Hey guys, I’m new to axis and allies, and just got the 1941 edition. I need the allies strategy because it seems like this map is too unbalanced; every time I play axis I win, but as allies i lose.
My current strategy is just to have the Allies fight Germany alone as it seems Germany is just so strong, with the UK keeping Japan occupied with troops in India/australia, and the US pacific fleet keeping an eye on the japs. But it doesn’t really seem to work, Japan always manages to overpower India if they aren’t going all out on india. Seems so hard to play allies. Any suggestions?
Cheers, Adm. Nimitz

@Private-Panic i’ve seen your post before! Im pretty new to 1941, any strategy for allies? This map seems so unbalanced as Germany (with the japs help) can just blitz all of the Russian territory and get the +4 Ipcs and start pummeling the UK, while the Japs kill off india and australia then turn their attention to the Russians. Eventually I always lose as allies. Any strat?

@Iisded im sorry i am just coming here to get strat, i think my strategy is very bad so i will not reply

Hello can anyone play a triplea game with me? It seems there is never anybody to play with online usually, so I would like to arrange a game with someone?

@Suppressmeajumma why do you buy tanks? Seems like mechs are better for the cost (when paired with infantry). Could you tell me the reason? Also, the fighter on turn 2 is for this reason:

During one of my games, I had 32 infantry defending Moscow, along with a few assorted units such as artilleries and mechs. The German panzers took Moscow. Another game, I had 15 infantry and a few fighters (5-8) and I successfully defended my capital.

I also think that fighters are more flexible. You can use them for strafing counterattacks along with infantry and artillery. My opponents in A&A games usually attack on turn 2 after mopping up France, so their playstyle might differ from your opponents… Personally I think turn 2 is the best turn for the Germans to strike. I’m 2 rounds into a game that I just started (meaning turn 3 coming up) and so far I’m doing pretty well. My strategy is to leave 1 unit in each territory when retreating (to prevent blitzing) and launch small strafing counterattacks against ill-defended positions of the front line. My opponent is going all-out on Leningrad and is giving me counterattack chances in the south. So if you try my buys you might want to check out this strategy. Please tell me if it works. :grinning:

Here’s a mild modification to your buy @Gentlegamer. I think this will suit you too @Suppressmeajumma

1 Tank
3 Infantry
3 artillery

@Gentlegamer I think your buy is too aggressive. The Germans (assuming they play well) can break through that fast. Infantry is the most effective defensive unit.

I usually buy a defensive-counterattack mix as the USSR. In the event that Germany attacks on Turn 3:
1st turn buy - 2 mechs, 2 artilleries, 3 infantry.
2nd turn buy - 1 fighter, 1 mech, 1 artillery, 3 infantry. (Fighters are effective to “deal the damage” and let your infantry soak up the hits)
3rd turn buy - 1 mech, 1 artillery, 3 infantry, 1 fighter

About the same for turn 2 German attack, just that you can swap out an infantry to a mech or a artillery

@Private-Panic thanks! Will try it in my next game :smile:

@Private-Panic Well Lord Panic I went for Berlin but my dice rolls just were very unlucky, to say the least. I surrendered…

I am trying bids in this next game to see if it balances '41 out a bit. Do you play with bids, and if so, what are yours?

As the issues I raised were sufficiently disinteresting to warrant no replies :sob: I have gone back over past forum postings and picked out those that might offer options to me, leaving aside customised versions, such as the addition of artillery. Having made the effort it might be helpful to some other new arrival, so am posting it. Of course some of the ideas below are opposed.

I had been through the forum before, but with more experience some of these postings now mean more to me.

@ColonelPotter:

I think the mistake that people are making is that they are attempting to go with a 100% kill Germany strategy. This kill Germany approach works in most Axis & Allies games but not in 1941. The allies need to control Japans economy as much as possible.

Attack Manchuria with 3 inf and the fighter.

I have to say I struggle with the Japan first options some table, because Germany is at the gates of 2 Allied capitals and so pivotal. This much posted idea does not go as far as Japan first, but is the distraction from defending Moscow warranted? Some responses have doubted it and other supported the idea.

@McJesusBane:

… the allies cannot win with russia so heavily crushed. The gain in IPC’s for both the axis countries should ensure victory.

@espadaescudo:

There are several ways to skin a cat, and people have to rethink things. One point I would raise is: a good German player would attack Egypt w/ 2 inf, 1 tank, 1 fighter, and the bomber on G1.

@DarthShizNit:

Attacking Egypt with at least one fighter and troops from Southern Europe loaded onto a transport and shipped over to help the tank on the first turn is something I consider vital if the Axis want to win. There’s just to many British troops there to let them get away. As for Russian, don’t underestimate them, they can still put up a fight, but if they don’t get help from the other two Allies then they will fall.

As for Japan, Depending on how Germany does is how you should plan. If Germany does well on her first turn, then throw on the pressure on mainland Asia and set up to hit India on turn 2 (you technically can do it J1 but it’s risky, especially if the British player puts an extra fighter in India, which is what I always do) and then go on to attack Russia from behind.

If Germany doesn’t do stellar on their first turn, then I settle for dominating the Pacific. You should be able to crush Australia on J2 even if the American player flies fighters over there and you got good dice rolls the first turn. Once that’s secure it’s suprisingly easy to keep your navy on par with the Americans and you can really put on the pressure, though you might have to sacrafice making advances in Asia, keeping the US distracted in the Pacific is worth it as it lets Germany get back up on her feet.

As Russia, I almost always attack Western Russia on turn one with all the infantry from Karelia, Arkangle, and Moscow. You should be able to crush through the Germans with no problem, and if the British player puts a fighter there on their turn, then it’s a very strong position. Attack Ukraine with both tanks, the fighter, and the Caucus infantry. Try to kill off the German infantry if nothing else BUT RETREAT, repeat, DO NOT TAKE UKRAINE on your first turn, its not worth it and it puts your tanks in to much of a risk. Bring the Siberian infantry on their long trek to Moscow.

