Challenge Accepted! Muddling through VH UK HoI2 1936 Campaign

[Riel Hamard]

Where I left off the Normal game, it was April, 1941. No invasion of Norway occurred, but Denmark was taken, along with Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Greece never got taken. U-Boat threat was minimal. Italian Navy was hiding. France was not only still in the war, but it was starting to advance. We are not sure if there is a change in AI where France gets more confident and aggressive. Eventually the USSR might enter the war. Japan might also enter and pickup Hong Kong and Singapore if we are not prepared for the threat. The 1940 US Election went the wrong way and the result appears devastating. The final victory seems more likely and we will skip ahead to the challenge version of the game.

When we played the Very Hard Campaign in HoI1, a lot more events played out historically. We messed around in Poland, and although we lost, we slowed them down a lot. Norway and Denmark did not happen, because their surface fleet was gone right away. France fell. However, we were still able to win the war with no help from the USA. The MVP of that game was New Zealand.

Here is the setting:

Spoiler

Challenge Accepted!
The big question is - What does it do? It affects a lot of other things, too. Here's a single block out of diffficulty.csv:

-40 to Production - We already start with net penalties of -50%. Now we have -90%. The -40% penalty is applied to our base production of 147. We count approximately 21168 of production not happening. Assuming half could have gone to building units, this will be about 10k we will not be getting. It is probably 40k worth of projects by the time the war starts. We will not be starting the game with a huge list of projects like we did before and we will have to be more mindful of what we are building.

In fact, we are starting the game with 15IC or 10%. This will change to 0% for Edward and we can recover it to 35% by the end of the year.

-40 to Resources - This goes along with the Production. The UK appears to be well balanced in terms of resources. It is difficult for us to see the effect on resources.

-30 to Manpower - We start with +10% due to Technology and -6% due to Domestic Policy. This will reduce to -36%. Our net Manpower is now 0.43 per day. The next Technology bonuses will be relatively more important and so will our Domestic Policy and Ministers. We do not currently know the exact formula for manpower.

-20 to Research - This goes right to the top. Base research is 3.0. The -20 penalty changes this to 2.4. We have a 10% bonus for technology, so 2.64. This is multiplied by (6 + research skill) and then doubled if we have a skill match. So for skill 6 and a match, this is now 63.36. If the project is difficulty 3, then the cost is 100 (2D+4) or 1000 points. Progress will show up as 6.336 and shows up as 1.2% in the display. Ahead of time penalties appear to be taken off the top and believe it is multiplied. So if the penalty is 90%, then we will only see 0.6336 progress which will show up as 0.0% in the display. With our research already 20% slower, we will have to prioritize projects and are very unlikely to be researching ahead of time.

-30 to Organization - Ouch. However I was looking around our troops and do not see a difference.

-10 to Combat - This is also ouch. It might not be as bad as in HoI1. We will have to be more careful in how we choose our combat.

-10 to Move Speed - The ouch continues. This means we will constantly be outmaneuvered and losing foot races.

-40 to Dissent - We are not sure what this means, partly because I did not explore this as much. It might make those 10 point hits we were taking in the previous games hurt a lot more.

-50 to Diplomacy - We are not sure what this does. Maybe it means negotiating for blueprints will cost more. We did not play diplomacy much in the previous game.

-10 to Intelligence - We have no idea what the intelligence game does. We did pick up a couple of blueprints in our previous game and it seemed inconsequential. Also, if we are playing the game in shorter sessions, then random events are much less likely.

Checking our our opponents in the same file, it appears they start with +20 to the entire list above. In the case of the UK, this will be a mixed bag. Germany getting +20% will be a big deal. However, the USSR will also get +20%. So will France and the USA. It looks like all AI get +20%.

This is what the start looks like:

Spoiler

It looks brutal. We start with 15 production and it will be getting worse within a single month.

Perhaps this game will proceed at a more majestic pace. We will start the discussion similar to before, discuss the starting situation once again and lay out a plan to get through 1936. We believe the result will be more balanced. Our opponents will start the game with more stuff. We will start the game with less stuff and be more reliant on our Allies.

I will take a few posts to make an introduction and planned first moves. Hopefully we can get a session started on Friday Night Game Night.

 

[Riel Hamard]

We will go though the game tabs like we are starting a regular game and proposing the moves as we make them, in order.

Part 1 - Main Screen

Spoiler

We start with:
1000 Energy
1000 Metal
500 Rare
500 Oil
500 Supplies - These will run out fast and we will have no choice but to buy them from somewhere or disband some troops.
70 US Dollars - Yes, we really are that broke. The world is recovering from at least two Great Depressions.
40 Manpower - This goes up by 0.43 per day.
Everybody starts with 1000 Energy, 1000 Metal, 500 Rare, 500 Oil, 500 Supplies. Depending on world power status, they start with various amounts of US Dollars and Manpower. We never checked on the Manpower.

Information Screen Page 3 says we gain 232.8 Energy, 86.5 Metal, 44.1 Rare, 5.8 Oil. We are not sure if this is accurate. If it is, then we should have healthy surpluses of materials. We can quickly load a normal game and compare. Sure enough, it is 60% of 388 Energy, 144.1 Metal, 73.5 Rare, 9.7 Oil. With 15 IC, we should be using very little of these resources. We will have to eventually trade them for supplies.

We will also be dead broke and might need a source of US Dollars.

Part 2 - A quick look at our Allies

Spoiler

We will strive to keep better track of our Allies and their Research Projects. We are most interested in the Democratic Commonwealth Allies and not so much the Autocratic Puppets. We will make abbreviations for France (F), Canada (C), Australia (A), South Africa (S), and New Zealand (Z). We will also follow up with the IC capacity. Here is what we can see:

France (F) 75/88:
Agrichemistry - This means for 1/6 of our 1936 Projects, we can wait for Blueprints.
Early Field Artillery - This means for 2/6 of our 1936 Projects, we can wait for Blueprints.
Rear Area Vehicle Repair Shop - They are starting early on a 1937 project.
Dive Bombing Doctrine - This is also a 1937 project, but this also means the already have the Blueprints for Battlefield Destruction Doctrine. 3/6.
Improved Machine Tools - This is also a 1937 project and a very important project.

Canada (C) 36/28:
Agrichemistry
Rear Area Supply Dumps - We can supply them with Blueprints or wait for France to supply them.

Australia (A) 32/26:
Agrichemistry
Rear Area Supply Dumps - We can supply them with Blueprints or wait for France to supply them.

South Africa (S) 14/12:
Rear Area Supply Dumps - We can supply them with Blueprints or wait for France to supply them.

New Zealand (N) 9/7:
Agrichemistry

Part 3 - Blueprints that Can be Exchanged:

Spoiler

From France
1. Basic Light Tank - This is 1938 Technology we will not need for a couple of years.
2. Battlefield Destruction Doctrine - This is 1936 Technology we will acquire soon enough.
3. Improved Battlecruiser - This is 1938 Technology and very unlikely we will ever develop or build. This will be discussed in more detail later.

To our Allies
1. Basic Air Carrier - F
2. Basic Cavalry Division - F
3. Basic dm Radar Warning Sites - F C A Z
4. Basic Strategic Bomber - F C A Z
5. Battlefleet Concentration Doctrine - F
6. Early Marine Division - F
7. Strategic Destruction Doctrine - F

8. Basic Computing Machine - C S Z
9. Basic Destroyer - C A Z
10. Basic Machine Tools - C A Z
11. Dive Boat - C A Z
12. Early AT Artillery - C A S Z
13. Early Light Cruiser - C
14. Faculty of Atomic Research - C A S Z
15. Great War Air Carrier - C A S Z
16. Great War Battlecruiser - C S Z
17. Great War Battleship - C A S Z
18. Great War Heavy Cruiser - C S Z
19. Improved Oil Refining - C A S Z
20. Rear Area Supply Dumps - C A S
21. Tankette - C A S Z

22. Basic Heavy Cruiser - A
23. Early Battlecruiser - A
24. Early Mountain Division - A S
25. Improved Light Cruiser - A

26. Early Destroyer - S
27. Great War Light Cruiser - S
28. Semi Motorized Cavalry Division - S

29. Basic Armored Car - Z
30. Basic Light Cruiser - Z

Part 4 - Government

Spoiler

The UK is:
5/5 Democratic
+10 DoW Dissent (See Interventionism for final score.)
-5 Partisan Activity (whatever this means)
+20 Consumer Goods Demand (See Intervention for final score.)

4/5 Right Wing
This makes the UK Market Liberal.

5/5 Open Society
+40 Dissent in National Provinces (whatever this means)
-40 Dissent in Occupied Provinces (whatever this means)
-40 Counter Intelligence Penalty (whatever this means)
+10 Dissent Growth (whatever this means)
+20 Tech Team Salary (See Free Market for Final Score.)

3/5 Free Market
+20 Money from Consumer Goods (0.2 x 1.2 = 0.24)
-10 Production Time Cost
+15 Tech Team Salary (0.2 x 1.35 = 0.27)
-15 Upgrade Time and Cost
+12 Consumer Goods Demand (See Interventionism for Final Score.)

2/5 Standing Army
+5 Manpower Experience
-4 Gearing Bonus (Maximum is 31% discount. So serial units cost 1.0, 0.95, 0.9, 0.85, 0.80, 0.75, 0.70, 0.69 in per unit time. We will go into more detail on this.)
+4 Unit Organization
+40 Upgrade Time and Cost (Running Total +25)

3/5 Dove Lobby
+30 Money from Consumer Goods (0.20 x 1.5 = 0.30.)
+6 Dissent Growth
-6 Manpower Growth

1/5 Interventionism
0 Diplomatic Action Cost Adjustment
0 Bad Relations Normalization
+4.4 DoW Dissent (Total 14.4)
+50 Consumer Goods Demand (0.2 x 1.82 = 0.364)

Edit - Shortened Post and tried to move initial plans to the end of this multi-post for somewhat more simplicity.

 

[Riel Hamard]

Part 5 - The Cabinet

Spoiler

Head of State - King George V, Stern Imperialist
-5 Consumer Demand
-10 Unit Build Cost
+20 Dissent Growth Rate
We only have him for a few more weeks and we are planning our early strategy to take advantage of the unit cost discount.

Head of Government - Stanley Baldwin, Backroom Backstabber
-5 IC
-30 Chance to Coup us
900 USD to coup another nation
None of this does us any good, but we have a change of government at the end of the year.

Foreign Minister - Anthony Eden, Ideological Crusader
67 USD to Influence Nation
8 USD to Open Negotiations
We have some plans to take advantage of this discount and we need every USD we can keep.

Armaments Minister - Neville Chamberlain, Laissez Faire Capitalist
-20 Consumer Demand (-25 running total)
Alternatives:
Sir Thomas Inskip, Air Superiority Proponent (+10 Air Research)
Alfred Duff Cooper, Battlefleet Proponent (+10 Naval Research)

Minister of Security - Sir John Simon, Crime Fighter
-10 Consumer Demand (-35 total)
Alternatives:
Stanley Baldwin, Man of the People (+10 Manpower)
Sir Austen Chamberlain, Efficient Sociopath (-10 Manpower, +10 Foreign IC Use)

Head of Intelligence - Sir Hugh Sinclair, Logistics Specialist
+30 Army Intelligence (whatever this means)
Alternatives:
SP James and William Gallacher, Industrial Specialist (+5 IC)

Chief of Staff - Sir A Montgomery Massingberd, School of Fire Support
+5 Artillery and Armor Research
-5 Construction to Artillery and Rocket Artillery, Regular and Self Propelled
Alternatives:
Sir Cyril Deverell - Fortifications
Lord John Gort - School of Maneuver

Chief of the Army - Sir A Montgomery Massingberd - Static Defense Doctrine
-10 Land Fortification Construction Bonus
-5 Construction Bonus to Infantry and AT Brigades
+5 Defensive Combat Bonus to Infantry and AT Brigades
Alternative:
Sir Cyril Deverell - Guns and Butter Doctrine

Chief of the Navy - Sir Ernle Chatfield, Decisive Battle Doctrine
+5 Offensive Combat Bonus to Battleships, Battlecruisers, Heavy Cruisers, Light Cruisers
-10 Offensive Combat to Aircraft Carriers
Alternatives:
Sir Barry E Domville - Power Projection Doctrine
Fred Copeman - Indirect Approach Doctrine

Chief of the Air Force - Sir Owen Boyd, Air Superiority Doctrine
+5 Combat Bonus to Fighters and Interceptors
-5 Construction Bonus to Fighters and Interceptors
+10 Construction Penalty to Strategic Bombers and Naval Bombers
Alternatives:
John Stachey, Carpet Bombing Doctrine
Sir Hugh Dowding, Air Superiority Doctrine

Part 6 - 1936 Available Research Projects

Spoiler

We count 6 available projects:
1. Early Field Artillery (Artillery and Armor, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3)
2. Basic Air Transport (Aircraft, 8, 8, 6, 8, 16 which is very likely 2x8)
3. Rocket Test and Research Facility (Industrial 7, 7, 7, 7, 14 which is very likely 2x7)
4. Agrichemistry (Industrial 7, 7, 7, 7, 8)
5. Agricultural Production (Industrial (8, 8, 8, 8, 18)
6. Battlefield Destruction Doctrine (3, 3, 3, 3, 3)

Part 7 - Initial Production Budget

Spoiler

15.00 Current Production Budget
4.97 Consumer Demand (0.2 x 1.4 x 1.82 x 0.65 x 15.00 = 4.9686)
4.50 Production
0.00 / 13.18 Supplies (I have not sat down to figure out this calculation yet.)
0.00 / - Reinforcements
0.00 / 43.21 Upgrades (I have not sat down to figure out this calculation yet.)

We start with 3 Production Lines:
1.50 x 61 Destroyer 2.12 33rd Destroyer Flotilla
1.50 x 91 Destroyer 2.13 34th Destroyer Flotilla
1.50 x 61 Submarine 2.05 10th Submarine Flotilla

13.18 Supply Budget implies we need 52.72. Most likely this is limited to the Island and we will check that first.

1.85 for 22 Garrison units, taking the quoted 0.1 figure literally. These appear to be special Garrison units that are only 30% strength. 14 of these are under Logistics Commanders.
2.025 for 3 Infantry, 1 Infantry / Artillery, 1 HQ, all under Logistics Commanders.
14.10 For 3 Interceptors, 2 Tactical, 3 Strategic Bombers.
3.3 for 11 Transports
2.0 for 5 Submarines
3.6 for 18 Destroyers
6.4 for 16 Light Cruisers
4.0 for 8 Heavy Cruisers
1.5 for 3 Battlecruisers
4.4 for 6 Battleships (4 BB2 and 2 BB3)
4.4 for 3 Carriers (2 CV1 and 1 CV2)
47.575 is the grand total we got for this. Maybe we have some rounding issues. 52.72 is what the tooltip says.
3.6 for 3 CAG that were not included takes us to 51.175.

