Ralph Boerke's Tribute to Axis & Allies
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Overall Strategy: [Top]
Rich boy! The USA has an opportunity to attack either Japan or Germany. It is not threatened by either Axis power except Japan in China for four IPCs.
Strategy: I have heard some people say that it should go directy for Germany. I prefer that it go after Japan as then the USSR and UK can concentrate on Germany. But the US can still help out in Europe or Africa!
The Pacific! Southern or Northern Pacific?
MacArthur - The South. The US needs a few turns to build a fleet which can bring with it enough men to make this strategy work. If the US moves its fleet to the Solomons on the first turn it will have to bring its supporting Transports and Submarines the long way through the South Pacific to keep it out of range of the Japanese airpower. The Japanese fleet will also just need to move to the south (Burma) to make contact with it and Japan can build more Subs (or Fighters!) while it waits for the US to come into its waters. The only benefit the US can have is it might take some of the Japanese islands and the Philippines (if it is empty and the fleets have not battled yet!). But the supply line back to the USA is too long. Even if the US fleet won it would not have enough striking force to take any of the lands which is the key to this game (land = IPCs!).
A UK Factory on Australia is an option which can bring more forces directly to southern Asia but this takes resources away from the UK in Europe.
Nimitz - The North. By going north the US will have its land forces move through Canada to Alaska and wait for the fleet to arrive to pick them up. They can not be picked off. Moving north also requires only one turn for new US ships to join the fleet and a quick jump from Alaska to the Soviet Far East sea zone. However this will bring it directly into contact with the Japanese fleet. If the US waits for a few turns it can build a large fleet which it can threaten Japan with. Japan will have to divert IPCs from Infantry to Submarines thus taking pressure off of the USSR (even if the US loses the battle!).
With a UK Factory on India either of these strategies might work as the Japanese must concentrate on India. The Fleets will support India no matter where the US goes as this takes forces away from the India front.
Winning or losing the Pacific:
The Japanese and American Fleets will eventually clash.
Winning: bring more Transports and Infantry to the USSR.
Losing: loss of the Pacific, build an Atlantic Fleet and take out Germany
or swing through the Panama canal and take on Japan again!
The Germany First Option: This gives Japan a free hand in Asia. Without a US fleet to threaten it it can purchase land armies and Factories in Asia. With this it can quickly go against the USSR. This makes it a race. Japan to take Moscow before the Allies take Berlin. In this race the Allies should win but Japan can get lucky and even go for Africa. Germany might destroy a UK fleet but a second fleet and a US fleet is nearly impossible. But Germany can hold out a bit easier than the USSR can as Germany can purchase more Infantry and become Fortress Europe.
First Moves: [Top]
Good opening buys - four Submarines and coalesce the fleet in the Western sea zone. Move the Bomber to the UK and the East US Fighter to a UK Aircraft Carrier (if it exists) or on to the UK. From there move the Airpower to Russia.
The Bomber can quickly move to Alaska to Russia or the UK to Russia. Going Alaska gives the opportunity to help Chinese forces or to attack Japanese targets on the way.
The US Atlantic fleet. Use it to land in Africa or Finland-Norway, and try to use it to help defend the UK fleet.
Chinese forces take what you can quickly as they will be lost eventually: Burma or Kwangtung. The US Fighter should be saved and moved to protect Moscow or Soviet forces. If the UK is planning a Factory in India then prepare to defend it. The US forces in Asia will be lost within a few turns and are too small to play any major roll in the struggle between Japan and the USSR.
Alternate Targets in the First Move: [Top]
Pearl Harbour attack by Japan. Bring all forces against whatever Japanese fleet is left in Hawaiian waters. See Japan.
Alternate Purchase and Strategy: Purchase a large Atlantic Fleet - four Transports; bring the US Fleet (Battleship and Transport; and Carrier and Sub) through the Canal and abandon the Pacific. Bring the fleets together and attack Germany. You can always swing this fleet back through Panama to go against a strong Japan after Germany is defeated. Or through the Suez!
Bad Dice: [Top]
For the USA this does not matter too much as its riches (at least 32 IPCs per turn) can purchase it another powerful fleet within two turns. Four Submarines the first turn and a Carrier and Transport the second turn. It has time to build up a fleet and an air force. Even if the USA is defeated at sea it can protect the North American continent easily with ten Infantry per turn. And then save IPCs for a new killer fleet and/or airforces.
To the Next Chapter: Tactics
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