Slitherine

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USA adds Brzilian, Mexican and Panamanian units to its Force Pools

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ORIGINAL: Orm

US should stop building cheap units that they do not have the sea lift capacity to move anyway. They should build a quality units first. Time to begin panzers, motorized and artillery.

Edit: US should gear up FTR2 production as well. Alot less MIL to production, please.

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ORIGINAL: Orm

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USA adds Brzilian, Mexican and Panamanian units to its Force Pools

Since US still has plenty of units to build I think it was to early to add these units to the Force Pool.

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ORIGINAL: Red Prince

The Allies desperately need the first move next turn. If not, the CW risks having 2 of its TRS trapped in India . . . unless they can dislodge the Japanese fleet that is going to try to take the Arabian Sea. The Americans have Battleships and CVs on the way, but they won't be able to reach a high sea box next turn.

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ORIGINAL: paulderynck

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ORIGINAL: Red Prince

The Allies desperately need the first move next turn. If not, the CW risks having 2 of its TRS trapped in India . . . unless they can dislodge the Japanese fleet that is going to try to take the Arabian Sea. The Americans have Battleships and CVs on the way, but they won't be able to reach a high sea box next turn.

This is not a huge problem, as you can take a naval with the US or CW and put something in the sea zone which instantly puts all the rest in supply.

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ORIGINAL: Centuur

Terrible, terrible... Again the Axis are very, very lucky. First with the initiative and now with a 2-1 (stupid, never attack with low odds early in a long turn) attack in Persia ...

Now: if I'm looking good at the coastal defenses of Europe, it is really a lot of low factor units, without any reserves there. I suggest to look seriously at the possibilities of invading France around the Bordeaux area this turn. Try to invade the hex next to Bordeaux (that nice major port is empty...) and go for it. Just forget about possible losses to the CW/US fleet or convoys at this moment. If the Germans aren't forced to withdraw an HQ and some good units out of the USSR, things aren't good at all, especially if there will be a S/O with good weather.
This is because the USSR's defenses are almost gone. In Persia there has to be a retreat by one hex, which is than the last mountain hex before Baku (don't you dare to leave the mountains). The Kerch strait is overrun and the GAR holding the line there is in a clear hex and is all alone. This means that the slower units around the Rostov/Don area probably aren't going to make it in time to the Caucasus.
Steve was right about the Monty Pythons phrase: "run away... run away" (great movie, the Holy Grail...). I don't think the USSR has any time left for making a good defense around the Don line, since this line is compromised in the south. Remember: the USSR can't allow the Caucasus to be taken by the Germans. If they lose that oil, the possibility that the USSR can come back is very, very slim. By the way: you have convoy points with the USSR in the Caspian Sea, have you. Oh: and did you use the oil in Stalingrad and Moscow for production? Because you don't want it falling in German hands, and believe me, it will...
Now: as the Germans: I'm very, very happy. Just that 5-1 GAR between me and lots, lots of oil. Guess what my moves for next turn are going to be: kill any defenses there and start running towards Maikop. The only thing I don't like is that the German airforce isn't at the frontlines, but hey: after killing that GAR, I can put one unit in a hex and start running for oil. Ground strikes? I only need one FTR above my HQ and nobody, nobody can stop me...

So please, please western Allies: invade now (and not later...).

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ORIGINAL: paulderynck

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ORIGINAL: Orm

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USA adds Brzilian, Mexican and Panamanian units to its Force Pools

Since US still has plenty of units to build I think it was to early to add these units to the Force Pool.

I would never add them and consider this a bad mistake (although understandable for a noob). This is even more true for a build startegy like the US has used in this game, which does not concentrate on sea lift. You're going to move the US units first and even when/if you are built out in TRS and Amphs, it's difficult to divert any to move these practically useless units. You will rue this decision every time you build one of these poor units while good US Mech, Mot and Inf sits in the force pool.

Don't forget to "harvest" their pilots. They do a lot better flying US planes that can cooperate with the CW and FF than flying lower range, lower combat factor planes that cannot. The same cooperation issue applies to their land forces and thus makes them an impediment. They can't go to the home country of another allied major power, nor to any aligned (by any ally, including the US) minor. (You harvest them by taking the at-start plane off from a home city of theirs and increasing the US pilot marker by one. Then in a subsequent turn, they man a US plane.)

Occasionally you can use at-start Mexicans to garrison places in the Pacific (if on anti-partisan duty in Japan, you are doing real well). And occasionally you can put at start Brazillians in Italy (but usually not because they can't stack with CW units).

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ORIGINAL: composer99

Use the Mexicans for garrison duty in the Pacific and send the Brazilians to Senagal to begin the build-up for the Moroccan campaign.

Instead of invading around Bordeaux I would invade at La Rochelle (where the Yugo cavalry is); you face at best a 3-factor defence (CAV + 1-factor notional). Or invade south of it to face a 2-factor notional only.

Then work to isolate the coastal sector from Bordeaux to Bilbao and mop up any OOS defenders.

That ought to get the Germans' attention.

