Europe
2 ARM from Western Europe to Eastern Europe
4 Inf., 2 ARM from Germany to Eastern Europe
1 ARM from Italy to Eastern Europe
2 ARM, 3 inf from Ukraine to Eastern Europe
Transport 1 ARM from Norway to Eastern Europe
Note: This is not possible if you committed your Trans to the British SZ battle.

Placement:
8 inf to Germany
2 inf to Southern Europe

Income: 36 IPCs

Geography:
2 inf, 2 ftrs, 1 bomber in Western Europe
8 inf in Germany
2 inf in Southern Europe
3 inf in Norway
10 inf, 9 ARM, 2 ftrs in Eastern Europe

General Notes:
As you can see, I’ve made no attacks on Germany even with Russia Restricted. I am a lot happier with these results. The British Fleet is completely ruined, which shouldn’t pose much of a threat to Western Europe for the first few turns. The USA Trans is still left alive since I didn’t want to risk my sub from the UK BB battle. Africa should be able to overrun rather quickly with 4 Inf and 1 ARM and helps slow a possible American landing on T2. As for Russia on T2, I’m hoping that they will attack Eastern Europe due to its large concentration of ARM. However, Eastern Europe is really a deathtrap for Russia as they will lose 70% of the time if they attack with 18 inf., 3 ARM, and 2 ftrs. The advantage is also that Norway is safe for another turn, Germany can out produce Russia, and Russia should already be in trouble due to attacks in the Far East by Japan.

I just had an interesting thought, but I haven’t played in a while and haven’t a clue as to whether this would actually work. What if Germany replaced (eventually) all their tanks on the Eastern Front with infantry, moving the tanks back to Germany. The armor would still be in range of your main target, Karelia, and any territory the reds might be able to steal away from you; in addition, they wouldn’t be in any danger of being strafed. It seems that this would lighten the defences a little in E Europe and Ukraine, but I’m not certain you couldn’t produce 3 more infantry along the line someplace to make up for it.

The only problem with that is that it makes Germany more of a tempting target for the allies, not that it wasn’t already.
Otherwise it sounds good.
just do not do it too soon as they need those tanks early on as an extra buffer.

G1 w/2-hit Battleships

Purchase 8 inf, 1 transport.

Attacks

North Sea: 4 Fighters, transport and sub
Typical Result: lose 1 fighter

Gibraltar: 1 sub, 1 fighter, 1 bomber
Typical Result: lose the sub

Egypt SZ: 1 Battleship, loaded transport
Typical Result: no losses

Egypt: 3 inf, 1 tank
Typical Result: lose 1 infantry

Non-Com

land 1-2 fighters and bomber in WE, 3 fighters in EE

This is a bit conservative, trying to hang on to the German fighters since they are so important. You can go after the Canadian transport, but have a good chance of losing 2 fighters if you do. The transport buy is stronger in a 2-hit game because of the German battleship, especially with Active AA.

[ This Message was edited by: Ansbach on 2002-05-16 14:24 ]

To Bossk,

Your keep the German tanks back is certainly and interesting tactic that I might consider using. The only problem is that I need to scrounge for every ARM, inf, and fighter I can get. In order to maintain my doctrine of Fortress Europe, I must maximize the defensive fortifications of my front. Even on defense ARM are equal to inf.

Of course with my “Worst Case Scenario” I am assuming that everything that can go wrong with the Germans will. So who knows? Maybe if the Russians are tempting enough to hit Eastern Europe due my abundance of tanks, they will score a huge victory and Germany would have basically lost. So if I can “sense” that something is about to go wrong, maybe I will pull back my ARM back to Berlin.

What I will also consider doing is to instead shift my ARM to Western Europe and let my “air cover” and lessened inf support them, while I transfer some inf to Eastern Europe to make up for the difference. My primary concern isn’t taking Karelia, but holding Eastern Europe at all cost. The distance from Western Europe gives me this advantage.

To Ansbach,

Pretty solid looking strategy for G1 you have there. I am assuming that the Russians are Restricted, but great use on the use of 2-hit BBs. However, what I would also contemplate is whether or not you should purchase the extra transport. Since your main Mediterranean fleet should be operating in Egyptian waters, this leaves your transport particular vulnerable to air attacks. On B1, I can then press the point by sending my British bomber to attack your transport and landing at the Caucasus at the end of my combat phase.

