Lately I play SE at work and PG2 at home. After refreshing my memory about stock campaigns in a normal way, I desired to start a gimmick run of PG2
Two valid gimmick runs I can think of for PG2 are "no airforce" and "no tanks" ones. "No airforce" is playable, you just invest in arty and air defenses a lot, but I am not gonna play it. "No tanks" looks interesting since most of the gameplay is centered about tanks; no tanks - no overruns
Thus, the armored core of such run had to be made of antitanks and recons; and while Germans get the good ones later in the game, early on you are stuck with subpar PSW231 and StuG3B. And most of the Blitzkrieg campaign happens in 1940-41.
Before Klin it looks like this
4 StuGs, 2 acht-achts, 3 sFH 18, 3 sIG, 4 PSW231, 5 pioneers, 2 cavalry, 3 fighters and 7 Stukas. 100 prestige difficulty, the only regular victory is Dunkirk to play three more scenarios in Africa and Malta. 3 lost infantry is aux fingol infantry in Suomisalmi scenario.
Perks rolls are curious. I've got only 2 AT with perks, and remember, AT with perks can attack without penalty just like a tank - so this is kinda a bummer. Though StuG with urban perk is particularly good, it can blast infantry from the cities like it's free. Only one arty with perk, so disappointment too. Recon with double fire can be thought of as a waste but no, it can attack really good if the target was softened enough. Recon with liberator is a dream, can't complain. Bu then, 3 Stukas with phased move, one with double attack and one fighter with phased move. This is extremely generous
Airforce does most of the heavy lifting, but as one can see, ground units are well developed too. Interesting run to see the strengths of all unit classes