Also, this is a stronger play than expanding the Danish beachhead (although you should do that as time & units permit) because it's areas that are good defence for the Allies (who can keep supply easily by sea and bring reinforcements from UK & US) and force a very strong commitment from the Axis.

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ORIGINAL: composer99

I didn't think to mention it earlier but IMO the Japanese are too late to be starting new sealift in mid-1941. Usually the sealift they start with plus another AMPH and 2-3 TRS are enough to get by for the rest of the game.

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ORIGINAL: Red Prince

Here is how things look in the Middle-East now. HQ-I Balbo is set to rail to Persia. I might even make the next impulse a Combined, so that I can fly a FTR over here and also reorganize the MTN unit for an attack later this turn . . . maybe. I'm fully committed now, so Japan has to hold the Arabian Sea.
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Updated pictures of the evaporating front lines for the Soviets are coming up soon.

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ORIGINAL: Red Prince

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ORIGINAL: paulderynck

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ORIGINAL: Orm

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USA adds Brzilian, Mexican and Panamanian units to its Force Pools

Since US still has plenty of units to build I think it was to early to add these units to the Force Pool.

I would never add them and consider this a bad mistake (although understandable for a noob). This is even more true for a build startegy like the US has used in this game, which does not concentrate on sea lift. You're going to move the US units first and even when/if you are built out in TRS and Amphs, it's difficult to divert any to move these practically useless units. You will rue this decision every time you build one of these poor units while good US Mech, Mot and Inf sits in the force pool.

Don't forget to "harvest" their pilots. They do a lot better flying US planes that can cooperate with the CW and FF than flying lower range, lower combat factor planes that cannot. The same cooperation issue applies to their land forces and thus makes them an impediment. They can't go to the home country of another allied major power, nor to any aligned (by any ally, including the US) minor. (You harvest them by taking the at-start plane off from a home city of theirs and increasing the US pilot marker by one. Then in a subsequent turn, they man a US plane.)

Occasionally you can use at-start Mexicans to garrison places in the Pacific (if on anti-partisan duty in Japan, you are doing real well). And occasionally you can put at start Brazillians in Italy (but usually not because they can't stack with CW units).

I don't think it's really a mistake. There are no current units from any of these countries in the Force Pools, and there are exactly 2 x FTR-2 popping up in 1942, when the USA will have 68 BP to spend each turn, and 2 x MECH to arrive in 1943, when they'll have 79 BP to spend per turn. I think that over those 2 years, they can probably afford the "lost" 18 BP by building these units. That is just about 2% of the 12-turn total expected BP produced. That isn't really a big deal.

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ORIGINAL: Red Prince

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ORIGINAL: composer99

Instead of invading around Bordeaux I would invade at La Rochelle (where the Yugo cavalry is); you face at best a 3-factor defence (CAV + 1-factor notional). Or invade south of it to face a 2-factor notional only.

Then work to isolate the coastal sector from Bordeaux to Bilbao and mop up any OOS defenders.

That ought to get the Germans' attention.

Also, this is a stronger play than expanding the Danish beachhead (although you should do that as time & units permit) because it's areas that are good defence for the Allies (who can keep supply easily by sea and bring reinforcements from UK & US) and force a very strong commitment from the Axis.

I'd like to do what you all ask, but there isn't anything to use to get the job done.

Below you can see the entire invasion force available to the USA and CW. This includes all of the Marine units and AMPHs they have right now. There are also 4 American, 7 Commonwealth, and 1 Spanish TRS on the map.

Arriving in S/O '41: 2 x TRS for the USA, and 1 x AMPH for the CW
Arriving in N/D '41: 2 x TRS, 2 x AMPH for the USA
Arriving in J/F '41: 1 x Marine Engineer for the USA

Remember, we are just starting Turn #12 and until last turn, the USA had very little production. The best I could do this turn is try to invade against a 2-factor Notional by using 3 American divisions . . . to get a 1:1 attack that I might be able to push up to 3:1 using Shore Bombardment and Ground Support. The problem after that, though, is that even the "weak units" that are holding the coast can probably take care of those invaders before the next impulse, so I wouldn't be able to land an HQ unit or other support.

I don't see the point in invading if you can't hang on to the territory until the end of the turn, particularly during a potentially long turn. I might be able to get the Philly Marine into an invasion sometime this turn, but that AMPH isn't going to be landing anyone else. Yes, the Soviet Union is crumbling, but patience is required here. If I can only mount a single invasion for the entire turn, all Germany has to do is get that unit locked off from advancing. It doesn't need to bring back any forces from the Soviet Front . . . what good would they do anyway? They wouldn't be able to move until next turn, and the Germans have a fresh HQ coming in next turn. Where do you think he'll be heading?

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ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

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ORIGINAL: Red Prince

Here is how things look in the Middle-East now. HQ-I Balbo is set to rail to Persia. I might even make the next impulse a Combined, so that I can fly a FTR over here and also reorganize the MTN unit for an attack later this turn . . . maybe. I'm fully committed now, so Japan has to hold the Arabian Sea.
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Updated pictures of the evaporating front lines for the Soviets are coming up soon.

Can we please put Zhukov back in the front lines now? The desire to swap HQ's has resulted in a breakthrough on this front. That would never have happened if Zhukov's 16 defensive factors had been in the line.

