In the latest beta, playing on Hard, I've been pursuing a strategy to build a strong Kreigsmarine without any use of CVs, CAGs, or NAVs. Just pure, Bismarck class, BB power. I have been very impressed and pleasantly surprised by my results. It is a lot of fun dominating with Battleships!
In terms of my overall strategy: I started the game building three Battle Cruisers in order to lift my practicals and aid my surface fleet. They completed in August of 1937: I had volunteer army in effect at the time because I wanted the practicals quickly fast. Meanwhile, at the exact same time my beautiful pocket battleships began sea trials, my Battleship technology (researching it from the beginning of the game) reached 1938 levels unlocking the Bismarck! Next, I launched four parallel builds of Bismarck class BBs, augmenting these with multiple runs of 1938 DDs leading to sea trials for my new fleet in July, 1939. By the start of August, 1939, the Kreigsmarine began its first sortie:
Admiral Raeder (Level 5 at the time)
4 1938 BBs
2 1936 BCs
12 1938 DDs
I always tried to have at least 6 DDs in reserve for rotation, and my third BC was also used for rotation. In just five months: from August to January, 1940, for all practical purposes I have eliminated the Royal Navy in the Atlantic! Note that Japan has not yet been called to war. The UK fleet (world-wide) as of January 1940 is as follows:
5 CVs (1918)
2 CA
1 CL
8 DDs
The Kreigsmarine sunk 12 BBs, 3 BCs, 17 CAs, 33 CLs, 3 CVs, 5 CVLs, 17 TPs, & 40 DDs. I lost a single DD in my surface fleet. Bismarck was my most productive ship: sinking a total of 25 enemy vessels (a quarter of the total pwnage). (I sent several of the carriers to the bottom of the sea in February).
This was not easy to achieve: despite the lopsided numbers. I had to engage carefully, always near my coast at first, with at least two strong interceptor wings nearby to dull any CAG attacks. I aimed for only single engagements, and withdrew if any of my capital ships were in serious danger. Repairing ships was a constant effort, as was rotating out heavily damaged DDs. Finally, note the heavy emphasis on big capital ships (6 for the fleet) and a large overall fleet size: this was essential for staying power in an engagement and the multiple capital ships made quick work of enemy vessels. It has been quite enjoyable using the Bismarck class ships in a way that I think is plausible and fun!
In terms of my overall strategy: I started the game building three Battle Cruisers in order to lift my practicals and aid my surface fleet. They completed in August of 1937: I had volunteer army in effect at the time because I wanted the practicals quickly fast. Meanwhile, at the exact same time my beautiful pocket battleships began sea trials, my Battleship technology (researching it from the beginning of the game) reached 1938 levels unlocking the Bismarck! Next, I launched four parallel builds of Bismarck class BBs, augmenting these with multiple runs of 1938 DDs leading to sea trials for my new fleet in July, 1939. By the start of August, 1939, the Kreigsmarine began its first sortie:
Admiral Raeder (Level 5 at the time)
4 1938 BBs
2 1936 BCs
12 1938 DDs
I always tried to have at least 6 DDs in reserve for rotation, and my third BC was also used for rotation. In just five months: from August to January, 1940, for all practical purposes I have eliminated the Royal Navy in the Atlantic! Note that Japan has not yet been called to war. The UK fleet (world-wide) as of January 1940 is as follows:
5 CVs (1918)
2 CA
1 CL
8 DDs
The Kreigsmarine sunk 12 BBs, 3 BCs, 17 CAs, 33 CLs, 3 CVs, 5 CVLs, 17 TPs, & 40 DDs. I lost a single DD in my surface fleet. Bismarck was my most productive ship: sinking a total of 25 enemy vessels (a quarter of the total pwnage). (I sent several of the carriers to the bottom of the sea in February).
This was not easy to achieve: despite the lopsided numbers. I had to engage carefully, always near my coast at first, with at least two strong interceptor wings nearby to dull any CAG attacks. I aimed for only single engagements, and withdrew if any of my capital ships were in serious danger. Repairing ships was a constant effort, as was rotating out heavily damaged DDs. Finally, note the heavy emphasis on big capital ships (6 for the fleet) and a large overall fleet size: this was essential for staying power in an engagement and the multiple capital ships made quick work of enemy vessels. It has been quite enjoyable using the Bismarck class ships in a way that I think is plausible and fun!
