USA Player's Notes

USA pre-war production

USA set-up

War situation

General disclaimer: this scenario hasn't been played! So these notes are not so much advice as they are an elucidation of some of the decisions you'll have to make, and perhaps an implication or two that is not immediately evident regarding that decision.

1. The Pacific. The Japanese tsunami is about to hit both the USA and the Commonwealth hard. The USN and RN are both likely to take a beating in CVs. This situation is more similar to a standard WiF game than most, with a CW twist: the RN is here to fight. That could be a boon to the Allies, lightening the amount of naval commitment you need to make to this theater. Otherwise, the usual principles would seem to apply: build your CVs and subs, finish off the capital ships, and crank out the land based air.
   
   
2. France and the Netherlands. This is an unexpected boon to your anti-Nazi plans. You have a very nice purchase on the continent already in France. Don't lose it! Send your ground troops as soon as possible, and follow up with FTR and LND bombers (both 3 and 4 point LNDs). The Netherlands pose an intiguing possibility. You could immediately reinforce it and try to make it difficult for German to evict you. The two Dutch corps, supplemented by two of your own, would be very pesky to the Germans. Whatever you do, get those Dutch convoys to safety quickly, you'll need them before long.
   
   
3. The Atlantic. The downside of the CW commitment against Japan is found here. It will the job of the French and American navies to stave off the unusually large German fleet. This is, of course, critical to you and your expeditionary forces in France, but it is equally critical to France, because she needs your oil badly in order to prosecute this war. The limitation here is that the French fleet is a short-range one, and is best used near France itself. If German surface raiders and subs begin hitting the north and western Atlantic, it will be solely up to the USA to protect convoys.
   
   
4. Other considerations. A Mediterranean strategy, via Spain with French and possibly British help, would ease your problems with Atlantic sea lanes by cutting off the best German sub bases. If you do not enter the European war immediately, send resources to the Allies at once, and if that doesn't get you some tension, do something else that will (you might consider absorbing Greeland just to be safe). Make sure you are prepared in case the Germans actually try to use Iceland. Perhaps the most pivotal relationship in the game is that of the Americans and Soviets. How much aid will you send to Stalin? How will it get there? If your answers to these questions are insufficient, Germany could crush the Soviets and become an economic behemoth. It is an interesting question whether you'd rather see the USSR conquered or France; I suspect the latter.
   
   
5. Your economy. Ah, the fun stuff. You are just kicking into gear at last. Fleet builds have been steady, and you have a large number of battleships half built. Your cruiser force has been augmented; it is unclear whether or not you need more -- the Atlantic will need a stronger naval presence than you are used to, and that probably means more cruisers so your Pacific force isn't top heavy with old battleships. Your ground troops are ready to hop into France in some force, which is good, but if you really want to attack Germany, you'll need a massive infusion of newer, higher quality troops. Your FTR force is OK by your prewar standards, but it isn't ready for prime time and must be built up; however, your tactical LND forces offer an interesting possibility -- even the '42 models are pretty good and could provide immediate help to France. Strategic bomber production should begin at once as well. HQ builds are a first priority no matter what. Its the usual American story: you want lots of everything!