Hi Galileo
I have read your strategy to take England and like to leave some comments. First I like to say that I am new to the game and have not played the game against a human opponent yet.
My observation is that at least two points in your strategy are worth discussing while playing against the AI.
1. You say that Seelöwe should start around August.
I don’t know why you set this timetable. The USSR and I think also the US are not affected in their war-readiness till June 1941 if the Axis does not DOW any other country after France. So this gives the Axis much more time for preparing a Sealion than you are willing to give them. Of cause also GB will get additional MPPs but since Axis gets more than GB (especially after the Minors join) it might be better to collect a few more MPPs before starting the operation.
2. Your tactics used when taking GB are worth discussing.
First you don’t take London in your first attack on the island which I do not understand.
Second you build additional U-boats for whose MPPs I’d rather build air fleets.
Third I would not risk my HQs near the English shore and move them up with the invasion on the first attack.
I have successfully made a Sealion in a Fall Gelb scenario with a different tactic. My scenario had all nations at random and FOW on with difficulty plus 2 but no experience bonus for the AI.
I forced the French surrender at the end of July and started my invasion many turns later (I don’t recall when it was exactly at the moment, but it must have been September or October). My attack was organised as follows:
1. Build up at least five air fleets and position them at the French shore near England.
2. Try to break out with the Italian fleet into the Atlantic as soon as possible.
3. Just before the invasion starts order your German Atlantic U-boat to the Canadian coast. That will draw at least three big Allied ships off of the English waters and away to an insignificant place.
4. By the time the sub is sunk by the arriving UK ships near Canada, arrive with three tank and three army groups around London. Guard this main invasion with one or two corps to the north of London and maybe southwest of London plus the three German naval units. The corps and the German ships do the only job of protecting the main invasion from naval attacks as good as possible.
5. In the very same turn, you move your forces to the British shore, bomb London with your five (or more) air units.
6. Move one or better two of your HQs to the port in Brüssel.
7. During the next turn the English naval units will do you only harm in the north of London, killing the corp and a naval unit plus damaging the other two naval units as well. The Allied air will be reduced in strength due to the interception they flew when London was attacked. They will do little damage and mostly only one other invasion unit will be destroyed or damaged.
8. On your next turn fly about three more attacks on London with air fleets first. Then land in GB and attack London four times. The surprise bonus your landing units receive will kill the London defender, allowing you to take London in the same turn.
9. Move your HQ (s) over to England by see- transport (you can use the harbour since you conquered it). Unload the other invasion groups.
10. Destroy with your ground units the UK land units and move your air fleets over the channel as soon as possible.
11. With two HQs in England, London harbour in your hand, five airfleets in the Kingdom it should be no problem defeating UK soon enough.
Of cause the USSR and the US will prepare for war soon. But neither of them is a real threat. Spain will join and the other three Minors as well. Move their troops over to the Balkan mountains at the border to the USSR as soon as possible and to the Hex near the black sea that has to be attacked from the river, if the USSR should dare to come.
Then protect the northern border to the USSR with German armies and probably a new HQ. If you still lack Armies, use the Italian ground forces to protect the border south of Warschau and north of the Balkan Mountains.
Most likely both the USSR and the US will join the war before GB surrenders, but since the Italian Navy will have reached the Atlantic by now and the east front armies are entrenched, they are no real threat.
After GB you have two options: Going for the US first or finish Russia.
If you go for the US, invest in anti-tank tech only to hold the front in the east and move your air fleets to the east front and build another HQ for them. Move your ground forces from GB to either Canada or directly to the US. Usually the city in the south of the US is best to be taken first.
After the US is out of war, you have all the time you need for Russia.
Unfortunately the plan wont work against a human opponent for many reasons.
Against the AI it will work every time as far as my experience is concerned.
I was even astonished how easy it is to take England against the AI.
Feldtrompeter