Our upgrade cost modifier is 1.25. This means upgrades have a cost of 0.625 and a time of 0.3125. Our tooltip indicates 27 Obsolete Divisions and 2 Obsolete Brigades. We calculate a much higher number, so once again, it might only be counting units on the island and units we are reaching with supply convoys.
12.85 for 4 Infantry
9.11 for 1 HQ
17.21 for 3 Interceptors
13.16 for 2 Tactical Bombers
51.53 is what I get, but the tooltip says 43.21 and I am puzzled.

I should build a spreadsheet for this if we are really trying to figure this out.

Part 8 - Feeding the Economy - Resources, Convoys, and Trade

Spoiler

It appears we get 0.5 x 0.6 = 30% of our normal resource budget, which is much better than 10%. We will copy our list of ports from the previous game.
To Glasgow - Belfast and Newfoundland
To Plymouth - Cyprus, Bombay, Colombo, Port Said, Doha, Kuwait, Singapore, Kuching, Cuyuni, Tobago, Accra, Port Harcourt, Freetown, Nauru,
That's 2 Convoys to Glasgow and 14 to Plymouth.

Supply convoys as follows:
Belfast, Gibraltar, Malta, Bombay, Colombo, Port Said, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bermuda, Freetown
This shows 10 ports we should be supplying. This list also tells us where to find the rest of our Navy.

Based on these lists, the UK does take a while to set up. If we trusted anything automatic, this part would not take long at all.

Edit - Cleanup and some renumbering

 

[Riel Hamard]

Part 9 - Initial Army Roster
We will try naming and tracking our units.

Spoiler

HQ 1 - British Army HQ, Bristol

Infantry 1A - 1st Infantry Division, Bristol
Infantry 2 - 2nd Infantry Division
Infantry 3 - 3rd Infantry Division, Portsmouth
Infantry 4 - 5th Infantry Division, Edinburgh
Infantry 5 - 7th Infantry Division, Jerusalem
Infantry 6 - 8th Infantry Division
Infantry 7 - 1st Indian Infantry Division, Delhi
Infantry 8A - 2nd Indian Infantry Division, Dhaka
Infantry 9 - 3rd Indian Infantry Division, Rangoon
Infantry 10 - 4th Indian Infantry Division, Karachi
Infantry 11E - 5th Indian Infantry Division, Bikaner
Infantry 12 - 6th Indian Infantry Division, Vishakhapatnam
Infantry 13 - 7th Indian Infantry Division, Bombay
Infantry 14AT - 8th Indian Infantry Division, Mangalore
Infantry 15 - 9th Indian Infantry Division, Madras
Infantry 16 - 10th Indian Infantry Division, Cochin
Infantry 17 - 11th Indian Infantry Division, Madurai
Infantry 18E - 12th Indian Infantry Division, Trincomalee

Militia 1 - 1st Sudanese Colonials, Malakal
Militia 2 - 2nd Sudanese Colonials, Khartoum
Militia 3 - 3rd Sudanese Colonials, Gallabat
Militia 4 - 1st Ugandan Colonials, Entebbe
Militia 5 - 2nd Ugandan Colonials, Nairobi
Militia 6 - 1st Kenyan Colonials, Entebbe
Militia 7 - 2nd Kenyan Colonials, Marsabit
Militia 8 - 1st Tanganyikan Colonials, Mombasa
Militia 9A - 2nd Tanganyikan Colonials, Tanga

Garrison units will be split up into Garrisons and Home Guard.
Garrison 1 - Gibraltar Defense Force
Garrison 2 - Malta Defense Force
Garrison 3 - Ceylon Defense Force
Garrison 4 - Singapore Defense Force
Garrison 5 - Hong Kong Defense Force

Home Defense:
1. Devon
2. Hampshire
3. Kent
4. Somerset
5. Norfolk
6. North Midland
7. Liverpool
8. Yorkshire
9. Lancashire
10. East Lowland
11. West Lowland
12. Ulster
Each consists of 2 Garrison Divisions with very similar names.

We have 1 Field Marshall and 12 Generals. Eventually they will all be replaced. A few Officers stand out:
General Ironside, 2 Logistics Specialist - Last time he only made it to 1940.
Alanbrooke, Offense and Defense
Gort, Offesnse
Alexander and Auchinleck, Logistics, Offense and Defense.

Part 10 - Initial Navy Roster

Spoiler

Carrier 1.01 HMS Hermes
Carrier 1.02 HMS Argus

Carrier 2.01 HMS Courageous
Carrier 2.02 HMS Glorious
Carrier 2.03 HMS Furious
Carrier 2.04 HMS Eagle

Battleship 2.01 HMS Queen Elizabeth
Battleship 2.02 HMS Warspite
Battleship 2.03 HMS Valiant
Battleship 2.04 HMS Royal Soverign
Battleship 2.05 HMS Royal Oak
Battleship 2.06 HMS Revenge
Battleship 2.07 HMS Resolution
Battleship 2.08 HMS Ramillies
Battleship 2.09 HMS Malaya
Battleship 2.10 HMS Barham

Battleship 3.01 HMS Nelson
Battleship 3.02 HMS Rodney

Battlecruiser 2.01 HMS Renown
Battlecruiser 2.02 HMS Repulse

Battlecruiser 3.01 HMS Hood

Heavy Cruiser 2.01 HMS Kent
Heavy Cruiser 2.02 HMS York
Heavy Cruiser 2.03 HMS Sussex
Heavy Cruiser 2.04 HMS Suffolk
Heavy Cruiser 2.05 HMS Shropshire
Heavy Cruiser 2.06 HMS Norfolk
Heavy Cruiser 2.07 HMS London
Heavy Cruiser 2.08 HMS Hawking
Heavy Cruiser 2.09 Frobisher
Heavy Cruiser 2.10 Exeter
Heavy Cruiser 2.11 Effingham
Heavy Cruiser 2.12 Dorsetshire
Heavy Cruiser 2.13 Devonshire
Heavy Cruiser 2.14 Cumberland
Heavy Cruiser 2.15 Cornwall
Heavy Cruiser 2.16 Berwick

Light Cruiser 1.01 HMS Caledon
Light Cruiser 1.02 HMS Durban
Light Cruiser 1.03 HMS Dunedin
Light Cruiser 1.04 HMS Dragon
Light Cruiser 1.05 HMS Diomede
Light Cruiser 1.06 HMS Despatch
Light Cruiser 1.07 HMS Delhi
Light Cruiser 1.08 HMS Dauntless
Light Cruiser 1.09 HMS Danae
Light Cruiser 1.10 HMS Curlew
Light Cruiser 1.11 HMS Curacao
Light Cruiser 1.12 HMS Coventry
Light Cruiser 1.13 HMS Colombo
Light Cruiser 1.14 HMS Ceres
Light Cruiser 1.15 HMS Carlisle
Light Cruiser 1.16 HMS Cardiff
Light Cruiser 1.17 HMS Caradoc
Light Cruiser 1.18 HMS Capetown
Light Cruiser 1.19 HMS Calypso
Light Cruiser 1.20 HMS Calcutta
Light Cruiser 1.21 HMS Cairo

Light Cruiser 2.01 HMS Emerald
Light Cruiser 2.02 HMS Enterprise

Light Cruiser 3.01 HMS Leander
Light Cruiser 3.02 HMS Orion
Light Cruiser 3.03 HMS Neptune
Light Cruiser 3.04 HMS Galathea
Light Cruiser 3.05 HMS Arethusa
Light Cruiser 3.06 HMS Ajax
Light Cruiser 3.07 HMS Achilles

Destroyer 1.01 4th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.02 5th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.03 8th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.04 10th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.05 12th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.06 14th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.07 18th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.08 19th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.09 20th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.10 21st Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.11 22nd Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.12 23rd Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.13 24th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.14 25th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.15 26th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.16 27th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.17 28th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.18 29th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.19 30th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.20 31st Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 1.21 32nd Destroyer Flotilla

Destroyer 2.01 1st Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 2.02 2nd Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 2.03 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 2.04 6th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 2.05 7th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 2.06 9th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 2.07 11th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 2.08 13th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 2.09 15th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 2.10 16th Destroyer Flotilla
Destroyer 2.11 17th Destroyer Flotilla

Submarine 1.01 3rd Submarine Flotilla
Submarine 1.01 4th Submarine Flotilla
Submarine 1.01 5th Submarine Flotilla
Submarine 1.01 6th Submarine Flotilla
Submarine 1.01 7th Submarine Flotilla

Submarine 2.01 1st Submarine Flotilla
Submarine 2.02 2nd Submarine Flotilla
Submarine 2.03 8th Submarine Flotilla
Submarine 2.04 9th Submarine Flotilla

Transport 1 Trojan Star Flotilla
Transport 2 Suffolk Flotilla
Transport 3 Sam Torch Flotilla
Transport 4 Resolution Flotilla
Transport 5 Maloja Flotilla
Transport 6 Hororata Flotilla
Transport 7 Essex Flotilla
Transport 8 Empire Splendour Flotilla
Transport 9 Empire Chairman Flotilla
Transport 10 El Capitan Flotilla
Transport 11 Empire Arquebus Flotilla
Transport 12 Clan Macauley Flotilla
Transport 13 Andes Flotilla

Wow! That's a lot of ships! Q trabajo me ha costado!

For Admirals, we have 1 Grand Admiral, 5 Admirals and 3 Officers that stand out:
Cunningham, Sommerville, and Tovey.

Part 11 - Initial Air Force Roster

Spoiler

Interceptor 1 - No 11 RAF Fighter Group
Interceptor 2 - No 12 RAF Fighter Group
Interceptor 3 - No 13 RAF Fighter Group

Tactical 1 - No 1 RAF Tactical Group
Tactical 2 - No 5 RAF Tactical Group
Tactical 3 - Middle East Group
Tactical 4 - Indian Group
Tactical 5 - Far East Group

Strategic 1 - No 2 RAF Strategic Group
Strategic 2 - No 3 RAF Strategic Group
Strategic 3 - No 4 RAF Strategic Group

We have 3 Air Marshalls and a few officers standing out.

Edit - Some renumbering

 

[Riel Hamard]

For peacetime, we will try to list these once per year. Or we might list them after a significant event. We are trying to record some kind of reference so that we can see just how much buildup there was during peacetime. We will list these until we cover all of the powers we consider significant. If somebody (like the USA) comes in out of nowhere, then that is on us.

Part 12 - Land Force Comparison

Spoiler

136 USSR - 100 Infantry, 5 Cavalry, 15 Motor, 4 Light Armor, 11 Mountain, 1 HQ
65 Japan - 25 Infantry, 6 Cavalry, 31 Garrison, 3 HQ
57 UK - 18 Infantry, 29 Garrison, 9 Militia, 1 HQ
50 Italy - 31 Infantry, 3 Cavalry, 5 Mountain, 10 Militia, 1 HQ
48 France - 36 Infantry 4 Cavalry, 2 Light Armor, 4 Mountain, 2 HQ
47 Poland - 40 Infantry, 4 Cavalry, 2 Mountain, 1 HQ
42 China - 32 Infantry, 9 Militia, 1 HQ
40 Germany - 36 Infantry, 3 Light Armor

Part 13 - Navy Comparison

Spoiler

121 UK - 6 Carriers, 12 Battleships, 3 Battlecruisers, 16 Heavy Cruisers, 30 Light Cruisers, 32 Destroyers, 9 Submarines, 13 Transports
112 USA - 3 Carriers, 15 Battleships, 15 Heavy Cruisers, 10 Light Cruisers, 28 Destroyers, 17 Submarines, 24 Transports
97 Japan - 4 Carriers, 6 Battleships, 4 Battlecruisers, 14 Heavy Cruisers, 21 Light Cruisers, 20 Destroyers, 8 Submarines, 20 Transports
59 Italy - 4 Battleships, 8 Heavy Cruisers, 12 Light Cruisers, 18 Destroyers, 11 Submarines, 6 Transports
54 France - 1 Carrier, 6 Battleships, 7 Heavy Cruisers, 7 Light Cruisers, 11 Destroyers, 15 Submarines, 7 Transports
33 USSR - 3 Battleships, 1 Heavy Cruiser, 3 Light Cruisers, 4 Destroyers, 21 Submarines, 1 Transport
17 Germany - 2 Battlecruisers, 2 Heavy Cruisers, 6 Light Cruisers, 4 Destroyers, 3 Submarines

Part 14 - Air Force Comparison

Spoiler

12 USSR - 8 Interceptors, 4 Tactical Bombers
12 Italy - 5 Interceptors, 3 Tactical, 2 Naval Bombers, 1 Transport
11 Japan - 4 Interceptors, 5 Tactical, 2 Naval Bombers
11 Germany - 3 Interceptors, 8 Tactical Bombers
11 UK - 3 Interceptors, 3 Strategic, 2 Tactical Bombers
8 France - 3 Interceptors, 5 Tactical Bombers
7 USA - 2 Interceptors, 1 Strategic, 4 Tactical Bombers

Part 15 - General Strategy
We are assuming that much of the war goes along with History. Germany will enter the war first with a couple of Axis Minors. Italy will enter some time after Germany invades France and it looks like they will win. Germany will plan some kind of invasion of the USSR in the spring of 1941. Japan will join in the fall. This gives us some kind of timeline.

1. Our first priority will be to win at sea. We are a globe spanning empire and therefore we have to win at sea and there are no options.
2. We have to win in North Africa and there are no options about this, either. If we lose Egypt and the Suez Canal, then we are cut in half.
3. We will try to hold a line at Singapore. Supposedly, it is the Gibraltar of the Far East.
4. Most of the early wars will be defensive and we should use this to our advantage. We should try to frustrate our foes wherever we can.
5. Keeping France in the war will be great if we can accomplish it. They will have good technology and can help us if we can help them.
6. Denmark might be a good place to frustrate the Germans.
7. We will try to prevent Norway from happening.
8. Where are the Poles in this list, the ones who supplied us with everything we need to win the war?

