What to do with a big German Navy?

[Courtenay]

ORIGINAL: rkr1958

ORIGINAL: Jagdtiger14

Ronnie: I have never seen it even against an incompetent player. The only Sea Lion I've seen pulled off in a strategic game was in the old A3R (now AWAW).

I pulled it off once in a game, though not in MWiF but in CEaW-GS, against a very good human opponent, but it was totally unintentional. To see what I mean, check out: http://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewtop ... 47#p469347

In Kreig, I managed a Sea Lion once against an incompetent player. Paris fell the first (!) turn of the game. He used the Allied navies to try and impose a blockade of North Africa. This let me make a SeaLowe that had a good chance of succeeding. I got one stack into England, with another stack in the English Channel. We each rolled three dice; I had to roll at least as many ones and twos as my opponent rolled ones. I did. In Kreig, if the Allies just keep enough air units uncommitted, a SeaLowe is impossible. My opponent did not.

The amazing thing about this game was that, owing to the early fall of France, I was simultaneously doing a 1940 Barbarossa, against a much better Russian player. Both Britain and Moscow fell.

[Centuur]

What's the goal you want to reach with a Sea Lion? What to do if the opportunity arises? Those are the two questions.

First: the UK can be invaded, if the CW player is careless. I've seen players who empty the UK of land units to poor them into France (with 2 HQ there, you can get 5 other land units there) and aren't building boots on the ground to replace those units, but instead concentrate on getting other units first on the map. If that happens, than before the fall of France an invasion of the UK by German units can be devastating for the CW economy. That's worth keeping two division and a cheap GAR and MIL with the AMPH and the TRS at Kiel. Goal is not to conquer the place, but simply be there. If they are in supply during the end of turn phase, they destroy factories. They can race throughout the country, especially if the CW did use their TRS already that turn. I gladly pay 1,5 US entry chit if I can cripple CW war production. Especially during M/J and J/A 1940 that can be done.

After the fall of France, providing that the CW didn't lose their army in that country, it is usually impossible to invade the UK succesfully. A conquest of the UK is very difficult, since one needs to control Belfast too...

[warspite1]

ORIGINAL: Cohen

Sea Lion by how it is at the present is folly in my eyes.

warspite1

Glad to see the game is historically accurate[:)]

[tom730_slith]

In my current Solitaire Global campaign I made some BIG mistakes with the CW and Germany invaded and ultimately CONQUERED GB!
Of course, I was playing against myself and NOT a "competent player!" [:D]

After all was said and done I found in addition to British factories and resources, the Germans also gained quite a few unfinished or un-repaired ships! Suddenly the Kriegsmarine had the potential to be BIG! Of course that would require paying to build/repair the various ships.
Some older ships would certainly not be worth spending Bps on, but then there were CVs…

So much can happen in this game. It's crazy fun!

[alexvand]

In my current game where I prepared for a Sea Lion but did not launch it the big German navy has been awesome. Combined with a Sitzkreig in the East, the EuroAxis have taken a Naval impulse every turn and a few combined ones as well. The Allied fleets are hurting! While the Germans have never actually disrupted CW production much (They've always managed to repair the CP lines) the Allies are still producing 12 or so CPs per turn and have next to no reserve in mid 1943. The Allies are also running out of cruisers (Even with Cruisers in Flames!) since so many have been sunk.

It's been quite a lot of fun as the Germans to keep the Allies on their toes. Lisbon has made a great base for the Kreigsmarine.

The Germans still have 3 fast BBs left, 2 or 3 of the heavier cruisers, and the Graf Zepplin. Still enough to raid strongly. Although the Germans have been spending between 6 and 8 BPs every turn repairing and maintaining the fleet. This may come back to haunt them as the Russian Bear is finally waking up and the German land force pools are not empty.