As allied, a variation of the Italian Gambit is to DOW Italy just one turn before the expected coming of Germany near Paris, generally beginning of May. Even if you don't try to take Rome, you can easily take Bari with the Canadian Corps, destroy the 3 Italian fleet with that corps + the French fleet ; RN to finish them off at low cost. I generally use all mediteranean ships + 2 french Atlantic ships. The remaining french cruiser is sufficent to find the UBoots before the RN sinks them, and later take care of German units venturing near the sea as U Boots will rather take care of RN. You then still have two turns to send the French in the Adriatic and kill at least one more Italian. You have all the time to make a stopover in Marseille so that your fleets have about 7 in supply. Depending on Italian awareness, you can even bring in the Algiers corps to help stiking in the port, they should have time to go to Malta on the next turn.
Impact on US readiness is limited to 10/12% which is no more than Ireland.
Costs :
- Italy enters war one or two turns ealier : 230 PPM
- USA enters war about 3 turns later (but not necessarily, depending on German DOW on Spain and Vichy vs the Russian status): 0/540 PPM
- Some hits at the RN costing about 200/250 PPM to repair
=> in total max 1000PPM
Benefits :
- You can expect to hold Bari for about 5 turns which is 50PPM for you -100PPM for Italy ; priority for Germany should be to convert France ASAP before they come and help the italians.
- 4 Italian fleets + damages to the remaining BB = 2000PPM
- stategic benefits of potentially deterring any Axis attempt in Egypt, or at least significantly increasing the life expectency of British foothold there ; in this situation, I think it even makes it worth for the Allied to seize Iraki oil.
This was only tested in rookie matches. I suppose that veteran players have used this strategy before. Please indicate whether you are still using it or else, what the Axis responses were.
Thanks