One of my memories of HoI1 on VH was how seemingly unbeatable the Germans were in the early part of the war and how more battles became winnable as we developed more doctrines. I have read that we have a terrible land doctrine tree that might get better in the late part of the war. I do not know how to make the comparison myself.

Part 16 - Initial Moves
These will be numbered as we go through the sections above again. This will also serve as a checklist as I load saved games to see how we are doing.
16.1 There is not much to see here. We are dead broke.
16.2 We would do well to propose some trades to start.

16.3 Trades are planned as follows:
Basic Light Tank, Battlefield Destruction Doctrine, Improved Battlecruiser from France for
Basic Air Carrier, Basic Cavalry Division, Basic dm Radar Warning Sites, Strategic Destruction Doctrine
Rear Area Supply Dumps
to Canada for 189 Supplies
to Australia for 171 Supplies
to South Africa for 81 Supplies

16.4 Domestic Policy change is as follows:
4/5 Free Market
+30 Money (0.30 per Consumer Good)
-15 Production Time and Cost (Our Domestic Policy is 0.85.)
+20 Tech Team Salary (0.28 per Skill Point)
-20 Upgrade Time and Cost (Our Domestic Policy is 1.20.)
+16 Consumer Goods Demand (0.2 x 1.4 x 0.65 x 1.86 = 0.33852)

16.5 Cabinet Changes are as follows:
Head of Intelligence - SP James, Industrial Specialist
+5 IC (Total from Cabinet is now 0.)
Chief of the Army - Sir Cyril Deverell, Guns and Butter Doctrine
-15 Supply Consumption

16.6 Initial Research Plan:
Nothing! We start off empty, because we are dead broke.
Our first project will be Strategic Destruction Doctrine. It is not on our Priority List, but we will have the Blueprints. We estimate it will take us 56 days and cost us $125.44 and we have only $42 in the bank and very little income. We are likely to start the project in March when we might have more money and income.

16.7 Initial Production Budget
With our initial changes to the Government and Cabinet, we estimate our initial production will be 18.00.
0.33852 x 18.00 = 4.06224 for Consumer Goods, leaving 13.93 for Projects.

4.59 Light Cruiser 4 = 6.00 x 0.765
4.55 Infantry 1936 = 6.30 x 0.85 x 0.85
1.50 x 60 Destroyer 2 33rd Destroyer Flotilla
1.50 x 60 Submarine 3 10th Submarine Flotilla
1.50 x 90 Destroyer 2 34th Destroyer Flotilla
13.64 / 13.93 Initial Budget
For Roleplay, we will finish the 33rd and 34th Destroyer Flotillas, then start a line of Destroyer 3's. We will finish the 10th Submarine Flotilla, but not continue that line. Off the budget and on our wish list are the following:

3.83 Transport = 5.00 x 0.765
1.53 Destroyer 3 = 2.00 x 0.9 x 0.85
8.67 Interceptor 2 = 12.00 x 0.7225
4.59 Aircraft Carrier 3 HMS Ark Royal = 6.00 x 0.765
2.55 Ark Royal Ark Royal CAG = 3.00 x 0.85
21.17 Initial Budget not covered.

34.81 Total Budget - We believe we can get this covered by the end of the year

16.8 Convoys and Trade - Initial Resource Convoys we will set up as discussed before. Supply convoys will be set up later, because we will have a lot of trouble keeping our supplies in balance. We will try to acquire supplies in Trades as they come in.

16.9 Initial Army Roster - We are in peacetime and not wartime. We will gather up our Armies where we can and replace our Generals with Accountants.
For the initial 25 Home Guard Garrisons, we are open to ideas. They start at 30% strength. We currently plan to upgrade them to 1939. Some of them might actually get used to defend London in the case of a Paratrooper attack. We believe the AI can smell an empty city. We might also use them to protect a place like Denmark and make it take longer for the Germans to take it over. The other alternative is to disband.

16.10 Initial Navy - In the previous game, we gathered up our Navy into groups and moved our obsolete units into more distant outposts. Since we know what order the war will occur, we might do well to gather our newer units in the UK and move the older units to the location of the next theater of war. Given our transport capacity, we might do well to hold on this project for a year or so - or maybe even wait for the 1938 crisis.

16.11 Initial Air Force - We would do well to gather our Air Force so that we can use it early.

With this, we should be ready to start. I plan to start tomorrow, which will be Friday Night Game Night. We plan to play until shortly after we lose our King George V and then show the state of the economy afterwards.

I hope I correctly understand the mechanics of our production lines, gearing bonuses, and interrupted production. We will be starting our Light Cruiser and Infantry lines and will have about 21 days invested. We believe when we pause production, we will not lose any gearing bonuses, because we have not built any units or acquired any gearing bonuses. We believe if we produce a unit, then the gearing bonus count goes up by one and if we miss a day of production, then it resets to 0 and therefore we lose no gearing bonus.

I might try a dry run to see if this is the case. Otherwise, we should rearrange so that our production sink projects take up the initial production. We are talking about 191.94 production days in this case.

We are really trying to set up all of our production up front to take advantage of the production bonus from King George V. He provides a 10% minister bonus. Initial production is at 0.9 x 0.85 = 0.765. At the beginning of 1937, we should be at 0.800. We are not sure when we will get a better production bonus. However, we will have better units available and will be replacing our production lines anyway.

 

[Riel Hamard]

Dry Run - I put up a preview of a dry run to January 22 just so we can see where our production is going.

Spoiler

1 Production! This post needs some lol reactions!

It also looks like resource management will be a bigger issue. Order of operations will also change from the above plan and will be detailed in tomorrow's post.

 

[Riel Hamard]

VHUK Challenge Accepted Run - Muddling Through the Opening Moves

It's Friday Night Game Night - Here we go! Opening Moves:

1. Initial Diplomatic Deals:
Basic Light Tank, Battlefield Destruction Doctrine, and Improved Battlecruiser from France for
Basic Air Carrier, Basic Cavalry Division, Basic dm Radar Warning Sites, and Strategic Destruction Doctrine
It's a 4 for 3 trade and we don't need all of the Blueprints. Otherwise, it only cost us 8 USD.

Rear Area Supply Dumps
to Canada for 189 Supplies
to Australia for 171 Supplies
to South Africa for 81 Supplies
We start the game in an economic mess and we need all the help we can get.

2. Domestic Policy 4/5 Free Market:
+30 Money from Consumer Goods (It should be 0.32 total.)
-15 Production Time and Cost (Our Domestic Policy Multiplier is 0.85.)
+20 Tech Team Salary (It is now 0.28 per Skill Point.)
-20 Upgrade Time and Cost (It is now 1.20.)
+16 Consumer Goods Demand (0.2 x 1.4 x 0.65 x 1.86 = 0.33852)

3. Initial Production List
With our upcoming changes to the Cabinet, our IC budget will increase from 15.00 to 18.00.
15 x 0.33852 = 5.0778 compared to 5.08 on the Display.
18 x 0.33852 = 6.09336
We set the slider to match this exactly and this leaves us with 11.90 to fund our initial projects. We made a long list and no way to fulfill this list until the end of the year. We divided the list and put a couple of production lines at the front to collect the initial work, then made a buffer of one-time projects, followed by our wishlist.

4.55 = 6.30 x 0.85 x 0.85 Infantry 1936 - March 10, 1936 next unit, March 27, 1949 completion
3.83 = 5.00 x 0.90 x 0.85 Transport - March 10, 1936 next unit, April 11, 1949 completion
8.38 total for our initial production lines.

1.50 Destroyer 2 Acasta Class 33rd Destroyer Flotilla - March 2, 1936 target
1.50 Destroyer 2 Acasta Class 34th Destroyer Flotilla - April 2, 1936 target
1.50 Submarine 3 Triton Class 10th Submarine Flotilla - March 2, 1936 target
4.59 = 6.00 x 0.90 x 0.85 Aircraft Carrier 3 Ark Royal Class HMS Ark Royal - July 19, 1937 target
2.55 = 3.00 x 0.85 CAG 3 Sea Gladiator / Swordfish Ark Royal CAG - June 13, 1936 target

1.53 = 2.00 x 0.9 x 0.85 Destroyer 3 Tribal Class - April 18, 1936 next unit, August 27, 1956 completion
4.59 = 6.00 x 0.9 x 0.85 Light Cruiser 4 Southampton Class - June 19, 1936 next unit, June 16, 1968 completion
8.67 = 12.00 x 0.85 x 0.85 Interceptor 2 Hawker Hurricane Mark 1 - April 19, 1936 next unit, November 25, 1956 completion
34.80675 total budget

We are tracking production days just to make sure they are moving as predicted.

4. Cabinet Minister Changes
Head of Intelligence - SP James, Paternal Autocrat, Industrial Specialist +5 IC
Chief of the Army - Sir Cyril Deverell, Market Liberal, Guns and Butter Doctrine, -15 Supply Consumption
We get 3.00 Dissent out of this, but we will worry about this later.

5. Initial Resource Convoys
4 Belfast to Glasgow
10 Newfoundland
22 Cyprus to Portsmouth
27 Bombay
26 Colombo
20 Port Said
29 Doha
29 Kuwait
28 Singapore
28 Kuching
14 Cuyuni
16 Accra
17 Port Harcourt
14 Freetown
26 Nauru
14 Tobago

16 Resource Convoys total
677 transports, 150 escorts remain

6. Putting Accounting in charge of the Army, we looked for places to install Logistics Specialists in our Infantry Divisions. Every little bit helps.

Here we go!

 

[Riel Hamard]

Challenge Accepted Run Session 1 - July, 1936

January 5, 1936 - Sorting through all the offers coming in took us quite a while. We need to stabilize our supplies and that is not an option. So we carefully looked at how much energy, metal, and rare we could afford to spend and checked against the various offers. These trades are likely to come and go, so there is not much point in listing all of them. We got our situation stabilized for now at the home front.
+14.1 Energy
+37.2 Metal - In the last game, this seemed to be the cheap resource first to accumulate.
+6.4 Rare
+20.2 Oil
+34.7 Supply - We will eventually have to set up our supply convoys.

January 14, 1936 - We felt stable enough to set up our Supply Convoys as follows:
8 Belfast
20 Gibraltar
34 Malta
54 Bombay
52 Colombo
40 Port Said
56 Singapore
64 Hong Kong
22 Bermuda
28 Freetown
26/26 Convoys are now running. We have 299 Transports and 150 Escorts remaining.

January 21, 1936 - The Death of King George V

Spoiler

We now have King Edward VIII, Autocratic Charmer
-5 Consumer Demand (0.2 x 1.4 x 0.6 x 1.86 = 0.3248 - However we do not see it yet.
-10 IC
-10 Dissent Growth Rate

Coupled with 4% Dissent, this takes our Production all the way down to 1.00 IC. We will invest all of this into Consumer Goods. This puts all of our projects on hold, but our Dissent appears to change by 0.16 per day. We should get all the way back to even in 25 days.

We got in:
20 days towards Infantry and Transport
19 days towards 33rd and 34th Destroyer Flotilla
6 days towards 10th Submarine Flotilla

January 22, 1936 - Here is our country all the way down to 1.0 Industry.

Spoiler

Our Transport Capacity is all the way down to 11.

February 21, 1936 - Australia completed Rear Area Supply Dumps and moved on to Basic Machine Tools. We saw they did not yet have the Blueprints, so we supplied them. Canada appears to be next. We also got our Dissent down to 0.02% and this is likely to be the cheapest move we will ever make. Our production is all the way back up to 7.00. We shifted our production towards the 33rd and 34th Destroyer Flotillas, and the Submarine Flotilla, because we simply want them off the list.

February 25, 1936 - Indeed, Canada completed Rear Area Supply Dumps and moved on to Basic Machine Tools and we supplied them with the Blueprints. It appears South Africa is next on our list.

February 26, 1936 - Japan had the 226 Incident and decided to crush the coup.

March 5, 1936 - South Africa also completed Rear Area Supply Dumps, but moved on to Early Destroyer. We checked and it appeared they already obtained the Blueprints. We will be watching Australia next. We believe they will finish on March 13. We believe this is a Friday as well!

March 7, 1936 - Germany reoccupied the Rhineland and between ourselves and France, we started taking steps to prepare for a possible war.

Spoiler

Our Base Production including Difficulty Level increases from 10% to 20%. We have a technology bonus of 5% and a minister penalty of 10%. So we net 15% and this will take our Production Budget back up to 22.00. We should be able to use 14.55 of it. We will put the Infantry, Transports and Tribal Class Destroyers back into the active production lines.

March 8, 1936 - Wow! Our numbers were exactly on the nickel! Our 33rd Destroyer Flotilla is scheduled for March 26.

March 9 ,1936 - We were wrong about March 13. We were correct about March 13, 1936 being a Friday, but not about Australia completing Agrichemistry. This will be in April sometime. We will shift our watch to France. Our Research Budget is now $2.24 and that is enough to support a single Team. We might have enough surplus to support one extra project, depending on the cost.

March 18, 1936 - France completed research on Early Field Artillery and moved on to Basic Cavalry Division, for which we already traded them the Blueprints. We exchanged the Blueprints for Early Field Artillery for Basic Strategic Bomber and now appear to be on a Technological parity. We will start this project later.

March 25, 1936 - Italy annexed Ethiopia.

Spoiler

April 4, 1936 - Australia researched Agrichemistry and Basic Machine Tools both on the same day. We obtained the Blueprints from them in exchange for a bunch of Blueprints. We will gradually try to get rid of them rather than pay money to open comms every time.

April 28, 1936 - Nationalist China had the Xian Incident. They made peace with Communist China, making promises and hedging bets. We believe the normal timeline is they Allie with the Commies, but apparently that did not happen in this timeline.

June 22, 1936 - We got the Rogue Politician Event once again. The initial RNG must be fixed. Hopefully we are not getting 3 Opposition Attacks our Policy events, because that would suck. This one here is a non-event. However, it is an opportunity to move towards Authoritarianism and our government will change to Social Conservative. That might have a few more unintended consequences.

Spoiler

Production:
March 26, 1936 - Destroyer 2.12 33rd Destroyer Flotilla
April 15, 1936 - Submarine 3.05 10th Submarine Flotilla
April 26, 1936 - Destroyer 2.13 34th Destroyer Flotilla - and this completes our initial projects.
April 26, 1936 - Transport 14 Queen Mary Flotilla
April 26, 1936 - Infantry 19 4th Infantry Division - We might renumber these later.
We calculated 65 days or July 1 to be our next production date and this appears to be correct and we are showing a gearing bonus of 5%.
We are now showing just enough production to include our Southampton Class Light Cruisers.
June 24, 1936 - Destroyer 3.01 8th Destroyer Flotilla - According to our Roster, the name also corresponds to Destroyer 1.03.
The next unit is slated for October 5, which is 101 days and we calculated 102 days. We are not sure why.

