Invading the USSR in 1940 - any possible counterplay

[HamburgerMeat]

In my (allied) game vs Cpuncher (axis), Cpuncher took France in early 1940 then immediately took Lithuania and Latvia in April 1940, before the Baltic state annexations were offered. USSR mobilization is high, but I imagine that the Germans will invade momentarily.

As the USA does not respond to the invasion of any of the Baltic states or the USSR, I do not think this move has any counterplay. While the USSR gains some MPP advantage due to the early invasion, I think that this is completely outweighed by giving the germans an extra year to invade the USSR. I believe the current game is balanced around a 1941 invasion, but with this move, I strongly doubt that the USSR will hold before the USA joins the fight.

[pjg100]

I recall exploring that option in some solo hotseat games a while back. If memory serves, there was a substantial boost to US mobilization along with a pop-up about the US being alarmed at the Axis's bold move, or something like that, but since that doesn't appear to be in the scripts currently probably won't occur. The initial attack should be significantly underpowered, but you are looking at a world of hurt in 1941. On the other hand, Italy will be left to twist in the wind even more than usual; you may be able to land in Italy in 1941. Will be interesting to see how this plays out; pray for rain.

[Marcinos1985]

Diclaimer - it's not a rant
You can hardly speak about counterplay, when allies have so few trumps in early game. What do they have really? Royal Navy and relatively strong, free spawning troop contingent in North Africa. Meanwhile Axis (Germany and Japan - Italy is another story) has:
* More units
* More experienced units
* Tech advantage, most notably in infantry weapons
* More MPP's for nearly 2 years
That's an awful lot and you can hardly compete with that in early years, at least till US joins the fun.

Going all out defense in France is an idea, but how much time does it buy? 2-3 turns? It is indeed a lot, but if France gets attacked in 1939, Paris still falls in early spring. And then Germany can go on rampage, because it has all advantages mentioned above and free 1000 (?) mpp to spend. So UK has to pay high price and lose some units to be in still bad situation in 1940 and prone to Sealion at the same time.
Island invasion may be still hard to pull off, but UK has to build up some defences, leaving Germany free to play. From this moment Germany may take whatever it wants - Yugo, Balkans, Baltic States, maybe even USSR. Way earlier than IRL.
Allies have no answer, because they are inherently weak and will stay so until at least 1942, maybe '43. UK will not attack Italy on its own, not enough mpp's. USSR can't do anything until its attacked and then still they are completely dependant on convoys and quick second front.
OK, Allies are so weak by design and it will not change overnight. But if they themselves can't punish Axis for extraordinary moves, game resorts to artificial moves, like increasing mobilization etc. But again, if you increase mobilisation of a weak contry, like USSR, it still remains weak for a long time. It doesn't outweigh Axis trumps - they still have more experienced and just better troops. Giving USSR 40-50 mpp from mobilisation won't change anything for months.
If somehow US and USSR could influence war sooner, but they are sitting ducks. Stalin awaits his gangbang and US has to even protect itself from possible (!!!) Japan invasion.
Of course Axis player has to be (very?) good to get all these puzzle pieces together, but if they do...
P.S. And Japan ubersoldats with jetpacks flying above Himalayas are a wholy different story. [:)]
P.S.S Still a very good game though [:)]

[ElvisJJonesRambo]

Guess the Axis would miss out on Africa opportunities, spending Diplo on Yugo, waxing Greece, Tech advances, & overall build-up. Go for it, charge into Russia in 1940 if early France. Maybe no Winter.

[ThunderLizard11]

ORIGINAL: HamburgerMeat

In my (allied) game vs Cpuncher (axis), Cpuncher took France in early 1940 then immediately took Lithuania and Latvia in April 1940, before the Baltic state annexations were offered. USSR mobilization is high, but I imagine that the Germans will invade momentarily.

As the USA does not respond to the invasion of any of the Baltic states or the USSR, I do not think this move has any counterplay. While the USSR gains some MPP advantage due to the early invasion, I think that this is completely outweighed by giving the germans an extra year to invade the USSR. I believe the current game is balanced around a 1941 invasion, but with this move, I strongly doubt that the USSR will hold before the USA joins the fight.

How did he take France down in April. Never had a MP game where it fell before July and August is more common.