Has Beach Defence a sense?

[AlbertN]

Greetings,

While trying this game against the AI, I realized when the Allies invade later on (in '43) that anything that is on the coast just gets obliterated by troops still in their amphibious transports, without even firing back at them!

So I wonder what's the design intent there, or if it's just a game mechanic to accept, and to not bother to defend the ports decently due to invaders having pratically a double attack (the one from the amphibious unit, and the other one once they landed).

Considering also there are pratically infinite beaches to defend and that the Allies can even land directly in Germany if they'd want - how exactly is Axis supposed to protect the beaches and fend off a landing? - The AI is limited in thinking, it landed in Normandy as per historical (just a year in advance!) and poured pratically a large amount of troops (like 30+ corps / armies / tanks / hq and even 1 cavalry!) in the same spot. The AI is easy to counter at that stage, form your battle line and grind away. But against a player that can land elsewhere, behind your line, etc?

[PvtBenjamin]

ORIGINAL: Cohen_slith

Greetings,

While trying this game against the AI, I realized when the Allies invade later on (in '43) that anything that is on the coast just gets obliterated by troops still in their amphibious transports, without even firing back at them!

hey

Could you be more specific? I don't understand.

ty

[AlbertN]

German corps in Cherbourg. (supplies lowered by bombing in previous turn)
Allies arrive with 2 corps, do the sea attack from amph, land attack, and Cherbour falls.
Repeat this over 3 or so ports in the invasion turn, Allies secured cheaply their supply lines.

[hellraiser1973]

Against a determined combined attack, unfortunately it is not possible to hold the coastal cities.
Some players figured this thing out a long time ago and are not even bothering to garrison said cities. For the above mentioned reason and for another one: to prevent allied airforce/carriers from training on those cheap garrison units.
If you really want to defend France as Axis, you need to set up positions inland - use engineers to fortify hexes, entrench your units and use a mobile force to counterattack if the opportunity arises.

[PvtBenjamin]

ORIGINAL: Cohen_slith

German corps in Cherbourg. (supplies lowered by bombing in previous turn)
Allies arrive with 2 corps, do the sea attack from amph, land attack, and Cherbour falls.
Repeat this over 3 or so ports in the invasion turn, Allies secured cheaply their supply lines.

Sort of sounds like the real war


There are many Axis strategies to prepare and reduce. If you are interested let us know (a few (+hellraiser)-attack Egypt or GB early/AA research 4-5/use strategic bombers on ports to hinder Allied reinforcements/ many more). But yes the amphibs have an attack capability.

[BillRunacre]

Deploy upgraded Anti-Aircraft units to protect key units and positions. They won't make your units invulnerable to air attacks, but they will cost the enemy some losses and without them, things will be worse for the Axis in the west.

[Ktonos]

As hellraiser said, yοu won't defend the coast against determined allied landing. If you have the coast guarded you will have it to prevent cheap opportunistic landings, and state to ur opponent that he must come strong or not at all.