@Cmdr:
Well, first off, may I say that Germany need not get into a naval race. They can accept the losses in SZ 5 in hopes of costing England position and resources on the board. Note, it is hoped that Italy is exploiting Africa while England builds up to sink the German fleet.
Second, if America DOES go Exclusive Pacific (and if you go Pacific, I think you have to go almost exclusively with the odd bomber for SBR campaigns in Europe perhaps) then Germany can easily put minor resources into a fleet to keep England building surface warships to sink it instead of transports and troops to invade Africa/Europe. Keep in mind, an investment of 14 IPC gives you 3 units with a combined defense of 10 (2, 4 and 4) and lets you still use your fighters for ground assaults…perhaps even giving your fighters a better position! Of course, there are only so many German fighters on the board, so you may need to build more armor than you otherwise would to make up for the defensive abilities. I think this is off set by Germany’s ability to hit SZ 2 however, as England cannot put transports there undefended (neither can America) and you dont need to sit fighters in Norway to reach it. (Or a bomber in France).
Just my opinion. And of course, assumes you sank the battleship in SZ 2 at least, preferably the destroyer/cruiser in SZ 12 as well.
Even if USA goes Pacific (and imho this is a mistake, since if Germany builds fleet in 41, USA should go KGF and exploit the opening), UK should easily outspend the Baltic fleet if it spends its money exclusively on fighters. 4 figs turn 1, 3-4 figs turn 2. Germany can buy 2 acs G2 and keep its fleet alive, but after that, it will be at a disadvantage.
You can either abandon the navy as suggested (in this case, the initial 28 ipc naval investment will be traded for 1-2 British fighters) or you can continue with the naval build-up. Germany will have only 3-4 figs to start, so eventually it will have to shell out 34 ipcs per turn (1 ac 2 figs) to keep pace with the UK build-up.
I don’t understand how the math could ever work for Germany…won’t Russia overwelm Germany on the ground if Germany has to spend 34 ipcs a turn to keep its fleet alive?
Sure, it could work if UK ignores the fleet and buys surface navy, but why should UK ignore the fleet? If UK can force Germany to either buy expensive useless boats or abandon its expensive navy to destruction, then it should do so.