Norway Strategy

[kennonlightfoot]

I had some questions on how the Axis should handle Norway since the AI never opposes actions there to test things.

First, is Norway worth invading?
Does it make trade any better for getting Iron since as a neutral they are already sending you Iron?
Are the VP for Oslo worth it?
Having air unit based out of Narvik to raid convoys?

Second, how do you keep the UK from landing troops in Narvik right have you declare war and take Oslo?
Do you need to do two invasions, both Oslo and Narvik at the same time?
Or does taking Oslo on same turn as war declare block UK?
I assume the UK could still declare war and do a landing at Narvik before Axis can move troops to it?

[tyronec]

Can't see any benefit in Axis invading Norway.
If you do it needs to be garrisoned.
To protect the ore convoy you would need to put aircraft there, which is just not a good return on the cost.

So just cancel the convoy when the Sweden route is closed, otherwise the Allies sink all your merchants.

Not sure if it pays for the Allies to invade Norway if it is neutral, but it is hard to stop them.

[kennonlightfoot]

I did a check to see how trade changes during Summer before and after invasion.
A lot of changes but I am not sure why or what the numbers mean in terms of worth.

Before Invasion of Norway:
Sweden Trade: 25

After Invasion of Norway:
Sweden Trade: 25
Oslo Trade: 80
Narvik Trade: 40

Not to sure what is creating all this trade with Oslo and Narvik since Narvik hasn't opened as a trade route.

Still the question does this extra trade pay for having garrison Norway, protect the trade routes, and replace the ship losses?

[tyronec]

Oslo Trade: 80
Narvik Trade: 40

Am not sure what these are (maybe supply ?) but don't think you should be getting an extra 120 production from invading Norway.

[Flaviusx]

The main reason to do it is that it's an easy VP to take. Is it worth two corp equivalents of garrisons? Your call.

[battlevonwar]

I believe what you see as trade is you supplying Norway because it's overseas. Check Italy as it Supplies Libya.

If you don't take Norway you will have issues with your ore and risk raiding from the Western Allies during Winter Months. So you have to weigh the value and the risks in invading it.

Also the AI is pretty dumb you can easily take Narvik from it. A human is not so ... you may have to be creative if they put up a fight there. Just think about it, it involves the Kriegsmarine and some risk to get there.

[PanzerMike]

If the Axis do take Norway, the Allies can still attack the iron ore convoy with subs or even surface vessels. Sure you can base aircraft there, but often they can not find the Allies fleet. And you can't attack the Allies LL convoy with the air units. So concerning safeguarding your iron ore, I don't see a difference wether you take Norway or not.

[James Taylor]

There is no strategy taking Norway. Its a sinkhole of resources, just "Let it Be".

[kennonlightfoot]

ORIGINAL: tyronec

Oslo Trade: 80
Narvik Trade: 40

Am not sure what these are (maybe supply ?) but don't think you should be getting an extra 120 production from invading Norway.

The game calls it Exports. The column heading show all three types.
But I haven't found anything on what it draws from, or if it affects the country doing the exporting.

[AlbertN]

As Flavius said, it's a VP.
That's how you win as Axis - by ammassing VPs and surviving by the end of the game.

Take it early - vacate it later if you need the troops elsewhere.

[kennonlightfoot]

ORIGINAL: Cohen_slith

As Flavius said, it's a VP.
That's how you win as Axis - by ammassing VPs and surviving by the end of the game.

Take it early - vacate it later if you need the troops elsewhere.

Which brings up the alternate question, if it is primarily of value for its VP then would taking Oslo only and leaving the rest of Norway undefended be sufficient?

[gwgardner]

Always take Norway. It's fun taking it, keeping Allies out, fighting the Allies there, holding on to it, figuring out how to defend it or retake ports from the Allies, using its ports as sub bases and staging for surface raiders. The Allies can deny the Narvik convoy easily if the Axis doesn't take and defend Norway.

Be prepared to risk losses to the German surface fleet. But what else is it for? Dare the Allies to fight you for Narvik and the other ports. If they take Narvik, work your troops up along the railways, move in bombers, to retake Narvik. The Allies will have a harder time or sink more resources into holding onto Narvik than the Axis will in taking it.

There aren't many wargames on this scale that even make a Norway campaign possible. Most seem to have the whole thing scripted. Warplan makes it possible to really try a somewhat historical approach.

[PanzerMike]

Good point. I always preserve my precious capital ships as Germany, but what for. It is just the thought of losing these "romantic" units that prevent me from putting them out in harm's way. And they sit in port looking pretty the rest of the war....

[kennonlightfoot]

The problem I saw with taking Norway but haven't confirmed since the AI never disputes it, is that I think for the one turn following the invasion the British can take Narvik unopposed. Unless the German use 60 of their Landing Boats to take both Oslo and Narvik at the same time. If they do the double landing then they have taken Sealion off the table as a threat to hold UK troops in England.

There is also the question of whether having Narvik is a good idea for the German. Again I haven't tested this very well against a player but it looks like the British would want the Germans to use the Narvik trade route. A Br fleet sitting on it for just a few turns can wipe out the entire German merchant fleet.

[PanzerMike]

If you take Denmark earlier, you can use your paratroopers to take Oslo. Is a division to take Narvik not enough, ie only 10 landing ships for that?

[kennonlightfoot]

German's have considerable capacity to generate Landing Ships so it isn't a problem. Question is "Is it worth it?"
Especially now that subs cost less so will be competing with Landing Ships for Shipyards.
I am not even sure if I was the UK player I would want to occupy Narvik. If the German uses the convoy route, the UK can wipe out Germany's Merchant fleet very quickly by sitting a some BB and CV's on it.

Maybe the best plan for the German is take Oslo for the VP and ignore the rest.