Technology:
May 21, 1936 - Project 36-02 Early Field Artillery
Time: 47 days (Our estimate was 48 days.)
Cost: $78.96

Projects:
36-01 Agrichemistry
Start: 36.04.04
George Paget Thompson, Skill 5, $1.40
7 Chemistry - Synthetic Fertilizers
7 Chemistry - Synthetic Insecticides
7 Chemistry - Synthetic Herbicides
7 Chemistry - Synthetic Fungicides
8 Management - Hybridization
Time Estimate: 99 days - The Aussies did it in 93 days and we have Blueprints on top of it! The next project, Agricultural Production will take them longer, but should be available shortly after we complete our project.

36-02 - Early Field Artillery
Start: 36.04.04
Royal Small Arms Factory, Skill 6, $1.68
3 Artillery - 75mm Field Artillery Gun
3 Mechanics - Early Gun Carriage
3 Chemistry - HE Shells
3 Electronics - Rangefinder Radar
3 Training - Basic Crawling Fire Training
Time Estimate: 48 days

That takes us up to July, 1936. The Spanish Civil War will start in a few more weeks. If we decide to intervene, that will cost us 4 Dissent and our production will go back down to 16 and we will have to once again make some tough decisions on our production. Most likely, we will delay our Light Cruiser once again. That will leave us with 9.91 in projects and our budget will allow us 10.58. We can muddle through this, but have to wait 5 months for leadership changes.

 

[Riel Hamard]

Challenge Accepted VHUK Run Session 2 - January, 1937

July 1, 1936 - We have some time and energy to reorganize our Navy and started moving some ships around. We will do something very similar to what we did in the previous game.

July 2, 1936 - Another war started. EU2 had a list of active wars and here we can only think of this one war. The Guangxi Clique DoW Nationalist China. It looks like the part in the Southwest and the terrain looks kind of bad.

Spoiler

July 30, 1936 - This was quick. Nationalist China offered peace and China returned to Status Quo.

July 18, 1936 - Republican Spain DoW Nationalist Spain
July 19, 1936 - Nationalist Spain - Spanish Civil War Fascist Nation - Who will Intervene?
July 21, 1936 - France - Why support Anarchist Rabble
July 22, 1936 - Spanish Civil War - Italian Intervention
July 24, 1936 - Spanish Civil War - British Intervention

Spoiler

RIP Money - Oh. We actually go to -11. It took us all the way to August 1 to get out of the hole from this one.
RIP Supply Stockpile - Our Supply Stockpile went all the way down to 1425. We got billed 6880 Supplies and that appears to be based on 10x daily max income which appears to be more that 147. It appears to be based on 172 and our income is 22.
RIP 4 Dissent - HMS Southampton will get delayed and we have to reorganize our production as we muddle through this.
Interventionism will change from 1/5 to 2/5.
Political Right will change from 4/5 to 3/5. We remain Market Liberal.

July 25, 1936 - Spanish Civil War - German Intervention
August 14, 1936 - The Aussies completed Agricultural Production and we handed a bunch of blueprints over in exchange.
October 12, 1936 - The Japanese had a Right-Wing Coup. They appear to be Fascist.
October 22, 1936 - We got another Rogue Politician. We will take this over an attack on our policy any day.

Spoiler

November 4, 1936 - The USA reelected FDR. Meanwhile in Spain, it is looking no better for the Republicans.
November 23, 1936 - We traded 936 Supplies to France and obtained the Blueprints for Improved Machine Tools, Operational Destruction Doctrine, and Rear Area Vehicle Repair Shop. The best trade really would have been the metal, because it is going to form a big pile.

December 11, 1936 - The Abdication of Edward VIII

Spoiler

Changes to Cabinet:
Head of State - George VI, Benevolent Gentleman
-5 Consumer Demand
-10 Dissent Growth
+20 Belligerence to DoW

Head of Government - Neville Chamberlain, Naive Optimist
-10 Consumer Demand
+10 Belligerence to DoW

Armaments Minister - Sir John Simon, Resource Industrialist
+5 IC
+10 Industrial Research - We will see if this affects our project or if we could saved about 10 days and about $26.10.

Production:
July 2, 1936 - Transport 15 Dominion Monarch Flotilla
July 2, 1936 - Infantry 20 6th Infantry Division
September 4, 1936 - Transport 16 Empress of Canada Flotilla
September 4, 1936 - Infantry 21 9th Highland Division
October 6, 1936 - Destroyer 3.02 10th Destroyer Flotilla - This is not to be confused with Destroyer 1.04 10rd Destroyer Flotilla.
November 3, 1936 - Transport 17 Empire Chieftain Flotilla
November 3, 1936 - Infantry 22 12th Eastern Division
December 27, 1936 - Transport 18 Stirling Castle Flotilla
December 27, 1936 - Infantry 23 15th Scottish Division

Technology:
July 12, 1936 - Project 36-01 Agrichemistry
Time: 97 days (Our estimate was 99 days and we are not sure why we were off by 2 days.)
Cost: $135.80
With this, our Manpower increases from 0.43 per day to 0.46 per day.

November 23, 1936 - Project 36-01 Agricultural Production
Time: 99 days (Our estimate was off by 1 day.)
Cost: $225.72 - Even with the Blueprints, this was a big project!
Our Manpower increases from 0.46 to 0.48.

Projects:
36-04 Agricultural Production
Start: 36.08.14
English Electric Company, Skill 8, $2.24
8 Chemistry - Industrial Pasteurization
8 Industrial - Large Scale Refrigeration
8 Industrial - Sterile Packaging
8 Industrial - Dehydration Techniques
18 Management - Agrimanagement Processes
Time Estimate: 100 days (I did something weird and estimate should have been 60 days.)

36-05 Improved Machine Tools
Start: 36.11.23
Anglo Iranian Oil Company, Skill 9, $2.52
6 Chemistry - Industrial Ceramic
6 Industrial Engineering - Sensor Techniques
6 Industrial - Improved Welding Techniques
7 Industrial - High Speed Performance
16 Industrial - Improved Machine Tools Development Process
Time Estimate: 56 days

Well we muddled through all of 1936 and this takes us to 1937. We will start with a status report.

 

[Riel Hamard]

Challenge Accepted VHUK Run - 1937 Report

I will use a format similar to the start of the game.

Part 1 - Main screen

Spoiler

2618 Energy - This is up from 1000.
13056 Metal - This is up from 1000. Metal appears to be the worthless commodity in this part of the economy.
2169 Rare - This is up from 500.
8499 Oil - This is way up from 500. However we will need oil in the war.
9955 Supplies - This is way up from 500, but we are not complaining.
135 Manpower - This is up from 40. Maybe it means we are not building enough.

Part 2 - A quick look at our Allies:

Spoiler

France is researching:
Advanced Construction Engineering
Advanced Machine Tools
Improved Computing Machine
Basic Decryption Devices
Direct Ground Support Doctrine
Everything is 1938.
Early Light Cruiser, Great War Heavy Cruiser - Canada
Improved Machine Tools, Medium Range Submarine - Australia
Basic Computing Machine - South Africa
Agricultural Production - New Zealand

If we keep them supplied with Blueprints, then they will make faster progress than we do.

Part 3 - Blueprints that can be exchanged:

Spoiler

From France we can obtain Basic Encryption Device.
Australia is current with Blueprints according to us.

Basic dm Radar Warning Sites C S Z
Basic Strategic Bomber C S Z
Early Anti Tank Artillery C S Z
Early Field Artillery C S Z
Early Tank C
Faculty of Atomic Research C S Z
Great War Aircraft Carrier C S Z
Great War Battleship C S Z
Improved Oil Refining S Z
Basic Light Cruiser Z
Dive Boat Z
Basic Battlecruiser Z
Basic Heavy Cruiser Z
Tankette Z

Part 4 - Domestic Policy
The UK is:

Spoiler

5/5 Democratic
+10 DoW Dissent (See Interventionism for final score.)
-5 Partisan Activity (whatever this means)
+20 Consumer Goods Demand (See Intervention for final score.)

3/5 Right Wing, -1 from last year
This makes the UK Market Liberal.

5/5 Open Society
+40 Dissent in National Provinces (whatever this means)
-40 Dissent in Occupied Provinces (whatever this means)
-40 Counter Intelligence Penalty (whatever this means)
+10 Dissent Growth (whatever this means)
+20 Tech Team Salary (See Free Market for Final Score.)

4/5 Free Market, +1 from last year
+30 Money from Consumer Goods (It should be 0.30 total.)
-15 Production Time and Cost (Our Domestic Policy Multiplier is 0.85.)
+20 Tech Team Salary (It is now 0.28 per Skill Point.)
-20 Upgrade Time and Cost (It is now 1.20.)
+16 Consumer Goods Demand (0.2 x 1.4 x 0.65 x 1.86 = 0.33852)

2/5 Standing Army
+5 Manpower Experience
-4 Gearing Bonus (Maximum is 31% discount. So serial units cost 1.0, 0.95, 0.9, 0.85, 0.80, 0.75, 0.70, 0.69 in per unit time. We will go into more detail on this.)
+4 Unit Organization
+40 Upgrade Time and Cost (Running Total +25)

2/5 Dove Lobby, -1 from last year
+20 Money from Consumer Goods (0.20 x 1.5 = 0.30.)
+4 Dissent Growth
-4 Manpower Growth

2/5 Interventionism, +1 from last year
-10 Diplomatic Action Cost Adjustment
-20 Bad Relations Normalization
+3.3 DoW Dissent (Total 14.4)
+40 Consumer Goods Demand (1.76 from Domestic policy)

Part 5 - Cabinet

Spoiler

Head of State - King George VI, Benevolent Gentleman
-5 Consumer Demand
-10 Dissent Growth
+20 Belligerence to DoW

Head of Government - Neville Chamberlain, Naive Optimist
-10 Consumer Demand
+10 Belligerence to DoW

Foreign Minister - Anthony Eden, Ideological Crusader
67 USD to Influence Nation
8 USD to Open Negotiations
We have some plans to take advantage of this discount and we need every USD we can keep.
Alternative Ernest Bevin, Cloak and Dagger Schemer

Armaments Minister - Sir John Simon, Resource Industrialist
+5 IC
+10 Industrial Research
Alternatives:
Neville Chamberlain, Laissez Fair Captalist
Huge Dalton, Resource Industrialist
Lesly Hore-Belisha, Infantry Proponent
Sir Thomas Inskip, Air Superiority Proponent
Alfred Duff Cooper, Battlefleet Proponent

Minister of Security - Sir John Simon, Crime Fighter
-10 Consumer Demand (-35 total)
Alternatives:
Sir Austen Chamberlain, Efficient Sociopath (-10 Manpower, +10 Foreign IC Use)
Viscount Templewood, Man of the People
Herbert Morrison, Man of the People

Head of Intelligence - SP James, Industrial Specialist
+5 IC
Alternates:
Sir Hugh Sinclair, Logistical Specialist
Lord Cecil of Chelwood, Industrial Specialist
Brendan Bracken, Political Specialist
William Gallacher, Industrial Specialist

Chief of Staff - Sir A Montgomery Massingberd, School of Fire Support
+5 Artillery and Armor Research
-5 Construction to Artillery and Rocket Artillery, Regular and Self Propelled
Alternatives:
Sir Cyril Deverell - Fortifications
Lord John Gort - School of Maneuver
Sir Lionel Ismay, School of Fire Support

Chief of the Army - Sir Cyrill Deverall, Guns and Butter Doctrine
-15 Supply Consumption
Alternatives:
Sir A Montgomery-Massingberd, Static Defense
Lord John Gort, Armored Spearhead
Sir John Dill, Elastic Defense

Chief of the Navy - Sir Ernle Chatfield, Decisive Battle Doctrine
+5 Offensive Combat Bonus to Battleships, Battlecruisers, Heavy Cruisers, Light Cruisers
-10 Offensive Combat to Aircraft Carriers
Alternatives:
Sir Roger Backhouse, Indirect Approach Doctrine
Sir Dudley Pound, Decisive Battle Doctrine
Sir Barry E Domville, Power Projection Doctrine
Fred Copeman, Indirect Approach Doctrine

Chief of the Air Force - Sir Owen Boyd, Air Superiority Doctrine
+5 Combat Bonus to Fighters and Interceptors
-5 Construction Bonus to Fighters and Interceptors
+10 Construction Penalty to Strategic Bombers and Naval Bombers
Alternatives:
Sir Cyril Newall, Air Superiority Doctrine
John Stachey, Carpet Bombing Doctrine
Sir Hugh Dowding, Air Superiority Doctrine

Part 6 - 1937 Research Projects

Spoiler

1936 Projects we skipped:
1. Basic Air Transport (Aircraft, 8, 8, 6, 8, 16 which is very likely 2x8)
2. Rocket Test and Research Facility (Industrial 7, 7, 7, 7, 14 which is very likely 2x7)

We will add these projects:
1. Rear Area Vehicle Repair Shop (B) (Infantry 5, 5, 5, 5, 5)
2. Basic CAS (Aircraft 8, 8, 8, 8, 16)
3. Basic Interceptor (Aircraft 8, 8, 6, 8,, 16)
4. Basic Escort Fighter (Aircraft 8, 8, 6, 8, 16)
5. Basic Encryption Device (Industrial 5x7)
6. Operational Destruction Doctrine (Air Doctrine 5x3)
7. Dive Bombing Doctrine (Air Doctrine 5x3)

Priorities are being chosen and will continue to be chosen in this year.

Part 7 - Production Budget

Spoiler

4.55 Infantry 1936 5/99 - February 19, 1937 /June 8, 1949
3.83 Transport 5/99 - February 19, 1937 / June 8, 1949
1.53 Tribal Class Destroyer 3 2/99 - January 11, 1937 / October 27, 1956
4.59 Southampton Class Light Cruiser 4 0/99 - February 14, 1937 / January 21, 1969
8.67 Interceptor 2 Hawker Hurricane 0/99 - April 12, 1937 / October 23, 1957
4.59 HMS Ark Royal - June 19, 1938
2.55 Ark Royal CAS - June 6, 1936
30.31 Total - It took us the entire year to balance this budget and we now have a surplus of 2.46.

