United Kingdom Overview

A strong Navy to protect its island shores and to control the Atlantic waters is key for UK success. There are two areas for inquiry in analyzing the British for war. It is an island nation, and its expansionist endeavors are in Africa, Southeast Asia (India), and Australia. Its position as an island nation has one major advantage and one major disadvantage. Its advantage is water, which provides a natural buffer for holding back the strong German war machine. The drawback is that it cannot attack land without producing many transports which are vulnerable to attack. Likewise, being colonialist has it its advantage, providing the UK with more IPCs. Its drawback is that its military and resources are far stretched from the mainland, requiring more logistical management which can be difficult to maintain and execute.
The British navy, following the London Naval Treaty of 1930, is weak, unprepared for this war and simply does not have the resources needed to match the Germans. This compounded with the sinking of a cruiser in the Mediterranean (by the German battleship on the previous turn) highlights much needed attention to the theater at sea. It will take both production of new naval units along with American intervention to help win the battle for the Atlantic. With no immediate threat to the mainland, the UK can focus on building a strong navy. Along with naval units production of long range bombers will help the British simultaneously attacking both German industrial complexes and assist in naval battles.
One immediate threat that the UK faces is in India where three troops are stationed along with a transport, aircraft carrier (carrying 1 fighter), and cruiser along its shores. This fleet is easily outmatched by the Japanese naval fleet that is threatening. In India the three troops are almost just a feint as given some time they will easily be defeated. There are two options for the British, retreat or try and hold India. There are good arguments for either of these two options. If retreating, a fighter and two troops can be transported to Anglo Egypt-Sudan. This move helps hold off a German takeover of Africa and its nine IPCs, but allows the Japanese to take India’s three IPC’s. This should be considered if the UK wants to save the Southeast Asian naval fleet. I will post the British move next.