Step by step guide to successful Sealion

[jjdenver]

Hello,

I have never tried it as I'm not very good as axis and don't have a lot of experience as Axis. But how does an Axis player pull off Sealion step by step?

Thank you!

[archmache]

1) Air Dominance - removes Allied ability to block English Channel with ships
2) Buy third paratroopers so that you have three of them - don't lose them during Battle of France
3) Sell chits on turn one and put two into Amphibious Warfare. You should have lvl 1 Amphibious warfare by Fall of France.
4) Buy MarineKorps bomber so that it can clear Channel.

After Battle of France - push back Allied air - use MPP from Poland to buy 1/2 more fighters and more tactical bombers. Also invest in Ground attack weapons to make sure the Stukas can de-entrench. They should be ready for battle of Britain. Potentially sell more chits and invest in Long range aircraft.

1) Bomb the corps / army on one turn - drop three paratroops and attack the corps or army on whatever port hex.
2) Amphibious vehicle should have tanks. Sometime if you take a city that port only goes to five so you can transport a HQ in - but don't count on it. Have one HQ in an AVL and 2 tanks in the AV. You should be able to then have 1 HQ, 3 paratroops, and 2 tank landed in England in one turn.

Counter-points. If they have every hex with units then you have to really go all out on the airforce. Don't invest any research chits except AW & ground attack weapons and just buy more planes.

[Elessar2]

Clarifying that you have to spring for the third paratroop before the scripted ones come onboard in early '40. The Italian one could also help. Since the build limit is 1 one of them could be moved to the build queue in the editor so the Germans can't go +2 over their limit.

[The Land]

It helps a lot if you take France early - best achieved by moving tanks, air and HQs from Poland starting turn 1. France can surrender in May, meaning the British have less units and you have more good weather. However that move requires a lot of preparation in itself.

Otherwise... concentrating your air power, seizing a port with amphibs and paratroops... Make sure your air units are all HQ'd-up and in good supply. You definitely want Amphib tech 1, otherwise, don't wait for the perfect techs (e.g Ground Attack Weapons 2) - go with what you've got.

(And it's a poor strategy in multiplayer, because a competent human will really leverage the additional mobilisation that the USA and USSR get.)

[LLv34Mika]

always a risky thing... investing in amphib tech means you have less points for something else. And you have to do it early. Actually I prefer to leave it more open. If I get good weather in autumn and early 1940 France can surrender in April or May. That is perfect. Depending on the efforts of the Brits hunting the German sub you can try to get the Kriegsmarine to the channel.

I really love my maritime bombers and sometimes you can hit the Royal Navy early. Sinking two battleships/cruisers pretty early with no losses often gives you the chance to be more agressive with your subs. Usually they dive so much that it is almost impossible to sink a sub in one turn so when placed in or near the channel you can lure many ships there. With clear skies and no rough sea a maritime bomber can follow a scouting destroyer. I remember a game in which I was able to sink a carrier and five heavy ships in one turn. Of course that totally crippled the royal navy.

If that happens you don't need amphib tech. The Luftwaffe can dominate the sky. The British don't have the MPPs to reinforce the RAF all the time AND keep morale/readiness high enough to be competetive that early. With a crippled navy and RAF you can start your attacks on a town with a harbor. The Fallschirmjaeger will follow the bomber attacks and take the city and harbor. ONE amphib is always available and then you can send transports to that harbor.

Actually the only chance for the British is to use the heavy bomber to keep the port damaged. And that is really expensive for the British. The fighters can not compete with the Luftwaffe and without escort the Bomber is dead pretty soon.

But as said... all that sounds easy but still only works if you manage to defeat france in June or better earlier. A good player will slow you down in GB whenever possible. The USA and USSR will swing towards the allies much much earlier and that will result in a damn strong Russian opponent and the USA will start an invasion in Iraq, Egypt or even take back the British Island and flood the map with their air superiority. So IF they manage to do so you are in the "slippery slope" mode. Once that is achieved it is almost impossible to dive them into the sea again AND you still have that very strong opponent in the east.

[PvtBenjamin]

(And it's a poor strategy in multiplayer, because a competent human will really leverage the additional mobilisation that the USA and USSR get.)

True and its very hard to execute in PBEM. They should call it SeaGhost because a large percentage of players who try it ghost the game. Some have the decency to resign.

[Duedman]

In my sole singleplayer game I cheesed it a bit by not taking London. I blocked it with garrisons, so no unit placement.
I guess a human opponent would not like that very much lol

But yeah, in general it is a death sentence to attempt Sea Lion.

[BPINisBACK]

(And it's a poor strategy in multiplayer, because a competent human will really leverage the additional mobilisation that the USA and USSR get.)

True and its very hard to execute in PBEM. They should call it SeaGhost because a large percentage of players who try it ghost the game. Some have the decency to resign.

LOL!!!!!