Part 8 - Land Force Comparison

Spoiler

148 USSR - 106 Infantry, 5 Cavalry, 15 Motor, 5 Armor, 11 Mountain, 5 Garrison, 1 HQ
+12 total - 6 Infantry, 1 Armor, 5 Garrison

110 Japan - 44 Infantry, 6 Cavalry, 41 Garrison, 16 Militia, 3 HQ
+45 Total - 19 Infantry, 10 Garrison, 16 Militia

62 UK - 23 Infantry, 29 Garrison, 9 Militia, 1 HQ
+5 Infantry

60 France - 46 Infantry, 4 Cavalry, 4 Armor, 4 Mountain, 2 Militia
+10 Infantry, 2 Armor

59 Poland - 47 Infantry, 9 Cavalry, 2 Mountain, 1 Militia
+7 Infantry, 5 Cavalry

59 China - 43 Infantry 5 Cavalry, 1 Garrison, 10 Militia
+11 Infantry, 5 Cavalry, 1 Militia

58 Italy - 36 Infantry, 3 Cavalry, 5 Mountain, 3 Garrison, 10 Militia, 1 HQ
+5 Infantry, 3 Garrison

54 Germany - 39 Infantry, 5 Armor, 8 Garrison, 2 HQ
+3 Infantry, +2 Armor, +8 Garrison, +1 HQ

It looks like we are being out built all right!

Part 9 - Navy Comparison

Spoiler

131 UK - 6 Carriers, 12 Battleships, 3 Battlecruisers, 16 Heavy Cruisers, 30 Light Cruisers, 36 Destroyers, 10 Submarines, 18 Transports
+4 Destroyers, +1 Submarine, +5 Transport

120 USA - 4 Carriers, 15 Battleships, 16 Heavy Cruisers, 12 Light Cruisers, 31 Destroyers, 18 Submarines, 24 Transports
+1 Carrier, +1 Heavy Cruiser, +2 Light Cruisers, +3 Destroyers, +1 Submarine

97 Japan - 4 Carriers, 6 Battleships, 4 Battlecruisers, 14 Heavy Cruisers, 21 Light Cruisers, 20 Destroyers, 8 Submarines, 20 Transports
This appears identical to 1936.

67 Italy - 4 Battleships, 8 Heavy Cruisers, 13 Light Cruisers, 22 Destroyers, 12 Submarines, 8 Transports
+1 Light Cruiser, +4 Destroyers, +1 Submarine, +2 Transports

57 France - 1 Carrier, 6 Battleships, 7 Heavy Cruisers, 7 Light Cruisers, 14 Destroyers, 15 Submarines, 7 Transports
+3 Destroyers

38 USSR - 3 Battleships, 1 Heavy Cruiser, 3 Light Cruisers, 6 Destroyers, 24 Submarines, 1 Transports
+3 Destroyers

34 Germany - 2 Battlecruisers, 3 Heavy Cruisers, 6 Light Cruisers, 6 Destroyers, 10 Submarines, 7 Transports
+1 Heavy Cruiser, +2 Destroyers, +7 Submarines, +7 Transports

Part 10 - Air Force Comparison

Spoiler

17 Germany - 7 Interceptor + 10 Tactical Bombers
+4 Interceptors, +2 Tactical Bombers

16 Japan - 5 Interceptors, 6 Tactical, 5 Naval Bombers
+1 Interceptor, +1 Tactical, +3 Naval Bombers

15 Italy - 7 Interceptors, 3 Tactical, 4 Naval Bombers, 1 Transport
+2 Interceptors, +2 Naval Bombers

13 USSR - 8 Interceptors, 5 Tactical Bombers +1 Tactical Bomber
11 UK - 3 Interceptors, 3 Strategic, 5 Tactical Bombers
9 USA - 4 Interceptors, 1 Strategic, 4 Tactical Bombers +2 Interceptors
9 France - 3 Interceptors, 6 Tactical Bombers +1 Tactical Bomber

1937 Outlook
We do not foresee any changes in minsters. Our Cabinet looks okay for now.

We will be running 35% production until we get Improved Machine Tools. Then we will run 40% production. That will get us from 51 to 59. Based on this, we should have added another production project, maybe even a Battleship.

We lean towards another shift towards Free Market, but might check the Events File first. We do not plan to add any projects this year and therefore Free Market might not do us any good. We will check the random events and see if there is any help in that direction. We might consider Intervention instead.

 

[Riel Hamard]

Challenge Accepted VH UK Run Session 3 - July, 1937 - War Breaks Out Between China and Japan

January 1, 1936 - We had the opportunity to shift our Domestic Policy once again and we shifted it to 5/5 Free Market once again.
+40 Money (+60 Total, 0.32)
-20 Production Time and Cost
-25 Upgrade Time and Cost (+15 Total, 1.15)
+20 Consumer Demand (+80 Total, 0.2 x 1.4 x 0.75 x 1.8 = 0.378)

We don't have any minister changes. However, we did have to go back to our Production and adjust our Consumer Slider. It appears we have 2.04 production left over We should start working on some of those Upgrades - Or we can try leaving all of it to 1939 and gamble that we can make it. This might actually be a valid strategy.

Our Research Budget is almost $6.29. and that is almost enough to support a third Research Team.

January 29, 1937 - Germany, Italy, and Japan signed the Anti-Commie Pact.
February 7, 1937 - 416 Supplies bought the Blueprints for Basic Encryption Device and Dive Bombing Doctrine from France. We will continue to work on projects with Blueprints where we can. We might run out when we get to aircraft.

March 18, 1937 - Sir Austen Chamberlain died.

April 10, 1937 - Our Law Policy came under attack by the Loyal Opposition. Options appear to be:
Ride the storm and take a 10 point hit. That takes our production from 58 to 44. This will leave 27.43 for our ongoing projects.
Work with the Social Liberals and take a 4 point hit. We will move one point towards Central Planning
Work with the Conservatives and take a 5 point hit. We will move one point towards Political Right and one point towards Standing Army.
Revise the Policy and move 2 towards Closed Society.

Spoiler

We decide to work with the Conservatives. The effects are:
Dissent: 5.0%
Political Right 4/5 - We remain Market Liberal.
Standing Army 3/5
+10 Manpower Experience
-6 Gearing Bonus - This might affect our Infantry and Transport builds.
+6 Unit Organization
The move towards Closed Society would have reduced our income and expenses slightly. However, we saw the Standing Army as a free move we were likely to make later when the opportunity arises.

June 7, 1937 - The Marco Polo Bridge Incident - Japan is now at war with China. By June 20, the Chinese have forged a unified front. The very next day, the Commies left their alliance to stake out on their own. We will see what happens as a result.

Spoiler

Production:

Spoiler

January 12, 1937 - Destroyer 3.03 35th Destroyer Flotilla
February 15, 1937 - Light Cruiser 4.01 HMS Penelope
February 20, 1937 - Transport 19 Fort Dunvegan Flotilla
February 20, 1937 - Infantry 24 18th Infantry Division
April 8, 1937 - Transport 20 Durham Flotilla
April 8, 1937 - Infantry 25 23rd Northumbrian Division
With 7 units produced, we should be producing 1 Infantry and 1 Transport every 47 or 48 days. The Tooltip is currently showing 47 days.

April 12, 1937 - Interceptor 4 No 14 RAF Fighter Group
April 13, 1937 - Destroyer 3.04 36th Destroyer Flotilla
May 28, 1937 - Transport 21 Nieuw Amsterdam Flotilla
May 28, 1937 - Infantry 26 38th Welsh Division

Promotions:
May 28, 1937 - We promoted Sir Edmund Ironside to Field Marshall. He is now Skill Level 1 Logistics Specialist.

Technology:

Spoiler

January 29, 1937 - Project 37-01 Improved Machine Tools
Time: 69 Days (Our first estimate was way off. Second estimate was 70 days.)
Cost: $176.67

February 7, 1937 - Project 37-02 Battlefield Destruction Doctrine
Time: 56 Days (Our estimate was exact this time.)
Cost: $238.32

March 25, 1937 - Project 37-04 Operational Destruction Doctrine
Time: 56 days (Our estimate was exact.)
Cost: $97.44

April 2, 1937 - Project 37-05 Basic Encryption Devices
Time: 55 Days (Our estimate of 60 days appears to have been missing a 10% Minister Bonus.)
Cost: $143.55

April 4, 1937 - Project 37-03 Rear Area Vehicle Repair Shop
Time: 65 Days (We were right on this time.)
Cost: $131.95

May 14, 1937 - Project 37-06 Dive Bombing Doctrine
Time: 49 Days (We were exact again.)
Cost: $113.68

Projects:

Spoiler

37-03 Rear Area Vehicle Repair Shop
Start: 37.01.29
Vauxhall, Skill 7, $2.03
5 Mechanics - Bulky Tools
5 Mechanics - Standardized Repair Capacity
5 Technical Efficiency - Basic Vehicle Repair
5 Technical Efficiency - Basic Gun Repair
5 Management - Work Task Requisition System
Time Estimate: 65 Days

37-04 Operational Destruction Doctrine
Start: 37.01.29
Charles Portal, Skill 6, $1.74
3 General Equipment - Armor Penetration Bombs
3 Bomber Tactics - Carpet Bombing
3 Aircraft Testing - Bombing Practice
3 Centralized Execution - Early Air Campaign Management
3 Aeronautics - Medium Bomb Bays
Time Estimate: 56 Days

37-05 Basic Encryption Device
Start: 37.02.07
Alan Turing, Skill 9, $2.61
7 Mechanics - Keyboard
7 Electronics - Portable Battery
7 Mechanics - 3 Rotor System
7 Mechanics - Basic Reflector
7 Mathematics - Basic Code
Time Estimate: 60 Days

37-06 Dive Bombing Doctrine
Start: 37.03.25
Hugh Dowding, Skill 8, $2.32
3 Aircraft Testing - Early Precision Bomb Runs
3 Combined Arms Focus - Offensive Air Support
3 Aeronautics - Diving Ability
3 Aircraft Testing - Diving Training
3 Piloting - Close Air Support Spirit
Time Estimate: 49 Days

37-07 Basic Interceptor
Start: 37.04.02
de Havilland, Skill 7, $2.03
8 Aeronautics - Basic Short Range Engine
8 Aeronautics - Basic Interceptor Airframe
6 Artillery - 7.62mm MG
8 Electronics - Basic dm Airborne Interceptor Radar
16 Technical Efficiency - Basic Interceptor Prototype Test
Time Estimate: 192 Days - It's kind of horrible without somebody's Blueprints!

37-08 Basic Close Air Support Aircraft
Start: 37.04.04
Avro, Skill 6, $1.74
8 Aeronautics - Basic Short Range Bomber Engine
8 Aeronautics - Basic Light Bomber Airframe
8 Chemistry - Dive Drop Bomb Shells
8 Electronics - Advanced Radio Navigation
16 Technical Efficiency - Basic Light Bomber Prototype Test
Time Estimate: Also 192 Days

37-09 Basic Escort Fighter
Start: 37.05.14
Vickers Armstrong, Skill 8, $2.32
8 Aeronautics - Basic Long Range Engine
8 Aeronautics - Basic Escort Fighter Airframe
6 Artillery - 7.26mm MG
8 Electronics - Basic dm Airborne Interceptor Radar
16 Technical Efficiency - Basic Escort Fighter Prototype Test

We will leave this off on July 1, 1937. Checking the available 1937 research projects we have not started:
Basic Air Transport
Rocket Test and Research Facility
We believe we will need neither of them and we might do well to wait for Blueprints.

Here is a look at the Spanish Civil War:

Spoiler

It might be bad luck to say it, but the situation is looking hopeful we come home triumphant.

 

[TheExecuter]

-30 to Organization - Ouch. However I was looking around our troops and do not see a difference

This is actually good in a situation where you have low manpower...it forces you only to fight where you will win.

-10 to Combat - This is also ouch. It might not be as bad as in HoI1. We will have to be more careful in how we choose our combat.

This hurts until you have good tech...

-10 to Move Speed - The ouch continues. This means we will constantly be outmaneuvered and losing foot races.

This is the painful one.

Can you abandon army doctrine and choose another like you can in Darkest Hour?

 

[Riel Hamard]

This is actually good in a situation where you have low manpower...it forces you only to fight where you will win.



This hurts until you have good tech...



This is the painful one.

Can you abandon army doctrine and choose another like you can in Darkest Hour?

No luck on changing doctrine. We are stuck with the Grand Battle Plan.

Spoiler

It's hard for me to really tell the differences between the doctrines, why one might be better. I understand in 1942, we have a choice between:
Infiltration Assault
Attritional Containment
Operational Stages

It looks like there are 7 combat events and they start with 1% probability each. Most likely these are non-events, but we can try to count them, anyway. Next up is accumulated discounts. It might be an idea to check up to 1940, because that's probably when the main part of our army is built.

 

[TheExecuter]

No luck on changing doctrine. We are stuck with the Grand Battle Plan.

Spoiler

View attachment 1221091

It's hard for me to really tell the differences between the doctrines, why one might be better. I understand in 1942, we have a choice between:
Infiltration Assault
Attritional Containment
Operational Stages

It looks like there are 7 combat events and they start with 1% probability each. Most likely these are non-events, but we can try to count them, anyway. Next up is accumulated discounts. It might be an idea to check up to 1940, because that's probably when the main part of our army is built.

I haven't played Hoi2 in a while, been mostly playing Darkest Hour instead. In DH, Grand Battle Plan is definitely a weak tree. You either want the German one for speed or the superior firepower one.

That said, the events aren't the important thing...it's the effects on combat effectiveness and unit speed that are the big things, if I remember rightly.

 

[Riel Hamard]

Challenge Accepted VH UK Session 4

July 12, 1937 - USA passed the Pitman Act.
July 24, 1937 - Japan reorganized Inner Mongolia and established a Puppet in China.
August 17, 1937 - China must really dislike the Commies. They said no to Soviet Assistance and Operation Nyet.

