USA campaign. Africa? Vichy?

[Simon_9732495]

I'm playing USA, historical focuses, Germany, Italy and Japan buffed.

I'm going to restrict myself on entering the war quite late. So I assume Africa will be lost. Gonna try to win Africa back, then operation Husky (invade sicily) and maybe more invasions in Italy to establish a southern front. And finally a large D-Day. (And fight Japan as well in the mean time.)

Question1:
How is Vichy working since the latest patch? The are not immediately in the war now and IIRC the USA declares war against them. Do I have to do it? How does it work? Justification?

Question2:
Let's say I land my troops somewhere in west africa (maybe in Nigeria) and then go east to meet the Axis forces around Ethiopia. How should my divisions look like?
I think I'm going to bring few (2-4) Medium Tanks to crush the enemy in good terriotry with good supply. But what else should I use?
Maybe small motorized Divisions (e.g 5 Mot) to quickly spread out? But I dont know if it's a good idea to depend on fuel there.

And for attacking in the really bad areas? Maybe 14/4s or 7/2s with a Medium Tank added or something? Any suggestions?

Do you think I will need AA in Africa?

 

[Mousetick]

Question1:
How is Vichy working since the latest patch?

It immediately joins as soon as it's formed, or shortly thereafter. I don't recall exactly, and don't really notice because it happens very quickly anyway. So you don't need to do anything.

Question2:
Let's say I land my troops somewhere in west africa (maybe in Nigeria) and then go east to meet the Axis forces around Ethiopia.

You're in for a lot of pain, especially in West and Central Africa, because of very poor infrastructure. You didn't say if you will be joining the Allies.

If you're in the Allies, as you liberate French territory, Free France won't be able to repair the damaged infrastructure fast enough while Resistance + Combat will keep damaging it. You may end up in states with 0 infrastructure. If the Allies arrive to 'help' you, you're quickly out of supply and you're basically stuck. Nobody can move.

If you're in the Allies, you may be better off doing Operation Torch in Morocco. If you have waited long enough to enter the war, UK will likely have leased the Azores, from which you can launch a naval invasion of Casablanca.

I wouldn't bring any tank anywhere in Africa, except perhaps in the deserts of Libya, Egypt and Middle East, because of poor infrastructure and bad terrain. If you're going to buff Germany and Italy, you may need them however.

I like to put Recon in my infantry divisions when tanks are not adequate. They move faster than the enemy even in shitty infrastructure/terrain, so they overrun it.

I don't want to suggest anything more specific regarding divisions as it would spoil the fun - or hellish slog, to be more precise Why don't you try something you think will work and see how it goes?

You'll likely meet quite a few Nationalist Spain volunteers who will constantly attack you.

Do you think I will need AA in Africa?

Not really in West / Central / East Africa, but definitely in North Africa and Middle East. Depending on when you arrive, most of the enemy airwings may be deployed on the East Front however, so YMMV.

Good luck!

 

[Simon_9732495]

It immediately joins as soon as it's formed, or shortly thereafter. I don't recall exactly, and don't really notice because it happens very quickly anyway. So you don't need to do anything.

That was before the patch.

Now, the are not a puppet of Germany, not in any faction and not in any war. I think I'll have to do "something", because I cant attack them.

Spoiler: Vichy France

 

[Mousetick]

That was before the patch.

Now, they are not a puppet of Germany, not in any faction and not in any war. I think I'll have to do "something", because I cant attack them.

I just completed a UK game (with 1.9.3) and reloaded a game save to double-check. Vichy France is a puppet of Germany, in the Axis and in the war.
The different situation you're seeing must have something to do with La Resistance DLC, which I don't have.

So I don't know what to tell you, sorry.

 

[Simon_9732495]

I guess it’s the new French tree that came with LaR.

 

[Archerich]

Vichy gets slowly chipped away by free france who has focuses to cause uprisings and eventually bring vichy into the war. For your tanks, keeping them in gibralter and then moving them and a few infantry in support of free france should work well, because as long as the italian ai hasn't taken egypt, it won't help vichy very much if at all.

 

[Simon_9732495]

Vichy gets slowly chipped away by free france who has focuses to cause uprisings and eventually bring vichy into the war.

Ok thanks, so I have to wait...

For your tanks, keeping them in gibralter and then moving them and a few infantry in support of free france should work well, because as long as the italian ai hasn't taken egypt, it won't help vichy very much if at all.

I think when I enter the war all of Africa from Marroco over Egypt to Syria and down to Ethiopia is lost. I buffed Italy and Germany to max. That should have some effect...
I want to secure Egypt from the South first and supply from there.
Maybe Operation Torch. But I dont know when I will be at war with Vichy France.
And it could be that the UK loses Gibraltar...
I think I will guard England, because if german pulls of a Sealion, my game is over...

 

[Simon_9732495]

November 1940. Sending now land troops against Axis.
Not looking too good for us.

Spoiler: World Map

Let's see if I can make it from Tanzania to Egypt before the Soviet Union falls...

 

[desphorin]

Most of the time the US AI in my games just justify on Vichy - They have a focus "The Legionary Service Order" which gives bizarrely 10 world tension, so upon its completion you can justify on them. The UK AI will normally follow suit. But I dont know if US as human does not justify, will the UK justify on its own.

I have never seen the FF AI do do enough in their tree to take away enough vital Vichy territory that bring them in the war.

 

[Simon_9732495]

Apr. 1941
Medium Tanks were the best choice. I could conquer fast enough, so that allies that take supply cant follow.
5.5 Months to go from southern Tanzania to Eritrea and Sudan. Will cut off Axis in central Africa soon.

Spoiler: World Map

Spoiler: Supply detail with 6 Tanks

And I can justify against Vichy France now. Seems they produced world tension.
But I will wait. Let's see if the UK does it.

 

[Mousetick]

So what's been happening? This started out well. No news is good news, I hope

 

[Simon_9732495]

So what's been happening?

CK3