And no, I have zero interest in counter-attacking here. Oooo isolated and disorganized German armor units! But they are still worth 10 factors and there are 5 Italian Tact factors available to help out. Putting all your eggs in one basket to attempt a brilliant counterattack would be the quickest way to lose as the USSR.

Use all available units for a 3 hex defense: straight across from west to east starting where the 7-4 currently is. You should not hold Tabriz or you will have trouble holding the end point of the line (i.e., the 4th hex) next impulse if Guderian reorganizes the armor group.

The hexes should have 12, 12, and 7 strength point each, for a defensive line of 24, 24, and 15. We'll worry about how to spread this group out into 4 hexes next impulse.

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ORIGINAL: Centuur

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ORIGINAL: Shannon V. OKeets

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ORIGINAL: Red Prince

Here is how things look in the Middle-East now. HQ-I Balbo is set to rail to Persia. I might even make the next impulse a Combined, so that I can fly a FTR over here and also reorganize the MTN unit for an attack later this turn . . . maybe. I'm fully committed now, so Japan has to hold the Arabian Sea.
-----
Updated pictures of the evaporating front lines for the Soviets are coming up soon.

Can we please put Zhukov back in the front lines now? The desire to swap HQ's has resulted in a breakthrough on this front. That would never have happened if Zhukov's 16 defensive factors had been in the line.

And no, I have zero interest in counter-attacking here. Oooo isolated and disorganized German armor units! But they are still worth 10 factors and there are 5 Italian Tact factors available to help out. Putting all your eggs in one basket to attempt a brilliant counterattack would be the quickest way to lose as the USSR.

Use all available units for a 3 hex defense: straight across from west to east starting where the 7-4 currently is. You should not hold Tabriz or you will have trouble holding the end point of the line (i.e., the 4th hex) next impulse if Guderian reorganizes the armor group.

The hexes should have 12, 12, and 7 strength point each, for a defensive line of 24, 24, and 15. We'll worry about how to spread this group out into 4 hexes next impulse.

Agreed. However: for Zhukov it is to late to railmove to the front. If you railmove him there so early in a long turn, he might get into a position where he will be killed, being immobile. I'm against that. Let him stay where he is, or move him towards the northern mountain ranges of the Caucasus. Later in the turn (if the turn is about to end, this might be useful, but now it is dangerous).

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ORIGINAL: composer99

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ORIGINAL: Red Prince

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ORIGINAL: composer99

Instead of invading around Bordeaux I would invade at La Rochelle (where the Yugo cavalry is); you face at best a 3-factor defence (CAV + 1-factor notional). Or invade south of it to face a 2-factor notional only.

Then work to isolate the coastal sector from Bordeaux to Bilbao and mop up any OOS defenders.

That ought to get the Germans' attention.

Also, this is a stronger play than expanding the Danish beachhead (although you should do that as time & units permit) because it's areas that are good defence for the Allies (who can keep supply easily by sea and bring reinforcements from UK & US) and force a very strong commitment from the Axis.

I'd like to do what you all ask, but there isn't anything to use to get the job done.

Below you can see the entire invasion force available to the USA and CW. This includes all of the Marine units and AMPHs they have right now. There are also 4 American, 7 Commonwealth, and 1 Spanish TRS on the map.

Arriving in S/O '41: 2 x TRS for the USA, and 1 x AMPH for the CW
Arriving in N/D '41: 2 x TRS, 2 x AMPH for the USA
Arriving in J/F '41: 1 x Marine Engineer for the USA

Remember, we are just starting Turn #12 and until last turn, the USA had very little production. The best I could do this turn is try to invade against a 2-factor Notional by using 3 American divisions . . . to get a 1:1 attack that I might be able to push up to 3:1 using Shore Bombardment and Ground Support. The problem after that, though, is that even the "weak units" that are holding the coast can probably take care of those invaders before the next impulse, so I wouldn't be able to land an HQ unit or other support.

I don't see the point in invading if you can't hang on to the territory until the end of the turn, particularly during a potentially long turn. I might be able to get the Philly Marine into an invasion sometime this turn, but that AMPH isn't going to be landing anyone else. Yes, the Soviet Union is crumbling, but patience is required here. If I can only mount a single invasion for the entire turn, all Germany has to do is get that unit locked off from advancing. It doesn't need to bring back any forces from the Soviet Front . . . what good would they do anyway? They wouldn't be able to move until next turn, and the Germans have a fresh HQ coming in next turn. Where do you think he'll be heading?

If you have the TRS, bring the 6-4 MAR to the UK. If you have 2 TRS there, invade once the Marines are over with the 6-4 MAR and 2 divisions. Indeed- invade the hex east of Bordeaux (it appears to be invadeable). That hex is too far south for the Rumanians to reinforce in one impulse, and it looks like the Allies can expand the beachhead somehwere.

If you can get 20 factors (8 invading, 8 shore bombardment & 4 ground support) you are golden; if not you should be fine against a 2-factor notional.

If you don't have the forces to expand the beachead (namely, a spare HQ), you will probably have to wait till next turn.