You can go all in on Japan, and if so, basically just abandon Russia and throw all units into attacking Japan.

As for the United Kingdom, your navy was probably killed the first turn, however with an air buy and placing it in England on your first turn you can stop any German surface fleets for a long time. In fact, if you decide to make the UK the player who’s going to beef up Russia, then you should just do lots of air buys and fly the fighters into Russia to help them out. If you get the chance to invade Norway, do it.

Personally I usually task the UK with fighting the Japanese while the US helps out Russia. Buy a plane on turn one to place in India, Send the Indian Fleet to South Africa to pick up the Inf there, Send the Australian Inf to India via the transport and the sub to Hawaii. Basically from there just keep pumping one tank a turn into India, and if Australia doesn’t fall, then one unit there a turn (usually inf, but subs are viable too). If you defend efficently then after a turn or two you should be able to go on the counter attack as long as America keeps their Pacific fleet in the Pacific to back up Australia.

Attacking Egypt closes the Suez Canal, protecting Southern Europe from a UK landing from India, so that is very interesting. Can the distraction of forces away from Moscow be justified?

@DarthShizNit:

…. yes, the Inf rush of W. Russia and the rest going ukraine is the best move in my opinion (Though i don’t leave a unit in karelia, archangle). You get overwhelming odds in W. Russia and you’ll be in a great position after you take it (Germany, unless they ignore the British navy won’t have enough forces to safely take you on). However, don’t invade Ukraine, go in, do one die roll, then retreat. So far, being aggresive has given me the best results. In one game I even had the mighty motherland come roaring back her R1 attacks were so great. On R4 she blitzed all of her territory back, took W. Russia, Ukraine, and next thing you know a giant horde of ruskies is invading E. Europe and frtiz called it quits. Oh, and Moscow falling on G3 was the norm in the vanilla set up rules.

As tempting as it is the Manchuria attack is to risky with to low of a chance of pay off.

I already do the Western Russia attack, but the concept of attacking the Ukraine but not pressing home, had not occurred to me. The tanks in the Ukraine are vulnerable. As per other postings not here quoted I just need the infantry to withstand the counter roll.

@Variable:

Remember the strat of shucking US bombers to Australia? Now you can do it with fighters too! All you need to do is leave a carrier off the coast of Western US. Australia is in range! Helps a bunch to pressure the IJN in the South Pacific and “money islands”.

Erm… okay?

That’s my crib sheet for my next game then!

Thanks to past contributors. And also to anyone that adds to this list - if this thread is now more interesting!

Cheers
Adm Nimitz

@Private-Panic thanks a lot! Just to show you that your reply is appreciated, can you take a look my strategy for this game (I am still in the middle of it, will finish it today probably) and tell me where i can improve? I have a few questions too.

Alright, so basically i went all out on Germany. All 15 Russian infantry went into West Russia, and all survived. I also did the Manchuria attack with the fighter landing in Northwest China. Then Germany went for the UK Navy, ignoring the Russians in W. Russia, and totally smashed my fleet. :sob: They also strengthened E. Europe and Ukraine. As the UK I was focusing minimally on Japan, trying to get a bridgehead on Europe. I just spread some infantry across Indonesia and Borneo, and pumped one infantry into India. Well the Japs took back Manchuria, ignored the USA in China, and swept the Philippines and Borneo, while destroying the UK Navy again. As the US I did put a destroyer on each coast, and got my transports in range of Norway/UK. So basically quite a few rounds later, I ended up with this situation: The British were entirely knocked out of Asia and Africa except for a garrison in Australia, but with 4 Infantry in W. Europe. The USSR was doing all it could to prevent Jap forces reaching Germany. The Japanese were making failed attempts to take Moscow and flying fighters (they move so fast) to Germany. The US was pumping fighters onto British carriers off W. Europe and had 2 t/ports worth of troops in W. Europe to back the British up. Germany is on her knees, just 1 infantry in E. Europe to block the Russian advance, and just 2 fighters, a tank and 3 infantry in Germany itself. They also had an infantry in South Europe to prevent Japanese fighters from India being smashed on landing.

So that is the situation. I really cannot contend with the Japanese IPCs, 23 a turn! The US is getting 20 a turn so that helps prop Britain up as Britain and the USSR are at 9 and 7 respectively. Germany only has 6. I am in a dilemma now; should I go for Berlin on the next turn or stack troops in W. Europe and let the Japanese land in South Europe?

I am really at a loss after really bad luck attacking Berlin with the Russians. What should be my next move?

Cheers,
Adm. Nimitz

@Private-Panic i’ve seen your post before! Im pretty new to 1941, any strategy for allies? This map seems so unbalanced as Germany (with the japs help) can just blitz all of the Russian territory and get the +4 Ipcs and start pummeling the UK, while the Japs kill off india and australia then turn their attention to the Russians. Eventually I always lose as allies. Any strat?

@Iisded im sorry i am just coming here to get strat, i think my strategy is very bad so i will not reply

Hey guys, I’m new to axis and allies, and just got the 1941 edition. I need the allies strategy because it seems like this map is too unbalanced; every time I play axis I win, but as allies i lose.
My current strategy is just to have the Allies fight Germany alone as it seems Germany is just so strong, with the UK keeping Japan occupied with troops in India/australia, and the US pacific fleet keeping an eye on the japs. But it doesn’t really seem to work, Japan always manages to overpower India if they aren’t going all out on india. Seems so hard to play allies. Any suggestions?
Cheers, Adm. Nimitz