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The last few times I've played Global War I've been using the Oil Rules and it really is a very different game. It's fun and probably more historically accurate, but it does force some strategic choices on the Axis.
I find the Italians are especially hamstrung by lack of oil resources, but also have the biggest potential windfall if they can activate Iraq and Persia.
For the first time I tried using the Italian fleet early in a turn and keeping them "at sea" at the end of the turn. It really seems to help, although without getting some oil soon they are still in a very tough spot!
I also find I'm using naval forces much more sparingly with the Germans and Japanese, and until enough oil is conquered will likely try the same "leave them at sea" tactic.
Anyone else find this helpful?

This is indeed a good tactic. It doesn't matter a lot if you have a fleet sitting in the 4 or the 3 box sea section, so why bother to expend oil to sail again next turn into the 4 box.

But beware that you don't get your main force in a box which is too low. If the enemy surprises you, you might end up being slaughtered. And here is another tip: don't split up your forces into different sea boxes. Sure, a convoy escort has to stay with the convoys and to have a cruiser sitting in the 4 box is a good one too, but it is usually a bad tactic to have a strike fleet devided in different sea boxes of a sea area, especially for the Axis, since they can't handle losses very well...

In an oil game, Italy has to be careful on spending naval and air moves; always consider leaving naval units at sea; pay attention to whether it is worthwhile to expend more oil once usage exceeds X plus point 45 (since then oil needed will be X + 1); and must get Germany to lend her at least one oil a turn once Italy is active. For all but the lending, this is true of Japan as well.

About the point 45, this means re-oiling units one by one not just pressing "re-org all" every turn.

Thanks. I have come to realize - even only playing Solitaire - that splitting your Naval force into several boxes is a great way to get beat up! Really enjoying the challenge of the Oil Rules. I got to the point where I could almost guarantee and Axis victory when not using Oil, unless one or more of the three got a long series of bad die rolls (it happens!) Now it is a much greater challenge.
I have found that a small scale Sea Lion can really mess with the GB possibilities of reinforcing Gibraltar or Egypt. In my current game on a turn where the Axis had first action I landed 1-4 Inf units on two different minor ports, causing a huge uproar in the House of Commons I'm sure! But the best part was Scapa Flow was only protected by a 1 strength unit, and I hit it hard and succeeded in taking it! This messed with quite a few GB Nav units, making them run and disrupt in the process. Of course I now have several units that will be a bit of a challenge to get "home" but it is more than worth it for the disruption to GBs options to "defend everywhere!" One of the 1-4 units on English soil also was able to disrupt a Bomber unit by moving into its space.
I won't take GB, but the damage to her ability to act with quite a few units is BIG!
Anyway, still having a ball with this game and have NEVER doubted the $100 value! [:)]