USSR Strategy...

[devilbean]

Playing my first game as the soviets. I decided to play as a belligerent and expansive USSR and seek to bring socialism to all the peoples of Europe as fast as possible (1936 start). Research was focused with a priority on industry and land techs/doctrines. No navy, and I've only just started researching some air techs for the first time since the start of the game. So far it is early 1940 and I have conquered Norway, Finland, Sweden, Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria (plus the Baltic states). Everything west of us has turned axis and France was just conquered by Germany. We have built a line of defensive positions running from Leningrad to Odessa in preparation for the great patriotic war and the bulk of the army is now preparing for the German attack. We have signed Molotov-Ribbentrop, but revoked it a few months later when Germany attacked Greece.

My first interrogation is that I need to know whether or not Japan can be kept out of the war once the Germans launch Barbarossa. I know if I DOW them the whole alliance will declare on me for sure, but will it be the same if I let the Germans DOW me? I've brought back all my forces from the Far East so I'd rather not have to staff that theater and concentrate on the European campaign.

For the fight against Germany I intend to use a heavily mechanized breakthrough army to punch a whole in the center of the front (the Ukrainian plains), holding the line with full-infantry armies everywhere else. My goal is to have one full (5 div) corps per frontline province by the time the show gets started. At the moment the frontline is about 75% full and should be complete by 1941. After that I intend to build a strategic reserve or to begin staffing the Far East, depending on what seems to be the most pressing problem. Can I count on Hitler staying nice until June 1941 or is he about to jump me?

Lastly, what's the best garrison force? So far I'm using dispersed MOTx3 divs to cover vast expanses of terrain and knock on the partisans when they spawn as I do not have the MP to churn out garrisons for every province.

[hellheaven1987]

I assume this is HoI2, so...

My first interrogation is that I need to know whether or not Japan can be kept out of the war once the Germans launch Barbarossa. I know if I DOW them the whole alliance will declare on me for sure, but will it be the same if I let the Germans DOW me? I've brought back all my forces from the Far East so I'd rather not have to staff that theater and concentrate on the European campaign.

Depends, generally they don't, but there are nasty time they do.

For the fight against Germany I intend to use a heavily mechanized breakthrough army to punch a whole in the center of the front (the Ukrainian plains), holding the line with full-infantry armies everywhere else. My goal is to have one full (5 div) corps per frontline province by the time the show gets started. At the moment the frontline is about 75% full and should be complete by 1941. After that I intend to build a strategic reserve or to begin staffing the Far East, depending on what seems to be the most pressing problem. Can I count on Hitler staying nice until June 1941 or is he about to jump me?

In HoI2 Blitzkrieg doctrine give greatest advantage in 1941, so five divisions per province would not stop Wehrmacht's mind.

Lastly, what's the best garrison force? So far I'm using dispersed MOTx3 divs to cover vast expanses of terrain and knock on the partisans when they spawn as I do not have the MP to churn out garrisons for every province.

Cavarly?? They move fast so I think they are quite useful.

[devilbean]

No, this is HOI3, sorry I forgot to specify.

I thought about using cavalry but that would mean upgrading their specific techs, when MOT has the advantage of benefiting from the infantry upgrades I'm going to do anyways. At the moment I have no more than 9 or 10 ressearch projects at once (need to keep a decent officer level as I field new divisions each month) so this is the main factor restricting my options at the moment. I deleted all the starting cavalry units because i thought they were useless.

My experience in a first game as Germany suggests that a full corps per province can take care of itself and with some support can avoid being overrun. I would assume that as the USSR I will be at a slight tech disadvantage vs Germany, but is this still a viable production strategy?

Are the japs also a bit of a gamble in HOI3?

[hellheaven1987]

No, this is HOI3, sorry I forgot to specify.

I have a feeling that you actually cheat in order to annex so many countries before 1941, isn't??

I thought about using cavalry but that would mean upgrading their specific techs, when MOT has the advantage of benefiting from the infantry upgrades I'm going to do anyways. At the moment I have no more than 9 or 10 ressearch projects at once (need to keep a decent officer level as I field new divisions each month) so this is the main factor restricting my options at the moment. I deleted all the starting cavalry units because i thought they were useless.

Since it is HoI3 I suggest Militia with artillery regiment would be enough to deal insurgents.

My experience in a first game as Germany suggests that a full corps per province can take care of itself and with some support can avoid being overrun. I would assume that as the USSR I will be at a slight tech disadvantage vs Germany, but is this still a viable production strategy?

Be honest I don't even worrying about Germany in HoI3, since Germany AI often not invading Soviet at all if they feel they cannot win.

Are the japs also a bit of a gamble in HOI3?

Not really, since they run out of resource soon or later so they do not fight Soviet most time. I rather worry more about US AI especially you BB point is ridiculously high now and there is a high chance US would invade you for that reason.

It is HoI3, so AI do not follow historical route generally.

[devilbean]

No cheats, just spies set to lowering neutrality from Jan 1 1936. Once the winter war can be triggered it becomes possible to attack nearby countries as well even though you're left with around 35 neutrality, apparently because of the threat that the aggression on Finland has generated. I do not understand the threat mechanics but it seems to work this way : the more threat you generate (essentially by declaring war), the easier it is to declare war on new enemies. This quite simply means that declaring wars now on the first country you can will make it possible to attack the more neutral countries later on.

At this point I'm not particularly worried about the Allies attacking me but in the long run I do plan to fight the cold war once the Germans and Japanese are dealt with.

[hellheaven1987]

At this point I'm not particularly worried about the Allies attacking me but in the long run I do plan to fight the cold war once the Germans and Japanese are dealt with.

You are not worried an Anglo-American invasion of Soviet in 1941~42??

[devilbean]

It seems they have enough on their hands at the moment

[devilbean]

It worked!

[hellheaven1987]

Ya... now you really need to hope US would not jump on you now on Far East...