AIO and Search and Seizure

[Frederyck]

This is probably not the most important issue at hand, but one of the things that I find difficult to quantify is the value of performing a search and seizure compared to the US entry effect. Is there any thought about this? (Ie one resource to Russia is not worth stopping, but five BPs are, but not if Entry Option 34 has been chosen, or something like that?)

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: Frederyck
This is probably not the most important issue at hand, but one of the things that I find difficult to quantify is the value of performing a search and seizure compared to the US entry effect. Is there any thought about this? (Ie one resource to Russia is not worth stopping, but five BPs are, but not if Entry Option 34 has been chosen, or something like that?)

I have never played with this option in effect. It is a 20% risk of a US Entry chit, which is not too bad. In perspective, the Axis declaring war on a minor is a 30% risk.

Like most things concerning US Entry, it depends on how the war is going. If Germany is having troubles cracking Russia, then stopping the merchant marine can be quite important. You also can gain the benefit that the Allies might stop trying. However, if Germany is doing well, letting the ships through unmolested can keep the US Entry more difficult for the Allies to achieve. I would treat it as part of the mix of Axis options, like declaring war on a minor. The Alllies should never use it (IMO).

[composer99]

Search and Seizure certainly doesn't come up much on the WiF list, and I don't know that all that many people undertake S&S, either. There are only two situations that I can think of where Search and Seizure could come in handy:

(1) A neutral US has reached the point where it can pass "Refute Naval War Zones" and does, and begins using its own convoy points to ship resources or build points to Russia through the Baltic (where the CW cannot send escorts if Germany has conquered Denmark). Germany can S&S the American convoys. But by the time the US can choose that entry option, it can usually declare war on the Axis.

(2) The CW is sending lend-lease to Russia through Persia, and a Japan that is also at war with the USSR, before it is at war with the CW, searches and seizes the convoys.

The former case almost never happens. The latter case occurs occasionally, so a Japanese AIO might consider making use of it. The Allies almost never get to engage in Search and Seizure since the Axis lending that usually occurs is between Germany and Italy, and they don't need convoys to ship resources or build points to one another. The chances of either Germany or Italy being able to lend resources to Japan (and vice-versa) by sea without all three of them being at war with the Commonwealth are quite low indeed.

[Shannon V. OKeets]

ORIGINAL: composer99

Search and Seizure certainly doesn't come up much on the WiF list, and I don't know that all that many people undertake S&S, either. There are only two situations that I can think of where Search and Seizure could come in handy:

(1) A neutral US has reached the point where it can pass "Refute Naval War Zones" and does, and begins using its own convoy points to ship resources or build points to Russia through the Baltic (where the CW cannot send escorts if Germany has conquered Denmark). Germany can S&S the American convoys. But by the time the US can choose that entry option, it can usually declare war on the Axis.

(2) The CW is sending lend-lease to Russia through Persia, and a Japan that is also at war with the USSR, before it is at war with the CW, searches and seizes the convoys.

The former case almost never happens. The latter case occurs occasionally, so a Japanese AIO might consider making use of it. The Allies almost never get to engage in Search and Seizure since the Axis lending that usually occurs is between Germany and Italy, and they don't need convoys to ship resources or build points to one another. The chances of either Germany or Italy being able to lend resources to Japan (and vice-versa) by sea without all three of them being at war with the Commonwealth are quite low indeed.

It is quite pleasant to have at least some part of the AIO be simple to write. Thanks.