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U could checp on this: http://www.paradoxian.org/hoi2wiki/index.php/Naval_Primer and the german guide at wikihoi2 too. What i normaly do for the fun is start building at least 2*3 BB4 with firecontrol asap. Then get a fev cvl1/2 as weel and have like twice the amount of screens as capital ships in general. Press on with ur destroyers get DD3,4,5 as soon as u can - i research normaly earliest 1 year in ahead the historical year.

Then ur naval doctrine is vital. Get them up earliest possible as well. That way ur better in morale/org compared to RN in 39 and can beat them on firepower at a (mostly) safe distance. U can help somewhat having a grp of early tac's ready for backup with a fleetdestroyer as pilot.

That way im able to give a good pound on RN and french navy/TPs when war comes up in 1939 with minimum 6 BB4 + /2 CVL's and 7 screens. Overall i can brake the RN dominace with a little caution (dont wanna spend to much time on repairs in harbour).

Later on i take BC5 in: they are faster (and have the same max fire distance with FC as the BB4 btw) so u can outspeed RN and the US fleet when they enter the war with ur capital BC fleet.

Thats what i do.

It will cost u on army/airforce side but its manageable - and seabased warfare is very cool imo :)
 
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If RN are able to attack ur harbours make sure u have ur capitals together headed by a clever admiral and some tac's at that spot too. Dont have some small fleet in an harbour where u dont have tac's stationed on the airport; they will get smashed unless u keep those around Kiel, rostock or Lubeck. If France, Belgium or holland let them attack the harbour and then cream em with bombers and fleet as they retreat.

And ofc: dont let Naval bombers attack without having interceptors catching up on them.
 
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I generally build up a small carrier task force with transports and leave it in the Baltic unless I need it. You should close access to the Baltic as soon as possible, then everything will be ok for your fleet.

Don't disperse your ships.
 
Don't disperse your ships.
Sage advice.

I built 2x2 BB4s and sent them off with a CVL and several CL4s to beat on the Allied navies, and they held their own until I was able to launch Sealion in early 1941 (after Bitter Peace). My starting Panzershiffe were sent out to swat those CL/DD fleets that were killing my subs until they were squished by several RN battleships. By 1941 I had two task groups, each with 1xSHBB. 2xBB4, 1xCVL2 and 5xCL4 (brigaded appropriately), and they were able to hold off the USN until I split the USA in two with a drive from Minnesota to Texas. :D

EDIT: IIRC convoys were a huge pain in the ass playing Germany, to the point I had to run them manually (the only time I'd ever had to do this). I ran only three routes - to Iceland, the UK and Labrador, which supplied all my armies in the western hemisphere (not terribly efficient, as I had to garrison Central American pretty heavily). Everywhere else I stayed just long enough to hop to the next island before the captured supply depot ran out.
 
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I'm playing with Germany nowadays. I've built 2 CV III plus CVLs as damage soaks and DDs for screens. That task force was able to hold it's ground (well, sea spot? :p) against the RN. After I've completed the invasion of Britain, the RN main forces retreated to the Indian Ocean and, as late 1941, are based in Singapur.

It pretty much worked. I've used them to escort troop transports and used the initial CAs to replace CVLs when damaged. And they can pound smaller allied task forces, as the carriers simply outrange anything other than another carrier.
 
It pretty much worked. I've used them to escort troop transports and used the initial CAs to replace CVLs when damaged. And they can pound smaller allied task forces, as the carriers simply outrange anything other than another carrier.

This is sound thinking.
Don't let yourself get pulled into naval buildup just to have a cool navy! Remember you get no VP for sea hexes. The navy is only there to make sure your army gets where it needs to safely or to prevent the enemy from attacking you with his army. If there's no land to fight over, don't bother.
Enemy convoys and opportunities too good to miss are exceptions and must be deliberated on a case by case, but the ends must justify the means.
 
Well, i've kept The SLI tree, so by mid '42 the american BBs were closing into gun range against my carriers. Then again, i've Annexed both the USA and the UK by that time, so it didn't make much of a difference. It depends in when you're planning yo take on the RN and the USN. And keep an eye on naval battles, don't hesitare to retreat ir necessary.
 
How do you invade the US by 42? I never can get a strong force up this fast. Hell it is in my game nearing 64 or 65 and I have only beaten the Su and Brittians last real bastion is the straights of gebralter. The US invaded japanese held india so i helped retake it but basicly I am fighting over the souther most part of north africa.
 
Build your navy early Tellos amd smash the USN in a fair fight in 42 or just sneak across via Canada/Bermuda while the USA is still at peace. Makes a 41/42 invasion very easy if your troops are landing in Texas or are already in Canada.
 
Also bring everything you need with your invasion force!
for example say i want to take 3 stops along the way for range reasons, so i'll need garrisons some fighters maybe even a convoy covering force for those 3 islands or bases (not part of my invasion force) etc etc
If u don't plan ahead you'll end up reducing your force to guard your flanks.
Minimize the time u spend shuttling the transports back home.
 
How do you invade the US by 42? I never can get a strong force up this fast. Hell it is in my game nearing 64 or 65 and I have only beaten the Su and Brittians last real bastion is the straights of gebralter. The US invaded japanese held india so i helped retake it but basicly I am fighting over the souther most part of north africa.

Sneaking while the USA is at peace, and avoiding the USN. In this game I've allied with Nat. Spain during the SCW and Hungary while partitioning the Czech. The French didn't, initially, guard the Maginot Line well, so I've attacked France from Spain and straight through the Maginot Line without DOWing Belguim (the French did reinforce it soon, though). I've went for a limited M-R pact, ocuppied all of Poland and relased Poland. So, in the west, Vichy fired by Late Oct. '39. In the East, the USSR didn't get the Polish provinces (I got a 10% dissent due that) and didn't go to war with Finland. In Africa, I've annexed France after Vichy was created, as no colony turned into Free France before Spanish troops based on Bata took the only French VP in Africa. As Belguim is neutral, it provides a buffer between the new Spanish Congo and the British. Invaded England by November '39, launched Barbarrosa by May '40. The USSR didn't garrison her borders right (I guess they were also garrisoning the Baltic and Finland borders) and I've started further east, due the Polish territories being mine. I was able to sweep through Ukraine fast and deep (and most of it went to Hungary). So I got B-P by late 1940.

With the eastern front over for the time being, I've invaded the British province in Canada from Iceland, while the USA was still neutral. The province was ungarrisoned and I've landed armor right away. From there, it was a matter of annexing Canada, releasing it to supply my troops without the massive amount of convoys I would need and taking over the USA from the north.
 
How do you invade the US by 42? I never can get a strong force up this fast. Hell it is in my game nearing 64 or 65 and I have only beaten the Su and Brittians last real bastion is the straights of gebralter. The US invaded japanese held india so i helped retake it but basicly I am fighting over the souther most part of north africa.
I invaded Canada from Iceland in mid '41 and had 72 divisions along the 49th parallel and Ontario to crush the decadent mongrel democracy. :D Had a bitch of a time getting to Samoa for that last VP though :rofl:
 
Build a large BC or BB fleet starting from 36 and crush them at sea in 41/42. My traditional invasion routes are viaTexas or laning in the Southern states.