Panzer J - I agree with you. I also saw these flaws in the last two games. V4.2 really needs to address these rule flaws. I favor an updated/special rule for the Turkish Straights to be that only Neutral Nations that have boarders with the black sea can pass through with naval units (Bulgaria, Romania, USSR, and Turkey only). Also, another rule change is that if Italy places units in French Home territories at any time during the game (whether they be France, Free France, or Vichy France) it is a declaration of war against the Allies. My 2 cents.
Great analysis of a hole in the rules. Kudos to the Axis players findjng this strategy, as clearly this strategy did not come up in playtesting or it would have been fixed. The only ships that should be allowed in or out are those of the Black Sea nations not at war. Great video.
So how does Italy, who is at war with nobody move units in the combat movement phase without declaring war first? If Italy is moving units during the combat movement phase then they are basically at war and therefore not allowed to pass thru a straight that is closed to nations at war! If Italy lend leases to another Axis power then the Allies may declare war, but not if Italy moves units into another Axis powers controlled territory? Oh the humanity!! There probably is a fix to the rules here somewhere.
I think the solution to the Turkish straits is either to say USSR considers any military unit moving through the neutral straights a declaration of war, or as you said, just say only Russian units (and LL) may pass.
I think a good fix may be that putting Italian ships in a sea zone with Soviet ships in the Black Sea, is the same as them declaring war, that way they can still try some stuff, but they have to overpower your fleet and also can’t stay neutral. That or just block the straits, but that would block Soviet ships too