Production:

Spoiler

July 9, 1937 - Destroyer 4.05 37th Destroyer Flotilla
July 17, 1937 - Transport 22 Strathenden Flotilla
July 17, 1937 - Infantry 27 42nd East Lancashire Division
July 24, 1937 - Light Cruiser 4.02 HMS Aurora
July 25, 1937 - Interceptor 5 No 10 RAF Fighter Group
September 6, 1937 - Transport 23 Fort Edmonton Flotilla
September 6, 1937 - Infantry 28 43rd Wessex Division
September 20, 1937 - In a stroke of brilliant planning, the Ark Royal CAG was produced an entire year ahead of time.
September 29, 1937 - Destroyer 4.06 38th Destroyer Flotilla
October 15, 1937 - Transport 24 Lars Bay Flotilla
October 15, 1937 - Infantry 29 44th Home Counties
November 2, 1937 - Interceptor 6 No 207 RAF Fighter Group

Here I made an economic calculation. The cost to build an Interceptor 3 is:
9.88 = 13.00 x 0.95 x 0.80
114 = 150 x 0.95 x 0.80
1126.32 = 114 x 9.88
Our next Interceptor 2 will be ready in 92 days.
797.64 = 92 x 8.67
328.68 is our saving. Upgrading costs:
5.187 = 9.88 x 0.5 x 1.05
30 = 114 x 0.25 x 1.05
155.61 = 30 x 5.187
So we save, because we do not plant to build too many more Hurricanes before we shift to Spitfires.

December 14, 1937 - Transport 25 Fort Langley Flotilla
December 14, 1937 - Infantry 30 45th Infantry Division
December 15, 1937 - Destroyer 4.07 39th Destroyer Flotilla
December 26, 1937 - Light Cruiser 4.03 HMS Southampton

Upgrades:

Spoiler

July 28, 1937 - British Army HQ upgraded to 1939
August 14, 1937 - 1/2 Early Artillery upgraded
August 18, 1937 - 1/18 Infantry upgraded to 1936 - This is going to be a long haul.
August 26, 1937 - 2/18 Infantry upgraded
September 7, 1937 - 3/18 Infantry upgraded
September 13, 1937 - 4/18 Infantry upgraded
September 23, 1937 - 5/18 Infantry upgraded
October 1, 1937 - 6/18 Infantry upgraded
October 8, 1937 - 7/18 Infantry upgraded
October 12, 1937 - 8/18 Infantry upgraded
October 18, 1937 - 9/18 Infantry upgraded
October 26, 1937 - 10/18 Infantry upgraded
November 1, 1937- 11/18 Infantry upgraded
November 6, 1937 - 12/18 Infantry upgraded
November 13, 1937 - 13/18 Infantry upgraded
November 20, 1937 - 14/18 Infantry upgraded
November 20, 1937 - 2/2 Early Artillery upgraded - Now the ancient artillery in the African Militia.
November 30, 1937 - 15/18 Infantry upgraded
December 7, 1937 - 16/18 Infantry upgraded
December 10, 1937 - 17/18 Infantry upgraded
December 17, 1937 - 18/18 Infantry upgraded to 1936

Promotions:
August 6, 1937 - Field Marshall Cassels, Skill 0 Old Guard Logistics Specialist
September 29, 1937 - Grand Admiral "Penny Wise" Pound, Skill 1 Old Guard Tactician

Projects:

Spoiler

38-01 Improved Computing Machine
Start: 37.10.13
Robert Watson Watt, Skill 7, $2.03
8 Mathematics - Machine Code
8 Electronics - Control and Arithmetic Unit
8 Electronics - Data Storage Relays
8 Mechanics - Punch Tape and Reader
16 Management - Improved Computing Machine Prototype Test
Lazy Estimate: 105 Days - We are early, but also have a bonus to Industrial Research and I assumed they cancel, but the Bonus should be bigger.

38-02 Advanced Machine Tools
Start: 37.10.15
Anglo Iranian Oil Company, Skill 9, $2.61
7 Chemistry - Industrial Diamonds
7 Industrial Engineering - Automation
7 Industrial - Advanced Welding Techniques
8 Industrial - Very High Speed Performance
18 Industrial - Advanced Machine Tools Development Process
Lazy Estimate: 77 Days

38-03 Improved Destroyer
Start: 37.11.18
John Brown and Company, Skill 6, $1.74
5 Naval Engineering - Improved Destroyer Hull
5 Naval Engineering - Improved Destroyer Propulsion
5 Naval Artillery - 120mm Naval Gun
5 Electronics - Improved ASW Equipment
10 Technical Efficiency - Improved Destroyer Prototype Test
Lazy Estimate: 110 Days - We start with a 6.45% penalty and will pick up a research bonus later.

38-04 Basic Light Tank
Start: 37.12.28
Vauxhall, Skill 7, $2.03
5 Mechanics - Light Welded Armor
5 Artillery - 20mm Tank Gun
5 Mechanics - Basic Light Engine
5 Electronics - Basic Optical Sight
10 Technical Efficiency - Basic Light Tank Prototype Test
Lazy Estimate: 70 Days
We would like to get this in by March.

Technology:

Spoiler

October 13, 1937 - Project 37-07 Basic Interceptor
Time: 191 Days (Our estimate was 192 Days.)
Cost: $387.73 - This was a big project for us.
The Aussies beat us to it by a few weeks or so.

October 15, 1937 - Project 37-08 Basic Close Air Support Aircraft
Time: 191 Days (Our estimate was again 192 Days.)
Cost: $332.34

November 18, 1937 - Project 37-09 Basic Escort Fighter
Time: 184 Days (This time our estimate was exact.)
Cost: $426.88 - This seems like a lot of money for a unit we might never build.

December 28, 1937 - Project 38-02 Advanced Machine Tools
Time: 73 Days (Our Lazy Estimate was 77 Days.)
Cost: $190.53

We muddled through another year, albeit at a breakneck pace. It is not likely I will get a good summary of the year tonight. That will have to be tomorrow and I might play again on Wednesday. Our resources are stable, but barely. Our Industry is running at 45%, which is a lot less than the 85% we would be running at Normal level. We seem to be getting some stuff down.

Our Infantry is now organized as:
1 Stack of 12 in India.
1 Stack of 2 in the Middle East.
1 Stack of 11 in the UK with the British Army HQ.
1 Stack of 5 in the UK we are building.

Our main Navy is organized as:
30 in the Home Fleet
21 in a Carrier Task Force
We have minor task forces still scattered around the world and we might bring some in before the war.

Here is a look at the war in China:

Spoiler

Isn't there supposed to be an event that triggers when the Japanese take Nanjing? Apparently it has not happened yet. I thought this normally happens in 1937. Here is a look at the Spanish Civil War:

Spoiler

It still looks hopeful for the Republicans Commies.

 

[Riel Hamard]

Challenge Accepted VH UK Run - Start of 1938 Summary

Allied Research Projects:
Battlefleet Concentration Doctrine - France, 1939
Basic Infantry Division - France, 1939
Basic Mountain Division - France, 1939
Basic Motorized Division - France, 1939
Production Control - France, 1939

Short Range Submarine - Canada
Basic Heavy Cruiser - Canada
Advanced Machine Tools - Australia
Advanced Construction Engineering - Australia
Great War Light Cruiser - South Africa
Basic Light Cruiser - New Zealand

It looks like France is researching some of the 1939 stuff already and skipped a bunch of 1938.

Priority 1938 Projects:
Basic Field Artillery
Improved Aircraft Carrier
Long Range Submarine
Basic Tactical Bomber
Basic Fighter
Advanced Construction Engineering
Basic Decryption Device
Battlefield Interdiction Doctrine
Strafing Doctrine
Logistical Strike Doctrine
Escort Box System Doctrine

Low Priority 1938 Projects:
Early Tank Destroyer
Basic AT Artillery
Basic Heavy Tank
Basic Static AA Artillery
Improved Battlecruiser
Improved Heavy Cruiser
Super Heavy Battleship
Direct Ground Support Doctrine
Bomber Veteran Initiative

We should be able to work our way up to 5 Research Teams and there is quite a bit of Doctrine to work through.

Land Force Comparison:
176 Japan - 80 Infantry, 8 Cavalry, 44 Garrison, 42 Militia, 2 HQ
173 USSR - 122 Infantry, 5 Cavalry, 19 Motor, 6 Light, 2 Armor, 11 Mountain, 7 Garrison, 1 HQ
132 China - 107 Infantry, 14 Cavalry, 11 Militia
108 Germany - 87 Infantry, 5 Light Armor, 14 Garrison, 2 HQ
74 France - 58 Infantry, 4 Cavalry, 2 Light, 4 Armor, 4 Mountain, 2 HQ
69 UK - 30 Infantry, 29 Garrison, 9 Militia, 1 HQ
68 Poland - 56 Infantry, 9 Cavalry, 2 Mountain, 1 HQ
67 Italy - 45 Infantry, 3 Cavalry, 5 Mountain, 3 Garrison, 10 Militia, 1 HQ

Navy Comparison:
146 UK - 6 Carriers, 12 Battleships, 3 Battlecruisers, 6 Heavy Cruisers, 33 Light Cruisers, 41 Destroyers, 10 Submarines, 25 Transports
139 USA - 4 Carriers, 15 Battleships, 17 Heavy Cruisers, 18 Light Cruisers, 39 Destroyers, 18 Submarines, 28 Transports
97 Japan - 4 Carriers, 6 Battleships, 4 Battlecruisers, 14 Heavy Cruisers, 21 Light Cruisers, 20 Destroyers, 8 Submarines, 20 Transports
79 Italy - 4 Battleships, 8 Heavy Cruisers, 15 Light Cruisers, 29 Destroyers, 12 Submarines, 11 Transports
60 France - 1 Carrier, 6 Battleships, 1 Battlecruiser, 7 Heavy Cruiser, 7 Light Cruisers, 16 Destroyers, 15 Submarines, 7 Transports
49 Germany - 2 Battlecruisers, 5 Heavy Cruisers, 6 Light Cruisers, 8 Destroyers, 18 Submarines, 10 Transports
40 USSR - 3 Battleships, 1 Heavy Cruisers, 3 Light Cruisers, 7 Destroyers, 25 Submarines, 1 Transport

Air Force Comparison:
21 Germany - 7 Interceptor, 4 CAS, 10 Tactical Bombers
19 Japan - 5 Interceptor, 8 Tactical, 6 Naval Bombers
18 USSR - 10 Interceptors, 8 Tactical Bombers
18 Italy - 8 Interceptors, 3 Tactical, 6 Naval Bombers, 1 Transport Plane
14 UK - 6 Interceptors, 5 Tactical, 3 Strategic Bombers
13 USA - 6 Interceptors, 6 Tactical, 1 Strategic Bombers
10 France - 3 Interceptors, 7 Tactical Bombers
8 Poland - 2 Interceptors, 6 Tactical Bombers

 

[Riel Hamard]

Challenge Accepted VH UK Run Session 5 - Anchluss of Austria

January 1, 1938 - The big decision for the year is another policy shift.
4/5 Standing Army
15 Manpower Experience - We shall see what this does for us
-8 Gearing Bonus (73% maximum) - This will affect our Infantry, Transport, and Destroyer runs immediately.
+8 Unit Organization Bonus
+20 Upgrade Time and Cost (0.95 Total)

We have a Man of the People Minister available, but we will continue to work with Sir John Simon the Crime Fighter.

January 30, 1938 - Anthony Eden resigned from office. We are probably better off choosing NO for an answer, but we will roleplay for a while - or maybe take a 2% Dissent hit later.

Spoiler

We are now stuck with Lord Halifax, Apologetic Clerk. Negotiations with our Allies will now cost $26 and we paid this right away sending Blueprints to Australia. In another run, we might have the foresight to send all the Blueprints we know before this happens.

February 3, 1938 - In an act of defiance, Germany said NO to the retirement of Werner Von Fritsch.
March 2, 1938 - The USSR did not defy history. They decided to purge the traitors in the Great Officer Purge.

March 25, 1938 - The Anchluss of Austria. France and UK gear up for war again. We are now 1/5 Dove Lobby and 55% Production.

Spoiler

April 27, 1938 - We got yet another Rogue Politician, our third. At least they are harmless.

Spoiler

Production:
February 4, 1938 - Interceptor 7, No 211 RAF Fighter Group
February 12, 1938 - Transport 26 King Ethelred Flotilla
February 12, 1938 - Infantry 31 46th North Midlands Division
March 5, 1938 - Destroyer 4.08 40th Destroyer Flotilla
April 3, 1938 - Transport 27 Henry VIII Flotilla
April 3, 1938 - Infantry 32 47th London Division

New Production Lines:
2.40 = 3.00 x 0.8 Destroyer 4 Battle Class
Time 0.8 x 140 = 112 Days

Upgrades:

Spoiler

January 6, 1938 - 1/6 Hawker Hurricanes upgraded to Mark II
January 17, 1938 - 2/6 Hawker Hurricanes upgraded
January 28, 1938 - 3/6 Hawker Hurricanes upgraded
February 13, 1938 - 1/5 Tactical Bombers upgraded to Handley Page Hamden
February 17, 1938 - 4/7 Hawker Hurricanes upgraded
February 27, 1938 - 2/5 Tactical Bombers upgraded
March 1, 1938 - 5/7 Hawker Hurricanes upgraded
March 5, 1938 - 6/7 Hawker Hurricanes upgraded
March 9, 1938 - 7/7 Hawker Hurricanes upgraded
March 17, 1938 - Hawker Hurricane upgraded - Maybe I should have checked carefully the model. 1/3.
April 3, 1938 - 2/3 Hawker Hurricane upgraded
April 8, 1938 - This time all Hawker Hurricanes upgraded, except the one in production.
April 23, 1938 - 3/5 Tactical Bombers upgraded
May 1, 1938 - All Artillery upgraded to Early Artillery.

