Objectives.
1. Total control of the Med and the destruction of Allied military offensive capability there.
2. Prevent the western Allies (i.e., UK and USA) from being able to launch an effective invasion of Europe prior to 1945.
3. Destruction or significant degradation of Russian military offensive capability by the end of 1942 and the establishment of a double defense deep in Russian territory.
Background.
Poland didn't fall until the 4th turn on October 31, 1939 due to a decision that I made in September 21, 1939 to not go for Warsaw and to clear out units around it for, what I thought would be an easy and low cost conquest the next turn. The problem was that the weather turned from fair to mud that next turn (October 11, 1939) and delayed the conquest to October 31, 1939.
France fell later than I would have like on 8/6/1940 with moderately light losses. The German to UK PP difference was 294 PPs. This is 63 PPs below the average cost for the conquest of France but the fall is two turns later than the average fall date of 6/26/1940. See viewtopic.php?p=116460#116460
When it became apparent that France wasn't going to fall until August I decided to mix things up from my normally predictable play and try something different. I decided on a "Close the Med" strategy. My play as the Axis; especially against Jim and Borger had become too predictable. I followed the standard template of Poland, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France, Norway, Yugoslavia, Greece and then invade Russia. I would make what gains I could there in 1941 and 1942 and then in 1943 transition to the defensive. In North Africa the transition to the defensive occurred in 1942. Then try to hold out past May 1945 to get a win. The strategy and tactics I used to prosecute this "standard" template also had become highly predictable. I felt it was time to mix it up and try something new.
Note - please bear with me on this digression. It will really lead to a relevant point. I promise. Though I've never played or own WIF, I've been keeping up with the progress on the development of MWIF. I would classify WIF and MWIF as at the very least a very intense and involved game. My read on this game, even though I've never played it or read through the rules, is that a (M)WIF game could take a year or more to complete. I've read that one turn takes 2 to 6 hours. Also, I get the impression that the learning curve is very steep too. For me, CEaW - GS is the perfect game. You can complete the most involved turn in 30 minutes or so. A lot of turns early or late in the game, dependent upon which side you are, can be completed in 10 minutes or less. A full game is 105 turns (May 1945). If you average 1 turn a day you can complete a full game is 3 1/2 months by PBEM. By averaging two turns a day you complete a game in less than 2 months. Also, you can manage multiple games at the same time rather "easily". I've found my limit to be up to 4 games at once. A limit, which I'm currently at.
What was the point this digression? In reading through the MWIF posts I picked up on three basic Axis strategies for Europe that the axis player(s) tended to employ. There may be more than three but those were all that were apparent to me. The three basic strategies are: (1) Standard template, which is outlined above, (2) Sea Lion or (3) Close the Med. I've seen and played a number of games where (1) and (2) were tried to varying degrees of success. However; and this doesn't mean it hasn't been tried by other players, I've never seen a "Close the Med" strategy in action. I though it'd be fun to give it a go. Now, if I blow it and get slaughter, which is quite possible, it doesn't mean this strategy isn't valid it just means that I failed to implement it properly.
Current Situation.
Spain was invaded on October 5, 1940 and was conquered this past turn, which was February 22, 1941. I chose to respect Vichy neutrality and invaded Spain by land from the north and from the south by amphibious assault. The northern push came from the the occupied French corridor between the Atlantic and Vichy France, which is two hexes wide at the Spanish border to north of Bordeaux. The southern amphibious assault landed next to Barcelona with two German corps (infantry and mech) and an Italian tank corps. This landing was reinforced the next turn with an Italian infantry corps. The Italian tank corps raced to link up with a German mechanized corps from the north on turn two of the invasion to provide supply by land to this force. The amphibious landings and attacks on Barcelona were supported by two tactical bombers based just in the occupied French corridor between the Atlantic and Vichy France.
I currently have 3 armor corps, 4 tactical bombers, 4 fighters, 1 strategic bomber, 6 u-boats and 5 mechanized corps. I decided to use my u-boats to support my invasion of Spain. This cost me the loss of 1 u-boat flotilla and serious degradation to two others. This did delay Jim's reinforcement of Spain; but I'm not sure that delay was worth the cost. Oh well, it's done and over and time to repair, upgrade and move on to another mission with this force. I plan to use them to help with the destruction of the RN in the Med before I start going after his convoys. I hate to let his convoys through so I may use two u-boats for that mission and three for the destruction of the RN in the Med.
As you can see below he has landed in force in Spanish Morocco. I hope to catch and destroy that force, which will weaken his position in both Egypt and the UK.
My siege of Gibraltar will begin next turn. Fortunately the Allies still only have a garrison there. Also, the Luftwaffe, whose first priority is to support the siege, will be used to attack the UK forces in Spanish Morocco.
I also have a large force on the Egyptian border ready to push into Egypt with the objective to capture the Suez canal. Next turn the Axis armor will be upgraded and the push will start after that.
In terms of Russia, my goal is to invaded in July but absolutely no later than August. I won't be able to build armor so I plan to build a number of mechanized units. I also need to build another tactical bomber and fighter. It will take a minimum of two turns to transfer Luftwaffe units from Spain to eastern Europe for the attack on Russia. I need to keep that in mind.
I was preparing and building up for an invasion of the Balkans but this was put on hold. As it stand now, I will go into Russia with a smaller force than I like and invading the Balkans would make that even smaller. I do need to capture Norway and will probably launch that invasion at the same time I invaded Russia.
Germany currently has 11 labs. 3 Infantry, 2 Armor, 3 Air, 1 Naval (w/focus on subs) and 2 general (w/focus on industry). Italy currently has 6 labs. 2 Infantry, 2 Air, 1 Naval and 1 General.