What you could do instead is purchase nothing but infantry on G1 and on G2 purchasing that extra transport under the cover of your BB. Remember, 3-4 infantry in Africa per turn will eat up a large percentage of your German income. By purchasing that extra infantry on the first turn, I can transfer units more successfully on G2 without leaving myself too vulnerable on the Russian Front.

“Only the spirit of attack, born in a brave heart, will bring success to any fighter aircraft, no matter how highly developed it may be.” - Aldolf Galland
“The create? The create matters not. It is the man who pilots the create that truely counts” -

[ This Message was edited by: TG Moses VI on 2002-05-17 20:19 ]

You are correct – it’s with Russia Restricted.

However, what I would also contemplate is whether or not you should purchase the extra transport. Since your main Mediterranean fleet should be operating in Egyptian waters, this leaves your transport particular vulnerable to air attacks. On B1, I can then press the point by sending my British bomber to attack your sub and landing at the Caucasus at the end of my combat phase.

I contemplate it myself every game and will buy all infantry otherwise, or rarely a fighter and all infantry. With Active Anti-Air (AAA) it’s solid because the bomber has to fly through an AA attack first which means about a 35% chance of losing the bomber total. Without AAA I’m on the fence.

Either way, the problem without buying it is that if you don’t, you will almost always lose the BS and T in Egypt on UK1 (sometimes they have to finish you off on R2), especially if the sub escaped or you took a hit on the BS. Buying the transport means they have to pick one SZ or the other (or else make highly risky attacks).

The best counter for the Allies is to still hit the BS and T in Egypt on UK 1 and then hit the other transport on UK or US 2 (because I’m buying 12 infantry on G2).

That’s why I’m not completely happy with the transport buy without AAA in effect - I can’t decide if transporting 2 infantry to Africa on G2 is worth it. If they don’t have to hit a transport they will usually SBR with the bomber instead. So in effect, buying the transport means that I lose 8 IPCs and a 16.7% shot at their bomber (vs. AA), and I gain 2 infantry in Africa, 1-6 IPCs (no SBR now) and a 24% shot at their bomber (vs. Transport).

That’s probably worth it and it’s certainly not a game-breaker, but I’m not completely sold…

[ This Message was edited by: Ansbach on 2002-05-17 14:25 ]

The problem with AAA is that I can bypass the usual AA gun in France by going around the French coast instead of through France itself. Unless I am wrong on this, AAA only warrants firing when an opposing aircraft flies directly over the said country. Here let me show you how:
Movement

1. Fly UK bomber to the North Sea
2. Then move to NE Atlantic
3. From there to W. Mediterranean
4. Then to the Central Mediterranean to engage in combat
5. Then to the Black Sea
6. From there I can land at the Caucasus, Ukraine SSR, or Eastern Europe depending where Russian troops are.
   By doing this I am not in effect going through France by flanking it. Best of all, I keep all my movement spaces for my bomber. :smile:

“Only the spirit of attack, born in a brave heart, will bring success to any fighter aircraft, no matter how highly developed it may be.” - Aldolf Galland
“The create? The create matters not. It is the man who pilots the create that truely counts” -

[ This Message was edited by: TG Moses VI on 2002-05-17 20:30 ]

Remember we are talking about UK1 here - Germany will have EE and Ukraine, and there is almost always only 1 Russian infantry in Caucasus.

I’ve only seen them land it in Syria/Iraq when they pull both infantry and the fighter from India there as well, which is not a bad move if the G1 rolls went UK’s way.
On UK2 they can avoid the AA no problem, which is why I said there’s a 24% chance of hitting the bomber (from just the transport) instead of a 35% chance (transport + AA).

What do you think about the risk/reward for the 2 infantry in Africa vs. 8 IPC loss though?

[ This Message was edited by: Ansbach on 2002-05-17 21:08 ]

Well with Russia unrestricted, I can definitely expect Ukraine to be taken. Of course even with Russia restricted, I can still expect a strong presence on part of the Russians in the Caucasus. And as a rule I will generally not invade the Caucasus on part of the German Army due to the fact that the Russian counterattack can wipe whatever fighting force remains (and usually a good deal of ARM unless my Luftwaffe is free).

As for Africa, it is crucial to the success of Germany and the Axis to take it. 2 infantry per turn does seem like a lot, but the 8 IPC return investment is just too great. And with USA due to arrive in Africa very soon, I need whatever I can to slow down their reconquest. Victory for Germany is based on these priorities:

1. Protecting Eastern Europe at all cost
2. The continued occupation of Africa
3. The protection of Western Europe at all cost
4. The protection of the Luftwaffe and the Panzers
   5. The protection of the Mediterranean fleet