Projects:

Spoiler

38-05 Basic Fighter
Start: 37.01.02
Supermarine, Skill 9, $2.61
8 Aeronautics - Basic Medium Range Engine
8 Aeronautics - Basic Fighter Airframe
6 Artillery - 7.62mm MG
8 Electronics - Basic dm Airborne Fighter Radar
16 Technical Efficiency - Basic Fighter Prototype Tests
Lazy Estimate: 165 Days

38-06 Direct Ground Support Doctrine
Start: 37.01.21
Royal Small Arms Factory
3 Combined Arms Focus - Early Front Line Air Controllers
3 Bomber Tactics - Combat Support Patrols
3 Piloting - Emergency Service Spirit
3 Mechanics - Early Specialized Bombsight
3 General Supplies - Basic Ground Attack Ordinance
Estimate: 64 Days

38-07 Advanced Construction Engineering
Start: 37.01.21
English Electric Company, Skill 8, $2.32
7 Industrial Engineering - Advanced Standardization
7 Management - Advanced Quality Control
7 Industrial Engineering - Advanced Reliability Engineering
8 Industrial Engineering - Advanced Test Planning
18 Industrial Engineering - Advanced Construction Engineering Development Process
Estimate: 71 Days

38-08 Long Range Submarine
Start: 38.03.06
Cammel Laird and Company
5 Naval Engineering - Advanced Pressure Hull
5 Naval Engineering - Basic Schnorkel
5 General Supplies - Large Fuel Tank Design
5 Electronics - Advanced Torpedo Chamber (Electric, too!)
10 Technical Efficiency - Long Range Submarine Prototype Test
Estimate: 114 Days

38-09 Basic Field Artillery
Start: 38.03.22
Royal Small Arms Factory, Skill 6, $1.74
3 Artillery - 105mm Field Artillery Gun
3 Mechanics - Basic Gun Carriage
3 Chemistry - Fragmentation Shells
3 Electronics - Basic Fire Control
3 Training - Rapid Crawling Fire Training
Estimate: 90 Days

38-10 Improved Air Carrier
Start: 38.03.29
Harland and Wolff, Skill 8, $2.32
7 Naval Engineering - Improved Air Carrier Hull
7 Naval Engineering - Improved Air Carrier Propulsion
7 Aeronautics - Armored Straight Flight Deck
7 Electronics - Improved Carrier Air Group
14 Technical Efficiency - Improved Air Carrier Prototype Test
Estimate: 167 Days

Technology:

Spoiler

January 21, 1938 - Project 38-01 Improved Computing Machine
Time: 105 Days (Our Lazy Estimate was 108 Days.)
Cost: $219.24

March 6, 1938 - Project 38-04 Basic Light Tank
Time: 68 Days (Our Lazy Estimate was 70 Days.)
Cost: $138.04

March 22, 1938 - Project 38-06 Direct Ground Support Doctrine
Time: 61 days
Cost: $106.14

March 29, 1938 - Project 38-03 Improved Destroyer
Time: 129 Days (Our Lazy Estimate of 110 Days was off because we missed a Electronics / Impedance mismatch.)
Cost: $224.46

April 2, 1938 - Project 38-07 Advanced Construction Engineering
Time: 71 Days (Our Estimate was exact.)
Cost: $164.72

 

[Riel Hamard]

Challenge Accepted VH UK Run Session 6 - There Will be Peace in our Time

September 19, 1938 - Constitutional Policy Attacked by Opposition.

Spoiler

We cave to the Extremists. We are now Social Conservative
3/5 Open Society
3/5 Democratic
+7.8 DoW Dissent
-3.0 Partisan Activity
+12.0 Consumer Demand
+20 Dissent in National Provinces
-20 Dissent in Occupied Provinces
+6 Dissent Growth
+12 Tech Team Salary (0.24)

September 30, 1938 - There Will be Peace in Our Time

Spoiler

Gearing up for War 3/5 - Peacetime Penalty 20%
Hawk Lobby 1/5 - No more bonus from Consumer Goods

Production:

Spoiler

May 18, 1938 - Light Cruiser 4.04 HMS Newcastle
May 23, 1938 - Transport 28 The Bishops Flotilla
May 23, 1938 - Infantry 33 13th Indian Infantry
May 24, 1938 - Destroyer 3.09 41st Destroyer Flotilla - and we cut the line off here
July 13, 1938 - Transport 29 Empire of India Flotilla
July 13, 1938 - Infantry 34 14th Indian Infantry
July 21, 1938 - Interceptor 9 No 213 RAF Fighter Group - We replaced this line with Spitfires
July 22, 1938 - Destroyer 4.01 42nd Destroyer Flotilla
September 4, 1938 - Transport 30 Empire of Africa Flotilla
September 4, 1938 - 48th South Midlands Division
September 28, 1938 - Light Armor 1 1st Armored Division Royal Hussars
September 29, 1938 - Carrier 3.01 HMS Ark Royal
October 3, 1938 - Light Cruiser 4.06 HMS Sheffield
October 24, 1938 - Transport 31 Royal Caledonian Flotilla
October 24, 1938 - Infantry 36 49th West Riding Division
November 9, 1938 - Destroyer 4.02 43rd Destroyer Flotilla
November 15, 1938 - Spitfire 1 No 214 RAF Fighter Group - Now we can correct our little blunder.
December 15, 1938 - Transport 32 Samfleet Flotilla
December 15, 1938 - Infantry 37 50th Northumberland Division

New Production Lines:
16.00 Light Armor 2 Vickers
10.64 Spitfires - And we messed up the first one by forgetting to make a line and that will cost us about 327.50.
2.40 Submarine 4 A-Boat
5.60 x 584 HMS Illustrious Carrier 4.01
5.60 Heavy Cruiser 4 Surly Class

Upgrades:
May 3, 1938 - 3/5 Tactical Bombers upgraded
May 8, 1938 - 4/5 Tactical Bombers upgraded
May 15, 1938 - CAG upgraded to Sea Gladiator / Swordfish - Okay I just looked up images of Sea Gladiator. How are these going to hold up against Japanese Zeroes?
May 27, 1938 - Hawker Hurricane upgraded - and for a while we are current.
July 16, 1938 - 3/3 Basic Artillery upgraded - and we are caught up once again.
August 25, 1938 - Hawker Hurricane upgraded
October 25, 1938 - 2/7 CAG upgraded
November 2, 1938 - 3/7 CAG upgraded
November 7, 1938 - 6/7 CAG upgraded
November 9, 1938 - 7/7 CAG upgraded to what looks like a bunch of biplanes still
December 29, 1938 - AT upgraded

Promotions:
December 15, 1938 - General Adam, Skill 1 OG Logistics Specialist

Projects:

Spoiler

38-11 Basic Tactical Bomber
Start: 38.06.17
Avro, Skill 6, $1.74
8 Aeronautics - Basic Medium Range Bomber Engine
8 Aeronautics - Basic Medium Bomber Airframe
8 Chemistry - 1 Ton Freefall Bomb
8 Electronics - Advanced Radio Navigation
16 Technical Efficiency - Basic Medium Bomber Prototype Test
Estimate: 180 Days

38-12 Basic Naval Bomber
Start: 38.06.17
de Havilland, Skill , $2.03
8 Aeronautics - Basic Medium Range Bomber Engine
8 Aeronautics - Basic Medium Bomber Airframe
8 Chemistry - 1 Ton Freefall Bomb
8 Electronics - Advanced Radio Navigation
16 Technical Efficiency - Basic Medium Bomber Prototype Test
Estimate: 168 Days

38-13 Improved Heavy Cruiser
Start: 38.06.21
Harland and Wolff, Skill 6, $1.74
5 Naval Engineering - Improved Heavy Cruiser Hull
5 Naval Engineering - Improved Heavy Cruiser Propulsion
5 Naval Artillery - 200mm Naval Cruiser Gun
5 Electronics - Basic Surface Ship Homing Torpedo
10 Technical Efficiency - Improved Heavy Cruiser Prototype Test
Estimate: 147 Days

38-14 Basic Decryption Device
Start: 38.06.24
Alan Turing, Skill 9, $2.61
8 Mathematics - Identification of Message Keys
8 Mathematics - Identification of Cribs
8 Mathematics - Basic Cryptographical Mathematical Theory
8 Training - Special Decryption Teams
8 Mechanics - Basic Computing Machine Support
Estimate: 72 Days

38-15 Battlefield Interdiction Doctrine
Start: 38.08.30
Charles Portal, Skill 6, $1.74
3 Decentralized Execution - Opportunity Strike Coordination
3 Aircraft Testing - Interdiction Patrols
3 Aircraft Testing - Airborne Assault Tactics
3 Combined Arms Focus - Airborne Landing Techniques
3 Bomber Tactics - Logistical Strike Tactics
Estimate: 54 Days

38-16 Strafing Doctrine
Start: 38.09.19
Hugh Dowding, Skill 8, $2.192
3 General Supplies - Armor Penetration Ammunition
3 Aeronautics - Large Ammunition Storage
3 Aircraft Testing - Strafing Training
3 Aeronautics - Armored Fuselage
3 Piloting - Multiple Bomb Runs
Estimate: 53 Days

38-17 Logistical Strike Doctrine
Start: 38.10.24
Charles Portal, Skill 6, $1.644
3 Bomber Tactics - Logistical Hub Bombing
3 Centralized Execution - Line of Communication Interdiction
3 Aircraft Testing - Basic Precision Bombing Training
3 General Supplies - Early Airdropped Mines
3 Piloting - Area Interdiction
Estimate: 54 Days

38-18 Basic Anti-Tank Artillery
Start: 38.10.27
Royal Small Arms Factory, Skill 6
3 Artillery - 75mm AT Gun
3 Mechanics - Basic Gun Carriage
3 Chemistry - Shaped Charge HEAT Ammo
3 Electronics - Basic Optical Sights
3 Training - Moving Target Training
Estimate: 47 Days

38-19 Bomber Veteran Initiative
Start: 38.11.12
Hugh Dowding, Skill 8
3 Piloting - Moral Superiority Spirit
3 Aeronautics - Bad Weather Adaptation
3 Aircraft Testing - Specialized Bombing Training
3 Aircraft Testing - Individual Aircraft Adaption
3 Aircraft Testing - Ground Attack Tactics
Estimate: 41 Days

38-20 Early Tank Destroyer
Start: 38.12.05
Vauxhall, Skill 7
3 Artillery - 50mm AT Gun
3 Mechanics - Early Tank Chassis
3 Chemistry - Solid Shell AP Ammo
3 Electronics - Early Optical Sight
3 Technical Efficiency - Early Tank Destroyer Prototype Test
Estimate: 41 Days

39-01 Basic Infantry Division
Start: 38.12.14
Royal Small Arms Factory, Skill 6
6 General Equipment - Basic Submachinegun
6 Artillery - 75mm Infantry Gun
6 Electronics - Basic Signal Interception and Jamming
6 Artillery - 81mm Medium Mortar
6 Training - Specialist Support Training
Estimate: 63 Days

39-02 Improved Light Tank
Start: 38.12.17
Leyland, Skill 8
6 Mechanics - Light Sloped Armor
6 Artillery - 37mm Tank Gun
6 Mechanics - Improved Light Engine
6 Electronics - Improved Optical Sights
12 Technical Efficiency - Improved Light Tank Prototype Test
Estimate: 108 Days

39-03 Basic Motorized Division
Start: 38.12.18
Enfield Arsenal, Skill 7
5 General Equipment - Basic Submachinegun
5 Artillery - 75mm Infantry Gun
5 Mechanics - 1 Ton Truck
5 Artillery - 120mm Heavy Mortar
5 Training - Combined Arms Initiative Training
Estimate: 60 Days

39-04 Floating Fortress Doctrine
Start: 38.12.23
Dudley Pound, Skill 6
8 Seamanship - Advanced Task Force Fire Coordination
8 Naval Artillery - Advanced Armament
8 Seamanship - Advanced Gunnery Training
8 Seamanship - Advanced Gun Control
8 Naval Engineering - Sophisticated Capital Ship Damage Control
Estimate: 210 Days - This project sucks, but we have to do it.

Technology:

Spoiler

June 17, 1938 - Project 38-05 Basic Fighter
Time: 165 Days (I think we estimated 170 as a lazy estimate.)
Cost: $430.65

June 21, 1938 - Project 38-09 Basic Field Artillery
Time: 89 Days (Our Estimate was 90 Days.)
Cost: $154.86

June 24, 1938 - Project 38-08 Long Range Submarine
Time: 108 Days (We were pessimistic and estimated 114 Days.)
Cost: $250.56

August 30, 1938 - Project 38-14 Basic Decryption Device
Time: 66 Days (Estimate of 72 Days missed the Industrial Bonus.)
Cost: $172.26

September 14, 1938 - Project 38-10 Improved Air Carrier
Time: 165 Days (Our Estimate was 167 Days.)
Cost: $387.80

October 14, 1938 - Project 38-15 Battlefield Interdiction Doctrine
Time: 54 Days (Our estimate was exact.)
We can usually support 5 Tech Teams now and are likely to stop worrying about cost for a while.)

October 27, 1938 - Project 38-13 Improved Heavy Cruiser
Time: 126 Days (Our estimate of 147 was way off. We checked again and John Brown and Company had a perfect match instead.)

November 12, 1938 - Project 38-16 Strafing Doctrine
Time: 53 Days (Our estimate was exact.)

December 5, 1938 - Project 38-12 Basic Naval Bomber
Time: 168 Days (Our Estimate was exact.)

December 14, 1938 - Project 38-18 Basic Anti-Tank Artillery
Time: 47 Days (Our Estimate was exact.)

December 17, 1938 - Project 38-11 Basic Tactical Bomber
Time: 180 Days (Our Estimate was exact.)

December 18, 1938 - Project 38-17 Logistical Strike Doctrine
Time: 54 Days (Our Estimate was exact.)

December 23, 1938 - Project 38-19 Bomber Veteran Initiative
Time: 41 Days (Our Estimate was exact.)

This takes us all the way to 1939. We might make a brief summary and comparison or we might push up to the war tomorrow.

 

[Riel Hamard]

Challenge Accepted VH UK Run Session 7 - The End of Czechoslovakia

January 1, 1939 - We made our shift in Domestic Policy.
5/5 Standing Army
+20 Manpower Experience - We hope this turns out to be powerful.
-10 Gearing Bonus - This now maxes out at 75%. So units take 100%, 95%, 90%, 85%, 80%, 75% of the time in a serial run.
+10 Organization Bonus - This might offset the 20% penalty from Difficulty.
+10 Unit Upgrade Time and Cost - The total is now 0.9. Units will cost 45% Production and 22.5% Time to Upgrade.

March 15, 1939 - The End of Czechoslovakia.
Germany - Install Tiso in Slovakia.
Czechoslovakia - Accept the Inevitable. Slovakia is separated from Czechistan and made a German Puppet State. Czechistan is annexed into Germany. Ruthenia is ceded to Hungary.
France - Gear up for War.

Spoiler

UK - Gear up for War 4/5
2/5 Hawk Lobby
-5 Production Time and Cost - At 75% we are finally doing better than our initial builds at 76.5%.
-4 Dissent Growth
+4 Manpower Growth - Now 0.52.

March 16, 1939 - Leading Scientist Defects. We obtained the Blueprints for Basic Air Transport.

Spoiler

March 24, 1939 - Germany claimed Memel.
March 26, 1939 - Albania defied Italy and Italy DoW on Albania.
March 30, 1939 - Independence Guaranteed to Poland.

