brian brian
Posts: 3191
Joined: 11/16/2005 Status: offline
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A lot depends on how well the Chinese are played though. I don't think they are in much danger of they are played properly - defend in stacks, retreat _before_ Japan can get good odds, pick the Blitz table unless surrounded, keep HQs from Japanese contact - but most players play them poorly and make it too easy for the Japanese to gobble them up, always hoping Japan rolls a 14 on the Assault table while their units sit still on the front lines. But Japan holds the strategic initiative and can always pivot to fight the USSR quickly on their interior lines while keeping the Chinese pinned down (though that won't last as long on the new ooze-friendly map). Their long-range planes can be quite handy too. Japan can leave their Manchurian units in the for e pool and build them instantly when a need is detected. In my opinion, the odds the USSR can come out with any gains for itself in 1940 are low. They will lose a factory for sure, and take casualties. If they are still fighting when the Germans attack, they can't extricate their forces in Siberia very well while they extricate their European factories. (Edit: and here too the Russians are usually played poorly, fighting on too long with too much force, as a gamer playing a game with nothing else to do at the time is making the decisions). All that is predicated on the possibility of a 1941 Barbarossa, which is extremely serious. If that is off the table, it is Japan that should garrison Manchuria strongly and possibly negotiate for a Pact, or just brace for impact.
< Message edited by brian brian -- 4/14/2016 10:21:21 PM >
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