Ralph Boerke's Tribute to Axis & Allies
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Overall Strategy: [Top]
The USSR is the poor boy of the game. It is sandwiched between Germany and Japan. It will usually start to lose its eastern territories to Japan by about the third turn. It must build up enough strength by this time to slow down both Germany and Japan.
The USSR must choose its moments to attack Japan but should try to keep steady pressure on Germany.
The Eastern Front is where most of the fighting will take place. Many of the territories of Eastern Europe, Karelia SSR, Ukraine SSR, and the Caucasus will see-saw between Germany and the USSR.
Infantry, Infantry, Infantry should be all the USSR purchases for the first four turns or so. If the Armour can be saved then good, if not then use the Fighters to support Infantry attacks.
Remember Infantry defend better than they attack, and placing a Fighter or two with Infantry creates a very good defensive position.
The UK and USA should send Fighters to help defend Karelia and then Russia.
First Moves: [Top]
The USSR has a special position as it is the first to attack and always has the same units to use.
Against Germany: The USSR navy consists of a Submarine and a Transport. The USSR also has two Fighters and three Armour for offensives against Germany. Use the Submarine and one Fighter to attack the German Baltic fleet (one Sub and one Transport). Leave the USSR Transport with the UK fleet for defense. Use three Armour and eight Infantry against the Ukraine (three Infantry, two Armour, one Fighter). This is the best of the three targets Finland-Norway, Eastern Europe, and the Ukraine as it has two Armour and 1 Fighter. (Actually each has a Fighter) The Fighter is important for Germany as it is needed to halt the UK Fleet. The Armour is what Germany wants to keep and wants to only buy Infantry and use the same Armour for conquest. So destroying two of them is important. Also the Ukraine allows all of the USSR Infantry to be used for the best odds of keeping the USSR Armour and winning the counter attack! Only three Infantry can be used against Finland-Norway or Eastern Europe. What Germany can do is attack Karelia or the Ukraine or the Caucasus or all of these! What it will do is hit the Ukraine to destroy the USSR Armour. It may land via the sea in the Caucasus, and it might try to take Karelia, but can only take Karelia and the Ukraine if it uses its Airpower. If Germany uses its airpower then the UK can build a strong fleet and begin landing forces in Finland-Norway and Karelia to support the USSR. If Germany bypasses the Ukraine and only goes for Karelia then the USSR can save its Armour and retreat to Russia for a second attack on the German front.
First purchase: 8 Infantry = 24 IPCs
Place all of these on Karelia and with the two Fighters and the four Infantry from Russia and it can withstand a German assault of six Infantry and five Armour and four Fighters and 1 Bomber (all available units in range). This leaves the UK fleet intact! The attack will take 6 USSR Infantry and 5 German Infantry on the first round (on average). Germany may take Karelia but will usually only so it with three or four Armour and may lose a Fighter in doing so. The USSR will still have 10 Infantry to place on Russia the next turn and so repel any future attack because by this time the UK fleet will be together and large enough to transport six Infantry per turn into (now empty) Finland-Norway and thus harass Germany from the west and relieve Karelia.
Against Japan: Only Manchuria is a target and the USSR can use five Infantry and 1 Armour to attack it (three Infantry and one Fighter defending). This should be done as it will deprive Japan of a very useful Fighter. The two Infantry from Evenki can be moved to Yakut SSR to defend the USSR in the future. To not attack would be folly as Japan will just use its units to more quickly attack all of Asia. Any survivors will be conquered by Japan when it attacks from the sea.
Japan will need about two or three turns before it makes it to Evenki N.O. By this turn the USSR can start to funnel a few Infantry into Sinkiang and Novosibersk to slow the Japanese and the US fleet should be strong enough to exert pressure on Japan as well.
One last Fighter. The Fighter from Russia has not been used yet. It can be used in the Ukraine offensive and land on Karelia for defense or it can be used in Manchuria and land on China for its defense! I prefer Manchuria as the US needs help and with a UK offensive in Asia the Japanese can be slowed down by two turns which helps the USSR the most as all it needs is time! This way the US's and UK's and USSR's Fighters will be saved and placed on Russia or Karelia for defense.
Alternate Targets in the First Move: [Top]
Of the three German targets Finland-Norway, Eastern Europe and Ukraine I advise to try and take the Ukraine only.
But I have played against others who insist that Eastern Europe be tried as this will make Germany reverse its direction (from Ukraine) from the east and bring forces to Eastern Europe leaving Ukraine empty for the next USSR attack.
I have also seen dual attacks on Germany in the Ukraine and Finland-Norway. In this way the Soviet Armour is safe in Norway and the Fighters are used exclusively in Ukraine. The Baltic Sea and Manchuria battles are fought without Fighter support. This destroys two German Fighters which will hopefully allow the UK Fleet to survive. This also can place the USSR at 32 IPCs (3 for Manchuria, 3 for Ukraine and 2 for Norway). Another ten Infantry for the second turn.
Bad Dice: [Top]
If the USSR follows this strategy and loses a battle or two and Germany counters and takes Karelia with many units (say six or more Armour here and Infantry). Russia will be empty until the 24+ IPCs purchases 8+ Infantry the following turn. If any Soviet Armour survived it can rush back and defend as well. In this case the USSR must call upon the UK to land two or more fighters on Russia to help defend. Luckily an early attack like this from Germany does not allow for a distant Japan to support it in a pincer movement!
To the Next Chapter: Germany
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