Spoiler

3/5 Interventionism
-20% Cost of Diplomatic Action
-40 to Bad Relation Normalization
+2.2 DoW Dissent
+30 Consumer Goods Demand - 28% x 75% x 1.62 = 34.02%

April 16, 1939 - Italy annexed Albania in a very quick and competently executed war. We must be in a disrupted timeline.
April 30, 1939 - We are definitely in a disrupted timeline. Nationalist China annexed Communist China and the Nanjing Incident still has not happened. Nanjing is still in Chinese Hands. The Spanish Civil War is still going.

Production:

Spoiler

January 8, 1939 - Submarine 4.01 11th Submarine Flotilla
January 26, 1939 - Armor 2 2nd Armored Division - Indeed it does start with 20 Experience.
February 9, 1939 - Light Cruiser 4.06 HMS Glasgow
February 20, 1939 - Destroyer 4.03 44th Destroyer Flotilla
February 24, 1939 - Transport 33 Samfreedom Flotilla
February 24, 1939 - Infantry 38 51st Highlands Division
March 9, 1939 - Spitfire 2 No 223 RAF Fighter Group
April 16, 1939 - Transport 34 Samfoyle Flotilla
April 16, 1939 - Infantry 39 52nd Lowland Division
May 10, 1939 - Submarine 4.02 12th Submarine Flotilla
May 18, 1939 - Armor 3 7th Armored Division
May 25, 1939 - Destroyer 4.04 45th Destroyer Flotilla
June 8, 1939 - Transport 35 Samconstant Flotilla
June 8, 1939 - Infantry 40 53rd Welsh Division
June 15, 1939 - Light Cruiser 4.07 HMS Birmingham
June 28, 1939 - Spitfire 3 No 226 RAF Fighter Group

No new production lines. We plan to replace most of these at the beginning of next year.

Upgrades:
Lots of boring text below. It looks like we still have 3 Tactical Bombers, 2 Infantry, and 29 Garrisons to upgrade.

Spoiler

January 23, 1939 - 1/5 Tactical Bombers upgraded
February 21, 1939 - 2/5 Tactical Bombers upgraded
March 14, 1939 - 2/38 Infantry upgraded - Sorry about this in advance.
March 19, 1939 - 3/38 Infantry upgraded
March 30, 1939 - 5/38 Infantry upgraded
April 1, 1939 - 6/38 Infantry upgraded
April 2, 1939 - 9/38 Infantry upgraded
April 4, 1939 - 10/38 Infantry upgraded
April 12, 1939 - 11/38 Infantry upgraded
April 16, 1939 - 14/39 Infantry upgraded
April 17, 1939 - 15/39 Infantry upgraded - Will we get it all done in time for the war?
April 18, 1939 - 17/39 Infantry upgraded
April 19, 1939 - 18/39 Infantry upgraded
April 25, 1939 - 19/39 Infantry upgraded
April 30, 1939 - 20/39 Infantry upgraded - We are half way there, maybe.
May 1, 1939 - 21/39 Infantry upgraded
May 2, 1939 - 23/39 Infantry upgraded
May 3, 1939 - 24/39 Infantry upgraded
May 4, 1939 - 26/39 Infantry upgraded
May 8, 1939 - 27/39 Infantry upgraded
May 14, 1939 - 28/39 Infantry upgraded
June 4, 1939 - 1/3 Armor upgraded
June 6, 1939 - 29/39 Infantry upgraded
June 12, 1939 - 2/3 Armor upgraded
June 14, 1939 - 30/40 Infantry upgraded
June 15, 1939 - 3/3 Armor upgraded to Stuart Mark V Light Armor
June 23, 1939 - 32/40 Infantry upgraded
June 24, 1939 - 33/40 Infantry upgraded
June 25, 1939 - 34/40 Infantry upgraded
June 27, 1939 - 35/40 Infantry upgraded
June 30, 1939 - 36/40 Infantry upgraded
July 1, 1939 - 38/40 Infantry upgraded

Projects:

Spoiler

39-05 Early Self Propelled Artillery
Start: 39.01.17
Vauxhall, Skill 7
3 Artillery - 50mm Light Assault Gun
3 Mechanics - Early Tank Chassis
3 Chemistry - Fragmentation Shells
3 Electronics - Basic Fire Control
3 Technical Efficiency - Early Assault Gun Prototype Test
Estimate: 84 Days

39-06 Hunter Killer Group Doctrine
Start: 39.02.08
Percy Noble, Skill 5
8 Small Task Force Tactics - Destroyer ASW Role
8 Decentralized Execution - Independent Submarine U-Boat Hunting
8 Small Task Force Tactics - Hunter Killer Group Coordination
8 Naval Artillery - Basic Destroyer ASW Weaponry
8 Seamanship - Aggressive Destroyer Captains
Estimate: 231 Days - This project sucks.

39-07 Escort Box System Doctrine
Start: 39.02.27
Hugh Dowding, Skill 8
3 Bomber Tactics - Bomber Escort Tactics
3 Fighter Tactics - Escort Tactics Training
3 Aeronautics - External Fuel Tanks
3 Piloting - Early Fighter Suppression Spirit
3 Centralized Execution - Bomber Escort Coordination
Estimate: 104 Days

39-08 Night Strikes Doctrine
Start: 39.04.10
Charles Portal, Skill 6
3 Chemistry - Very Early Bomb Illuminators
3 Mechanics - Basic Bob Night Sights
3 Aircraft Testing - Basic Night Flying Training
3 Piloting - Night Flying Experience
3 Bomber Tactics - Small Air Unit Tactics
Estimate: 61 Days

39-09 Combat Bombardment Groups Doctrine
Start: 39.04.20
Hugh Dowding, Skill 8
3 Combined Arms Focus - Combined Command Net
3 Bomber Tactics - Basic Carpet Bombing Tactics
3 Mechanics - Low Altitude Bomb Sight
3 Aircraft Testing - Early AA Suppression
3 Piloting - Combat Bombing Spirit
Estimate: 104 Days - We might have done well to let France research this for us.

39-10 Basic Medium Tank
Start: 39.05.06
Leyland, Skill 8
7 Mechanics - Medium Welded Armor
7 Artillery - 50mm Tank Gun
7 Mechanics - Basic Medium Engine
7 Electronics - Basic Optical Sight
14 Technical Efficiency - Basic Medium Tank Prototype Test
Estimate: 183 Days

39-11 Night Strafing Doctrine
Start: 39.06.11
Royal Small Arms Factory, Skill 6
3 Mechanics - Early Night Gunsight
3 Chemistry - Basic Ground Illumination
3 Aircraft Testing - Night Strafing Training
3 General Equipment - Tracer Ammunition
3 Piloting - Night Air Superiority Spirit
Estimate: 50 Days

Technology:

Spoiler

January 17, 1939 - Project 38-20 Early Tank Destroyer
Time: 42 Days - Our Estimate was 41 Days.

February 8, 1939 - Project 39-02 Basic Motorized Division
Time: 50 Days - We estimated 60 Days because we had 5/5 match instead of 4/4.

February 27, 1939 - Project 39-01 Basic Infantry Division
Time: 63 Days - Our Estimate was exact.

April 10, 1939 - Project 39-05 Early Self Propelled Artillery
Time: 83 Days - Our Estimate was 84 Days.

April 20, 1939 - Project 39-07 Escort Box System
Time: 53 Days - We estimated 104 Days and forgot to account for Blueprints

May 6, 1939 - Project 39-02 Improved Light Tank
Time: 139 Days - We estimated 108 Days and recalculated and still never got it. It looks like I was using 5 instead of 6 difficulty, then missed a 5% minister bonus. We are following this up with Basic Medium Tank.

June 11 1939 - Project 39-08 Night Strikes Doctrine
Time: 61 Days - Finally our Estimate was exact.

We will take a bit of a break, then make a session up to the start of the war, then give a summary of relative strengths before the war.

 

[Riel Hamard]

Challenge Accepted VH UK Run Session 8 - The Start of WW2

July 17, 1939 - There was a proposal to outlaw the Commies and we said NO.
3/5 Political Right and we are still Social Conservative.

Spoiler

August 24, 1939 - Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Historical Agreement

Spoiler

UK - Gearing up for war 5/5
3/5 Hawk Lobby
-10 Production Time and Cost - Now we are at 70%.
-6 Dissent Growth
+6 Manpower Growth - Now it is 0.53 for a few more days.

August 30, 1939 - Start of World War 2

Spoiler

Production:
July 15, 1939 - Heavy Cruiser 4.01 HMS Surrey - We cut this line short.
July 29, 1939 - Transport 36 Samleyte Flotilla
July 29, 1939 - Infantry 41 54th East Anglia Division

Upgrades:

Spoiler

July 5, 1939 - 39/40 Infantry upgraded
July 9, 1939 - 40/40 Infantry upgraded to 1939 - Now we have a bunch of Garrisons to upgrade.
July 18, 1939 - 1/29 Garrison upgraded
July 21, 1939 - 2/29 Garrison upgraded
July 25, 1939 - 9/29 Garrison upgraded
July 27, 1939 - 4/5 Tactical Bombers upgraded
July 27, 1939 - 10/29 Garrison upgraded
July 28, 1939 - 11/29 Garrison upgraded
August 1, 1939 - 12/29 Garrison upgraded
August 1, 1939 - 5/5 Tactical Bombers upgraded to Vickers Armstrong Wellington Mark 2
August 3, 1939 - 13/29 Garrison upgraded
August 5, 1939 - 19/29 Garrison upgraded
August 7, 1939 - 22/29 Garrison upgraded
August 9, 1939 - 26/29 Garrison upgraded
August 10, 1939 - 27/29 Garrison upgraded
August 13, 1939 - 28/29 Garrison upgraded
August 14, 1939 - 29/29 Garrison upgraded to 1939
August 14, 1939 - 41/41 Infantry upgraded to 1939

Projects:

Spoiler

39-12 Dead Reckoning Bombardment Doctrine
Start: 39.07.23
Charles Portal, Skill 6
3 Electronics - Precision Navigation Instruments
3 Aircraft Testing - Navigator Training
3 Centralized Execution - Preset Coordinate Bombing
3 Aircraft Testing - Early AA Evasion
3 Bomber Tactics - Tactical Unit - Bomber Flight
Estimate: 90 Days

39-13 Production Control
Start: 39.08.04
English Electric Company, Skill 8
7 Industrial Engineering - Mass Production
7 Management - Scientific Management
7 Management - Continuous Improvement
7 Management - Setup Time Reduction
16 Management - Production Control Development Process
Estimate: 74 Days

39-14 First Strike Doctrine
Start: 39.08.05
4 Centralized Execution - Enemy Air Force Suppression Tactics
4 Centralized Execution - Front Line Airspace Domination
4 Electronics - Early Fighter Radar Guidance
4 Fighter Tactics - Fighter Patrol Tactics
4 Piloting - Unimpeded Air Superiority Spirit
Estimate: 64 Days

Technology:

Spoiler

July 23, 1939 - Project 39-04 Floating Fortress Doctrine
Time: 210 Days - Our estimate was exact.

August 4, 1939 - Project 39-09 Combat Bombardment Groups Doctrine
Time: 104 Days - Our estimate was exact.

August 5, 1939 - Project 39-11 Night Strafing Doctrine
Time: 54 Days - Our estimate was exact.

Initial Land Force Comparison:
276 USSR - 175 Infantry, 18 Cavalry, 38 Motor, 22 Armor, 11 Mountain, 7 Garrison, 5 HQ
244 Japan - 118 Infantry, 7 Cavalry, 52 Garrison, 65 Militia, 2 HQ
153 Germany - 110 Infantry, 1 Cavalry, 4 Motor, 10 Armor, 3 Mountain, 22 Garrison, 3 HQ
147 China - 112 Infantry, 20 Cavalry, 3 Mountain, 12 Militia
124 France - 83 Infantry, 4 Cavalry, 6 Armor, 4 Mountain, 21 Militia, 6 HQ
86 Italy - 64 Infantry, 3 Cavalry, 5 Mountain, 3 Garrison, 10 Militia, 1 HQ
86 Poland - 70 Infantry, 13 Cavalry, 2 Mountain, 1 HQ
83 UK - 41 Infantry, 3 Armor, 29 Garrison, 9 Militia, 1 HQ

Based on this, it looks like Japan got stalled at Nanjing for some reason. That reason might be the production bonus everybody is getting for VH Difficulty Level. Similarly, the Spanish Civil War is stalled, in spite of a ten to one numerical advantage.

Initial Navy Comparison:
174 USA - 6 Carriers, 15 Battleships, 22 Heavy Cruisers, 23 Light Cruisers, 51 Destroyers, 21 Submarines, 36 Transports
172 UK - 7 Carriers, 12 Battleships, 3 Battlecruisers, 17Heavy Cruisers, 37 Light Cruisers, 48 Destroyers, 12 Submarines, 36 Transports
98 Italy - 4 Battleships, 8 Heavy Cruisers, 15 Light Cruisers, 39 Destroyers, 12 Submarines, 20 Transports
97 Japan - 4 Carriers, 6 Battleships, 4 Battlecruisers, 14 Heavy Cruisers, 21 Light Cruisers, 20 Destroyers, 8 Submarines, 20 Transports
82 Germany - 2 Battleships, 2 Battlecruisers, 9 Heavy Cruisers, 8 Light Cruisers, 15 Destroyers, 30 Submarines, 16 Transports
71 France - 1 Carrier, 6 Battleships, 1 Battlecruiser, 7 Heavy Cruisers, 7 Light Cruisers, 18 Destroyers, 15 Submarines, 16 Transports
40 USSR - 3 Battleships, 1 Heavy Cruiser, 3 Light Cruisers, 7 Destroyers, 25 Submarines, 1 Transport

Well, the Germans have a lot more for us to hunt. We were admittedly not paying attention. We might have to build a lot more Destroyers.

Initial Air Force Comparison:
49 Germany - 2 Escort, 4 Fighters, 13 Interceptors, 8 CAS, 18 Tactical, 2 Naval Bombers, 2 Transport Planes
36 USSR - 19 Interceptors, 3 CAS, 14 Tactical Bombers
25 Japan - 9 Interceptors, 8 Tactical, 8 Naval Bombers
23 Italy - 12 Interceptors, 3 Tactical, 8 Naval Bombers, 1 Transport Plane
20 UK - 3 Fighters, 9 Interceptors, 3 Strategic, 5 Tactical Bombers
17 France - 4 Interceptors, 13 Tactical Bombers
15 USA - 8 Interceptors, 1 Strategic, 6 Tactical Bombers

Germany has built quite the Luftewaffe! We will be using this list to see how everybody is doing from the start of the war.