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This is probably known to the MWiF experts, which I am not one, but I've stumbled across two very good reasons for setting the Soviet transport up in a Caspian Sea port.

(1) The first is that the transport can support amphibious invasion(s) with infantry division(s). One could choose to invade with 1 or 2 inf div. These invasions, which if happened out of the 3-box, would be automatic in fine weather and during the surprise impulse of the invasion of Persia provided that the landing was outside the ZOC of the Persian defender. Note: to ensure that you can invade out of the 3-box the Soviet player needs to scrap all 3-mover and slower transports during setup (leaving only 4-mover TRSs).

Whether or not one desires to invade Persia this second reason in my mind is sufficient to setup the TRS on the Caspian.

(2) The transport can be used in combination with rail to get a unit from Asia to Europe using 1 rail. In the below example, in which the USSR is neutral (1 naval & 1 rail), the transport & 4th Siberian which start together in Krasnovodsk move during the 1 naval directly to Baku. During the 1 rail the 4th Siberian is railed to Centuni.

INteresting and ingeniouns, but I dont think the save in transport moves compensates the possible menace you can do on Helsinki or the Rumanian/Bulgarian coast.

Except for the possible Persia invasion, of course.

ORIGINAL: Joseignacio

INteresting and ingeniouns, but I dont think the save in transport moves compensates the possible menace you can do on Helsinki or the Rumanian/Bulgarian coast.

Except for the possible Persia invasion, of course.

I agree. If you put the TRS in the Baltic or Black Sea ports it remains a factor to the Axis. If it is in the Caspian, it's a one time use unit. After that it simply sits there, doing absolutely nothing...

Ronnie's games have tended to have the Russians do very badly, with fighting in the Caucuses. If that happens, a transport in the Caspian Sea could be useful. Of course, whether the Russians should be planning for fighting in the Caucuses is another question. [:)]

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

Ronnie's games have tended to have the Russians do very badly, with fighting in the Caucuses. If that happens, a transport in the Caspian Sea could be useful. Of course, whether the Russians should be planning for fighting in the Caucuses is another question. [:)]

Yes, I tend to do poorly as the Soviets whether solo or competitive. So originally with this strategy I was looking to "expand" into Persia and possibly even Iraq and setup a Soviet redoubt beginning in the Caucuses. I was willing to "trade" the 3 non-oil RPs in Asia (i.e., to Japanese conquest) for the 3 Persian oil points.

Those were my initial thoughts anyway. But if you happened to see my latest (competitive) AAR my opponent had other plans with totally derailed my 1939 planned invasion of Persia. However that's when I stumbled across use #2 for deploying the Soviet TRS in the Caspian. It significantly reduced the time to rail troops from Asia to Europe.

I always put two convoy points in the Caspian Sea. One should prepare for the worst with the USSR. But the TRS is better used elsewhere.